Technology, Books and Other Neat Stuff

Sorry Asus, but the EEE has fallen off my wishlist. marypcb and I have been playing with a prototype of the rather lovely HP MiniNote for the last few hours, and I have to say: verily it rocketh.

Not only does it have a decent screen size and resolution, it's got a proper keyboard unlike the EEE's tiny keys. Oh, and it's solid aluminium rather than plastic - which definitely makes it teh shiny. That's three things it gets right (not to mention a decent mobile processor in the Via C-7 and a sizable set of expansion ports). The battery life isn't too shabby by all accounts, even with a 3 cell battery. The OS options work well, either Windows or SUSE Linux. The pricing's pretty good too, especially for the 4G flash RAM version...

I'll be sorry to see it go back tomorrow.

I'm currently playing with the shiniest mobile phone around, RIM's new Blackberry Pearl.



Tonight I found out how to get its trackball (which normally glows a rather delightful white) to flash different colours when the phone rang. I then spent a happy few minutes phoning myself to watch the light show.

Then I showed marypcb how to do it...

Do I need to get out more?

...from some of my recent travels.



JAL Cargo 747s are mostly unpainted. Now, I know there are good economic reasons for this, in terms of increased fuel economy, and reduced air conditioning requirements, but...

...is it just that they're shiny because they'll be full of shiny high-value high-tech toys?

Perhaps they really should plaster them in blue LEDs as well...

Yesterday marypcb and I wandered along to one of the many Christmas events that occur at this time of year, when technology companies show off the gadgets that will hit the stores in time for Christmas purchases.

One of the exhibitors at this event was Belkin, demonstrating their new range of Pure AV cables and power supplies (yes, you will be able to get a UPS for your home media set up...). Part of their range was a conditioned power supply for home AV equipment - with a diagnostic display on the front.



All very useful, and nicely encased in brushed aluminium. However there was one sad thing we learnt. Apparently focus groups saw the PSU as having one killer feature. It wasn't the fact that it would protect your expensive home cinema equipment from power surges, lightning strikes and power outages.

No.

It was the fact that you could choose to illuminate the display with a range of different LED colour effects.

I guess they might be right after all.

Never overestimate the general public.

Temperature-sensitive LED-illuminated faucets for the bathroom of tomorrow - today!

Or as they say in kindergarten: "Want! Now!"



Hansa's Canyon is a open-topped faucet, with a set of temperature-sensitive LEDs lining the walls that change colour depending on the temperature of the water - blue for cold, red for hot.

via Inhabitat