Now we’re talking… and playing too! What a great place to create our own little World, while socializing with other folks who love to have fun. I only just downloaded the Virtual World of Kaneva, so I still haven’t developed my own opinion on this, yet I would love to hear from folks who may already have experience with this cool sounding Virtual World.

From what I can see thus far.. Kaneva members create the digital version of themselves — avatars — and then meet up in a vibrant, 3D world based on the modern day. Every Kaneva member gets a Kaneva City Loft… their own 3D space… that they can decorate and furnish in their unique style. You can bring your favorite videos, photos, music, and games, and watch them on your 3D televisions. You can invite friends to hang out in your 3D home or meet up in any of Kaneva’s public spaces and chat in real-time. You can shop for the latest fashions or home decor, dance, play games, listen to music, watch TV and movies, and come back again and again to explore and have fun in an ever evolving world full of exciting people, places and entertainment.

Anyone up to a trip to trip to Kaneva’s Virtual Mall? Well, since it is free to access most of the features, I am willing to give it a go and step right into this fantastic sounding Virtual World called Kaneva.

Shall we delve into the future in the world of Gaming? Living with a family of avid gamers, and a lover of Role Playing games myself, I felt that sharing this information would be quite interesting to pass along…

Digital games have become a driving factor of contemporary cultural, social, and economic development. They are enablers of global cultural exchange and serve as entry points for media participation. However, the cultural, social and economic significance of games usually remains underestimated or misunderstood by the general public. In 2007, the City of Vienna decided to host “Game City”, a high profile event bringing together representatives of the games industry, non-profit organizations, academia and the general public for the discussion of the current state of computer games, digital youth cultures and games research. One key element of “Game City” was the Vienna Games Conference, which had the objective of serving as a public information platform as well as an international networking event for game researchers of various disciplines. Due to the overwhelming success of this concept, the “Game City” event and the Vienna Games Conference will be held again in the fall of 2008.

Further information:

In October 2008, the Vienna Games Conference will address issues related to the “Future and Reality of Gaming” (F.R.O.G.) sharing cutting edge research and insights on the future of the games industry, game design, game theory, game culture and education. The conference aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas and current research findings regarding innovative theories, concepts and practice models in an engaging and convivial atmosphere.

Game theory

* Trans-disciplinary methods in game research
* New frontiers in game studies: ludology/narratology post mortem?
* Border cases: transition from games/leisure to simulation/science

Game design and game industry

* Applied game studies: how game scholars and practitioners learn to listen to each other
* Innovative forms of gaming (e.g. Alternate Reality Games)
* Innovations in game design, development and production
* New forms of interactivity and revolutionary game interfaces
* The rise of independent gaming (e.g. casual games, art games)

Education and society

* New methods and theories for game-based learning
* Theory and practice of “new media literacy“
* Possibilities and limitations of teaching through digital games
* The interrelation of games culture, politics and society

Consumption and appropriation

* Professionalization of gaming cultures (e.g. eSports)
* Community building: player generated content
* Games as a new mass culture
* Novel insights into game cultures

The Vienna Games Conference 2008 “Future an Reality of Gaming” will be held from 17th till 19th of October in Vienna. For more information please visit F.R.O.G

Let’s talk about music and water, two of my most favourite topics on the planet! Here is a very cool and innovative way to have fun near the water, and listen to tunes while in the water without worrying about your iPod getting wet. Whether you are in the tub, playing in the sea, splashing in the pool, soaking up the heat in the jacuzzi, or trekking through the rain, these Waterproof Speakers are a definate must have! These babies sport a compact, shatter-proof Perspex body housing two 3W speakers with expansive bass. When the case is open (in the dry), slot in your iPod (it takes any size thanks to the handy spacer) and clip the case shut again. A power switch, volume control and a click wheel membrane allow you to control your tunes in wet environments, be it in the rain, shower or even floating in the pool. Now isn’t that just so totally cool?

Lets look at the Features…

~ A clever, waterproof sound system.
~ A shatter-proof Perspex body.
~ Two 3W speakers with expansive bass.
~ A power switch, volume control and click wheel membrane.
~ A spacer to fit all iPods.
~ Hand and shoulder strap.
~ A pull-out stand.
~ A carry bag.
~ Requires 4 x AA Batteries (included) providing thirty hours of play.
~ Size: 24 x 16 x 4cm.

Note: This is not for underwater use.

I am at home as much in the water as I am on land, and truly believe I must have a bit of water sprite or mermaid blood in my veins. When I find something as cool as this 5 Megapixel Underwater Digital Camera I am totally phyched! Now this is something I just have to get, and very soon. We plan on doing some serious travelling this summer, and hitting the coolest water spots we can find. There is a whole other world under the waves, and I plan on capturing the awesome beauty found in Natures waters. This sweet little underwater Digital Camera not only shoots stills, yet it can also shoot video at 18-20 FPS (frames per second) QVGA, and will take SD cards up to 2GB. A TV output cable lets you play your movies and pics on the box, the waterproof housing is safe down to at least 15 metres, and of course you can take it out of its case and use it as a land camera. Yep, this is definately a very impressive underwater Digital Camera, and would serve to take my underwater adventures to a whole new level.

