Archive for June, 2009

Contests

Win a Star Trek Engineering Uniform T-shirt

Posted in Contests by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2009

Win a Star Trek Engineering Uniform T-shirt This week our readers have the chance to win some cool prizes courtesy of the folks from 80s Tees. Here at the ‘Brick you can win this awesome Star Trek Engineering Uniform t-shirt. While over at our Robot site Botropolis, you can win a Pimp Bender T-Shirt.

As for the Trek shirts, we have a total of 3 in size L. So what do you have to do to win one? Simple. All you have to do is comment below with a funny poem/haiku or thought about Red shirts dying in Star Trek. The idea is to make us laugh. Rules are below.

Steelcase Sit-to-Walkstation With Built-In Treadmill

Posted in Exercise Gadgets by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2009

Steelcase Sit-to-Walkstation With Built-In TreadmillWho says you have to leave the office to go to the Gym? Or leave the gym to go to the office. Well, with the Steelcase Sit-to-Walkstation, maybe you won’t have the entire gym at your disposal, but at least you’ll have a treadmill. That’s because the Steelcase Sit-to-Walkstation is a workstation and a treadmill in one. So the question becomes, what will give you a heart-attack first? Your impending deadline or all that running at your desk?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle while being an office worker isn’t easy, but now you will have an edge. The Sit-to-Walkstation from Steelcase is a 2-in-1 workstation that allows users to walk, stand or sit while on the job. Instead of just sit.

Samsung Jet with 800 MHz processor

Posted in Samsung by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2009

Samsung Jet with 800 MHz processorThe Samsung Jet is a speed demon. It’s the Road Runner of cellphones. All others are just Wile E. Coyote. It clocks 800MHz and occasionally utters a beep beep as it passes other handsets in the market that have only just made it past the 500MHz mark.

Looks like cellphone processors are catching up with netbooks when it comes to MHz count. The Samsung Jet also features a Samsung six-sided Cube interface and a WebKit browser, dubbed Dolfin. No word on when it will hit the US, but chances are that AT&T will be the carrier.

Samsung Omnia Pro B7610 gets official

Posted in Samsung by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2009

Samsung Omnia Pro B7610 gets officialSamsung isn’t saying much, but at least it has made the Omnia Pro B7610 (aka, B7610 Louvre) QWERTY slider official today. That would be the phone on the left. The one on the right looks like the Omnia Pro B7320, which is already available.

Sadly, aside from this lovely shot in the hands of an Asian beauty, Samsung isn’t giving us any details on the B7610, so we just have the rumored specs: 3.5-inch AMOLED display with 800×480 pixel resolution, 5.1 megapixel camera, 7.2Mbps HSDPA data, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, 1GB built-in with microSDHC expansion, and 800MHz processor with Windows Mobile.

Loop Pointer In-Air Mouse Launches

Posted in Mouse by Shane McGlaun on June 15th, 2009

looppointer-sbOne of the biggest issues for users who put HTPC systems into the living room is how to control the computer from the couch across the room. A wireless keyboard will handle the typing issue, but the mouse can be more difficult since there is no desk to use.

Hillcrest Labs has announced that its Loop Pointer in-air mouse is now available for purchase. The device is compatible with Windows and Mac systems. The Loop allows the user to control the cursor on a PC screen wirelessly from across the room without needing a desk or other surface.

Eyesite LCD arm supports up to three 24-inch screens

Posted in Accessories by Shane McGlaun on June 15th, 2009

steelcase14inlcdarm-sbLarge LCDs are a great way to get more information on your screen at once. Even better than a single large LCD is several large LCDs, the catch is finding room on an average desk to sit more than one 24-inch screen.

Steelcase offers all sorts of office chairs and other furniture and has announced a new LCD arm called the Eyesite. The arm can be configured to support up to three 24-inch LCDs in16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios. When not needed the arm also folds almost flat to give more desk space.

Pioneer announces X710BT and X910BT vehicle nav units

Posted in Pioneer Electronics by Shane McGlaun on June 15th, 2009

pioneeravic_x910bt-sbThis morning I mentioned the new high-end Pioneer in-car nav device that sold for $1,600. That’s a lot of money for a car stereo to most of us. Thankfully, Pioneer has also announced a couple other nav units that are significantly cheaper, but not cheap by any means.

The two units are the Pioneer AVIC-X710BT and X910BT. Both units are dual din car radios with integrated navigation, stereo tuners and more. The navigation software offers several map view modes, simulated highway signs, and 3D icons for hotels and more.

Pioneer unveils slick in-dash GPS head unit

Posted in Pioneer Electronics by Shane McGlaun on June 15th, 2009

pioneeravic_z110bt-sbPioneer has made some of the coolest car and home stereos around for a long time. When I was a kid, my day bought a new Pioneer stereo that cost him $500, which was big money back in the day. I promptly broke the turntable trying to scratch and spent a week or so being grounded. Ah, the good old days.

