For instance, it was just a couple days ago that Microsoft announced its new Zune (an 8GB player)– said to target Apple’s iPod’s market share. Sources say it will ship this fall, and will be priced highly competitively… which is all so cool, but what’s next in line for MP3 players?

MP players, running on Flash. The way I see it, it’s software-based, so there’s no hard disk drive, and hence longer battery life. And, you guessed it — really small in size. I just saw one on offer, 0.8-inch thick, has a 2GB memory (about 500 numbers or 30 hours of music) and fits in the palm of your hand.

Good enough yet? I don’t know. I might wait to buy one that will slip into my wallet like a credit card.

For instance, devices now can send you an SMS alert you of any potential trouble via software that can be built into any home alarm or burglar alarm system. If you’re traveling, you’re able to pan and tilt your CCTV and view the images on your Internet-connected computer.

How about your telephone set or even the plasma TV? Can they be used as security reinforcements? You bet. Plasma TV sets can be fitted with a tiny XCam 2 wireless webcam, which can live video (in color!) up to 100 feet, through floors and walls, to any other TV or video system. Put a motion detector in your telephone set, and if it senses any motion, it calls your cell phone right away — and you get to hear what’s going on as well.

Yet another trend is that the line between security systems and home decor is wearing thin. Many security systems are integrated into light fittings and mirrors, plus they’re wireless, so there are no unruly cables to be seen — or snipped.

At 11 am this last Thursday, this ‘adorable’ ATM simply started doubling the requested cash for everyone. Hundreds flocked to the Nationwide ATM with multiple bank cards and made hay during the ‘happy hour’ which actually extended till 5 pm until an engineer was called to fix the cash-happy machine.

“There was a problem,” a spokesperson for Nationwide commented. “We are investigating what transactions took place.

“It is disappointing no one reported the matter earlier in the day when lots of people were aware and it is disappointing some people were deliberately using the machine to take extra money. Legally, recipients of payments made by mistakes are not entitled to benefit from it.

“We will reserve the right to contact people about the matter on an individual basis.”

Is this the first time in history that an ATM went berserk? Not really. An article about a similar incident appeared in the Indian edition of the Reader’s Digest in 2007.

Enter Slightest Touch (pun unintended), the groundbreaking device that is claimed to be able to actually assist a woman reach pre-orgasmic plateau at the touch of a button.

Okay, here’s all the lady needs to do:

1. Have an electrolyte sports drink 20 minutes before using the device.
2. Apply two white electrode pads inside the ankles.
3. Start the device, which is about the size of a Walkman.
4. Relax and expect to feel the sensation within the first 30 seconds.

Slightest Touch stimulates the body’s sexual nerve pathways by sending gentle pulses up the woman’s leg for between 10 and 30 minutes leaving women on the verge of climax.

“From there, gentle stimulation can then effect the orgasm,” said Cherisse Davidson, the company’s director of customer support. “The Slightest Touch does not provide an orgasm.”

The ‘handy’ gadget has been available in the US since 2004, but is now available in European countries as well. Reports are in that it’s selling hot… cakes. A surefire way to stimulate global happiness, I guess (once again, pun unintended).

Cool. (Or hot, as you may.) Any other benefits? Sure, women could wear this at work, dinner or a movie and no can tell what’s happening unless the woman has a very expressive face. And… freedom from faking.

This range of material that can control light’s direction of travel are known as “meta-materials” and have the power to “grab” electromagnetic radiation and deflect it smoothly. They are capable of manipulating matter at atomic and molecule levels, and have been created with nano-scale engineering. The researchers say they constructed a material whose elements were engineered to a confounding scale of within about 0.00000066 of a metre (like 0.0000001 of an inch).

Wonder if you can see yourself? I mean, how would you know if your hair styling is right? Then again, that shouldn’t matter. Hmmm. And oh no, I don’t think you can’t find it at Wal-Mart, not yet.

Now, how does it work again?

“In the case of invisibility cloaks or shields, the material would need to curve light waves completely around the object like a river flowing around a rock,” explains Xiang Zhang, chief researcher. And lo, you–or the objects–are ‘invisible’.

Still don’t believe it? Come on, now–can you see the picture of the Niagara Falls above?

Source

A small-scale unit based in the state of Gujarat in India calls it an ‘electronic school bag’ (ESB), and will have a two-GB flash memory, runs on Linux operating system and has basic features,including a B&W LCDs.

“These ESBs can be modified as per the class in which the children are enrolled. For instance, a student enrolled in class III won’t have to carry books and guides to schools as all such study material can be stored in the ESB. Similarly, ESB for other children enrolled in higher classes can be modified as per their study material,” said Jagdish Bharwad, Recourse Group chief.

The ESB, while providing a writing facility for students to complete their homework, can also be attached to a printer.

The company, which employs ten software engineers and eight hardware engineers, has spent Rs 1.20 crore (approx $2.8 million) on R&D and purchase of equipment to develop the model ESB.