DS Lite gets solar power
February 13, 2009 by BabyReaps
Filed under Blog, Gaming, Technology
One of the main reasons why I still pick my DS Lite over the PSP is the long battery life, where the former clearly trounces the latter despite me having to sacrifice gorgeous graphics in my portable gaming titles. Despite that, how about keeping the DS Lite juiced up at all times without you having to search for a nearby power outlet? That is possible although you will need a steady hand and have a love for all things DIY with this solar-powered DS Lite. Instructables has a step-by-step guide on concocting your own version, although bear in mind the device’s screen is not too big a fan of being played outdoors as the colors will look washed out.
Source: Technabob
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Our Energy Information measures power consumption
February 13, 2009 by BabyReaps
Filed under Accessories, Blog, Concepts
OLED technology is famous as a substitute for a low-power display option, and it is interesting to see concept designs come up that feature OLED technology prominently. Check out the Our Energy Information (OEI) for instance - this conceptual device by Rocco Avallone is a power monitor that features a colorful albeit low power display that makes reading energy use less of a chore thanks to the use of animations and a fun presentation manner. In addition, it is able to receive community information in order to check out just how much power your neighbors are consuming, leaving you the choice to commend or berate them, depending on the circumstances. I for one, would like to see such concepts materialize soonest possible - it’d make life a whole lot more fun and colorful.
Source: Treehugger
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Baby Bottle smart enough to tell you the right temperature
February 5, 2009 by BabyReaps
Filed under Blog, Concepts, House Gear
New parents or inexperienced hands who are preparing milk or a formula for baby will find themselves in a quandary at the very beginning, and sometimes in our haste, we tend to forget just how hot the water is when mixed, accidentally scalding baby’s mouth to set off another round of screaming and crying that takes a couple of hours to cajole and die down. Instead of learning the hard way or risk burning your own mouth, how about this Baby Bottle concept? It features graphics that are printed with thermochromic anti-forgery ink, and these will change accordingly to show you when is the right temperature for the liquid within to be consumed. Surely, this takes out a whole lot of guesswork, and we are amazed something like this has not been released to the mass market already.
Source: Yanko Design
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HP Magic Giveaway Winner Announced
December 13, 2008 by techiediva
Filed under Blog, Fun Stuff, Misc
Jennifer228 is the big winner of the HP Magic Giveaway on Techie Diva. We will be uploading a video shortly. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. You can still win the HP Magic Giveaway at one of the other blogs running the contest. We have them all listed here. Thanks to HP and Microsoft for making this magical contest possible, and again, thanks to everyone who entered to win here on Techie Diva. Read more
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Smart Speed Bumps flatten for slower drivers
Not all speed bumps are created equal, and sometimes they do appear suddenly while we’re driving, resulting in a nasty crunch and some heartache to you as you stop to assess the damage done to your new ride. Why, with this new smart speed bump concept, things could be very different for those who adhere to road rules. Imagine going slower than 30km/h - this speed bump will automatically lower itself to the ground for smooth passage, while any vehicle registering above 30km/h will have to slow down to avoid the bump from damaging their vehicle. This will encourage drivers to retain a constant slow speed in order to reduce carbon emissions.
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White Fruit Radio loves touching
White Fruit Radio takes a leaf out of nature’s book by offering a conceptual radio that is made of sycamore (for its superior acoustic properties, and not meant to introduce more firewood into your home this winter) as well as an LED substrate that lies hidden under the thin surface, revealing itself as and when the situation requires it. The ridges located on top of the radio will control both volume and station tuning - all you need to do is rub your finger across and see the LED substrate come to life, changing the channels dynamically. Kudos to designer Swann Bourotte for the White Fruit Radio concept - now if only someone were to pick up this delectable idea and mass produce it.
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Techie Diva presents the HP Magic Giveaway
December 6, 2008 by techiediva
Filed under Blog, Fun Stuff
***Update: Contest is now closed. We will announced the winner later on today, December 12 after we sort through all the entries. Thanks for participating in this great event. Check out the rest of the blogs running the contest.
