New electric vehicle with an unusual form factor

Canadian teenager Ben Gulak has invented a rather unusual vehicle: a unicycle with two wheels. Well, isn't that just a bicycle, you say? Not if the wheels are next to each other.

Powered by an electric motor, Gulak's Uno only has an on/off switch and is controlled like a Segway: lean forward to move forward, lean to the side to turn, lean back to slow down and stop. Segway-like gyros keep you from falling, and because the wheels operate independently of each other, the Uno can turn on a dime.

We have no idea where the kickstand is, and Gulak has no idea when the Uno will go into production; he's currently seeking investors.

funny sport picture

Cupid stunt sends not-so funny Valentine

Security companies are currently examining a suspicious Valentine's Day email being sent to computer users.
The site then asks users to download an 800Kb file that will need Flash to be viewed.

Antivirus firms have already discovered that the software changes the browser's default search engine and drops an unidentified DLL into Windows.

A check on the basic www.valentines-ecard.com URL reveals that the page has exceeded its monthly bandwidth limit.


This raises the possibility that either a company has dramatically underestimated demand, or that the site was set up as a one-off with no commercial intent.

Research by Sophos is also troubling. It has received many copies of the email and noted that all of them direct the user to exactly the same email address.

The domain is registered in New York but the name server addresses are based in Australia (registrations.com.au).

"We're classing this as an unwanted application," said Jack Clark, antivirus specialist at Network Associates.

"It looks like we have the first of the Valentine's Day attacks. I wouldn't touch this with a barge pole."

The company has had many copies of the email sent in for checking from its clients and is conducting further tests.

Gunther Ollmann, manager of Xforce security systems services, said: "I'd be very suspicious of a file that big.

"It could be a legitimate card, contain mass mailing or advertising software or even just be a way of harvesting valid email addresses.

"A lot of e-card companies make their money by gathering valid email addresses from users and selling them to marketers."

Many copies of the email have been sent in for analysis and more information will be available by the end of the day.

mintpass popsicle hard drives store creamy, delicious memories

Yum. This popsicle-shaped hard drive looks good enough to eat. Unfortunately, magnetic platters and circuit boards don’t taste very good. I speak from personal experience.

Currently a concept design from Korean design firm mintpass, this portable storage device is called the “Mint Hard”, which, as it turns out is supposed to be quite funny in Korea, as the word “hard” is also used to refer to an ice cream bar. Perfect – if you live in Korea, that is. Otherwise, not so funny.

Still, the design is pretty clever, in that the main hard drive body looks like the delicious ice cream part of the popsicle, and the stick is actually a removable USB flash drive. And since it’s not made out of wood, there’s an added bonus – no tongue splinters!

The Mint Hard will come in three flavors: Chocolate (120GB HD / 8GB flash), Strawberry (80GB HD / 4GB flash) and Vanilla (60GB HD / 2GB flash). There’s no word if or when you’ll be able to get your hands on one of these outside of Korea, but hopefully we’ll see them turn up sooner or later. In the mean time, you’ll just have to stick with your Good Humor bars.

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