For those of you who have sent packages through the mail that were never received, you may just find those items online. According to Canada Post, every year the postal service ends up with an obscene amount of what it calls “undeliverable goods,” including digital cameras, leather coats and even stolen wallets and purses that are dumped in mailboxes after they’ve been stripped of cash. While the postal service holds onto the items for up to a year, if the items go unclaimed they are discarded. And, instead of selling the goods to liquidators as has been done in the past, Canada Post recently signed a deal with eBay.ca to auction these undeliverables over the popular auction Web site. The postal service estimates the auction of the goods will rake in over $1 million annually, a portion of which will be donated to charity. Canada Post’s cyber auction is expected to launch this fall, although reps say it may be delayed until after Christmas in order for eBay.ca to install new technology to keep up with the anticipated volume.
Got a problem with your slice? Ask your PDA
You’ve taken the lessons, watched the pros and bought all the equipment. Still, your golf swing is off, your putting is brutal and you always end up in the sand. What is a golfer to do? Implicit Software Solutions may have the answers to golfers’ prayers. The Vancouver-based company recently released pdaGolfpro, a software program that answers golfing questions on handheld computers running a plethora of operating systems, including Palm OS, Pocket PC, WinCE and Symbian OS. The company says the pdaGolfpro has more than 120 long-game golf tips and 80 short-game golf tips allowing the user to search for the right info to solve their immediate problem. Advice is provided by PGA golf pro Andrew Whiley and is designed for all levels of golfers. For more visit www.pdagolfpro.com.
3-D: No glasses needed
Sharp Electronics Corp. says the plain, one-dimensional screen has had its day. The company has developed a new kind of liquid crystal display that offers 3D viewing, without those ridiculous red and blue plastic glasses. According to Sharp, the technology works by controlling the path of light so that slightly different images reach the left and right eyes. Each eye sees only the image intended for it and the brain perceives the images as 3D representation. And, while the need for 3D screens may not be pressing, Sharp’s display is switchable, meaning it can switch from 1D to 3D depending on the users’ needs. Still, the screens may not see the sales floor anytime soon. Sharp is still looking to form alliances with other companies to promote the technology.
New site gives new meaning to lights, camera, action
Online dating has seemingly become an accepted way to make acquaintances. While the Web sites that currently dominate the market offer pictures and profiles of members seeking romance, a new site has taken the cyber dating game to a whole new level. Called DateCam.com, the new site goes beyond the posted pic, and instead lets people interact via real-time video. The site said that by providing live video, customers can weed out dates more quickly. DateCam.com uses Macromedia’s Flash Communications Server MS, a Web development product that lets sites add interactive features to their pages.