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Space solar power potential highlighted in report
A report into the feasibility of space-based power rigs that would beam solar power down to earth in the form of microwaves has been published, with its findings being along the lines of "yes, it'll happen, but only when the money's there." The Pentagon is itching to get its hands on the technology, which would include mirrors several miles wide focusing sunlight onto solar cells, highlighting the potential for beaming energy to remote regions of the world (read: wherever they're fighting.) The problem is more of an economic one, with the technology behind the project apparently being feasible since the 70s: only now that oil prices have tripled, and the technology has become greatly more efficient, is an actual space installation seeming realistic. In fact, we could see early efforts for the giant mirrors as soon as 2012: any bets that they'll double as death rays?
Weave Mirror neglects glass, stuns onlookers
Rest assured, we've seen some pretty fancy mirrors in our day, but Daniel Rozin's Weave Mirror ranks pretty high up there. This zany installation relies on "768 motorized and laminated C-shaped prints along the surface of a picture plane that texturally mimics a homespun basket," and as curious mortals approach it, it "paints a picture of them using a gradual rotation in greyscale value on each C-ring." We know, you're probably still confounded at how this thing actually wows anyone, but give the video (posted after the jump) a peek and clarity will be yours.[Via WeMakeMoneyNotArt]
Mirror Collage Plasma TV Cabinet conceals your set, decorates room
In most cases, tactfully hanging your PDP on a wall could pass as a piece of art, and while there are certainly alternatives out there for those too hesitant to hang, this creation certainly ups the ante. The Mirror Collage Plasma TV Cabinet spans far enough around to accommodate "most 50-inch plasmas," and as the picture above depicts, it covers your set with a variety of mirrors that not only block your display, but purportedly "create the illusion of more space" in your room. Of course, the real draw here is that this piece is precisely what we fellows have been needing to convince our better halves to let us adorn a wall with a television -- the only problem, however, is that staggering $4,649 price tag that comes along with it.[Via Luxist]
Mirror Media stuffs PC into multifaceted display
Mirrors that double as surveillance displays or hallway televisions have been common for quite some time, and while Mirror Media's PC-stuffed iteration certainly won't be the first of its breed, it joins a rare bunch nonetheless. The MirrorTV + media PC combination unit comes in 20-, 26-, 30-, and 32-inch flavors and features an Intel processor, up to 512MB of SDRAM, up to 60GB of hard drive space, optional WiFi, and a smorgasbord of ports including USB 2.0, RS-232, FireWire, DVI / VGA, and component / S-Video / composite to boot. Pricing details don't look to be readily available, but if you've got the coin, we're sure these guys and gals can whip up the multifarious mirror of your dreams.[Via ChipChick]
Webcam mirror exposes your egotistical personality
For those of you who regularly get lost in the infinite beauty of your own reflection, you can now enjoy the totally self-indulgent experience while "communicating" with your "friends", thanks to the Mirror Webcam. There isn't much tech to divulge here -- it's a USB webcam embedded in a mirror, with a ring of LED lights surrounding it which, depending on your face, will make you look much better or much worse. You can use the device as a regular mirror or as a digital mirror, but either way you're still staring at your own face like a self-involved jerk. Available now for around $49.[Via Akihabara News]
Mammoth liquid mirror telescope could be constructed on the moon
Roger Angel's idea to launch a 100-meter liquid mirror telescope on the moon is far from the only mammoth-sized dream that could be headed into space, and if the feasibility study shows enough promise, it just might happen. The University of Arizona astronomer mentioned that the idea of putting an "enormous liquid-mirror telescope on the moon that could be hundreds of times more sensitive than the Hubble Space Telescope" had been around awhile, but apparently it's finally getting the attention it deserves. If constructed, it would easily be the largest ever built, and would reportedly allow scientists to "study the oldest and most distant objects in the universe, including the very first stars." The project is being investigated on behalf of NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts, and while these type devices are "relatively cheap" to build, it should be noted that it's being compared (at least financially) to the $4.5 billion James Webb Space Telescope. Now, where's the signup sheet for freelance contractors to get in on the moon-based build process?[Via Wired]
Haier's shiny Sterling handset gets official
