Shownotes:
The Minoru 3D Webcam looks a lot like Wall-E. Each of the robot-like eyes are cameras that can deliver 3D video over video chat clients, take photos and video.
Uncrate featured the World’s Greatest Flashlight, which can shine light for hundreds of yards and for up to 11 hours using halogen bulbs. We’re wondering what John P., President of Woopra, will think about it.
Is the FlashPoint Exo-Stove a real product? If it is, it’s supposed to heat up your food and drinks in seconds. Let me know what you think in the comments!
If you were attracted to the MacBook Air’s external DVD drive, but don’t have an Air, you might be interested in the Portable USB Blu-ray Super Multi Drive by Amex Digital. As the name suggests, it connects via USB, and there’s a Blu-ray player and a recorder.
The USB Volume Slide Controller lets you adjust volume with a finger swipe and turn audio off or on when desired. It’s PC only.
Thanks to the HP MediaSmart Server for supporting The Brief. To find out where you can order one, click here.
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October 18th, 2008 at 5:26 am
The Exo-stove is a fake. A battery does not contain enough energy to heat a cup of coffee.
Time for some science/math: A typical recahrgable NiMh-AA battery containsabout 2000mAh of energy (at 1.2 V), which equals 2.4Wh, or 8640 Joule. The heat capacity of water is about 4.2kJ/(kgK). That is, it takes 4200 Joule to heat 1 liter of water 1 degree celcius. Lets assume our cup is 0.1 l (=1 dl) of liquid. Then one battery heats 1 liter of water 8640/4200=2 degrees, and the cup 20 degrees. Two batteries will heat it 40 degrees, ie. will make it about body temperature if we start with cold water… (And all this is assuming that ALL the energy in the battery goes into the cup. Which wil not happen, because the “flashlight” itself will also become warmer due to losses.)
So no, the idea is not very practical…
October 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am
damn, has that site with the usb bluray drive been geekbrief’d? Bandwidth exceeded…
anyway, that looks good, is there a DVD+/-R version? I might need one for dell mini’s at work if I can’t get USB booting working.
October 18th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I can assure you. I will find out if the flashlight is worthy of it’s title as “The World’s Greatest”. I have one on hold at the local mall, and I’ll be picking it up in 30 minutes.
But I must say… I have serious doubts. The most powerful flashlights I’ve seen can actually start fires.
So, you’ll know if this one takes the cake if I’m able to burn my house down.
John “The Flashlight Man” P.
October 18th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
If you want to see the site about the USB Drive, go to Google’s Cached page, just search this “Portable USB Blu-ray Super Multi Drive site:http://www.amexdigital.com/” and click on “Cached” and you can view the page, but there are no pictures… or try archive.org, where their are pictures, but its not there, yet.
October 18th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
This episode looked pretty cool being shot in the dark.
October 18th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Hey Calli, I think GB killed Amex Digital’s Bandwidth :D
October 18th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
FlashPoint Exo-Stove is a concept product. Even if the technology existed, this would be a horrible idea. I think quicklime is more practical.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-heating_can
October 19th, 2008 at 6:00 am
I love your show and just wanted to say I like the outdoor style. I know it’s maybe due to personal reasons your out and about but maybe you could consider doing more out door shows. Maybe show us your local sights. I love the beach shot of you walking on the sand at end of this post
Rob
October 19th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Cali;
Microwave ovens that are powerful enough to heat coffee are powerful enough to harm, possibly even kill, human beings and are required by law to be complete shielded so that only minimal microwaves can get out. Therefore if the FlashPoint isn’t phony the Feds will soon shut them down.
October 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Cali, Neal,
Just want to send my condolences regarding your loss.
(I’m a long time fan – uh, supporter – from upstate NY. This is my first time leaving a message though.)
Warmly,
~ Paul