For those who are Earth-conscious but have a need for speed, the Brammo Enertia motorcycle is the product for you. The 18-horsepower bike weighs just 280 pounds and is powered by an electric engine whose lithium-ion battery can be recharged by plugging it into a regular 110-volt socket for four hours. Owners can recharge for pennies, compared to the cost of filling up on gasoline. And some of its parts are made from recycled materials. The company hopes the bike will go mainstream, and began offering it at Best Buy last year.
Wind power is one of the most attractive clean energies, but one big problem is that it’s just not that windy in some parts of the U.S., where average wind speed tops out at 9 mph. Most wind turbines need at least a 7 mph gust to get going, but thanks to its innovative design, the Honeywell wind turbine makes energy at wind speeds of just 2 mph. This turbine has no gears, but instead has magnets, which Honeywell says boosts energy output. One 6-feet-wide device can generate 25 percent of a household’s energy needs. The first Honeywell turbine in New York City will be perched atop the new Long Island City apartment complex Solarium, a “green-certified” building opening this month.
Writers will never have to waste time typing up their handwritten notes again once they get their hands on a Livescribe Pulse smartpen. The Montblanc-sized device records everything you write so you can upload it to your computer. It can also make PDF files to post online.
Now you can force your friends to check out your cute kid pics anywhere there’s a pale wall. The 3M MPRO miniature projector, which supports Microsoft Office products like PowerPoint and Excel, can project images and play sounds, yet can fit in your pocket. The projector has 1GB of memory built in, plus a 2GB interchangeable micro SD card for extra storage.
There are plenty of gadgets that help you do things better—exercise, manage your time, diet—but only Zeo’s Personal Sleep Coach helps you get better shuteye. Strap a small sensor on your forehead, and as you sleep, it records your brainwaves and transmits them to the Zeo alarm clock. The device measures how much deep and REM sleep you got, and you can upload the data to MyZeo.com, which helps you analyze the quality of your sleep over time. If you keep your sleep journal, you’ll be sent daily personalized emails with advice on how to get a good night’s rest.
The Quantum Light LED light bulb will help LED lighting emit warmer lighting at a fraction of the electricity use. The new light bulb will marry two technologies: white LEDs functioning as normal bulbs and a new grid of quantum dots that capture and re-radiate light from the LEDs. The dot grid brings the color of the bulb toward 2700k, typically known as “warm white” versus the 5000K daylight white generally found in hospitals and museums. According to Fast Company, the LED units will be offered in a range of color temperatures.
For $99, CarMD will provide trouble code diagnostics to car owners that auto dealers can charge up to $200 to check. After plugging the device into the On-Board Diagnostics port, a green, yellow or red light will indicate either no problems, pending problems or if the car needs servicing. PC World said, “While we’re not auto experts, CarMD seems like a smart, valuable investment. Just having more information on the health of your car will give you peace of mind.”
Verizon aggressively marketed the Android-powered phone as superior to the iPhone. Its ad campaign's clever wordplay targeted its Apple nemesis with phrases like "iDon't multitask." Sexy features include the thinnest QWERTY on the market, multiple applications, and a full PC-browser experience.
Russel A. Daniels / AP Photo