Way back in January we were able to get our comparatively large palms around Haier's minuscule Elegance, and now the company's latest mirrored handset has gotten official with a pre-order price and release date. The oh-so-shiny Sterling brings back the bling factor in a serious way, and while it may look like there's no external display on this bad boy, we promise it's just an illusion. Underneath the facade resides a 1.8-inch color LCD, 1.3-megapixel camera, a pair of "music puzzle games," support for MP3, WMA, MP4, and AAC files, USB 2.0 connectivity, Bluetooth, 128MB of internal memory, a microSD card slot, and a battery capable of staying alive through three solid hours of yapping. Interestingly, you can plunk down a "non-refundable" deposit of $199 now in order to secure a position in line when it launches worldwide in July, but considering that there's no word on how much extra you will be billed upon shipment, we'd be mighty hesitant to pull the trigger just yet.[Via I4U, thanks Luigi]
Cheetah's GPSMirror detects red-light / speed cameras
Giving you yet another venue to throw down your hard-earned dollars instead of just taking it easy and obeying traffic laws while motoring, Cheetah has introduced a GPSMirror that can detect just about anything you'd need to know about whilst cruising down the highway. Sporting a SiRF Star III GPS receiver, anti-glare coating, and the ability to divulge alerts via voice, visuals, or frighteningly loud sounds, this rear view mirror replacement purportedly keeps you informed of upcoming speed cameras of all varieties, radar / laser detectors, and accident zones. Additionally, the device can even display your speed from behind the mirrored glass in case the speedometer in your '72 Beetle has been pleasantly perched on zero for the past decade. The unit supposedly plays nice with your current radar / laser detector, and can relay data via its aural abilities to slow you down. Speedsters can pick up the GPSMirror now for £199.99 ($395), and thanks to the PC-based interface and internet database downloads, there are no monthly fees for its handy services.[Via NaviGadget]
DND Casa's mirror conceals a PC, LCD HDTV
While we've certainly seen our fair share of LCD TV-equipped mirrors before, DND Casa is apparently aiming to raise the bar once more by stuffing a full-fledged PC into the mix. Reportedly, the firm is marketing its new ARCO mirror to high-end households in Korea, and while details regarding the specs and technology behind the glass are scarce, we do know that the "Mirror Image" magic from Ad-Notam is incorporated. Of course, we fully expect the videophiles in the crowd to scoff mightily at such a bizarre attempt at consolidation, but for those interested in a few more snapshots, feel free to click on through and take a peek.[Via AVing]
Dancing On The Water clock levitates time
True clock aficionados fully understand that their timepieces do more than tell them just how many grueling hours are left in the work day, and YUnoBI's Dancing On The Water design invites time tellers to gaze at its mirror-image rather than just glancing and looking away. The lacquered enclosure comes in black, red, and gray finishes, and shoots the current time up against a reflective back that purportedly gives off a "floating illusion." Furthermore, the red digits are displayed care of built-in LEDs, and while you may be eager to snap this presumed dust-magnet up as a crafty conversation piece, the ¥68,250 ($573) asking price just might stop you in your tracks.[Via TechDigest]
AIST turns transparent glass into mirrors to conserve energy
We've seen two-way displays and undercover mirrors before, but the latest two-faced invention to come from the depths of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) can pull double duty in regard to purpose and save a little energy in the process. The "switchable glass" has certain reflexive properties created by the twin coatings of "40-nanometer-thick magnesium-titanium alloy, plus a 4-nanometer-thick layer of palladium," which allows for the mirror to become transparent when a small amount of hydrogen is introduced between the two panes. Alternatively, tossing in a bit of oxygen forms a reflecting mirror, allowing users to "switch" the glass by injecting gases. Contrary to other commercialized approaches, this rendition can purportedly result in up to a "30-percent savings in energy costs" by having to run your air conditioner less, but there's still work to be done. Scientists at the AIST are still toiling away as they try to fight the relatively rapid deterioration that occurs from "frequent switching," but if they can add a dash of durability and get the price down to a respectable level, we could all be living in a house of mirrors before too long.[Via PlasticBamboo]
Magic Mirror -- voyeurism while you shop
We try to keep it on the low, but when it comes to clothes shopping, the Engadget crew is like a gaggle of school girls -- running up and down the aisles comparing outfits and finding the latest accessories to go with our gear. Well the malls might be a bit quieter now, thanks to IconNicholson's Magic Mirror which, not unlike it's Snow White namesake, lets you get the opinion of others before making a decision. What it does is let you try on virtual outfits and share with friends, allowing them to then text you back with a yay or nay. Besides the main panel where you can see your proposed new look, there are two other panels: the left showing you available pieces from the store, while the right offers up info on accessories that you might like. IconNicholson is scarce on the details of how it is exactly your friends are getting this feed from the dressing room, but it best be most secure, because we know all too well how miscreants like to take advantage of technology.
