A contact lens case for disposable lenses with a built-in back-lit LCD timer with customizable delay so you know when to replace your lenses. That's about all I need to say about Countact. The battery's built-in, so you can't replace it when it dies after about 3 months: but you all know you should change your case regularly no? Otherwise you'd get a nasty infection which'd mean we'd have to write Giz in BIG LETTERS so your crusty eyes could read it. A four-pack'll cost you $34. [Product via OhGizmo via BBG]

The Gadget: Touchscreen, punch card and lever voting machines

The Price: Free with registration

The Verdict: Unclear.

There have been lots of criticisms of the betas and early releases of the reliability of the touchscreen models, but all that matters is them working on the release day. And today is finally the release day for these super-hot gadgets after an agonizingly-long two-year marketing push, so expect lines as long as the iPhone lines in certain markets. Plan ahead!

We need more hands-on with these, but luckily, they're free for all American citizens today, so go out and use them and then let us know how it went. Take pictures or video if you're up for it. We want a really comprehensive review here, so make sure you use them. They're the most important gadgets you can play with, after all.

The clothing in the shot gives it away, but if we were to see the Sweater Dryer with Fan in another context, we might think it a...well we don't really know what we'd think it was. Heck, even in this shot, we assume the device is blowing air at that sweater. For all we know, the Sweater Dryer with Fan (with an out of this world promise to dry clothing 75% faster than hanging) is really imbuing the garment with a latent forcefield, waiting for the day it's activated by green invaders who will freeze us alive in our J Crew sale items. [Taylor Gifts via Random Good Stuff]

Though it had the pro-end E-3 and entry-level E-520, Olympus until now had not been offering a mid-level DSLR: but now there's the E-30. The 12.5-megapixel cam mixes up the 11-point autofocus if the E-3, and entry-level functions like face detection and live visual effects—"Art Filters"— to please all sorts of users, and throw in an electronic levelling system to banish wonky horizons, and sensor-shifting image stabilization.

It operates between ISO 100 and 3200, and can shoot 5-fps RAW images for around 2.5 seconds. Plus it's viewfinder LCD can pop-out and swivel, making composing shots at arms-reach or strange angles a little easier.

The E-30 won't be out in the shops until January, which'll give Olympus fans time to save up the $1,300 it'll cost for the body-only version of the camera. Shipping at the same time there'll also be an upgraded 14-54,, Zuiko lens which apparently offer better performance at short ranges and in shallow depths of field: it'll cost you $599 separately. [Electronista]

AT&T's bandwidth caps for its high speed internet customers are here. They're conducting a "market trial" in Reno that started on Nov. 1, where users get between 20GB and 150GB a month, depending on their speed tier. Unlike Time Warner's trial in Beamont, where caps were only applied to new customers, existing customers will also be capped, though they'll get the roomier 150GB cap. If you bust the cap, AT&T will charge an extra dollar per gigabyte.

Surveying the broadband landscape in this country, It's either caps or slowdowns or filters. (Unless you're on Comcast, then it's a two-for-one.) Caps seem like the lesser of the three evils, if only because they're fairly transparent—filtering and slowdowns are more insidious, since you might not be immediately aware it's happening. They're essentially legitimized forms of sabotage. Verizon is the only major ISP leaving traffic totally unfettered, but I wonder how long that will last.

AT&T is conducting a market trial in Reno, Nevada to evaluate a usage-based model that could potentially help address today’s trend of explosive bandwidth usage. The trial may be extended to one other market by the end of the year.

Beginning Nov. 1, 2008, new AT&T High Speed Internet customers in Reno will receive a bandwidth usage amount ranging from between 20 Gigabytes (GB) and 150 GB, depending on their broadband speed tier. Later this year, existing AT&T High Speed Internet customers in Reno will become a part of this trial if their monthly usage exceeds 150 GB in one month. These customers will receive a usage amount of 150 GB per month.

