iSuppli sizes up the Apple TV

Apple is known for the high profit margins on its consumer electronics, but according iSuppli Apple is only making $62 (or about 20%) on each Apple TV. As you'd guess the most expensive component is a slimmed down version of Intel's Pentium M processor at about $40, and the cheapest is the $0.75 RealTek audio chip. The new 160GB version's margin is much nicer at more than 30%, but only because Apple charges a $100 premium for an option that only costs an extra $36 to make. Hobby indeed. Of course the obvious reason is that Apple plans to make up the cash selling content, and maybe even more importantly: to get into your living room. While this seems like a great plan and all, we can't help but get stuck on the fact there still isn't any HD content from Apple for a device that supposedly requires a HDTV.

High-Tech Meets the Past

If Indian tribes were to use computer parts as garments, this is what it might look like.

Get a Remote Control Outlet, and Never Get Up Again

You don't need an elaborate and expensive system like X10, Insteon, or Lutron remote switches to control the world, not when you have one of these $19.95 Remote Control Outlets with its accompanying IR remote control. Whatever's plugged into it gets instant off/on remote control, and you can get up to three extra outlets for 10 bucks each, controlling them all with this handy remote. Well, you won't be able to control the world, just four different things, but it's hard to beat this easy setup that you (or your dad, think Father's Day) can put together right away for very little money.

Pretec shows off first miCARDs

We know that you've been barely able to sleep since the new miCARD memory card format was announced -- who would be the first manufacturer to get these out the door, you wondered -- so you can finally rest easy with the news that Pretec is showing off its own version of the multi-functional little wafers (pictured larger than actual size, of course) at Computex in Taipei. The company's S-Diamond line already tops off at an impressive 8GB (with theoretical capacities of 2TB, but we're not holding our breath), and like the flood of other miCARDs soon to hit the market, will work with regular SD/MMC-capable devices through the use of an adapter. Pretec still isn't being forthcoming with any pricing or release info on these, but since there's no miCARD-specific hardware on the market yet anyway, we doubt that many of you care.

Knife Cabinet Imprisons Son of the Voodoo Knife Holder

Pity the poor little dude at the bottom of this knife cabinet, barely getting out of the way of the longest knife. This 11.5-inch mini-cabinet holds a variety of knives that you supply yourself, the longest one with a 9-inch blade. Get a 9.5-inch blade to really put the hurt on the poor little guy.

He must be related to that poor son of a bitch doing time as the Voodoo Knife Holder.

Who needs a pierced-head knife-block, or a pierced voodoo doll knife-block, when you can have a man-in-mortal- terror-cowering- from-your-knives knife-block?

Inspired by the Sword Cabinet illusion beloved by magicians, this novel knife holder features a crouching figure behind glass. Slots on the top hold 5 knives of varying widths and lengths, from a paring knife to a chef's knife with 9" blade. Cabinet is MDF with a black finish. 7 ¼" W x 11 ¾"H x 4"D. Knives not included. Exlcusive to our company.

Power Dome Generator is Really Just a Big Battery for Your Gadgets

Someone has decided to put a 18 lbs lead-acid battery in a yellow case with a handle and call it a "400-watt generator." According to the product page, this will feed "your TV for 5 hours or your PS2 for 8 hours" if the power goes down. If playing video games is not your thing you can always enjoy the built-in 275 PSI air compressor. Or the included nipple clamps. Whatever rocks your boat for $99.99.

