Synek: Drink Hundreds of Different Beers at Home With One Gadget

Synek via Facebook

It's pretty true that Keurig has changed how most of us drink hot beverages. With the purchase of one little machine, we can now drink just about any instant hot beverage, from chai to coffee to chicken broth. Never has the process of heating water seemed so easy.

Now, imagine if someone reworked that magic with beer. A little tabletop gizmo allows you to drink a seemingly unlimited selection of craft beers from microbreweries throughout the country just by switching out a cartridge. Seems like a dream, doesn't it?

Wake up, Buddy Boy, because Synek makes your beer-drinking fantasies a reality.

See also: Funky Buddha Now Available in Orlando, Including Universal Resort

The system, a play on the word 'cynical,' is the size of a toaster oven and can be used with the company's cartridges or attached directly to a home brewer's bucket to be used as a portable CO2-charged tap system. The retail price for people who support the company through Kickstarter is $299, and prices for cartridges vary based on beer. Each cartridge holds about two growlers' worth of brew.

So why buy (and buy into) this system? According to founder Steve Young (and a few dozen craft brewers), the beer in the growler you just had filled lasts only about 12 hours once it's opened. Synek cartridges last about 30 days. Plus, the cartridges are simply recycled so you don't have to have glass growlers lying around the house.

Young is planning on having many breweries 'on tap,' with the capabilities of filling and selling the cartridges. In fact, Synek founder Steve Young tells us that Florida is one of the states that will benefit most from Synek, telling Clean Plate Charlie that Synek may be a way around the state's 64-ounce growler laws.

Young says that his team has spoken with many Florida breweries, including Cigar City and Funky Buddha. In fact, John Linn from Funky Buddha is seen on Synek's video at the 5:00 mark, talking about how the machine could be a game changer in the way we buy and drink beer.

Right now, the company has launched a Kickstarter campaign with the goal of raising $250,000. If you're into beer and want to make an investment, the company is accepting Kickstarter pledges as low as one dollar (the 'cheap bastard' level of investment) right through to the $10,000 'Golden Falcon God-King' level of investment.

Here's a little more about how the product can turn your kitchen into a brewery of sorts (without all that measuring and cleaning):

Follow Laine Doss on Twitter @LaineDoss and Facebook.

Follow @CleanPlateBPB

Gadget Rewind 2007: Flip Video Ultra

It was the mid-aughts and user-generated video was on the rise: Google had just purchased YouTube and consumers were starting to get their first camera-equipped cellphones. Despite all that, the quality of video captured by phones at the time was poor, and full-fledged camcorders were still too costly for most consumers to consider. Those factors made for a perfect storm and left the market wide open for Pure Digital. In 2007, the company introduced its Flip Video Ultra, a portable device that offered a solution to all that subpar video. The Flip Video Ultra featured a simple camera that captured quality video at an affordable price. And when it was let loose on the market in late 2007, it was unstoppable -- at least for a time.

The Flip Video Ultra had humble beginnings. Back in 2005, Pure Digital teamed up with CVS to release its One-Time-Use Camcorder, which cost $30 and could capture 20 minutes of video. Transferring those precious moments to DVD would run you another $13. After a bit of success, the company moved on to more eco-friendly, non-disposable units. And then, in 2007, it rebranded the line as Flip Video. Like its predecessors, it was meant to be held upright when shooting video and incorporated intuitive controls. The design was a bit blocky, but it was the first to include a flip-out USB connector, making it easy to connect to computers without any cables. The Flip Video also came preloaded with FlipShare software, letting users plug, play, edit and share to sites like YouTube from any PC with a USB port.

The first Flip Video had only been on the market for a few months when Pure Digital replaced it with the next-gen Flip Video Ultra. The revision specifically addressed many of the original's design issues. Pure Digital shaved some weight off the device and released it in an array of colors including black, pink and orange. With this new Flip, users could capture and save up to 60 minutes of VGA-quality (640 x 480) video on the 2GB model -- it even boasted better low-light performance. Interacting with the device was a piece of cake using its 1.5-inch color display and buttons for play, record, delete, zoom and screen navigation. It also ran on two AA batteries, making it easy to re-up, rather than wait hours for batteries to recharge.

Because sales of the device were going so well in 2008, analysts at NPD listed the Flip Video Ultra as the top-selling camcorder in June of that year. It even managed to beat out devices from well-known brands like Sony, JVC and Panasonic. Soon, though, those same heavyweights were copying the Flip's success with budget-priced camcorders of their own. Cisco, the well-known enterprise hardware outfit, seized on Pure Digital's rise in the market and acquired the company in 2009. Unfortunately, the lifespan of the Flip Video line would prove to be short-lived and smartphones, with their ever-improving video capabilities, quickly replaced the single-use tech. By 2011, the market for these niche video devices began to completely dry up leading Cisco to altogether shutter the Flip camera division. Did you own a Flip Video Ultra? Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you had (or still have) and join the discussion to reminisce or share photos of your device with other like-minded gadget fans.

Gadget Rewind 2007: Flip Video Ultra

It was the mid-aughts and user-generated video was on the rise: Google had just purchased YouTube and consumers were starting to get their first camera-equipped cellphones. Despite all that, the quality of video captured by phones at the time was poor, and full-fledged camcorders were still too costly for most consumers to consider. Those factors made for a perfect storm and left the market wide open for Pure Digital. In 2007, the company introduced its Flip Video Ultra, a portable device that offered a solution to all that subpar video. The Flip Video Ultra featured a simple camera that captured quality video at an affordable price. And when it was let loose on the market in late 2007, it was unstoppable -- at least for a time.

The Flip Video Ultra had humble beginnings. Back in 2005, Pure Digital teamed up with CVS to release its One-Time-Use Camcorder, which cost $30 and could capture 20 minutes of video. Transferring those precious moments to DVD would run you another $13. After a bit of success, the company moved on to more eco-friendly, non-disposable units. And then, in 2007, it rebranded the line as Flip Video. Like its predecessors, it was meant to be held upright when shooting video and incorporated intuitive controls. The design was a bit blocky, but it was the first to include a flip-out USB connector, making it easy to connect to computers without any cables. The Flip Video also came preloaded with FlipShare software, letting users plug, play, edit and share to sites like YouTube from any PC with a USB port.

The first Flip Video had only been on the market for a few months when Pure Digital replaced it with the next-gen Flip Video Ultra. The revision specifically addressed many of the original's design issues. Pure Digital shaved some weight off the device and released it in an array of colors including black, pink and orange. With this new Flip, users could capture and save up to 60 minutes of VGA-quality (640 x 480) video on the 2GB model -- it even boasted better low-light performance. Interacting with the device was a piece of cake using its 1.5-inch color display and buttons for play, record, delete, zoom and screen navigation. It also ran on two AA batteries, making it easy to re-up, rather than wait hours for batteries to recharge.

Because sales of the device were going so well in 2008, analysts at NPD listed the Flip Video Ultra as the top-selling camcorder in June of that year. It even managed to beat out devices from well-known brands like Sony, JVC and Panasonic. Soon, though, those same heavyweights were copying the Flip's success with budget-priced camcorders of their own. Cisco, the well-known enterprise hardware outfit, seized on Pure Digital's rise in the market and acquired the company in 2009. Unfortunately, the lifespan of the Flip Video line would prove to be short-lived and smartphones, with their ever-improving video capabilities, quickly replaced the single-use tech. By 2011, the market for these niche video devices began to completely dry up leading Cisco to altogether shutter the Flip camera division. Did you own a Flip Video Ultra? Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you had (or still have) and join the discussion to reminisce or share photos of your device with other like-minded gadget fans.

Killer offer lets you try out Samsung's best gadgets free for 3 weeks

Samsung has been accused of copying a lot of different companies over the years but we don't think it could ever be accused to swiping a page from T-Mobile's playbook... until now. Samsung this week has launched a new trial program that reminds us of T-Mobile's Test Drive initiative that will let you try out T-Mobile's network for free for a week. In this case, though, Samsung is letting you try out some of its very best gadgets for free over a three-week period.

To take advantage of this sweet deal, interested buyers can for now go to five different Samsung retail outlets in New York, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, Houston or Dallas. The company says it will expand the program out further if it works well in these five initial trial markets.

The gadgets available for tryouts are the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Note 3, the Samsung Gear 2 and the Samsung Gear Fit, so you can try out both Samsung smartphones and smartwatches for 21 days without committing to buy them. Samsung will pick up the tab for mobile data used on the devices and it's also offering 'an exclusive premium care service that includes helpful workshops and phone support, providing consumers with assistance and benefits to help them make the most informed purchasing decision.'