Konka's leopard print LCD TV / Magic Mirror
While we've seen a variety of magic mirrors in our day, we've yet to come across one with such a nifty premise, only to be completely and utterly ruined by a leopard print motif. Sure, the off-kilter design scheme might attract a few people still stuck in, well, whatever era leopard print was marginally acceptable in, but generally speaking, we're guessing most folks won't give it a second glance. Konka's Magic Mirror isn't a mirror by trade, but its vertically-mounted 42-inch LCD TV is directly wired to a webcam in the bezel, which can display whatever stands in front of it, theoretically accomplishing the same task as a tried and true mirror. Additionally, it can be used as a normal TV for viewing television, movies, etc., but considering its upright alignment, it's probably best reserved for digiframe duty. For the folks (read: one or two) out there wondering about the price, unfortunately we're not sure, but we'd suspect that you could darn near steal these things from Konka if you just let its stockpile collect a little dust for a few months first.[Via Uber-Review]
Italian village gets lit up thanks to gargantuos mirror
Considering nobody (well, mostly) likes to be alone in the dark for months on end, a group of Italians have devised a method to brighten everyone's day. Due to their position around numerous mountaintops that cut off direct sunlight and warmth during the winter months, the villagers were previously left to fend off darkness and cold without any external assistance, but thanks to a ridiculously large mirror (and some clever engineering), all that's changed. The sun-challenged hamlet nestled in the Ossola Valley now has a "towering 26- by 16-foot mirror installed on the flank of one bluff," and it utilizes a "computer to follow the sun's path and cast its rays back on Viganella." The project, seven years in the making, was reportedly difficult to construct and fund, but now that they've forked out the €100,000 ($131,260) and rediscovered the sun, we imagine the current population of 185 will likely be on the rise when envious folks from neighboring towns start to move in.
Logitec kicks out five new eSATA external hard drives
If you're looking to snag one of those externally bootable eSATA drives, but don't want to sacrifice that increasingly necessary USB 2.0 connectivity, Logitec has five new drives to fit the bill, regardless of storage space needed. Boasting a sleek, silver / black enclosure and a "silent" (read: fanless) design, this dual-port drive comes in 250GB, 320GB, 400GB, 500GB, and 750GB flavors. While an eSATA PCI card isn't bundled in, it's an optional accessory if your PC isn't already prepared for it, and the device also features a file mirroring tool to easily clone your boot drive and a "write protection button" to prevent data entry -- you know, in case you're faced with any Jack Bauer-like situations. Anyways, the LHD-EDSAU2 series can be snapped up in Japan next month for ¥17,800 ($152), ¥22,100 ($188), ¥28,500 ($243), ¥31,700 ($270), and ¥72,200 ($614), running from smallest to most capacious.[Via Akihabara News]
Huckleberry iSight periscope
The inclusion of iSight cameras in Apple portables starting with the MacBook Pro was an exciting prospect for many users; just think about how useful it would be to have the ability to video conference wherever you had your notebook without having to lug around extra gear! But the secondary use of the built in iSight to take quick candid shots of one's environment is becoming more and more popular. The only issue with this is the requirement that you flip your MacBook around to take the picture; something which is decidedly less than elegant. Fortunately for people who practice this secondary use-case often, Charlie Dancey and Mungai Mirrors will release the Huckleberry mirror system at the upcoming Mac Expo London later this month. Although sexy and probably pretty high build quality, the $28 price tag for a piece of glass and some plastic might cause more mechanically inclined prospective buyers to make their own. I'm sure it won't be long before someone posts an Instructable on how to make your own (if you do, send it in as a tip and we'll post it).
