Widgets or gadgets, as they have come to be known for PCs, have become an easy and quick way for Web sites to attract traffic, but their rise has been accompanied with a new form of Internet spyware. Malicious widgets capitalize on the user’s assumption that all Google widgets are moderated, and some argue they are not. At the Black Hat Hacker conference in Las Vegas, consultants from SecTheory and Cenzic security companies demonstrated how a simple looking gadget could access personal information through an Internet web browser. Sites that encourage users to jazz up their pages appear to be the prime targets for such malicious gadgets.

But it doesn’t stop there. SecTheory and Cenzic believe that there are malicious widgets that steal information from other non-malicious widgets. Google discounts the SecTheory and Cenzic criticism. In a statement, Google retorts that the gadgets they distribute are regulated, and malicious gadgets are rarely found. When they are, the malicious widget is immediately blacklisted. (more…)

Microsoft Tuesday unveiled a prototype computer, Sphere, at the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit 2008 in Redmond, Washington.

Sphere is composed of a large spherical screen atop an infrared projector. The projector projects images onto the screen, while at the same time allowing multi-touch manipulation of the images, so that it can be used by several users at once. Sphere uses a special algorithm to show images without distortion, as they would look on a flat screen. (more…)

In an interview with the BBC, Steven Prentice, analyst for the information technology research and advisory firm Gartner, says that the mouse will largely be replaced with other means of interface within the next five years. The mouse’s place will be taken by technology developed for entertainment, video games, and computer access for the disabled.

“You’ve got Panasonic showing forward facing video in the home entertainment environment. Instead of using a conventional remote control you hold up your hand and it recognises you have done that,” Prentice says in the article. (more…)

This week, Atelier reviews what is trendy on the web magazine of our great expert contributor. Ubergizmo.com is dedicated to consumer electronics news and reviews.

Spoon Scales for Weight Watchers

If you’re extremely meticulous about what goes into your mouth, then the Spoon Scales would be the perfect dining room gadget for you. This spoon features a built-in scale that will be able to detect the weight of anything (preferably food) between 0.1 to 300 grams, and is accurate to 1/10th of a gram. An integrated LCD display shows the current weight, and you can toggle switch to ounces if you aren’t too comfortable with the metric system. The Spoon Scale is made out of ABS plastic, while it’s handle uses stainless steel for a more classy approach. Pro-idee is selling the Spoon Scale for $35.

Earthquake Study Involves Laptop Accelerometers

Simologists at Stanford have found an innovative method to gather quake data - by using laptops equipped with accelerometers. This method saves resources for scientists by using your laptops that are deployed across a widespread area, especially in places such as SF and LA with plans to move into different zones later. Owners of a MacBook, iBook or Powerbook made after 2005 can join in this effort to inform people about quakes after it happens, or even functioning as a warning system. After all, every single micro-second counts, and the system is smart enough to tell the different between a real big earthquake compared to vibrations from a passing truck, a bump to a table, or even a minor earthquake. I think this will prove more useful than the SETI home project.

Sea Instrument Dive Computer

The Seat Instrument dive computer was recently launched by Danish watch designers Linde Werdelin, clipping onto the Biformeter watc and providing you with all the necessary information whenever you go diving. It will come in two versions - steel and gold, where the former is $3,000 while the latter is way out of reach at $46,000. Both versions are useless if you do not fork out $5,000 for the Biformeter in the first place. Other features include:

• Full color 220 x 176-pixel LCD screen
• 150 grams
• 128MB flash memory
• Internal temperature sensor, in-water sensor, light sensor
• Water-resistant to 1,000 meters
• Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
• USB charger

Walkie Talkie Watches

Keep in touch with a friend in the neighborhood with the Walkie Talkie watch, as this new model boasts a stunning range of up to 1.5 miles. Hey, at least you get to save on your monthly phone bill, right?Each purchase comes with an earpiece for discrete listening without having any busybodies eavesdrop on you. Features of these wrist walkie talkies include:

• 1.5 mile range
• Auto Squelch system - automatically cuts off weak transmissions
• Auto-off to save power
• Flex and Talk Operation
• Voice Operated Transmission (VOX)
• Digital volume control
• Backlight for LCD display
• 3.5mm jack socket for use with earphones

Gizoo is currently selling the Walkie Talkie Watches for £32.95 each.

