Rumer & Qix: an Eco-Sci-Fi book for Young Adults

Kathleen S. Wilson's Rumer & Qix: The Race to Terra Incognita traces the adventures of Rumer, a outgoing and curious 16 year journalist, and her robotic animal companion, Qix. Set in Nanjing in the year 3010, Wilson creates a world which has become entirely synthetic, until nature tries to make a comeback. In this eco-themed science fantasy story, we find our heroine bored of her beat covering Alfa, the largest and most successful company on the planet. However, Rumer quickly finds herself stumbling onto an adventure where she takes on global corporate conglomerates, as well as, solving secret family mysteries.

Although Rumer & Qix is Wilson's first novel, her is writing style is crisp and straight forward. Wilson is able to move the story swiftly move across many themes and sub-plots without losing the reader, even younger ones. Adding a strong female lead character and an eco-message, that avoids heavy handedness, is greatly appreciated and bodes will for Wilson future books.

The book is perfect for young people (girls and boys,) who have an interest in the sci-fi genre in these waning days of summer.

Rumer & Qix is available at amazon.com.

More on e-books: Project Gutenberg and Barnes & Noble

And while we're on the subject, David Pogue has just done a thorough job of comparing Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's e-book services.

B&N won't introduce a Kindle-like reading device until next year. Meantime you can not only read B&N books on your iPhone, you can read them on your computer--a first for commercial e-book services.

Of course, for many years that service has been available--free--from Project Gutenberg, always on my Top Ten list of 'Net freebies. If you don't always have your computer with you but do have a Palm PDA or Smartphone, there's a free app, called plucker, for reading any of the thousands of free Gutenberg books. Get plucker versions of e-books from the Gutenberg site.

Battle of the e-book readers: Sony vs. Kindle

Sony's e-book readers are hanging in there, continuing to give Amazon's Kindle some competition. Sony has announced that it will market two new e-book readers at the end of this month, PC World reports.

One is a direct competitor, a touch-screen Sony reader with a 6-inch screen to sell for $299, the same price as the Kindle. Sony is calling the other one a pocket e-book reader. It's got a 5-inch screen and is bargain-priced at $199.

See also the recent New Yorker piece by Nicholson Baker about his Kindle experiences. Warts and all.

Bing, not your neighborhood pharmacy

If you've been playing with Bing, Microsoft's new search engine, the word is to be very very careful about using Bing to fill your prescriptions for meds.

Two Web policing agencies, LegitScript and KnujOn, have teamed up to report that rogue pharmacies--online drug stores that fill prescriptions illegally--are grabbing most of the ad space on that coveted first page of Bing hits. The study found that the sites were selling drugs without a prescription and also supplying counterfeit drugs.

Kodak and Facebook: So Happy Together

With the battle of the pocket camcorders fully underway, Kodak is swinging for the fences with the latest addition to it's mini-camcorder Z series, the Zi8 Pocket Video Camera. Set to release in September, the zi8 has a 4x digital zoom and takes video in 1080p HD. Still images aren't too shabby at a respectable 5 megapixels.

It also has a 2.5 inch LCD screen, image stabilization and face detection. Additional features include built-in microphone, 128 of internal memory that can be expanded upon thanks to the SD/SDHD expansion slot. And like the Flip mini-camcorder, it can upload videos to YouTube with ease.

So what's sets it apart from the Flip Ultra HD? The Zi8 has Facebook support which means you can upload all your cinematic antics to Facebook with the same ease that you can upload video to YouTube.

Available in black, red, and blue the Zi8 is selling for $179 so if you're a Facebook fanatic, you might want to check this out in September.

Nikon Pro Battery Grip cranks up your Nikon DSLR like a determined soldier

Consider yourself lucky if you own a Nikon D200 DSLR. Atleast on one count - more battery power.

This clever Nikon Battery Grip can attach itself to your camera and give you the much needed juice - it holds within 6 AA batteries or two EN-EL3E Li-ion batteries, which means double shooting time. There is also provision for improved vertical shooting as the grip provides functions for additional shutter release, main dial, sub-main dial, AE lock/FE lock.

And as always there is the price to consider. The grip costs around $170, and can be a worthy investment if you are a serious photographer. Well, we assume you would be, with the DSLR and all.

