<!-- News -- © 2005-2006 AraKaraath halfDragon / A Maus

addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 8,15),"microsoft,zune,pmp,mp3","","","Article on ","Zune officially announced","Microsoft has officially announced the release of their own PMP, the Zune. While they have provided the software for many existing devices this is the first time they have made their own media players. The Zune comes in white, black and brown, has 30Gb HHD, a 3 inch TFT screen, WiFi, FM tuner and is pre-loaded with music and videos. It supports all the usual audio, video and picture formats. The WiFi allows you to share your pictures and music with another Zune user which they can listen to for up to three days. There will be an online service called Zune Marketplace where you can buy music for your Zune, either on a per song basis or with a Zune Pass subscription where you can download as many songs as you want for a flat fee. Zune has the option of all the usual accessories, headphones, cases, car adaptors, TV/Audio output, remotes, etc. Bytond the technology, the ZUne is very much all about connectivity. Much like the last.fm website, it keeps track of your taste in music and the recommendations of your friends (who also have Zunes) and allows you to share music with them. Ultimately, there will be Zune client software for PCs to be able to interact with your Zune and others' wirelessly and remotely, though this will probably not be implemented for a year or so. Probably with Zune generation two. So far so good, the Zune is looking to be a brilliant alternative to the iPod. Now we're waiting for pricing and Zune Marketplace pricing and functionality.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 8,14),"apple,microsoft,zune,pmp,mp3","","http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0637/zune.php","Article on Seattle Weekly","Hope for a better PMP","While Apple is content to parade their rehashed iPod range dressed up in new packaging, Microsoft is finally about to announce the launch of their own PMP the Zune. Apple may have a massive <strike>brainwashed</strike> fanbase but the Zune is looking to be some serious competition. While there has been alot of speculation and promises concerning its fabled WiFi and community functionality, we will finally get a look at it on September 14 (EST) and hopefully then we can decide if it's as uber as promised.");
addNews("gadgetnews toynews",new Date(2006, 8,11),"lego,weapons,cool","","http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/22386","MOC site","Ultimate Lego Rubberband Gun","Ive seen Rubberband machineguns made out of wood, but here is one made our of Lego, complete with a motorised barrel. The thing churns out over a dozen rubber bands per second with varying degrees of accuracy. Perfect for those Mindstorm anti-intrusion systems everyone like to build. Newsly as good as the Lego CD launcher and the Lego Pingpong ball server.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 7,29),"concept,mp3,yo-yo","","http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2006/08/regen_the_yoyo_powered_mp3_player.html","Article on Gizmodo","A new spin on MP3 players","Now this is a cool concept for an MP3 player - it's built into a yo-yo! The ReGEN Yo-Yo MP3 player has a built in generator that charges its batteries by using it as a yo-yo. 10 or 12 times is enough to charge the unit for an hour or playback. One side of the unit is an LCD screen, featuring scrolling text and radial equaliser and touch-screen buttons. There are ports on each side for USB connection and AC power supply, so you can charge it up the old fashion way. The unit comes with wireless headphones allowing you to enjoy cord-free, eccologicly friendly music while you're standing waiting for the bus or train, flicking your yo-yo nonchalantly. What a ripper idea, pity it's only an Industrial Design Art concept and will probably never really exist.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 7, 9),"sony,mylo,pmp,mp3,skype,chat","","http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/assets/itpd/mylo/prod/index.html","Official Minisite","SONY Mylo","Normally I'm not a fan of SONY products but this one is actually quite interesting. The Mylo is an integrated WiFi communication and multimedia device. It plays MP3s and movies, displays images, has built in Yahoo Messenger, GoogleTalk and Skype (can be used as either with a keyboard or like a mobile phone), an Opera browser as well as WiFi streaming capabilities. The design is a little bit odd with its twin huge circular pads and weird lighting effects but I'm sure they will grow on you. The graphic interface is very sleek, a jazzed up version similar to that used on the PSP and PS3. The Mylo comes with 1Gb of internal flash memory, which isn't much these days for a full-blown PMP, but it does have a flash memory port for Memory Stick. Comes with rechargable Lith-Ion batteries but no reports on batterylife - which would be a major factor considering the Mylo sports a large screen and WiFi. If priced right these might be a handy little alternative to a mobile phone - provided you have plenty of WiFi coverage. Available from September.