Gadgets Base

Geico has launched a spoof dating and match website called iHeartCavemen.com. It’s basically a mock dating website for users on the web. Other than those normal features such as photo albums and a user profile section, this portal steps out from other dating portals with its special features. Morphing is one of them and this is how it works, male site visitors can be morphed to look their best as caveman suitors. Other than that, for female site visitors, they can have a glimpse on what their cavebaby might look like. It also features an entertainment portal for video profiles and dates of the pining caveman. The tools are easy to navigate and with all the special additional features, this makes the iHeartCaveman site fun to mess around with for a while. This also serves as a follow up to Geico’s previous Caveman’s Crib that was launched just about a year ago.

Read [iHeartCaveman.com] Via [Business Wire]

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Dell’s innovative and stunning desktop system, the XPS One has arrived in UK, French and German stores. Although four months later than it was released in the Japanese and US markets, the inspiring Dell machine should still hit it big in the European market. Not only because of its power packed features but also because of the noble cause that comes with buying a unit of the XPS One. More particularly the XPS One PRODUCT (Red) which has an attached social cause in every units sold.

The campaign which started when it was released in the US market allots $80 to the Global Fund for every XPS One Product (Red) sold. Proceeds of the Global Fund will be used to eliminate AIDS in Africa. That $80 dollar is equivalent to more than 6 months of antiretroviral treatment for one person afflicted with AIDS. So when you buy the Dell XPS One, you just don’t get to enjoy its multimedia and computing features but you get to save lives as well.

The Dell XPS One boasts of standard specifications that includes Core 2 duo processor T5450, 2GB RAM, 500GB Serial ATA HD, fixed 8x DVD+/-RW Slim Slot Load Drive, integrated graphic media accelerator, 20-inch LCD display, 8-in-1 card reader and wireless keyboard and mouse.

But those specifications are more or less standard features of other Dell XPS Desktop System. What makes the XPS One stand out from all the other Dell XPS Desktop units is its Crimson red color. Plus of course the social implication that goes with buying every unit of the Dell Desktop XPS One PRODUCT (Red).

Product [Dell Europe] Via [Shiny Shiny]

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The latest in the never ending supply of USB flash drives is the USBee, which makes not only perfect sense name wise, but also has a “bee like” yellow and black exterior. Along with the fancy name and coloring the USBee drive actually has some nice features that go along, first off the drive is made from silicon and aluminum and has a flexible design to prevent accidental damage.

In addition to a thoughtful and hopefully damage proof design the USBee also has a cooling system built into it’s stripes to keep it from overheating and a detachable cap that will snap on to the other end when the drive is in use.

The USBee drive is not yet in production, so of course we have no idea on just how much it would retail for or any available storage options. But in good news it did recently take first prize in an MS Industrial USB Competition held by a Seriban Design Community forum.

Via [Yanko Design]

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Posted Mar 15th 2008 11:55AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Wearables
Considering that some digicams are emerging with built-in smile detection, we’d say whipping that grin of yours into shape might not be a half bad idea. Granted, Patakara’s latest certainly isn’t the first, but rather than just shaping your smile, this thing actually exercises the muscles around your mouth — presumably to help you cheese more intensely for even longer periods of time (you superstar, you). Heck, there’s even three models with different resistance levels for those totally committed. But let’s be honest, you won’t even give those fancy Body Trainer headphones a second glance — are you really going to dedicate time each day for this? You are? Well, then by all means, hand over your ¥5,250 ($52) and get to chompin’.

[Via popgadget]

While most of us take the latest and greatest computer for granted, or at least the fact that we are easily able to purchase a computer. Not to mention we seem to be very worried about the next-generation movie players and have all gotten caught up in the recent format war (where Blu-ray came out victorious). But what if those options had not been available to us?

Being very into tech it’s easy to forget that some people may not be able to purchase such devices, not because of a financial reason but because their government did not allow it. While I will not dive to far into Communism here, it is with very good news that there are some signs of change in Cuba, even if it is just a little at a time.

The Cuban Government has decided to ease up, just a bit and allow “unrestricted” sales on personal computers, DVD and video players (VCR’s). Based on an internal government memo these sales will begin to be available immediately, and in what seems like a strange twist showing just how skewed we can be, air conditioners will not be available until 2009 with toasters showing up in 2010. Now even Cubans will be able to put their computer additions before personal comfort.

