Energizer de-energizes Lithium batteries

Disposable Lithium batteries--a market seemingly cornered by Energizer's Ultimate Lithium batteries--are great if you need enduring power. They're not great for the environment and they're too slow to use in a camera flash, but they last much longer than alkalines and significantly longer than rechargeables. At US$3 apiece (based on the street price of a four-pack), they're also somewhat sticker shocking. So we shouldn't be surprised that Energizer has decided to sell the Energizer Advanced Lithium version with a kindler, gentler price of about US$2 each.

The company only cites the performance of the Advanced batteries to that of alkalines (Energizer Max)--claiming 4x the life in a digital camera compared with 8x for the Ultimates. So unless you can find the Advanced cells for less than half the price of the Ultimates, the Ultimates should remain the better buy on a per-shot basis.

Via Crave CNET

Pavlovian iPosture is no slouch

Thanks to nanosensor technology, your mother doesn't need to tell you to stand up straight anymore. A new gadget called iPosture will do that job for her.

The battery-operated device contains a microchip that monitors the angle of the wearer's upper chest several times per second, vibrating briefly when it senses a deviation greater than three degrees from the programmed ideal stance. Specialized software filters spurious movements, which allows the iPosture to adapt to various body types and activities--presumably stopping it from zapping you in the middle of sit-ups, for example. It's an inch in diameter and can be clipped to a shirt or bra, worn as a pendant, or attached to the skin with special adhesive patches.
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Philips LivingColors Mini coming next to Asia

Remember the energy-friendly LivingColors orb that arrived in Asia back in May? Well, Philips is about to launch a miniaturized edition sometime this month in this part of the world.
What's gone? For one, the color wheel remote now comes built into the lamp itself. No more losing that remote, yippee! For another, the device is no longer decked out in an elegant sexy acrylic sphere. Instead, it is housed in a white or glossy black finish, with Europe enjoying two additional choices: Copper gold and silver.

The color range also appears to have shrunk from the original 16 million hues to just 256 tones. Still, this is a varied enough palette to cycle through.

As with its bigger brethen, this mini globe runs on power-saving LEDs (red, green and blue), daintily sipping 7.5 watts tops, just a mite more than the former's 5.5 watts.
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Premium Mickey Mouse watch for F1

Luxury watchmaker Gerald Genta is producing a limited edition watch to commemorate the upcoming first F1 night race to be held in Singapore, and Mickey Mouse will be gracing the face of the timepiece.

Yes, you heard us right--Mickey Mouse, the iconic character created by Walt Disney. The cartoon character is no stranger to the brand, having appeared on Gerald Genta's timepieces since the 1980s and popular among collectors. The latest iteration known as the Mickey Racing Singapore watch, however, didn't quite register with us.

The minute hand on conventional watches turn a full 360 degrees. But on this timekeeper, one of Mickey's hand acts as the minute indicator and it spans only half the face. On the other half, there is an hour indicator. The picture of the Merlion, one of Singapore's icons is painted in red on top of the dial. While this design is unique, Mickey somehow didn't quite fit into the whole picture.

As exclusive as it is "unique", there will be only 50 pieces of the Mickey Racing Singapore watch produced globally. The sky-high price tag of S$19,700 can be attributed to the royalty paid to Disney, so this timepiece is strictly for collectors and not pesky brats.

Picture credit: Gerald Genta

Hands-on: Duracell's new Daylite LED flashlights

Duracell has just introduced a new line of flashlights with superbright LED bulbs. Dubbed "Daylite", the series is comprised of three models: Two 80 lumens models (one AA and a more squat AAA model) that will retail for US$25 each, and a twice-as-bright US$35 model powered by Lithium CR123 batteries. (Yes, each model includes Duracell batteries.) The rear end of all three models sports a battery cap reminiscent of Duracell batteries' trademark coppertop design.

Duracell provided CNET with an early sample of the AA model, which I've been using off and on for the past few weeks. All in all, it seems to have the makings of a top-notch electric torch. Duracell suggests that the unit's "TrueBeam" design reflects and focuses nearly 100 percent of the LED's light output; while I can't claim to verify that, it's hands-down the brightest flashlight I've ever used.
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