F1/Carbon GMT Concept Watch

Things don’t get any more precise than Formula 1, and the concept F1/Carbon GMT watch is definitely a thing of beauty. Inspired by the world of F1, designer John Pszeniczny has decided to throw in a carbon fiber body, Swarovski crystals, rubber and metal into this timepiece that features 18 identical rubies while telling the time in all 18 cities on the 2008 F1 circuit. Other features include a built-in lap timer function and a stopwatch. I suppose if this was released, it will also be one of the fastest wallet emptiers in history, probably hitting $0 from $20,000 in the time you take to swipe your credit card.

Electric Motion Systems E+ Bike

Electric bikes seem to be getting the popular vote these days, and the new Electric Motion Systems E+ bike is another addition to a growing list. While DOT requirements state that a road-going electric bike ought to have its speed limit capped at 20 mph, the E+ can hit 30 mph when traveling off the beaten path. Without turning the pedals even once, the E+ is able to manage 20 miles on a single charge, whereas if you throw in some pedaling as well you can double the range. It won’t be cheap though as you will need to fork out at least $3,495, and you can choose from a cruiser or mountainbike frame. And to think that bicycles were once meant to be exercise machines…

Uno One-Wheeled Motorcycle

The Uno is an interesting mode of transport - it is a one wheeled-looking motorcycle in essence, and it looks as though only the foolhardy and brave will take this out for a spin.
The orange and grey coloured Uno made its first public appearance balanced on its two side-by-side wheels and its footpegs. Looking more like it should have been ridden by George Jetson as he pulled up to his space platform, it looked out of place amid the other custom creations in the building.
I wonder how much one of these costs. Probably an arm, a leg and both kidneys.

Man Builds own Solar-Electric Bike

Brent Hatch must’ve gotten sick and tired of paying ever higher prices for gas, driving him to create this DIY Solar Electric Bike from scratch. Apparently, his gas bill has surpassed the $700 mark (both he and his wife has seven children), causing him to purchase an 8-seater bicycle while affixing a bunch of roof-mounted solar panels to rev up an electric motor. You won’t go very fast with this puppy, but at least short commutes to and from school to pick up the young ‘uns will be much easier on the wallet. Hopefully the other kids play nice and won’t ridicule Brent’s offspring.

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I/O Concept Watch

Bad Breath Checker

Cold Seat Fends Off Summer Heat

Thanko USB Face Mask

Fujitsu Vein Scanner Comes To The US

Digital Cutting Board<
Most cutting boards are but plain colored rectangles, but the Digital Cutting Board from Nardo Design is worlds apart from what we have in the market today. It is equipped with a flexible LCD display that shows cooking instructions on it to help you achieve that perfect meal. In addition, it also allows you to read up on downloaded recipes which you have a personal interest in. Chromium handles on both ends complete the Digital Cutting Board, and it will be made out of environmentally-friendly components which do not pollute our world after disposal. Unfortunately, the Digital Cutting Board is but a concept at this point in time, so you’ll be better off with a flat panel TV in your kitchen for now.

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The LTK-2000 Therapy Station is one device where pressured executives would welcome, be it at home or at the office. This Korean gadget not only features 24 relaxing sounds for different categories (concentration, therapy for depression, etc), it also comes with a ring of bright blue LEDs that claim to provide your tired eyes with 5,000 lux of light therapy. Just in case the audio and visual combination aren’t effective enough, there is always the option to include a herbal aroma cartridge onto the top of the unit, letting your nose breathe in a soothing scent to relax those jangled nerves. An integrated anion generator rounds off the list of features. I don’t think the price tag is very relaxing though, as it retails for $395 each.