Although the program is free, Samsung is still asking participants to give them a refundable deposit to act as insurance against theft or damaged gadgets. You can get full details over at Samsung's website by clicking the source link below.

Three Family Gadget Essentials

I'm always on the look out for gadgets that help us be more productive or make the most of leisure time. Over the past few months my family has been testing a variety of new tech and gadgets. While some products don't seem to click, others have become part of our everyday life.

The grown-ups in the house seem to give most things a good few days before deciding on how successful a particular gadget is. However it's interesting to see the kids being much more instinctive, with some tech discarded after a few hours - tough crowd.

Here's our run down of what we're using at the moment.

Tivoli Model Three Clock Radio

This compact clock radio has found its home in a few different locations for us. First I had it as a bedside alarm clock to get me up in the morning. Then more recently my daughter discovered the Bluetooth option and started using it to listen to music in her room.

While some of the design is a little wasted on her, the quality of the sound, nice easy to use analogue tuner and built in clock all tick the right boxes. She mainly uses it to stream her music from her iPod Touch.

While it's not the cheapest clock radio on the market, the versatility and build quality make the Tivoli a product you should definitely consider.

Brydge Keyboards

If you've read my column for a while you will know I'm always on the look out for a good keyboard for my iPad. Having tried a wide range I'd actually reverted to using the touch screen.

Recently though I've been really impressed with the slick design and robust offering of the Brydge keyboard. In fact it looks so good that my kids thought that I had purchased a new laptop when they first saw it.

RHA MA450i Black Headphones

There are a few different versions depending on the functionality and color you require. Each are built around the same keyboard design. For me this works because of the full size keys and the sensible center of gravity that doesn't tip over if I'm not holding it.

Finally I've been enjoying these noise isolating headphones around the home and while out running. Not only do they offer a great sound but also fit my ears perfectly. There's the feel of quality about them that comes from the aircraft grade aluminum construction.

The cable is braided fabric so doesn't tangle and has a 3-button remote and microphone for iPhone devices. They come with a selection of dual density and double flange silicone ear tips, which for me worked a treat (and I often struggle to find a good size match). They have become a must have item in my pocket pretty much everywhere I go these days.

Preteen creates gadget to prevent hot car deaths

NASHVILLE, TN (June 27, 2014) - A 12-year-old boy is getting a lot of attention for his gadget designed to remind parents about the children in the backseat.

Andrew Schuler calls it the 'E-Z Baby Saver.'

It's made from rubber bands and bright colored duct tape.

Parents loop it and attached it to the car door handle as they get it.

That way, they're reminded when they see the brightly colored band.

Schuler says he's gotten a ton of hits on his website.

He's even posted instructions so people can make their own.

You can find the instructions here.

This Smart Yarn Makes Gadget Interactions Magical

We control most of our gadgets through screens and buttons. And while these interfaces get the job done, they can lack a certain warmth and humanness. A new project from Royal College of Art student Yen Chen Chang explores what happens when you replace glass, metal and plastic with textile control mechanisms. The result? A totally new way to interact with our everyday devices.

Using conductive yarn made from 80 percent polyester and 20 percent stainless steel (similar to the textile used in smartphone gloves), Chang knit and crocheted a series of objects that control devices by pulling, squeezing and stroking. When manipulated, the overlap of the metal fiber causes the textile to change conductivity which is then measured by an Arduino and communicated to the gadgets.

For example, Chang developed the Squeezy Juicer, a juicer that only works when you squeeze an oversized knit ball between two people. The faster you squish the ball, the quicker you'll have your orange juice. There's also the Touch of Breeze, a fan that starts to blow air as soon as you stroke a knitted patch of carpet. The more pressure you apply, the faster the air flows. The most straightforward of the objects is Chang's Tension Lamp, which uses a dangling knit rope as the lamp's dimmer.

The outcomes are familiar-a light turns on, a fan blows air, a juicer juices-but the means of getting there is novel. 'When you integrate different sensing technology into today's electronics, you can make something look totally different,' he says.

The objects' sensitivity to change in conductivity depends on how the textiles are constructed. A knit, which is looser because of its looping, is better suited for stretching and squashing. This gives objects a bigger range of motion. While something like a weave, which Chang used to produce a set of conductive gloves, means the fibers are much tighter together, ultimately limiting the range of resistance and giving the textile a more precise function. 'You could use it as an on or off switch,' he says.

There's obviously little value in replacing our juicers with an oversized knit ball, but Chang says practicality-at least at this point-isn't the purpose of the project. Instead, he adds, this is simply an investigation into how changing our material can impact the way we interact with our devices.'I'm not saying it's going to totally revolutionize already existing technology,' he says. 'But it's something that's completely refreshing; it's inspiring in a way.'

A Piece of Cloth Brings New Way To Interact With Devices

Most of the gadgets that are invented are either controlled through screens and button. It is true that it gets the job done, but they lack something - warmth and humanness. A new invention by an Art student Yen Chen Chang of Royal College brings that warmth and humanness to the gadget. The new invention is made out of a piece of cloth that can interact with everyday devices.

The art student used a conductive yarn that was made out of 80 percent polyester and 20 percent stainless steel (something that are used in smartphone gloves), Chang carefully weave and crocheted a series of objects, controlling the devices by means of pulling, squeezing and stroking. The metal in the fiber causes the piece of cloth to change conductivity and initiate the communication with the gadgets.

It works well with the Squeezy Juicer, a juicer can work through squeezing an oversized knit ball between two people. As squeeze the ball even more, the faster you'll get your orange juice. Another gadget that uses the technology is the Touch of Breeze, a fan that works whenever you stroke a knitted patch of carpet. As you put more pressure, the faster the air flows. Last on his list is the Tension Lamp, which is activated by a sagging knit rope as the lamp's dimmer.

All of the inventions are used in everyday life. Chang said that by means of incorporating the sensing technology into today's electronics, people will see it as something totally different.

The textiles are made to work with the sensitivity, meaning that it depends on how well the textiles are created. A knit, which is looser because of its looping makes a better matched for stretching and squashing, therefore, giving the object a bigger range of motion. A set of globes are created by means of weaving so it could be tighter together, which limits the range of resistance that gives the textile a more precise function. 'You could use it as an on or off switch,' he says.

Though, no one will find the value of the juicer, Chang noted that it isn't the purpose of the project. It is just a mere experimentation on how the material can affect how people interact with the devices. 'I'm not saying it's going to totally revolutionize already existing technology,' he says. 'But it's something that's completely refreshing; it's inspiring in a way.'

This Gadget Allows Cars to (Almost) Drive Themselves

via Cruise Automation.

Google's driverless car initiative has been off to a great start, getting approval from legislators in California for real world testing, and even its own mini-city in Michigan. While several car manufacturers are also working on building completely autonomous vehicles, a startup is looking for another way to go driverless. Cruise Automation created a $10,000 device that straps to the roof of your existing vehicle, then plugs into the footwell to take over your car.

The device, called the Cruise RP-1, 'sees the road and cars around you.' It does this through a combination of cameras and radar, as well as Sensor Pod relays, which allow Cruise to make split second navigation decisions.

To be clear, Cruise isn't completely driverless. A human still needs to be in the car and able to take over the driving. It's more of a 'highway autopilot.' First, you drive onto the highway and select a lane. Then, much like regular cruise control, you turn Cruise on. Cruise takes over the gas and brake pedals, but in a twist, it also takes control of the steering wheel. If the driver needs to, they can turn Cruise off right away, either by tapping the pedals or grabbing the steering wheel. This is a very different approach to Google's car, which doesn't have any of these traditional car components. (It doesn't even have brake pedals.)

Right now, Cruise is taking pre-orders and hopes to install them in early 2015. While the system looks impressive, there is one major drawback. It only works in Audi A4 and S4 vehicles at the moment. The A4 starts at $33,800 and the S4 at $48,100. That means the least expensive Cruise enabled vehicle will still be over $40,000.

'We have plans to expand to other models,' Cruise founder Kyle Vogt told Forbes, 'We haven't made formal decisions to what would be next.' The device still has six- to nine-months of testing to go through, so don't get too excited about hopping in your driverless-ish Audi too soon.

Everything You Need to Know About Google's I/O Keynote

Josh Valcarcel/WIRED[/cfereaption]

We're at Google's big developer conference today, Google IO 2014. We're expecting an Android-news heavy show, with lots of announcements about the future of the operating system, including Android in the home, the car, and all sort of other devices. There should also be some news about Chromecast, and we're expecting lots of looks at how developers can harness the cloud. It's going to be a big day, so stay tuned.

The show began with an enormous Rube Goldberg device that ran across both physical space and an enormous screen. It was the merger of physical and digital, and extremely complicated. But it gave way to a pleasant all-digital video of a ball bouncing through all sorts of apps, websites, photos and real world experiences. This is about Google everywhere.

