Five-Faced Diesel Watch: Screw You Midwestern States [Watches]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/381618747/five+faced-diesel-watch-screw-you-midwestern-states

So what if you don't live in the same time zone as New York, LA, Tokyo, Paris or London? Well, that means this Diesel Timepiece would be nothing more to you than a gaudy way to buff up your watch arm. Fortunately, a thinner, daintier version exists for those wishing to forgo the pre-ordained cities for five choices of your own. All you have to do is remember which one is which. Available for $550 and $495 respectively.

[Diesel via Technabob via Boing Boing Gadgets]

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Sierra Mercury: AT&T's Smallest, Sveltest 3G Data Card [3G]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/381731731/sierra-mercury-atts-smallest-sveltest-3g-data-card

Sierra's latest USB 3G data card, Mercury, is the smallest, smokiest little card in AT&T's otherwise obese lineup. Obviously spawned from the same DNA pool as its Sprint-y cousin, but with the chrome and black look AT&T is fond of lately. Like the Compass, the drivers and AT&T's software are loaded on the stick, so you don't need a CD to install it, and it has a microSD slot. Theoretically, it should deliver the same excellent performance. Better still, it's free with a two-year contract. [AT&T, AT&T]

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Project Inkwell 'Spark' Aiming for OLPC's Head With Its Handheld Form Factor [Concepts]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/381815780/project-inkwell-spark-aiming-for-olpcs-head-with-its-handheld-form-factor

Project Inkwell's Spark is not only a potential OLPC competitor because of it's handheld, UMPC form factor and K-12 educational focus, but also because it doesn't look like it's made exclusively for the preschool user base. The Spark was developed in conjunction with the design firm Ideo, and though details are vague, the visuals are somewhat revealing. The Spark looks roughly the size of a PSP, with a +/- rocker switch and scroll wheel adorning the left and right sides of the handheld.

There's no mention of touchscreen functionality, but the screen looks to be lined with buttons and comes with a case housing a foldout keyboard, plus room for a mouse and spare battery. Less visible features would include bluetooth and wi-fi. It's still too early to talk release or pricing details, but this seems like a concept that's very feasible to produce. [Tuvie via Coolest Gadgets]

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Ultrasound Haptic Devices Can Project Tactile Shapes Into Thin Air [Lickable Holograms]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/381837972/ultrasound-haptic-devices-can-project-tactile-shapes-into-thin-air

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have demonstrated a device that can create touchable, creepily invisible floating "objects" using focused ultrasound waves. Though the technology is early testing stages, its designers have already expressed an interest in weaponi- I mean, commercializing it for possible use in gaming and design applications. For now, the team has only been able to simulate resistance in one direction, but say that forming complex shapes and textures is plausible.

Teases for hologram technology are commonplace nowadays, but it is usually taken for granted that the projected images will provide no haptic feedback. Though the researchers have said little about integration with other projection systems, the possibility of a tactile hologram now doesn't seem totally out of the question. There's a major catch, though: the virtual objects won't be provide much resistance or seem very "hard," because at high enough levels the aurally imperceptible ultrasound will destroy your eardrums. Even considering the limitations, my hope remains: that we may soon be able to (very delicately) slap people though a webcam. [BBC]

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First Nikon D90 DSLR Videos Show Off Stunning Effects, Low-Light Powers [Nikon D90]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/381879159/first-nikon-d90-dslr-videos-show-off-stunning-effects-low+light-powers

While some have been skeptical of the D90's video recording as a useless gimmick, Nikon has posted a bunch of videos showing off some of the amazing things you can do with the camera. The above clip ticks off some of what you can do with a variety of lenses, toying with fisheyes or super-zooms, but the two below really show what the camera can do, like create stunning effects with a shallow depth-of-the-field, and the detail it captures in low light using a pumped ISO.

Yeah, the sound sucks, but we're still sorta kinda sold on this as a solid bonus feature that has a lot of play in it—we can't wait to check it ourselves to see if it's as good as Nikon's making it look. [Nikon]

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