Accenture Technology finalizing persuasive mirror, behavior monitoring systems
Pretty soon our homes will not only be staffed entirely by robots of all varieties catering to our every need, but we'll have mirrors that pull triple duty as surveillance cameras and best friends. Accenture Technology, the folks behind the elusive "persuasive mirror," is edging closer to a finalized product that can survey your facial features, love handles, and overall girth in order to communicate the honest truth about what you should (or could) do to improve your deteriorating image. The mirror operates by inspecting your body via cameras on each side of the panel, and displays "after" portraits on a monitor to give you a futuristic glimpse of what you'd look like should you shave, trim your bangs, hit the weight room, or start a DDR exercise routine. No longer will you have to doubt the integrity of your "close friends" when it comes to making personal hygiene decisions, as the persuasive mirror apparently feels that honesty is the best policy, even if it rattles your self-esteem. Moreover, the firm has crafted a prototype monitoring system that utilizes memory sensors to determine if subjects are deviating from "normal patterns of behavior." Current implementation ideas are to watch for meandering thieves in a parking lot, straying employees, and mischievous baggage handlers at airports. While the company is currently testing the technology out in France, you might want to think twice before venturing too far from the daily norm, although we aren't exact certain of the consequences should your lack of conformity set off any "abnormal" alerts.
Magic Message Mirror on display at CEDIA
Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the freakiest freak of all? No doubt, you are Magic Mirror man. If you doubted Basil's ability to scare the shiznit out of kiddies or intruders alike then just peep the creepy pics from CEDIA Expo where Themeaddicts Magic Message Mirror was on display. Rigged up to a Crestron automation system for the show, inventor Craig Barrof -- producer for Universal's King Kong attraction and creator of Jurassic Park's menacing T-Rex -- announced that the mirror will set you back $22,000 large to take home where the on-screen butler can render 10 animated messages standard, or an additional 23 at $600 a pop -- double-that for custom jobbies. Creepy as it is, there's undeniable value in knowing your Jacuzzi is ready, Cristal chilled, and Fiddy's live at the door, eh? [Via Talk About CEDIA]
Alcatel's "GlamPhone ELLE" slated for US release
If showing your allegiance to ELLE Magazine ranks high on your list of priorities when cross-shopping phones, you may not be alone -- if Alcatel did any market research on this one, that is. We first told you about their "GlamPhone ELLE" last year, but at the time, we thought the uninspiring clamshell would only be finding its way to GSM 900 / 1800 networks; a new version sports 850 / 1900, though, and will be dropping stateside on September 1 in your choice of red or black for $180. Unfortunately, the phone's 3MB of internal memory, VGA shooter, and GPRS data leave a bad taste in our mouth that no mirrored display or free year of ELLE Magazine can overcome, but we're guessing they'll manage to push a few through in-mag advertising.[Via paidContent]
BenQ-Siemens goes girly with EF61 Mia Special Edition
If the lack of a built-in compact mirror was turning you off from Philips' 588, BenQ-Siemens has you covered with the just-launched EF61 "Mia Special Edition." Besides the mirror and the phone's artsy shell, you'll get a 1.3 megapixel shooter, microSD slot, and "5 Minutes to Fabulous," an app that apparently guides you through the process of applying makeup in (you guessed it) five minutes. Running £99.99 (about $180) when it drops in September, we can see this gussied-up EF61 appealing to a few members of the fairer sex -- but if you really have to rely on your phone to put your face on, we suspect you might come away sorely disappointed.