Keeping your treasured possessions safe can be quite a challenge these days, but thankfully skillful thieves aren’t exactly that common. The Biometric Vault Security Safe helps keep your belongings secure by using fingerprints as the method of authentication. It can store up to 50 fingerprints in its integrated flash memory, and has the backup of internal batteries just in case the A/C power goes off. Other features include a soft spring-loaded door mechanism and LCD screen as well, retailing for $499 a pop. It takes less than a second to verify your identification, although I would have liked to see one that works in tandem with an iris scan.

The Talking Caller ID Announce Station is one interesting device that ensures you don’t have to rush over to your house phone from the kitchen each time it rings. After all, it actually reads out the actual name of the caller, making it the perfect device for the vision impaired. Powered by a trio of AA batteries, the Talking Caller ID Announce Station comes with volume control and a mute button, meeting both FCC and ETL requirements. It functions with both corded or cordless telephones, although you will need to ensure that subscription to name-and-number Caller ID services are offered by your local telephone company. That’s an additional fee, of course, but the Talking Caller ID Announce Station retails for $39.99 each.

I guess it makes perfect sense that nobody would want to mow the lawn when it is raining, so the premise for a solar-powered lawnmower is a no-brainer. Husqvarna has rolled out its automatic electric solar-powered hybrid robotic lawn mower that claims to be the first of its kind in the world, offering a professionally cut lawn every time at a steep price - £2,000, to be exact. Well, I guess as long as the sun shines this piece of machinery will keep on going, but just how robust and tough are the insides? This lawnmower can clear 2,300 square meters of grass and is programmable to work only at certain times or days of the week. It has a battery life of approximately 40 minutes before a 40 minute charging time juices it up, but on a sunny day, its cutting time can be extended by another 50%.

The Pleo did not really take off as intended during the holiday season last year, but if you’re one of the few who picked it up, here’s some news for you. Its Life OS has just gotten an update, bringing the version number up to 1.0.2 that enables your robotic dinosaur to explore its surroundings even more, being more alert of its surroundings, and singing whenever it is in a presence of a group of people. You can download the Pleo 1.0.2 Life OS update here.

For folks who are heading towards London for a holiday soon, Coolgorilla has a solution for tourists - the London Travel Guide that was specially designed to be used in iPods, iPhones and other cell phones. It is available as a free download and comes packed with information on London like stunning video footage, roving maps and colorful facts about each tourist attraction. Just make sure that you don’t forget to pack a universal adapter just in case your iPod runs out of juice, lest you need to disturb one of the Bobbies there in order to find your way around. Coolgorilla is currently working on similar travel guides in other cities like Paris, Barcelona, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, targeting a release date of sometime later this year.

Everyone remembers the USB Humping Dog that caused quite a fair bit of guffaws when it was released - we have something less obscene now in the form of the USB Exercise Dog. While it doesn’t do much just like its predecessor, at least this time our plastic pooch’s abs are getting some love. I can bet my bottom dollar that sooner or later, somebody with a fair bit of DIY skills will come up with a version that carries some sort of flash memory just like how the USB Humping Dog was modified before.

Find all the sources, and discover more consumer electronics news and reviews at Ubergizmo.com.

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Marijuana Vending Machine

Now this is a vending machine that you don’t see every day - it dispenses medical marijuana. Located in three spots throughout Los Angeles, it was created by Vincent Mehdisadeh, the owner of the Los Angeles Herbal Nutrition Center. Needless to say, these machines have already gotten the attention of federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents who are raring to find out more about these machines as to whether they violate any law(s). These machines can be accessed 24/7, while preserving one’s anonymity when attaining medically prescribed marijuana.