——————————————————————————–
As we mentioned in our teaser post, Techie Diva has teamed up with HP and Microsoft to offer our readers the chance to win $6,000 worth of electronics. The HP Magic Giveaway is all about sharing the magic, and ONE lucky winner will win the entire package on December 12, 2008 right here on Techie Diva. We wish we could divide the bundle and have several winners instead, but we can’t. The good news is several other sites are holding a similar contest on different dates, so you still have a chance to win until December 22, 2008. We’ve teased you enough about this giveaway, so keep reading below for the rules, the prize, and how you can enter to win the HP Magic Giveaway here on Techie Diva.
WHAT YOU’LL WIN
- HP TouchSmart IQ816 PC
- HP HDX 18 series Premium Notebook PC
- HP MediaSmart Connect
- HP Pavilion dv4 series Entertainment Notebook PC (with Windows Live)
- HP Mini 1000 (with XP)
- HP Photosmart C6380 Wireless AIO (printer)
- Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate/Home Premium or Microsoft Windows XP pre-installed on all units (Mini 1000 runs XP)
- Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 (Student-Teacher Edition) – 1 DVD with 3 licenses
- Microsoft Windows Live
- Corel VideoStudio X2
- HP 564 Photo Value Pak
- Kung Fu Panda (1 widescreen DVD; 1 widescreen Blu-ray disc)
You can read more about all the equipment here.
HOW TO ENTER
It’s all about sharing the magic this holiday season, so we highly encourage you to enter this contest with the intent of sharing your prize with someone you care about, be it a relative, a friend, or a charity. We’d love for you to help us spread the word about this contest on your personal blog or social network to let others know how they too can enter this amazing contest. For this reason, we ask that you write a short paragraph or bulletin on your personal blog, social profile, microblog, or favorite forum telling us what you would do with all those computers if you won the contest. We don’t want you to spam anyone though, so make sure you only post your entry on your own blog/social profile.
In your blog post, make sure you include the following:
1. A link back to Techie Diva and a link back to the HP Magic Giveaway page.
2. A short paragraph, telling us why you deserve to win this prize and what you plan to do with it. Would you be selling it on eBay? Sharing it with your family? Start a business? Donate part of it to a charity? Or keeping it all to yourself? We will be choosing the winner at random so there is no wrong or right answer; BUT the best stories reflecting the spirit of giving this holiday season will be published on Techie Diva and receive an additional entry. This means your name is entered in the contest twice!
BONUS ENTRIES (in addition to entry above)
This is your opportunity to increase your chances of winning this package. Do any of the following, and get THREE additional entries. We ask that you send bonus entries to hpbonus(at)techiediva.com and include your name, phone number, and email address. Make sure you write in the subject line the type of bonus entry you’re submitting (Charity, YouTube, Bake Off, Video Review). You still have to submit a blog post entry to enter. Make sure you use the same email address since we will verify both entries this way.
1. Encourage a charity, school, or church to enter this contest. Have them send us your name and email address in a separate email to hpbonus(at)techiediva.com. The charity’s email address has to be official, so make sure they don’t use a personal email address. Your entries depend on it.
2. Create a YouTube video or a Web Cam comment below telling us how you would share the magic if you won this package. We highly encourage charities/schools/ministries do this.
3. Bake a cake/cupcake with the Techie Diva avatar/logo.
4. Create a one to two minute video review of your favorite gadget or HP product for Techie Diva.
5. Link back to this post on five or more social networks (ex: Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Flickr, Bebo). Send all links in one email to the address above. These all have to be your own accounts. Links in comments section don’t qualify. Please include a blurb of the contest in your post.
SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY
Send your blog post entry to hpcontest(at)techiediva.com with the following:
1. Short paragraph mentioned above along with a link to your blog post entry.
2 Your email address, full name, phone number, and shipping address. (We will not spam you or share your information with anyone)
RULES
- Contest runs from Saturday, December 6, 2008 until
11:59 pm EST3:00 am EST December 12, 2008. All entries must be received by this time. Winner will be announced on December 12, 2008 on this site. - No purchase necessary to enter.
