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Monday, March 03, 2008

DIY iPod video projector boosts utility

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/244844990/

There's only one thing (okay, so maybe that's a stretch) that we love more than a mod that gives you all sorts of bragging rights: a mod that adds all sorts of utility. Tanntraad's most recent concoction -- a DIY iPod video projector -- most certainly ratchets up the PMP's functionality, as this homegrown device requires no external power, a ridiculously small amount of parts and no prior experience as a projectionist. Needless to say, the resulting unit blows up the video on your iPod for an entire room to see, and while we're sure the quality is nothing to write home about, you can give it a go yourself by following the instructions in the read link below.

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MSI Motherboard Fan Powered Without Electricity [Peripherals]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/243669526/msi-motherboard-fan-powered-without-electricity

Fans of green technology will undoubtedly be glad to hear that MSI has developed a working concept design that utilizes Stirling Engine Theory to power a motherboard fan. Instead of conventional electricity, the fan will harvest heat emanating from the processor to function.

Interestingly enough, during a recent visit to their HQ in Taiwan, MSI told TweakTown that they "would probably end up adding the world's first powerless air cooler to an Nvidia motherboard." Nvidia? No wonder MSI boards suck. [TweakTown via Boing Boing Gadgets]

GROW Shingles Shame Leaves and Solar Panels [Eco]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/244047121/grow-shingles-shame-leaves-and-solar-panels

While the future of solar technology seems to rest on nanotechnological innovation, these GROW panels by SMIT are fairly remarkable. Inspired by leaves, these tiny generators do one better than their biological counterparts, drawing power from the sun, but also capturing energy from the wind as they are jostled by the breeze. Developers currently showcasing the technology hope to sell modular kits through art/design resellers (as opposed to typical industrial outlets). Unfortunately, we're guessing that this more accessible purchase will have a major price trade off. [SMIT via inhabitat]

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale Processor Tested (Verdict: "Recommended") [Processors]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/244134298/intel-core-2-duo-e8500-wolfdale-processor-tested-verdict-recommended

Intel%20Core%202%20Duo%20Wolfdale%20GI.jpg The chaps over at Hot Hardware have put the Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 processor, which belongs to the (45nm) Wolfdale line, through its paces, and they sure were impressed. From their extensive testing, the processor, intended for desktop machines and ideal for gaming especially, did not seem to make any massive changes on an architectural level, however, small adjustments had a great overall effect on performance. The 6MB of L2 cache brought an impressive speed boost, while the power consumption and heat production levels both fell.

Indeed, the Core 2 Duo E8500 was comparable in performance to lower clocked quad-core chips, proving the viability of the Wolfdale architecture. The chip is likely to retail at the +$300 mark and that seems to be the only drawback—it is a little on the steep side. Regardless, the Hot Hardware fellows were still willing to give the Core 2 Duo E8500 the highly coveted "Recommended" badge, and if their test results ring true, we would not disagree. Hit the link to check out the extensive testing [Hot Hardware]

Sigma DP1 First Grope [Photography]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/244081427/sigma-dp1-first-grope

sigma%20dp1%20GI.jpg The guys at Pop Photo have managed to get their hands all over the much-hyped Sigma DP1. Apparently, the DP1 has a build quality comparable to the solid Canon PowerShot G9, and the mega sensor monster does away with any fuss with regards to shooting options; you'll find Manual, Auto, Aperture-priority, Program, and Shutter-priority modes for image capture, as well as QVGA video mode (320 x 240 @ 30fps) and an audio capture mode, but beyond that, there are absolutely no ludicrous scene selections to choose from. The chaps at Pop Photo found this a refreshing turn to minimalism, and we would have to agree. All in all, the hype is looking to be well founded. Checkout the full tear down by hitting the link. [Pop Photo]