Technabob » telephone

Phone-Line Powered Flashlight: LEDLine

Lambert Varias — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:44:03 +0000

Most of the time, landline phones – remember those? – are still useable even when the electricity goes out. Instructables user art.z shows us how we can make good use of that omnipresent (and free!) power source – by creating a flashlight that taps into the phone line.

Art.z’s flashlight is made of 12 3.0V LEDs. If you follow the instructions correctly, you’ll still be able to make and receive calls on the phone even if the flashlight is plugged in. Art.z recommends experimenting with different resistors to tweak the brightness of the LEDs.

I wonder if you can also make a USB charger that taps into the phone line. That being said, art.z is careful to remind us that tapping phone lines for power is illegal in some countries. Also, even if its perfectly legal where you live, don’t be a douchebag – use it only when you absolutely need to. Check out Instructables to find out how art.z made his phone-line powered flashlight.

[via Lifehacker]

Origami Handset Concept Looks Good on Paper

Lambert Varias — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:39:10 +0000

Designer Chengyuan Wei took apart a telephone handset and discovered that the important bits only took up a small space of the interior. So she thought of designing a handset that was materially efficient and lightweight, and this is what she came up with.

She calls her concept the Origami Handset, although I think it makes more sense to call it a pop-up handset. It starts out as a flat sheet, but when you press on the sides the ends pop up, transforming it into a handset.

It’s a unique concept, but unless it’s made with recycled paper I don’t think I’d like a disposable paper handset to be mass-produced.

[via Weii Design via Bit Rebels]

Portable Rotary Phone Gets Bluetooth Upgrade, Still Won’T Fit in My Pants Pocket Without Drawing Stares

Technabob — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:05:00 +0000

Would you believe this is a mobile phone?

SparkFun’s newly redesigned portable rotary phone ($249.95 USD) has been upgraded to work with any Bluetooth phone. Just pair the “portable” phone with your cell phone, and you can send and receive calls on this old school rotary phone. Even the ringer, analog dial and dial tone work the way you’d expect them to. And since the phone runs on a powerful rechargeable Lithium-Polymer battery, you really can take it anywhere.

Now I just need a portable version of my Batphone, and I’ll be all set.

Gadget Secretary Truecall is Telemarketer’S Worst Enemy

Lambert Varias — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:30:00 +0000

We’ve seen it so many times on TV: the handsome hotshot attorney is inside his office, squinting and frowning while massaging his temples to indicate that he’s thinking of a way to win his beautiful client’s case… and heart, of course. Then the secretary comes in and says that he has a call from some guy, perhaps his wife. And then the handsome hotshot attorney says, “Tell her I’m not here/ I’m busy frowning and squinting/ I’m about to commit adultery.” The secretary dutifully obeys, and the call doesn’t get through! Three cheers for secretaries!

Unfortunately, most of us can’t afford secretaries to screen our calls, which means that from time to time we have to deal with prank callers, wrong number callers and *groan* telemarketers. So we pray to the gadget gods for answer. Rise and rejoice, my friends, because trueCall is here.

The funny thing about trueCall is that it was actually developed by a couple of lads who used to work in the call center industry. I actually worked as a customer service agent for a few months, and all I can say is that annoying and stupid people can be found on both sides of the line. But anyway, let me just tone down the bright green checkmarks and bright orange superpowers of the trueCall: Look at trueCall as the gadget that it is and not as a magical device and you’ll be fine. In other words, trueCall cannot automatically stop these annoying calls without initial instructions.

trueCall uses a simple classification for incoming numbers: it has a list of numbers to block called a Zap list, a list of numbers to allow straight through called a Star list, and obviously numbers which have yet to be categorized. And yes, you’ll have to instruct trueCall which numbers to allow and which to block. But wait! There’s more, because all you have to do is press the # key to tell trueCall to zap the number, or press * to star it. You can zap or star incoming calls, calls that you’re already on and even recorded calls, as long as trueCall has that number, i.e. as long as you have caller ID and the caller’s number is recorded.

When a call comes in trueCall doesn’t ring your phone immediately. If the number is starred then the call proceeds as usual. If the number is zapped then trueCall plays a voice message telling the caller that he’s blocked, and your phone won’t even ring. Nice. If the number is unknown, then it gets a bit tedious. The caller is asked to state his name, at which point your phone rings and trueCall plays back the caller’s voice. At this point you can zap, star, or have the caller leave a message so you can hang up the phone. If the caller remains silent then trueCall simply hangs up on them.

Since trueCall ltd. isn’t paying me to pimp their gadget I’ll just point you to their website, where there are more details as well as a video which will explain things in depth. If at this point you’re already on your knees with tears streaming down your face, screaming, “Hallelujah!!! This is the Knees of the Bees’ Knees!!! The Suffering stops now! Where do I sign?!”, head on to trueCall ltd.’s shop and buy one for £97.50 ($144 USD).

[via Inventor Spot]