News Archive
Wed 5 April 2006
From Smart Washing Machine to Stupid Iron
This takes ipod accessories to the next level of lameness. This iron has an ipod dock and built-in speakers and a terrible gimmick called SteamTempo technology. This aligns the release of steam with the beat of the song that is currently being played. Heavy tunes producing more steam and softer music providing less. So the point of the iRon is that it gives you the freedom of listening to music while you iron (what's wrong with using the ipod and headphones?) but if you listen to drum & bass with a grillion beats per second, your clothes get more wet than when you washed them, and if you listen to the sounds of recorded dolphins to relax (someone must buy those CDs), it'll be like trying to iron cardboard. If there was a program called "When innovation goes bad 4", like those pet programs on Sky, this terrible idea by Gear 4 would be on it.
Tue 4 April 2006
LG 'Smart'-ening things up again
Not long after we report LG's new fridge here is LG's new angle on the boring old washing machine. Unhappy with the cleaning ability of water, LG has unveiled the it's steam laundering system which features a "steam generator"—also-known-as a water heater. The steam is projected into the large four cubic foot wash tub providing a better clean as the steam gets deeper into the cloth. This washer comes with a matching dryer and even a wireless remote-laundering device. Enough of me waffling on about it anyway click on the image to enjoy a movie explaining how it works.
Related article:
What’s the big deal?
Tue 4 April 2006
In an attempt to avoid the whole Napster snafu, instead of resisting the distribution of content on the internet, seven major movie studios announced they will be selling movies online through Movielink and CinemaNow.
Warner Bros, Universal, Sony, Paramount, Fox, and MGM will all be distributing first-run titles online through Movielink for between $20 and $30, with older movies going for between $10 and $20. Lionsgate (and Sony) also announced distribution through CinemaNow. Prices are expectedly high but market reaction will determine whether it remains that way as, albeit illegal, the alternatives will continue to exist and ensure that if content providers charge too much, the allure of illegal downloads will be all the more tempting.
More reading: Super-cali-fragilistic-expi-IPTV
Mon 3 April 2006
Advanced calculus while you shower.
'Raindance Air' is the new innovation from German shower manufacturer 'Hansgrohe'.
Every litre of water that is pumped through their shiny, stainless steel shower head, is combined with 3 litres of air, resulting in millions of home made raindrops. Their website has a complex equation for working out the amount of well-being you'll receive from the use of their latest product. After a while of chewing the end of my pencil I finally understood... 1L water + 3L Air = 4L of well-being. Now this may be too advanced for some readers so Hansgrohe has simplified it for us. ”You can now see it, hear it and feel it on your skin - more of a shower experience, more of a feeling of well-being”
The jets of air/water can be adjusted by the user to create the perfect level of “rainyness” to suit their mood and there are three diameters of showerhead with two different designs available.
This shower really does sound great, and with quick look on Kelkoo it appears that you can get one of these for as little as £100. By my calculation that's roughly £25 per litre of well-being!