 

Hi-Gain Wireless-G Dish Adapter

Boost your home’s wireless signal with the Hi-Gain Wireless-G Dish Adapter today - this device might not be as small as you’d like it to be, but at the very least you can be sure of a strong signal no matter which part of the home you’re currently at. Of course, I don’t think this is recommended if you happen to live in one of those mansions featured on MTV’s "Cribs", but for the ordinary Joe, it ought to do more than enough to blanket your home with strong WiFi signals, allowing you to check up on the latest gadget news even if you’re in the loo. It supposedly offers a 300% increase in wireless signal and is hooked up to your desktop/notebook via USB. Are you willing to splash out $62 on this?

 

Wiimote Hacked To Control Curtains

Those who have spent a night at the Bellagio will know that curtains in there are remote controlled, but you don’t have to travel all the way to Las Vegas in order to experience this luxury. All you need is a little DIY knowledge, a Wiimote and you’re good to go. "The curtain control system is an existing system from Goelst and is called "G-Rail 6200". Normally it is controlled by infrared or wallswitches. However, it can also be controlled with a CAN bus. I used this CAN bus to interface with an old PC." Guess the Wii has more than one use, eh?

 

Yet Another Video Watch

Telling the time has gotten a technological boost with this offering from Chinavasion. It features the following specifications :

• 1.8" display
• 20fps video playback
• 2.5mm headphone jack (what, no 3.5mm?)
• Audio playback support
• Tells the time (duh)

Fancy picking up this rather tacky looking timepiece? It retails for $85.71 a pop, and don’t blame me if you suddenly find yourself unable to pick up any girl from the day of purchase.

 

Pet Mate Elite

The Pet Mate Elite prevents your cat from coming in and going out as it pleases - this technologically advanced flap allows you to control just which pet is able to come in to your home, even down to the exact minute. Eight RFID chips are attached to different pets, where the Pet Mate Elite will detect the corresponding RFID tag and compare it to the permission levels set by you before it grants/deny access. I wonder whether there is a Teenager Mate Elite that lets you set down ground rules in a much stricter manner without threats of being grounded. The Pet Mate Elite can be picked up for £99.95.

 

Disinfecting UV Scanner

Paranoid androids can pick up this Disinfecting UV Scanner that, according to the product description, "protects your family from colds, flu, and germs such as E. coli. Portable scanner instantly disinfects doorknobs, faucets, computer keyboards and mouse, phones. Just wave it over the item-kills 99.9% of germs in seconds. Great for travel and everyday use. Uses 4 AAA batteries (not included). Folds to just 4 1/2" long to fit in included carry pouch." $29.99 for your peace of mind, and unless you’re extremely subsceptible to diseases and pathogens, the Disinfecting UV Scanner sounds more like a novelty item than a necessary purchase.

 

MSI ECOlution Motherboard

Everyone knows that computer motherboards tend to generate a whole lot of heat, so why not harness all the heat generated to push coolers which will then keep the system cool for better performance? This sounds like a novel idea, where MSI has come up with the ECOlution motherboard in order to harness the power of heat, transforming it into kinetic energy that will then power the chipset’s cooler. I guess this is a pretty automatic solution, because when the motherboard is cooled down enough, the cooler won’t have any more kinetic energy from heat and stop functioning until it is hot enough inside again. Hopefully the accessory on the motherboard won’t generate too much noise.

 

Find all the sources, and discover more consumer electronics news and reviews at Ubergizmo.com.

 

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Solar-powered Dragonfly

James Watt (I like his surname as it has something to do with power) has created a truly amazing tiny electronic insect robot that is powered by the sun instead of relying on batteries. The best part is, his project comes in the form of a dragonfly that isn’t too far away from its real world counterpart at first glance, and is capable of flapping its wings thanks to simple electronics and a pager motor. If only this puppy will be able to master flight.

