A soon-to-be launched application developed by Microsoft and The New York Times offers enhanced options for consuming electronic NYT media. The reader can be used online or off, and automatically resizes content to best fit readers’ preferences. For tablet PC’s, there’s an option to highlight text on-screen, and add notes (much like Google Notebook), and email or file (and organize) notes! For more information, and to sign up for an invitation to try the beta, click here. [Thanks, Richard MacManus]

An emerging painless ozone gas treatment for tooth decay can replace injections, drilling and fillings.

Chumby was created by hackers who wanted to create a different kind of device that can sit on your bedside table, or in the kitchen, or in the bathroom, and can do a lot more than a simple clock radio. Expected to cost about $150, and be available in March 2007, the Chumby is WiFi enabled, has two speakers, audio in/out and a USB port.

The really cool and distinguishing functionality is Chumby’s interface, which is completely customizable and “hackable” via widgets, which you can arrange and select at Chumby’s website when the device is registered. Options are limitless, including showing pictures, blog headlines, your horoscope, the weather or streaming MP3 music! It’s soft and squishy and can also be customized with stylized shells. There is no keyboard, so it’s not meant to replace your existing computing devices, but it does have a touch screen and even a “squeeze” sensor!

[via CrunchGear]

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Check out this video of the Lexus LS 460 self-parking!

The car also has a Pre-Collision System as an option. Two small cameras mounted at the front of the car, and a millimeter-wave radar, are sensitive enough to detect not just other cars, but also pedestrians.

A completely self-driving car is clearly imminent. Stanford’s Robot Car, which won the DARPA Grand Challenge, is also indicative of this prediction.

[UPDATE (9-13-06):  Chinese automaker FAW’s top-of-the line vehicle has a self-driving system.]

This personal chopper costs $29,900, and travels 55 mph!

For more information, click here.

For FAA ultra-light regulations, click here.

[via futurismic]

Farecast, an online service that predicts whether airfares will go up or down, launched this week. The site uses a patented data algorithm technology to inform ticket purchasing timing. The Company has $8.5 million in VC funding from Greylock, Madrona Venture Group, and WRF Capital. [via TechCrunch]

Siemens has identified promising technologies and consumer trends in multiple sectors, including information and communication, health, transportation, business services, and energy, to discover new business opportunities. The study “Pictures of the Future” is available here.

[thanks, business innovation insider and putting people first]

Heinz’s Talking Labels Service allows you to create custom labels for ketchup bottles! A 14 oz glass bottle of ketchup costs $6.

“BANG HARDER!” or “Got blood?”

[thanks, uncrate]

Having managed the technology solution for jeans fit clinics at Gap, I know firsthand the importance of fit to an apparel consumer. An emerging niche of online companies aim to help consumers find perfect fitting apparel. One company, venture-backed Zafu.com, has analyzed the fit of hundreds of jeans from diverse brands on thousands of women, and when a consumer plugs in her particular measurements, and style and size preferences, the site predicts, with an alleged 94% accuracy, a perfect fit. The site links to third-party sites that carry the jeans.

[thanks, Gary, for the tip!]

An Irish technology firm, Steorn, has placed an advertisement in The Economist seeking a dozen top scientists to examine the firm’s technololgy project, which invalidates one the basic laws of physics, the Principle of the Conservation of Energy, by producing “free” energy via manipulating magnetic fields. The technology potentially eliminates the need to recharge mobile phones, or refuel cars, and offers the potential for zero emission energy production!

[via RTE Business and gizmag]