If you want to play games that utilize the Wii Balance Board, but don’t want to spend the money on the actual Wii board, now you can get an off brand one. It doesn’t come with the game, like the Balance Board does, but it is cheaper. Plus it has nifty blue non-slip grips that stick onto the top of it for those that are coordination challenged. It hopefully is just as accurate as the actual brand name version. Sometimes buying off brand gaming accessories ends up not being a good idea.
This one comes from Chinavasion and it’s really a debate as to how good of a deal it is to purchase this. Considering the actual Wii Fit will cost you $89.99 and this one from Chinavasion will cost $67.91. It is cheaper, but it only has a Balance Board and nothing else. For those that somehow manage to break their Balance Board though, this might be a better idea than buying the real version.
I keep going through all the dozens of reasons that this could be useful, but then I end up canceling them out for one reason or another. I thought it might be great to sit at your computer and then the flashlight would be useful for when you’re playing with cords at the back of your computer. However, I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t feel my way around it to figure things out. I’m sure that someone could find a use for this flashlight meets USB hub though.
If you are female and for some reason like to carry around a hub with you, then you’d always have a flashlight handy for various tasks. The hub conveniently tucks into the hub itself when it’s not in use. You can hold it as either a flashlight, or it flips open to be used as a reading light. The LED light is rechargeable, so it doesn’t have to be plugged in to work. The hub itself has a total of 3 USB ports. You can purchase it for $14 from Gadget4all.
Is there anything more bonding to a father/son relationship than the building of a birdhouse? Maybe before the digital age, but now the birdhouse has been made technologically efficient.
As you can see, this nest box has tiny camera inside of it, so you can actually see what is going on inside of it. It is an IR camera, so you can view what is going on during the night and the day.
This camera also has a transmitter with a range of 328 feet to the included base station. This base station can be connected to any display with RCA input, and you can watch a nest like it was a Discovery Channel program.
Of course, there is no guarantee that you will have some good footage of the birdies with this peeping tom camera. I wonder if the birds have any idea that they and their babies are on a reality TV show. You might want to figure out a way to record it, as you could easily miss the episode where the eggs hatch.
You will have to connect the camera to a power supply, unless you want to use the battery pack. By the way, the battery pack is only good for about two hours. The Nest Box with IR Camera is available at the Pro-Idee site for about $211.
Most artists will say that that hardest part of drawing a human being is the hands. I would imagine that making the hands of a robot are an equally daunting task, but some new developments by the Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) at the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech could make it easier.
Their project, called the Raphael (Robotic Air-Powered Hand with Elastic Ligaments) is a hand made of transparent plastic fingers, equipped with rubber knuckles. These knuckles are like accordions, and compressed air causes them to “flexâ€.
Microcomputers in this robotic hand allow each finger to figure out how strong to flex. If you want a demonstration of Raphael’s selective strength, watch this YouTube video after the jump. You can see that Raphael can hold a light bulb and an egg as easy as delicately as a human can.
The video shows the hand clutching a can, but oddly enough, it doesn’t show it crushing the can. Man, that would have been the first thing I would tried if I had my own robotic hand.
Well, the students who have built this have won a contest sponsored by the Cleveland-based Compressed Air and Gas Institute. I would imagine that this hand could be used for prosthetics and robotics.
Even though we are a quarter century past 1984, I am glad to say that Big Brother is not watching us. That is, unless we want to be watched with our webcam. Yes, we clearly live in a world that we never saw coming, and I am also glad to say that we don’t live in the dark dystopian world predicted by science fiction.
However, we may have taken a step toward a surveillance society last week, as a Wisconsin court ruled that the police can covertly attach a GPS tracking device to a citizen’s car without a warrant.
Apparently, it is okay for the police to plant their trackers because “GPS tracking does not involve a search or seizureâ€. Of course, one could argue that having the authorities track your whereabouts could be viewed as some sort beginning of a civil rights violation. I’m sure you can understand how the ACLU sees it.
Well, if more than just Wisconsin ratifies this law, then the United States might be seeing a lot of devices like the one you see in this photo. I suppose this will motivate a lot of people to purchase GPS detectors for scanning underneath the car.
So, is this the beginning of the end of privacy? Do we really want an answer for that one?
