GPS Tracking Key: Track Your Friends & Foes

Ethics aside, imagine a little weather-resistant device that will ensure that no unknown vehicular activities are carried out under your nose.
Measuring 3.8 inches in length and 1.46 inches in width (about the size of a slim mobile phone), the magnetic GPS Tracking Key by LandAirSea can be mounted onto your car (even underneath) instantly to receive signals from the twenty-four Department of Defense GPS satellites orbiting the earth to give you precise information on where a person traveled, how fast they drove, where they stopped and for how long.
Well, this is not to say that you are supposed to use it to monitor the whereabouts of anyone in real-time. (Thank God!) The recorded data, accurate up to 2.5 metres, can be downloaded and displayed over web applications like Google Earth simply by plugging the USB device straight into your computer.
I say this little thing is good for long distance road travel. If you’re someone who needs to know exactly ALL the details of your next road trip. You never know when this information come in handy, eh?
The LandAirSea Tracking Key runs on two AAA batteries and can last for approximately two weeks based on driving activity of 2 hours per day and alkaline batteries. Using lithium batteries would buy you even more tracking life.
See also: Software Demo.

Triple Your Wi-Fi’s Signal Strength With Wi-Fire

hField Technologies’ Wi-Fire is a compact high-performance USB Wi-Fi Adapter for Mac and PC that extends the Wi-Fi range upwards of 1,000 feet. Being a college student, I am blessed with a blanketed campus, offering a strong Wi-Fi signal wherever I go, right? …. Well, wrong. Dreaded dead spots exist and, to my dismay, my dorm room seems to be the epicenter of a dead spot, a barren wasteland of former Wi-Fi signal.
My solutions included hardwiring—too easy. Setting up a router? Forbidden. And as this epic conundrum reached a head, an epiphany hit me like a ton of bricks (as they tend to do). However, this epiphany came in the form of a small device called the Wi-Fire from a startup company that I had never heard of. The device triples the power of the internal receptor, making it virtually impossible not to get a signal, regardless of where you are.
On my current winter break, my internet cut out on me and, although I am not condoning it, I continued surfing without a problem off of an unsecured network down the street. The device uses a directional antenna with an arrow to ensure a strong signal. According to hField’s site, “the Wi-Fire provides interoperability with any 802.11 b/g access point and multiplies the effectiveness of wireless networks allowing users to connect to a WiFi network from up to 1,000 feet, more than three times the range of Airport cards and other 802.11 adapters, at significantly higher speeds, and even in locations where no wireless signal could be detected previously.”
If you’re looking to improve your internet connectivity and thereby improve your efficiency in any setting whether it’s the airport, park or even dorm room, look no further than this valuable gizmo from hField Technologies, Inc.
The device is 3 x 4 x 3/8 inches in size. It folds up for transportation and connects to the Mac and PC using USB. The device retails for $79 in the U.S.

Claudia Mitchell, First Woman to Receive a Bionic Arm

Claudia Mitchell, 26, lost her left arm some time ago from a motorcycle accident. It is a painful experience as she describes how it changed her life, such as having to overcome something as simple as peeling a banana.
Now, her life is getting a dramatic change again, but for the better. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has funded the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago with $50 million and created for Mitchell a “bionic” arm. The arm, wired to her chest muscles’ nerves, is able to react to the muscles’ movement and move like her now-missing limb.
Mitchell can now peel a banana with ease by simply willing her bionic arm to hold the banana. Although she is not the first person to receive a bionic arm, she is very first woman in the world to be granted one.
Right now, Mitchell is preparing for the next “upgrade” of her arm, which adds the ability to “feel”. By wiring to her skin above her left breast, her arm would be able to send signals of “touches” to her brain.

Nissan Pivo 2: A Peek into the (Near) Future of Automobiles

Once again, the Japanese have placed themselves right there at the forefront of cutting-edge technology – style included. Check out Nissan’s newest breakthrough concept, Pivo 2.
Here’s what I gathered from the recent interview with their designer and technical development engineer:

-Fuel cell vehicle (Read: Eco-friendly!)
-Rotating three-seater cabin: Achieved through electric “by-wire” technology, downsizing mechanical parts and completely eliminating others.
-Frontal door: No more conventional engines remember?
-In-Wheel Motor: Conventional axle and steering mechanisms eliminated, allowing the Metamo system to move the tires in any angle. (Read: No more embarrassing parking situations!)
-Robotic Agent: Interactive interface that monitors and accumulates driver’s information and responds like a little boy would, promoting bonding between driver and the car. (Wow!)

