[MobileRatty] tag: 1-ounce

Jeffrey Stephensons awesome retro casemod

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:13:50 +0000

Jeffrey Stephenson is no stranger to awesome casemods. He’s outdone himself this time however, with this one, dedicated to the Ingraham Cabinet Co., creator of radio cases in the WWII era. The Ingraham case mod is walnut-clad (though veneered) just like the originals he was inspired by, featuring a hand-built basswood frame layered on a mini-ITX SilverStone case.

Check out the polished chrome knob on the front from an Arlen Ness catalog, perched atop a final retro flourish: a Firewire 400 port. under the hood, things are less art deco and more modern: a VIA VB8001 motherboard, a 1.6GHz Nano processor, 4GB of DDR2 memory, and a 64GB SSD.

Great work. Jeff was clearly born in the wrong era. Luckily for us.

[Engadget]

RIM Attempting to Buy Out Security Firm for $66 Million

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:17:39 +0000

As if RIM’s BlackBerrys weren’t secure enough, they’re initiating a takeover bid for Certicom, a security firm based out of Mississauga, Ontario. Certicom has worked with RIM in the past to provide public-key and elliptic curve cryptography technology to BlackBerrys, but they’re holding onto upwards of 350 juicy security patents, ones used by even the American NSA. RIM plans to be paying out $1.50 per share, amounting to a $66 million buyout, which is a fairly generous offer considering their current stock price. If you’re looking to get rid of some Certicom stock at a good price, the take-over starts on December 12th.

[via RIM]

Thanks, dad.

Related News from IntoMobile:

Samsung Ego GT-S9402 Offering Dual SIM Luxuriousness to Russians

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:47:25 +0000

Samsung GT-S9402 Ego

The previously-rumoured Samsung Ego was announced in Russia recently, boasting an impressively tough construction, and room for two SIM cards. Specs?

Triband GSM (900/1800/1900 Mhz), GPRS/EDGE connectivity on 1st SIM card
Dual band (900/1800 Mhz), GPRS/EDGE connectivity on 2nd SIM card
262K color QVGA AMOLED display
5 mpx camera with autofocus, image stabilization, smile detection, WDR and LED flash
FM Radio with RDS
1 GB of built-in memory
microSDHC memory card slot (up to 8 GB)
Bluetooth 2.0 and USB
960 mAh battery
Dimensions: 115 x 48 x 16 mm
Weight: 140 g

What, no 3G? Wi-Fi? GPS? Anything? It’s not a bad camera at least, and the DuoS is pretty cool, but I guess these things are more about being pretty than anything else. Will it be able to compete with Vertu? Maybe, but I don’t think it holds a candle to the Motorola Aura. This will cost around EUR 1200, or $US 1500 when it’s available.

[via Unwired View]

Related News from IntoMobile:

Download: Songbird music player hits 1.0

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:01:45 +0000

Congratulations to the team behind Songbird, the Mozilla-based music player that hopes to be the Firefox to iTunes' Internet Explorer, for finally getting a 1.0 version out the door.

(I miss all the old logos, though. They were cute.)

Songbird music player [GetSongbird.com]

Gifts for the Geeky Home

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:23:49 +0000

Struggling to find a gift for a hard to please geek, then how about a geeky gift for their home, here’s 10 to choose from.

Hidden Bookshelf - $12.99

Look at this stack of books… How is it staying up? Is it glue? Velcro? Tractor beams? The secret is a simple and clever little device called the Hidden Bookshelf! An L-shaped wedge of metal holds your books up against the wall while a tiny clip holds the inside cover of the book up, giving your larger books the illusion of sticking to the wall as if by magic!

The Hidden Bookshelf is available from Think Geek for $12.99.

Glow Flow Faucet - $19.95

Give your sink a touch of sci-fi chic with this nifty LED faucet attachment that illuminates flowing water in cool blue when it\’s cold or warm red when it\’s hot. Perfect as a warning device for kids or a pretend alien mouthwash dispenser for adults.

The Glow Flow Faucet is available from Firebox for $19.95.

Celebrity Weighing Scales - $34.95

With these deeply ironic scales you get to compare your weight with the likes of Fozzie Bear, Mr Ed (yes, the talking horse!), Donald Trump\’s Combover and even the Baby Jesus. Just think, with the Celebrity Weighing Scales in the bathroom you\’ll be itching to step aboard, not dreading the prospect. After all numbers are so final, aren\’t they?

The Celebrity Weighing Scales is available from Firebox for $34.95.