5G iPod Video Gets Bluetooth Hack

Ed Hernández has just unveiled to the world his latest project - a 5G 30GB iPod video that comes with a Bluetooth module, enabling audio out. Unfortunately, the 30GB model is too thin for comfort, and hence Ed had to make some modifications in order to make Apple’s famous PMP accommodate the Bluetooth module. The hard drive was replaced with a Compact Flash memory card, while the front white plastic has been removed, with an iVue clear panel replacing it so that the Bluetooth LED is able to shine through. Reminds me of those transparent Gameboys that Nintendo used to sell…

Hyundai In-Dash Dual LCD Monitor

Hyundai has successfully developed its new in-dash dual LCD monitor that is capable of displaying up to two different images simultaneously due to different viewer angles. This will certainly come in handy, as the driver will be able to refer to the map shown on the display while the passenger enjoys a movie. The Hyundai Grandeur will be a recipient of such technology - I wonder how much extra do you have to fork out to have this luxury in your vehicle.

SteakHouse Indoor Grill

Check out the SteakHouse indoor grill that adopts a vertical design which makes one think of a toaster - but there is a more noble intention in making it stand up. Other than to save space and look like some sort of futuristic kitchen appliance, standing vertically allows fats to drain from the food into catch trays so that they won’t smoke right next to the heating elements which are located on both sides of the food tray to speed up cooking times. Forget grilling steaks this summer - you can toast ‘em instead. The SteakHouse Indoor Grill retails for €150 and is a sure-fire conversation starter.

Skeleton Mouse

I suppose if you love the Necromancer class in World of Warcraft, chances are this Skeleton Mouse is right up your alley. Designed to look like a decomposed corpse complete with whitewashed bones, the Skeleton Mouse is definitely eerie looking, and it sure as heck doesn’t look too comfortable at all. I can’t seem to find the scroll button on this thing - hopefully it is not part of the bony spine that curves all the way down from one end to the other.

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Order Starbucks Via Apple

Folks who can’t get enough coffee from Starbucks will soon be able to order their favorite caffeinated beverage from the comfort of their iPhone and iPod touch without waiting in line, courtesy of a new Starbucks program that functions via WiFi at each Starbucks outlet. You’ll be able to bypass the cheery shoutouts from the barista as you choose your drink just like how you would do at an actual Starbucks cafe, save for the fact that you’d be relying on a whole lot of finger pointing instead. Skip those queues and reserve those seats before other iPod-less folk manage to even think of what they want to have for breakfast.

This cell phone is powered by a Hydrogen fuel cell that works by extracting hydrogen from water, then extracting electrons from the hydrogen. It is a water-powered phone, in a sense.

Make sure your tiny one doesn’t venture beyond his/her designated boundaries with the In-Reach Child Tracker.

Japanese engineers aren’t giving up on domestic robots. This “chef” might not be in your kitchen anytime soon, but it is capable of preparing octopus balls by itself, in four steps:

• Chop the Octopus
• Roll the pieces into balls
• Place the balls on the grill
• Serve the cooked balls in a plate

This happens in a tightly controlled environment, but I’d love to see it in action.

[GDC 2008] You might have seen the Zeemote during Mobile World Congress last week, but the company will promote the software development kit (SDK) at the Game Developers Conference being held in San Francisco.

We meet Beth Marcus, the founder and CEO of Zeemote and we had the opportunity to play with it, and to make a long story short: it’s pretty cool. To be honest there was some skepticism when we saw the device in a photo. But we also know that playing with a phone’s keyboard provides a bad experience.

The Zeemote feels good in the hand and it works well as a one-handed game controller. It is also surprisingly light (47g). The Zeemote has an analog joystick, even if most mobile games are built for a digital controller. That will give developers more options when they create their games. Developer John Chasey from Finblade told us that integrating the Zeemote code is easy. Ultimately, the Zeemote success will be measured by the number of games supporting it.

