light

For those wondering why Apple did not include an ambient light sensor in its latest iPod Touch, a purported e-mail exchange between a top executive and a customer -- ahem -- shines some light on the subject.

Apple news site iDownloadBlog posts what it says is a back and forth between Apple Marketing Chief Phil Schiller and a customer talking about the lack of a sensor in Apple's recently released fifth-generation iPod model.

According to Schiller's message, which remains unconfirmed, the device is "just too thin" to fit one:

The ambient light sensor does just what … Read more

Some people will go to great lengths to foil red light cameras. They may use darkened license plate covers, questionable spray-on photo blockers, or strategically placed layers of mud. All those methods are low tech, but there's a higher-tech option on the way.

The noPhoto is a microprocessor-controlled smart license plate. A sensor detects the flash from a red light camera or a consumer camera. It triggers a pair of flashes on the sides of the plate. Those flashes make the plate too bright for the camera to capture.

Besides combating red light cameras, the noPhoto may also find a niche in Hollywood by protecting the license plate numbers of celebrities with paparazzi on their tails. It would also save people who post pictures of their rides online from endless sessions of Photoshop license plate scrubbing.… Read more

Instead of leaving your favorite snaps to languish virtually, the folks at Ghost Nest have created an interesting way to show off your prized images.

The Geode is basically an oddly shaped picture frame that illuminates specially printed versions of your chosen snapshots. Just send your images in and the company will print them for you. This unique picture frame comes with a rechargeable battery and will glow for up to 6 hours on a full charge. … Read more

TV manufacturer Vizio made a splash earlier this year with the launch of a line of laptop and desktop PCs, showcasing designs that felt high-end and unique compared with the competition. Its latest updated lineup of PCs timed for the Windows 8 launch doesn't change the equation much, but the desktop systems finally get touch-screen displays that they lacked before.

Vizio's new 24- and 27-inch All-In-One Touch PCs add 10-finger capacitive multitouch to their 1080p displays, whereas previously these desktop PCs relied on wireless touch pads and remotes. These new desktop systems start at $998, although deeper specs … Read more

The hedge-fund backed LightSquared isn't giving up on its plan to build a nationwide 4G wireless network. But the path forward is likely to be a long one.

Last week, LightSquared, which was backed by billionaire Philip Falcone and his hedge fund Harbinger Capital, filed proposals with the Federal Communications Commission that would help it satisfy interference concerns and allow the company to build its nationwide 4G LTE wholesale network.

Specifically, LightSquared has promised to permanently vacate the upper 10MHz of its radio spectrum. And it said it wouldn't use the lower 10MHz of spectrum until the FCC … Read more

As Amazon gets set to ship out the Kindle Paperwhite, its new e-ink e-reader that features an integrated light, its chief rival appears to be getting a price cut. At least two major retailers -- Target (shown above) and Wal-Mart -- are now advertising the Nook Simple Touch With GlowLight for $119. That's $20 less than the original $139 price, and the exact cost of the entry-level Paperwhite (which, unlike the Nook, includes "Special Offers" ads).

When Barnes & Noble introduced the Nook GlowLight earlier this year, it had problems keeping up with demand (it later admitted … Read more

Here in Albuquerque, we have a 5-feet-to-pass law. You need to give cyclists that much room when you go around them in a car. It's easy to visualize when you have marked bike lanes, but some drivers push the limits on unmarked streets, especially at night.

If bicyclists carried their own bike lanes with them, it might help alert motorists to give them proper room. That's where Xfire's clever Bike Lane Safety Light comes in. The light uses two 5mW red lasers to create bike lane markings and five red LEDs for increased visibility overall. … Read more