Energy saver for your PC

There's been plenty of news on energy-efficient vehicles using electric motors, solar-powered gizmos and alternative energy sources. Now finally, there's a way to save energy for your PC. For people who always fall asleep in front of their computer, this one's for you.

HJJ Global's latest innovation, the CheckTap, won the Grand Prix at the 36th International Exhibition of Invention in Geneva held in April 2008. Unlike normal computer hibernation where the electricity is still flowing, with CheckTap, this actually cuts off the power supply even though your PC is in sleep mode.

According to Chungyoo (Colin) Yoon, vice president of HJJ Global, CheckTap can save up to 70 percent of your average energy consumption. All you need to do is install the software program CheckManager onto your computer and plug it to CheckTap's USB data cable. When you wake up from your own snooze, just hit any key on the keyboard, and voila, the computer will switch back on, power restored. The software installed will even display the amount of energy you've saved and the consequent reduction of CO2 emissions.

According to InventorSpot, CheckTap should already be in stores in the US, to begin with. However, we weren't able to locate the pricing for this. Anyone able to tell us how much the CheckTap costs?
Read more »

Scent Drive may have a hidden agenda

There are all manner of activities associated with USB drives--many of them useless--but the one thing that will always defy logic to us is their relationship with the sense of smell. The most recent case in point: The Scent Drive.

Most such items try to pass themselves off as aromatherapy devices, sometimes combining their functions with other dubious features. But we're beginning to think they're actually targeted at people who are, to put it delicately, hygiene-challenged.

Think about it: Giving them a bar of deodorant soap might be a tad obvious, let alone offensive (even though they're the ones who did the offending first). Instead you can give them an innocent USB key with a surreptious dual purpose.

Hong Kong-based Debreu has expanded its initial line of Scent Drives to include a lower-cost variation for US$20. We think they should team up with Axe to expand their natural consumer target.

Via CNET Crave

Treadmill desk for the ultimate multitasker

The trend of exercising at the workstation is getting out of hand. Not only will it keep a rising number of employees chained to their desks, but companies apparently are aiming to dump even more work on the rank and file.

The latest reason for concern is the JW Treadmill Desk, a workstation that elevates the concept to yet another level. This torture device can be ordered with a built-in rack for multiple monitors, just in case you already don't have enough things to do at the same time.

AFC Industries, which manufactures the workstation, touts its ergonomic benefits and horshoe-shaped desktop for convenience, according to Coolest-Gadgets. But we think it's just one more step toward encircling the entire body so no one can escape.

Via CNET Crave

BenQ unveils world's first full-HD 21.5-inch 16:9 LCD panel

The Taiwanese display manufacturer last week introduced its new range of LCD monitors, among them the E2200HDA which the company claims is the world's first 21.5-inch full-HD (1080p) panel with 16:9 aspect ratio.

What makes the BenQ monitor unique is the fact that it is the smallest LCD monitor with a native full-HD resolution in the market. Current full-HD panels start at 24-inch or larger. Additionally, the E2200HDA sports a 16:9 aspect ratio (1,920 x 1,080-pixel) display which is a better fit for full-HD content than the conventional 16:10 (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) found in most LCD monitors today.

To complement the panel's full-HD capabilities, BenQ has included HDMI and DVI-D connectivity as well as HDCP support, on top the traditional VGA display option. Also onboard the BenQ LCD monitor are integrated speakers, headphone jack, 5ms response time and a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1. The E2200HDA is expected to be available in China and selected markets in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America in the third quarter of this year. Pricing details have yet to be announced.

Studio Hybrid latest PC to leak from Dell

Looks like word got out early on Dell's Studio Hybrid small form factor system. We've actually seen the design before, back in April, with news of new Intel mini-ITX motherboards.

We also saw this system at a Dell media preview a few weeks ago, along with few other laptops it's also had trouble keeping under wraps.

We liked what we saw of the Studio Hybrid in our brief time with it. Aside from the casing and the stand, both of which are removable, it's roughly the same size as Apple's Mac Mini. Nondisclosure agreements prevent us from discussing more, but we'll have a full review up as soon as we can.

Via CNET Crave

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