Via The Red Ferret.

Project your Creativity with Nikon's Latest Camera

Nikon has just lifted the curtain on their latest camera and if it lives up to the specs, it promises to be one of the coolest cameras to debut this year. The Nikon Coolpix S1000pj is the world's first camera that has a built-in projector.

Without the brand new feature, the S1000 is a great camera. It has12.1 megapixels with a 5x zoom NIKKOR lens with up to 4x digital zoom, ensuring high quality, high-resolution photos. it also includes the Smart Portrait System with Skin Softening, Subject Tracking, and Quick Retouch to ensure the proper balance and contrast. You can check out all the photo action via the 2.7-inch Wide Angles LCD monitor.

Buddy home computer offers to be your handy, geeky companion

While netbooks have successfully changed the concept of a computer being a bulky, traditional storehouse of data, touchscreen phones have done a similar makeover for the cellphone market. And industrial designer Guy Ceder’s “Buddy” home computer system promises to bring all under one roof. Buddy is the concept for a new 3-part mobile computing system that features a compact and ultra-portable touchscreen unit with hook, a larger touchscreen display with integrated projector, and a base-station with the basic hardware and recharging elements.

The entire system makes use of fabric for casing, which not only looks amazing, but also presumably provides for a better tactile experience. Both the touchscreens (Wi-Fi enabled) can be used for surfing while you are on the move, for in-depth content reading and for larger-scale film and video projection. Little else is known about other areas of the specs, and we can only hope that none of them is too limiting to let Buddy actually make it into our homes in the near future.

Catch a demo after the break.

Via Slashgear.

Speak up little piggy, the big bad wolf would like to dance

Bad enough that you made little piggy carry those heavy coins when you were a cheeky little kid, and worse still that as yet you give no respite to his species - all for that one selfish reason called entertainment.

We refer to this fella called the I.D.E.A. Pig Speaker which carries a full-blown speaker in its belly and a connector where its tail was supposed to be. The ceramic pigs can belt out music from your media players, and you will need a pair to get a (somewhat) stereo effect. They are available in black, white, shiny gold and pink. Only in Japan for around $50 USD.

Someone tell me this is another joke that missed the mark.

Via DVICE.

Beambox MiLi Universal Charger mixes utility with personality

How does it feel to be alone in a strange country, and to realize that your trusted charger cannot keep your devices alive simply because you were wuss enough to forget the required adapter? Now that we made it sound pretty dramatic, here's the happy news. Beambox, makers of pocket projectors, have released the uber-cool MiLi Universal charger for charging your devices in precisely similar situations.

The universal charger comes equipped with different adapters to charge your devices (two at one go!) on UK, US, Australian, and European shores. This compact charger features two USB ports to enable you to plug in your device's original USB adapter if available even as you are charging another device simultaneously. Each port has an LED that indicates whether the connected device is fully charged. Quite sensibly, there is over-current and short-circuit protection as well. If that wasn't enough, there is also the flip-out in-car plug which ensures that you can charge within your car while you are on the move.

You will not be left wanting for choice as the charger comes in 9 bright colors - need we say pink is also in? Available for pre-order now at $37, MiLi will start shipping in August.

Via Slashgear.

Undercover Laptop Sleeve looks too worthless to be stolen

The easiest way to discourage thieves from getting at your laptop? Stash it away in a case that looks so worn out that no one can ever guess the little treasure that is hiding within. Reminds me of my grandmother's advice for undertaking a peaceful trip - to hide jewelery and money within balls of crumpled newspaper and then carelessly (seemingly) toss them into the luggage. Which has worked for me to this day.

The Undercover Laptop Sleeve does exactly that for your laptop. Since it resembles a worn-out postal envelope, it is not only easy to camouflage your laptop, but also protects it from damage as it is actually a well-padded laptop sleeve by design. The sleeve is waterproof and tearproof. And to add that extra touch of reality, you can even write on the envelope. Genius or what?

I just hope that there aren't enough well-informed thieves to get around this one. Get yours for a worthy $33.

Via Slippery Brick.