Google's Sundar Pichai welcomed us all, and welcomed the crowd watching globally-including a viewing party in Nigera that's an all-female developer group. Pichai notes that Android has been growing massively, it now has more than 1 billion global users (which it now calls 30-day actives, indicating they've used the device in the past 30 days). These users take 1.5 trillion steps per day and pull their phones out of their pockets 100 billion times per day. Pichai claims that Android now has 62 percent of global market share of tablets. That's a lot of Android.

There is a new focus on androidone-an emphasis on bringing the next 5 billion people online. Androidone is a set of hardware reference platforms for high quality, low-cost smartphones. The software around it is the same software on stock Android (Nexus and Google Play editions) with locally relevant applications. One of the phones Pichai showed, a MicroMax, cost less than $100. The era of the cheap smartphone is upon us.

We'll be updating this page throughout the morning.

This Smart Yarn Makes Gadget Interactions Magical

We control most of our gadgets through screens and buttons. And while these interfaces get the job done, they can lack a certain warmth and humanness. A new project from Royal College of Art student Yen Chen Chang explores what happens when you replace glass, metal and plastic with textile control mechanisms. The result? A totally new way to interact with our everyday devices.

Using conductive yarn made from 80 percent polyester and 20 percent stainless steel (similar to the textile used in smartphone gloves), Chang knit and crocheted a series of objects that control devices by pulling, squeezing and stroking. When manipulated, the overlap of the metal fiber causes the textile to change conductivity which is then measured by an Arduino and communicated to the gadgets.

For example, Chang developed the Squeezy Juicer, a juicer that only works when you squeeze an oversized knit ball between two people. The faster you squish the ball, the quicker you'll have your orange juice. There's also the Touch of Breeze, a fan that starts to blow air as soon as you stroke a knitted patch of carpet. The more pressure you apply, the faster the air flows. The most straightforward of the objects is Chang's Tension Lamp, which uses a dangling knit rope as the lamp's dimmer.

The outcomes are familiar-a light turns on, a fan blows air, a juicer juices-but the means of getting there is novel. 'When you integrate different sensing technology into today's electronics, you can make something look totally different,' he says.

The objects' sensitivity to change in conductivity depends on how the textiles are constructed. A knit, which is looser because of its looping, is better suited for stretching and squashing. This gives objects a bigger range of motion. While something like a weave, which Chang used to produce a set of conductive gloves, means the fibers are much tighter together, ultimately limiting the range of resistance and giving the textile a more precise function. 'You could use it as an on or off switch,' he says.

There's obviously little value in replacing our juicers with an oversized knit ball, but Chang says practicality-at least at this point-isn't the purpose of the project. Instead, he adds, this is simply an investigation into how changing our material can impact the way we interact with our devices.'I'm not saying it's going to totally revolutionize already existing technology,' he says. 'But it's something that's completely refreshing; it's inspiring in a way.'

Teachers invent a gadget to keep school shooters out

Many teachers in America worry about how to protect their students in case of a school shooting. Could a two-pound piece of steel be the answer?

A group of teachers and administrators in Iowa say they have invented a way to keep classroom doors closed to any intruder. They recently unveiled their new company, Fighting Chance Solutions, and the device they call The Sleeve.

The idea behind The Sleeve is simple. Many classroom doors have a metal arm near the top, a hinge of sorts that stretches out when a door is open and folds in when the door is closed. That arm helps a door close by itself.

A teacher can slide The Sleeve over that metal arm when the door is closed. The Sleeve encases the metal elbow and keeps it from opening. The door stays shut.

The Iowa teachers say The Sleeve works for several reasons. It's portable and easy to quickly slip on. It's cheaper than having to make modifications to a door. A teacher doesn't have to go into the hallway to lock a classroom door. And no key is necessary.

The teachers spent nearly a year developing The Sleeve after getting school safety training last fall that they felt was inadequate, The Muscatine Journal reports. They turned to companies in their hometown of Muscatine, Iowa, to handle the engineering and the manufacturing of the product. A fabricator in town is able to make 1,500 of the gadgets in two weeks, the newspaper reports.

The company is charging $65 for each sleeve, and accepts bulk orders.

The Sleeve is becoming a viral hit since the teachers unveiled it earlier this month, Iowa television station WHO reports. One of the inventors, Daniel Nietzel, told the station he's flying to Los Angeles soon to discuss the product on a Hallmark Channel program.

The company just hand-delivered its first bulk order to a customer in Green Bay, Wis., according to WHO. Orders are also coming in from hospitals, the team said.

The teachers are still holding on to their school jobs and plan to return to the classroom this fall, WHO reports. But they told the station that things could change if the business succeeds.

Gadget Rewind 2008: T

In 2005, a small Palo Alto-based mobile software company called Android Inc. was quietly folded into Google's growing empire. The acquisition led to the release of the company's first-ever 'Google phone' three years later: the T-Mobile G1 (or HTC Dream as it was mostly known outside of the US). Google's philosophy for the G1 centered on one-click search and a rich web experience, and leveraging T-Mobile's 3G network was essential to its success. The G1 was also the first smartphone to run the open-source Android operating system and after just six months on the market, it earned a fifth-place spot amongst top-selling smartphones in the US.

Andy Rubin, one of the co-founders of Android who went on to become SVP of mobile and digital content at Google, wasn't new to the mobile device game. His earlier venture, Danger Inc., had found success in 2002 with its Hiptop smartphone, which was rebranded by T-Mobile as the Sidekick. It's not surprising then that the G1 ended up as a T-Mobile exclusive -- after all, its pop-out keyboard was reminiscent of the Sidekick's swivel screen design. And for consumers in search of an alternative to the BlackBerry smartphones that dominated at the time, the G1 was a welcome option.

The T-Mobile G1 was an odd-looking duck. It was chunky due to the phone's pop-out keyboard, with slightly larger dimensions than the sleek iPhone 3G released the same year. The G1's physical keyboard was a necessary evil considering the inaugural Android operating system (1.0) didn't include a virtual one -- this despite its 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen. That wasn't the G1's only design quirk: It also featured a slanted 'lip' on its front face that housed a trackball and physical navigation buttons.

Its unique build aside, the G1's main attraction was its open-source Android environment. With it, Google aimed to stimulate app development and 'future proof' the OS with developer contributions over time. The Android Market (now known as Google Play) also debuted in tandem with the G1, offering around 50 applications at the time. All those apps were free, too, since the Market had yet to implement a payment system.

Multitasking, copy and paste, pull-down notifications and home screen widgets: These were some of the fresh features the G1 ushered in. It also, unsurprisingly, came deeply integrated with Google services such as Gmail and Maps. And without a proprietary music application of its own at the time, Google turned to Amazon to provide an MP3 app.

The G1 may have been an unfinished product when it was released, but Google addressed its shortcomings with iterative software updates -- now a common and accepted practice for Android devices. Early OS fixes tackled glaring oversights like the G1's missing virtual keyboard and lack of video-recording ability for its 3-megapixel rear camera.

A T-Mobile rep compares Apple's iPhone 3G (at left) with the G1.

A year after the G1's launch, Verizon released the massively popular Motorola Droid with a slightly tweaked version of Android; a device that would prove a boon for Android device sales and mindshare. Still, Google continued on its own parallel path with HTC, releasing the MyTouch series and the G2. Eventually, however, Google abandoned its partnership with T-Mobile and HTC in favor of its Nexus line: reference devices that would run the latest, unadulterated versions of the Android operating system.

Google's G1 smartphone holds an important place in the company's history. Not only was it the first of many devices to run the Android OS, but it also stood out as an open-source alternative to Apple's iPhone and closed iOS ecosystem. Android's openness and flexibility led to its rapid adoption by a variety of manufacturers seeking to topple Apple's success -- it also helped that it was free to license. The G1, though primitive in comparison to the current crop of Android devices, was Google's first step toward the mobile phone market domination it enjoys today.

Did you own a T-Mobile G1? Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you had (or still have) and join the discussion to reminisce or share photos of your device with other like-minded gadget fans.

[Image credit: T-Mobile / HTC (G1 front view); JENS SCHLUETER/AFP/Getty Images (iPhone/G1)]

Gadget Rewind 2008: T

In 2005, a small Palo Alto-based mobile software company called Android Inc. was quietly folded into Google's growing empire. The acquisition led to the release of the company's first-ever 'Google phone' three years later: the T-Mobile G1 (or HTC Dream as it was mostly known outside of the US). Google's philosophy for the G1 centered on one-click search and a rich web experience, and leveraging T-Mobile's 3G network was essential to its success. The G1 was also the first smartphone to run the open-source Android operating system and after just six months on the market, it earned a fifth-place spot amongst top-selling smartphones in the US.

