Brian Berris
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

Here comes another home made car PC. I can see this becoming a big trend for the tech savvy. This particular project breaks away from the traditional car PC in several different ways:

• It’s not permanently mounted in the car.
• It doesn’t require (many) special parts or equipment.
• It doesn’t seem to overheat in hot weather, and fans run quiet.
• It’s not an electricity hog, and won’t drain the battery.
• It fits in a tiny car with a weak electrical system.
• It doesn’t use a DC-DC converter.
• It doesn’t require a screen (for basic functions).
• The system is about as cheap as a desktop computer.

With less requirements, this PC actually has very similar functionality as the “Linux Based Car PC” I posted about earlier in the month.

• Pinpoint my location on a detailed map.
• Plot way-points on the same map.
• Play MP3’s, videos, games, etc.
• Function as a file server, with only power and USB WiFi connected.
• Function as a streaming security cam, with USB camera added.
• Scan for WiFi signals, with or without a screen (audio output).
• Function as a jukebox without a screen.
• Anything else a computer can do, anywhere it can get power.

If your exploring the idea of adding a computer to your car be sure to check this project out.
Source: Hackaday.com

By “Oldster” - Guest Reviewer, RealTechNews

Alice Note: I asked Oldster to weigh in because he was the first to download and test out the IE7 beta. He called a it a “Big Yawn.” Here’s why:

“The “yawn factor” of IE7 comes from the fact that it has the usual soft, mushy feel of the “old” IE, likely because of bloated code, and really doesn’t offer anything that FireFox hasn’t had all along in the form of extensions that the user can choose rather than being force fed. Microsoft has always had the policy of making the user’s decisions, almost always to the detriment of the user. IE7 is not an excepton.

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By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

I interrupt our tech coverage this weekend with a plea to all the bikers out there. As many of you know, I drive a scooter to work. A massive Honda Helix.

Lately, it has been acting weird when I brake and I took a look at the brake fluid level reservoir indicator which looks empty to me and the lid said ” Use DOT 5 brake Fluid ONLY.” Three auto parts store later and I can’t find it anywhere.

So my question/plea: What on earth is DOT5, do I really need it for Helix scooter, will I die in a fireball if a continue to ride with low fluid? Help!

By John Tintle
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

During my travels around the glorious Internet, I ran across OpenDomain.org. OpenDomain offers free use of domain names for individuals or groups. OpenDomain does not sell or transfer the domain to you but allows you to use their extra domains. From their website:

Open Source Domains for FREE
We have many domains that are planned for future development, that due to time constraints, we are unable to use at this time.
We are firm believers of the internet mantra of sharing and Open Source, so we would like to provide their use to a responsible group.
NOTE: This is NOT an offer to sell any domain. We can NOT transfer any domains to you.
You may USE any domain for any purpose, and keep any profit
There is NO charge for this. All we ask are few simple TERMS

OpenDomains Terms of Use:

1. The domain should be used by a group most closely associated to the context of its name
2. The domain must be actively marketed
1. Periodic content changes
2. Regular submission to search engines

3. Only one domain may be used per group
4. We would like a link on all pages
5. NO Pop-ups
6. NO automatic re-direction to other sites
7. NO objectionable content
1. No adult material
2. No defamatory comments
8. NO SPAM

John Says: While I think this idea has some merit, I just can’t help but wonder, what happens if the site becomes extremely popular? Will they hold your(their) domain for hostage, and kill off your website if you don’t pay the ransom? Anyway I thought this was a novel idea and needed to be shared.

For a list of OpenDomain’s free domains click here

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

Let’s all take this simple quiz. What does the image on the right say to you:
——————-
a) I just keep this warm and then my spouse takes a turn while I fly around looking for food.

b) Can someone bring me a roll of toilet paper?

c) I just don’t understand why I am passed over for promotion every time.

d) all of the above
——————–

Well, believe it or not the Egg Chair is real, or make that really, a really real ugly chair. I know that having the right chair makes all the difference, and we all remember the Aeron chair as the symbol of dot com excess, but this one is just stupid. Source: Gizmodo

For a look at another ergonomic loser: check out the standing office chair.

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

Fuel cells are hot. We wrote about the Hydrogen-powered fuel cell motorcycle, and it caused a fury of interest. But everyone knows that the THE holy grail of fuel cells (next to cars perhaps) is the battery problem most laptop and cell phone owners face. We can’t take the charging and re-charging.

Today, there’s word of a laptop fuel cell battery from UltraCell that offers twice the density of lithium ion and available in 2006. Only catch: it looks like one of those heavy Sears car batteries. With a name like UltrCell25, my guess is what, 25 pounds!

“UltraCell’s reformed methanol fuel cell, or RMFC, technology uses a micro reformer to generate fuel-cell-ready hydrogen from a highly concentrated methanol solution. The new portable power system has the density of a hydrogen fuel cell but uses readily available, low-cost methanol fuel in a compact package.” Source: Gizmodo quoting News.com

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

One of the first games I ever played was the console classic “Duck Hunt.” The Nintendo NES system I purchased came with a copy of Super Mario (I still LOVE that game) a copy of Duck Hunt and a bright orange gun.

One of the most popular stories we posted was the online version of Duck Hunt you can play anytime on the Web. Click Here.

But today we found some crazy DIY gamers who took apart the Duck Hunt gun and made a sniper rifle for even better gaming accuracy. What I wouldn’t give to play this on my big screen TV. Here’s the How-To from G4Tv via Make Blog. (PS: We love you Gizmodo!)

Click More below:
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By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

Either we’re still reeling from the Egg Chair, or this is just a day for odd looking Egg shaped Gadgets, in this case, it’s a docking station for your Sony Ericsson W800i cell phone. Now you can charge your cellie and blast some MP3s in full retro orange 70’s style. Source: Mobile.brando.com.hk via the Gadget Blog

Note: the Gadget Blog is from our contributor Colbert Low!