Recycled Re-Case Is Literally Garbage

Your fancy new iPhone deserves a fancy new case lest it get dinged, scratched or covered in unsightly fingerprints. But Miniwiz thinks you'd be better off wrapping it in discarded rice husks and plastic bottle caps, some of the ingredients that go into its completely recycled Re-Case.

The rice husks are reclaimed from farmers who usually dispose of them as agricultural waste, and are mixed with "post-consumer thermo-plastics" to create an engineered material known as Polliber. The rice husk material actually serves to strengthen the poly propylene plastic ingredients, which get slightly degraded during the recycling process. The new material can be created with minimal CO2 emissions, and the Re-Case, and its packaging, are completely recyclable themselves. But besides being better for the environment, the $25 case also features a contoured back allowing a user to stash an RFID security card inside, as well as that distinct textured finish of something that's been recycled, letting everyone know you put Earth first, you unkempt hippy. Get it here.

 

 

Mythical Snow-white N9 Spotted at Nokia World

Is it possible to improve on something as minutely refined as the Nokia N9 simply by adding another color variant? Well, that depends on what color weʼre talking about. Sure, we already have black, cyan, and magenta, but what weʼve been missing -- until now -- is white. Plain, simple, ethereal white. It happens to be one of the hardest hues for a manufacturer to pull off without making a handset look tacky, or making its surface susceptible to the general grubbiness of everyday life. But Nokia did a smart thing: it added a glossy coating that completely changes the look and feel of the device.

 

 

Nokia Unveils Purity HD Stereo Headset with a Little Help From Monster

Nokia doesn't just have phones on display, check out their new audio product, the Purity HD Stereo Headset by Monster. The line includes headphones and earbuds (Purity In-Ear Stereo Headset), whichever tickles your fancy, and with that trademark M on the side, you can bet they'll bear a healthy price tag when they hit shelves.

 

 

Windows XP Turns 10, Enjoys its Golden Years and Slow Transition Into Retirement

It's hard to believe that it was ten years ago today that Windows XP first hit retail shelves. It's even more astonishing when you realize that it was still the most popular operating system in the world until the beginning of this month. The sun may finally be setting on the stalwart OS that has powered countless home and business PCs (it crossed the 400 million mark way back in 2006), but it's still number two -- right behind it's youngest brother Windows 7 and well ahead of the black sheep, Vista. 

Sure, our relationship with Microsoft's OS has had its ups and downs, but it's clear we've developed an attachmentto the ol' bird. After all, consumer demand kept it shipping on PCs until late 2010 and Redmond has pledged to support it until April 8th of 2014. If nothing else, XP will be remembered for its incredibleresilience.

 

 

Stanford Builds Super-Stretchy Skin Sensor out of Carbon Nanotubes

An artificial skin that senses pressure, pinches and touch sounds like a macguffin from The Outer Limits, but that's what a team from Stanford University has cooked up on the back of its pick-up truck. Sensors made of silicon films with a matrix of liquid carbon nanotubes ensure the material snaps back to its original shape no matter how frequently it's pulled about. When compressed, the electrical conductivity of the skin changes, and by measuring where and by how much, it knows the location and pressure of where you jab your fingers.

The team wants to combine this super stretchy film with a much more sensitive sensor and if it can do it, then the technology could end up as an artificial skin for burn victims, covering prosthetic limbs or even replacing your multitouch display -- just be careful, you might hurt Siri if you pinch-to-zoom her too hard.

Tokyoflash Kisai Seven Tells Time with Tron Design, Makes fan Dreams Come true

Tokyoflash has always been more about the showy aspects of time, rather than the practical telling of it. And that trend continues on here with a Tron-inspired schema that's gone from original fan concept to wrist-wrapping product completion. Dubbed the Kisai Seven, this watch takes its cues from the aforementioned Disney flick, and incorporates two pulsing LED rings -- available in blue or white -- that are customizable via three animation pre-sets. Timepiece collectors interested in this bit of avantchronographic kit can snatch it up late night on the 25th when it's set to be released. You might wanna order up quickly, though, as the company's offering a special two-day only price of $99 that'll get a bump to $139 shortly after. Like what you see fellow '80s nostalgist? Then get your credit cards at the ready. Tomorrow's only a day away.

 

 

How Much the iPhone Camera Has Improved

When the first iPhone came out, the camera was an afterthought, only tossed in to feature match its competitors. Fast forward four years and it's an entirely different story, Apple has made it a point of emphasis and the camera in the iPhone 4S sh-sh-sh-shines.

But how much has it really improved? Lisa Bettany took the same picture with every iPhones (that's right, original, 3G, 3GS, 4, and 4S) to see the differences and PetaPixelstitched 'em together to show you how each new generation improved upon the previous model (aside from the original and 3G, that is). And it's a HUUUGE difference. Like seeing the world for the very first time again different. The 3GS was the first big jump in camera quality but then it just went up from there with the lovely 4 and the king of the hill, stupidly detailed 4S.

