Segway toughens up, heads in new directions

Apparently the people behind the Segway are finally starting to listen to the incessant mocking of the personal transporter as the ultimate in dorkdom. The evidence: It's preparing to debut a new RMP (Robotic Mobility Platform) at the RoboBusiness conference that looks more appropriate for a desert battlefield than a paved sidewalk.

It's a far more macho version of the first RMP released more than a year ago, which was developed for use by robots. The new model--which could cost as much as US$50,000--can carry up to 400 pounds, according to MAKE, and has omnidirectional wheels for ultimate maneuverability (as long as doesn't have the same flaws found in the original, that is).

We don't know why it so long for them to come up with this idea. After all, the Tri-Clops Mutant has been doing this for ages.

Via Crave CNET

Get all Dick Tracy with this watch phone

We've come across several watch phones in the market so far, but this is probably the first we've seen with a flip cover. The latest of the Cool phone series for the Chinese market, the G108 incorporates a unique clamshell design that looks very much like an accessory from Dick Tracy's spy gear.

What's truly impressive about the G108 is its onboard feature set. Housed on one side of the clamshell is a 1.5-inch (160 x 128-pixel) 256K-color display, while on the other side is a circular keypad that shares an uncanny resemblance to the rotary dial on the B&O Serene handset. An additional LED display can also be found on the exterior of the flip lid.

The G108 supports quadband GSM and GPRS, on top of Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It comes with a pathetic 0.5MB of onboard memory which will definitely be insufficient for those planning to make use of the built-in 1.3-megapixel camera and multimedia player. Fortunately, users have the option to increase the memory via a memory card expansion slot. This timepiece also comes with a speakerphone function.

Don't expect this to be slim, though. With a 51 x 51 x 20mm footprint, the 65g Cool watch phone is bulky and will probably look weird on a tiny wrist. Having said that, it is undeniably a cool toy which will appeal to gadget lovers out there, though there's no word on when and where else you can find this watch phone.

Click for larger images:



Via Slashphone
Picture credit: Slashphone

Etch A Sketch: The geek way

Remember Etch A Sketch? Thumbs Up UK has just taken the drawing toy with erasable screen that was so popular when we were young and given it a geek spin. Now (well, soon anyway), you can wear it on your shirt, too.

The T-sketch shirt requires a battery pack (with two AAA batteries) that's sewn inside the garment to work, so that will add to your weight a little. But that's little sacrifice for the glowing backlight on your scribbles and customizable rhythmic flashing sequences.

So instead of flashing your number using your phone's LCD to that hot chick at the bar, you can beam it right across the room. Unwanted stares and giggles are complimentary.

Via Shiny Shiny

Virtual ant farm will preserve your karma

Finally, an ant farm that even PETA wouldn't protest.

No ants were harmed in the making of the Ants Life Studio from Japan's Bandai for a good reason: They're not real. Instead it's a colony of virtual ants that presumably do all of the same slave labor and other functions of their living counterparts, allowing you to satisfy your entomological curiosities without risking any arthropodic karma in the afterlife.

The viewing takes place through an LCD that includes backlighting so it can be used as a night light too. As OhGizmo notes, it seems to be the latest expansion of Bandai's Tamagotchi concept, this time requiring the care and feeding of fake insects that even face such perils as virtual predators. If you get one of these, we hope that the ants' longevity stays true to reality so you won't have to deal with their adolescence.

Via Crave CNET

Nellie, say hi to Tengu

Nellie's the name of my beloved Nabaztag perched at the top right corner of my cubicle. When I first asked my friend to bring her back from Paris, everyone in the office was fawning over this Wi-Fi rabbit with movable ears that sings MP3 songs we feed her via the Web. Months flew by and everyone seems to have forgotten about poor Nellie. So I think it's time I got this electronic pet a friend: Tengu.

Unlike Nellie who is powered by an AC adapter, Tengu requires only an available USB port. Which is fine by me since I have more USB ports at my disposable than I have AC outlets. Tengu's a little different from Nellie. It doesn't connect to the evil clutches of the Internet. Nor does it sing. But there's a good reason Tengu will make a perfect partner for Nellie. It lip-syncs to the music it hears and is capable of making different faces according to its mode.

If Tengu isn't the perfect companion for Nellie, I don't know what is. And at US$39.60, I can even afford to get a couple of them just to keep Nellie entertained. The things I do for my pet in this techno era.

Via Firebox

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