While it may sound funny that air conditioners and toasters are coming in second, according to the report such devices had been limited due to power issues. Sadly though, that even though computers will become more available, the access that would connect them to the world, otherwise know as the internet is still going to remain in control of the government.

Read [Reuters]

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Posted Mar 15th 2008 12:48PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
Oh sure, iPods have found their way outside of our atmosphere before, but there’s just something magical about spotting one front and (off) center on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Dollars to donuts it’s perpetually repeating the discography of Air.

At this point in my life, I don’t know how I managed to live through all those years with my corded landline phone. I mean, sure, it’s still a great way to communicate when it comes to voice but at a time when almost everything is about to go completely wireless I don’t see where it’ll fit. I honestly think landlines would be best displayed in any museum of ancient history, but the XLink Bluetooth Gateway aims to prove otherwise. Using Bluetooth technology, it will link your mobile phone to your landline so that you can answer calls to either phone via any of the two. Meaning, if a call comes in on your cellphone, you can use the landline to answer it. And when a call comes in on your landline, you guessed it, you can answer it via your cellphone. This would be useful for the times when you forget to take your cellphone with you when you leave your room for breakfast, and other such activities that separate you from you handy little cellular. Well, at least the landline becomes useful again. So we’ll have to talk about that museum of national history thing on some other time, then. The XLink Cellular Gateway is currently available and retails for $169.99.

Product [Grace Digital Audio] Via [Red Ferret]

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Posted Mar 15th 2008 9:26AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Household
Finally, the days of ruined breakfasts and tossed cups of coffee will be a thing of the past, thanks to work being done by researchers in the US and China. Scientists have discovered a simple chemical reaction that can sense if your 2 percent has lost its charm before you get it home and crack it open. The system works by floating a small widget in the milk which can be scanned at a supermarket checkout by magnet — the device will vibrate slowly if the liquid has thickened. The same will occur if the potentially harmful bug Staphylococcus aureus — which can cause food poisoning — thins the consistency of the milk. Researchers claim that the system will cost less than a penny per carton, and could also be used in fruit juices. This all sounds pretty altruistic, but as soon as you can get this into super-cheap domestic beers, please give us a call.

[Via Switched]

I’m surprised about this new Verizon phone, almost all phones that I know of come with a camera, whether it is a good or a bad one is another story. A camera on a cell phone is usually very useful and fun to play around with, however, this new phone doesn’t seem to come with a camera. Basically, this phone is an addition of their popular Motorola RIZR Z6. The weird thing is that it comes with less features than the Z6c, which is basically the lack of the camera.

So far, this phone has already gone live up on the Verizon Wireless site, but there’s not too much of a difference between this phone and its brother, the Z6c. It has been reported that all the “x” on the Motorola RIZR Z6cx stands for is no camera. Also, this might just be Motorola’s way of appealing to those companies that do not allow their employees to carry phones. The standing price of the Motorola RIZR Z6cx is $179.99 dollars, which if course is after rebates and including a contract.

Via [IntoMobile]

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What if you could talk… without really talking? Aside from saving you all the effort required to move your lips, don’t you agree that it would be the sexiest thing in mobile communications since the RAZR? Well, Ambient Corporation promises to give you just that, the ability to say words without opening your mouth. Just think of all the possibilities this will bring. Now, you can continue to annoy your peaceful old neighbors without even moving your lips, you talkative freak of nature you.

In a recent conference held by microchip manufacturer Texas Instruments, Michael Callahan of Ambient Corporation demonstrated how “Audeo”, the groundbreaking technology developed by their company, can let a user “speak without speaking” via a neckband and a nearby computer. The neckband is used to interpret the nerve signals in the user’s vocal cords and then wirelessly transmits it to the computer to be spoken aloud by a robotic voice. It doesn’t read your thoughts, though, but only the words that you “want to say”. I believe this is a significant step forward in the field of wireless communications. You have to see it for yourself to believe it (keep reading for a video demonstration).

Interestingly enough, this technology was not developed to aid cellphone users or any other kind public speakers with their endeavors, but rather to help those afflicted with motor neurone disease in voicing out their thoughts and opinions. As of now, the system can only recognize a limited set of about 150 words and phrases, but the company promises to further develop their technology so that a user can successfully say whatever they want in the future.

Product [Audeo] Via [New Scientist] Via [OhGizmo!]

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