 

 

Turn Any Pair of Glasses into a Heads Up Display

Putting vital performance stats where they're always visible, the Sportiiiis adds a simple heads up display to almost any pair of glasses so an athlete doesn't have to glance down at a wrist monitor or smartphone to know if they're keeping pace.

The HUD easily straps to the arm of a pair of glasses, positioning a thin boom just below the wearer's right eye. And instead of using a complicated, cluttered stats display that's projected onto the lens, or even directly into the eye, the Sportiiiis has a simple set of seven colored LEDs that light up and flash to indicate an athlete's performance. The HUD wirelessly connects to existing performance monitors such as pedometers or heart rate chest straps using the ANT+ protocol, and the user can configure exactly how the LEDs light up in response to their current level of activity.

For example, the green LED in the middle could illuminate once they've reached their optimal heart rate, while the surrounding yellow LEDs would make it easy to tell when they're above or below their target. It could even be configured to serve as a simple speedometer while biking, or flash faster or slower based on the intensity of their current workout. The Sportiiiis also provides an audible cue of your current heart rate with a simple tap, while double tapping will easily switch between paired sensors currently in use. It will be available sometime in November for just $199, and come with more i's than any product name should ever need. More here.

 

 

Melanie Iglesias Halloween Flip Book

GoPro Launches HD Hero2 Helmet cam, Announces Video Streaming Wi-Fi Pack for Winter

Want to catch every frame of your next extreme sports wipeout in all of its grotesque glory? GoPro knows where you're coming from, and has updated its line of high definition helmet cams to help you capture every bone-breaking moment. The HD Hero2 competitively boasts that it's twice as powerful its 2009 predecessor, the original HD Hero. The new helmet cam promises to capture 1080p 16:9 footage from atop your sweaty noggin at both narrow (90-degree), wide (170-degree) and medium (127-degree) angles, and can snap up to ten 11 megapixel photos per second.

The camera's mini-HDMI port, composite out, USB, SD card and HERO ports will help you share the spoils of your spills when your adventure ends -- at least until this winter, when GoPro's WiFi BacPac promises to enable live broadcasting and camera control over WiFi. Best of all? The Hero2 kills the original HD Hero's confusing 3-digit code interface in favor of a simple language-based menu.

The HD Hero2 comes in three $300 configurations: outdoor, motorsports, and surf editions, all of which are compatible with existing accessories. Too rich for your blood? Then you'll be happy to know that the previous models are getting price drops -- $200 for the original HD Hero and a paltry $150 for its "960" variant. 

 

 

Remington’s Touchscreen Stubble Trimmer Offers Precise Adjustments

That trendy unshaven look usually requires a careful amount of shaving in the morning. So Remington has upgraded their beard and stubble trimmer with a slick touchscreen and an electronically controlled cutting blade that can be electronically adjusted for a precise amount of ruggedness.

The monochrome display, which sits just beneath the trimmer's plastic housing, provides details on its charge level, remaining run time and whether or not it's been locked. While a set of touch sensitive up and down arrows allows the height of the trimming blade to be adjusted to one of 175 different length options, from 0.4mm to 18mm. That blade's also titanium coated and self-sharpening, so it should be able to handle even the steel wool that grows on my face. And the $50 Touch Control Trimmer can be charged via a wall outlet, or from your laptop's USB port if you're a real multitasker in the morning. Get it here.

 

 

The iPod turns 10, Celebrates a Decade of Destroying Physical Media

It's hard to believe, but it's been exactly ten years since the iPod was first unveiled, ultimately changing the music industry forever. The iPod wasn't the first, it wasn't the smallest, it didn't have the largest hard drive, but it did have an iconic style and simple to use interface that led march away from CDs. When the history of Apple is written the iPod (perhaps more than the iMac, OS X or the iPhone) will be credited with helping spearhead the company's second coming. 

Over the years the music player has seen countless iterations and redesigns, and an expansion of the product line to include smaller devices and touch screens -- but for most it's the scroll wheel and white earbuds that define the iPod. Sure, what is now called the iPod classic hasn't seen a serious update since about 2007, but it still holds a special place in our hearts, especially for those of us who don't measure their music collection in a few dozen iTunes downloads.

 

 

Pixelated Mario Cushion From Japan’s Club Nintendo

The U.S. version of Nintendo's reward program, Club Nintendo, never seems to have quite the same caliber of awesome schwag as the original Japanese version. Items like the Wiimote TV remote that was never available here, and now this pixelated 8-bit Super Mario throw cushion.

Platinum members in Japan will have their choice of three new premiums including a 2012 calendar, a couple of game soundtracks from a handful of titles and this amazing Dot Mario Cushion featuring a pixelated version of the hero plumber from his old school Famicom days. Now given Mayan predictions, that 2012 calendar could be a real collector's item if the Earth does come to an end next year. But I'd take my chances with the cushion instead, ensuring my last days on the planet were at least comfy. The premiums are also available to members who cash in 400 points, so if you want all three and can afford it, I'd still say just get three pillows. More here.

