Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

The idea of having hydrogen powered cars is nothing new: the theory has been around pretty much since World War II.  However, there have always been several flaws in the practicality of using hydrogen as a source of power.  It is expensive and energy consuming to make it usable.  Hydrogen is also not widely available, the batteries are bulky, the cars are expensive and they usually look horrible. So why has Honda made a hydrogen supercar?

The FC Sport revealed at the LA Auto Show is the pinnacle of design and hydrogen technology, combining the two in some environmentally chic blender in a way that has a product that can still classify as a supercar.  This is, as Honda so aptly put it, “a glimpse of the future of the supercar.“

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Yes, right now, South America is buzzing with trucks delivering goods.  All these trucks are hoping to blow a tire as soon as possible, so they pour on the miles and take the bumpiest route all in an effort to protect your iPhone, laptop and other gadgetry.  OK, so the trucks may be doing nothing of the sort, but at the end of the day, their tubes have been burned releasing toxins into the air.

But not so much now, thanks to Tread.  Tread is currently buying the butyl rubber, no joke, from pit stops in Quibdo, Columbia.  The company’s employees then make cases out of this, relying on the material’s super resistance to scratches, wear, and UV light .  The company offers many styles of cases for phones (such as the iPhone), iPods, and laptops.

The company behind this, Better Energy Systems is the maker of the Solio solar recharger and of course they offer a case for the Solio.  These cases are another great way to keep that green thing going.

You can find these recycled cases at places like Best Buy, Amazon and REI for reasonable prices.  For example, the Sportster featured in the image above sells for $29.99.  Suggest they ship it by truck.

Product page: [tread]

• Joost comes to iPhone, brings plethora of videos
• Amazon Kindle sold-out, refurbs available in limited quantities
• Nokia’s unlocked N85 now available with Amazon

Amazon has just begun offering what they are calling “frustration-free packaging,“ and I cannot think of anything else to do except offer some applause.  I am sure that I am not alone here, just about everyone I know has experienced some issues with getting packages opened and cutting your hands or fingers.  Thankfully, Amazon has decided to do something about it because not only is the packaging a pain to deal with, but I would venture a guess that a good amount of potentially recyclable plastic ends up with the regular trash.

The new “frustration-free packaging” initiative from Amazon is beginning today with nineteen of their “bestselling products.“  Those products currently include items from Fisher-Price, Mattel, Microsoft and Transcend, but will eventually make its way to Amazons “entire catalog of products,“ of course that is expected to “take many years.“  Hopefully those few years can be sped up a little bit, but I suppose every effort has to begin somewhere.  Let’s just hope that other companies will see what Amazon has started and begin programs of their own.

Read [Amazon] 
Products [Amazon]

• Amazon Kindle sold-out, refurbs available in limited quantities
• Nokia’s unlocked N85 now available with Amazon
• Amazon offers RPG bargain buys in honor of Cyber Monday 2008

Sections: Gadgets / Other, Green, Miscellaneous, Web

It is important that we all do our part to help the environment.  Our normal, daily activities are soon becoming more and more energy efficient.  Recently, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has issued a new guideline for all TV manufacturers to follow.  This new guideline is set to reduce the amount of energy each TV uses by 30% in efforts to help save the environment and will save you some money on the monthly electric bill.

With the holiday season approaching quickly, many consumers will be shopping for brand new HDTVs, whether it be for themselves or a gift for a loved one.  These TVs, as you can imagine, use up an enormous amount of electricity - some TVs can use up to 500 kWh annually.  Continued after the break.

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I get confused when I can’t tell an endorsement from a paid endorsement.  One minute there is a report that talk show host Oprah Winfrey has declared Amazon’s Kindle her “favorite new thing” and the next is a big advertisement with Ms. Winfrey on Amazon.  A quick search on the tubes proves I am unsuccessful at finding out if she was paid to make this claim or not.

The Oprah show painted the Kindle as a wonder: not frivolous as it will save you money in the long run and a super green way to read books.  I can hear the trees applauding from here.  More after the break.

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“Going Green” is certainly a very popular buzzword for many companies in the past few years.  In an attempt to capitalize on that, many tech companies like Apple and Dell (and stores like Best Buy) have taken up recycling programs.  In terms of the companies, however, it usually involves buying a product from them (and in Dell’s case, they’ll only take Dell branded items). 

Toshiba is taking a different approach.  Toshiba will accept any sort of electronics from cell phones to computer to video game systems, all without having to buy a single thing.  Toshiba wants to recycle any sort of “e-waste” you might have regardless of where you buy electronics or what kind of electronics you buy.  Toshiba will even pay you for recycling as a trade-in (which, admittedly Best Buy has offered before).  For example, my two year old MacBook Pro would get me $325,, and a $25 Starbucks gift card.  Not bad if I wanted to get rid of my computer.

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With the number of home-based entertainment and productivity applications that are running over home networks growing by leaps and bounds, some Wireless-G routers just can’t handle users’ demands.

Netgear saw this problem, and as a result, developed a new Wireless-N technology, which they feel is leaps and bounds above anything out there now.  The “Green” crowd will also appreciate Netgear’s new products since they are eco-friendly. 

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Sections: Computers, Desktops, Hardware, Laptops, Networking, Security, Software / Applications, Wireless, Gadgets / Other, Green, Gaming, Miscellaneous, Peripherals, Storage, Web, Websites

PC Magazine is reporting that Dell plans to change its laptop displays to mercury-free and energy saving LED backlighting.  Two thirds of their Latitude E-series will ship with the new displays by December 15th, and they plan to have 80% of their laptops include the new LED backlights. The transition is expected to be completed by 2010.

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Some further evidence that Palm is prepared to ride out the success of the Centro as far as it will take them, and the latest additions come in the form of a few new colors dubbed simply as “Green” and “Rose.“ Both models were recently pictured (image above) over on the SprintUsers forum and offer nice clear images of what seems to be a slightly drab looking olive green along with a new shade of pink. The green, at least from the picture looks to be a nice shade, and the pink seems to be much darker than the current pink model on the market. Nothing has been stated officially, however these new shades are expected to be available late next month.

Read [SprintUsers Forum] Via [Palm InfoCenter]

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HP has come up with a pretty unique take on packaging. In fact they have won Wal-Mart’s Home Entertainment Design Challenge for coming up with their latest idea to reduce packaging.

HP has been able to reduce the packaging for their Pavilion dv692 laptop by an incredible 97% simply by cutting the box out of the picture. That’s right, HP will begin packaging the dv692 in its own messenger style bag. The laptop along with all of the accessories such as battery and power cable will still be wrapped in some bubble wrap to protect it while in shipping, but it will not come with any box.

So overall it sounds like a pretty good idea, not only cut out a lot of the packaging, but users will also get a nice bag included with the purchase. However their packaging savings does not stop there, HP is also able to ship three of these notebooks (pictured below) in a single box thanks to the reduced packaging, which according to Wal-Mart “requires a fourth fewer trucks to deliver to stores.“

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