Turn a smooth, flat surface into a speaker.
Posted 06.18.2002 at 6:32 pm
The Olympia Soundbug can turn most smooth, flat surfaces into a speaker. The key: When a magnetic field is applied, a smart military material called Terfenol-D creates vibrations to generate sound. Its tinny audio isn't anywhere near stereo-or even boombox-and it doesn't work
on hard-to-grip wooden surfaces. Price: $50.
Upgrades: Vacuum cleaners
Posted 06.18.2002 at 6:28 pm
Black & Decker's 9.6-volt DustBuster Cordless Floor Vac ($65) is actually three vacuums in one, converting from an upright to a full-size hand vac to a DustBuster. Meanwhile, put Dirt Devil's Power Flex Stick Vac ($50) into a corner and its rectangular nozzle retracts into a triangle to get at otherwise impossible-to-reach grime.
and
iGlassware senses when it's almost empty and signals for a refill.
Posted 06.18.2002 at 5:21 pm
The iGlassware prototype senses when it's almost empty and signals for a refill. Working like a capacitor, the glass's sides are the conductive plates and your beverage the insulator. As the glass nears empty, a microchip sends a wireless alert, along with the glass's unique ID, to the wait staff.
Television: A 15 percent smaller 42-inch widescreen HD-ready TV
Posted 06.18.2002 at 2:32 pm
By shifting the angle of the interior rear-projection system, Mitsubishi has cut the size of its 42-inch widescreen HD-ready TV
by 15 percent. Bypassing expensive LCD, DLP, and plasma technologies, Mitsubishi used CRTs, standing them vertically instead of at an angle in its WS-42311 model. The approach creates a svelte 39- by 25- by 31-inch form. Price: $2,199.
It isn't a keyboard at all, but a small projector that transmits a full QWERTY display.
Posted 06.18.2002 at 2:06 pm
We love new tech, but it takes a lot to make two PopSci staffers say "Cool!" in unison. That's what happened when Amichai Turm, chief technology officer at Israel-based VKB Ltd., fired up his company's prototype keyboard. The wee 1.4- by 1.4- by 2.6-inch device isn't a keyboard at all, but a small projector that transmits a full QWERTY display onto the surface in front of you. Touch a letter or number, and you hear a comforting clicking sound as your PDA or cellphone registers the input. In our informal tests, the device made surprisingly few errors.
These are the world's coolest mobile phones, but-for now anyway-they're
only available overseas. Check out what we're missing.
By David Carnoy
Posted 06.11.2002 at 5:24 pm
U.S. cellphones are pocket-protector chic compared with what you can buy in Europe and Asia. The only good news is this: The design gap is narrowing, thanks to Europe-friendly GSM network proliferation here in the United States (AT&T, Cingular, and VoiceStream), and Sprint PCS's and Verizon's continuing rollout
of Asia-friendly CDMA third-generation networks.
The products and services you see here will make your travels more convenient, more productive, and more fun.
Posted 06.10.2002 at 1:36 pm
Half the fun is getting there? Please. If you fly frequently, you know all about long security lines, delayed flights, and no room in the overhead bin. Driving isn't any better, especially this time of year (you know it as summer; most states know it as construction season). We wish we could say this special section will cure all your travel ills. It won't. But we do promise this: The products and services you see here will make your travels more convenient, more productive, and more fun.
Maytag's JetClean II
Posted 06.04.2002 at 5:31 pm
Finally, all your dirty dishes fit in one dishwasher—including that broiler pan. Maytag's JetClean II has a third dish rack, located closest to the pump for high water pressure. All are vertically adjustable. There are also four washer arms. Price: $599.
Sony's CMT-LTHD micro audio system
Posted 06.04.2002 at 5:28 pm
Don't let the size (26 by 11.3 by 7.5 inches) of Sony's CMT-LTHD micro audio system fool you. You can stuff 300 CDs' worth of music into its integrated hard drive, a first for micro systems. Just pop
in a CD and rip songs directly to the hard drive for storage. Available in July for approximately $1,000.
Talk, instant message, and take pictures with one device.
Posted 06.04.2002 at 5:14 pm
Who hasn't pondered: If only I could talk, instant message, and take pictures with one device? Well, if you have, now you can. Sony Ericsson's P800 PDA-cellphone combo has a built-in digital camera. RIM is getting into the combo act with the BlackBerry 5810. It looks like a regular BlackBerry but it's also a cellphone. Meanwhile, Audiovox's Thera adds fully functional PocketPC software to cellphone capabilities.
1. Sony
Ericsson P800
(center)
Key feature: Digital cam can snap, then e-mail, photos
Price: Depends
on service provider
Devices compatible with quarter-size discs that store 500 megabytes will hit the market this summer.
Posted 06.04.2002 at 12:48 pm
DataPlay made a splash two years ago when it unveiled quarter-size discs that store 500 megabytes. Now, the first compatible devices will hit the market this summer. iRiver's iDP-100 ($369, shown) will be the first digital audio player, while Kinpo Electronics has shown a 3.1-megapixel digital camera. Discs cost $11 each.
A stuffed bear that talks to your kids in your voice.
Posted 06.03.2002 at 7:37 pm
No Crank Calls Please The PopSci staff was split on the merits of Wabi Buddy, a 15-inch stuffed bear that talks to your kids in your voice. Just call a PIN-protected phone number and leave a message for your little one. The bear giggles and its bracelet lights—your kid squeezes the bear's belly and hears your message. Wabi Buddy stores 5 minutes of messages and works 500 feet from its 900MHz base station. A cellular version will be available next year. Price: $49 to $59 for the bear, $0.10 per minute for calls.
Is this where the PDA is heading?
By Suzanne Kantra Kirschner
Posted 06.03.2002 at 7:30 pm
A few months ago, we showed you the multifunctional Origami Communicator and wondered: Is this where the PDA is heading?
Three new Windows devices, on sale this fall, look and act like computers but do so much more. From anywhere.
Posted 06.03.2002 at 7:24 pm
1. Platform:Freestyle
Shown: Samsung prototype, $1,600 and up
What It Is: A desktop PC transformed into a media center for playing music and DVDs—and a hard disk for recording TV.
2. Platform: Mira
Shown: Viewsonic Airpanel, $600 and up
What It Is: A wireless display that lets you surf the Web and access your desktop from anywhere.
3.
Night vision ... and sound.
Posted 05.31.2002 at 5:56 pm
How to improve on infrared night vision technology? Add a soundtrack. Bushnell's 17-ounce Night Vision Monocular with Audio lets you listen in on conversations as far as 270 feet away. The snouted microphone picks up sounds directly in front but ignores noise behind and around you.
Price: $434.
