Lego Hulk from the Toy Fair

Originally by Craziest Gadgets Jeff from CraziestGadgets.com on February 15, 2012, 10:40am

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By Chris Scott Barr

Are you one of the paranoid people out there that’s deathly afraid of someone recovering data off an old CD or hard drive? Sure, if you store sensitive financial records, you aren’t really going to want to just chuck it out without so much as a format. However, you probably won’t need to go so far as to purchase a special tool for destroying all of the data. If you’re bound and determined to obtain such a device, then let me introduce you to the Erase-o-Matic.

This little sucker is going to get rid of your data for good. Rather than physically destroying the media, it uses powerful magnetic waves to do the dirty work. All you have to do is slide your disc, tape or any other magnetic media through the device and toss it in the trash. Since it uses Rare-Earth Magnets, it doesn’t have any need for electricity, which is great, I guess.  So how much will this thing set you back? Just $400. Now you might think that is a rather high price, but you’re wrong. It’s bigger brother (which is needed if you want to destroy your computer’s hard drive) has the really high price, which is $1,500.

[ Erase-o-Matic ] VIA [ RedFerret ]

Originally by Luke Anderson from OhGizmo! on July 2, 2009, 11:52pm

Originally posted 2009-07-05 00:08:03.

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The No Crank CS-100 Hose Reel is a clever gadget that will not only rewind your hose for you after a spot of watering, but will do it without using any electricity, batteries or springs.

Thanks to its patented water-piston engine, the No Crank (aka ReelSmart) uses the power of water pressure alone to rewind your hose upon a simple flip of the lever on the side. Featuring an auto sort guide to ensure even hose winding and accommodating up to 100 feet (30.5m) of hose – the No Crank will save you the tedious task of manual rewinding (video below), whilst prolonging your hose’s life by lessening UV exposure and the chance of lawnmower accidents.

The No Crank CS-100 Self-Winding Hose Reel is available over at Buy.com and is currently on special for $44.99 with free shipping.

Source:
Buy.com

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Originally by Mark from Mark’s Technology News on July 10, 2009, 9:50am

Originally posted 2009-07-16 13:21:20.

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Here is the 1930s high-speed, three-wheeled concept car called the Dymaxion…(Read…)

Originally from Likecool on September 29, 2010, 10:56pm

Originally posted 2010-12-14 08:30:54.

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While Audi’s crazy-powerful e-Tron concept and the ultralight L1 may have stolen the spotlight at the Volkswagen Group booth in Frankfurt, VW’s cute-as-a-button E-Up! promises to be a practical EV for the masses that may reach production by 2013.

“The concept car now being presented in Frankfurt very realistically shows how we envision such a Volkswagen with pure electric drive – technically, visually and with regard to a practical size,” VW Group chief Martin Winterkorn said. As part of what he calls Volkswagen’s “step-by-step transition to the future,” Winterkorn expects the E-Up! to gain widespread acceptance alongside VW’s current gas and diesel lineup. With the E-Up!, VW can offer an attractive, affordable car that’s “uncompromisingly practical.”

It may also become as ubiquitous as the original Beetle. While Winterkorn said the E-Up! is intended as a “supplemental” car, “especially in the city,” he also said it could gain widespread worldwide acceptance as soon as 2020.

If the promise of an electric car isn’t enticing enough, VW hopes the adorable exterior will attract buyers. “The E-Up! really appears to smile. And that is how it should be,” designer Klaus Bischoff said in a statement. As an homage to the Beetle and to show off the lack of an internal combustion engine, the front end has fewer openings than the Help Wanted section of the Detroit Free Press.

The E-Up! has an 80 mile range with a high-speed charge time of 80 minutes. It’s clearly a city car: Volkswagen euphemistically says the 0-100 km/h time of 11.3 seconds is “classic,” though it can sprint from 0-50 km/h in 3.5 seconds. The electric motor, differential and transmission are combined in an integrated unit, with lithium-ion batteries in the underbody frame for optimal weight distribution. Even with 530 lbs. of batteries, the whole package weighs just over 2,300 lbs.

A high-tech telematics setup rounds out the E-Up! with a Human Machine Interface (HMI) that optimizes battery use for traffic flow and plans extra power for upcoming hills. Additionally, the HMI helps drivers locate charging stations and can be set to charge the battery only during off-peak hours. The HMI can also pre-heat or cool the E-Up! before a drive so as not to draw on battery power for climate control.

Photo and renderings: Volkswagen. In the main photo, Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, a member of the board of VW brand development, presents the E-Up concept at VW’s press conference during the Frankfurt auto show.

Originally by Keith Barry from Autopia on September 17, 2009, 4:25am

Originally posted 2009-09-29 12:37:16.

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