Wallet
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Proverbial Wallets make your metaphysical money a little more tangible
Counting dollars and cents on the checkout counter really makes you feel the weight of every expenditure. Swiping a credit card or waving an NFC device over a sensor? Not so much. Enter the Proverbial Wallets from the Information Ecology group at the MIT Media Lab, three separate devices that use three haptic techniques to curtail your spending. First is the Bumblebee, which buzzes and vibrates whenever money comes into or goes out from your account. Next is Mother Bear, which becomes harder to open as you get closer to your spending goal. Finally is Peacock, which swells proudly as your bank balance does the same. Sadly none of these are actually available yet, but we have a feeling if they were they might put a bit of a hurting on our very real and very strict budgets.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: pencil-tip generators, the Nissan Leaf, and the world's largest wind turbine
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. This week we saw renewable energy take the world by storm as Spain announced plans to construct the world's largest wind turbine and a team of engineers made waves with plans for an underwater turbine modeled after whale flippers. We also saw Boeing shine light on plans to produce a new breed of ultra-efficient solar panels that are suited for space, while researchers in Japan developed a potent new kinetic generator that's as tiny as a pencil tip. Innovative eco transportation also picked up the pace as China rolled out plans to produce the first fuel cell powered light rail train and the world's largest solar-powered boat made its successful maiden voyage across the Atlantic. We also applauded the Nissan Leaf as it took first place as the European Car of the Year and we were wowed by Mercedes' next-generation concept car, which may one day be grown in a lab. We also showcased several new ways that technology stands to wire our lives -- starting with an electronic smart wallet that curbs spending by clamping shut like a clam. We also looked at Harvard's plans for a laptop computer powered by biogas and we were impressed by Nike's next-gen design tools for producing environmentally efficient clothes. Finally, we wrapped up the week with two exciting advances in tablet tech - India is testing a solar-powered I-Slate tablet geared at children in need and Substrata rolled out a gorgeous wooden iPad case that goes light on the earth.
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon announce Isis national mobile commerce network
Just in time for the total economic collapse of Europe and the rise of the cyber-nomadic tribes, the kids at Discover, Barclaycard, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have a name for their mobile phone-based payment system: Isis. Essentially it remains what we heard from Bloomberg a few months back: a system for using an app on your phone to send payments to a POS system using NFC technology. The Isis team thinks it has "the scope and scale necessary to introduce mobile commerce on a broad basis," and we wish them the best. But we know how it all ends anyways: with the lucky among us dead, and the rest of us living in caves, hiding from death-dealing robots, and bartering for what we can't scrounge from the ruins of our once-great cities. PR after the break.
Biometric wallets keep strange hands off your cash, flummox airport security
When we recently heard that purveyor of luxury men's goods Alfred Dunhill was selling a secure biometric wallet, we were intrigued: who wouldn't want a carbon fiber billfold that only opened with your fingerprint, and alerted you when it lost Bluetooth contact with your cellphone? Cost to the consumer: $700. Sounded like a pretty good deal, at least until we were hepped to a little something called the iWallet. Apparently the same thing (sans the snooty English rebadge), this bad boy is available in a variety of colors, including a fiber glass ($400) or lightweight carbon fiber ($600) case -- and it's made in the good ol' US of A. That said, whichever wallet you do pick will never be as cool as one made from an SNES cartridge.
Dell Streak car and AV docks now on sale, HDMI may or may not be included (update: included)
Hey England, in need of some retail therapy after an unsatisfying sporting weekend? Dell's got the goods for you with a rich new selection of cables, plugs, adapters, and cases for your new Streak. It looks like the HDMI dock we've been jonesing for has probably become a retail reality, but there's no way to be sure right now -- Dell's only listing an AV dock without going into the TV connectivity options. The fresh offerings also include the kickstand-equipped wallet case that we found intriguing, spare battery and sync cables, and an international travel kit. Of course, every silver lining has a cloud, which in this case is the pricing: nothing here costs less than £24 ($35) and the car- and TV-enabling docks will set you back a cool £55 ($80) each. Jumbo smartphone, jumbo accessory prices. [Thanks, Kingsley] Update: Dell's updated catalog now reflects HDMI connectivity on the AV dock. Phew!
eviGroup's Android Wallet MID now available, chrome is optional (video)
The last time we saw eviGroup's Wallet it'd been given an '80s-style two-tone bezel and a January release date. Thankfully, the two-tone look has gone, but that anticipated date didn't exactly pan out either. The MID is officially now shipping, with the base (chrome-free) model going for €199 (about $245). For that you get a five-inch, 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen device running Android 1.5 from 1GB of built in storage, augmented by a microSD slot. Power comes from a 667MHz Samsung ARM processor and the battery is said to last about six hours. For your €199 you'll also get a car mount and a car charger, but given the device has neither GPS nor access to Google Navigation we're not entirely sure the point of all that. Still, it's not a bad price, but those who really like showing off their wealth can get one with a chrome backside for an extra €20. Heart-felt unboxing after the break.
