Archive for February, 2008

New Motorola two-way radios do game call tones

Posted in Two-way Radios by Nino Marchetti on February 1st, 2008

Motorola Talkabout T9650RCAMOThere are just those times out in the field when you’re hunting any standard old two way radio won’t do the trick. When that happens Motorola wants you to instead reach for your new camouflaged Motorola Talkabout T9650RCAMO, complete with game call buddy tones and pricing at around $120 per pair.

The Motorola Talkabout T9650RCAMO is designed to blend in with what Motorola assumes you are wearing while you hunt: camouflaged clothing. So you don’t potentially scare off your intended Bambi kill when radioing your hunting partner, you can use one of five “game call tones” so you can identify yourself. These tones include duck, turkey, elk, goose and coyote.

Samsung unveils potent 14.6-megapixel DSLR

Posted in Digital Cameras by Nino Marchetti on February 1st, 2008

Samsung GX-20Samsung has unveiled a monster 14.6-megapixel digital SLR which looks like it could make almost any category of photographer happy. It is called the Samsung GX-20 and pricing is set at around $1,400.

Chief among the features of the Samsung GX-20 is a high performance CMOS sensor which can handle ISO settings up to 6400, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, improved sensor-based shake reduction and a viewfinder which yields a 95-percent wide field of view.

Samsung said the GX-20 will be available in March. You can get the full details after the jump, courtesy of ecoustics.

Taser gets into shotguns, shotgun shells…ouch!

Posted in Weapons by Nino Marchetti on February 1st, 2008

taser-shotgun.jpgNext time you go to grab your little Taser stunner out of your purse, think about this: what would even be more frightening to a potential mugger is a grandma wielding a Taser shotgun. That’s right – Taser has announced an extended range projectile to add to your Taser arsenal.

Taser is of course targeting law enforcement with its new eXtended Range Electronic Projectile (XREP). It will fit any standard 12-gauge shotgun and smack you down with “the same Neuro-Muscular Incapacitation (NMI) bio-effect as our handheld TASER X26, but can be delivered to a distance of up to 100 feet, combining blunt impact with field proven TASER NMI.” Each projectile will come pre-packaged in a shell compatible with 12-gauge shotguns and will be transparent so police known which type of ammo they are taking you down with.

Science Friction: When gadgets & Sci-Fi collide

Posted in iPhone by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2008

2008: A Brick Odyssey
“Something’s happening…Something wonderful.”

Microsoft makes Yahoo a $44.6 billion offer

Posted in News by Darrin Olson on February 1st, 2008

Microsoft makes an acquisition offer to Yahoo for $44.6 billionMicrosoft announced this morning that it has official made an acquisition offer to Yahoo for the sum of $44.6 billion. Steve Ballmer on behalf of the Microsoft board of directors sent out a letter to Yahoo yesterday with the offer at $31 per share for all of Yahoo’s outstanding common stock.

According to the letter Microsoft has been in talks with Yahoo for some time, citing a letter in February of 2007 from Yahoo stating that “now is not the right time…”. Microsoft points out that things have not improved for Yahoo since earlier last year and without naming any other companies they refer to an increasingly dominate player in the market (we’re just guessing Google) who is increasing its own dominance by more acquisitions. Microsoft feels that combining forces with Yahoo increases the fighting chances in the online advertising space for both of them.

Nintendo DS lite sound shell boosts audio

Posted in Nintendo DS by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2008

Nintendo DS lite sound shell
Gametech’s Sound Shell DLite not only gives your sound a boost, but it ensconces your DS in a bulky armor cocoon that makes it look like it’s ready for war. It snaps on around your DS Lite and gives it a serious upgrade in the audio department. The bulk is due to the amplified speakers and the battery compartment that powers them.

Still, it will protect your DS nicely in addition to the sound benefits, so I guess the added size is a trade off. It will cost you about $30. Forget the fact that it’s got a sort of…orthopedic shoe type of fugliness going on. I like the concept, hopefully they can streamline it just a tad.

Interactive 8-bit gamer’s Valentine’s shirts

Posted in Apparel by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2008

Interactive 8-bit gamer’s Valentine’s shirts
Are you the kind of couple that dress up as Zelda and Link and hit the convention circuit? Maybe you’re the type of person who can’t get enough Twilight Princess game time in, and when you do, you pick up as many hearts as possible, even if your heart containers are full, all the while thinking about your significant other.

If that describes you and your main squeeze, I have your new shirts right here. These shirts come in pairs and during the normal course of whatever the hell it is you do, two and a half pixelated hearts will light up. But when you get within hugging distance of your significant other geek wearing the matching shirt, suddenly the hearts on both shirts light up until you’re fully powered up.