Gadgets

Think technology helps or hinders society? Granted, cellphones cause traffic accidents, cars pollute, and video games keep kids immobile and out of shape. However, recent research shows that many of these same technologies are bringing families ... together like never before. In the 1930s and 1940s, families often gathered 'round the household radio, listening intently to news on new New Deal policies or the progress of the American Army's march across Europe during World War II. In the following two or three decades, television also brought nuclear units together as families gathered to watch ... (view more)

The economy might be tanking but General Motors seems to think there are still those out there willing to fill up a big, big gas tank: the company has announced it will be accepting customer orders for its gutsy, gas-guzzling revived Chevy Camaro on ... Thursday, October 16, 2008. Fans of the car will remember its long, low shell and deep, guttural roar. The original Camaro, first sold in 1966, became a popular competitor for Ford's Mustang and Pontiac's Firebird. Despite making its mark as a American muscle car mainstay, slow sales eventually led to the Camaro's demise (or so it seemed) in 2002 ... (view more)

The Nikon Coolpix fleet just expanded. Six new cameras were recently introduced by the company, some of which include pretty exciting features like WiFi, GPS, and even touch screens. Starting in September, the S60, P6000, S610C, S610, S560 and S710 ... will become available to consumers. Nikon is releasing six new cameras in an attempt to target different areas of the point-and-shoot market. All, however, include standard features such as "Scene Auto Selector," which pre-judges what setting your camera should be on for the environment you are shooting in, as well as smil detection and Blink ... (view more)

In the pursuit of keeping a neat household, many of us create and abide by a list of daily chores. One task that has long disappeared from the dreaded chore list is watering the lawn, being replaced with the much more convenient automated sprinkler ... system. However, a movement towards water conservation is now challenging the use of automated sprinkler systems, with their main argument being that some sprinkler systems remain active just after (and sometimes during) rainfall. A Los Angeles company has revealed a new device that will allow users to keep their automated sprinkler systems while ... (view more)

A new product is set to debut on the market, hoping to alleviate the hassle of having to write a weekly grocery list, while eliminating procrastination and forgetfulness! Meet the Ikan, a round barcode scanner designed for home use. The device ... boasts a small color screen on the front, a laser scanner underneath and a WiFi antenna inside that connects to virtually any wireless network. How does it work? When you are about to throw away an empty container, simply swipe the barcode of the item underneath the scanner and wait for a beep. The Ikan will consult its online database (containing ... (view more)

What's so dangerous about technology? Granted, a nasty virus or spyware bug can infect a computer, but can anything of the sort really affect the personal health of a computer user? Not really. However, Australian researchers are blaming tech for a ... rather unpleasant trend: hearing loss. The rather baffling study from the land-down-under reports that some 70 per cent of Australians between the ages of 18 and 34 experience a consistent ringing in their ears, a condition indicative of permanent damage to the hearing canal. The cause, according to the study (appropriately entitled "Is Australia ... (view more)

A tech firm is using a form of human GPS to let users know which nightspots are the most lively. Sense Networks, a newly-launched New York company, has developed a database system titled Macrosense. It brings together both the details of phone users ... who've installed their software, and other details, like where taxis are heading. The idea is based on the way GPS systems analyse the speeds of thousands of different cars to build up a picture of which roads are particularly congested. They are trying out the technology with Citysense, a free feature for smart phones such as the BlackBerry and ... (view more)

Apple enthusiasts had a lot to cheer about Monday as Steve Jobs confirmed months of rumors and speculation by debuting the much-anticipated 'iPhone 3G' to a jam-packed crowd at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San ... Francisco. Apple's CEO called the new iPhone "amazingly zippy" with download speeds at 2.8 times faster than the original model according to company tests, and 36% faster than comparable 3G devices. (Source: macrumorslive.com ) The new iPhone overcomes a number of previous issues; as the name suggests, the device will run on AT ... (view more)

In my experiences working with technology, I have come to learn that devices can be classified under three categories: gadgets that are essential to everyday living, gadgets that are necessary to have in case of emergency, and gadgets that serve no ... useful purpose other than being extremely cool to own. For fans of the third category, let me introduce you to the Chumby. The Chumby has a small and squishy design, like a cross between a beanbag and a stress ball. However, what sets it apart is that the Chumby has a 3.5-inch interactive touch screen attached to one side of the object. So what ... (view more)

The iPhone is headed to Canada. Rogers, one of the country's largest wireless carriers, announced on Tuesday that it would be rolling out the popular Apple device in the near future. (Source: ctv.ca ) "We're thrilled to announce that we have a deal ... with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada," said company president Ted Rogers in a statement. "We can't tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned." (Source: ctv.ca ) The fact that Rogers will be the exclusive carrier for the iPhone came as no surprise, since it is the only major Canadian network compatible with Apple's device. However, ... (view more)