GeekNUZ

Audi Launches Full Integration With iPhone

Audi has announced a brand new music interface system available on their A5, A6, A8 and Q7 automobiles.  The new system will allow for full integration with Apple's iPhone, including hands-free phone functionality, and navigation through the iPhone's music library via Audi's in-dash touch screen.  No news was to be found on Audi's world wide website, however.  via Left Lane News.

Wear Your Kameraflage

Kameraflage is an interesting concept in wearable fun.  It's a garment that displays elements which appear only in digital photographs as a sort of digital camouflage.  Aside from garments, it has great application possibilities in copyright (film, video, print) and advertising.  via Information Aesthetics.  Official site HERE.  [Thanks to Philip Foeckler]

Graffonic: Virtual Spray Paint

Graffonic is the name of the first self-proclaimed electronic graffiti system.  It's an installation piece that employs a computer which detects the paths of light emitted from a lazer pointer.  The track made by the lazer is then transformed into dynamic graphical effects that interact with the viewer/artist.  Click on over to the official site to check out a video of Graffonic in action. [Thanks to Philip Foeckler]

Energy Joule: Track Your Energy Use!

Save Money.  Help the Planet.  That's the slogan for Ambient Device's Energy Joule electricity conservation tool.  It's a small and nice looking gadget that plugs into any outlet in your home.  It receives information wirelessly via pager network, which is constantly calculated and updated by Consumer Powerline.  The screen displays your current weather forecast, cost of electricity, and energy usage.  The idea is to change consumer behavior by letting us know when prices of electricity are high, and therefore when we should consider curbing electricity usage.  The screen changes color from green to yellow to red as electricity prices rise. [Thanks to Philip Foeckler]

Yuuki Spencer Crowned 2007 World Yo-Yo Champ

Yuuki Spencer performed a near perfect routine filled with some exciting tricks while the champ for the past two years, "Mickey" Hiroyuki Suzuki, placed second.  Suzuki's routine had a few stumbles and wasn't as dynamic as previous years, but his superiorly refined style was clearly evident.

Honda, If You Are Reading This - I Want My FCX!

As you may know I've been waiting with bated breath to get behind the wheel of the FCX ever since Honda announced that the vehicle would be available in 2008.  According to Left Lane News, the hydrogen-powered FCX has become the first car to meet government requirements to receive a $12,000 IRS tax credit.  Why is car so cool?  Its hydrogen fuel cell produces water as its only exhaust!  Currently there are fifteen 2002 FCX models in the US being leased to companies and only two (correct me if I'm wrong) to private households.  Rumor has it that the 2008 model will be available in limited quantity and on a leased-basis only.  So, Honda, if you are listening - I want my FCX!  In fact, I just received my specialty license plates for my future FCX this week!

What's Your Walk Score?

Here's an interesting Google Maps mash-up.  The main tenet of Walkscore.com is to help people "find walkable places to live."  Why?  Because walking benefits your health, community, and environment.  Interesting, eh?  (Yes, I was Canadian for four years of my life)  Just enter in your address and Walk Score will calculate a score based on your proximity to important landmarks, such as schools, parks, grocery stores, restaurants, theaters, drug stores, etc.  A final score from 0 to 100 is computed.  The higher the number the more accessible you are to locations desirable for convenient living.  The calculations are based strictly on the number of destinations and the geographic distances.  Factors such as neighborhood crime levels, topography (think San Francisco hilly streets), and inconvenient streets with heavy traffic are not taken into consideration.  Nor are the destinations weighted in importance.  For example, an ice cream parlor is considered just as important as a drug store.  Calculate your Walk Score.

Nude No More

I happened upon a great place to get t-shirts.  The store is called Threadless and their slogan is "Nude no more."  Check out their site and peruse through an amazing selection of unique and hip Ts.  You can even submit your own design ideas!

Nissan Defeats BMW "M" Case

The Canadian Federal Court of Appeals has ruled that Nissan will again be able to use the letter 'M' in Infiniti automobile ads in Canada.  Back in March, 2007 BMW won an injunction to stop Nissan from using the letter, claiming trademark infringement.  BMW has used the 'M' designation to denote their line of high-performance versions of their vehicles since 1978 in Germany (and 1987 in Canada).  However, the recent court ruling stated that BMW could not successfully prove a trademark infringement.  From Left Lane News:

"BMW says the issue does not lie with the use of 'M' for the Infiniti M35 and M45 models, but rather with a Canadian ad that uses the tag-line, "the M is coming." According to Canada's National Post, BMW claims the use of the letter confuses its brand with the "inferior and more modestly priced" Infiniti brand cars. BMW's only recourse is to petition the Supreme Court to hear the case or to reach an agreement with Nissan."

Full story via Left Lane News.

The Top Ten Most Overpaid Jobs In The USA

Alright, so we're doing top tens today.  This list is from DailyCognition.com, a blog about funny and unusual news, so don't get offended now if you're an orthodontist...or a washed up pro-athlete.  Click here for the complete list, along with some lively commentary.  Here's an interesting note: did you know that many of the curbside skycabs at airports pull in $70,000 to $100,000 a year - most of it in cash! [Thanks to Philip Foeckler]