jet

Will Valkee's LED earbuds alleviate jet lag?

Finnair business travelers flying between Helsinki and Shanghai will soon have the chance to be test subjects on the effect that "brain stimulation" headphones have on jet lag.

The $240 earbuds, made and tested by Finnish company Valkee, already blast LED lights instead of music into desperate and willing ear canals with the intention of alleviating seasonal affective disorder. (The company has claimed, too, that the light helps improve reaction time--at least in Finnish hockey players.)

Now Valkee is working with the airline Finnair to determine whether the lights may instill a sense of well-being in long-distance … Read more

JetBoost boosts old and slow PCs

Remember how fast your brand-new PC felt? And how quickly it seemed to slow down to "same old"? While hardware keeps advancing, some of the lost zip might be because of resource-hogging processes running in the background, such as update checkers and Windows services you don't need. JetBoost is a free system utility that scans your PC for stuff that can slow you down and shows you where and what it is so that you can decide what to stop.

JetBoost offers three boost modes: Work, Games, and Custom, with specific groups of processes and services to … Read more

Blast junk from your computer with JetClean

Much like our desks, it doesn't take long for our computers to become cluttered with junk if we're not careful. There's a huge market for utilities that will tidy your registry, get rid of junk files, delete broken shortcuts, and generally attempt to give your computer that like-new feel again. JetClean is one of the better options we've tried; it's straightforward, doesn't do things without your permission, and seems to do an especially thorough job of scanning.

JetClean has an attractive interface with its functions separated into five collapsible menus: Registry Clean, Windows Clean, … Read more

HP firmware to 'mitigate' LaserJet vulnerability

Hewlett-Packard said today that it has taken steps to prevent a "certain type of unauthorized access" to LaserJet printers.

The company didn't describe its new firmware as a fix for the potential printer problem. Rather, it rather delicately used the word "mitigate," the dictionary definition of which is "to make less severe or painful." Here's HP's full statement on the matter:

HP has built a firmware update to mitigate this issue and is communicating this proactively to customers and partners. No customer has reported unauthorized access to HP. HP reiterates its … Read more

Surfer rides 45-foot wave on jet-powered surfboard

It's not often that the worlds of technology and surfing collide, but when they do, the results can be pretty epic.

On a recent trip to Nazare, Portugal, big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara was able to paddle into a 45-foot wave--a feat that would be difficult to achieve on arm power alone--thanks to the help of jet-propelled surfboard.

The high-tech surfboard is the creation of a San Diego-based company called WaveJet. WaveJet is actually a pod that can be attached to any surfboard, kayak, or other personal watercraft and features battery-powered twin jet drives that produces 20 pounds of thrusts and can propel the board up to 12 miles per hour. A wristband worn by the surfer allows him or her to control the twin jets wirelessly and also provides information about battery life, which stands at around 40 minutes if used continuously. … Read more

The 404 956: Where the files are IN the computer? (podcast)

Leaked from 404 Podcast 956:

The future of airport security: thermal lie detectors and cloned sniffer dogs. Facebook's most-shared articles of 2011 list shows babies, banks, and brats. Fios is coming to an Xbox 360 near you. Could your printer be a Trojan horse? Researchers say yes!… Read more

Amazon may launch Netflix-like book service

HP launches the TopShot LaserJet Pro printer that can scan 3D objects, Netflix finally arrives on most Android phones, and Amazon.com is rumored to be in talks with major publishers to launch a Netflix-like service for books.

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

Amazon may launch Netflix-like book services Netflix now works for most Android phones GRAIL heads to the moon White PS3 comes to Europe and Australia HP's 3D scanner Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" gets a date Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (HD) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) |&… Read more

HP announces 15 new printers for consumers and small businesses

HP held its annual Imaging and Printing Conference in Shanghai today, where the company announced plans to build out its business imaging division with 13 new printers designed to grease the workflow for small to midsize businesses. Along with hardware announcements, HP also unveiled new consumer features like ePrint Wireless Direct that lets users print with a smartphone without the need for an Internet connection; an advanced HP Printer Control app (PDF) for iOS devices; and a twist on HP ePrint called SocialID, which lets you assign a custom e-mail address that makes it easier for multiple users to print in the cloud.

One of the new product offerings you'll see soon is the HP LaserJet M275 (PDF), a multifunction printer with new TopShot Scanning that's essentially the reverse of 3D printing: the scanner bed can capture a 3D image of any object placed on the top-mounted tray.

This workhorse laser targets SMBs, so it can only hold up to 150 sheets of paper, but it also features ePrint and is fully compatible with Apple AirPrint so you can output images and documents directly from your iOS devices.… Read more

Juno spacecraft poised for five-year voyage to Jupiter

NASA's solar-powered Juno spacecraft, the centerpiece of a $1.1 billion mission to Jupiter, was mounted atop an Atlas 5 rocket today, setting the stage for launch August 5 on a five-year voyage to the solar system's largest planet.

Once in orbit around Jupiter's poles, Juno's instruments will precisely map the planet's gravitational and magnetic fields, probe its turbulent atmosphere and hidden interior and study the mechanisms responsible for its powerhouse auroras, the strongest in the solar system.

"Jupiter probably formed first, it's the largest of all the planets, in fact it's … Read more

Jet pack fails Fox news broadcast

Perhaps nothing even remotely associated with Rupert Murdoch could possibly be funny this weekend. Perhaps nothing even remotely associated with Rupert Murdoch could go right either.

But sometimes, when things go wrong, they can actually be amusing. So here (thank you so much, Gizmodo) is a Fox 5 News morning broadcast from the water in San Diego.

The producers clearly had a great idea. They had their presenter at the San Diego Yacht and Boat Show standing next to a man with a revolutionary aqua jet pack.

They were going to start the show by having Aqua Jet Pack Man take off. So very cute. And then.

Well, and then the JetLev R200 jet pack proved to need a little more rehearsal.

Or, more likely, it was the operator who wasn't quite ready to push the right button when the producer told him he was live.

Whatever the reason, there is something so very charming about the way that John, the man with pack, plummets straight into the water, almost taking the very fine and brave Fox 5 presenter with him.

I defy anyone who can still see and feel their feet not to lose a little equilibrium at the beginning of this video. Clearly, the JetLev R200 is a fine, fun machine that many will enjoy on future summer vacations. Indeed, the San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker enjoyed one a few days ago in Saint-Tropez.

But he's merely a point guard, not someone who has to open what is, no doubt, San Diego's finest morning news show.

And no, I don't believe you can remotely hack an aqua jet pack.… Read more