Art Lebedev outthinks the room with square Luxofor traffic lights

We can only imagine that at least a few staffers over at Art Lebedev Studios get paid to do nothing but conjure up ideas, because this one is just marvelous. And marvelously simple, but that's beside the point. The Luxofor traffic light concept improves upon a nearly archaic design that still relies on spherical fixtures when there's really no need. Lebedev's team asserts that using square lights backed with bright laser diodes would make better use of the available space and provide a more noticeable signal to drowsy motorists. The roar of "why didn't I think of that?" being simultaneously stated is downright deafening.

ClarionMiND MID on sale in the US for $649.99

Americans have been waiting with bated breath for months on end for Clarion's MiND mobile internet device to launch, and just as we were promised in September, said device is finally on sale in the month of November. Available in black, red or white hues, the MID boasts a 4.8-inch WVGA (800 x 480) touchscreen, preloaded maps of the entire US and Canada, built-in RealPlayer, Linux OS, an Intel Atom CPU, 512MB of RAM, a 4GB SSD, Firefox browser, Bluetooth 2.0 / WiFi, a microSD card slot, 2 USB ports and a battery good for around 1.5-hours of usage. Pop one under the tree for that someone special in your life for just $649.99. Or get them a full-fledged netbook for less, your call.

Purported Dell 23-inch SP2309 LCD monitor leaked, tasty specs and all

We could tell from the past couple of Dell LCDs that the Round Rock powerhouse was moving in this direction in terms of design, but it's the specifications that have us most captivated on this one. We've received word that the above pictured SP2309 will boast a 23-inch 16:9 panel with a wicked 2,048 x 1,152 native resolution, an 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 98% color gamut (NTSC, we presume), 2-millisecond response time, 2-megapixel camera (with microphone) and VGA / DVI / HDMI inputs. We're hearing that it should be available for purchase later this month, though pricing details remain a mystery.

Standard Dell mouse gets GSR electrode implant

Looking to spark up a makeshift psychology lab in the basement of your house? Look no further than the galvanic skin response computer mouse. For those unaware, GSR electrodes can gather data about human interactions with computers, though most rigs are so invasive that test subjects end up freaking out rather than passing on useful information. This non-obtrusive method relies on a device that the vast majority of computer users already use (that'd be a mouse), and by simply installing the sensors into the left and right click buttons, you're left with an analyzing tool that may not even tip off your kid sister, significant other, or your most favorite poker pal. At any rate, hit the read link to get your mad scientist on.

Western Digital My Passport Studio: now with FireWire 800

Western Digital announced a new member of their wannabe-buddies-with-Mac My Passport Studio line today -- it's the exact same drive as the previous Studio model, only this one comes etched with your favorite character from "Friends" on it! Not really: it's got a FireWire 800 port in addition to the old hat FireWire 400 and USB interfaces, perfect for those brand new MacBook Pro owners -- if they have any cash left, that is. The 400GB model is going to run you $229.99, 500GB will be $249.99, and they're available now.

Intel Core i7 benchmarks make Core 2 Extreme look like a washed up has been

Presumably in an (utterly futile) attempt to bring down the power grid all around the Mediterranean, print magazine PC World Greece benchmarked three powerful Nehalem desktop processors -- the Core i7 Extreme Edition 965, and the apparently non-extreme Core i7 920 and 940. Names aside, performance from all three was extreme compared to most stuff currently on the market. The data for number nerds: in 3DMark06 the 920 finished ever-so-slightly behind the Core 2 Extreme QX9770's 4,922 marks with 4,818 while the 940 and the 965 both opened a can of you-know-what at 5,282 and 5,716 respectively. More titillating figures await enthusiasts through the read link, but for you normal folk only concerned that Nehalem wouldn't be fast enough to justify an upgrade (and you weren't), rest assured that it triumphed in this no-holds-barred CPU cage match.