Electronic Toy World

Stress is a huge part of everyday living. I’ve seen a lot of ways people relieve themselves of it–from breaking plates to sweating it out to sleeping on it until it ebbs away. But what about for those of us who sit in front of the computer for long periods of time.

Professionals working in front of a screen could get so tired of the monitor, there are times when there’s this pressing desire to smash it to bits. That, of course, is not an option unless you can afford replacing computer parts every few months. With the help of ScreenSmasher though, you smash your monitor without actually breaking it. ScreenSmasher is a software which shows you a realistic smashed monitor complete with appropriate sound effects. And guess what, you even get a foam axe with which to “break” your monitor with!

Check out ScreenSmasher over at Amazon.

via

Once again proving that the ipod leads the pack where it wants to go, Dell Computers has introduced a new mp3 player for underi. If you remember the last Dell mp3 player, you know that didn’t end pretty. So what makes the tech world think this will be any different? The answer is WiFi.

Dubbed the “Dell D.J.,” the sub $100 wifi mp3 will also incorporate Internet radio – which is a great feature. Few mp3 players come with a radio option and taking advantage of it’s wifi access means that the mobile crowd will be able to enjoy streaming of their favorite radio stations from all over the world. Very nice. There is also talk that the LCD, though small, may be a touch screen, but the buttons on the device itself tend to fly in the face of that wishful thinking.

And although the last Dell MP3 was over priced and was suited better as a paperweight rather than a music player, the price point of under $100 means that Dell has learned a thing or two from that painful less and agrees with Cupertino that the future of music is on the Internet.

Hat Tip - PMP Today

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These robot toilet paper holders may not have a single hi-tech feature going for them, but the fact that they’re robot heads just makes up for it.  Although I do wish they automatically ate the toilet paper when too much was hanging down.  Maybe with a random sound effect to go with it.  However, I’m afraid although these are incredibly cool, they are about as low tech as they come.

Thankfully, the vendor has included a roll of toilet paper, just in case you don’t have toilet paper where you’re from.  Alright, so it may be 100% recycled toilet paper.  Seriously though, who includes toilet paper?  The head is made out of heavy duty ceramic.  It comes in several bright colors, which includes black, red, white and yellow.  They are a bit pricey though, they are being sold for $49.99.  Which seems like a bit much for something the just hold toilet paper, even if it is a robot head.

Source: bbgadgets

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Now is this a weird looking fireplace or what - it comes in the form of a briefcase which sends a message that this is highly portable, handle and all. Perfect for the upcoming winter (better be prepared than never, I say), the Travelmate makes it a snap for you to stay warm no matter where you are. No idea on what the Travelmate uses for fuel, but it is highly possible that it uses some sort of alcohol gel that other smokeless fireplaces make do with. Magnets will keep the glass sides in place, so you’ll have to remove those before you light it up. Make sure the glass sides are placed back in order to prevent any untoward accidents. The Travelmate fireplace ain’t cheap though as it retail for $3,300 a pop.

Product Page via BBG

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DISH Network will be first to bring you* 1080p resolution HD content through broadcast means.  Say goodbye to the 720 garbage you’ve been forced to watch and bask in the 1080p you should have had all along.  Available tomorrow is “I am Legend” video on demand will be in full 1080p.

The asterisk after “you” above means you may not actually be “you”.  According to Electronista:

The upgrade in resolution isn’t available for all subscribers but will be a no-charge addition for anyone who owns an HD DVR capable of playing MPEG-4 video. A software upgrade will be pushed out at the same time as the 1080p service that enables playing the video format, though no mention is made of supporting the HD resolution for recording regular TV shows.

No word on how smooth the image will be or if it’s compression means we’ll be seeing chopped action.  Either way, it is a step in the right direction.

Read [Electronista]

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We first saw the UTStarcom TXT8010 hit the FCC back in mid-April using the codename of Elvis, since then it seemed to have disappeared, that is until now. The TXT8010 has resurfaced with Verizon and is now known as the Blitz.

The handset details are coming courtesy of a leaked Verizon Wireless Equipment Guide and what that means is we have some nice clean images, but lots of details are still missing.

