InventorSpot - Inventions, Innovations and Interesting Ideas for the Inventor in All of Us.

Aston Martin's Lagonda SUV Concept Spies Well-Heeled Chinese Drivers

China.new — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:00:01 -0700

Aston Martin Lagonda Limited, famed for its high performance GT sports cars favored by the likes of James Bond, reckons its future lies far to the east of MI6 headquarters in the garages of China's rich and famous. The super-luxury 4x4 Lagonda SUV is expected to cost a pretty moneypenny and would likely leave 007 shaken, not stirred.

Coin Laundry Calls When Your Clothes Are Clean

Steve Levenstein — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:00:01 -0700

Kyoto Laundry Service announces "Hello Call”, Japan's first coin-operated laundry voice information service. Got things to do and people to see? No problem, your machine will phone when it needs more detergent, more change or more repairs.

Facebook's IPO Morality Tale: If The Green Shoes Fit, Wear Them?

Ron Callari — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:05:28 -0700

Facebook's reversal of fortunes in such a short span of time has played out almost like a modern-day morality tale. The fall-out of the social network post-IPO, after such an enthusiastic build-up was telling. While it lined the pockets of some (namely investment bankers), it deprived the 99 Percenters (or Dumb F*cks as Zuckerberg so adroitly labeled them back in 2004) full-disclosure, resulting in a subsequent short-fall on their FB investment.

Chengdu's Love Zebra Crossing: Street Hearts for Sweethearts!

China.new — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:00:01 -0700

Cross your heart and hope to... live? In an effort to ensure the often bumpy road to romance gets off to a smooth start, the Chinese city of Chengdu has provided a Love Zebra Crossing painted up in lovely red & white.

Self-Stirring Pot Puts New Spin on Stove-top Cooking

Steve Levenstein — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:22:48 -0700

Is stuck pasta your kitchen nightmare? A Japanese dentist has created a stir with Kuru-Kuru Nabe (“Pot Round and Round”), a cooking pot with sculpted sides. Turn up the heat and watch basic thermodynamics go to work so you don't have to!

FCC Takes Transformer Pad Infinity For A Spin

Rey M.L. — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:36:16 -0700

Those waiting for the upcoming high-DPI Asus tablet computer should not have to wait much longer.

Technology and the Future of Payments: Credit Cards and the Mobile Wallet

Gadgetry Inc — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:50:28 -0700

We are currently living in the digital age, where seemingly advanced technologies from the past are slowly being rendered obsolete. One such technology includes those from the payments industry, where advancements in mobile wallets, which takes advantage of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

Calling All Inventors! FridaBaby Wants Your Baby Product Ideas

Myra Per-Lee — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:35 -0700

I'm going to try to write this with a straight face.... The FridaBaby company, which I have just learned of, markets some very inventive and 'curious' products for babies so far. One is called the Snotsucker, which employs a mom (or dad) to suck the snot out of their baby's nose....

Celebrate Lamborghini's 50th Anniversary with Asahi Wonda Gold Canned Coffee

Steve Levenstein — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:00:21 -0700

Gentlemen, start your mornings! In honor of the upcoming 50th anniversary of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., Japan's Asahi Soft Drinks is including one of 10 miniature model motorcars with selected cans of Wonda Gold coffee.

Peak Download: Internet Access Arrives at Remote Tibetan Village

China.new — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:00:01 -0700

A pilot project to provide network services for a tiny Tibetan village has allowed residents to connect to a wider world many did not know even existed. The project, sponsored and funded by China Telecom, also provides villagers with internet-ready computers, Tibetan-language web development and skills training.

Dog Ramen Puts Some Growl In Your Bowl

China.new — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:00:01 -0700

Dog Ramen, an ethnic Korean specialty made in China's northeastern Jilin province, contains real dehydrated dog meat along with instant noodles, seasonings and spices. Hungover Chinese college students thirsty for some “hair of the dog” can now shake off the DTs like a bad case of fleas.

Chinese RoboCop Keeps An Electric Eye On Crime

China.new — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:00:01 -0700

A robot policeman equipped with a CCTV cyclops eye and a navel-mounted panic button is the new face of crimefighting in China. Though fixed to the pavement and unable to chase feeling suspects, the ersatz RoboCop nonetheless has brought peace to the mean streets of Kunming.

Apple To Replace Google Maps With C3 Tech In iOS 6

Rey M.L. — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:00:00 -0700

Though the default Google Maps software that comes loaded on Apple's iDevices is enough for most people, the company is still looking to replace it with advanced, 3D-accelerated goodness from C3 Technologies.

Japan's First Police Cat Rats Out Criminals

Steve Levenstein — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:00:01 -0700

Beware the long paw of the law! Potential lawbreakers in Kyoto, Japan had better think twice before engaging in criminal acts because Iemon, Japan's first police cat, is on patrol... when he's not curled up asleep at the station, that is.

iPhone 'Mug Case' Helps You Get A Grip On Your Calls

China.new — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:34:05 -0700

Tired of being put on hold? Get a handle on your mobile conversations and hold ALL your calls, all the time, with the self-standing silicone Mug Case for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.

To Hood Or Not To Hood, That's The $100 Billion Dollar Question?

Ron Callari — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:58:45 -0700

With Facebook heading into it's historic IPO this week, and valuations some have estimated as high as $100 billion, one's hard pressed to figure out how fashion (or lack thereof) figures into the equation. Even the NY Times' editorial gave ink to the question, "Who could have thought a hoodie could mean so much?" Of course, we're talking about the "Zuck" and his signature apparel.

Google's Autonomous Car Gets Its License To Drive In Nevada

Myra Per-Lee — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:10:21 -0700

You can talk on your cell phone, even text, check your email, eat your lunch, tun-in your radio, change a CD.... You can even take in all of the distractions along the Strip in Las Vegas... if you hop a cab. Or, you can take the Google autonomous car, currently a Toyota Prius, without a driver.

Remote Control USB Cockroach Will Infest Your Desktop

Steve Levenstein — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:48:35 -0700

Just in time for Mother's Day, it's the Remote Control USB Cockroach from Japan's JTT Online Shop! You won't want to stomp this robotic pest into insect oblivion, however: they're 3 inches long and cost $20 each.

Do You Have Enough Klout To Fly The Friendly Skies Or Land The Perfect Job?

Ron Callari — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:28:22 -0700

Klout is to 'personal influence' what Google is to 'page ranking.' While the Big G's algorithms determine the relevance of the Internet's every web page, Klout supposedly ranks the influence of every person online. As a 3-year old start-up, it's raison d'être is to measure influence based on the digerati's ability to drive action.

Coffee Jitters Keeping You Awake At Night? Take A Chill Pill

Toby — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:15:24 -0700

The folks at Think Geek know about caffeine, believe me. How do you think they're able to test the hundreds of weird products they receive every day and then write-up all the clever things to say about them? CAFFEINE! There had been a fast turnover of employees at Think Geek just because of caffeine - the employees, you see, couldn't sleep - at night, at least....