Andy Rubin, one of the co-founders of Android who went on to become SVP of mobile and digital content at Google, wasn't new to the mobile device game. His earlier venture, Danger Inc., had found success in 2002 with its Hiptop smartphone, which was rebranded by T-Mobile as the Sidekick. It's not surprising then that the G1 ended up as a T-Mobile exclusive -- after all, its pop-out keyboard was reminiscent of the Sidekick's swivel screen design. And for consumers in search of an alternative to the BlackBerry smartphones that dominated at the time, the G1 was a welcome option.

The T-Mobile G1 was an odd-looking duck. It was chunky due to the phone's pop-out keyboard, with slightly larger dimensions than the sleek iPhone 3G released the same year. The G1's physical keyboard was a necessary evil considering the inaugural Android operating system (1.0) didn't include a virtual one -- this despite its 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen. That wasn't the G1's only design quirk: It also featured a slanted 'lip' on its front face that housed a trackball and physical navigation buttons.

Its unique build aside, the G1's main attraction was its open-source Android environment. With it, Google aimed to stimulate app development and 'future proof' the OS with developer contributions over time. The Android Market (now known as Google Play) also debuted in tandem with the G1, offering around 50 applications at the time. All those apps were free, too, since the Market had yet to implement a payment system.

Multitasking, copy and paste, pull-down notifications and home screen widgets: These were some of the fresh features the G1 ushered in. It also, unsurprisingly, came deeply integrated with Google services such as Gmail and Maps. And without a proprietary music application of its own at the time, Google turned to Amazon to provide an MP3 app.

The G1 may have been an unfinished product when it was released, but Google addressed its shortcomings with iterative software updates -- now a common and accepted practice for Android devices. Early OS fixes tackled glaring oversights like the G1's missing virtual keyboard and lack of video-recording ability for its 3-megapixel rear camera.

A T-Mobile rep compares Apple's iPhone 3G (at left) with the G1.

A year after the G1's launch, Verizon released the massively popular Motorola Droid with a slightly tweaked version of Android; a device that would prove a boon for Android device sales and mindshare. Still, Google continued on its own parallel path with HTC, releasing the MyTouch series and the G2. Eventually, however, Google abandoned its partnership with T-Mobile and HTC in favor of its Nexus line: reference devices that would run the latest, unadulterated versions of the Android operating system.

Google's G1 smartphone holds an important place in the company's history. Not only was it the first of many devices to run the Android OS, but it also stood out as an open-source alternative to Apple's iPhone and closed iOS ecosystem. Android's openness and flexibility led to its rapid adoption by a variety of manufacturers seeking to topple Apple's success -- it also helped that it was free to license. The G1, though primitive in comparison to the current crop of Android devices, was Google's first step toward the mobile phone market domination it enjoys today.

Did you own a T-Mobile G1? Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you had (or still have) and join the discussion to reminisce or share photos of your device with other like-minded gadget fans.

[Image credit: T-Mobile / HTC (G1 front view); JENS SCHLUETER/AFP/Getty Images (iPhone/G1)]

Stay rain smart with these waterproof gadget accessories

The rains, when they come, bring much-needed respite from the sweltering heat. The chill in the air, the cloudy sky and the romance of being stranded in the rain with a loved one, makes the monsoon season one of the most anticipated and loved ones. However, wouldn't it be nice if the moisture the season brings along didn't ruin our expensive gadgets? Gadgets conk off because electronic items are embedded with Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and electronic components like chips and resistors are soldered in them. The copper tracks on the board carry a certain amount of electric current between the components. The presence of water droplets on these copper tracks can create a short-circuit, which can ruin the gadget. We cannot avoid the rains. Neither can we stop enjoying the pleasures of a downpour just because we have gadgets with us. So, the best way to enjoy the monsoon is to protect them. Here is how you can do it.

You just have to slip it on the device and use the seal to close the backside to completely protect your gadget. Each pack contains a set of three skins and seals and each seal can be used up to three times, making one pack good for nine emergencies. The only drawback being that there is no way that you can plug in any cables or headphones while the gadget is encased in the smartskin.

DiCAPac makes waterproof cases for digital cameras which have been tested in up to 33 ft under water. The transparent vinyl waterproof casing has roll and velcro zipper system and the polycarbonate quality lens opening lets you take pictures with zoom control, even when the camera is in the pouch.

The lens has a three-layer coating - UV coating, Water Repellent coating and Scratch Resistant coating, making it perfect for good-quality pictures.

The bag, along with the camera, can easily float in the water, so you don't need to worry even if you drop it in a pool of clogged water.

The vacuum will make it completely waterproof and the airtight seal ensures that the phone will remain dry even when it is submerged under water. DryCASE comes with a waterproof headphone and mic jack and a neoprene activity armband, so you can wrap your phone around your arm and go for a jog in the rain or use your phone while indulging in some water sports. Owing to its transparency, pictures can be taken through the bag as well.

The Pelican HardBack cases also have a watertight gasket that seals the case tight once its shut and the automatic purge valve keeps water and dust out while maintaining air pressure. So you can freely carry your precious gadgets during the rainy season and not worry about any water damage.

The cover is secured using adjusters and one-handed pull-cords. It has spacious side sleeves, which gives full access and control to the camera.

The Thermoplastic Polyurethane window helps to easily monitor the camera at all times. An adjustable stiff hood can fit lenses of various diametres and extra long lenses can be used with the extension kits.

The sleeve has three locking plastic zippers which are further enclosed by three velcro snaps, making it totally waterproof. The shield is IPX7 certified, which means that it has been rated fit for work under water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of one meter. The best part is that even after so much protection, you can use all the functions to the best of your iPad's ability. You can use all your multi touch gestures, make Face Time calls and even shoot HD Videos while standing in the middle of a heavy downpour.

A dry monsoon

Waterproof bags: Available from various brands such as Case Logic, Vanguard, OverBoard, Aquapac, Quicksilver waterproof bags are the best bet for the wet season. You can look trendy and store all your gadgets and papers without the fear of them getting wet.

Dry cabinets: These cabinets come with de-humidifiers and are great to keep moisture away from your gadgets. They come in handy while doing some damage control after an equipment has got wet, as it dries out the moisture. It is also great in keeping fungus, rust and dust away.

Dry-Pack: Packets of absorbent desiccant Silica Gel can be kept with your gadgets to absorb extra moisture. In case of an emergency, you can even put your wet gadget in an air-tight container with a couple of Dry-Packs.

My Biz: Gadget Guy in Cedar Rapids enjoys his work

Phone, computer, tablet repairs build business

By Katie Mills Giorgio, correspondent

Published: in

When Jonathan Clifton was a boy, his toys never lasted long in their original condition.

Clifton would take apart whatever he could get his hands on - including toys that belonged to his brother and sister - because he was 'fascinated by how things work.'

'I was the kid who used to program the VCR for my grandma and grandpa,' he said.

A journeyman electrician by trade, Clifton was laid off each winter, thanks to cold Iowa weather. For many years he spent his time repairing electronics for friends and co-workers.

'Then I got ambitious last winter,' Clifton said, saying that's when he decided to launch Gadget Guy.

His ambition, combined with hard work, has paid off. As the Gadget Guy, Clifton repairs just about any electronic device. A majority of Clifton's business is repairing cracked screens on cellphones and tablets. His most popular repairs involve - no surprise - iPhones, which run about $75 to $85 depending on the generation of the phone.

Clifton's work is meticulous, requiring gloves and precise instruments for working with very small and delicate parts. When he's in the zone, it can take him anywhere from 30 minutes an hour to repair a cracked iPhone screen. 'Every little piece matters.'

Clifton also works on computers, repairing faulty hardware and handling data backup, restoration and recovery. 'Water damage is my worst enemy,' he joked. 'But with the proper techniques and tools you can recover from it.'

Clifton does all his work in the basement of his home. He appreciates being close to his family - his wife works as an in-home day-care provider. 'I like being responsible for myself and taking care of my family,' Clifton said.

Clifton said he constantly works to create a balance.

'You want to be busy and profitable and grow,' he said. 'I also want to be accurate, and the busier I get, the less I am able to provide the highest-quality customer service.'

In a world hyper-connected to electronic devices, Clifton said his work is very rewarding.

'I am doing what I love,' he said. 'When I get to see a kid's face when they get their iPod back, it's awesome. It's like being Santa Claus.'

