Monday, April 06, 2009

Mini Hydro Turbine concept could bring renewable energy production to your bathroom

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/06/mini-hydro-turbine-concept-could-bring-renewable-energy-producti/

Mini Hydro Turbine concept could bring renewable energy production to your bathroom
Environmentalists would have you believe that leaving the faucet running while you brush your teeth puts an unnecessary drain on the environment. We always disagreed, and if Jin Woo Han's concept Mini Hydro Turbine ever goes into production we might finally have something to back up our argument. The device would capture the "free" energy of your tap to spin a little generator, in theory producing enough juice to charge up an electric toothbrush or shaver. That actually sounds somewhat reasonable, but Han's suggestion of powering your boiler with this thing is probably a bit optimistic. It would also take quite an optimist to think this could some day appear in a bathroom made of tiles and not pixels, but we'll keep on hoping; pairing this with a turbine toilet might enable us to take our homes completely off the grid -- or our bathrooms at least.

[Via Gadget Lab]

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Mini Hydro Turbine concept could bring renewable energy production to your bathroom originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:33 PM

LG's new W53 SMART monitors pack more intelligence per pixel

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/06/lgs-new-w53-smart-monitors-pack-more-intelligence-per-pixel/


Just when we thought the desktop monitor market couldn't get any more staid, LG comes along and spices it up a little bit. The new W53 SMART Monitors series includes a few "smart" additions like ambient light detection for Auto Brightness adjustment (like some laptops have), a Cinema Mode for blacking out the rest of the screen when video is playing, a timer to remind you to take breaks (like right now, for instance... you feel yourself getting very sleepy...) and a proximity sensor to activate the monitor controls when your hand approaches the display, and hide them when you're not tweaking anything. Sizes range from 18.5- to 27-inches, and the models 21.5-inch and up do 1920 x 1080p Full HD at 16:9. The displays also offer contrast ratios up to 50,000:1, and 2ms response times. The lineup should hit worldwide this month.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

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LG's new W53 SMART monitors pack more intelligence per pixel originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:33 PM

Brando's fun lovin' SATA HDD dock / stereo speaker / USB hub

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/06/brandos-fun-lovin-sata-hdd-dock-stereo-speaker-usb-hub/


Brando, known for its zany USB gadgets (and for playing Superman's father Jor-El) is back on the scene with a combination SATA HDD dock / stereo speaker / USB hub. This might not come with the laugh appeal of, say, the Buffalo USB speakers -- and it may not tell you the temperature at your desk -- but if you don't mind one of these ugmos cluttering up your workstation we're sure you'll be able to put it to good use. Features include: compatibility with both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA hard disks, two USB 2.0 ports, USB audio, three watt stereo speakers (with "rich timbre"), and volume control.Yours for a smooth $59.

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Brando's fun lovin' SATA HDD dock / stereo speaker / USB hub originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:33 PM

Samsung's new SyncMaster 70 displays consume 33% less energy, 0% less pizzazz

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/06/samsungs-new-syncmaster-70-displays-consume-33-less-energy-0/


Taking global climate change as seriously as anyone is these days, Samsung has trotted out a pair of new SyncMaster 70 series monitors, on the green tip. Coming in at your choice of either 20- or 23-inches, the displays sport a 50000:1 contrast ration, 2ms response time, and consume thirty-three percent less energy than previous Sammy outings. No word yet on screen resolution, release date, or price. Don't tell us that you're not a little bit excited. Just a little?

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Samsung's new SyncMaster 70 displays consume 33% less energy, 0% less pizzazz originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:32 PM

LED-infused HDMI cables add some light to your home theater

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/04/led-infused-hdmi-cables-add-some-light-to-your-home-theater/

We know what you're thinking: you've decked out your gaming rig with a translucent case and a string of LEDs inside, and gave similar treatment to the wall just behind your display ... so why not add that special glow to your connection, too? Enter these HDMI 1.3 cables from Donya, available in only the finest of patriotic colors -- red, white, and blue. It'll set you back 999 yen (about US $10) plus an unknown amount for shipping, but if you're impatient, we're sure there's a little DIY weekend project to take from this.

[Via Akihabara News]

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LED-infused HDMI cables add some light to your home theater originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 7:27 AM

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