The Daily Grind: Do you vote with your wallet?
There are certain changes, usually big ones, that don't exactly produce... positive reactions. In fact, they generally produce screaming rants and huge doses of rage at how they were handled and implemented. You know the sorts we're talking about. Star Wars Galaxies and the Combat Upgrade. Ultima Online and Trammel. Final Fantasy XI and the nerfs to Beastmaster "catch and release" tactics. All loathed changes, many of which led to an exodus of players. Really, leaving a game can be the best way to express displeasure with a change. It's the surest way to send a company the message that they've done something that will no longer justify your monthly subscription. On the flip side, your individual impact is small, you once loved the game... a lot of players will choose to rough it out, in hopes that things will improve or with the knowledge that the changes can't be all that bad. And for games where you have a lifetime subscription or are experiencing it free-to-play, your absence isn't really a deterrent at all. So, do you vote with your wallet? When you're fed up with what's been done, do you head off for greener pastures? Or are you of the mind that it's not even worth the bother, that they might well not even tie your departure to the change, even if you say so?
eviGroup's Wallet tablet/MID gets two-tone redesign, January release date
Sure, it was highly derivative of the iPhone, but we liked the styling on those eviGroup Wallet prototypes that the company teased us with a few months back. So, we're ever so slightly disappointed to see the new aesthetic in the latest (and, apparently, final) revision of the hardware above. That it's grown a front-facing webcam is a good thing, but the two-tone look in this shot makes that bezel look a bit chunky and not entirely lust-worthy. (The rendered shots at the read link look better, but then they always do.) The good news is it's said to be ready for production ahead of a January release and, with Dell seemingly joining the fray with its own Android-powered five-inch tablet/MID device, that date had better not slip.
eviGroup's Android-based Wallet MID debuts in France (avec video)
Haven't found a tablet or MID to your liking just yet? Then you may just want to wait another 24 hours, 'cause that's about the rate they seem to be cropping up these days. This latest one comes from France's eviGroup, and distinguishes itself somewhat by using Android for an OS, although there doesn't appear to be any UI customizations to speak of. Otherwise, it looks like this "Wallet" will be able to more hold its own, if not completely stand out form the pack, with it packing a 5-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, 8GB of internal memory, a miniSD card slot for further expansion, an integrated digital camera, and the trifecta of built-in WiFi, GPS and 3G. Still no word on a release over here, but the folks at eviGroup are promising to launch it in Europe at the "beginning of 2010" for €300 (or about $440), and they've kindly gone ahead and put together a thorough video overview that you can watch right now (after the break).[Via Android France]
Mysterious Android MID poses for yet more pics, reads Engadget
You know, if you're trying to get our attention, there are worse ways to go about it than by releasing photos of a mystery gadget proudly displaying our homepage. And though there is no credible word yet on the origin of all these Android MID pics that keep making the rounds, there has been much speculation. As SlashGear points out, the device has more than a passing resemblance to the Wallet, which France's eviGroup has been threatening to lay on the world since back in May (a 5-inch touchscreen device touted as "halfway between a cellphone and a TabletPC"). And if that isn't enough, someone named focus3G has been furiously posting new pics of the thing on his Twitpic account for two weeks now -- we've contacted him for an explanation to no avail (not yet, at least). But what do you think? Hit the gallery below, and let the speculation begin. Read - Wallet MID gets closer to release, US launch possibleRead - Even more photos of unknown Android MID appear
Super Nintendo cartridge wallet: you probably want this
Sure, it might be a little more cumbersome than your current billfold -- but whatever -- this is awesome. This SNES cartridge has been modded so that it holds a photo ID on the front plate, but it's also been gutted of its internals and outfitted with a hinge so that there's storage space on the inside. Oh, and it's got an LED that can be powered on and off, plus it plays game music / noises! Crazy, right? Well, it's slightly complicated to build one of your own, but Instructables has the details, should you want to give it a whirl. Ask yourself this: what better way is there to spend New Year's Day?[Via Hack A Day]
Japan to push its whiz-bang handsets overseas
With Japanese handset sales declining pretty much across the board (thanks, lower subsidies!), it follows logic that the government and Japanese-based handset makers would look internationally to pick up the slack. In a rather vague report, we're told that the nation is hoping to push its technologically advanced mobiles in other countries, though it'll have a tough time marketing mobile TV without sufficient infrastructure. One of the token handsets chosen to lead the parade is a Sony-made "wallet phone," which is only described as having cashless technology built in. Color us (very) mildly enthused.
