While the official announcement isn’t expected until later this afternoon’s keynote speech at Macworld, details of the newest Apple product have already leaked out. The MacBook Wheel is expected to become available to buy within three to 15 months, and while the $2,600 price tag might be considered steep by some, the revolutionary new Hummingbird battery assembly should see it find favour with a new generation of Apple customers:

[The Onion]

Apple fanboys are currently experiencing loss of appetite and multiple wet dreams in the twilight hours, as the legendary MacWorld event in San Francisco gears up to launch on Monday. In years gone by, it’s been here that Steve Jobs has announced revolutionary new gadgets in the Apple range, accompanied by cheering, hollering and that incessant, inane whooping only Americans seem capable of.

At such times a rumour mill doesn’t seem adequate, and the internet instead employs a rumour nuclear generator to kick out snips and bytes of gossip concerning what Apple could be launching. In recent days there’s been plenty of scuttlebutt concerning an iPhone Nano, but now Electric Pig has gone and muddied the waters further with talk of a MacBook Nano.

Given that Jobs himself dismissed the notion of a netbook-style device at his last keynote speech, it seems unlikely to happen. Still it’d be a tremendous credit-crunching way to extend the MacBook range, and deliver a heavy blow to ASUS and the like. More pointless speculation or a real possibility? We’ll know for sure on Monday. Until then, back to the cold showers and flicking through old copies of Mac User stashed under the mattress.

[Electric Pig]

It’s the rumour that nobody believes yet it just won’t quit, dammit; is Apple about to announce the launch of an iPhone Nano?  In fact it’s already available, according to Apple Insider - if you live in Thailand and aren’t savvy enough to spot a fake:

Meanwhile, adding fuel to the fire that an official product will be launched shortly, is manufacturer Vaja. Their online store sells leather cases for a wide variety of electronic goods, and there in the menu is an option for the iPhone Nano, which leads to an enquiry form.

Since manufacturers are likely to receive advance warning of new lines in order to fulfill demand for accessories, is this yet further proof the iPhone Nano is coming soon? Or simply a marketing ploy to cash in on the unfounded gossip?

[Apple Insider] [Mac Rumours]

Sony don’t do cheap - their name affords them a sufficiently inflated price tag, and always has. So what are the odds that they’re about to jump on the current budget netbook bandwagon? Slim-to-none we’d say, but folk on the other side of the world are getting very excited about the company’s latest email marketing.

Sony’s Japanese website is currently showing a video for a “new VAIO mobile” due to launch soon:

The dimensions of the product aren’t a million miles away from Sony’s C1VN Picturebook, a small yet perfectly formed netbook-style laptop first available around eight years ago (and also the same laptop a Nigerian scammer nearly tricked me out of in 2005, continuity fans).

As The Register speculates, it’s more likely that the new product is a revamped souped-up Picturebook than a genuine entry into the netbook market; nobody can envisage Sony putting a budget price tag on any kit wearing the VAIO badge. If the model is the height of a seven year-old, it’s possible that within the package is a new PSP-style handset. We’ll wait and see.

[Register Hardware]

The iPhone. Truly deserving of the title the Jesus phone. Perfection in all ways. Except one: it’s not a very good phone. Specifcally, you need to charge it daily. On the road, away from home? Best buy yourself a second charger if you want to go wild and make calls on it.

No doubt Apple will get around to addressing the issue around the same time the Four Horsemen make an appearance. Until then, the world will just have to rely on PhD students with too much time on their hands.

Atif Shamin, studying at Carleton University in Canada, has had at the innards of his iPhone and done away with all those old fashioned wires, the primary cause of power loss. Replacing them is a micro-transmitter that wirelessly connects the circuit board and the antennae, increasing power efficiency by a factor of 12.

That’s battery life sorted for the next iPhone update. Next on the list - making a telephone call that ends when you decide, not the phone.

[SlipperyBrick]

Apple are such spoilsports sometimes. There you are, a cleverclogs graphic designer with far too much time on your hands, who develops a novelty way for iPhone users to enjoy some mild titillation:

Alas, iBoobs is likely to be nothing but a YouTube demonstration for the time being, because Apple has denied it access to the iPhone Apps Store. But frankly, did you expect anything else?

[Gizmodo]

Fed up of buying your train tickets over the station counter from some trussed-up overweight pig of a housewife in lipstick and high heels? Unable to get some screentime with your laptop to book your journey online? Never fear! The rail industry is slowly chugging into the 21st century - next stop, mobile phones.