*Know a manager or company in business for more than a year that would be ideal for 'My Biz'? Contact Chelsea Keenan at Chelsea.keenan@sourcemedia.net

At a glance

*Company: Gadget Guy

*Owner: Jonathan Clifton

*Address: 176 Carter St. NW, Cedar Rapids

*Phone: (319) 651-3849

*Website: http://ift.tt/1nrhTSj

Have you found an error or omission in our reporting? Is there other feedback and/or ideas you want to share with us? Tell ushere.

Gadget Freak Review: Action Sports Drone; Fashionable Wearable Tech

This Gadget Freak review looks at a Kickstarter campaign for an auto-follow action sports drone and a fashionable ring that will discreetly alert you to an incoming notification on your smartphone.

We will also look at a vintage Gadget Freak of an electrical car with an added range of control based on robotics.

Auto-follow action sports drone

Over on Kickstarter, a group of engineers who are passionate about action sports are more than halfway to their goal to fund the production of AirDog, an easy-to-use personal drone. AirDog is 'a small, agile, foldable quadcopter, especially designed for video shooting action sports with the GoPro camera.' It will follow your every move and can withstand rain and freezing temperatures.

To get AirDog to start following you, you have to strap the AirLeash waterproof portable tracker on to your wrist or helmet. The drone will make in-flight calculations to correct its flying pattern and locate the AirLeash, so the camera will be pointed directly toward it.

Landing and takeoff are autonomous. The device will land at the end of your track or return to the takeoff spot if the battery runs low. An alarm will alert your AirLeash if the battery is too low to continue recording.

AirDog has three flight modes -- auto follow with six modes, manual remote control, and handheld steadicam. AirDog's app will give you control over the distance, height, and angle of the device.

The estimated retail value for the AirDog will be $1,500, but with a Kickstarter pledge of $995, the device could be yours around November.

Fashionable wearable technology

Ringly set out to make a piece of wearable technology that could be discreetly integrated into your life, so it made a line of fashionable connected rings out of semi-precious and precious gemstones set in an 18 carat gold-plated brass setting.

Ringly connects to your smartphone and sends you customized alerts through light and vibration. The ring connects to your phone through an app for iOS and Android devices. Through the app, you can customize notifications -- phone calls, texts, email, and other apps -- to alert you with five different colors or four vibration patterns. The notifications show through a small gemstone on the side of the ring. It can also notify you about items coming up on your calendar, such as meetings. As long as your phone is within 20-30 ft of Ringly, you will receive notifications. To charge the ring, simply place it back in the ring box and plug in a USB outlet.

Ringly expects to ship this fall. Prices range from $195 to $260, depending on the stone you pick. The fall collection includes black onyx, pink sapphire, emerald, and rainbow moonstone.

Vintage Gadget Freak: Super rugged computer-controlled Tyco car

Want to give your Tyco car some extra oomph and control? Matthew Katzenstein took an electrical car and added a range of control based on robotics.

By adding an Arduino, Katzenstein was able to bring more control to the car and increase its speed. Though his initial car is run from a laptop, there are Bluetooth options that offer control of the car from a smartphone. The car is also ruggedized, so it can take drops and crashes and still perform well.

Do you have a Gadget Freak project you would like the world to see? Send a brief description of your gadget and a photo to Assistant Managing Editor Lauren Muskett.

Check out the Best of Gadget Freak -- Volume 2 Technology Roundup here to see some of the best gadgets that your peers have created.

When you are finished, be sure to check out the Best of Gadget Freak: Vol. 1.

Related posts:

Gadget Freak Review: Action Sports Drone; Fashionable Wearable Tech

This Gadget Freak review looks at a Kickstarter campaign for an auto-follow action sports drone and a fashionable ring that will discreetly alert you to an incoming notification on your smartphone.

We will also look at a vintage Gadget Freak of an electrical car with an added range of control based on robotics.

Auto-follow action sports drone

Over on Kickstarter, a group of engineers who are passionate about action sports are more than halfway to their goal to fund the production of AirDog, an easy-to-use personal drone. AirDog is 'a small, agile, foldable quadcopter, especially designed for video shooting action sports with the GoPro camera.' It will follow your every move and can withstand rain and freezing temperatures.

To get AirDog to start following you, you have to strap the AirLeash waterproof portable tracker on to your wrist or helmet. The drone will make in-flight calculations to correct its flying pattern and locate the AirLeash, so the camera will be pointed directly toward it.

Landing and takeoff are autonomous. The device will land at the end of your track or return to the takeoff spot if the battery runs low. An alarm will alert your AirLeash if the battery is too low to continue recording.

AirDog has three flight modes -- auto follow with six modes, manual remote control, and handheld steadicam. AirDog's app will give you control over the distance, height, and angle of the device.

The estimated retail value for the AirDog will be $1,500, but with a Kickstarter pledge of $995, the device could be yours around November.

Fashionable wearable technology

Ringly set out to make a piece of wearable technology that could be discreetly integrated into your life, so it made a line of fashionable connected rings out of semi-precious and precious gemstones set in an 18 carat gold-plated brass setting.

Ringly connects to your smartphone and sends you customized alerts through light and vibration. The ring connects to your phone through an app for iOS and Android devices. Through the app, you can customize notifications -- phone calls, texts, email, and other apps -- to alert you with five different colors or four vibration patterns. The notifications show through a small gemstone on the side of the ring. It can also notify you about items coming up on your calendar, such as meetings. As long as your phone is within 20-30 ft of Ringly, you will receive notifications. To charge the ring, simply place it back in the ring box and plug in a USB outlet.

Ringly expects to ship this fall. Prices range from $195 to $260, depending on the stone you pick. The fall collection includes black onyx, pink sapphire, emerald, and rainbow moonstone.

Vintage Gadget Freak: Super rugged computer-controlled Tyco car

Want to give your Tyco car some extra oomph and control? Matthew Katzenstein took an electrical car and added a range of control based on robotics.

By adding an Arduino, Katzenstein was able to bring more control to the car and increase its speed. Though his initial car is run from a laptop, there are Bluetooth options that offer control of the car from a smartphone. The car is also ruggedized, so it can take drops and crashes and still perform well.

Do you have a Gadget Freak project you would like the world to see? Send a brief description of your gadget and a photo to Assistant Managing Editor Lauren Muskett.

Check out the Best of Gadget Freak -- Volume 2 Technology Roundup here to see some of the best gadgets that your peers have created.

When you are finished, be sure to check out the Best of Gadget Freak: Vol. 1.

Related posts:

Gadget

56 Walker Street is making its comeback—for real this time. The 18,000-square-foot 1866 Tribeca building was snatched by developer Six Sigma for $18 million in December, following a failed attempt at market and subsequent foreclosure brought on by 2008's economic downturn. Now, Lee has tapped superbroker and Million Dollar Listing persona Fredrik Eklund and his partner John Gomes to market the new 56 Walker Street's uber high-tech apartments. TRD got the scoop on what's coming,

Light switches will be replaced by iPod touch screens that control several functions in each room. Handles on kitchen cabinets and drawers have been replaced by touch sensors that activate motors. And rain sensors automatically close windows when precipitation is detected.

Well that's pretty fancy. No pricing has been announced for the surely costly 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot apartments. The building is expected to be complete by the end of 2014 and come to market within a year. · Elliman's Eklund Gomes team lands gig at 56 Walker Street [TRD] · All 56 Walker Street coverage [Curbed]

Gadget Lust: We Didn't Start the Fire

NewsweekGadget Lust: We Didn't Start the FireNewsweekLate night is our special time, when we idle away the hours. We've been together for all the holidays. But I'm beginning to feel it's a one-sided relationship. I feel everything always has to be a certain way, their way—and it's getting to me. I am ...

An electronic gadget to silence loudmouths

Back in the early days of Silicon Valley, when bad behavior may have been forgiven a little more readily than it is today, a legendary engineer named Bob Widlar was so intolerant of defective parts and malfunctioning prototypes, he was in the habit of destroying them with a sledge hammer. This came to be known as 'widlarizing' them. He also had a strong dislike of ambient noise, and built a device known as 'the hassler' which worked by fighting sound with sound. If someone shouted at Widlar, the hassler kicked in and emitted a piercing shriek of protest. I'm going to suggest a circuit that you can build for under $15 which will do what the hassler used to do, although I'll be referring to it here as a Noise Protest Device.

Widlar wasn't interested in digital chips that use the 0s and 1s of binary code. Supposedly, he used to say that 'every idiot can count to 1.' He created analog designs, where the great challenge has always been to make an accurate, amplified copy of a rapidly fluctuating input signal. Many of the early operational-amplifier designs were pioneered by Widlar, and thus it seems appropriate that my Noise Protest Device uses an LM741, one of the oldest and most widely used op-amps.

