Hotel Cleaning

Hotel Cleaning - The top video clips of the week are here

digital recycle bin saves deleted files

Currently just a conceptual design, the TEMPO is an external storage device that’s designed to prevent you from losing files you accidentally delete. The clever thing about it is that it actually looks like a little recycling bin (although it might be mistaken for a cup of really black coffee).

Created by industrial designer Franco Cagnina for Intech, the TEMPO connects via Bluetooth to your Mac or PC and automatically stores backup copies of files as you delete them. As you fill the drive, a series colored LEDs on the side of the device indicates how full the “bin” is.
This is one of those great examples of utility and intuitive interface design coming together. I really hope that Intech does end up producing these.
[via MoCo LoCo]

New jet-pack patent propels with water

Raymond Li's terrifying contraption, described as a "personal propulsion device," just became U.S. Patent 7,258,301. Powered by a clever system of conduits that lead to independently pivoting thrust nozzles, it's designed to provide inherent stability using "throttle controls and the like."
A rocket pack, you mean? Ah, but no! From the inventor's filing:

Typically, flight packs include propulsion devices such as propellers, rotor
blades, or rockets, which often require a highly flammable fuel in order to
generate sufficient thrust for flight. In addition to having a reservoir of
volatile fluid attached to the body of a pilot, the close proximity of the
propeller, rotor blades, or rocket exhaust to the pilot further poses
significant safety risks. ... As an alternative to employing the combustion of
volatile fluids to directly generate thrust, the high-pressurization of
non-flammable fluids, such as water, has been proposed to create sufficient
thrust in order to achieve flight.

Any flammable stuff, therefore, only ever sees the dark interior of a combustion engine floating on the water, powering the pump. No rotor blades, no hot gases (except the motor's exhaust), just plumes of pressurized water.

Nokia's 8GB N95, 5310, 5610, and 5700 get shown

The N81 slider apparently isn't the only device up Nokia's sleeve for tomorrow morning. Gearfuse scored some shots of the 8GB N95 along with the XpressMusic 5310, 5610, and 5700 series (looking positively lovely in black, may we add), all of which are presumably destined for the announcement docket. Anyone else getting pumped for the official news?

How To Make A Cascade Of Smoke!!!

Bordet Tobacco Detoxification Centre: Handicap

Legambiente: Superhero

Japanese Gadget Gets Your "Beauty Smile" On

Have you ever wanted to train your smile? Then this Japanese gadget is just for you. Called the "Beauty Smile Trainer", it's basically a rubber piece that fits inside your mouth and turns a normal looking smile into a beautiful one.

Simply stick this piece of rubber in your mouth that forces you to smile, and in a matter of days you're sure to have a smile that won't be so revolting to those around you

durex ADs

Delays your climax so you can last longer

Strange Volkswagen Beetle's You Won't See On the Streets

So you've seen Nintendo's Pickachu bug, but here are a collection of strange Volkswagen Beetle's you definitely won't see on the streets, or at least anytime soon.

Battery Knockoff Panasonic Would Love to Hate

A reader sent in this gem, which shows a battery knockoff Panasonic would love to hate. Sure, it sounds like Panasonic, but the spelling is way off.

Coca-Cola: Inside the Happiness Factory

An amusing documentary for the “Happiness Factory” of Coca-Cola (Silver Lion in Film category at Cannes Lions 2007), created by Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam and produced by the Psyop, New York. Nice!

An Advertisment You’ll Watch Twice (the wind)

Check out this advertisement. It kind of goes slow until the end. Keep watching it though because when it’s over you’ll say “ohhh cool” and then watch it again.

Transformers

If you are my age and are of male origin, you likely grew up with the cartoon series Transformers. Remember? Robots in disguise, optimus vs megatron vs starscream, you know.
In a couple of days the motion picture will premiere, which means real looking transforming giant robots... (I had heard people complaining the movie was to be too long, maybe it was. For me, it flew by, i was captivated by the story line.)

Judging from the trailers and pictures I’ve seen these robots are massive and the transform process is supposed to be the most realistic special effect ILM has created.
I am looking forward to seeing it and buying the DVD.

Money Sculptures

Have a pile of extra bills laying around and don’t feel like spending it on gadgets? Then why not use them to make sculptures. Continue reading more pictures.

Mobile Protector

If you find yourself in the market for a super ugly cell phone holster, check out the StrapYa Mobile Protector. It costs $25 and looks like it was built out of junk some guy found in his garage. I mean cell phone holsters are nerdy enough, but this is pushing the limits of human comprehension. You'd look cooler if you just duct taped your cell phone to your waist.

Mario Chalk Art

Nintendo’s Mario clearly inspired these creative chalk creations. Unfortunately, you won’t find Luigi this time around. View more pictures after the jump.

Super Paper Mario Hits Seattle

An artist decided to turn a normal pole into a work of art, using colored pieces of paper. This masterpiece can be found in the streets of Seattle. One more picture after the break.

Finger Folder USB Drive

Art Lebedev has unveiled their latest creation: a folder-shaped USB drive. Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on pricing and availability. We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.

Folderix flash drive was designed as a folder icon, which is to prove that there’s no end to one’s postmodernist aspirations

Chumby: One Year Later

Chumby is a small, wifi-enabled linux hardware device is designed to be hacked and changed by its owners. The device has a 350MHz ARM controller, 32MB SDRAM, 64 MB Nand Flash Rom, a 320×240 3.5 inch touch LCD screen, two speakers, audio output, a microphone, and two USB ports. Chumby also has a squeeze sensor. All of this is housed within a soft, sqeezable shell about the size of a coconut.

It was announced a year ago at Foo camp, and the company gave out about 500 of the first generation devices. Users register the device on the Chumby home page and connect the device to their network via wifi. Once registered, content widgets are added - so the Chumby may include a news widget, flickr widget, etc.

Now, a year later, the company has made upgrades to the hardware and sofware that makes up the device, and say they will make it available for sale in a couple of months. The biggest change is that Chumby now runs Flash Lite 3, which is the first mobile version of Flash to support streaming audio and video. Users can now run music or video over the Internet and play it on the Chumby. The Chumby will be sold for $179.95, fully delivered.

The company has 23 employees and is headquartered in San Diego. They raised just over $5 million from OATV, Avalon Ventures and Masthead Venture Partners in December 2006.

via. techcrunch