Continue Reading "Zeemote Bluetooth Mobile Game Controller Hands-On"

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Space Solar Power System

I guess it is apparent by now to everyone that the world will soon be plunged into an energy crisis, no thanks to growing economies in the east as well as the general decadence in the west, but there are people from all walks of life who think otherwise and try to make their lives as green as possible. Relying on nuclear power alone is a wee bit too dangerous IMHO, so this plan by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to build a Space Solar Power System (SSPS) gets my thumbs-up. The end result would be to see the SSPS running by the year 2030 comes around, where huge solar collectors in geostationary orbit will convert sunlight into microwave beams that are then sent to receiving stations on earth 36,000 km downwards and subsequently converted into electricity for everyday consumption. One thing’s for sure though, while it sound much safer than having a nuclear reactor blow up, what happens if the SSPS experiences a technical breakdown? Do we need to send a rocket up into space just to fix it?

Yuno PC Concept

Most folks often read the morning news with a hot cup of joe in one hand, but the Yuno PC concept wants to bring both ideas together in a single device. It is a coffee mug that keeps your favorite morning beverage warm while delivering news and information such as weather, time, stocks, traffic and more wirelessly on its wraparound touch screen display. Sounds pretty difficult to read, especially with a curved surface facing you. I think I’d stick to my standard paper-and-mug combo, thank you very much.

Sonim XP1 Indestructible Phone

We’ve just got word that Sonim will be showing its Sonim XP1 “indestructible” phone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. At the show, the company will challenge the attendees and particularly attending media to hurt the phone.

”If you’ve been watching the videos on YouTube, you’ll have seen the Sonim shot with a Glock 9mm by Mobil magazine and a Remington rifle by Metro, the largest paper in Sweden” Bob Plaschke, CEO of Sonim

Anyone who refrains from using a cellphone because of a difficult environment could be interested in the Sonim XP1. Press Release

Chanel Coco Phone Concept

Designed by Fred de Garilhe, this phone would have a lower sliding part that contains the display and the function buttons while the upper-piece would hold the numeric pad. When not in use, all the user interface elements would disappear to reveal a pure shiny surface.

Check out the photo gallery. More concepts.

Power-Generating Bionic Knee

This power-generating knee has been adapted from a knee brace. Although it is said that it could power a small device like a cellphone, it is not aimed at consumers. Instead it could be used by people who don’t have an easy access to electricity, like workers in remote areas or explorers. The inventors hope to have a commercial product for field workers in five years. [more at TimesOnline]

Explay Oio Nano Projector

Explay is specialized in projectors that are small enough to fit in a pocket but that can project an image that is 20 times their size. The current product is a matchbox size solution that can project images as big as 30”. One of the secret behind this prowess is the use of uber-small light sources such as lasers and LED lights.

There are no details on the actual resolution or prices at the moment.

PC Guardian Physically Locks USB Ports

It is known that USB keys can be used to steal data or install malware/spyware software on your computer. If you believe that you’re at risk, you could think that this USB port lock is what you need. After all, it’s easy to install and is a simple physical look for the USB port.

The issue is that now you also need to lock the whole case. Also, it’s not clear to me how it protects the two USB ports just underneath the locked one on the photo. Anyhow, it’s up to you to see if this is going to help, but it doesn’t seem unbreakable at all.

Wikipedia Offline for iPhone and iPod Touch

Patick Collison coded an offline Wikipedia app for the iPhone over his Christmas break because he likes “the warm fuzzy feeling of having the sum of all human knowledge in his pocket”. For the same reason that we do not own an iPhone yet, he wanted to prevent online Wikipedia users to go nuts over the slow EDGE connection.

The app takes 2.2 GB and I am not sure if iPhone users would like to spare the storage space for it. If you do, watch Patrick’s tutorial video on YouTube about the installation.

Walkman Case Hides iPod

iPod theft has gotten pretty common since Apple’s portable media player took the world by storm, so what’s an iPod owner supposed to do? Well, other than make sure it remains well hidden, you can always take the ingenious route by storing it inside the shell of an unused Sony Walkman. How ironic, using the dead "body" of the 80s iconic audio player to keep the millennium’s top PMP away from the sight of many. Just make sure you don’t use the iPod’s famous white earphones with it or you’ll probably give the game away. Folks who are great with DIY jobs will be able to find this a very viable project to keep them occupied over the weekend.

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