Contactless payment trial goes live on San Francisco's BART
We knew full well that a contactless payment trial would soon be underway in the city by the Bay, and now it's finally ready for use by 230 guinea pigs. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of details on the Samsung handsets and the technology itself, but we do know that the program is being closely watched in hopes of it operating quite smoothly. If indeed that happens, it could be "expanded," presumably allowing others in the area to have their bank account dinged with the swipe of a cell each time they need a lift. Furthermore, a video clip at CBS5 shows the pilot phone being used to snag some totally nourishing grub from Jack in the Box. Hungry for more? Hit up the read link to take a peek yourself.[Thanks, Hans]
You've got to know when to HOLD IT!
We've been taking our time getting through Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations, savoring what is undoubtedly the best game in the series to date. But, try as we may have to delay it, the game is done. And now our frothing Ace Attorney fandom has no outlet until February -- except stuff. Capcom has just released a set of playing cards containing character art spanning the whole series (including the upcoming Apollo Justice), called the Gyakuten Saiban Character Trump set. The best news (for us) is that it's available on Play-Asia! If you've ever wanted to spend $20 on a deck of cards, here's your chance. And we can keep those cards in the official Gyakuten Saiban card case.(Hmm, there seems to be one major flaw in this post. Maybe we should go through the testimony again to find the contradiction.)[Via Nine Over Ten]
Emtrace's Photoskins digiframe fits in your wallet
Just in case you weren't exactly keen on buying a new wallet just to get a digital photo frame built in, Emtrace is offering up the perfect alternative. The ultrathin Photoskins PS100 is skinny enough to slide right inside your wallet, and it can also be docked in a cradle and used as a "Widget-Player." Regrettably, that's all the information that's available right now, but hang tight, all the nitty-gritty details you crave should be just around the bend.
Capcom tells you where your money should go
Your money has been earmarked for Resident Evil games-- Capcom is just letting you hold on to it for a while. To help Japanese gamers keep this in mind, they're giving out this fancy Umbrella Corporation wallet along with copies of Umbrella Chronicles preordered through their e-Capcom site. You can keep your money in there in the brief intervening period between Resident Evil purchases. People planning to buy Japanese copies of Umbrella Chronicles are rapidly accumulating quite a collection of stuff!Similarly, all of your food has been determined to be the property of Sengoku Basara 2 -- oh, that doesn't work like it did for the wallet. Okay, they're giving away nice chopsticks along with preorders. Imagine a good joke in there or something.
A classy wallet-style case for your DS cards
Shouhou's Enamel Card Case is a very wallet-like way to carry around your DS games. We can imagine feeling like our DS games are tiny, tiny credit cards when using this thing. And, for some reason, that appeals to us.The case has four pockets for DS games, a space for a stylus, and an extra pocket for a GBA cartridge or whatever else will fit. It comes in pink, blue, and black, all of which are shiny. This appears to be Shouhou's first product, so we're a little more impressed with its aesthetics and design. Not every DS accessory is this nice.[Via GAME Watch]
Wii Warm Up: The best type of recycling
We were just talking about this over at DS Fanboy, and almost like magic, a new round-up of uses for that old NES you have lying around. Thanks to our new sister blog, DIY Life, we can save a little search time and check out the list in one convenient place. But the real question is, if you wanted to gut your NES for a special project, what would you do? One of these, or something completely different? We'd really love to see someone pull off something crazy, like a hat decorated with bits of a console, but we're strange like that. How about you?
Ambient Devices' slew of conceptual displays
Although we've already been up close and personal with a number of Ambient's unique devices, a recent conference at the Ambient Information Systems Workshop brought a bevy of new (and old) conceptual devices back to the limelight. Aside from the Google Clock and Ambient Orb, David Rose spoke about the opportunity to present a multitude of interfaces with varying resolutions in a number of environments so that individuals could get updates on what's important to them with "just a glance." Among the ideas was a Weather Watcher display that could be tailored for sailors by divulging forecasts and current wind information, a Sailing Zone display that could easily pinpoint the "ideal situation for boating," and a thin wallet-infused display that could crank out pertinent information to the owner. Additionally, a energy tracking Home Joule is currently being trailed in New York that uses color to quickly convey data about how much juice is being consumed in a home. So if you're intrigued in the slightest, and can't wait to see how ubiquitous displays and the human race will inevitably work and play together in perfect harmony, be sure to hit the read link and cringe as you read over things you thought of years ago but kept to yourself.
Brookstone's Digital Photo Wallet eliminates need for prints
While digiframe manufacturers keep pushing for larger and larger LCD sizes to adorn (or completely consume) your coffee tables, Brookstone's going the opposite direction with its Digital Photo Wallet. The presumably chintzy "nappa leather" wallet doesn't look to be of much better quality than those sold at your favorite dollar-for-everything store, but it does manage to house a 1.4-inch LCD that reportedly stores 55 photos. Additionally, it's completely removable and rechargeable, sports an on / off button and scroll controls, and interfaces with your PC via USB. Of course, you could just stick with the wallet you're comfortable with and pick up a digital photo keychain, but if you're serious about this one here, watch for it in mid-May for $59.
