Caption Contest: Big Honking Camera [Capion Contest]

“Acclaimed camera manufacturer Canon is proud to introduce the world’s smallest person.”

Think you can do better? You probably can. Give it your best shot in the comments. [JJJJound via BBGadgets]

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Fujitsu announces M1010 netbook for Q4 launch

Filed under: Laptops

Fujitsu finally got official with its Amilo Mini netbook yesterday after not exactly keeping it a secret these past few months, and it’s now gone out and announced another curiously similar netbook, the M1010, which may or may not actually just be slight variation of the Amilo Mini. Like the Mini, the M1010 weighs in at 2.2 pounds and will pack an 8.9-inch display, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, and built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, plus some removable clip-on covers in an “array of delightful colors.” Fujitsu doesn’t seem to be quite ready to go any further than that, however, which could certainly suggest that it’s not one and the same as the Amilo Mini, as could the fact that Fujitsu describes the M1010 as “easy on the wallet,” which doesn’t exactly apply to the nearly $600 Amilo Mini. We should know for sure soon enough either way though, as the netbook is set to launch sometime in the fourth quarter of this year.

[Via Laptoping, thanks Danijel]

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MS Paint Gadget Fantasies are as Twisted as They are Unlikely [MS Paint Contest]

For this week’s bonus MS Paint contest, I asked you to create fantastical fantasy gadgets using everyone’s favorite rudimentary coloring program. Unsurprisingly, you guys have some pretty twisted fantasies that you want taken care of via unlikely technology. From promoting alcoholism to suggesting we turn the decomposing corpses of hippies into oil, today’s Gallery of Champions really runs the gamut of subtlety and good taste. I salute you, MS Painters.

First Place — Roberto Alicea
Second Place — Phenostar
Third Place — Daniel Luna

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Jesus Tries to Save Your Soul But Windows Stops Him [Windows]

And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder: One of the four beasts saying: “Come and see.” And I saw. And behold, there was the other Jesus, the Bible character, calling me from a big screen saying “Jesus is the Reason for The—V-Sign this program-and will be shu-whaaa?” Clearly, Jesus is good with all this saving Humanity and making water into wine tricks, but I’m afraid he’s no match for Windows errors. [Fail]

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Chevy Volt Dashboard Looks Like The Future If The Future is White Plastic [Cars]

We don’t write about car dashboards all that often here on the Giz, but when the dash is from an electric car/hybrid and it shares its white sheen with both classic iPods and Stormtrooper helmets, how could we possibly resist? Nearly buttonless, the Chevy Volt’s injection molded center console features a large LCD that, from what we can tell from the picture, will be locked with the static image of 2/3 battery remaining. It’s certainly an interesting look, but I’m just not so sure it blends so well with the rest of the car. What do you think? [thecarlounge via Jalopnik]

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Dad’s Cab Family Taxi Meter Will Make Your Children Cringe [Novelty Items]

The Dad’s Cab Meter is a fake taxi fare counter for parental chauffeurs, made so they can guilt/embarrass their ingrate children into doing chores for them. The meter incrementally increases the pretend fare and comes with a stack of fare receipts that have chores the kids can do as payment (har har har). It’s kinda like those redonkulous moments on The Cosby Show where the entire family would participate in a role-play with some sort of real-world moral to it, except not anywhere as funny. Dad’s Cab is $18, but in the grand scheme of things, mortifying your children is priceless. [Gizoo via Coolest Gadgets via Dvice]

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Samsung Ultraslim TV Looks Like Giant iPhone 3G [Ifa 2008]

Scratch one more notch for Apple design influence, because next year’s top-of-the-range Samsung Ultraslim LCD TV All-In-One 1 looks like an oversized iPhone 3G, down to the finish in black or white. The 52-inch TV—which is 1-inch at its thickest point—includes all the circuitry and ports in its ultra-slim body, with no breakout boxes or hunchbacks. The result is the slickest TV we have seen in the whole of IFA 2008, beating the Sony ZX1. And the best looking so far this year.