Own a Portable Rosetta Stone

Traveling to a foreign country is always exciting, but contrary to popular belief, not everyone speaks English. Thanks to Nomenta Industries, you can conquer the language barrier without totally butchering it. The Trinvo TR01 Talking Translator is a handy device that is the globe-trotting traveler's new best friend.

The translator can cross-translate in 12 languages, including Arabic, Chinese (Manadarin), French and Spanish to name a few. It comes loaded with 750 commonly spoken travelers' phrases, 2500 words for each language, and 8 categories of "fast search desire questions." Each spoken in a clear, easy to understand human voice.eliminating the time-intensive, frustrating and often embarrassing experience of trying to get your point across in a language you can barely pronounce. It also has nifty sightseeing tips for each language.

Get your Unfinished Clock before stocks finish completely

When you take a first look at the Unfinished Clock, the brainchild of Yve Thelermont and David Hupton, it just seems like the hands got misplaced from its supremely minimalistic, geometrical face. But it happens to be deliberate and thus gets categorized under the tag "design".

Nevertheless, I like the fact that this is not just a clock to hang over your wall, but to be placed on the edge of a shelf or table so that the hands are able to perform their 360-deg act of telling time, in style. The clock is available in rectangular and circular models from the Museum of Modern Art store for $46. Do we see some raised eyebrows? Well now, art's always pricey, isn't it?

Via technabob.

Liquid Wood could soon nudge out plastic from homes

Soon, it maybe easier to "green" up your home by doing away with plastic and bringing in household items made from a natural alternative. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) in Pfinztal, Germany are hard at work trying to make a substance called "Liquid Wood" a reality for household use. This substance, whose actual name is Arboform, is derived from a material called lignin that is leftover during the paper-making process in cellulose industries. Lignin is then mixed with fine natural fibers made of wood, hemp or flax and natural additives such as wax to derive a plastic-like material that can be use to create household items.

It seems that Arboform is already used in car parts and other durable items, but its foray into homes had been blocked by its high sulphur content. With the current research, it has been possible to reduce the sulphur content in Arborform by about 90 percent, making it much safer for use in everyday items. And eco supporters can also be happy to know it is highly recyclable. We are living in truly exciting times.

Via Core77.

Cineman Swivel: A Sweet Tech Treat

Wow wee, a new pico projector! No, seriously WowWee Technology just announced that its latest product is available for pre-order in the U.S. and Europe. The Cinemon Swivel, their new pico projector is just as sweet as the name suggests.

Like most pico projectors, the Swivel is a portable multimedia device that allows users to watch everything from movies to slide shows anytime or anywhere. What sets the Cinemon apart from the pack is its ability to pivot on a 90 degree angle making it easy to project on almost any surface. It also uses DLP projection technology courtesy of Texas' Instruments which is supposed to give t a clearer, crisper picture than using LCD.

Flatshare fridges are stackable like lego blocks

Where I come from, it is believed that a peek into the refrigerator always reveals a little bit of the owner's personality. If you can discern personality types based on leftovers, that is. But seriously, for me, the fridge is one appliance where innovation is all welcome. Especially if it is so unique and promising as the cool stackable Flatshare Fridges designed by Stefan Buchberger, a student at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.

This design proposes clever solutions under three different categories - lessening the cold air that escapes from the fridge while it is open, storing different food groups under customized environments to save energy, and having stackable compartments for different people sharing the same fridge. That's accomplished with style by the Flatshare as each fridge brick (resembling a Lego block) is much smaller than a traditional fridge, thus not only requiring lesser input energy to cool but also allowing lesser cold air to escape each time you open the door. And the bricks are stackable, meaning different compartments can be assembled (each fridge can hold up to 4 stackable compartments) and allocated to different people, say room-mates, making food storage personal and hassle free.

Best of all? This is perhaps the most good-looking and efficient fridge you can ever lay your hands on. If ever, as the Flatshare fridges are not available to us hungry masses yet.

Toxel, via Inhabitat.

USB TurboCharger 3400 keeps your mobile devices from giving up

Living within a "connected" planet where mobile devices almost define our identities, it becomes imperative for them to have (if possible) zero downtime. I sometimes wonder if the companies which make chargers for these mobile devices make more money than those that develop the devices in the first place. Hmm...

