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Purdue researchers want tiny refrigerators cooling your PC
You think your liquid-cooled rig is pretty snazzy, don't you? After Purdue researchers get their technology on the streets, that stuff will seriously look like old hat. The team is working on a "miniature refrigeration system small enough to fit inside laptops and personal computers," which would hopefully boost cooling performance while enabling computers to be smaller. According to Suresh Garimella, they have "a very good handle on the technology," but it's still a ways from being implemented in end products. Don't worry though, we're sure the likes of Alienware and Voodoo PC will have it up as optional equipment just as soon as it clears the quality assurance lab.[Via TheFutureOfThings, thanks Iddo]
Samsung prepping RFID-enabled refrigerator
Sure, there's always that heated debate over whether or not RFID use in our everyday lives is beneficial or voyeuristic, but Samsung's forthcoming refrigerator most certainly falls in the former category. No, it doesn't sport a built-in LCD monitor, automatic thawing, pizza nook, or an invisibility cloak, but it does manage to keep a close on the amount of food remaining in your refrigerated containers. Moreover, this eagle-eyed fridge will purportedly be able to send a shopping list the owner's cellphone or directly to the supermarket when it detects your milk, juice, eggnog, or assortment of critical condiments are reaching dangerously low levels. As if this wasn't enough to lay down a pre-order, it will supposedly offer up recipes to users as well based on what's currently residing in your fridge. Of course, there's no (presumably lofty) pricetag attached to this pipedream just yet, but it is slated to hit retail floors "around 2008 or 2009," and maybe they'll enable it to physically visit the grocery store and shop for you in the meantime.[Via textually]