Pioneer is a bigger name in home theater and in-car electronics than home stereos today. The company has announced a slick new double DIN head unit that is the top-of-the-line the company offers. The Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT has a 7-inch motorized touchscreen that covers up the CD/DVD player and radio.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii and other future titles will play themselves

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on June 14th, 2009

New Super Mario Bros. Wii and other future titles will play themselvesThis is a move that we can only assume is aimed squarely at those who suck at games. Starting with upcoming New Super Mario Bros. Wii, future Nintendo Wii titles will be shipping with the ability to, “play themselves”. In an interview with USA Today, Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed the existence of “demo play” for the next Mario game and “future games, too”.

It’s an option that allows the game to play itself when the player encounters an area too difficult for them to handle. Silly us, we thought that games were supposed to be challenging. According to Miyamoto, the idea is to reduce the barrier to entry for younger players and casual gamers alike.

Port-a-poo makes your dog carry its own poo

Posted in Pets by Conner Flynn on June 14th, 2009

Port-a-poo makes your dog carry its own pooWhen you think about, dogs must really think we are chumps. And we are. We gladly pick up the poo, bag it and carry it all the way home. How did they get us to do that? The how is not important. What’s important is that it ends now.

Let your dog carry it’s own poop with the Port-a-poo Hands Free Waste Carrier. “Port a poo Takes Your Dogs Poop Out of Your Hands”. The Port-a-poo attaches to almost any leash and after you pick up your dog’s waste in a bag, just clip it on.

Eizo FlexScan EV2333W-H LCD monitor announced

Posted in monitors by Conner Flynn on June 14th, 2009

Eizo FlexScan EV2333W-H LCD monitor announcedEizo has announced a new LCD monitor today. The FlexScan EV2333W-H. The monitor measures in at 23-inches and features a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. Also, this 1080p display supplies an eco-friendly and practical monitor solution. It has both a HDCP-protected DVI port and DisplayPort. Other inputs include VGA.

With 300cd/m2 brightness and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, it’s equipped to offer a decent quality picture for everyday use. Some other specs include a 7ms pixel response time, FlexStand with vertical adjustment and swivel capability and EcoView Sense, which is an infrared sensor that detects the brightness in the room and whether or not you’re sitting in front of the computer, adjusting the screen’s on-status and brightness accordingly.

LOOP: Ecofriendly Dell desktop that never becomes obsolete

Posted in Concepts by Conner Flynn on June 14th, 2009

LOOP: Ecofriendly Dell desktop that never becomes obsolete Normally, we buy a computer, use it for maybe two years, sometimes less, and it’s headed for the landfill. A more conscious user might just recycle the parts and use them for something else. An even better idea is this new system that never gets obsolete and so never requires throwing away.

This Jocko Chan designed computer for Dell provides an easy update of better components. Called LOOP, the system is ordered online and delivered directly to your home. All upgrades are available to rent for a limited period of time with an additional charge. The company’s employees would take care of all repair and enhancements. The components which are working in good condition are re-used whereas all other components are taken back for recycling.

Word Clock tells time, with words

Posted in Clocks by Conner Flynn on June 14th, 2009

Word Clock tells time, with wordsMost clocks use numbers obviously. But if you want to be different, in a snooty, “I’m better than you and more literate”, kind of way, this is the clock for you. So wordy, it should have been built into the Kindle. It’s shaped like a baton with a clear acrylic tube, and spells out the time using fancy word-tech.

Nice design that offers more casual timekeeping. It was created by designers Hans Muller and Hans van Dongen. Since it’s 24-inches long, it can therefore be used as a weapon should someone break into your home. At which time you would stand over the bloodied attacker and say something cool like, “It’s half past me breaking your ass and a quarter to your balls.” This is a must have time-piece.

Rock: Nissan mystery vehicle

Posted in Concepts by Conner Flynn on June 14th, 2009

Rock: Nissan mystery vehicleThe folks over at Yanko Design came across this mysterious miniature vehicle named ROCK. Sure, it looks like Darth Helmet’s head on wheels. Very little is known about the device except the obvious: It is dark and ominous and possibly how cats will take over the world.

It was created by designer Alberico J. Camacho and sports a tiny Nissan logo. That’s Really all we know, but it seems to be some kind of music player, like a more robust Sony Rolly. The ROCK could also be a scale model prototype for a concept car that Camacho worked up for Nissan.

Atari cartridge wallet shows where your money went in the 80s

Posted in DIY by Conner Flynn on June 14th, 2009

Atari cartridge wallet shows where your money went in the 80sEtsy seller Nilesz recycles Atari cartridges into wallets. So you can pay for that cartridge all over again in the now. Yep, that’s a real cartridge. It now holds money as well as 80s memories. Nilesz says that “the only piece of the original game not used in the wallet design is the screw.”

It’s a fat wallet, but that just means it holds more stuff. He even made a promo video for them below. They sell for $40 – $80 depending on the rarity/popularity of a game.