Product Features

Portable Power Supply Can Run A/C or D/C Based Electronics, Appliances and Tools
Devices Can be Powered by The Internal Sealed Lead Acid Battery or from a Vehicle Cigarette Lighter
2 AC Outlets and 2 DC outlets
260 PSI Air Compressor with Gauge
600 Amp Cranking Power Jump- Starter
400watt inverter
1000watt surge
Charge level indicator
Bult-in 5 LEDs worklight
Able to power

Laptop(45w): 4.5hr
Boom box (23w): 8hr
Fax machine (15w): 18hr standby
Camcorder (8w): 24hr
Video Game (35w): 5.5 hours
Portable Refrigerator:(45W) 4.5hr
13" TV (59w): 3hr
Power Drill (360w): 1hr
Built-in Battery

High grade Sealed Lead Acid (Maintenance Free) 18amp-hr
Output

12V DC
115 volts AC (nominal)
Input Charging Source: DC or AC w/included cables
Fuse Type

40 Amps external
Charging Time

AC - 34hours, DC - 12hours
Light source

LED bulb
Safety Features

Overload Protection
Short Circuit Protection
UL Listed
Accessories included

AC adapter
DC cigarette adapter
Dimensions (inches)

10.5x11.5x8.5
Weight

18lbs

LED Art Fan

At $349.99, this nifty LED Art Fan by ThinkGeek “spins and flickers at a brazillian* RPM to create beautiful persistence of vision images.” See it in action after the break.

Unbelievable bright images 5 megs of memory holds up to 128 individual frames. You can animate, spin, slide, flash and dissolve to your heart’s delight. All the while, enjoying the cool breeze from a chromed-up art-deco desktop fan

AMD Shows Off its Designer Chops with Concept HTPC

If you thought the Hanger18 looked cool, get a load of AMD's concept PC. It was created by AMD to show manufacturers the kinds of designs they can dream up when using AMD's hardware (in particular AMD Live!, which is their media center platform). The PC features an embedded LCD, a slot-loading optical drive, and built-in media controls. If not for the solid gold color, I'd say this was one sexy beast. Do you guys dig it or hate it?

Spine Lamp

Designed by Mark Beam, this Spine Lamp features a flexible neck that lets you adjust the lighting and is available in a gold finish. One drawback: it’s priced at a hefty $1,500.

Now I’m pretty sure it’s not an actual spine but nevertheless it looks realistic enough to creep out a few people. The Spine Lamp includes a marble base and classy gold paint finish

Meraki announces solar-powered WiFi kit

Solar-powered WiFi isn't exactly anything new, but upstart Meraki looks to be doing its best to make it more accessible to the general public, today announcing a new outdoor wireless repeater with a solar panel to keep it running. Designed to be used with Meraki's existing Mini WiFi router, the repeater will let you beam a signal up to 700 feet away which, at just $99 a pop, would make a neighborhood-wide WiFi network a relatively low-cost affair. Unfortunately, there's no word just yet on what the solar panel accessory will cost, although Meraki says it'll "clearly be the most affordable option on the market." We shouldn't have to wait too much longer for that key detail, however, as the entire kit's set to ship sometime late this summer.

World’s Tallest LEGO Tower

File this under: “Cool LEGO Creations” Built from 465,000 bricks, this LEGO tower, located in LEGOLAND California, is claimed to be the world’s largest.

The 94.3ft-high pirate ship mast was made with 465,000 bricks, breaking a previous record of 93.43ft set in Denmark last year. A “treasure” made of gold, yellow and clear Lego bricks was placed on top by Legoland pirates

$19,995 JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser/Tank

This strage JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser/Tank sports an “air-cooled, 6hp Tecumseh gasoline (unleaded only) engine, with centrifugal clutch, giving the Donk a top speed of 40 mph.” Product page. Lots more pictures after the jump.

The interior is fully carpeted and cozy, with accent lighting and room for up to five people. A 400 watt premium sound system with PA is mounted to project sound both into the cabin and outward from behind the windows. Master power, ignition, all lighting, and stereo features are controlled from a single switchboard to the left of the driver, again accessible from either the seated or standing positio

CPR Teddy cuddles up nicely, teaches resuscitation

gadget We've seen soft 'n cuddly teddies transformed into nearly everyimaginable, but the Save-A-Life Training Center is hoping to teach common individuals how to perform CPR with the use of a less frightening subject. The oh-so-adorable CPR Teddy looks a whole lot better than other CPR training bots that we've come across, and after squeezing one of his paws, "voice prompts walk you through the correct procedures for choking rescue and infant / child CPR." It gets a bit dodgy, however, when you have to submerse yourself in the moment and actually press down on his red heart patch as the bear's built-in metronome paces you. Subsequently, the creature's bow tie actually lights up in green or red to alert you of how you're doing, and his chest will actually rise up as you perform rescue breathing and simultaneously inhale mounds of fur. The basic CPR Teddy kit rings up at just $79.95, but we'd highly recommend picking up a few extra masks to avoid getting choked up yourself when performing mouth-to-mouth.

