With all the trending smart phones and smart cars, the military decided that they wanted in on the smart technology and began designing this future weapon with state-of-the-art capabilities. The XM25 rifle, equipped with smart bullets, can do a wide array of tasks without the assistance of other high-tech weapons. Check out the list of different bullets that come equipped with this advanced rifle:

• High explosive burst round
• Armor-piercing round
• Door breaching round
• Anti-personnel round
• Non-lethal (blunt) round
• Non-lethal (burst) round

So now (or at least in the near future) soldiers will be able to better handle tactical situations with a wider array of options. For example, if snipers or marines need to take some prisoners alive, they can easily switch to a non-lethal round to neutralize targets. Or if troops need to take out an enemy sniper that is well protected in a building or behind a hillside, a smart bullet can be fired near the location of the enemy sniper and have it set to explode, removing any nearby threats.

Such future weaponry does not come cheap as initial estimates for the XM25 rifle are set at $25,000. The bullets are quite expensive as well, costing on average $25 each (depending on the type of bullet), which is over 25 times the normal price of typical rifle rounds. As long as this future rifle proves to be effective, I don’ think the military will have too big of a problem with such prices.

Most people wouldn’t expect a car that can go from 0-60 in under 3.2 seconds to be eco-friendly in the least, but the Porsche automakers beg to differ. This future car concept, the 918 Spyder, is supposed to be one of the fastest (if not the fastest) hybrid electric car on the market. This one-of-a-kind ride can teach tops speeds of 200 mph and gets a whopping 78 miles per gallon – double the amount most compact cars achieve on a good day.

This speed demon is charged by a 3.4 liter V8 engine which comes equipped with a lithium ion battery pack that can be charged from almost anywhere, not to mention whenever you hit the brakes as well.  No word yet on the pricing but you can safely assume it will be in the 6 digit field (estimates have been set near the $500,000 mark), and is not expected to be listed for sale on the market for at least another year, probably closer to 2012 or 2013. The bad news is that you probably never will own one of these babies, or anything close to it, but the good news is that future cars will benefit from these technological break-throughs and the overall quality of regular day-to-day cars will be enhanced. Way to go Porsche!

Microsoft has recently announced an impressive addition to their popular X-Box video game system which will replace the standard controllers. Project Natal, as they call it, is the future gaming technology we have been waiting for and has built in motion sensors that allows users to act out their moves  instead of having to press buttons. So if you are playing a fighting game (such as Street Fighter) you will actually have to do some physical kicks and punches in order to defeat your opponent. Project Natal is like a Nintendo Wii 2.0 – instead of having to swing around your controller you can just use your body, and no more worrying about cracking your new plasma TV. This new technology is also supposed to be equipped with voice and facial recognition software, which I’m assuming is used to distinguish between two players and keep track of player profiles.

Nintendo had better be prepared to answer back when Microsoft releases this future technology, or any hope for more Wii sales will be obliterated (assuming Project Natal turns out to be accurate and practical). The new gaming device is projected to be released near the end of 2010, just in time for the holidays, and has been speculated to cost somewhere around $100. There have also been some rumors going around as to whether 1 or 2 people will be able to use the gaming sensors simultaneously, but most signs point to 2 players. Exciting times for us video gamers!

For the past couple of years the world’s top space program NASA has been working on a future design for the very first personal flying suit. The puffin, as they call it, measures to be approximately 12 feet in length with a 15 foot wingspan. The aircraft module would land vertically, allowing for a person to step directly into it and has blades similar to that of helicopters. The puffin concept would relatively light weight and would use electric motors, allowing for high altitudes as well as being eco-friendly.

Now to another note: is the Puffin concept practical for consumer use? Highly unlikely, or at least not for a long time. First of all, this type of flying suit would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, so not many people would ever get to use one, as least for quite some time. Secondly, if this flying suit were to take the place of automobiles, modern travel would be extremely chaotic and the number of fatalities would drastically increase. Any type of mechanical failure or collision with another flying suit would be devastating and regulating travel would be nearly impossible. Yes, the idea is magnificent and I think most of us would like to have an experience like this someday, so hopefully this type of future technology will be able to advance, thanks to NASA.

Now that more and more 3D movies have been starting to come out (A Christmas Carol, Avatar, Alice & Wonderland, etc.) is the future technology of home televisions headed the same way? Can we expect to start seeing the next generation gaming consoles to be in 3-D as well? You better believe it and companies like Sony, Samsung, & Nintendo already have some surprises in the works.

By the end of 2010, Sony already plans to begin pushing their new line of 3D TVs to consumers, especially right before the major holidays. Samsung won’t be far behind, as they have taken some major steps in the home theater industry, producing the world’s thinnest LED TV, and also planning to start releasing TV apps (similar to the apps for your iPhone/Palm Pre) come July. The good news for us consumers is that we will have new technology to play around with and prices for regular plasma/LED TVs should go down and become even more affordable. Just make sure to save your 3D glasses the next time you see Avatar, you may just need them for your next TV.

Bookstore giant Barnes & Noble just announced today the release of their future eBook reader known as the Nook, and they are already taking orders. Priced competitively at $259, the Nook costs pretty much the same as the once popular Kindle, but offers a whole lot more. Check out some of the coolest specs the Nook has to offer:

• Color Touch Screen – Unlike the other eBooks which are pure black and white
• Screen Display – No glare or backlight with adjustable text size
• Share Books – You can share books you have purchased with your friends and family for free
• Huge Selection – There are over 1,000,000 available books (twice as many as the Kindle)
• Wi-fi Capable – Connect to the internet with local hotspots
• Media Slot – Supports Micro SD cards for extra storage space of up to 17,500 books
• 3G Network – Offered by AT&T so you can buy books from almost anywhere
• Customization – You can get custom covers with different colors as well as upload photos
• Free books – There are over 1,000 free books offered to Nook buyers
• Hands-on Demos – You can test out the Nook before buying at any of the Barnes & Noble stores

Barnes and Noble has chosen a very strategized release date, which comes right before the heavy holiday shopping. For those of you who have held off on buying a Kindle, your patience has just paid off. The Nook will make the perfect holiday gift to those who love to read and travel quite frequently. Additionally, you may find consumer product reviews of eReaders on the Consupo website.