 

 

A Surfboard Bag for Dedicated Beach Bums

Camping on the beach with the sound of the surf is a great way to relax, but when you're a surfer, it's also the easiest way to guarantee you won't miss a great wave when the tide rolls in. So the Wave Cave is kind of like an emergency shelter for a situation that's not really an emergency.

It's primarily designed for use as a padded case, capable of storing up to four surfboards of various sizes. But in a side pocket you'll find a pop-up tent that clips and zippers to the case, which doubles as a padded floor when empty for comfortable sleeping. The Wave Cave is available in three different sizes depending on how many boards you want to carry, and vary in price from about $260 to $315. It looks like each model provides the same amount of sleeping space when setup, and while the tent will protect you from the sun and the rain while you spend your days at the beach, it's not going to do much to keep your critical parents at bay.

Get it here.

 

 

Monster Slipper Is Sadly Too Good to Be True

Tom Boddingham only wanted a cool pair of monster foot slippers. What he received instead was a monster-sized slipper, after Chinese factory workers ignored an extremely crucial decimal point. Hurray for obvious marketing stunts!

The seven foot long shoe is in all likelihood just a stupid PR publicity scam for some brand of goofy monster slippers, but hell, I think they'd have more luck selling enormous house sneakers than they would with shoes actually meant to fit your foot. More here.

 

 

Scientists Capture Birth of New Planet on Camera

After all the pushing, squeezing and screaming, the universe has finally given birth to a new planet, in an eruption that two scientists managed to capture on film. The newborn pile of planetary pudge, named LkCa 15 b, was discovered by Drs. Michael Ireland and Adam Kraus, who, over the course of 12 months, successfully documented the event using Keck telescopes and a technique called aperture mask interferometry. Their findings, published in Astrophysical Journal describe a Jupiter-like gaseous planet that likely began forming some 50,000 to 100,000 years ago.

Located about 450 light years from Earth, it's also the youngest planet ever observed, having dethroned the previous record-holder, which was about five times older. According to Ireland and Kraus, the LkCa 15 b is still being formed out of a circle of dust and gas surrounding a 2-million-year-old star. By observing a "young gas giant in the process of formation," the researchers hope to find answers to fundamental questions that have long eluded them. "These very basic questions of when and where are best answered when you can actually see the planet forming, as the process is happening right now" 

 

 

USB Animal Cushions: Providing The Warmth You Never Had

Winter is creeping up. Luckily, your pet dog is there to greet you and offer the opportunity for a warming hug the minute you get home. But for animal lovers who are allergic to furs? Don't be discouraged — grabbing one of these USB Animal Cushions might be a solution.

They're no replacement for a real man's best friend, but they can get you toasty warm within a few seconds of a USB power. They also don't look as cute or have a face for that matter, but for $53, they're cheaper than owning an actual pet. And they won't wiggle away when you need that heat! The cushions come in three different colors with your choice of a dog or pig. Get it here.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus WiFi Hitting the US November 13th for $400, Available in 16GB

Nearly a month after its initial announcement, Samsung's ready to deliver the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus to the good ol' US of A just in time for the winter gift-giving season. The WiFi-only device, which packs a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU with 1GB of RAM, Android 3.2, 3MP camera with 720p HD video capture and a 7-inch LCD with 1024 x 600 resolution, will be begging for your credit card as of November 13th at Best Buy, Amazon and other retailers.

Are you an early adopter? No prob -- you'll have the opportunity to pre-order yours at "select retailers" this coming Sunday, though no specific outlets were called out by name. The 16GB is the only version arriving so far, but Sammy told us to expect the 32GB flavor later this year or early 2012 (likely for $499, if yesterday's brief appearance on Amazon is any indicator).

 

 

Turn Your Instagram Photos Into a Sweet-Ass iPhone Case

All those awesome shots you've put on Instagram have got to be good for something other than collecting internet dust, right? That is right, because now you can turn those photos into the coolest iPhone cases I've seen.

No, they're not gold-embossed or diamond-studded, but they're covered with your art. It's an elegant expression of who you are, and it's a truly unique case because only you can print your design. Casetagram has four layouts to choose from: even squares, even circles, uneven rectangles, or uneven circles, and you can choose whether you want it on a white case or a clear case. You just sign on with your Instagram ID, and pick the shots you want. Easy peasy.

This is one of the best uses of Instagram's API we've seen. You can get cases that fit the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, and they'll run you 35 bucks (which includes international shipping). Make one here.

 

 

Qaddafi Died Packing a Giant Golden Gun

Qaddafi: dictator, despot, dead, man of immense style. If you knew your reign of shitty terror was moribund, wouldn't you want to go out in style? And so he did, wielding this gold pistol to the very end.

The glistening piece was looted by Mohammed al-Babi, easily one of the most awesome dudes on the planet at the moment, who took it off Qaddafi's after he was shot up. This will be one hell of a family heirloom. So long, Moammar. You left behind a pretty awful legacy, but your taste for so-tacky-it's-cool weaponry was fine indeed.