The Problem

The basic concept of fighting sound with sound creates an obvious paradox. If a Noise Protest Device reacts to ambient noise by making more noise, it will trigger itself, creating an endless feedback loop.

One solution to this problem would be an audio filter on the microphone input, so that the Noise Protest Device can't hear itself but will still hear someone shouting. I like this idea, but I don't know enough about designing audio filters to be sure of making it work.

An easier solution is simply to limit the duration of the protest output to, say, a couple of seconds. Then there can be a momentary pause while the output is suppressed. At the end of the pause, the Noise Protest Device starts listening again, and if someone is still shouting, the cycle will repeat.

The flow diagram above illustrates this concept. An electret microphone, which will cost maybe $1, is wired to the input of the op-amp, which amplifies the voltage. A transistor allows the voltage to be adjusted. A capacitor smooths the signal sufficiently to trigger a timer that I call the Noise Duration Timer. This sends power to an off-the-shelf noise maker such as a beeper--or maybe a burglar alarm siren, which would really get people's attention. A beeper will cost maybe a couple of dollars, while a siren will be closer to $10.

When the Noise Duration Timer reaches the end of its period, its output will go low, which will shut down the noise output. The transition also triggers a second timer, which I call the Pause Duration Timer. This will inhibit the circuit from responding to any ambient sound for a brief period.

The Circuit

The electret microphone is at the top-right corner of the schematic. This device has an open-collector output, which means it contains a transistor whose collector drives the rest of the circuit. After passing through the 0.68uF capacitor it induces little variations above and below the midpoint voltage established by two 68K resistors.

The op-amp amplifies these variations, but its behavior is controlled by negative feedback--a very important concept in the world of audio amplifiers. The 4.7K resistor labelled 'A' in the schematic sets the negative feedback in conjunction with a 1 meg potentiometer. If the value of the resistor is reduced, the output from the op-amp goes up, and vice-versa.

A 2N2222 transistor passes the signal through to the input of the Noise Duration Timer, labelled 'B' in the schematic. Its output from pin 3 goes through a 220-ohm resistor to an LED, labelled 'D'. This is just for demonstration purposes. Once you have the circuit working, you can substitute a beeper for the LED, or you can use a relay to trigger a siren. An optocoupler would be even better than a relay, as it can isolate the siren from the sensitive circuit containing the LM741.

While the Noise Duration Timer is running, its output is high. At the end of its cycle, the output goes low. This transition passes through a 0.1uF coupling capacitor, triggering the Pause Duration Timer. The output from this timer lights a second LED, which again is just for demonstration purposes and can be removed once the circuit is working.

The output from the Pause Duration Timer goes through another transistor, at the bottom of the circuit, which is used to pull down the voltage on the reset pin of the Noise Duration Timer (labelled 'C'), suppressing that timer so that it will not respond to any sound input until the end of the pause.

Testing, Testing...

When you have finished wiring the circuit, apply power. The initial power surge may activate one timer or the other. You can ignore that.

To check that the timers are working, briefly ground pin 2 (the trigger pin) of each of them. This should make the LED light up in each case. You can also use your meter to verify the input voltage on the trigger pin of the first timer.

Now make a noise into the electret microphone. A steady 'Ahhhh' sound works best, but you can shout abuse at your Noise Protest Device if you prefer, and this may be more satisfying if you've been having trouble getting it to work. Either way, sustain the sound for as long as you can.

There may be an initial hesitation. Then you should see the first LED light up for approximately two seconds. Imagine that its output is activating the protest output. Then that LED goes out, and the second one comes on, to tell you that the Pause Duration Timer is inhibiting the Noise Duration Timer. You can continue making as much noise as you like, but the Noise Duration Timer will ignore it, and its LED will stay dark, until the Pause Duration Timer has completed its cycle.

Tweaking It

You'll probably want to tweak the circuit to match your noise environment. If the 1 meg potentiometer won't make the circuit sensitive enough to please you, try substituting a 3.3K resistor for the 4.7K resistor labelled 'A'.

The 470-ohm resistor labelled 'E' controls the voltage from the transistor to the Noise Duration Timer. If that timer isn't triggered reliably, you can try values higher or lower than 470 ohms.

The 100uF electrolytic capacitor labelled 'F' is necessary to smooth the AC signal which passes from the op-amp and through the transistor. However this capacitor does take a second or so to charge. While it is charging, the Noise Duration Timer won't respond. This simply means that there is a short delay from the moment when someone starts shouting, to the moment when the protest output begins. Similarly, when someone stops making noise, the capacitor takes a second to discharge, so you may get one additional protest output cycle.

Personally I like this behavior, because the circuit gives the shouting person a brief grace period in which to behave, but once the circuit decides that he's going to keep on shouting, it adds an extra cycle just to make sure that he's got the message.

If you prefer a more immediate response, you can substitute a 47uF smoothing capacitor. This may cause the Noise Duration Timer to retrigger itself spontaneously, because the smaller smoothing capacitor is allowing more voltage spikes to get through. You can stop the retriggering by backing off the 1M potentiometer a bit. This should still allow a reasonably sensitive response.

The power supply that you use may affect the performance of the circuit to some extent. A 9V battery will take longer than a bench-top power supply to charge the 100uF capacitor, and the circuit may seem a little less sensitive. Here again, if the 1M trimmer doesn't provide you with enough range, you can always increase the sensitivity by reducing the value of the 4.7K resistor labelled 'A'.

I used the plastic-packaged version of the 2N2222 transistors. If you use the metal-can version, they have slightly more amplifying power, and you may have to adjust the 470-ohm resistor labelled 'E'.

I didn't have any problems with the circuit starting to oscillate, but if you do, try increasing the value of the 100uF capacitor labelled 'F'.

Making Even More

While I was working on this project, I started thinking of other things it could do. I have a friend who has two children who turn the family TV up loud. Instead of shouting to them to 'Turn that thing down!' he can simply install a Noise Protest Device to do the job for him.

Alternatively you could use it as a car alarm, if you tape it securely to the inside of a window. Any sudden vibration should trigger the electret microphone.

If you have neighbors with a noisy barking dog, you could use the output from the Noise Protest Device to retaliate by triggering an ultrasonic transducer.

A friend of mine remarked that she could use the Noise Protest Device on herself, to remind her not to shout at her business partner when she gets frustrated because a work project isn't progressing quickly enough.

Personally, though, I like the original scenario. I like to think that when electronics pioneer Bob Widlar really irritated someone (which seems to have happened fairly often), and they came in to yell at him, all he had to do was sit back and wait for the decibels to reach the critical level, at which point his version of the Noise Protest Device would kick in.

Probably, that would have annoyed his visitor even more.

Component Sourcing

Make: More Electronics contains a complete shopping list for this circuit and for all the others in the book. The projects assume that you have some minimal knowledge of electronics, which you can obtain from my own Make: Electronics or any other entry-level introductory guide.

An electronic gadget to silence loudmouths

Back in the early days of Silicon Valley, when bad behavior may have been forgiven a little more readily than it is today, a legendary engineer named Bob Widlar was so intolerant of defective parts and malfunctioning prototypes, he was in the habit of destroying them with a sledge hammer. This came to be known as 'widlarizing' them. He also had a strong dislike of ambient noise, and built a device known as 'the hassler' which worked by fighting sound with sound. If someone shouted at Widlar, the hassler kicked in and emitted a piercing shriek of protest. I'm going to suggest a circuit that you can build for under $15 which will do what the hassler used to do, although I'll be referring to it here as a Noise Protest Device.

Widlar wasn't interested in digital chips that use the 0s and 1s of binary code. Supposedly, he used to say that 'every idiot can count to 1.' He created analog designs, where the great challenge has always been to make an accurate, amplified copy of a rapidly fluctuating input signal. Many of the early operational-amplifier designs were pioneered by Widlar, and thus it seems appropriate that my Noise Protest Device uses an LM741, one of the oldest and most widely used op-amps.

The Problem

The basic concept of fighting sound with sound creates an obvious paradox. If a Noise Protest Device reacts to ambient noise by making more noise, it will trigger itself, creating an endless feedback loop.

One solution to this problem would be an audio filter on the microphone input, so that the Noise Protest Device can't hear itself but will still hear someone shouting. I like this idea, but I don't know enough about designing audio filters to be sure of making it work.

An easier solution is simply to limit the duration of the protest output to, say, a couple of seconds. Then there can be a momentary pause while the output is suppressed. At the end of the pause, the Noise Protest Device starts listening again, and if someone is still shouting, the cycle will repeat.