With a new wave of harmful computer viruses and worms making the rounds, college students should be more vigilant than ever in protecting their computers, especially when they are on a wireless network. Following these simple precautionary measures can help avoid system vulnerabilities and computer failure.

Install Anti-Virus Software – Make sure you have anti-virus software installed and that it is setup to update daily. Most colleges and universities have a license that allows students and faculty to download the software for free on personal and school-owned computers. Contact your school’s IT department to learn more.

Download OS Updates – Microsoft will sometimes issue critical OS updates or security patches for Windows which are designed to make the operating system more secure. Make sure you download and install them when available. If you need help doing so, contact the manufacturer’s technical support.

Use Strong Passwords – Always use strong password (including letters, numbers, and characters) for all your accounts. This can make it more difficult for hackers to access your computer and personal information.

Be Careful what You Download – A good rule of thumb to follow is to only download programs and software from reputable sources and companies, such as your University or computer manufacturer. Free software that can be downloaded from the internet can contain harmful spyware, which you may be downloading without even knowing.

Don’t Open Email from Unknown Users – Before opening email attachments, make sure you know who the sender is; otherwise you may be opening something harmful to your system. Delete all spam and if a message simply looks suspicious, it probably is.

Backup Your Data – Whether you need PC or Mac backup software, make sure you are regularly backing up all important electronic files (such as photos, music files, important text documents, etc.). If your laptop is damaged or stolen, you should be able to easily access the backups and restore the information.

Logout or Shut Down – When you aren’t using your computer, whether in the library or your dorm room, get into the habit of logging out of your account, locking the screen, or shutting down the computer completely. You never know who can gain access to your computer and personal files in just a few short minutes.

Any well-equipped entrepreneur knows they are only as efficient and productive as the tools they choose to employ.  Subsequently, we’ve got five tech tools that’ll ramp up your fall output and make life a little more convenient (what entrepreneur doesn’t like the sound of that?).

Twitter Tools – If you’re anything like other entrepreneurs and small business owners, you probably use Twitter as a way to promote your brand and build awareness (if not, it’s about time you jumped on the bandwagon and did so!).  There are a myriad of tools exclusively for Twitter that can help you manage, monitor and organize your account on your computer and mobile device.  TwitterBerry allows you to use Twitter on a Blackberry while Tweetie is apt for the iPhone. SplitTweet allows you manage multiple Twitter accounts while TweetDeck is perfect for organizing your account (ideal if you follow a lot of people).

Google Apps Premier – For just $50 a year, Google Apps Premier is hard to turn down! For small businesses that are comprised of remote offices or a virtual workforce, Google’s offering provides apps that can make collaborate, manage and execute projects and tasks in an efficient, timely manner.

Netbooks – If you travel or work remotely frequently, lugging around a seven pound laptop gets old fast.  At a fraction of the weight (and cost), ultra-slim, condensed netbooks (or mini notebooks) are all the rage.  Primarily used to connect to the Internet and access cloud-based apps, you’ll sacrifice certain features and computing power but gain mobility and convenience.

VoIP – An affordable and easy-to-use phone alternative, a VoIP for business system offers all the features and capabilities of a standard land line for a fraction of the cost.  In fact, you can even use your computer with VoIP software and a compatible headset if you aren’t quite ready to shell out for an actually phone.

iPhone 3G – While small business owners are all about a mobile device that can deliver high performance and professionalism, they want a sleek, good-looking phone as much as everyone else.  While the BlackBerry has long been touted as the “it” phone for business professionals, the latest iPhone 3G is on its way to claiming the top spot namely because of its increased speed allowing quicker downloads and Web-surfing.

What’s on YOUR must-have tech tools list?

Imagine being able to unlock your car doors and start your car engine with the wave of your hand. Imagine being able to make all of your purchases without your purse, wallet, checkbook, or credit card. Pretty soon, you may not have to imagine that at all, thanks to the advanced technology of RFID (radio frequency identification) implantable microchips. VeriChip has been developing RFID chips for the past 5+ years with the original purpose to assists doctors treat non-communicable patients, as well as act as a tracking device on animals. The radio frequency chip would be inserted between the thumb and the forefinger, and is about the size of a large rice grain.

There has been much opposition from religious groups and critics who claim that these devices can cause cancer and that such implants are the work of the devil. Another obstacle the RFID chip would have to face is the fear of getting the chip implanted through an injection, something that causes most people to cringe. For now, VeriChip is only marketing to the medical fields, but they say if and when people want the chip to be able to do more, such as pay for things and open locked doors, the technology will be ready to do so.

Nissan has joined the race to create and sell the first practical electric car, and they plan to do it come 2010 -  approximately 1 year from now. The Nissan Leaf, as they call it, is expected to achieve up to 100 miles per battery charge with a top speed of 75 mph. The leaf is a pure electric car that runs on lithium-ion batteries and can hold up to 5 passengers. This battery is estimated to fully recharge within 8-16 hours, depending on the wattage of the outlet.

The target economies for this new future electric car are the United States, Europe, and Japan. The starting price for this innovative sedan will be somewhere between $25-30,000, a price that is much less than its prestige rival, the Tesla Model S which costs $58,000 and debuts in 2012.  Hopefully these new electric cars pave way for making future cars less expensive and less oil-dependent.