11.20.2009
Green tech: How to cut the cost of solar equipment
Solar power. Solar heating. Solar lighting. Sure, you'd like to fuel your life for free with help from the everlasting sun. Trouble is, it's not really free.
The equipment that can turn sunshine into a warm, well-lit life costs the earth. You can easily spend $20,000 or more for rooftop solar panels, for example.
But there's hope. Alternative financing of solar has begun in the US, in a small way. For example, a few thousand homeowners is California, Arizona, and Oregon are reducing their upfront costs by leasing solar equipment--and paying an estimated 15% less for electricity, equipment included. And the federal government has an assortment of programs that underwrite homeowners' solar projects.
Read all about these and other possibilities for reducing the cost of solar equipment at E, the environmental magazine.
Posted by Tam
Category:
eco
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11.19.2009
Go Gaga for Karaoke on Your iPhone
Fans of Lady Gaga and karaoke can rejoice. There's now an iPhone/iPod Touch app that satisfies both of those cravings. The Lady Gaga iOKi features four songs from the oddly compelling pop star including new single "Bad Romance" from her upcoming album "Fame Monster". The app turns yours your Apple device into a mini-karaoke machine complete with themes, images, and video of Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga’s manager Troy Carter said, "The Lady Gaga Karaoke app is a great way for her fans to experience the music in a non-traditional way. We constantly look for new ways that allow her community of fans to interact with each other with the music as the centerpiece, and gridMob nailed it."
Continue reading "Go Gaga for Karaoke on Your iPhone"
Posted by sherri
Category:
cell phones
Tags: app gridMob iPhone iPod Touch karaoke Lady Gaga music
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11.18.2009
Philips Introduces Crystalize Your Skin's New Best Friend
Skin care is a billion dollar industry worldwide. Obsessed with keeping our skin as young and healthy as possible we spend an inordinate amount of money on the latest cream that promises to stop the aging process, help our combination skin, or simply fend off adult cases of acne. But with all the different skin types out there, how do you know if you're purchasing the product that is the best fit for your unique skin type?
Electronics maker Philips may have the answer to the billion dollar question. According to the New York Times, has a new way of analyzing skin. The Crystalize system uses a special video camera to take an extreme close up of clients skin. The camera is set up to scan certain parts of the face to compile an accurate assessment of the viewer's skin. Once that happens, a list of products that would best suit your skin is displayed starting with the cheapest product going to the most pricey purchase.
When the system displays your ideal products, you shouldn't have to worry about Philips trying to pawn off strategically placed products. Philips does create products in the health care industry, but does not make any skin care products. They also aren't receiving any incentive to recommend one company's product over another's, so the system should be corruption free for now. Let's hope it stays that way. It's far too easy to go down that slippery slope with an ad or a featured product.
Continue reading "Philips Introduces Crystalize Your Skin's New Best Friend"
Posted by sherri
Category:
software
| wearables
Tags: beauty Crystalize Philips skincare social networking
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11.18.2009
LoJack for Your Lingerie
"Find Me If You Can" is the name of the latest line of lingerie at lingerie.com. The name, meant to be cute, kind of loses its meaning once you discover the skimpy bits of cloth meant to get pulses racing has a GPS tracker sewn-in to the ensemble.
Designed by Lucia Lorio, the sexy outfit is comprised of a lace bodice, bikini-cut panties, and a huge pacemaker-like contraption included on the bodice. The purpose of the lingerie is to make the wearer feel safe. (Um, huh?) The GPS has a login and password for the wearer's partner so they can track the object of their desires every move on the internet.
I guess I get it. It can be sexy to have that always being watched feeling...not! Personally this is a little too close to cyberstalking for my taste. Even though the woman has the choice to turn the GPS on and off as she please, I still can hear the delighted sighs of jealous partners everywhere.
Amazingly the sexy tracking device has been selling in Sao Paulo, Brazil for $1200. The more advanced GPS model costs $1650. No word if this little get-up will make it to the states, but I hope not.
Via Gizmodo, GizmoWatch
Posted by sherri
Category:
wearables
Tags: fashion GPS lingerie Lucia Lorio
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11.17.2009
Thanks to Thanko: USB-Powered Eyelash Curler
Because you absolutely, positively have to do your makeup at your desk, Thanko, creators of such "gems" as the USB-powered dinosaur slipper foot warmer and the USB Soldering Iron has just announced the USB-powered Eyelash Curler. Yep, there is now a USB-powered eyelash curler on the market.
The Touch Beauty Eyelash Curler is pretty simple to use. You just plug it into an available USB port and use like you would a regular curler. I'm hoping that there's more to it, maybe it has a little heating action to help get the curling action going. If not, I really don't see the point of it being USB-powered.