Once they're a part of the trial, customers will receive a one month grace period the first time usage is exceeded. Thereafter, customers will be charged $1 for every GB over their determined usage amount. All customers in the trial will receive a bandwidth measuring tool so they can track their usage. We will let all impacted customers know about the trial specifics at least 60-days ahead of any overage charges. We’ll also proactively let customers know each time they reach 80 percent of their usage amount. We will not terminate service due to customer usage.

We have previously stated that some type of usage based model, for those customers who have abnormally high usage patterns, seems inevitable. A small group of customers are using the majority of bandwidth on our network. In fact, almost 50 percent of total bandwidth is used by just five percent of customers – customers, for example, who are uploading and downloading the equivalent of more than 40,000 YouTube videos or 40 million e-mails a month. This kind of heavy usage has an impact on all of our customers.

This trial will help us evaluate ways of dealing with surging usage trends while continuing to meet customer needs for a high quality broadband experience at an affordable price.

[AT&T]

These simple Mobile Lights by Kyouei Design hang from the ceiling from fishing line to create a glowing kinetic sculpture with the size and shape of your choosing. Each piece is equipped with an LED, solar panel and AA battery backup, absorbing light during the day and emitting it at night. But what's more impressive is that the Mobile Lights can actually be purchased.

Pick up three for about $200....pricing that easily puts that first demo installation into the heavy thousands. That's by no means cheap, but you thought they were just an art piece or concept, didn't you? [Kyouei Design via technabob]

The Office of Naval Research just threw a $1.6m grant at some UCSD researchers, to be used to build a "field hospital on a chip". The system will monitor a few biomarkers for deviations from safe levels, at which point it will automatically medicate its wearer. While the military hopes that such a device could provide first aid to wounded soldiers, the technology could also find plenty of practical uses in medicine, especially for doling out insulin to diabetics or anesthetic to chronic pain sufferers.

Anyway, forget about the olds — the military applications are what's exciting about this. Take a current soldier's body armor, night vision goggles and communications equipment, throw in an automatic medical treatment unit and voila! You've basically got Gordon Freeman's HEV suit. There is no indication that the suit will make the satisfying "uhhuummuhhuummuhhuumm" sound like Mr. Freeman's, but there's no indication that it won't, either. [Medgadget]

In a long-awaited refresh to their tablet lines, Fujitsu has announced considerable upgrades for its U and P series. The comically small 5.6" U820, following in the dainty footsteps of the U810, gets improved battery life, GPS, a super-sharp WSXGA touchscreen and a 1.6GHz Atom processor, somehow weighing in at just over 1.3lbs. The U series starts at $1,049. For people with human-sized fingers, the P1630 8.9in convertible. netbook packs a 1.20 GHz Core 2 Duo, built-in accelerometer, 64GB SSD option and a steep base price of $2,179. Press releases after the jump. [Fujitsu]

LifeBook U820 mini notebookBuilt-in GPS receiver and integrated Garmin Mobile(R) PC software – preloaded with maps of the U.S. and Canada, millions of destinations and points of interest, turn-by-turn directions, and route planning.

Lighter weight starting at 1.32 pounds.

Powered by the Intel(R) Centrino(R) Atom(TM) Z-series processor which supports lower power consumption, fewer chips, VT Technology and integrated support for 1080p HD video decode.

An additional row of keys and a new overall layout of the keyboard to more closely simulate a standard QWERTY keyboard.

Maintains security features including fingerprint sensor and BIOS lock, and adds a Kensington lock slot to deter physical theft.

Now offers up to 7.5 hours of battery life(3) with four-cell battery or 3.5 hours(3) with new 2-cell battery option.

Hard disk drive up to 120GB or solid state drive up to 64GB.

Improved screen resolution with WXGA display.

Enhanced video quality with 1.3 mega-pixel (640x480) resolution webcam

Priced starting at $1,049(1) for a base configuration. Users can choose from a recommended configuration, or they can customize their LifeBook U820 mini notebook using the Fujitsu Configure To Order (CTO) program. Available immediately through the Fujitsu website and select retailers/e-tailers(2).
Pre-installed with Windows Vista(R) Business or Home Premium, offering plenty of power to work, access an office network, check email, conduct video conferences, watch downloaded movies, listen to MP3 files, play games, browse the Internet, play games, take pictures or stay connected with family and friends.