There\’s no place like 127.0.0.1 Door/Floor mat - $39.99

Tired of people stepping all over you? Well take your frustrations out by stepping all over these choice door/floor mats. Adorned with the peculiar \’There\’s No Place Like 127.0.0.1\’ phrase, consider them your own personal wormholes to a place where users invented clue and upper management gets outsourced.

The There\’s no place like 127.0.0.1 Door/Floor mat is available from Think Geek for $39.99.

Self Sustaining Ecosphere - $89.95

A self-contained, self-supporting ecological system is permanently sealed within this hand-blown borsilica glass sphere. Its careful balance of air, water, plant and animal life was developed as the result of years of NASA research into self-sustaining, bio-regenerative systems where the equilibrium must be maintained for long periods of time, such as long-term space stations. Inside, tiny shrimp feed on bacteria that metabolize organic waste into nutrients for the algae which, in turn, photosynthesize the oxygen needed for the shrimp and bacteria to survive.

The Self Sustaining Ecosphere is available from Hammacher for $89.95.

Voice Activated Thermostat - $99.95

Using advanced voice recognition technology, this is the thermostat that can be programmed using only your voice and clearly articulates the current indoor temperature. Endorsed by the National Federation of the Blind, the thermostat is ideal for the visually impaired or those who struggle with technology. Clapping your hands twice initiates the voice programming and you can change the temperature by saying \”raise\” or \”lower\” (each utterance adjusts the temperature by one degree).

The Voice Activated Thermostat is available from Hammacher for $99.95.

Digital Picture Frame - from $100

Digital picture frames have really taken off this year. Here we compare some of the cheapest and best digital picture frames that are currently available with regards to both features and value for money. We’ll also provide an explanation of all the features that the various digital photo frames have to offer.

The Digital Picture Frame is available from Amazon for from $100 or check out our reviews.

Roomba Robotic Vacuum Cleaner - $149.99+

Life happens in busy homes, and keeping up with accumulating dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs, and debris can be a daily challenge. Introducing the iRobot Roomba 560- a member of iRobot’s newest generation of Roomba Vacuuming Robots.

Now there’s a better way to maintain cleaner floors every day. With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, particle filtration, and scheduling capabilities, the Roomba 560 picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris from your floors with the touch of a button–so you don’t have to.

The Roomba Robotic Vacuum Cleaner is available from Amazon for $149.99+.

Wooden Clock - $199.95

Is it a block or a clock? Plug in the ingenious Wooden Clock and you\’ll discover it\’s both, because digital numerals magically appear from within the wood of this uber-stylish timepiece.

The Wooden Clock is available from Firebox for $199.95.

Professional Automated Living (PAL) Home Automation Kit - $460

TWO LEVELS OF AUTOMATION FOR BUILDERS AND HOMEOWNERSHOME AUTOMATION KITS X10 PRO offers two new product kits: PAL1 and PAL2. Professional Automated Living Kits for either homeowner or contractor at an extremely cost effective price. These two new kits are inspired by the residential construction industry. Each kit contains an ample selection of devices providing lifestyle enhancements for every installation. Builders and/or homeowners simply select the kit suiting their home and lifestyle.

The Professional Automated Living (PAL) Home Automation Kit is available from Amazon for $460.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Gifts for the Geeky Home copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

ThermalTake Hard Drive Dock with built-in USB hub

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:00:03 +0000

Back in March I blog about this Thermaltake HDD dock. Well here is an update of the same dock with built-in 4 port USB Hub. The BlacXse features RoHS Compliance and supports All 2.5” & 3.5” SATA HDDs up to 1.5 TB. With hot-Swap Capability for Rapid Multi HDDs Access & Exchange.

Features

RoHS Compliance

Supports All 2.5” & 3.5” SATA HDDs up to 1.5 TB !

4-Port USB 2.0 Hub

Hot-Swap Capability for Rapid Multi HDDs Access & Exchange

Supports USB 2.0 Transfer Speed up to 480Mbps

Windows & Mac OS Compatible

Windows Vista Ready !

Thermaltake Blacx Se HDD Dock with USB Port

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Thermaltake HDD Docking Station

Win a KWIK Desktop Vacuum

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:41:21 +0000

Looking for the perfect holiday gift or stocking stuffer that’s just as practical as is it trendy? Dirt Devil’s KWIK hand vacuum is a desktop detailer that’s affordable and stylish and perfect for cleaning keyboards, electronics and other hard-to-reach spaces in the home, car or office. It’s equipped with a unique USB charging system that plugs directly into computers, offering users a quick and convenient cleaning solution for only $29.99.