The Blitz is a slider style phone that offers a full (albeit small looking) QWERTY keyboard, 1.3-megapixel webcam, stereo Bluetooth and a microSD card slot. It looks like the Blitz is headed for the prepaid market, and its expected to be launched at Wal-Mart on August 8 and Best Buy on September 28. No mention of pricing, however it does not look like a handset that is going to break the bank.

Via [Engadget Mobile]

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Filed in archive Scanning & Printing by jim on July 31, 2008

<!– <rdf:Description rdf:about=”http://www.digital-shot.com/50226711/put_your_digital_photos_on_canvas.php” trackback:ping=”http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/129839″ dc:title=”Put Your Digital Photos On Canvas” dc:identifier=”http://www.digital-shot.com/50226711/put_your_digital_photos_on_canvas.php” dc:subject=”" dc:description=” Are you a frustrated artist like me, who, despite your best efforts, just can't seem to draw or paint what you envision in your mind? If so and you still would like to put something you created on an…” dc:creator=”jim” dc:date=”2008-07-31T00:00:01-08:00″ /> –>

Are you a frustrated artist like me, who, despite your best efforts, just can't seem to draw or paint what you envision in your mind?

If so and you still would like to put something you created on an actual artist's canvas then why not have one of your digital camera photos printed on an actual stretched artist's canvas.

There are several ways to do this and prices vary wildly but the easiest way is to upload your image file to an online printing service.

Now, bear in mind that you don't have to upload an image straight from your camera; you can add your own artistic touches to it.

Check out your graphics programs and I'm sure you'll find several options that allow you to impart various effects to the image such as watercolor, conte crayon, oil paint, and others simply referred to as "painterly" effects.

I have applied some of these "filters", as they're called, to some of my images and then printed them at home on artist's watercolor paper. The effect was at least interesting, if nothing else, although I rather liked it.

In any event it was fun and something you can try at home, inexpensively or have one of your best shots done up on canvas.

This is the article that inspired this post about printing digital camera photos on canvas.

The website link provided in that article takes you to the company mentioned, but I couldn't find any information about printing on canvas, so I dug out a few places that print on canvas:

"Create Canvas Prints From Photos".

"Photos Printed On Canvas".

"Art Hammer".

Check this out on Google and you'll find many other places that print on canvas.

Source:www.avline.abacusline.co.uk

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Jul 31st 2008 at 3:28AM
It’s been a while since we’ve reported about the doings of our robotic friend on Mars, but a press conference tomorrow (Thursday) could uncover Phoenix’s first positive report of water on the red planet. NASA’s conference will be held at 2 p.m. Eastern Thursday and we’re hearing that Pheonix Mission is ready to report that water ice is not only confirmed, but the research robot has dug some ice out of a trench, heated it, and confirmed that it is, in fact water. If this all holds true, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be able to determine whether or not the atmosphere could sustain life and lead to manned missions to Mars. We call shotgun.

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Filed under: Robots

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jul 31st 2008 at 4:51AM
After a long long delay from that March 2007 announcement, Sony Japan just opened its doors to applications for the closed beta testing of playstation Home. Sony expects to drop 10,000 gamers (18 years old and up) into the virtual world when it launches in beta sometime in late August. Closed beta tests are due in other markets (er hem, the US) at about the same time with an open beta coming sometime later in the year. Lucky beta testers will be able to explore the 3D world and play games like PacMan in the Namco Museum, both of which are pictured after the break.

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

Sat Nav, move over, Sat Nag is here to take your throne. Aptly named, the system is a lampoon of Sat Navs and backseat drivers who can’t seem to keep it down.

If you’re a bit of a masochist and can’t drive without someone nagging you all throughout, the Sat Nag is the perfect device for you. The trenchant remarks go from PG to something that’s better if you don’t let your children hear, but nothing too outrageous. Complete with a caustic, naggy tone, examples are: “I know you’re a man, but it’s been 35 minutes now, so can you please admit you’re lost and ask someone the way” and “In 50 meters I’m going to put on my most annoying voice and say ‘Is your short cut really faster when we get stuck in traffic like this, well, is it darling?” My only gripe is that it’s a woman that’s doing the nagging–come on, where’s the version for us ladies? Men can be nags too.

Sat Nag @ I Want One of Those