A Macforums member bought an "as-is" Macbook Air from Ebay and the unit ended up being an early Air prototype. The computer bears a mark indicating it was built in May 2007, six months before the line was introduced.

There are a few changes from the final design: The microphone positioning is a bit off, the keyboard has no lighting, and it runs an interim build of OS X 10.5. The bottom, as shown in the photo above, is black-colored aluminum. Apple has offered no word as to how the prototype unit escaped their clutches.

Man’s quest for the perfect alarm clock has just received another uptick. Anupam Patahak, a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Michigan, has modified an alarm clock to silently (or noisily) open your shades to let sunlight in. The device uses the natural light of the sun to wake you up. A novel idea, to be sure. Click here for Anupam’s engineering diary and a video of the device in motion.

A team of French scientists has created the most sophisticated artificial heart of all time. Built using technology found in satellites and airplanes, the prototype heart uses electronic sensors to regulate heart rate and blood flow. Those same sensors will help patients react suddenly if they need more or less blood. Apparently, it beats almost exactly like the real thing. So far, the unit has only been tested in animals. Clinical trials on humans are expected to occur shortly. The artificial heart has a current price tag of $192k.

Toshiba has issued a press release and a demo video of the prototype of their automated volleyball bot. This bot has been making the robotics rounds for over a decade now and it’s good to finally see some new information.

The bot can recognize spoken commands, react to incoming spheres, identify the actions of nearby people and even spike a volleyball at will. The company has released no word on whether or not this bot would be receiving a commercial push nor have they indicated any other potential uses for the technology.

Click here for the press release and here for a video of the bot in action.

Meet GM’s slapped together Chevy Volt hydrogen prototype. It is live for all to see at this year’s 2008 CES. Check the gallery at Engadget.