Waterpebble: Save The Planet One Shorter Shower At A Time

Sure, I know a shorter shower could save a river (or something like that), but when I get under a warm torrent early in the morning… it’s just something I can’t turn off. Sometimes, you just need something to nag/remind you that using less water makes a difference. Enter Waterpebble–a tiny, portable disk that measures your personal water use and lets you know when you’ve had enough.

Designed by London-based Priestmangoode, the Waterpebble starts by measuring the volume of your first shower as a baseline and then measures all following showers letting you know when you’re just starting (green light), when you’re halfway through (yellow light), and when you need to shut off the water (red light). But the groovy part of this gadget is that it slightly reduces the volume of water you should be using every time you take that shower–that red light shows up sooner and sooner theoretically encouraging/shaming you to use less and less water.

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Super NES USB Gamepad

Listen up all of you retro gamers out there. You know who you are! The ones who use emulators to play some of your favourite NES games on your PC. Have we got something for you. Buffalo has created a replica of the original Super Famicom AKA Super NES control pad. The device hooks up to your computer via USB port and can be used to play just about any game.

The gamepad is available in black or white and is selling for ¥2,700.00 which is about $30 US dollars. If you can endure the 10 day shipping time you can grab it over at GeekStuff4U.

Jacket + Emergency Shelter = JakPak

While it’s not for the claustrophobic, I suppose someone out there would have a use for this. Introducing the Jakpak, the jacket that turns into a very cozy one man tent.

The tent pieces are all hidden in zippered pockets. When you’re ready to stop for the night, or need an emergency shelter just unzip and set up. It’s made from waterproof, breathable nylon so you’ll be protected even in the rain.

We must say, while there is room for a mummy sleeping bag, this tent is small. We’re talking one man tent if that! Not even a small child or midget would be able to crawl into this makeshift structure with you once it’s set up!

If you want to see the JakPak in all its glory, check out the image below to see how it magically transforms into a tent.

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Nokia Pursues Self-Charging Self Phones

When it comes to cell phones, Nokia may not be the first company that comes to mind in North America. It’s hard to compete with Apple and RIM right now, but that’s not to say the company isn’t working on some cool things. In fact Nokia just filed a US patent application for a phone that charges itself.

The patent describes a phone with built-in piezoelectric generators. When the phone is moved, these generators are able to produce electricity which would recharge the handset. So just walking down the street would actually generate juice for your phone in your pocket.

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Head of Twin Galaxies Steps Down

He’s a household name among many nerds, but Walter Day has announced he is leaving the spotlight. In an interview with Josh Houslander, Walter says he will retire from his video game scorekeeping site Twin Galaxies to focus on his music career.

Day became somewhat famous after The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, a documentary about the fight for the high score in Donkey Kong. But that’s just his latest film appearance. He’s been in many other game documentaries including Chasing Ghosts: Beyond the Arcade, and Frag.

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Review: Rumble K Earphones

Bone Conduction Technology. BCT sounds more akin to skeletal surgery than consumer electronics, but Pineapple Electronics has brought the power of vibration to your headphones to add more BAM to your bass.

My first experience with these mini-woofers was at CES 2010 earlier this year. After just a brief hands-on, I was struck by how neat it was to “feel” the music thumping inside my head without resorting to blowing my ears out with a super-high volume. Now that I’ve had a chance to spend more time with the Rumble K, the question must be asked: is this tech an explosion of sound worthy of your $80 or a ripple of noise in the crowded headphone market?

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Portal Sequel Opens October 26

The game that taught me that I too could learn to be a cube-loving android motivated by cake and spurned by science will be back in full. And this time it’ll have co-op!

Announced through the release of the latest cover of Game Informer (above) and some details on Gamestop’s site, a “full-fledged, stand alone” Portal 2 will be with us on October 26, 2010. Here’s all we know about the new game according to the game retailer:

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Xbox Live Allows Sexual Orientation in Gamertags

Those who felt confident enough, and kudos to them, to put their sexual orientation in their gamertag found that Microsoft banned them. Even if “gay” was in your real last name–like Richard Gaywood in 2008 found out–Microsoft would throw the banhammer at you.

But now Microsoft has changed their tune and edited the Xbox Live Code of Conduct to allow sexual orientation to be expressed in gamertags.

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Apple iPad Launching in the US April 3rd

Apple has formally announced the iPad will drop in the US April 3rd, with the 3G model later in the month. If that’s not enough pre-orders will begin next week.

Unfortunately everyone else will have to wait. Here’s what Apple is saying:

“iPad will be available in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. International pricing will be announced in April. iPad will ship in additional countries later this year.”

[Via Apple]

This Flying Hovercraft Has A ‘Jesus Pin’

“It’s called the ‘Jesus Pin’–if the pin comes out, you see Jesus.”

Naturally, that’s a statement from the inventor of a flying hovercraft.

New Zealander Rudy Heeman spent many tens of thousands of dollars and more than 800 hours to make his amazing invention that appears to satisfy both a wish to fly and a wish to die: an inflatable dingy with wings that reaches speeds of 98km/hour 1.5 metres above the water. And, like any good do-it-yourself project, it also uses parts from the family car, barbecue and scooter.

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