This simple and rugged speaker known as the Hive Audio System looks like it’s popping out of the ground and doing a bad Darth Vader impersonation. The Hive was specially designed for outdoor environments and comes with a sound tube that prevents the elements from damaging its precious innards, while amplifying sound.

The base gives it added stability, and since it’s wireless, the speaker can be linked to other units to form a “hive”. You know, these guys pride themselves on being the Borg of sound. Cool as the idea is, it’s just a concept. No word on when it may become something more.

The days of working only at an office are long gone. It’s getting harder and harder to stop working and leave our work behind thanks to all of our gadgets. I’m afraid the T6 concept car for workaholics doesn’t help.

Designer Alexander Zhukovsky is to blame should we all end up on the highways working our asses off. It comes complete with all the office space you and your co-workers need. Plus a nice sturdy table so you can have your coffee and get to work. The round sliding door slides up to let the next victim in and closes promptly so you won’t hear the screams.

Looking for a device that does email and only email? Well here’s a new handheld from Peek and it will only handle your e-mails.

Sure, you can scoff and say what the hell is that about, but it may just catch on. Think of the older generation, you know the ones who can handle email but can’t figure out iPhones and such. It’s only real hurdle is pricing, which will be $99.95 when it hits Target next month. Oh, and $19.95 per month to send unlimited e-mails over T-Mobile’s network. Ouch!

AOL launched this morning a Flash-based Web version of its instant messaging AIM service. It is called AIM Express and you need not install any software to make it run.

AIM Express includes as features tabbed IM conversations, status message indicator, text messages to cell phones, rollovers of friend names to see status and compatibility with most popular browsers. The company also unveiled AIM for Windows Mobile, offering functions for phones like the Motorola Q, Samsung BlackJack and many Palm Treos such as status messages, buddy icons and text messaging. It works with devices using the Windows Mobile 5 and 6 operating systems.

AOL

Canon is one of the big names in digital cameras these days. So much so the company announced yesterday the shipping of its 100 millionth compact digital camera.

Here’s a little history from the corporate PR folk at Canon in case you want to remember along. “Beginning in May 2000, Canon launched the breakthrough PowerShot Digital model, which featured a compact body with a stylish design. This model spearheaded the digital camera market’s later massive growth with its easy portability and simple operation, which won over millions of users worldwide.

Following the introduction, Canon released a string of revolutionary products that drove market expansion while addressing the diversifying needs of users: the PowerShot A70 digital camera (2003), which sold more units worldwide than any other model that year due to its superb operability and cost performance; the smooth and chic PowerShot Digital SD10 Digital ELPH camera (2003); the PowerShot …

Sony has been busy. There’s the new PSP and PS3 wireless keyboard, and Sony also announced a 160GB PS3 today at the Leipzig Games Convention. Here in the U.S. it will come bundled with a Dual-Shock SIXAXIS and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. It will arrive in November just in time for under the Xmas tree at $499.

The console itself looks like it’s the same as previous PS3s. The U.S. version will also come with a voucher for the PS Network game PAIN, while the European version includes €70 of free downloadable content vouchers. No word on whether it will be released seperate from the bundle. We’ll just have to wait and see.

When most of us are jamming playing Guitar Hero with our regular sized guitars, the last thing you want to be doing is play on a little handheld. But when playing On Tour with a tiny handheld, it might help a whole lot to have a real guitar.

This modder hacked a wireless PS2 guitar to integrate with Guitar Hero: On Tour and now jams extra hardcore. He attached the PS2 guitar directly to the DS controller. He also added an FM transmitter so the music can stream through a home stereo, rather then the DS speakers. Great job! Check out the video below.

At the Leipzig Games Convention today, Sony revealed the brand new PSP-3000, which will arrive Oct 15 in Europe for around $250. As far as looks, it looks the same as the PSP-2000, but it features an “improved screen that’s better outside with no glare and a built-in mic.” A no glare screen will sell many on the device by itself. I guess you could say that this is Sony’s DS Lite. More details have yet to surface, but we’ll stay on top of it for you.