According to Mobile Industry Review, the Association of Train Operating Companies (which represents all UK rail operators) has introduced an industry-wide mobile ticketing standard based on 2D barcodes. It means that rail operators are now able to sell mobile tickets which can be used on other rail operator’s networks.

All sorts of problems have plagued the route of mobile ticketing, including security issues and ease of use, plus the need to develop a barcode that displayed on normal screens and not just smartphones. The new barcode standard works on 9 out of 10 mobile handsets - that’s to say any mobile phone with a colour screen or that’s been introduced in the last five years. Though if you’re still using a handset from 2003, you probably won’t be all that keen to buy tickets through your mobile.

How does all this spanking-new techno-ticketry look, then? Well, a little like your Acorn Electron has crashed, to be honest:

Next on the rail industry’s to-do list: brewing a reasonable cup of coffee in the buffet car, and stopping the toilets running out of water before reaching their destination. Gag.

[Mobile Industry Review]

If you were mindstaggered by Paul’s post from last week that showed how a nightclub could be powered just by dancing, say hello to the next cool source of energy – the solar-powered sunglasses.

It’s one of those ‘surely someone’s already done that?’ ideas, but apparently not. Until designers Hyun-Joong Jim and Kwang-Seok Jeong got on the scene that is. They’re claiming that the sun’s rays can be converted into enough energy to recharge an mp3 player or mobile phone.

We’re not completely sure about the look of the actual shades – if they can custom-build us a pair like Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera used to wear circa 1973 (right) then we’ll have some.

If thanks to your procrastinating alter-ego you’ve missed Saturday’s deadline for getting your pressies out in time for Christmas, Vodafone’s new pre-pay mobile broadband modem may be worth a last minute look.

The new Vodafone USB modem is gift-friendly at £39, cutting 3’s Pay As You Go Modem by a tenner. 1GB of allowance will cost £15, which does cost a fiver more than on 3…

The upside is this: unlike 3’s 30 day limit, the 1GB topup has no expiry date. So for low web usage people, the 1GB top up may last them through to Easter and generate some late christmas cheer.  

In addition, if you order by tomorrow Monday, you should get it before the big day.  According to the Vodafone site:

We’ll always try our best to deliver everything the next working day. If we can’t manage that, your order should arrive within 2-4 working days. Buying a present? Order by 22 December and we’ll aim to have everything with you before Christmas Day.

Vodafone reckons a £15 1GB top up will provide close to 30 hours of solid web surfing.   What about speeds?  Apparently, it should be around the same as 3, at an official 3.6Mbps (1-2 Mbps in the real world).

You can top up with a voucher, or by calling 08080 101238. The TopUp and Go modem is also available in store, and you can also order online via the link below.  In fact, I wish I could cancel my 3 mobile broadband contract now and swap over!

[vodafone]

Worst. MP3 player. Ever. Did they stop to consider the design for this, even for a second? This, ladies and gentlemen, is the iCap. Before we point out the blatantly obvious security concern, behold this thing of beauty / horror for a moment:

Gorgeous, isn’t it? A generic cap with a thick lump of plastic knocked through the front. Always wanted to look like you might have metal plates in your skull? This is the next best thing. Aesthetics aside, there are plenty or reasons reasons why you should consider looking a prize twat by wearing one of these monstrosities:

They you go. Wear an iCap, because if you wear headphones, YOU WILL DIE. If you’re not hit by a bus, YOU WILL BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. And YOU WILL GO DEAF. And SATAN WILL POUR LIQUID DEATH INTO YOUR SOUL. And you’ll probably develop gills like Doug McClure* in the 1978 classic Warlords of Atlantis. You poor bastards.

So. Wearing an iCap is scientifically proven to extend your life**. What do we think is so wrong with it? Well, unless the pictures are missing some sort of chin strap, isn’t this the easiest MP3 player in the world to steal? It’s a device that can be picked off your head from behind. Maybe that’s why it only looks appealing to people who aren’t allowed to leave the house unaccompanied.

[LikeCOOL]

* actually, I can’t remember if Doug McClure did develop gills or whether that was the other slaves. Help me out here.

** not actually scientifically proven, fact fans

It’s a concept we at Bitterwallet are describing as mindstaggering, because something like this requires that a totally new word be created for the occasion.