That said, the USB TurboCharger 3400 is another portable charger that can be used exclusively to crank up your mobile devices - mp3 players, cellphones or smartphones. The TurboCharger itself stores juice (3400 mAh storage) while it is connected to your PC/laptop's USB port and can decently charge several of your devices before it runs out completely. The device is sleek and compact, with an attractive LED display that shows the level of charge remaining. It comes with a retractable cable and range of interchangeable connector heads for different mobile devices. Will cost ya $57.

Via The Red Ferret.

The Citadel : Europe’s first floating apartment is ecological, recreational and residential

Whoever came up with the proverb "Use your enemy's hand to catch a snake" (apparently Persian in origin) was pretty damn smart. And must've caught a lot of snakes too. Jokes apart, this is exactly what the Dutch have invented in their long quest to ward off the danger of rising tides - a new construction project called "New Water" which has created "The Citadel", an apartment complex completely built on water.

The Citadel, designed by Koen Olthuis of Waterstudio, is built on a floating foundation of heavy concrete and will house 60 luxury apartments, a car park, a floating road to access the complex as well as boat docks. Each unit will have its own garden terrace as well as a view of the lake. The building is designed to float perfectly on the rising and falling water, and makes use of the water to cool itself as it pumped out of submerged pipes. Make that a slash of 25% on your electricity bill as water cooling techniques are far more efficient compared to the ones used by a conventional building on land.

And water surfing maybe just as simple as taking a walk around the block.

Via Inhabitat.

Wi-Fire takes you to hotspots you never knew existed

Connect it to your laptop's USB port and you can not only discover multiple hotspots as far as 1000ft away, but you can also connect wirelessly to the internet even at low signal strengths. That's the advantage which Wi-Fire, a compact, range-extending USB device from hField Technologies, Inc. promises to deliver.

Wi-Fire works by using "a powerful directional antenna, highly sensitive receiver and proprietary software", to find and enhance normal WiFi signals. So that you can peacefully surf at low signal strengths without repeatedly losing the connection, and download large files, stream audio/video at higher strengths. The device apparently uses very little power from your laptop, and is compatible with Windows XP/Vista, Mac and Linux.

At $59, it is an investment that can yield recurrent returns. The best part? Priceless mobility as it lets the virtual world roam along with you.

Via The Gadgeteer.

Bomb USB flash drive will not harm your data

Any guesses on why the heck would anyone think of making a bomb-shaped USB flash drive ? We got no clue either.

But apparently this design by Joel Escalona Studio was intended to create a “metaphoric and conceptual object designed to be shown on a desk or a work place, not so much to carry around”. Just as well. Imagine carrying this thing around, say when you are aboard a flight. And God help you if you were daring enough.

It is still a concept that is looking to explode - oops - find producers.

Via OhGizmo.

Smell Like Star Trek

Comic Con may be over, but you can keep the aroma of awesomness alive long after the last display has been packed up and the last wanna-be Kirk has crawled back into his basement until next year. Fragrance maker Genki Wear, has made it's mark on geeky pop culture with their Star Trek-themed colognes and perfumes.

The company unleashed a new cologne on the smelly masses to commemorate Comic Con 2009. The fragrance dubbed KHAAANN!! (no, this is not a joke, this is the actual name of the cologne) after the glistening-chested, revenge seeking Khan Noonien Singh, one of Ricardo Montalbán's greatest roles. While the limited-edition fragance is undeniably cool, no woman wants to go around smelling of Star Trek and Fantasy Island.

Frost solar-powered air-conditioner makes your electricity bills lighter

Isn't it a smart idea that you make use of the scorching sun itself to keep you cool during harsh summers? Why not. And it just seems so perfectly logical, I wonder why solar-powered air-conditioners haven't made themselves loud enough (not literally) to be heard by folks like us who spend shameful amounts on our electricity bills all summer.

The Frost is a concept solar-powered air-conditioner designed by industrial designer Philip Stankard that uses stored solar energy to power its fans, and refrigerator freezer energy to provide a source of low temperature for the fans' breeze to circulate into your home. While the unit itself soaks up the sun and converts that into power to operate the fans, there is a removable freezer pack that you can put into the refrigerator's freezer unit for soaking up the ice. All you then need to do is switch on the unit and insert the freezer pack to get some cold wintry breeze.

