led

LED pen can let everyone know your mood

From its weird name to bizarre product lineup, we've always been fascinated by Hong Kong-based Brando. It has, after all, been single-handedly responsible for giving us everything from lip phones and mosquito repellants to mouse massagers and aromatherapy speakers.

But every once in a long while, it comes up with something we'd actually consider buying. And this is one of the exceptions: an LED message pen. We have no idea why--it's not as if we need one to advertise our business or anything, though it would be pretty nifty to have one that lit up with "… Read more

A spa to light up the entire body

People ascribe great healing powers to LED lamps and are willing to make some notable sacrifices to use them. But the Med Spa Clinic in England has taken the concept to its therapeutic extreme.

The "Oxy-LED Light Spa Capsule" isn't directed only at the face as are other products, instead spreading its magic wavelengths over the entire body. The reason: Not only is it an emotional enhancer, but the pricey full-body spa supposedly promotes weight loss when combined with other therapies by causing "intense physical stimulation," according to BornRich. With claims like that, it might … Read more

LED lightbulbs: Are you ready to make the switch?

High price and a strange color. No, we're not talking about a hairdo. Those are the two factors that have kept light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, from becoming a mainstream light source.

But that might change soon, said Zach Gibler, chief business development officer of Lighting Science Group, which plans to announce distribution deals with major retailers for its LED bulbs that screw into a regular socket.

LED bulbs for household use have already been around for some time, but their success has been limited. The main obstacles have been that they cost more than incandescent lightbulbs and emit a … Read more

Gadgettes 85: The things that glow episode

Glowing things can be somewhat morbid. They can be somewhat toolie. But sometimes, if you're lucky, they can be totally and completely PRETTTTTY. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 85

The Hanged Man Lamp: Ever so slightly morbid? http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2008/04/the_hanged_man.html

Mood Clock + USB Hub = Twice as much fun http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2008/04/usb_moody_clock.html

Glowing flower pot for the trippy garden owner http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2008/04/glowing_flower.html

Enjoy nighttime bocce ball with LED Bocce http://dvice.com/archives/2008/04/enjoy_nighttime.php

Light-up tweezers enable precision plucking … Read more

Cyclists may get a hand (and arm) with safety

Although automobiles have countless safety devices and technologies, there are relatively few for bicycles by comparison. And that makes little sense when you look at the global trends, which will only increase in coming years with the growth of green initiatives.

That shortcoming inspired London design student Michael Chen to come up with a concept for a jacket he calls the "Reactiv" (that's right, there's no "e" at the end--it's not at typo or some weird British spelling). Using an accelerometer to track movement, the high-tech garment has LEDs on the sleeves that … Read more

The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Bruce Springsteen DVDs--why just listen when you can watch?

The CD may be on its way out, but music and concert DVDs are doing just fine, thank you very much! Late last year I wrote a feature for Home Entertainment magazine running down some of my favorite music DVDs of all time. They were all "live" recordings--there wasn't a single MTV style "music video" in the bunch. This is an abridged version of the article, check the Home Entertainment website to check out the complete article. Oh, and I've added a few DVDs that didn't make the article.

Led Zeppelin

With a … Read more

Is the time right for watch phones?

Maybe there's something to this latest watch phone trend after all. Barely a day after posting an item about a model that didn't send people rushing for the vomitoria, we see that another one has surfaced to pique our interest.

The WM2 from Netherlands-based Van Der Led (we'd never heard of them either) has come up with an innovative solution to the obvious challenge of limited real estate on such gadgets, embedding a keypad on the wristband.

Other specs include Bluetooth, 1GB of built-in storage, 300 minutes of talk time, and 240 hours on standby, according to … Read more

Gadgettes 84: The Li'l Critters Episode

Molly must say "nubbins" at some point, because this episode is pretty much dedicated to the cute li'l critters of the world. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 84

The Duck Show http://duckshow.com/

Meet Tengu the Next American Idol http://chipchick.com/2008/04/meet_tengu_the_next_american_idol.html

Pool-cleaning robot powered by the sun http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9910173-1.html

USB Home Pregnancy Test Kit http://www.everythingusb.com/pteq-usb-pregnancy-test-14515.html

KickTrak pregnancy monitor http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2008/04/review_kicktrak.html

Itch Cat Scratch Pad http://www.popgadget.net/2008/03/itch_cat_scratc.php

Stop Motion … Read more

An LED ring flash for compact cameras

Sometimes our macro shots turn out underexposed because we're blocking the light source. At the same time, to avoid the harsh shadows created by built-in flashes, we end up contorting our bodies in awkward angles just to get some light.

With any luck, those days may be coming to an end with the LED Ring Light from Marumi. It works like this: A compact shooter's lens protrudes through its ring of eight LEDs while remaining attached to a three AAA-sized battery pack. A 12-centimeter flexible arm connects the flash to the power source so this gizmo can be … Read more

RFID handbag makes you less forgetful

RFID tags have a reputation for being a little creepy.

The idea of inserting radio frequency identification tags in national identification cards has raised the ire of American privacy advocates, for instance. But RFID has a plethora of helpful purposes: it can also aid in efficiency, and prevent theft, as in when RFID devices are fastened to clothing and accessories in stores.

But some Canadian universities students have come up with a fun and even fashionable spin on RFID technology: a bag that tells you when all of your necessary accoutrements--keys, cell phone, wallet--are accounted for. It's part of … Read more