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 7, 8),"concept,led,time fountain","","http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/video-led-time-fountain","Article on TechEBlog","Time Fountain","Created by Nate True, the Time Fountain uses an LED strobe light to illuminate a very regular dripping faucet, creating the illusion of being able to slow, stop and even reverse the passage of a falling drop of water. The illusion works because every drop is almost identical and, when interacted with, will behave in very similar way, making it look like you are playing with the same drop when in fact the strobe is illuminating new drops in rapid succession. Such a simple concept but totally amazing results. Looking forward to seeing some more finished versions of this project around. Click here for more information about <a href='http://cre.ations.net/creation/44'>Nate True's Time Fountain</a>.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 7, 3),"travel,bicycle","","http://www.a-bike.co.uk/store/home.php","Official site","Micro small, micro light A-bike","This little bicycle is just the thing for comuters - its lightweight and folds up to an impossibly small package. Specificly designed for cummuters in mind, the A-bike can be folded down so it can be carried easily on buses and trains, even in taxis. I would love one of these for tootling on short trips between public transport and my destinations. Get off the bus, unfold the A-bike and in seconds, I'm pedaling off down the road. Obviously its somewhat limited, only having one gear and small wheels, but for short trips down the block to the bus stop, its perfect. Its a bit pricy at the moment and only available in the UK, but hopefully soon they will be available world wide and at a reasonable price.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 6,21),"zune,social,ecology","","http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/20/the-clicker-zune-its-all-about-the-ecosystem/","Article on Engadget","Its all about ecology, not hardware","Here is an interesting article about what <em>really</em> makes Apple's iPod popular and what Microsoft is doing to combat it. In a way it fits in with the BE branding idea they use here at SEE: creating communities can strengthen a product's branding. Apple's iPod works because its simple. Plug it in, buy songs on iTunes, away you go. Its simple. The New Microsoft Zune is going to provide this and potentially alot more by intergrating it with a real community - Xbox Live. If it lives up to its potential, the Zune is set to be more than just a media player - it will have access to a range of community networking to allow you to purchase and share your music. I can hardly wait.");
addNews("gadgetnews toynews",new Date(2006, 6,21),"toys,lego,cool","","http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/top-10-coolest-lego-gadgets","Article on TechEBlog","Top 10 Coolest Lego Creations","Some of the more interesting and weird things you can do with Lego. Everything that fires, beeps or rattles. Various launchers, pinball games and other paraphanalia.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 6,21),"radio,jet,cool","","http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=873601240824366435","Video on Google","200Mph Radio Controlled Jet","This isn't your usual run-of-the-mill remote aircraft - this thing has a real jet attatched. This sexy model is not a toy for the faint-hearted and looks like it requires alot of skill to pilot, though it takes to the air eagerly enough. It can streak past at a blistering 200Mph and sounds just like the real thing. All it needs is a camera in its nose to allow first-persion piloting, but as the video shows, it can nimbly land on a relatively short runway with ease. Model planes have come a long way since the rubber-band powered gliders of my day.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 6,11),"zune,argo,xbox,pmp,mp3","","http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/10/microsofts-argo-xbox-wireless-portable-media-player/","Article on Engadget","Microsoft Zune Xbox PMP","An insider has leaked an advanced concept model of Microsofts new Zune PMP (codenamed 'Argo'). It looks to be the size of an iPod with a larger screen and a nice stylish yet minimalistic control dial. Overall the design is sleek and handsome without looking like an iPod (thankfully). The Zune is supose to have Wi-Fi capabilities to communicate with PC, Xbox or supporting online Music sites and make use of an Xbox live community (probably a bit like Last.fm). So far the specs sound nice and impressive, lets hope Microsoft can deliver - sometime around November.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 5,27),"cooking,pizza,grilltop","","http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/grilltop-pizza-stone-183360.php","Article on Gizmodo","Grilltop Pizza Stone","Yay, a gadget that goes straight to a dragon's heart. A Grill-top Pizza Stone! Why stop with just barbecuing snags, chops chicken and onions when you can authenticly stonebake your own pizzas too. If I could get myself one of these, we'd have a barbie every weekend.