Check out your electrical consumption with this power strip

Ever wondered how much power is being consumed by your LCD TV or desktop PC? Well, now you can find out exactly how much electricity your appliances at home are drawing with the Cost Controller Power Strip. Like most power strips in the market, the Cost Controller Power Strip is designed to connect to multiple devices (in this case, eight) and comes with surge protection.

What's interesting, though, is the addition of an LCD display that shows in kilowatt hours (kWh) the power consumption of the connected electronic gadgets. This allows users to find out which devices contribute the most to their monthly utility bills and perhaps better manage usage to keep costs down. The increasing kWh figures shown on the display may even be inspire some people to think twice about leaving their DVD recorder or LCD monitor on standby mode over the weekend.

The Cost Controller Power Strip also shows the voltage, line frequency and power factor, so users can monitor the quality of the power line. It retails in the US for US$99.99.

Via ComputerGear
Picture credit: ComputerGear

Step aside, Oxyride, here comes Evolta

Looks like we've barely taken Panasonic's OxyRide AA batteries out for a spin before even that has been overtaken in the endless race for the longest-lasting and most durable battery.

Newcomer Evolta, derived from the words "evolution" and "voltage", is due out in Japan end month with a worldwide rollout later in the year. It comes under the Panasonic stable, but lays claim to being the first of its kind to have the Guinness Book of World Records officially certify the Evolta as the "world's longest-lasting AA alkaline battery cell". In numbers that you and I can understand, that's "almost 1.3-2 times" longer than existing alkalines out there, with a shelf life that's a whopping 10 years--double that of Pana's current batts and possibly even outlasting some of us.

The retail price has been suggested at 590 yen (US$5.65) per pack of four--an ouch-worthy 15 percent premium over regular batteries and even pricier than its own previously top-lining Oxyride. True to the hype that accompanied the Oxyride, the Evolta is readying a game that's tied up with its 15cm-tall Evolta mascot robot.

Via Japan Today | Photo credit: Panasonic

Tiny headset could be step toward implants

Steve Tobak may be onto something with his prediction for Bluetooth implants. In fact, some existing models are so small that they may lodge themselves permanently in the ear canal as an unintended consequence.

The updated Argard M10 headset--or earset, more accurately--weighs just 5g and, depending one's aural anatomy, would seem to be a good candidate. The latest version looks less shiny than the original, perhaps to avoid being mistaken for a piece of jewelry.

It also comes with a stylish docking station, according to GeekAlerts, which resembles a pair of tweezers. That could also come in handy as a tool to press the tiny buttons on the device or perhaps help dislodge it in an emergency.

Via Crave CNET

Seiko's SlimStick is your new fitness companion

Forget the regular pedometer. If you want to keep track of your daily fitness, Seiko may have the ideal device for you.

The 15g SlimStick, about the size of a pack of gum, does more than count the number of steps in your workout. Thanks to its built-in dual-axis accelerometer, it can also track the magnitude of your movement, thereby monitoring the total exercise time and calories burned in a day. The Slim Stick even comes with built-in memory which stores up to 12 weeks of exercise data onboard.

The little gizmo measures just 64 x 20 x 8.9mm and comes in silver, pink and gold. It is powered by a CR1630 button Lithium battery that is rated to last for about eight months (on eight hours of usage a day). Users can either clip it to the clothes or simply put it in a pocket. The SlimStick is currently available only in Japan for between 5,775 yen (US$55) and 6,984 yen (US$67).

Click for larger images:


Via technabob
Picture credit: AssistOn

Folding balcony

Unusual idea aside, we're not entirely sure if this creation is even secure. What's anchoring it down? How high can this thing go? Is it even safe to contemplate two or more people sunbathing on it? What kind of wear-and-tear is there from all the moving parts? Why not just tack on a fixed balcony? Who's the space-saving for? Questions, questions. Though apparently, there's a preppy market for the BloomFrame--which won an award for Hofman Dujardin Architects--over in Sweden where old condos and buildings are now rediscovering a love for balconies. The Bloomframe allows homeowners to retrofit it to an existing wall where it poses as a picture window until you surprise your guests by telescoping it out into a balcony. All we can say is last one out is a scaredy cat.

Via Smart Stuff | Photo credit: Hofman Dujardin Architects

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