Mir:ror brings RFID to the Nabaztag and its minions

My Nabaztag, Nellie, a technologically advanced Wi-Fi rabbit that's capable of reading news feeds and singing MP3 tunes, has been dead for some time. Dead because she's been sadly neglected by her irresponsible owner, so it's time I got Nellie a companion. Enter Violet's USB-powered RFID Mir:ror, by the same maker which brought my smart bunny with the swiveling ears.

Retailing for US$59, you get a Mir:ror (RFID reader), three Ztamp:s (RFID tags), a pair of nano-sized Nabaztags with built-in RFID chips and a quick-start guide. The Ztamp:s and miniature rabbits are programmable to execute a specific task when you wave them over the reader. For instance, it launches Microsoft Word on the computer when you place a pen affixed with the RFID tag on the Mir:ror. Or it'll send an email to let someone know that you're home when you leave your keys on the platter.

The Web site claims there are thousands of possible applications you can configure and the Mir:ror will also work with any RFID tags compliant with ISO 14443 A or B standards. Alternatively, you can score yourself another dozen Ztamp:s for US$20. It may not be what Nellie wants. But it'll at least lessen the guilt of Nabaztag neglect here.
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Spark Nano: GPS tracking device gets tiny

You've seen them in movies: Tracking devices so small they can be put inside a tooth or embedded under the skin. In reality, tracking devices--for the general public at least--are not that tiny, but they can be pretty diminutive.

Lightning GPS introduced a small tracking device on Wednesday called the Spark Nano. Of course, you'll need to take the "Nano" notion with a big grain of salt. The device is actually about the size of a 9-Volt battery--you know, the big one that's used in a smoke detector. The Spark Nano is, however, rugged and waterproof.
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Fujitsu e-book reader makes Kindle look cheap

We've had a lot of CNET readers tell us they're waiting for a little color before they jump onto the e-book reader bandwagon. Well, as one might expect, a little color is going to cost you a lot of dough, as Fujitsu gets set to release its Flepia color e-book reader in Japan with a US$1,000 price tag.

In the works for several years, the Flepia has a bigger display than does Amazon's Kindle 2--it has an 8-inch 1,024x768-pixel XGA touch screen that can display 260,000 colors (Fujitsu refers to its e-ink technology as "color e-paper").
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Snap-off dining ware for a fun party

This is crazy fun. Looking like the plastic model assembly kits some of us used to buy for pennies at mom and pop stores, before the advent of portable gaming consoles and devices, this one redefines the meaning of "disposable cutlery". Snap and Dine, by London-based designer Demelza Hill, comes in a single plastic injection mold good for a three-course picnic or potluck meal. The plastic plate and recyclable plastic cutlery are designed to look like ornate silverware, though if you prefer more groovy colors, check out Fred & Friends' Snap-A-Party option. Either way, these snap-off party ware ought to be pocket-friendly enough to find a place setting in this current age of thrift. And right after that, you can whip out the snap-together 35mm camera kit for a spot of cheap film fun.
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Cool waveform bracelets

The picture you see here is a bracelet modeled after the waveform of someone saying "I believe in you". Made by a group called The Sound Advice Project, it is a way for parents to record a message, which is then custom-made into a piece of jewelry as a gift to a teenaged child. The purpose is for the child to always have a visual reminder of the advice.

Though primarily an effort against teen drug abuse (thus the focus on parent-child advice), the geeky-cool nature of this bracelet is undeniable. Check out the official site where you can record a 6-second message and buy your own waveform bracelet for US$18.

Via Boing Boing Gadgets

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