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 5,26),"concept,winamp,mp3","","http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-media/design-concept-winamp-in-the-material-world-182924.php","Article on Gizmodo","Winamp in the real world","I know I've always been saying that all I want in an MP3 player is basicly 'Winamp in a box', but now I can say that literally. Someone has come up with a concept Winamp MP3 player. Now, if they made the whole face of this beauty a touch screen, you could download Winamp skins to make it look like anything you want. More customisable than your iPod! All we need now is someone to get out there and market it. C'mon Nullsoft!");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 4,31),"pmp,mp3,choices","","","","Narrowing it down","With the range of choice now available in Media Players, I've looked at what I really want in a all-in-one media device. Basicly, I want WinAMP in a box. It has to play music, have playlists, etc, play movies and display images. Being able to record MP3s and videos via line in would be a great as I can encode dvds straight onto the device. Now while I've seen alot of reviews for such devices and there is a great range available, none of these devices can be found in Australia (though some have apparently been available here since July last year). Some of choices I'm considering are the Cowan A2 (can't get in Australia), the Creative Zen Vision (can't get anywhere), the Archos AV700 (never seen one) and the Medion Media Player (only at Aldi, for all of 5 minutes). The only Australian site I've seen these is on eBay.com.au, but for a device over $600AUD I'd rather buy it from a store. <a href='http://au.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=210&subcategory=211&product=12985'>Creative Zen Vision</a>, <a href='http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/cowon/a2/'>Cowan A2</a>, <a href='http://www.archosaustralia.com.au/av700.html'>Archos AV700</a>");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 4,30),"cool,ebay,time","","http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4644351427","Auction on Ebay","Time DeLorean for sale","Ever wanted you very own time machine? Not just any time machine but one of the most stylish time machines around. Why just travel in time when you can do it in a DeLorean. This is a reclipca of Doc Brown's time machine from the 'Dack to the Future' movies, and features an animated Flux time capacitor, exterior lighting, programmable time circuits and film accurate interior, signage and external appliances. Yours for only $45,000 USD. I wonder how many decades you get to the gallon?");
addNews("gadgetnews toynews",new Date(2006, 4,24),"toys,robots,roboraptor","","http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2006/05/roboraptor_unleased_in_july.html","Article on Ubergizmo","Roboreptile, coming soon","Now I thought Roboraptor looked cool when it came out, but dispite the promises its performance was still somewhat lacking. Roboreptile, on the other hand, looks far more impressive. I haven't seen much of it but for a publicity shot and a sensationalised review, but it appears to be able to walk peroperly on all four legs or stand on two. Its alot sleeker than Roboraptor and much more handsome and bristles with sensors. They are definitely making leaps and improvements in the technology. Worth a watch. Still hoping they will release a home K-9.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 4,20),"laptops,apple,overheating","","http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/19/warning-from-apple-dont-put-our-laptops-on-your-lap/","Article on Engadget","Laptops to hot for laps","This is too funny. The new manual for the MacBook warns the user: 'Do not leave the bottom of your MacBook Pro in contact with your lap or any surface of your body for extended periods. Prolonged contact with your body could cause discomfort and potentially a burn'. Classic!");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 4,20),"concept,mouse,keyboard","","http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2006/05/combimouse_fuses_mouse_and_keyboard.html","Article on Ubergizmo","Mouse and Keyboard in one","Now this is a cool idea. Combining the right hand side of a keyboard with a mouse, reducing the need to move your right paw from mouse to keyboard and back. This would make programming, text and data entry so much more comfortable. And not to mention gaming! Twice as many buttons at your fingertips. I could really see myself with one of these when and if they come out.