Apparently it's not only a breeze on your electricity bill, but also an air-conditioner that looks swell. As there aren't more details available yet, one would assume that since this device doesn't seem to have the luxury of temperature regulation, it would perhaps be more appropriate to term it an air-cooler. Which still doesn't take anything away from how cool a concept this is. This time, literally.

Via Ecofriend.

Kidizoom camera provides for safe toddler entertainment

I often have to make the choice (read million times a day) between letting my toddler satisfy his curiosity on how my gizmos can contribute to his growing need to know everything, and extending their shelf life by that one more day by keeping them out of his reach. Taking the latter option almost always means that I get to savor my toys only when he is at school, or is blissfully asleep. Both of which happen to be the shortest events of the day.

Being the hassled, deprived mother that I sound like, it is always relieving to see the growth of the kiddies' gadget market. The latest in the little world of digital cameras is the Kidizoom series for pre-schoolers from VTech. Take your pick from two models - the Kidizoom Plus which sports a 2x digital zoom, a movie mode (with sound), 256 MB of memory, an optical viewfinder plus a preview screen that works with a D-pad and an SD memory slot, or the 0.3-megapixel Kidizoom which has all of the former, except for the viewfinder.

Both cameras include a photo editor (Mac/Windows), a crude auto flash, U.S.B. and AV cables to connect to your computer or TV, and run on four AA batteries. The Kidizoom Plus is priced at $60, and the basic Kidizoom $20 cheaper at $40. Wait for them to hit the stores next month.

Via NYTimes.

FujiFilm Takes Some Fine Pix

For the photo fanatic that wants a camera as eye-catching as their pics, Fujifilm presents the FinePix Z35 digital camera. This little beauty is following the "C's" -- "cute, curvy, and compact." The FinePix, the latest release in the popular Z series of cameras is slim. How slim? The 23.9 mm thick device is thin enough to slide comfortably into your jean pocket and is the perfect party cam -- able to fit into the smallest of purses to catch those impromptu moments that life can throw at you.

The Z35 has 10 megapixel with a 3x optical zoom which is optimal for taking crisp, clear shots. it also has a 2.5-inch LCD screen perfect for checking out your shots before and after you snap the photo. In order to ensure that perfect shot, the z35 also has Face Detection and the six scene SR AUTO feature. The automatic scene recognition can detect portrait, night protrait, and landscape just to name a few. Shutterbugs can also trim and crop pics as they please and create slideshows

Orb Bluetooth Headset is the geekiest jewellery ever

Those sleek-looking futuristic gizmos with superior intelligence (and zero failure rate) need no longer be confined to the enjoyment of sci-fi movie stars, or superheroes alone. Or so it seems, looking at this awesome bluetooth headset called the Orb.

Developed through a partnership between Hybra Advance Technology Inc. and AbsolutelyNew Inc., this overwhelmingly fresh design redefines the otherwise common bluetooth headset completely - when not in use, the Orb transforms into an elegant finger ring which displays caller ID, calendar items and voice-to-text info on its flexible organic light emitting diode (FOLED) display. Activate the headset simply by slipping it off your finger and twisting it into an S-shaped length of silver that can be unobtrusively hung over your ear.

The Orb is expected to launch in two editions next year - the base model in January (without display, priced $129), and the Deluxe model in April (with FOLED display, priced $175). I am keeping my fingers crossed. And ready.

Via DVICE.

Contact lenses that deliver medication

It is a disease that strikes most of us once too often - either forgetting to take the meds, or forgetting the ones that have been already downed, and thereby ending up with an overdose. Well, here's the good news. Patients with eye problems such as dry-eyes and glaucoma can now look forward to some help from technology that promises to take over when you have discovered the imperfections of your own memory. And it is a contact lens that delivers medication gradually over time, and eliminates the need to use messy eye drops.