USB drives are getting smaller and smaller, which means everyone has ways of making sure their USB drive stays with them. Be it wearing it as jewelry or even just keeping it on a keychain. Well this one would make it a lot easier to just carry the drive in your wallet. The Slim Data USB Card after all claims to be ultra slim, so thin that it’s only about as thick as a business card.
It only comes in three different colors, smoke, blue and red. The blue or red would be much easier to spot when they’re among other business cards though. The smoke is so gray that it might be more obnoxious to pick out of the bunch. Each one is 4GB, giving you a fairly decent amount of storage on such a small drive. Since it claims to be the slimmest out there, it’d be difficult for the guys to find a more convenient drive to carry around. Plus it’s even at an affordable price, it’ll cost you $24.99 from Top Tech Products.
With the advent of technology when it comes to flat screen displays, we’re pleased to find out that the innovation curve has not ended just yet. Granted, a name like Majestic Mirror and Frame might not be recognized among consumers as a company that produces flat panel displays, but those in the know will realize that this is a leader in framed and back lit mirrors for the hospitality industry. Imagine having Majestic Mirror and Frame work together with ToteVision, the industry’s premier manufacturer of small screen, commercial-grade LCD TVs and monitors, resulting in a spanking new Mirrored TV solution specially meant for the hospitality market. This new product line can be found in virtually any shape or size, specifically manufactured to the tune of their customer’s song. It will feature best-in-class mirror components alongside the state of the art LCD TV technology to a superior Mirrored TV experience in the hospitality industry without burning huge holes in a company’s budget.
Majestic’s Mirrored TVs will come in two standard design variations, where the first is a seamless vanishing mirror while the other will be a slightly seamed vanishing mirror with reflective mirror plating. Both models are fully customizable, being able to take on virtually any workable shape or size, leveraging plenty on its low-profile design depth that measures approximately 1.5″. Installation is also a no-brainer, taking mere minutes to install, which will further reduce labor costs by a rather significant amount especially when you’re a hotel with thousands of rooms that will be upgraded with this.
According to Alan Mandel, CEO of Majestic Mirror and Frame, “A mirrored TV solution should not compromise the detail quality of the mirror, or the viewing experience associated with the TV just because the two are being integrate into a different form factor. Our new product utilizes high-quality components that we feel deliver the best reflective and transmissive qualities on the market. When you combine this with our competitive price point and the fact that we offer US-based support and service for customers, our new product is a powerful option for customers. We work with the world’s leading hospitality franchises including Marriott, Starwood, Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Sheraton and many more. By partnering with ToteVision we’re raising the bar in this space for our clientele.â€
LaCie is no stranger when it comes to network storage solutions and here they are with yet another two more devices in the form of the LaCie 2big Network and the LaCie 5big Network. Among the product upgrades include improved performance, enhanced features, comprehensive backup support, and extreme capacity expansion. Both models will offer customers an easier setup experience alongside a host of methods to archive, access, and share large amounts of content. Let’s take a look at the two new models in greater detail - the award-winning LaCie 5big Network will ensure its Gigabit Ethernet connection is taken full advantage of, featuring five hot-swappable drives which can support seven RAID modes. Thanks to recent advancements in capacity technology, the 5big Network will max out with its 10TB model, giving it the honor and distinction of being the first in its class to offer double-digit capacity.
As for the 2big Network, this two-bay RAID device is able to offer up to 4TB of professional storage. The upgrade will see features like Windows Active Directory Support (ADS) and local backup, alongside integration with MS Windows network domains to make the jobs of IT administrators all the more easy to manage - hmmm, getting paid to do work that is more and more automated these days? Sounds like a dream job to me. In addition, the LaCie 2big Network also leaves room for users to perform incremental and scheduled backups to external devices. It will ship with client licenses of Genie Backup Manager Pro for Windows and Intego Backup Manager Pro for Mac, where this software suite will help back up documents, emails, or other digital assets in an efficient manner as you never know when disaster might strike your data. Mac fans will be pleased to know that the 2big Network is fully compatible with Time Machine.
The LaCie 2big and 5big Network will retail for $319.99 and $799.99, respectively.