Features

* A Digital Aqua Pack, waterproof to 15m.
* A digi-cam and waterproof case.
* 5.0 Mega Pixels CMOS Sensor (2560 x 1920).
* 16MB Flash Memory.
* 8 x Digital Zoom.
* A video mode of 18-20 FPS at QVGA with sound.
* A voice recorder.
* A memory card slot that supports SD cards up to 2GB.
* A TV output and cable.
* A CD Rom.
* A driver for webcam functionality.
* Ulead Photo Software.
* A pouch and strap.
* A user manual.
* Suitable for ages 16 years+.
* Requires a USB cable (included).
* Requires 2 x AAA Batteries (not included).
* Size: 11.5 x 8 x 6cm.

This is quite clever, and frankly I am suprised they have not been implemented long before now. Following my last post, it seems only fitting to introduce Bicygnals. These are quite simply a very clever, and as far as I am concerned, quite overdue safety feature that all bicyclists should seriously consider implementing. It stands to reason that visibility, as well as the ability to signal a bicyclists intentions while navigating through traffic, is of highest priority for safety. This is especially important during foul weather and at night, when visibility is dramatically reduced. Most people are more likely to notice these signals, even in their peripheral vision, and react accordingly. Let’s face it… we need all the help we can get when travelling through the dangers and pitfalls encountered when traversing high traffic areas. After all, having folks see you in so very important. Such a simple solution and addition to our safety arsenal whilst biking rates quite highly in my book!

Features

* Wireless indicators and lights for your bike.
* Lights are detachable and magnetic, slotting together into a compact carry case when not in use.
* Super-bright LED indicator lights at front and rear.
* Front switches control rear indicators wirelessly.
* Rear indicators are curved for side visibility.
* Integrated front and rear reflectors and LED rear and headlights.
* An option to have the rear and headlight on full beam or a flashing mode.
* Low battery indicator.
* Ergonomic and adjustable front and rear clamps.
* Complies with Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations.
* Requires 4 x AA Batteries (included) and 4 x AAA Batteries (included).

Now this very cool!! Those of us who are avid byciclists, can totally appreciate any new gadget designed with safety in mind, as well as bringing a unique style to our favorite wheels. Pedalites are the latest cycling phenomenon, bringing visibility to a whole new level. These kinetic energy powered (no batteries, ever!) 360 degree light-up pedals simply replace your boring old pedal. As well as standard reflectors, the pedals have three integral bright LEDs, one facing forwards, one backwards, and one sideways. As you pedal, kinetic energy powers up the LED’s which flash brightly away, and the great thing about these is that this energy is stored in the pedals, so even as you free wheel or stop at a crossing (of course you do…) the pedals continue to flash for up to five minutes! This is brilliant as 75% of accidents happen at crossings, no doubt due to the fact that as bright as your head and tail lamps might be, side-on you make a darn big and dark target for dozy motorists. The pedals are durable and non-slip, simply screw in to replace your existing pedals.

Features

* A set of two 360° visibility bicycle pedals.
* Orange, red and white lights flash from the front back and sides of the pedals.
* The lights are battery-free, powered only by kinetic energy as you cycle.
* The Pedalites store a small charge as you cycle so the lights continue to flash for up to 5 minutes when you have stopped pedalling.
* The lights are visible from 1km away.
* The Pedalites themselves are durable and non-slip.
* Each Pedalite has 2 rows of supergrip studs for safe pedalling.
* The Pedalites screw-in in replacement of your bike’s existing pedals.
* Suitable for ages 8 years+ (an adult must attach the Pedalites to the bike).
* Size: 12 x 9.5 x 3cm (per pedal).

Rather than start out Big on this, my very first Gadget post, I will just have to go with very, very tiny. As we advance technologically, everything just seems to get smaller and smaller. It never ceases to amaze me when I find something that so many people love to use everyday, and size is not a sacrifice for quality and performance. I have found an MP3 Player that is super tiny. You get the same level quality of sound as the top MP3 players on the market that are typically 10x larger and 3x more expensive.

You are not even going to sacrifice storage space either. With a whopping 2GB of storage space, you will become a musical magician as you keep pulling more music from your tiny little box. Your friends will be amazed not just with the clarity and depth of your favorite music but also the fact that the device stored 2GB of music (or about 200 hours of music) in a device not much larger than the tip of their finger. There is more to the tiny device than 200 hours of non-stop music. There is a built-in 3.7V lithium battery, which will enable hours of continuous playtime between charges. It also comes with a USB adapter, making it easy to use with your PC or laptop while requiring no drivers or software installation. There is even a built-in FM radio to allow you to listen to your favorite radio station or keep up with the breaking news.

The most impressive feature is the fact that the World’s Tiniest MP3 Player weighs less than one ounce! The headphones, which are included with your purchase, weigh as much as the 2GB MP3 player as well. You can take it with you to the gym, office, hiking, or any other activity and you’ll forget you are even wearing it save the fact that you’ll have CD quality sound playing in your ears.

Music Formats supported: MP1, MP2, MP3, WMA, WMV, ASF, WAV 7 EQ selections: normal, rock, pop, classic, soft, jazz, bass.

Working with Google, and trying to get a balanced theme… I am still trying to decide how, where and if I am going to add some Google love to my page. I do not like plastering ads all over any space I am maintaining,  so I am quite picky about the placement of any and all ads. Unlike Googles suggestions, I do love to blend my ads, and will only place them if they do not mess up the overall balance of my site. So far I am happy with the color scheme, yet may tweak the positions around until I get them just right. Google has been kind to me elsewhere in my Virtual travels, so I will give them a fair shake here as well. If anyone notices a discrepancy, or an ad placement that looks just a bit too tacky, please do not hesitate to let me know. I shall certainly take your suggestions into consideration.