Heard right. Boston researchers report that they’ve created a contact lens that can deliver a high concentration of antibiotic at a constant rate for more than 30 days. Call this a great boon for eye patients considering the statistics that even if you do diligently put in your eye drops, for every administration, only 1 to 7 percent of the medication actually gets absorbed into the eye, while the rest drips down the cheeks or into the back of the throat. The new contact lens design can apparently provide large amounts of drug released at constant rates for long periods of time, which previous discoveries have not been able to do.

The research is currently being tested in a lab dish and is expected to soon move towards animal testing. Human lenses of this kind? Perhaps well before we set up life on the moon.

Via Medlaunches.

Toshiba Tries to Make Digital Photo Frames Cool

Since their arrival on the tech scene, consumer electronic companies have been trying to sell the public on digital picture frames -- trying to convince how cool they really are. And despite numerous attempts and feature additions including being able to send photos wirelessly or the ability to create slideshows, we still haven't jumped on the digital photo frame album. Toshiba is hoping to finally make a decidedly lame product somewhat cool.

Kingston creates record, releases monster 256GB thumb drive

Seven years down the memory lane, I still remember the times when at the end of a day's work at office, I would have to erase the paltry few MB of data on my 256MB thumb drive to accommodate a few files that I would take home to complete pending documentation. That seems like eons ago as I sit here, seeing a picture of this monstrous 256GB thumb drive from Kingston - the first ever in the world - with shivers of excitement down my spine.

Kingston has just released the Kingston DataTraveler 300 - a 256GB thumb drive which will allow a whopping 51,000 images, or 54 DVDs, or 365 CDs, or a database of documents which in an analog world would translate into a 1km paper tower. This beast is plug-n-play, has a 20 MB/sec. read and 10 MB/sec. write speeds, with a "Password Traveler" security software for Windows, and supports Windows ReadyBoost on Windows Vista systems.

Well, not everyone can rejoice just yet though since the release is only for Europe and the UK. And for those of you who can, it won't be unreasonable if you expect to win a lottery to be able to buy one - it is priced an equally monstrous $924.

Via Engadget.

Toshiba Try to Make Digital Photo Frames Cool

Since their arrival on the tech scene, consumer electronic companies have been trying to sell the public on digital picture frames -- trying to convince how cool they really are. And despite numerous attempts and feature additions including being able to send photos wirelessly or the ability to create slideshows, we still haven't jumped on the digital photo frame album. Toshiba is hoping to finally make a decidedly lame product somewhat cool.

Digital black-and-white clock is a milestone in minimalism

It is sometimes so frustrating to see a thing of beauty locked up inaccessibly with the tag "prototype". Well, life's not always fair now, is it? So it is with this beauty called the "black-and-white" digital clock from Kibardindesign. And designer Vadim Kibardin has created a totally new concept of a digital clock with this one.

The "clock" is actually a collection of four translucent white figures each of which can display a numeral from 0-9, can be independently controlled, and is powered by a self-contained power supply. The figures are made up of a polycarbonate material with the luminous part being an Organic Light- Emitting Diode (OLED). The figures are white in darkness and black at daytime. They can be fixed to any surface, to an alignment of your choice, and voila - you can proudly show off the most elegant clock in the neighborhood. Well, not quite. Remember us mentioning earlier that it is still a prototype? Boo-hoo.

Via Swissmiss.

Olympus announces µ TOUGH-6010 for the adventure hungry

Expect the new Olympus baby - Stylus Tough 6010 (µ TOUGH-6010 in Europe) - to perform just as bravely as it sounds while on rough terrain. This new member of the Olympus rugged and compact series is waterproof upto 3-metres, shockproof upto 1.5-metres and freeze-proof upto -10 degrees Celsius. Which makes it good enough to carry on your next adventure trip without the usual jittery feeling that you get with a normal digital camera.

The technical specifications include a 12-MP sensor, a 2.7" LCD screen with Tap Control, 3.6X optical zoom, 45MB internal memory with xD/microSD card options. The other new features thrown in - an i-Auto intelligent mode which "uses advanced automatic detection technology to allow the camera to recognise the five most commonly used scenes automatically", and Magic Filters which "enable special artistic effects to be created directly in the camera".

While you wait to lay your hands on one this month, we daresay you will need more than just spare change to pamper yourself with this beastie - it costs a whopping $488.

Via Digital Photography Review.