Archive for November, 2008

iPod Shuffle Bracelet concept

Posted in Concepts by Conner Flynn on November 19th, 2008

iPod Shuffle Bracelet conceptHere’s a followup to the iPod Touch Nano concept that’s wearable and even fashionable. Once again, it’s from designer Isamu Sanada. It’s an iPod Shuffle Bracelet with integrated Bluetooth connectivity, dock connector, and a rugged casing.

It even sports a built-in rechargeable battery for 16-hours of continuous playback. Hey, why not? As long as we are playing make believe. This is actually something that the ladies would love, in fashionable pastels. Who knows, one day Apple may get behind it. But we aren’t holding our breath.

Bottle Cap Tripod is pretty handy

Posted in Accessories by Conner Flynn on November 19th, 2008

Bottle Cap Tripod is pretty handyIf you’re like me, there have been many times when a tripod would have come in handy for picture taking, yet for some reason I haven’t bought one yet. This Bottle Cap Tripod is a handy solution and it doesn’t require you to tote anything heavy around. And chances are you have a soda bottle nearby. This gadget screws into the mounting screw on your camera, then you just put it on a bottle cap. Instant tripod. At only $10, it keeps you from being weighed down with larger equipment.

Wolverine claws are probably not a great idea

Posted in Weapons by Conner Flynn on November 19th, 2008

Wolverine claws are probably not a great ideaHow much would you pay to be able to slice and dice like Wolverine? $100? $80? How about $40? They may not be made from adamantium, but the three long knives/spikes measure 11 1/2″ long and are made from solid stainless steel. And since these won’t be coming out of your actual arm, you get a nice heavy metal looking wrist strap. Great for disemboweling enemies of all kinds. Just don’t get too carried away. Be like Wolverine, not Freddy Krueger. The so-called “Tomahawk Skull Gauntlet” is $40.

HP TouchSmart tx2 multitouch tablet PC

Posted in HP by Conner Flynn on November 19th, 2008

HP TouchSmart tx2 multitouch tablet PCHP has announced the TouchSmart tx2. The laptop will be able to distinguish between voluntary pinching with two fingers and any accidental input. You can also use the bundled stylus to enter data. The tx2’s 12.1-inch screen is fully multi-touched up, but not in the iPhone/iPod touch way. It uses capacitive touch, which enables more accurate input, also brushes and swipes and two-handed gestures. You can use two hands to crop photos for instance.

Some other features are: integrated digital TV tuner, dual core AMD Turion X2 processor and ATI Radeon 3200 graphics. The screen can be twisted and folded all the way around; converting the standard notebook into a tablet PC. With a digital pen you can make notes and your writing will be converted to editable text. The HP TouchSmart tx2 will be available in January 2009 for about $1,150.

Houdini tool helps you escape from your car

Posted in Tools by Conner Flynn on November 19th, 2008

Houdini tool helps you escape from your carHere’s a handy tool for those who need to escape from their own vehicle, whether you’ve driven into a lake and are about to drown or your doors have trapped you inside after an accident. Just carry this Houdini Automotive Escape Tool with you at all times. It features a safety whistle, LED light, spring loaded glass punch and even a seatbelt cutter.

It’s super compact, you will fit on your keyring. Not enough? The pro version has still more features and was designed for rescue workers, firefighters, and the like. You never know when you might get trapped in a car after all.

Dell SP2309W HD widescreen monitor with webcam

Posted in monitors by Darrin Olson on November 19th, 2008

Dell SP2309W full HD widescreen monitor with built-in webcamIf you’re in the market for a new monitor we’ve come across one you just might want to take a look at. Don’t let all the expensive-looking features scare you away just yet; Dell is listing this one at a mere $379.

The Dell SP2309W is a 23-inch Full-HD widescreen display with a 2048×1152 resolution and up to 80,000:1 contrast ratio. This resolution allows you to bring up two full-sized web pages side by side like you might do with dual monitors, but enough room on just this one (provided your vision is good).

C-Watch cell phone watch

Posted in Watches by Conner Flynn on November 19th, 2008

C-Watch cell phone watchThe C-watch is the latest in cell watches and probably one of the better looking ones with a touchscreen. Some of the features include: Dual Sim Card Support, It will hold two cellular phone numbers, Bluetooth Enabled for headsets, remotes, and data transfer, 1.3 MP Digital Camera, Handwriting Functionality, MP3 Player, Video Recorder, Integrated stylus. It will cost you a whooping $399.99.

Neuros introduces Neuros LINK for web videos

Posted in Set Top Boxes by Conner Flynn on November 19th, 2008

Neuros introduces Neuros LINK for web videosThe latest from Neuros is the Neuros LINK, which will let you watch videos from places like Hulu, YouTube and the like on your TV, subscription free, through courtesy of their own TV service. However, the LINK doesn’t appear to have any internal storage. It does boast six USB ports so you can attach your own drives that have photos, video or music. You’ll also get HDMI and optical S/PDIF outputs, a gigabit ethernet, 802.11b/g WiFi, and an included wireless “keymote” with trackball. The device is available now for $300, but it’s still in a “gamma release,” so early adopters can get one in exchange for a few bugs.

