Despite the best efforts of many industrious Chinese startups, multifunctional wristwatches are still far from commonplace--whether they provide music, video, phone service, or all of the above. But no market (or device) is too small for the ubiquity of Windows operating systems.
Epoq, which has already had a video watch on the market for some time, has developed what is believed to be the first wristwatch running Windows Mobile 5. Its EGP-WP98B claims to have an OLED touchscreen, 1.28GB of memory, Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth, VoIP support, and--get this--handwriting recognition. And a faux alligator wristband, of course. But as Mobile Magazine says, it might be a tad difficult to get full use out of Windows on a 1.4-inch display.
Its makers call it "The Beautiful Game", and that's no idle boast. 11 embraces the epitome of European chic, with Netherlands-based GRO design and TIM model contributing their designer flair toward this highly sculpted project. The result: A foosball table that's just too pretty for competitive play, not to mention the amount of elbow grease needed to keep those chrome and brass players polished in high shine (and there are 22 of those fellas).
But for those who fancy one as an object d'art just because no one else has it/you have too much money, you should be able to order one at the site eventually. For now, it's making the rounds at the Milan Design Week which ends April 21.
If you love gadgets, chances are you will fancy comics and toys as well. It's one of those geek things that seem to come together. Fans will be delighted to know that there will be a Singapore Toy and Comic Convention happening in June. Now, while you can't expect the scale of the famous Comic-Con International held in the US, this localized convention will have its own appeal.
For one, manga (Japanese comics) will probably be more prominent than the western superhero comics. Toys that are popular in Asia, like those from Kubrick, will also feature strongly. Though held in the Republic, companies from around the region, including Taiwan, Malaysia and Japan, will be exhibiting their products. This will be more of a business opportunity for them as they seek out distributors, though it will also be a feast for the public's eyes as toys that might have never reached Singapore get showcased.
One interesting tidbit--Maxsoft, Nintendo's distributor in the region, will be showcasing its newest games including Wii Fit. This Wii game has a health slant to it and will be released in the US at the end of May. Chances are, it will already be available for sale before Maxsoft showcases it at the convention, but at least we now know the console game will be arriving for sure.
The Singapore Toy and Comic Convention will be open to the public on June 28 and 29. It will be held at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre with no admission charges.
Sure, you can have the weirdest umbrella inventions, but none of these actually tell you when the rain is coming. Which is the whole point of carrying a brolly, right?
Apparently, the Forecast prototype goes all the way back to 2005 and the idea behind it is really simple. The umbrella comes with a docking station which is able to pull weather data off the Internet via Wi-Fi. Electric leads will then light up an LED on the handle with varying intensity to tell you the likelihood of rain. So you know whether to bring the brolly with you on your way out.
Given all the bizarre turntables that show up on Crave, we thought this would be yet another one of them upon
first glance. Instead, it turned out to be an example of another popular trend we don't understand: Ultrasonic cleaning gadgetry.
The SWV-08AM megasonic cleaning device from Conway supposedly will eliminate all the disgusting
"dirt and agrochemicals" on the surface of everything from fruit to frying pans
with little or no detergent, according to Engadget. And it has a built-in P-Sediment
filter (doesn't everyone?) to maintain the ultra-purity of its water.
Germaphobes, rejoice.