Check out Dirt Devil’s 12 Days of Cleaning sweepstakes running December 1-12 and enter once a day every day for your chance to win a KWIK vacuum. To enter, visit http://www.dirtdevil.com/12daysofcleaning. (more…)

Morning tech deals highlights

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:44:25 +0000

• PlayStation 3 – The world's gamiest Blu-ray player is on sale at Dell for $323, shipped, with an 80GB hard drive. I really do like mine, I just prefer my 360 because that's where all my friends live. [DeaLoco] [More deals on Xbox 360 at Slickdeals]

• Media Extender – Linksys DMA2100 Digital Media Extender for Windows for $60, shipped. (About half off.) [Slickdeals]

• R/C Chopper – Buy two Intelli Heli three-channel remote-control helicopters for $80, get a third free. I've not used this particular model but I have no reason to doubt its frrrrzzttt and ksssshhhhh fut fut fut ability. [Dealhack]

• Netbook – The up-and-coming Samsung NC10 netbook is available at Buy.com for $485, shipped. That's not much cheaper than anybody else's price, but it's more that they have them in stock at all. [Dealnews]

• Home Theater Sound – A Sony Bravia 5.1 speaker set with 800-watt receiver for $100 is a nice entry into a healthy home theater setup. [Dealnews]

• Guitar & Amp – Today's Woot is the Lyon by Washburn Electric Guitar with 5 Watt Amp and Instructional DVD for $95, shipped. May thouest rock or mayhaps a deep noodling.

iPhone app takes the SMSing out of logging into AT&T free Wi-Fi

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:13:18 +0000
iPhone app developers Devicescape have put together a fantastic little iPhone app that makes logging into an AT&T wi-fi hotspot as simple as starting up the app and mashing a big on-screen button with your thumb.
Essentially, the current system works by using your iPhone to send a text-message to AT&T, which registers your phone and allows you to connect on the network. Devicescape's Easy Wi-Fi for AT&T simply asks you for your number once and then sends that text message for you with just one click.

The only problem is the price: $1.99 is hardly steep, but it really does seem like free app functionality... most ideally, free app functionality supplied by AT&T themselves, who should have made the whole system less convoluted in the first place.

Easy Wi-Fi for AT&T [iTunes via Ars Technica]

Water to Inspire, KOR ONE Hydration Vessel Review

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:11:15 +0000

I’ve been toting around the KOR ONE Hydration Vessel for a week and the first thing someone said to me was, “that’s a water bottle? Looks pretty spacey man.” Yes it does look quite futuristic and some have even accused me of being wasteful - all that pretty packaging and design just to hold water. What gives? Hit the jump to read my review.

Over a million plastic water bottles end up in U.S. landfills everyday so if you really want to be green, you should be using some refillable vessel. Water is (for the most part) free, disposable plastic bottles aren’t so you end up saving money by using your own container. So what makes this $30 bottle different from the cheapo plastic ones?

Most refillable water bottles are made of Polycarbonate (PC), even though scientists have known for years that Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical used in the PC manufacturing process, leaches into whatever liquid goes inside. BPA is a known hormone-disruptor that’s been linked to birth defects. Mounting evidence suggests that even small quantities pose major health risks.

The team at RKS Design evaluated glass, acrylic, and many other substances. They eventually found a new material that featured the clarity and performance of polycarbonate without the dangers of BPA called Tritan.

Aside from proudly wearing its BPA FREE label, thee KOR ONE is designed to be ergonomic. All those soft curves make it easy to grab, hold, carry, and set. The bottom is cushioned by a rubber ring. The handle comfortably curves around your grip. The cap unsnaps with a push of a button and clicks tightly when you shut it. The spout is also curved and sized perfectly to assist the flow of water into your thirsty mouth.

Wait, that’s not all. Underneath that cap is a space for a KOR stone; an inspirational message you can swap out. Mine says “Better Me, Better World.” AIN’T THAT THE TRUTH! There are also a couple blanks in there for your own personal messages like, “JUST SAY NO!” Sorry, Nancy Reagan moment there.

What we liked:

Holds 750 ml of water. Drink a little over 2 of them to your daily requirement

Extremely durable plastic that’s lightweight. A lot lighter than you think despite its bulk

BPA FREE, no poisons leeching into my drinking water thank you

Comfy carrying handle

Rubber base is a nice touch, feels like quality when I set it down

Wide mouth for drinking

Dishwasher safe! Gotta love that

KOR stone concept is a great way to give yourself reminders before every sip

What could be improved

The price ($30) for a plastic water bottle is a little crazy but you are getting something beautifully designed. $1 of every purchase goes back to the environment, and it’s BPA FREE. Finding a sexy BPA FREE water bottle was already challenging enough.

Designer: RKS Design [ Buy it Here ]

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