Need for Speed Undercover is now shipping

Posted in Games by Shane McGlaun on November 19th, 2008

Need for Speed UndercoverI have mentioned before that I have been a big fan of the Need for Speed series since it first debuted years ago. My favorite title in the series was Need for Speed Most Wanted. I really liked the chases where you run from the cops in the cars you customize yourself.

The series got away from the cop chases and went more “PC” with Need for Speed Pro Street and as cool as that game was, I missed the chases. Need for Speed Undercover brings the police chases back to the series and EA announced this week that the game is now shipping.

Impact7 digital photo frame packs in features at a low price

Posted in Digital Photo Frames by Shane McGlaun on November 19th, 2008

eStarling Impact7 Digital Picture FrameDigital photo frames are great, but typically, the lower priced ones have bad screen quality and lack the features that make a digital frame really interesting. One of the features you don’t usually see on lower priced digital frames is Wi-Fi.

A company called eStarling has introduced a new digital photo frame for the holiday season that retails for $99.99 and offers features like a 7-inch LCD with a 480 x 234 resolution and integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi that support several security protocols.

Ultimate Ears unveils top-firing Super.Fi 5 earphones

Posted in Earbuds by Shane McGlaun on November 19th, 2008

Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5vi EarphonesIt seems like every new phone that hits the market has the capability to play music today. Along with the capability to play music on a phone comes a requisite headphone jack to allow for private listening. There is a glut of earphones and headphones on the market for consumers to choose from and they all have the same basic design.

Ultimate Ears has announced a new set of earphones that use a new design not previously available. The Super.Fi 5 and Super.Fi 5vi earphones use a new top-firing design. According to the maker of the headphones the top-firing design allows the earphones to be placed into a more compact and ergonomic design making them more comfortable.

Cooler Master teases ultra-limited Cosmos Black chassis

Posted in Computer Cases by Shane McGlaun on November 19th, 2008

Cooler Master Cosmos BlackWhen it comes to the perfect case for a new gaming rig you are building, most enthusiasts don’t go with whatever the cheapest enclosure available is. The enthusiast wants something that has good looks and great thermal performance. A good case may cost more, but in the long run the tradeoff is well worth it to most of us.

One of the best computer cases around is the Cooler Master Cosmos, I actually use one for my gaming rig and I love it. Cooler Master has teased a new and very limited edition version of the Cosmos called the Cosmos Black. Details on the case and the bundle of goodies it includes are scant, but Cooler Master says that it will reveal all on December 11.

iCEphone folds three ways

Posted in Mobile Phones by Conner Flynn on November 18th, 2008

iCEphone folds three waysDepending on your point of view, this is either bizarre or amazing. This handset does just about everything and somehow stays fairly slim and compact. The iCEphone is due to be released from The Medical Phone Ltd. in the UK and the most exciting and strange thing about it is that it folds three ways. It’s a portable video game platform, GPS and smartphone all in one, plus micro notebook.

It sports a three-way hinge that allows access to a 3-inch touch screen display at 240 x 400 resolution, a QWERTY keyboard and a mouse tracker pad with gaming controls. ICE stands for “In Case of Emergency Phone.” You’ll get a 3G connection with support for GPRS and EDGE, two SIM card slots, WiFI, and a 3.1 megapixel camera. The phone runs on Windows Mobile 6.0 Pro. The iCEphone will be available in Thailand, then in the UK in the spring of next year for under $1,000.

Radio Controlled Golf Ball for Golf course fun

Posted in Golf by Conner Flynn on November 18th, 2008

Radio Controlled Golf Ball for Golf course funI personally don’t find a sport like Golf fun. This radio controlled Golf ball might make things a little more bearable and fun. It’s the ProActive Sports Radio Controlled Incred-A-Ball. A radio controlled golf ball that has a radio activated gyroscope inside.

Turn it on and the ball goes crazy, moving around. Watch the reactions of various stuffy old dudes as you trick them. They can try all they want to take their swing, but the ball is going to move on them. It gets recharged via a dock and only costs $19.

Hands On: Griffin Simplifi dock/charger/reader/hub

Posted in Review by Darrin Olson on November 18th, 2008

Griffin Simplifi iPod dock and charger, card reader and USB hubWe got a chance to get our hands on Griffin’s new Simplifi desktop device recently and we feel they really got the name right on this one. The Simplifi is a small Swiss Army Knife of accessories packed into a smooth silver box that adds some convenience and maybe even a touch of sophistication to your desk.

For starters, the device is a dock and charger for your Apple iPhone and/or iPod. It has the docking port right on top and comes with little plastic adapters to custom fit every iPod ever made with a docking port. However, if you happen to have the iPhone 3G you might want to check the box for a 3G sticker. The original product does not come with a 3G port adapter (not that you necessarily need it for the dock to …