While the slick Sony ZX1 is only 9.9mm, it also has a box in the middle and has to be set up on a stand because of that. The Samsung Ultraslim LCD TV All-In-One 1 doesn’t, extending the circuitry across its back and tapering the glossy back cover toward the edges, in a very smooth curve. This is a design choice similar to the iPhone 3G and the MacBook Air (and before the anti-Apple fanboys protest, here’s a little tale: four days ago I asked one of the chief designers at Philips about Apple’s industrial design. “Do you think they are a big influence in consumer products?” I said. Smiling, he spent five minutes talking about the undeniable influence of the work of Ive and Co. in most of the stuff currently out there).

The Good: Amazing, beautiful design. It’s as beautiful and simple on the front as it is on the back. In fact, so nice on the back that, even while it’s perfect to be hung on the wall, I would like for it to be standing in the middle of a room. The picture quality doesn’t go far behind. Crisp image quality and very smooth motion, with an even distribution of light.

The Bad: You will have to wait until next year to get one.

Bottom line: The race toward the slimmest TVs continues, and I think Samsung has the winner so far. [More IFA 2008 Coverage]

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Fujitsu announces M1010 netbook for Q4 launch

Filed under: Laptops

Fujitsu finally got official with its Amilo Mini netbook yesterday after not exactly keeping it a secret these past few months, and it’s now gone out and announced another curiously similar netbook, the M1010, which may or may not actually just be slight variation of the Amilo Mini. Like the Mini, the M1010 weighs in at 2.2 pounds and will pack an 8.9-inch display, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, and built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, plus some removable clip-on covers in an “array of delightful colors.” Fujitsu doesn’t seem to be quite ready to go any further than that, however, which could certainly suggest that it’s not one and the same as the Amilo Mini, as could the fact that Fujitsu describes the M1010 as “easy on the wallet,” which doesn’t exactly apply to the nearly $600 Amilo Mini. We should know for sure soon enough either way though, as the netbook is set to launch sometime in the fourth quarter of this year.

[Via Laptoping, thanks Danijel]

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Microsoft Working on “Vi-Fi”: Brings Seamless Internet and VoIP to Vehicles [Vi-fi]

As if you didn’t already spend enough time on the internet, Microsoft is looking to feed your addiction even further by developing a reliable “Vi-Fi” system for automobiles. The major problem that must be overcome is the fact that current Wi-Fi networks suffer hiccups in service as you pass through. This is especially true when moving out of the range of one base station and into another. To smooth the transition process, Microsoft and a team from the University of Massachusetts are working on building a network based around a base station anchor that is backed up by several auxiliary base stations in the area.

In other words, a computer or other wireless device that taps into the Vi-Fi system would select one base station at a time as an anchor. Using a complex algorithm, the system will calculate the probability that a packet received by an auxiliary base station was not received by the anchor. If the probability is high, the auxiliary will relay the packet to the anchor as a backup.

Microsoft hopes that their research will lead to the first truly reliable Wi-Fi system for vehicles, and recent tests conducted on their campus have been extremely successful. The next step is to scale up the project around the campus, but how or when a Vi-Fi system could be implemented in the real world has not been determined. Of course, one major hurdle would have to be that a serious municipal Wi-Fi infrastructure would be required to get the project off the ground. [SeattlePi via DailyTech via Newlaunches]

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Dual Gooseneck Sat-Nav and Cellphone Holder: One Big Blind Spot [Two Headed]

In an effort to make driving as dangerous as possible, a UK company called Santok has developed this hideous two headed freak of a gadget holder. The dual gooseneck design makes it easy to stick your sat-nav and your cellphone to the windshield, and it seems to do a fine job of creating a massive blind spot wherever you choose to put it. Fortunately for most of us, it looks like drivers in the UK are going to be the only ones dealing with this problem in the foreseeable future. Available soon for around $37. [Santok via Geekalerts]

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