We all know that Swiss hardware manufacturer do churn out some pretty bangin’ mice and keyboards as well as gaming peripherals in the past, and this sort of pedigree looks set to continue with their latest release - the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller. This new companion for your Guitar Hero sessions in your living room will play nice with both PS2 and PS3 platforms, and they aim to up the realism ante by a notch by offering an even more realistic experience, utilizing a wood neck and body, a rosewood fingerboard and metal frets. Talk about really getting into the game â€" the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller will cater for gamers who truly want to rock it out like a bona fide rock star.
Those who are interested can check out the new Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller later this month as it makes its worldwide debut. It is an officially licensed product by Activision Publishing, Inc. that will work perfectly with the award-winning Guitar Hero franchise. According to Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming, “Logitech’s new guitar controller delivers the same unparalleled Guitar Hero experience offered by our previous premiere edition to an even broader group of gamers and at a great value. Everything about the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller is premium â€" from the authentic wood material and flawless black finish, to the noise-dampening design of the strum bar and buttons, to the authentic accents provided by the metal frets.â€
With its one-piece contoured wood body, you will find yourself rocking out just like many of the world’s leading rock guitarists. Button noise is also reduced courtesy of rubber dome technology on the fret board controls, a material that can also be found in its award-winning keyboards. A touch sensitive slider helps in your gaming for a more in-depth experience, allowing you to break old game records with greater ease than ever. The Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller won’t restrict you in your movement as long as you remain within its 30 feet radius from the console. A full charge is able to offer hundreds of hours of gaming time, and each $199.99 purchase will come in a pristine black finish complemented with a glossy black pick guard.
Lenovo is back this time round with a netbook of their own, the IdeaPad S10-2 which will see some incremental updates to the IdeaPad S10 platform, although it won’t be as revolutionary as you might think. With so many computer manufacturers jumping aboard the netbook bandwagon, it is surprising to see such a small step taken by Lenovo to refresh its lineup, but then again the rest of its rivals aren’t exactly doing their best to equip netbooks with the latest and greatest hardware, either. In fact, we’re pretty surprised to see the IdeaPad S10-2 being announced since the original IdeaPad S10 was first introduced to the world sometime last autumn - guess a minor update would do fine while we’re waiting for a true blue successor, right? No need to reinvent the wheel and all that mantra.
Those who follow the netbook scene closely, however, will notice at first glance the most noticeable change - the S10-2 comes with a new cover design with white, black, pink or grey colors to choose from. Unless you have a really keen eye though, we doubt you will be able to tell that this is 4mm slimmer than its predecessor, and shaves 200 grams off its total weight. As for the keyboard itself, it will be a wee bit larger than the original, being 89% that of a full-size keyboard. For touch typists, this is good news since the entire range of keys have been enlarged to make it much more comfortable when your fingers are flying all over the surface, with a right Shift key that has been enlarged for easier accessibility. Heck, even the touchpad has gone under the knife for an enlargement process, although we suspect most people will settle for a mouse in the long run.
Too bad the exterior is hampered by an underpowered Atom 1.6GHz processor. Other hardware specifications like 1GB RAM, a 160GB hard drive, integrated graphics, Wi-Fi, a 1.3-megapixel camera and a 6-cell battery will be retained, going for $349.99. Later this summer, a variant with a built-in Ericcson 3G chipset will ship for $399.99.
Just when you thought that Motorola was dead and buried, along comes the big M with their latest cell phone that aims to get you moving - at least, shaking one’s wrists does constitute as moving, right? The MOTO W7 Active Edition will jump aboard the motion-activated bandwagon with this motion-enabled 3G cell phone boasting an integrated accelerometer which is able to sense your body’s movements, orientation and hand gestures before translating them into a specific task to be executed. According to Alain Mutricy, senior vice president, Motorola Mobile Devices, “For those who are always on the move, the MOTO W7 Active Edition is designed to keep up with the pace. The accelerometer technologies put a new spin on the traditional relationship we have with our phone by not only simplifying how you use it, but making it more fun in the process.”