Imagine the view on the road when you travel to work in the future, with fresh air might I add. Baby blue, pink, yellow, round electric cars bobbing along on the road! Oh, I’m really pretty tickled at my own imagination. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not being sarcastic at all.
More cute Pivo imageries below.

New Light Source that can Last 12 Years

Very soon, Cyalume sticks (aka glow sticks) will be history. MPK CO. has invented a new kind of light source called Litroenergy that acts somewhat like a glow stick, but lasts more than 12 years without ever needing a recharge. No electricity nor solar exposure required!
“The Litrospheres are not effected by heat or cold, and are 5,000-pound crush resistant. They can be injection molded or added to paint. The fill rate of Litroenergy micro particles in plastic injection molding material or paint is about 20%. The constant light gives off no U.V. rays, and can be designed to emit almost any color of light desired.”

Safe, consistent, and eco-friendly. Litroenergy could possibly save billions of dollars for the world.
But smart netizens has dug out Litroenergy’s patent application, and it says the active ingredient used is Tritium. That is the tricky part - United States has a ban on the import of Tritium, probably due to its radioactive nature.
Do you think this product will ever materialize?

Microsoft Releases Windows XP SP3

Microsoft finally releases its highly anticipated Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP today. But not without some hiccups.

SP3 was found to be incompatible for users running Microsoft Dynamics RMS, hence, an official release on Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update is not available at this time.

But, you can still grab the service pack from their download.windowsupdate.com domain:
Chinese (Hong Kong), Czech, English, French, German (Deutsch), Hebrew, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Simplified (Chinese), Spanish, and Traditional Chinese.

As long as you are not running Microsoft Dynamics RMS, it is perfectly safe to install SP3 now. But, beware of undiscovered bugs that often haunts any major software updates.

Windows XP SP3 Overview

SP3 includes the hundreds of updates and fixes released since SP2. And it includes four features that are backported from Windows Vista. Nothing too exciting for the average consumers though.

• NAP is a policy enforcement platform meant for enterprise use that blocks systems attempting to access a network until they meet whatever security criteria the corporation has in place.
• “Black Hole” Router Detection helps detect and protect end users from a router that drops packets without returning the specified Internet Control Message Protocol response.
• Microsoft Kernel Cryptographic Module incorporates cryptographic algorithms in a single module other kernel mode drivers are capable of hooking into and accessing.
• The new Product Activation module allows users to install XP without entering a product key at installation.

Other new features include:

• A more descriptive Security Options control panel user interface.
• Enhanced security for Administrator and Service policy entries.

For more in-depth details on SP3, download Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3.pdf from Microsoft.

Google Takes a Splash into the Deep Blue

Dive operators, dive guides and seasoned divers may soon have a new “toy” to play with - contributing details of diving hot spots around the world right down to the water conditions and maybe, just maybe to the species of corals and the residents living there.

Rumor has it that Google is brewing an exciting 3D ocean map with the help of marine experts and in selected areas, providing us with high-resolution pictures.

Google’s foray into the ocean comes as no surprise really - with the (Google) Earth and (Google) Sky already covered, it’s probably the next best extension of the project.

I’d say the guys behind Asia Dive Site would definitely have plenty to contribute. So would many, many other websites.

And for those who do not fancy descending 70 feet into the deep blue sea, it’s time to get ready to take a tour underwater - all dry.

Honda Walking Assistance for Elderly & Disabled

Honda is well known for its cars and motorcycles. What is less known is its research in robotics technology, as seen in the Honda ASIMO robot. Since the company is capable of making ASIMO walk “reliably” on its own, why not extend the technology to help humans in walking?

And thus, Honda’s new Walking Assist Device is born. Available in three sizes, the device is worn around the hips and thighs to assist walking for the elderly and other people with weakened leg muscles. Unfortunately, it is designed to assist only people who can already walk on their own.

It uses brushless DC motors powered by lithium ion batteries, allowing up to two hours of walking assistance per battery charge.

Honda will be showcasing the device at the International Trade Fair on Barrier Free Equipments & Rehabilitation for the Elderly & the Disabled (BARRIER FREE 2008), which will be held at Intex Osaka, April 25-27, 2008.

iPhone Washes Up Asian Shores

Apple has signed deals with four major telecommunication companies in four countries to help the company surpass its iPhone sales goal of 10 million units by the end of 2008.

Singapore’s SingTel, India’s Bharti Airtel, Phillipines’ Globe Telecom, and Australia’s Optus, will begin carrying the iPhone “later this year.” A specific date has yet to be announced.

And it is safe to assume that the model would be a new 3G-enabled one, since 3G is the industry standard for this part of the world.

Good news for you patient ones still waiting for its official launch.