Taiwan-based company PQI has recently released their Traveling Disks series, called the "H Series". Although it looks nothing like their flashy thin flash drive, the H Series doesn't lag behind in the features department.

The H series members are all Windows Vista ReadyBoost supported. Aside from that there is also a built-in Webaroo offline browser. Webaroo downloads and saves internet packets of the website of your choice so the user could browse online contents offline using a laptop, PDA or a smartphone.

Current models of the H series are the Cool Drive U310H, U350H and U339H. 512MB to 4GB variants are available and aside from the features mentioned above, they also boast faster read and write performances. To know more about these PQI goodies, head on over to the read link below which will take you to PQI's official site.

Now this is something I wouldn't mind having at home - even if my electricity bills would skyrocket because of it. But to quit the wishful thinking session, South Korean company DAHAN T&S has recently presented its 120-inch wide touchscreen display called T-VIEW. The size and directions of its images can be controlled by your fingers.

So now, you could play weatherman for real, right?! That is if the T-VIEW reaches the U.S. and European shores. Although the 120-inch wide touchscreen display is looking slick, there are no info about pricing and availability for now. But if you're interested, keep checking us out for updates, for now, check out some of T-VIEW's images. More images could be seen in our link below.

 

If at first you don't succeed, try again. Cliche as that may sound, it seems that Toshiba is taking this saying by heart as they have recently announced the newest members of their Gigabeat line of digital audio players - the Gigabeat U102 and U202. These goodies would come in 1 and 2 GB varieties. Here, check them out:

On the aesthetics department, nothing seems new. But on the inside, Toshiba claims that they have given it the new LSI (TC94A82XBG) which could provide better audio quality than the older Gigabeats. It plays the usual mp3s, WMAs, and even WMA 10DRM types, plus both will sport FM tuners. No word on prices and availability.

84% of smokers hate the habit, according to a study we talked about earlier. This contraption from Chinese company, Golden Dragon Group, Ltd. aims to make smoking fun for the fed-up smokers and hopefully, this new kind of cigarettes could help smokers kick the habit once and for all.

The Chinese company is currently busy promoting the world's first electronic cigarette called Ruyan. The Ruyan smokes are battery-powered, cigarette shaped contraptions that would give smokers their nicotine fix by giving nicotine to inhalers in a bid to give the illusion of smoking. Apparently, nicotine is delivered to the lungs within 7-10 seconds. Scott Fraser of SBT Co. Ltd. - the company who developed Ruyan added:

It feels like a cigarette, looks like a cigarette, it even emits vapor. In many ways, it is like an actual smoking experience, and that's what makes us different.

This would sell for roughly 1,600 yuan (or US$ 208) apiece. Currently, it is already available in China, Israel, Turkey, and a handful of European countries. No word of a U.S. release has been uttered by the company.

Well, we guess if you pick up the Ruyan, you won't be needing your coughing ashtray anymore, huh?

Yeah, Sony bumped up to the 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, but if the price is still too high for you (it will cost roughly US$ 326), then thank heavens for 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo deals. QJ reader Akaikishi informs us (thanks for the tip!) that Lexar's 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo Platinum II is selling for US$ 39.99 after rebate. Check out the screen cap if you don't believe us.

The deal over at FRYS.com can be accessed via our Read link below. Originally priced at US$ 64.99, you could snag it for 40 bucks after rebate. So if you're not swimming in pools of money and you can't buy an 8GB memory stick, don't feel sad because more deals like this is sure to come our way.

So, what would you do if you're an architect who never has to worry about money (counting 'em perhaps, but not running out of it)? Build a palatial estate of course! That's just what renowned architect Rolf Disch did. He built a Heliotrop house which tracks the Sun. Now, that's something! Disch must really love sunrises and sunsets.

But the house isn't all about looks and aesthetics - it's environment friendly too. Something that would make Al Gore and other environmentalists green with envy. The balcony rail is actually a solar vacuum tube that is used to heat water. The roof is equipped with Photovoltaics that rotate independently to track the Sun - this generate four to six times the energy needed for the house.

Aside from all that, there is on-site composting, chemical free sewage treatment and rainwater catchment in Rolf's estate. This Green house has been Disch's personal residence since 1994.

Since Apple allowed universities to post lectures and other educational items on iTunes, universities have grabbed the opportunity to spread the knowledge. George Washington University, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and Ohlone College are just some of the universities that have joined iTunes U.

With that, a bill was put forward on Michigan recently that includes a proposal to give out US$ 38 million in iPods or other mp3 players as instructional tools for every student in the state. But even if the Michigan legislators mean well, they were still questioned by school representatives. According to Don Wotruba, spokesman for the Michigan Association of School Boards:

My members are telling me they have much more pressing things they’re worried about, like whether they’re going to be able to make payroll in May.

Japanese Hybrid leaders, Toyota and Honda, better watch out. Aside from German and American car makers, Korean automobile manufacturers are also trying to come up with heir own hybrid vehicles. One of those Korean car makers is Hyundai and they recently divulged that they are expecting to ship their very own hybrid cars in 2009.

The Hyundai folks are so proud of their hybrid contraption that they said it's going to be miles better than that of Honda's. For now, the Korean car makers said that the main issue for them is the high cost of producing hybrid vehicles. They also clarified that the technology is not an issue but they did admit that they still need to work on the cost of the necessary parts like the batteries.

Well, there's nothing wrong with some healthy competition. And besides, if more fuel-efficient cars roll out in the future, then maybe our dependence on oil is nearing its end.

For someone like me, who have gotten their cellphone stolen way back, this tidbit is fun. Apparently, Zune's share feature shows off its true usefulness - apparently a stolen Zune was tracked down thanks to the mentioned wireless feature. Zunerama reports that one of their members, scoutflyer, informed them that he was able to track down a friend's stolen Zune using the wireless feature.

The stolen player was still in the school building and by using his own Zune, he was able to tell when he got close to the stolen player. The thief didn't turn the wireless off, so the missing Zune is still announcing its presence to other Zunes nearby. scoutflyer eventually found the thief, he confesses, and it was returned to its rightful owner.

If you can't afford a vacation using Aquanautas' underwater helmet or if you can't create your own submersible webcam and you have some money in your pockets, then this contraption is for you. Vivitar presents their six-megapixel underwater digital camera -  the ViviCam 6200W underwater camera.

The digicam is waterproof to 10 meters, features 4x digital zoom, a 2 inch LCD display, SD card support, and a rubber armored exterior. According to Vivitar's VP for Operations, Eric Cole,

We're very proud to debut this suite of exciting new digital products which we feel announces a fresh take on our long heritage of quality and innovation in the photography industry...We feel these new products affirm that Vivitar, in collaboration with Syntax-Brillian, is emerging with a new sense of power and sophistication that we'll continue to exhibit throughout 2007 domestically and internationally.

The underwater digicam was featured at the PMA 2007 held at Las Vegas from March 8-11. No price tag has been revealed for now.