Soban Photo Keychain

The Soban Photo Keychain is a replacement for storing wallet-sized pictures of your kids printed out on—gasp—paper. Instead, the Soban has 128mb of memory storing up to 7,000 (really tiny) photos. A slideshow can run for 8 hours on a charge.

Let's be clear about one thing: the Soban is not a good product. Even if the screen is decent, it's too bulky for a keychain when we can already use cellphones for a similar purpose. However, should such a display be thinned and actually fit in a wallet, it could be a reasonable product update for baby boomers and retro cool to the younger generations. At least that's my two cents on the matter.

Hit the jump for the kinda neat side view (hint: it looks like a bunch of stacked photos).

EleeNo EG3 Watch

We just can't get enough of Tokyoflash's product lines here at the Giz, and the newly updated EG line is no exception. It gives us that combination of style and confusing lesser, stupid people that we just can't quit.

The EG3 is a fine-looking watch, sporting nine tiny glass windows through which you to decipher the LCD time (hour on top, 10 minute in middle and minute on bottom). Coming in three fairly obvious colors, you'll need to fork out $80 for the IQ boost. And soon, since these bad boys are limited edition.

Detail shots after the jump.

podXtreme Super Mini Sound Box flanks the top of your iPod

Granted, the iPod speaker realm has long since claimed a number of bizarre creations as its own, but the podXtreme Super Mini Sound Box does the category very proud. The 5.15- x 2.25-inch device purportedly weighs an entire pound and looks to perch atop your iPod and crank out the tunes while just begging to be accidentally broken off all the while. Of course, you probably don't need to look at this thing long to lose respect for it, but reading such claims as "so much power it should be illegal" and "the party doesn't start 'til the podXtreme gets cranked" pretty much solidifies the suspicions of this being a joke. Still, if you're down with totally destroying the style of your Pod and don't mind that this thing sports no RMS ratings or hard specifications whatsoever, you can snag it now (when it returns to stock, that is) for $29.95.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

Another Look: Sony Ericsson P1i

ExperienceMobility gives us another look at Sony Ericsson’s upcoming P1i Smartphone. Just to recap, this Symbian-powered handset features a 3.2-megapixel camera, 2.6-inch touchscreen display, 160MB built-in memory, M2 card slot (512MB included), 802.11b Wi-Fi, and USB 2.0 connectivity. Video after the break.

Fan-Made Apple “Crazy Ones” Ad

One of our readers pointed us to this interesting fan-made Apple advert, “an interesting combination of the legendary ‘Think Different’ ad campaign and the more current style of iPod advertising.” Watch after the jump.

[via AppleGazette]

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Fujitsu shows off "Fab PC" laptop concept

Fujitsu's already shown its fondness for foldable laptops and e-ink displays, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that the company's now put the two together in the form of a new concept device, with a few other uncommon design touches thrown in for good measure. Dubbed the "Fab PC", the laptop apparently uses fabric for much of its construction (hence the name), which is intended to make the device more reminiscent of a traditional folio -- and no doubt prevent the dreaded problem of slippage as well. Of course, there's no indication of specs (or even any evidence that it actually works), although at the rate e-ink production is ramping up, it may not be as far off as it might seem

Creative Uses for Old Computer Parts

Have some old trackball mice laying around? Turn it into a sculpture. Continue reading for a gallery of strange yet fascinating creations.

Computer Case

Floppy Disk

Keyboards

Computer Mice