Mark Best » Green Technology

Samsung Blue Earth: More than just a gimmick

Mark Best — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:41:25 +0000

As it does with most trends, Samsung is pursuing eco-friendly cell phones with vigor. It already gave us the Samsung Reclaim, and now we finally have a chance to review the Samsung Blue Earth. …

Originally posted at Dialed In Podcast

Cheetos bags find new life as MP3 speakers

Mark Best — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:41:25 +0000

(Credit:
TerraCycle)

A New Jersey-based environmental firm has developed audio player speakers made from recycled chips and candy bar packages.

TerraCycle is using its large waste-collection program to turn Doritos and Cheetos bags, as wells as Mars candy wrappers, into funky, foldable speakers.

The Frito-Lay Speakers have a 3.5 …

Two-wheeled electrics at the Tokyo Motor Show

Mark Best — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:41:24 +0000

The Yamaha EC-f is an electric motorcycle concept designed for ease of use.

(Credit:
Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.)

Green scooters at the Tokyo Motor Show – photos

Just as carmakers develop electric cars, motorcycle manufacturers also see the writing on the wall, showing off a collection of electric bikes …

Originally posted at The Car Tech blog

Toyota looks to electric car business

Mark Best — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:41:23 +0000

The Toyota FT-EVII is a new electric concept car based on the iQ platform.

(Credit:
Automotive News)

Although a leader in hybrid cars, generally conservative Toyota has seemed uninterested in developing electric cars–until now. At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota unveiled the FT-EVII, an electric car concept.

Toyota does …

Originally posted at The Car Tech blog

OLED chair lights up when you rock

Mark Best — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:28:30 +0000

(Credit:
Design Boom)

A rocking chair with an integrated OLED lamp would in and of itself be cool enough to feature here on Crave, but the Murakami Chair is different. The power to run the light, you see, comes from your own rocking motion.

As you rock, nano-dynamos built into …

Samsung Blue Earth sees light in Sweden

Mark Best — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:39:47 +0000

Samsung Blue Earth

(Credit:
Samsung)

The solar-powered Samsung Blue Earth handheld was finally released to the public today–in Sweden, at least. The touch-screen phone with the solar charger on the back is also set to launch in other countries soon; they are France, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Portugal, just to …

Originally posted at Dialed In Podcast

Cardboard speakers bring art, music on the road

Mark Best — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:39:46 +0000

Artist Mr. Lou created this OrigAudio speaker design, called Cityscape.

(Credit:
OrigAudio)

We’ve seen foldable cardboard speakers before by MUJI and others, but the lively patterns on these OrigAudio versions caught our eyes (or should that be ears?). The foldable, self-powered speakers (no batteries or external power required) come in designs …

Infiniti to build sport-luxury hybrid

Mark Best — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:49:15 +0000

Infiniti's first hybrid will be the 2012 M35.

(Credit:
Infiniti

Nissan/Infiniti has so far only dabbled in hybrids, choosing to buy technology from Toyota for the Nissan Altima Hybrid. The company is really attempting to leap past that technology by going straight to electric vehicles, with the …

Originally posted at The Car Tech blog

Get a free ‘green’ font, save on ink

Mark Best — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:20:26 +0000

The free Ecofont typeface promises to consume up to 20 percent less ink.

(Credit: Ecofont)

There are lots of ways to save money on pricey printer consumables.

You can configure your print driver to output two pages on a single sheet of paper. You can enable “draft” mode to use …

Originally posted at The Cheapskate

Popular Mechanics awards highlight innovators

Mark Best — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:20:26 +0000

On Thursday, Popular Mechanics magazine will unveil its 2009 Breakthrough awards. Included on the list is a series of innovators, as well as a number of products, including this lawn mower, the Hustler Zeon, which is the world’s first all-electric, zero-turning-radius mower. It can cover an acre of grass …

Originally posted at Geek Gestalt