Via Akihabara News
Posted by sherri
Category:
misc gadgets
Tags: beauty gadgets makeup usb
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11.16.2009
LED Dress Lights Up Your Wardrobe and the Night
One look at this dress and I was blown away by its beauty and innovation. The Galaxy Dress is a one of a kind of creation put together by two designers. Comprised of 24,000 LED lights, 4,000 Swarovski crystals and quite a lot of iPod batteries, this dress is being called "the largest wearable display in the world." While it's a breathtaking creation in still images, video is the only medium that really does this light-up gown any justice.
Designers Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, creators of a "fashionable technology company" called CuteCircuit, reached out to Wired.com to give some background story to the dress.
“We used the smallest full-color LEDs, flat like paper, and measuring only 2 by 2 mm,” say designers Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz in an e-mail. “The circuits are extra-thin, flexible and hand-embroidered on a layer of silk in a way that gives it stretch so the LED fabric can move like normal fabric with lightness and fluidity.”
Continue reading "LED Dress Lights Up Your Wardrobe and the Night"
Posted by sherri
Category:
novelty
Tags: CuteCircuit design fashion galaxy dress innovation
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11.13.2009
Renault Concept Spa and Car in One
Ah the spa, where all troubles, worries, stressors are meticulously pampered away with facials, scrubs, and messages. Usually a trip to the spa costs a pretty penny, but if French automaker Renault has its way, soon you won't have to go farther than your car to get that spoiled rotten feeling.
Renault has joined forces with cosmetics maker Biotherm to create the Zoe Z.E. electric car concept. The car is sporting a climate control system that is similar to a spa. In lieu of using air conditioning which can be hard on the skin, the Zoe keeps the air inside the car cool and hydrated, preventing the skin from drying out.
The car also deals with outside toxicity levels by shutting the car's air vents when the built-in toxicity sensor detects one too many free radicals. But it just wouldn't be a spa without soothing scents, so the car has been set up to diffuse essential oils created by Biotherm to keep the driver calm no matter what time of the day, using three different scents to take care of morning, noon, and night.
Continue reading "Renault Concept Spa and Car in One"
Posted by sherri
Category:
cars
Tags: automobile Biotherm concept car electric Renault spa Zoe Z.E.
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11.12.2009
Greenhouse's New Camera Puts Ladies First
Japanese electronics company Greenhouse recently unveiled a camcorder designed with the ladies in mind. The GHV-DV30HDLXW/P comes with 128MB of internal memory that can be expanded to 32GB with a SD/SDHC memory card. It also features ports for miniHDMI and USB. The camera also has a 3-inch TFT LCD screen and can record video at 30fps in 1,280×720 resolution.
The device is currently a Japan only product, but if you're interested in importing one, it's selling for $190. As a result of the collaboration between Greenhouse and fashion brand GAUDI (ah, so many jokes, so little time) the camera is available in pink and white. A matching bag comes with the camera to complete the ensemble.
I'm personally not a fan of pink tech on principle, but I wouldn't mind owning the white version. What are your thoughts on these cameras and pink tech?
Via CrunchGear
Posted by sherri
Category:
cameras
Tags: fashion gadgets GAUDI Greenhouse video cameras
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11.11.2009
T-Mobile introduces Nokia 3711 clamshell phone for the budget conscious
So who isn't budget conscious in these times? Well, excluding those lucky-buckies who raised their hands, the Nokia 3711 from T-Mobile suits the more uneasy wallets to the T. By just retaining the basic functionalities - QVGA screen, 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, FM radio and microSD memory slot in a neat clamshell. Though T-Mobile’s AWS 3G comes included, features such as GPS, picture-messaging and email may cost you more than what's on the deal offered. Which happens to be a really affordable $69.99 on a basic Even More plan. Or for the more optimistic is the alternative Even More Plus plan at $159.99.
Via Newlaunches.
Posted by kanchana
Category:
cell phones
| devices
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11.11.2009
Serio glass loudspeakers from Waterfall Audio can blend into a bookshelf or a wall
Good-looking, minimalist speakers made exclusively from glass and aluminium, and carrying versatile placement options - summarizes the latest Serio speakers released by Waterfall Audio.
Waterfall quotes a 150Watt peak power, with 30-80Watts recommended amplifier for the 2.25 Lbs (each) Serio speakers which can apparently deliver exceptional sound quality thanks to their patented "Acoustic Damping Tube" system.The speakers are compatible with both Hi-Fi and AV applications and use a patented heat dissipation technique which can effectively withstand and handle high power levels - thereby giving the option to place the speakers even within the frugal space granted on your bookshelf. But ofcourse, other placement options are available too - hang them on a wall, or just place them on a convenient stand and they are good to go.
All said, figure if you can really afford the £179 (around $300) price tag that each unit carries. Then, take your pick from plain black, white and silver or the fashionistas in orange and green (all with matching grills).
Via Shiny Shiny.
Posted by kanchana
Category:
devices
| entertainment
| peripherals
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