The flow diagram above illustrates this concept. An electret microphone, which will cost maybe $1, is wired to the input of the op-amp, which amplifies the voltage. A transistor allows the voltage to be adjusted. A capacitor smooths the signal sufficiently to trigger a timer that I call the Noise Duration Timer. This sends power to an off-the-shelf noise maker such as a beeper--or maybe a burglar alarm siren, which would really get people's attention. A beeper will cost maybe a couple of dollars, while a siren will be closer to $10.

When the Noise Duration Timer reaches the end of its period, its output will go low, which will shut down the noise output. The transition also triggers a second timer, which I call the Pause Duration Timer. This will inhibit the circuit from responding to any ambient sound for a brief period.

The Circuit

The electret microphone is at the top-right corner of the schematic. This device has an open-collector output, which means it contains a transistor whose collector drives the rest of the circuit. After passing through the 0.68uF capacitor it induces little variations above and below the midpoint voltage established by two 68K resistors.

The op-amp amplifies these variations, but its behavior is controlled by negative feedback--a very important concept in the world of audio amplifiers. The 4.7K resistor labelled 'A' in the schematic sets the negative feedback in conjunction with a 1 meg potentiometer. If the value of the resistor is reduced, the output from the op-amp goes up, and vice-versa.

A 2N2222 transistor passes the signal through to the input of the Noise Duration Timer, labelled 'B' in the schematic. Its output from pin 3 goes through a 220-ohm resistor to an LED, labelled 'D'. This is just for demonstration purposes. Once you have the circuit working, you can substitute a beeper for the LED, or you can use a relay to trigger a siren. An optocoupler would be even better than a relay, as it can isolate the siren from the sensitive circuit containing the LM741.

While the Noise Duration Timer is running, its output is high. At the end of its cycle, the output goes low. This transition passes through a 0.1uF coupling capacitor, triggering the Pause Duration Timer. The output from this timer lights a second LED, which again is just for demonstration purposes and can be removed once the circuit is working.

The output from the Pause Duration Timer goes through another transistor, at the bottom of the circuit, which is used to pull down the voltage on the reset pin of the Noise Duration Timer (labelled 'C'), suppressing that timer so that it will not respond to any sound input until the end of the pause.

Testing, Testing...

When you have finished wiring the circuit, apply power. The initial power surge may activate one timer or the other. You can ignore that.

To check that the timers are working, briefly ground pin 2 (the trigger pin) of each of them. This should make the LED light up in each case. You can also use your meter to verify the input voltage on the trigger pin of the first timer.

Now make a noise into the electret microphone. A steady 'Ahhhh' sound works best, but you can shout abuse at your Noise Protest Device if you prefer, and this may be more satisfying if you've been having trouble getting it to work. Either way, sustain the sound for as long as you can.

There may be an initial hesitation. Then you should see the first LED light up for approximately two seconds. Imagine that its output is activating the protest output. Then that LED goes out, and the second one comes on, to tell you that the Pause Duration Timer is inhibiting the Noise Duration Timer. You can continue making as much noise as you like, but the Noise Duration Timer will ignore it, and its LED will stay dark, until the Pause Duration Timer has completed its cycle.

Tweaking It

You'll probably want to tweak the circuit to match your noise environment. If the 1 meg potentiometer won't make the circuit sensitive enough to please you, try substituting a 3.3K resistor for the 4.7K resistor labelled 'A'.

The 470-ohm resistor labelled 'E' controls the voltage from the transistor to the Noise Duration Timer. If that timer isn't triggered reliably, you can try values higher or lower than 470 ohms.

The 100uF electrolytic capacitor labelled 'F' is necessary to smooth the AC signal which passes from the op-amp and through the transistor. However this capacitor does take a second or so to charge. While it is charging, the Noise Duration Timer won't respond. This simply means that there is a short delay from the moment when someone starts shouting, to the moment when the protest output begins. Similarly, when someone stops making noise, the capacitor takes a second to discharge, so you may get one additional protest output cycle.

Personally I like this behavior, because the circuit gives the shouting person a brief grace period in which to behave, but once the circuit decides that he's going to keep on shouting, it adds an extra cycle just to make sure that he's got the message.

If you prefer a more immediate response, you can substitute a 47uF smoothing capacitor. This may cause the Noise Duration Timer to retrigger itself spontaneously, because the smaller smoothing capacitor is allowing more voltage spikes to get through. You can stop the retriggering by backing off the 1M potentiometer a bit. This should still allow a reasonably sensitive response.

The power supply that you use may affect the performance of the circuit to some extent. A 9V battery will take longer than a bench-top power supply to charge the 100uF capacitor, and the circuit may seem a little less sensitive. Here again, if the 1M trimmer doesn't provide you with enough range, you can always increase the sensitivity by reducing the value of the 4.7K resistor labelled 'A'.

I used the plastic-packaged version of the 2N2222 transistors. If you use the metal-can version, they have slightly more amplifying power, and you may have to adjust the 470-ohm resistor labelled 'E'.

I didn't have any problems with the circuit starting to oscillate, but if you do, try increasing the value of the 100uF capacitor labelled 'F'.

Making Even More

While I was working on this project, I started thinking of other things it could do. I have a friend who has two children who turn the family TV up loud. Instead of shouting to them to 'Turn that thing down!' he can simply install a Noise Protest Device to do the job for him.

Alternatively you could use it as a car alarm, if you tape it securely to the inside of a window. Any sudden vibration should trigger the electret microphone.

If you have neighbors with a noisy barking dog, you could use the output from the Noise Protest Device to retaliate by triggering an ultrasonic transducer.

A friend of mine remarked that she could use the Noise Protest Device on herself, to remind her not to shout at her business partner when she gets frustrated because a work project isn't progressing quickly enough.

Personally, though, I like the original scenario. I like to think that when electronics pioneer Bob Widlar really irritated someone (which seems to have happened fairly often), and they came in to yell at him, all he had to do was sit back and wait for the decibels to reach the critical level, at which point his version of the Noise Protest Device would kick in.

Probably, that would have annoyed his visitor even more.

Component Sourcing

Make: More Electronics contains a complete shopping list for this circuit and for all the others in the book. The projects assume that you have some minimal knowledge of electronics, which you can obtain from my own Make: Electronics or any other entry-level introductory guide.

Surprise: New, Cheaper iMac Takes a Performance Hit

If you've been wanting an Apple desktop but didn't want to shell out the cash for either an iMac or the Mac Pro, you're in luck: a new, cheaper iMac goes on sale today. For $1,099 (that's $200 less than the previous bottom model) the new 21.5-inch desktop shipped looks just like every other iMac from the outside. A new iMac was rumored last week, but no one expected it to get...worse.

Look closely at the specs: though it features a Core i5 chip like all iMacs, the new one is a dual-core with merely 1.4Ghz.

Look closely at the specs: though it features a Core i5 chip like all iMacs, the new one is a dual-core with merely 1.4Ghz. That's roughly half the processing speed of other iMacs. In fact, it is the same chip that is in MacBook Airs. In almost every way the specs of this new, cheaper iMac compare to those of the higher-end 11-inch Air -from price (identical) to chip (identical) to graphics card (identical). The new iMac does boast one better feature than the Air: 8GB of memory versus 4.

Why would you want a desktop with the power of a laptop? And not even a very powerful laptop? The Air's specs are worse than the MacBook Pro because the Air emphasizes mobility. Why spend a thousand bucks on an immobile iMac when the Air is the same price and will perform nearly identically?

It's a head-scratcher. But for people who want a command center in their house where the family can do simple, everyday computing tasks-like surf the Web, manage photos, and do homework-the $200 price cut could be worth the processing speed, we suppose.

Value-wise, Apple is decidedly not ripping you off with this exchange: to buy a dual-core i5 chip on its own costs around $150, depending on the seller. A quad-core version goes for between $215 and $250. So Apple is giving you an extra $100 savings here. We've reached out to Apple for comment on the motivation behind this new model. We'll update when we hear back.

Amazons Top

By Grab Media, a blinkx company

Amazon is apparently working away on a lot more besides the upcoming smartphone with the 3D interface at its Lab126 hardware R&D facility. A new Businessweek profile details some of the work that went into creating the new smartphone, as well as a few other efforts currently ongoing, like a speech-controlled Bluetooth speaker, a Square-killing credit card reader and a projector for anywhere. But the most exciting development of all might be one that seems rather boring on the surface: a super-thin Kindle.

Amazons Top-Secret Gadget Lab Is Building Plenty, But A Thinner Kindle Could Be The Coolest

nullRelated Keywords:Electronic commerce, Tablet computers, HTC Excalibur, EO Personal Communicator, Motorola MING

Amazon's Top

Amazon is apparently working away on a lot more besides the upcoming smartphone with the 3D interface at its Lab126 hardware R&D facility. A new Businessweek profile details some of the work that went into creating the new smartphone, as well as a few other efforts currently ongoing, like a speech-controlled Bluetooth speaker, a Square-killing credit card reader and a projector for anywhere. But the most exciting development of all might be one that seems rather boring on the surface: a super-thin Kindle.