- Winner will be chosen at random with qualifying entry.
- Associates, employees, principles, or relatives of Techie Diva are not eligible.
- Bloggers participating in the HP Magic Giveaway are not eligible.
- Previous winners of the HP Magic Giveaway are NOT allowed to enter this contest again.
- This giveaway is open to U.S. and International readers. Void where prohibited. We will ship the package overseas.
- We ask that your entries be tasteful. Questionable entries will be disqualified at our discretion.
- We ask that you provide us with a valid shipping address. Prize will only be delivered to the person named on the entry form and with a signature.
- We ask that you provide us with a valid email address. Winner will be notified on December 12, 2008. and must respond within 12 hours or the package will be awarded to another contestant. We will strictly enforce this rule, so make sure you check back here or check your email on this day.
- Techie Diva will not share your information with any third party without your consent.
- Techie Diva reserves the right to modify these terms to comply with the laws of the State of California, to correct errors and omissions, or to ensure fairness as determined by Techie Diva. Such modifications, if any, will be posted at Techie Diva.
- Any attempt to manipulate, interfere with, or otherwise alter any entries, other systems or services of Techie Diva will disqualify all those implicated and subject them to prosecution in the State of California, United States and/or other jurisdictions.
- Your entry implies and expresses your agreement to these terms and your waiver of any other rights, related to such giveaways, you may have in any jurisdiction.
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Window air purifier concept
With the amount of smog accumulating outside these days, no thanks to ever rising levels of affluence that leads to every family owning at least a couple of cars, it is no wonder that an air purifier is an important addition to any home - if you’re serious about staying as healthy as possible. Most air purifiers are functional, although they lose out on the aesthetics side, but the ‘Window’ concept is different in a sense that it looks just like a real window. The air purifier features a transparent LCD that becomes dark if the air quality in your home drops dramatically. Interestingly enough, to turn on the purifier, you will need to “slide open” the window in order for the cleaning process to begin.
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Disposable E-Mail
November 26, 2008 by Cat
Filed under Blog, Cool Sites
There are a few services out there that allow you to sign up for free disposable e-mail for those times you want to set up registrations and have forwards set up, then expire at a later time or date. Two that I have recently read about are MeltMail.com and Spambox.us.
Melt Mail doesn’t require that you return to the site to check your messages, since it forwards everything to your chosen “real” e-mail address for a period of time. No messages are stored on the site and your e-mail is deleted and forgotten once the time expires. Setting up a temporary forward to an address @meltmail.com allows you four time periods for the forward to follow: 3, 6, 12, or 24 hours. Short-term but useful, you can also choose to have a popup reminder window which displays the address and a countdown for when the service will cease.
Spambox.us offers a similar service but there is no popup reminder and it will forward your mail for up to one full year. Here are some details from the site:
We create for you a temporary e-mail address that will expire in the time you chose, all the mails directed to this e-mail will be transparently forwarded to your real e-mail.
For example, you need to register on a forum that requires e-mail verification, so you generate a spambox e-mail with an expiry of one hour. The generated e-mail will expire in an hour, way enough for the Forum to send you the verification code.
Take a look at these sites and if you are in need of a service like this, let us know which you chose, and why.
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Chocolate Keyboard
If you have a sweet tooth and love all things chocolate, chances are you would wish the Chocolate Keyboard by Michael Sholk would be rolling off factories in bulk. This sweet design (no pun intended) comes in the color of dark chocolate, and good thing there aren’t any fake nuts to go along with the fake keys, lest your fingers suffer from bruises during those keyboard thumping sessions as you furiously try to finish up whatever work you owe the office before you take off for the long Thanksgiving weekend. I think this concept will sell really well - and it would be nice to see it bundled with a bar of real chocolate of your choice.
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