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 4,17),"concept,travel,motocycle","","http://www.gizmag.com.au/go/5638/","Article on Gizmag","Treaded Motorbikes","Latest in concept design vehicles, the Baal and Hyanide are the creations of German designers Tilmann Schlootz and Oliver Keller for the Michelin Challenge Design. While at first glance they resemble motobikes, but after a good look they are actually a new class of vehicle. Instead of wheels, they sport a flexiable rubber track that can be bent to allow stearing, this gives alot more traction than on their two wheeled counterparts. Not only that, but they can probably climb rougher terrain and inclines with with greater ease than a conventional motorbike. Will we see them on the road? Who knows, maybe, one day in the future...");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 4,17),"movie,transformers","","http://www.blackfilm.com/20060512/features/transformertest_video.shtml","Article on Blackfilm","Transformers Screentest","Looks like they are auditioning for Optimus Prime. This is some awesome test footage for the new uncoming live-action Transformers movie. While live-action transforming robots have been on TV commercials a few times in the past, this screen test is well awesome, especailly as the camera is being carried on a steadycam mount and the animation tracks with it (though that's nothing special these days as there is plenty of software to do that even on television budgets). Still some awesome footage.");
addNews("gadgetnews toynews",new Date(2006, 4,15),"toys,lego,mindstorms,pinball","","http://nxtbot.com/blog/?p=92","Article on Oh!Gizmo","Lego Pinball Machine","What a beauty, a pinball machine made out of Lego, powered by Mindstorms kits. It has 8 RCX units, 28 motors and over 40 sensors. Makes me wanna build something like this with my Mindstors (but I only have one RCX). Would look good in the corner of the lounge, untl you start needing bits from it. More photos can be found on <a href='http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=151375'>Brickshelf</a>.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 4,13),"astronomy,plantarium","","http://toys.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00109","Offical site","Universe in your loungeroom","Now this is cool. Your very own planetarium! I've always wanted something like this, something to just project stars onto the ceiling, especially with a built in timer like ths one has. HomeStar can project 10,000 stars in the ceiling or wall of your room, can display shooting stars, northern and southern hemispheres, timer feature and interchangable star packs (whatever they are). Now if it could show galaxies and the milky way in realistic display, it would be even better. But in that case, I'd rather get a projector and hook it up to a PC with some astronomy software.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 4, 6),"robots","","http://www.robothalloffame.org/index.html","Offical site","Robot Hall of Fame","This is an interesting idea, if somewhat skewed.Basicly a site trying to put together a Hall of Fame of famous robots, both real and ficticious. The top ten is an intersting line up, with a few obscure characters rating higher than other more famous machines. And some of the most famous of all are missing completely from the list. Where is Robbie the Robot, Astroboy, C3-PO and R2D2?");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 3,28),"robots,tv","","http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2148876,00.html","Article on timesonline.co.uk","Return of K-9","If you, like me, were a Dr Who fan in your childhood, then you would remember the Doctor's robotic companion K-9. Since then, I've been interested in robotics and always wanted a robot pet, whether it looked like a dog or not. But after some shortlived spin-offs, little was heard of K-9. Until now. BBC has confirmed that the new current series of Dr Who will be featuring the original K-9, all battered and worn. A new and shiny version of K-9 will be appearing in a kids TV series soon too, as well as sponsoring a new toy range. Maybe the dream of having a K-9 of my own won't be too far fetched after all.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 2,27),"weapons,diy,cannon","","http://www.xinventions.com/main/spud/cb2.htm","Article on Xinventions.com","CB and TP Cannons","I want these. I really want these. DIY Toiletpaper and Potato cannons. Unfortunately you have to cough up the money to buy the plans, and while these things look cool there is no guarantee you'll find the neccessary parts outside of America. Nonetheless, they both look decidedly functional and capable, making them handsome wall props if nothing else. And the pictures don't do them justice though, they are bigger than they look; the CB Cannon is over five foot long.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 2,18),"archon,pmp","","http://www.archos.com/products/tv_centric/av_700/index.html","Official site","Archon AV700","I've found my PVP. Its the Archon AV700. COmes in 40Gb and 100Gb flavours, sports a 7 inch screen and can record directly from TV, VCR or DVD players. It plays most audio formats as well as displays image formats and you can even play games on 	it. And it looks nice. What more can I say? who needs an iPod, this baby is so much better. The only problem is, they don't sell them in Australia.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 2, 8),"living,portable,ecological","","http://www.gizmag.com.au/go/2999/","Article on Gizmag","Portable Spherical Houses","There seems to be alot of interest towards small, portable self-contained houses at the moment, everything from prefab apartments to tiny portable cubes. This one is my favourite. It can be arranged set on the ground, mounted on a pole and can even float. It has three floors, plenty of space for one or two occupants and, depending on where you put it, stunning panoramic views. I wouldn't mind living in a bubble if it was one of these, though a literal seaside home is not recommended for those who get sea sick.