At its Leipzig Games Convention press conference today, Sony unveiled a new wireless keypad peripheral that attaches to the top of your PlayStation 3 controller. It snaps into the mini-USB port and can be paired with phones and other gadgets through Bluetooth. The keypad also has a “touchpad mode” for mouse input. No word on pricing yet, but the device will apparently be released in 8 different languages in November.

Older computer geeks, circa mid-1990s, may well remember Central Point Software, developers of the original PC Tools collection of software utilities which gave Symantec a run for its money. Symantec acquired Central Point in 1994, putting an end to its major competitor at the time. The PC Tools name faded for awhile, before becoming the name of another software company in 2004. This company, in turn, was just picked up by Symantec today.

Symantec said it would be acquiring PC Tools for an undisclosed sum, keeping the company as a separate brand (for now). PC Tools, the modern company, is known for its variety of software products which handle privacy, anti-virus, computer maintenance and other tasks on Windows computers. This, again, is much like the original PC Tools. Did Symantec see the writing on the wall, again, and just decide to nip a potential …

The PC gamer needs to have a good set of headphones with a mic. Many gamers prefer headphones to external speaker systems, because they feel like they can hear more of the game sounds with headphones. Razer has a set of headphones on the market called the Barracuda that work very well. Today, Razer announced two new sets of gaming headphones that use its new Maelstrom Audio Engine.

Razer says that its Maelstrom engine can process positional audio 800% faster than comparable virtual surround systems. The Razer Megalodon headphones feature 7.1 surround sound and will retail for $149.99. The headphones have a frequency response of 20 to 20,000 Hz and 40 ohms impedance. The headphones also feature a mic for in game chat and will be available in Q4 2008.

Most of us don’t think much about flashlights until the lights go out and we need one. Many flashlights just aren’t that bright with sickly looking beams that have lots of dark spots and don’t offer much light. Duracell is one of the most common names in batteries and it has announced a new line of flashlights that it says are revolutionary.

The new line of Duracell flashlights are called Daylite and use LED bulbs. Duracell says that the typical flashlight only captures 70% of the total light in a 180-degree pattern. Duracell’s new line of flashlights uses what it calls TrueBeam technology to capture up to 100% of the light in the same pattern.

I can remember back when Microsoft was a big name in gaming peripherals. Years ago, Microsoft was big in the gaming peripherals and had a slew of joysticks aimed at flight simulation and other PC game genres that were popular in the market. As companies are apt to do, when the SideWinder joysticks popularity started to wane the whole line was axed.

Not so long ago Microsoft pulled the SideWinder name from the trash bin and stuck it on a gaming mouse that was actually quite good. Today, Microsoft announced a couple more gaming goodies that will carry the SideWinder moniker. Some photos of the SideWinder X6 keyboard were leaked a couple months back, and were believed by many to be fakes.

We’ve seen our share of multi-tools, but I don’t think we’ve ever seen a multi tool pen before. My guess is that this would be MacGuyver’s pen of choice. It’s got so many useful tools inside, it will definitely get you out of a jam and help you build a plane out of duct tape and porn mags.

Tools include a Ballpoint Pen, Hole Puncher, Stainless Steel File, Short Cutting Blade, Flat Screwdriver, Wire Sleeve Remover/Small Nail Remover, Ear Pick(wtf), Long Cutting Blade, Tweezer, Philips Screwdriver, Stainless Steel Fork and Saw. It’s worth a shot at only $14.95. You never know when you’re going to need a pen AND a fork at the same time. And there’s always the rare occasion when you need both and an ear pick.

Feeling a tad nostalgic for Windows 3.1 after some Vista crashes? Then this is for you. It’s an actual Windows Window. Just gaze outside and relive the good old days of Bill Gates’ fortune and your old 286 PC. These conceptual window coverings give your home large Windows 3.1 screens. You’ll notice in the second picture, the guy is battling with the Blue Screen of Death via the scroll bar!

As far as we can tell these aren’t ready for production just yet, and that’s probably a good thing. Because I think most everyone prefers Windows XP. These would go great with the web 2.0 blinds.