Technabob » alert

Protect Yourself, Safeguard Your Neighborhood with the City Scars Crime-stopping App

Hazel Chua — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:45:24 +0000

How many times have you heard of stories that involved thieves or rapists involving people you know or victims who live around your neighborhood and thought: Hey, that could’ve been me if I had gone home ten minutes later.

Scary thought, I know, which is why I think the City Scars app is a very good idea, even though that’s all it is right now: an idea.

The app has a pretty scary (and strange name) but in a way, it does make sense. It tracks down the scars of the city you’re in (scars being crimes, broken street lights, among others) from user-submitted information and pushes alerts and notifications to other users of the app.

Through the app, concerned users can also share “digital witness” information to the authorities about stuff that they just happened to capture and, well, witness.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via Yanko Design]

USB Bell Dings When You’ve Got Mail

Hazel Chua — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:05:00 +0000

For some reason, I always associate email with “You’ve Got Mail,” that old nineties movie that starred Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Their romance was totally based on their virtual and online conversations, and I always remember that little old ding (or was it more like a chime sounding out?) whenever Meg would get an email from Tom.

A lot of email programs still give you a tiny little ding to alert you whenever you’ve received a new email in your inbox. But how would you like to hear that ding from outside the confines of your computer speaker?

You won’t be able to buy one of these USB bells anywhere, but you can make one yourself. The bell itself is pretty easy to find; if you don’t see any at your local stores, then filch one from the public library or from some hotel or restaurant. (Just kidding!)

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Seriously though, this little contraption might look pretty simple but a whole lot of work went into turning this plain old bell into an email alert sounding device.

You can find complete and detailed instructions on how to construct your very own USB bell from Instructables.

[via Slippery Brick]

Logitech’s iPad Alert App: Lets You Play Big Brother

Range — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:30:08 +0000

Logitech doesn’t just do mice, they also make a whole bunch of other peripherals. And now, they are letting you play Big Brother thanks to their Alert app, which has been released for the iPad. It allows you to see what’s going on at home while you’re gone.

The app works with the Logitech Alert security system, which starts at $300 and goes up from there. The app also allows you to view stuff that was previously recorded, thanks to Alert Web and Mobile Commander, two other Logitech services. The complete system will be able to stream 720p HD video including sound. It’s perfect to spy on your pets or to see what the kids are up to. Seriously though, it could be good to have this, especially if you spend a lot of time at work.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The app itself is free and you can watch a live video at no charge. However, video recording is a premium service that costs $79.99 (USD).

[via Ubergizmo]

Super Loud Bicycle Horn Says ‘Getouttatheway!’

Technabob — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:48:30 +0000

If you’re tired of getting pushed around on the road, this bicycle horn might be just what you need.

The next time a car tries drive in the bike lane, hit ‘em with the 115 decibel blast of the Thunder Horn. To put it in perspective, that’s about as loud as standing in the front row of a Metallica concert. The $12 horn can crank out an earsplitting alert that should wake up even the laziest of drivers and peds.

This manufacturer’s warning pretty much sums it up: “Do not use within 50cm (18 inches) of anyone(s) ears to avoid damage.”

[via GeekAlerts]