It’s an invention that could save the world, end mankind’s dependency on non-renewable energies, cost nothing to produce and see a new law passed that requires every household to own a copy of C & C Music Factory’s seminal 1990 album Gonna Make You Sweat:

[ballerhouse.com]

The Economist recently published an article on Netbooks, suggesting that users should ‘avoid the temptation’ to go for a Windows-based netbook, and in particular, to treat your netbook simply as a ‘mini laptop’. Their perspective is that in order to run Windows and win apps efficiently, you might as well just buy a small laptop.  The recommendation was to stick to a Linux based netbook, with a focus on pre-installed software that can manage your daily common tasks. 

With most netbooks in the £150 range, such as the most basic version of the ever so popular Acer Aspire One (which I have myself) for a mere average of £179 in the UK (or less if you search HUKD), The Economist suggests that the "8 gigabytes (GB) of flash storage and 512 megabytes of RAM… is perfectly adequate to run the customised version of Linux that comes pre-installed on it…" They also rated Open Office to be easier to use than MS Word, stating that it has ‘no compatibility problems’.

Now from an ‘economical’ viewpoint (it is THE Economist, after all), are those specs ‘adequate’ for what the majority of us want with our Netbooks? How many of you have bought one that came pre-installed with Linux, and actually wished in hindsight that you paid the extra £40-£50 and got an XP version with a 120GB HDD instead, or a larger screen? And for those of you who think ‘Linux Rocks’, why?

[The Economist]

I’ve had plenty of great ideas for products in my time. My best was probably Wine For One. As a young gentlemen in my late teens, I was troubled by the bottles of vino I never quite managed to finish. I therefore proposed to establish a business that sold a selection of fine wines in 500ml bottles, meaning one could enjoy a bottle by themselves and save money, too.

Now in my thirties, I realise that once the novelty of working for a living wears off, the debt’s mounted up and  any aspirations you once had have been trampled to death, then polishing off a couple of bottle of red a night is straight forward enough. And who wants to be seen buying a wine for one? You might tattoo LONELY on your forehead and buy food for the cats while you’re at it.

Anyway, here’s another idea, but this is a really a good one. A portable telly. No, stay with me. This is a digital television, complete with a 4.3 inch screen, built-in DVB-T tuner and antenna plus FM radio, SD card slot and USB port. Hooray!

An ultra-slim, ultra-cool, Freeview digital television that fits in your goddamn pocket. Sounds brilliant and far more likely to succeed that some dozy twat’s idea to make wine bottles smaller. Fancy one? £140 please squire - head over to Firebox for yours.

[Firebox] vis [ElectricPig]

A British design company called ‘Concentrate’ launched a rather interesting on Friday - yes ladies and gentlemen, it’s the ‘pre-chewed pencil’. 

It may sound like a story you’d read in ‘The Onion’, but this, my friends, is no joke.  According to Concentrate, the concept of the pencils is to help kids concentrate at school by looking pre-chewed, thus making it less likely for pupils to put them in their mouths and instead focus on thinking.  Company director Mark Champkins said:

"We know it’s daft but just get down to some concentrated thinking and who knows what might happen."

Daft it is, Mr. Champkins, but do the company directors spend their board meetings chewing on pencils themselves?  And considering that the existing pencils made of wood and lead don’t exactly taste pleasant but have not exactly stopped us from chewing on them, how effective is this going to be?  Especially given the fact that  the pencils have the words ‘pre-chewed pencil’ written across them, doesn’t that sort of defeat the purpose?

[via Ananova]

Valentine’s Day may still be a little while away, but love struck couples can really spend all their time together now, thanks to the TwoDaLoo.

Claimed as the world’s first ’super toilet’ for two, the TwoDaLoo is designed with two side-by-side toilet seats with a modest wall in between. It was apparently created to bring couples closer together (of course it would).  Not only do you get to spend quality time with your loved one with every breath you take, but apparently it also conserves water by flushing at the same time.  Sounds environmental doesn’t it, but surely the engineers realised that both toilet bowls still need to be filled with enough water to flush?  Or is sharing really caring?

When couples eventually get fed up with each other, Twodaloo also offers a simple upgrade to a seven inch LCD television and iPod docking station version, so that you can take things to the next level, like watch Iron Man while wearing noseplugs in oblivion.  Nice.

The drawback? The product require a minimum wholesale order of 12 units at ~£1000 ($1400) each.   Not the kind of luxury we can all afford, but arrange them side by side in public with some good lighting, and you get something akin to Virgin Upper Class (without the sushi and the bar, unfortunately). 

[WiseRep] via [boing boing Gadgets]