Here comes every stalker's dream

And every celebrity/victim's nightmare. This little camera ring by designer David Münscher with its single-button interface may be a concept model for now. But given the way things are speeding along, with camera-phones packing 5-megapixel sensors, these spycam-like shooters aren't Mission Impossible. Anytime Canon wants to pick up on Munscher's blatantly branded idea, it should be a Snap to make happen. So smile, 'cause you never know when you'll be on candid camera.

Via Yanko Design

A USB drive to shame the entire Swiss Army

The most remarkable thing about this particular item is that it's the first silly USB flash drive dubbed a "luxury item" we've seen in more than a month--which, as these annoying keys go, is an eternity. Yet the "SwissMemory Prestige" is in a class by itself.

Where to begin? The cost, for one--ranging in the gold and diamond versions from US$3,200 to US$6,000 for 1GB of storage, which is hardly anything these days. Second, their designs don't exactly lend themselves to elegant wearable jewelry. And third, as Chip Chick rightly points out, this is undoubtedly the most impractical of items ever to bear a Swiss Army mark. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Other than that, we think they're just fine.

Via Crave CNET

Philips exposes your body

There are lots of wonderful cameras out there that can shoot beautiful portrait shots or even a nice sharp macro of a not-too-sharp snout.

But a head shot of your brain?

Philips Medical Systems has announced the Brilliance Computerized Tomography (CT) scanner which is capable of scanning the body with a series of 256 X-ray pulses every 0.3 second. In layman speak, that means this million-dollar scanner can produce a high-resolution, three-dimensional image of a beating heart complete with detailed blood vessels and valves… all within two heart beats.

Via Inventorspot

Nikon D3 and D300 apes D2X

Current D2X or D2Xs users are possibly all ready to switch over to the new crop of Nikon dSLRs. But these guys are probably too used (or attached?) to the color reproduction of their existing dSLRs.

As a camera, the D2X is an excellent specimen. So photographers who have already set up their existing color management workflow (from camera to computer display to printer) would probably be loathed to rework the entire chain.

As a primer, color management is the strict adherence to color accuracy such that an image will look the same on any display (printout or monitor).

This is because different devices reproduce color differently. The same "yellow" shade captured by a camera may look bright on a CRT monitor, but washed-out in a photograph.

Seasoned photographers would already have calibrated their workflow devices (camera, monitor and printer) to display consistent colors. This is the target group of users that Nikon is reaching out to with this new download.

With the D3 and D300, Nikon is allowing these two cameras to emulate the D2X's color reproduction.

All that's needed is a quick install of the Picture Control System, which is available as a download on Nikon's site.

So rather than revamping your entire color management workflow for a new camera, all you need is to click "install".

Via DPreview

Canon's portable DVD recorder

So you're at a wedding. You've filmed the joyous day, in all it's rain-lashed tears-specked glory, on your new camcorder. You've fended off the uncles who want to play with it, and made it home. Now you have to transfer your footage to PC, burn it to DVD and fork out for fifty padded envelopes to send to every Cousin Tom, Uncle Dick and Auntie Harry. Or you could get the Canon DW-100 DVD recorder.

The DW-100 connects directly to your camcorder, for easy transfer of camcorder footage direct to DVD. A quick bit of in-camera editing while the best man makes his inappropriately revealing speech, and you're ready to start handing out DVDs by the time the toasts begin--in theory anyway, as there's no word on burn speeds yet.

It works with MPEG-2 standard-definition video, and AVCHD for all you posh high-definition types. That means those third cousins you never knew you had can watch it on their Blu-ray-playing PS3s.

The DW-100 also hooks up with your PC or Mac via USB. Where it may well come into its own is when used with flash-based HD camcorders like the Panasonic DMC-SD5, which goes through memory like a bridesmaid through wedding cake. No word on price yet either, but the Canon DW-100 will be available in Japan in March 2008.

Via Crave UK

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