The Bloomberg profile mostly focuses on the Lab126 makeup, which consists of around 1,600 people according to information from LinkedIn. They've produced two new devices launched this year already, including the Fire TV settop streamer and the Amazon Dash grocery scanning gadget.

The Fire TV, while mostly well received, doesn't do much for non Prime subscribers they can't get elsewhere. And the Dash is really only useful where Amazon offers AmazonFresh, which is still just limited to a few U.S. locales. Even Amazon's unannounced (until tomorrow) smartphone is being met with a lot of early skepticism - one person I talked who who spoke under the condition of anonymity and who got some early hands-on team with the device said they weren't very impressed with its 3D gimmick, and that's been reported by others who've had an early look, too, including a source speaking to 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman and a separate source who shared information with TechCrunch.

Truth be told, the other products reported by Businessweek strike me as similarly odd in design and conception. A device that 'projects a computer image onto any surface' is essentially a pico projector, it sounds like, and a voice-powered wireless speaker sounds like a mostly unnecessary mashup of Siri and your basic Jambox. A credit-card reader to compete with Square could help Amazon bridge the gap between online and local retail, but from a consumer perspective, the item in the project pipeline with the most potential appeal is a new Kindle Paperwhite.

Amazon's Kindle (not the tablets) remains its most interesting consumer hardware, and arguably the most successful of the bunch (it's hard to say given Amazon's reluctance to share device sales numbers). The Paperwhite line has been a terrific improvement on an already solid product, and now this new model, codenamed Ice Wine, sounds like it could be even better. An earlier report from TechCrunch suggests it'll be lighter, with a 300 ppi high-resolution display, and the return of physical buttons. Businessweek's profile says only that it'll be 'incredibly thin,' but that alone would be a market improvement.

While it's great that Amazon is working hard on building new and different kinds of hardware with unique interfaces and interaction paradigms, the company continues to show its strength on a product that was smart and timely out of the gate. I'll be watching to see what they bring to the table in a new phone tomorrow, but I'm honestly much more excited about whatever's in store for their e-ink-based e-reader later this year.

Amazon's Top

Amazon is apparently working away on a lot more besides the upcoming smartphone with the 3D interface at its Lab126 hardware R&D facility. A new Businessweek profile details some of the work that went into creating the new smartphone, as well as a few other efforts currently ongoing, like a speech-controlled Bluetooth speaker, a Square-killing credit card reader and a projector for anywhere. But the most exciting development of all might be one that seems rather boring on the surface: a super-thin Kindle.

The Bloomberg profile mostly focuses on the Lab126 makeup, which consists of around 1,600 people according to information from LinkedIn. They've produced two new devices launched this year already, including the Fire TV settop streamer and the Amazon Dash grocery scanning gadget.

The Fire TV, while mostly well received, doesn't do much for non Prime subscribers they can't get elsewhere. And the Dash is really only useful where Amazon offers AmazonFresh, which is still just limited to a few U.S. locales. Even Amazon's unannounced (until tomorrow) smartphone is being met with a lot of early skepticism - one person I talked who who spoke under the condition of anonymity and who got some early hands-on team with the device said they weren't very impressed with its 3D gimmick, and that's been reported by others who've had an early look, too, including a source speaking to 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman and a separate source who shared information with TechCrunch.

Truth be told, the other products reported by Businessweek strike me as similarly odd in design and conception. A device that 'projects a computer image onto any surface' is essentially a pico projector, it sounds like, and a voice-powered wireless speaker sounds like a mostly unnecessary mashup of Siri and your basic Jambox. A credit-card reader to compete with Square could help Amazon bridge the gap between online and local retail, but from a consumer perspective, the item in the project pipeline with the most potential appeal is a new Kindle Paperwhite.

Amazon's Kindle (not the tablets) remains its most interesting consumer hardware, and arguably the most successful of the bunch (it's hard to say given Amazon's reluctance to share device sales numbers). The Paperwhite line has been a terrific improvement on an already solid product, and now this new model, codenamed Ice Wine, sounds like it could be even better. An earlier report from TechCrunch suggests it'll be lighter, with a 300 ppi high-resolution display, and the return of physical buttons. Businessweek's profile says only that it'll be 'incredibly thin,' but that alone would be a market improvement.

While it's great that Amazon is working hard on building new and different kinds of hardware with unique interfaces and interaction paradigms, the company continues to show its strength on a product that was smart and timely out of the gate. I'll be watching to see what they bring to the table in a new phone tomorrow, but I'm honestly much more excited about whatever's in store for their e-ink-based e-reader later this year.

India Gadget Expo 2014 associates with Ditto TV

Zee Media Bureau

Hyderabad: L&T promoted HITEX Exhibition Center, in association with SK Innoventures that brings to Hyderabad its 1st edition of India Gadget Expo 2014 (IGE), has partnered with Ditto TV.

Ditto TV is India's first OTT (Over-The-Top) TV distribution platform set up by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL).

Ditto TV will be showcasing its technological expertise at the IGE 2014.

A four day program scheduled from 19th- 22nd June 2014, IGE 2014 includes seminars, exhibitions, presentations and business networking opportunities. Ditto TV enjoys the distinction of being the only OTT offering that will be present at this event, with other prominent technology brands like Samsung, Nokia etc.

The exhibition aims to serve as a platform that brings inventors, innovators and end retailers of the gadget and technology industry together. About 60 superbrands from the gadgets and electronics industry, like LG Electronics, Ditto TV, Haier, Qualcomm, Panasonic, Nokia, D-Link, Gionee, Xolo, Amazon, Game Sastra, etc., will be part of the event.

First Published: Tuesday, June 17, 2014, 15:44

Gadget Rewind 2006: Nintendo Wii

Nintendo planned a 'Revolution' for your TV. When it arrived in 2006, it was a lot more fun than the confrontational term might imply. Revolution turned out to be the code name for the company's new console, and just before E3 that year Nintendo ditched the subterfuge and unveiled its official title: Nintendo Wii. It was revolutionary, using motion-tracking remotes to get players off the couch and involved in the action. The Wii rapidly became the centerpiece at parties, stepping into the arena with classics like Pictionary and charades. The console's popularity was also a welcome turnabout for Nintendo, which had been languishing over its latest console's missteps.

When the Nintendo Wii launched in late 2006, it made the holiday deadline, but also ended up in head-to-head competition with Sony's PlayStation 3. While the PS3 and Xbox 360 offered higher-resolution games and more complex titles, they didn't really have the motion-tracking magic that Nintendo brought to the table. At least not until 2010, when Sony's PS Move and Microsoft's Kinect appeared on the scene.

The Wii's success was about accessibility. Nintendo games like Wii Sports -- wisely bundled with the console -- and WarioWare showcased the system's uniquely intuitive controller. Players got to act out their favorite sports: swinging the remote around like a baseball bat, golf club or bowling ball. Even mundane activities like cooking could be transformed into hours of enjoyment through the Wii. Sadly, third-party game studios never quite figured out how to mirror the success of Nintendo's first-party. As a result, few third-party games were sold on the Wii, which led most studios to give up on supporting the system.

Even though the console was an enormous hit, Nintendo decided that it would have to evolve in order to compete with emerging trends. In late 2012, Nintendo launched the Wii's successor with a slightly tweaked moniker: Wii U. Its GamePad controller was aimed at challenging tablet gaming and providing a 'second screen' experience. Unfortunately, the launch left many confused. With such a subtle name change, it was often misinterpreted as an add-on for the existing Wii system -- which it wasn't.

Just like life, Nintendo's consoles seem to have lots of ups and downs, at least in terms of market success. The Wii was definitely a high point in its history of gaming systems. It sold over 24 million units by its second year and surpassed 100 million units in its lifetime. The impact of that system even served to inform future consoles of competing brands. The mainstream affinity for Wii Sports led to developments like Wii Fit and its Balance Board accessory, which took things a step further by adding fitness tracking and exercise programs into the mix. The living room could now serve double duty as a gym, and children (as well as adults) no longer needed to suffer the oppressive nature of 'going outside' just to get some exercise.

Did you own a Nintendo Wii? Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you had (or still have) and join the discussion to reminisce or share photos of your device with other like-minded gadget fans.

Gadget Freak Case #256: Yoga Breathalyzer

The yoga breathalyzer is a breath visualization tool that uses Arduino, a headset-mounted wind sensor, and an LED strip to translate your breathing into visual output.

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