Convertible form factor offers keyboard, touch or pen input.

Zoom utility for easier viewing.

Integrated Bluetooth wireless technology.

Stay connected on the go with Atheros XSPAN(R) wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g/draft-n) or optional wireless broadband (coming by Q1 2009).

LifeBook P1630 feather-light and compact convertible notebookImproved performance and battery life from the latest Intel(R) Centrino(R) 2 processor technology with dual-core Intel(R) Core(R) 2 Duo SU9300 Ultra Low Voltage Processor and Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 5300 (802.11a/b/g/draft-n).

Up to 6.15 hours(4) with the high-capacity battery option — an hour longer than its predecessor.

Optional wireless broadband (coming in the first quarter of 2009).

Webcam with 1.3 mega-pixels (640 x480) resolution.

Priced starting at $2,179(1) for a base configuration. Users can choose from a recommended configuration, or they can customize their LifeBook P1630 convertible tablet PC using the Fujitsu Configure To Order (CTO) program. Available immediately through the Fujitsu direct sales force, website and channel partners and select retailers/e-tailers(2).

Compact convertible tablet PC, weighing only 2.2 pounds with an 8.9-inch WXGA touch-sensitive widescreen display with a high contrast ratio and exceptional viewing angle.

Top and bottom magnesium-alloy exterior for extra durability and protection
Solid state drive option.

Advanced security with Fujitsu Portshutter(TM) data-leak-prevention software, and built-in biometric fingerprint swipe with pre-boot authentication (PBA).

Optional integrated Bluetooth wireless technology.

The picture pretty much says it all, but the coolest part about the Lifebook N7010 is the 4-inch, 480x272 pixel touchscreen integrated into the keyboard area. Its most notable function is that it works as an app launcher, but according to Fujitsu's Paul Moore, you can use it as a second (really small) screen, with the ability to drag whatever you want down to the second screen like any other external monitor. Aside from the app launcher, its intended to be used as a CD/DVD control panel, or as a photo viewer.

Secondary screen aside, the N7010 happens to be a full featured laptop with a 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor, 16-inch 16:9 LCD, Blu-ray ROM drive, HDMI-out and a trackpad that supports multitouch gestures. Other specs include up to 4GB RAM, 256 MB ATI HD 3470 video card, SD card reader, 1.3 MP Camera, eSATA port, Bluetooth and 802.11N wi-fi. Battery life is rated around 2.5 hours and hard drives come as big as 320 GB.

It should be noted that the N7010's secondary screen isn't connected in any way to Windows Vista Sideshow, and the feature is considered to be an industry first for laptops. The N7010 will begin shipping on November 10 and will start at $1500 on the Fujitsu website. [Fujitsu]

The picture pretty much says it all, but the coolest part about the Lifebook N7010 is the 4-inch, 480x272 pixel touchscreen integrated into the keyboard area. Its most notable function is that it works as an app launcher, but according to Fujitsu's Paul Moore, you can use it as a second (really small) screen, with the ability to drag whatever you want down to the second screen like any other external monitor. Aside from the app launcher, its intended to be used as a CD/DVD control panel, or as a photo viewer.

Secondary screen aside, the N7010 happens to be a full featured laptop with a 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor, 16-inch 16:9 LCD, Blu-ray ROM drive, HDMI-out and a trackpad that supports multitouch gestures. Other specs include up to 4GB RAM, 256 MB ATI HD 3470 video card, SD card reader, 1.3 MP Camera, eSATA port, Bluetooth and 802.11N wi-fi. Battery life is rated around 2.5 hours and hard drives come as big as 320 GB.

It should be noted that the N7010's secondary screen isn't connected in any way to Windows Vista Sideshow, and the feature is considered to be an industry first for laptops. The N7010 will begin shipping on November 10 and will start at $1500 on the Fujitsu website. [Fujitsu]