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 2, 6),"apple,tiger,rss,screensaver","","http://media.weblogsinc.com/common/videos/engadget/TigerRSS.mov","View movie","Mac OS RSS Screensaver - If Only PC Could Look This Cool","While I don't think very highly of Apple technology, they do come up with alot of cool ideas, usually cooler, simplied versions of what other people have already done. One of these is their RSS Screensaver. Set it up with a list of RSS Feeds and off it goes. It not only looks pretty but its functional too, giving you what you want to see; your news stories. Now there are RSS Screensavers on Windows but they do it the other way around, they have big lists of titles and small blocks for stories (if they display the story at all, eh, Microsoft MSN RSS Screensaver?). Time to catch up, Windows. If Apple can make such an effective and simple screensaver, why is it so hard for Windows to get right?");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2006, 1, 6),"xbox,pmp,mp3,x-pod","","http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-media/coming-soon-microsoft-xpod-150953.php","Article on Gizmodo","Microsoft X-pod?","Apparently, Microsoft is stepping into the MP3 player market with an media player set to rival Apples iPod and possibly the SONY PSP. Specifications are sketchy at the moment but it seems capable of playing games, MP3s, videos and more. No doubt it will link with the new Xbox 360 as well. It sounds good, hope they can deliver. I don't want to be force to get an iPod because no-one else can put a decent interface on their media players.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2005,11, 9),"weapons,usb,cannon","","http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2005/12/usbpowered_air.html","Article on Ubergizmo","USB-powered Air Darts","Finally a useful useless USB device! We really need one of these beauties in our office to stop the Creatves upstairs from pinching all our Timtams. Not to mention it can be endless fun during lunch breaks or even maybe send messages to each other by attaching post-it notes to the missiles. Better yet, use them to get attention of others who are wearing headphones and are otherwise oblivious to the room around them. Hours of fun for the whole office.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2005,10,23),"iaudio,mp3","gui/news/iaudio.gif","http://eng.iaudio.com/product/product_X5_feature.php","Official iAudio x5 site","20Gb iAudio X5 Spotted!","I've seen these ripper HD media players online a few months ago on <a href='http://www.mp3direct.com.au/' target='_blank'>www.mp3direct.com.au</a> and was sorely tempted to buy one. Yesterday I saw one for sale for %499 AUD in the Camera Warehouse catalogue - finally they are available to the public! They come in 20 and 30Gb flavours and support most audio and video formats as well as storing data files and displaying images and text files. The remote control is nicely designed but have to buy that separately. But after seeming what the GPX2 can do, I'm leaning more towards one of those.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2005,10, 6),"apple,ipod,rant","","","","iPod - For The Unimaginative Generation","What is it about iPod that makes everyone want one? The iPod series are over priced, poorly made, unreliable and have no features compared to equivalent models by other brands, yet everyone has one. Why is this so? Is it some sort of status symbol? I see people on the tram playing with their iPods, joggers with iPod shuffles around their necks. Are all these people stupid enough to get sucked into Apple's marketing without doing some research first, or is there something special about iPods that I haven't discovered yet? Recently I read an article in the news paper raving on how the new iPod can play video and display images. Big fat hairy deal - like this is anything new. iRiver and iAudio have been doing that for the last 12 months. I think people need to wise up and realise that doing a little research and shopping around will pay off by finding cheaper and better alternatives to the iPod, leaving it a symbol of frivelous human consumption.");
addNews("gadgetnews",new Date(2005, 7,11),"travel,segway,centaur","","http://www.segway.com/centaur/","Official Segway site","Segway Centaur","Last night on <a href='http://www.beyondtomorrow.com/' target='_blank'>Beyond Tomorrow</a> they had a story about Segway's new concept vehicle - the Centaur. While I admire Segways as a marvel of modern technology and ergonomics, I still think they are a bit excessive. The Centaur is a different story. With four wheels and higher speeds the Centaur is geared much more for travel and offroading than the conventional Segway. Four wheels are better than two with amazing maneuverability and agility. A nice versitile electric powered - an no doubt expensive - alternative to a bicycle maybe?");

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