Not only does the MOTO W7 know which way you’re shaking it, it also features a built-in step pedometer to help keep a faithful record of your daily walks and runs. You will also be able to work out according to your own preference thanks to the pre-loaded Personal Trainer application which develops a personal profile so that you can be able better to set and achieve certain goals. Individual workout profiles can also be concocted, while review summary reports can be analyzed after spending weeks on a particular regime to find out whether it has been effective in helping you battle against the ever-growing bulge right in the middle.
Other features found on the MOTO W7 include a built-in MP3 player, an integrated FM Radio and full screen video viewing, while a 2-megapixel camera is good to capture candid shapshots wherever you are, whreas the secondary VGA camera works great for video calls when keeping in touch with friends and family. This 3G-enabled handset will be out in Q2 this year in Asia and Latin America, with no mention about a Stateside release. You can choose from Licorice and Alpine White colors. Doesn’t look like it will pull Motorola out of the doldrums though.
Email to a friend
Leave a comment
Share
Is there anything more bonding to a father/son relationship than the building of a birdhouse? Maybe before the digital age, but now the birdhouse has been made technologically efficient.
Most artists will say that that hardest part of drawing a human being is the hands. I would imagine that making the hands of a robot are an equally daunting task, but some new developments by the Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) at the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech could make it easier. 
Even though we are a quarter century past 1984, I am glad to say that Big Brother is not watching us. That is, unless we want to be watched with our webcam. Yes, we clearly live in a world that we never saw coming, and I am also glad to say that we don’t live in the dark dystopian world predicted by science fiction. 
With the advent of technology when it comes to flat screen displays, we’re pleased to find out that the innovation curve has not ended just yet. Granted, a name like Majestic Mirror and Frame might not be recognized among consumers as a company that produces flat panel displays, but those in the know will realize that this is a leader in framed and back lit mirrors for the hospitality industry. Imagine having Majestic Mirror and Frame work together with ToteVision, the industry’s premier manufacturer of small screen, commercial-grade LCD TVs and monitors, resulting in a spanking new Mirrored TV solution specially meant for the hospitality market. This new product line can be found in virtually any shape or size, specifically manufactured to the tune of their customer’s song. It will feature best-in-class mirror components alongside the state of the art LCD TV technology to a superior Mirrored TV experience in the hospitality industry without burning huge holes in a company’s budget.
LaCie is no stranger when it comes to network storage solutions and here they are with yet another two more devices in the form of the LaCie 2big Network and the LaCie 5big Network. Among the product upgrades include improved performance, enhanced features, comprehensive backup support, and extreme capacity expansion. Both models will offer customers an easier setup experience alongside a host of methods to archive, access, and share large amounts of content. Let’s take a look at the two new models in greater detail - the award-winning LaCie 5big Network will ensure its Gigabit Ethernet connection is taken full advantage of, featuring five hot-swappable drives which can support seven RAID modes. Thanks to recent advancements in capacity technology, the 5big Network will max out with its 10TB model, giving it the honor and distinction of being the first in its class to offer double-digit capacity. 
Lenovo is back this time round with a netbook of their own, the IdeaPad S10-2 which will see some incremental updates to the IdeaPad S10 platform, although it won’t be as revolutionary as you might think. With so many computer manufacturers jumping aboard the netbook bandwagon, it is surprising to see such a small step taken by Lenovo to refresh its lineup, but then again the rest of its rivals aren’t exactly doing their best to equip netbooks with the latest and greatest hardware, either. In fact, we’re pretty surprised to see the IdeaPad S10-2 being announced since the original IdeaPad S10 was first introduced to the world sometime last autumn - guess a minor update would do fine while we’re waiting for a true blue successor, right? No need to reinvent the wheel and all that mantra.
Just when you thought that Motorola was dead and buried, along comes the big M with their latest cell phone that aims to get you moving - at least, shaking one’s wrists does constitute as moving, right? The MOTO W7 Active Edition will jump aboard the motion-activated bandwagon with this motion-enabled 3G cell phone boasting an integrated accelerometer which is able to sense your body’s movements, orientation and hand gestures before translating them into a specific task to be executed. According to Alain Mutricy, senior vice president, Motorola Mobile Devices, “For those who are always on the move, the MOTO W7 Active Edition is designed to keep up with the pace. The accelerometer technologies put a new spin on the traditional relationship we have with our phone by not only simplifying how you use it, but making it more fun in the process.”