Take your eyelashes for a spin

Technological advances in beauty products may one day render hands useless. But for now, women will at least have to hold a mascara brush to their eye, even if they don't have to do much after that.

First there was a battery-operated vibrating mascara that coats lashes and shakes at the same time. Now, with a makeup gadget named SpinLash, mascara has learned how to twirl.

Beauty retailer Akasha claims the product has a stabilizing trunk that controls brush movement, a pressure-sensitive brush that automatically stops when the user pushes too hard, and a control panel that reacts to the user's touch. It also rotates in two directions to coat top and bottom lashes.

Though it might make it easier to poke yourself in the eye (which I can do with an immobile mascara brush), the gadget appears less aggressive than the vibrating version. The makeup device sells on Spinlash.com (two for US$15) and in many local department stores.

Then again, for individuals who aren't afraid of a little grunt work, it seems the promised result of "big sexy eyes" could just be achieved by rotating your existing mascara brush by hand.

Via CNET Crave

Tobacco companies advertise in F1 with barcodes

When the F1 night race revs up in September, don't expect to see vinyl stickers of Marlboro adorning the side of the vehicles. Complying with Singapore's law that no advertising, promotion or sponsorship by any tobacco companies are allowed, race teams have found a way to get around them.

Instead of the usual in-your-face stickers, the companies have resorted to using strips of barcodes for their campaigns. The Ferrari team and Marlboro have adopted this form of advertising since 2005 and we can expect them to do the same when they zoom down the streets in Singapore.

Which leads us to wonder: How are the non-discerning eyes going to spot and know that Marlboro is one of the sponsors? Unless the F1 cars zip into a supermarket, the barcodes will probably remain just as decorative strips on the cars.

Picture credit: Zerotohundred.com

Rain-proof visors for F1 drivers

Besides slippery roads, one of the greatest dangers when riding a motorcycle in the rain is that water spray severely compromises vision. With both hands needed at the controls, the best one can hope for is to ride slowly to the nearest shelter while hoping you can get there in one piece.

For F1 drivers, stopping at the track shoulder for a smoke while waiting for the heavens to lighten up is hardly an option. The recent July 6 Grand Prix race in SilverStone, Great Britain, demonstrated just how important good vision is for fast-paced races. While the other drivers were almost blinded by the downpour and desperately wiping their helmets with a free hand, Nick Heidfeld, behind the wheel of a BMW Sauber, cruised from fifth place to first runner-up, thanks to his rain-proof visor. In case you have a mental image of tiny wind-shield wipers on the helmet, the technology is, thankfully, much less cartoony than that.

Developed by Schuberth, its special visors are made from polycarbonate with a transparent anti-fog coating that heats up automatically during cold or humid conditions. After that July 6 race, more than a few drivers will be sporting the new high-tech visor for future competitions. Considering the wet weather Singapore has been having, this may help prevent more than a few accidents should the weather be unkind during the upcoming night race come September.

Via F1Technical

Hang a BlackBerry Bold from your ear

In your face, iPhone! CrackBerry addicts now have a new way to show their loyalty to the smart phone--by dangling tiny versions from their ears.

And there's no need to fear added radiation from these BlackBerry Bolds. The earrings, which measure about three-quarters of an inch high--are made from Fimo, a polymer clay. They were selling for US$3 (plus shipping) on Etsy, an online market for homemade goods, but they're sold out now.

Maybe the upcoming release of Research In Motion's highly anticipated Bold will inspire the artist, whose Etsy handle is picnicbybarbfeldman, to pound out some more. She has been working with Fimo since 1971 and says she can make the earrings even tinier than the ones pictured--as studs about three-eighths of an inch wide and a half an inch high. Um, talk about BlackBerry thumb!

Thanks to Popgadget for ringing us up on this one.

Via Crave CNET

Benefits add up for water-powered calculator

We really like the idea of eco-friendly water-powered gadgets. Exhibit A: The H20 desk calculator. Add a few drops of tap water to the removable battery and put it back in the product for up to three months of use. When the display begins to fade, just make another trip to the sink.

This isn't the only water- or electrolytic-liquid-powered calculator around, but online seller Solutions notes that the battery in this one can be taken out, stored in a dry state indefinitely, and activated when needed. It can be "re-energized by the addition of water again and again", supposedly lasting a lot longer than alkaline batteries.

The calculator has a standard 12-digit display and takes care of your basic adding machine functions. It sells for US$24.95, which seems more than reasonable if promises of an Energizer Bunny-type battery persistence bear out.

Readers, have you used an agua-powered clock, calculator, or other gizmo? If so, how did it work? Are H20-powered cell phones and MP3 players next?

Via | Source: Gadgetastic

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