Gadgets Blog

We’re not even a year into HD Pocket camcorders shooting 720p when word comes of a model that has a Pico projector built in for instant projection of home movies. Yeah, that’s right, now you can shoot vacation videos and bore your friends in real time by projecting them anywhere!

Digilife is the same of the company and their new DDV-JF1 shoots 720p at 30 frames per second, or 848×480 at 60 fps, or postage sized 320×240 at 30 fps. Video which can be watched on its 2 ½ inch LCD screen or by the 640×260 pico projector. The Pico Projector first made headlines in 2006 and was heralded as an ideal business option for smart phones and pocket presentations while on the road. But this is the first time we’ve seen it as an option for a camcorder. And there’s a good reason for that. Battery life. The Pico Projection option will kill batteries of an average pocket camcorder in nothing flat, and with a size of 640×260, you won’t be watching movies on a sheet hung on the wall any time soon. Still though, it’s an awesome idea that could catch on if the power and brightness issues can be addressed.

Hat Tip - Engadget

My wife constantly complains that whenever we have a BBQ party, she never gets to see me because I’m always chained to the grill. But how else am I going to make sure the meat is grilled to perfection? Even with a meat thermometer, you leave a BBQ grill for too long you end up with charred beef … as in, to a cinder. The Grill Art Talking Remote Thermometer may mean freedom for those of us struggling with flames, wind, and smoke.

Like any other meat thermometer, you stick a probe in the meat, and set the thermometer to the required cooking temperature. Then when it goes off, the food is done. This is especially nice when you’re factoring in “carryover cooking” to get your meat to the proper temperature. But the advantage to Grill Alert Remote Thermometer is that it’s completely wireless â€" which lets cooks get up to 100 yards away from the grill (that’s some backyard). So, you can essentially set it and forget it. Then, when the meat reaches the temperature threshold, the Grill Alert alerts you by saying “almost done,” or “Done!” Then, you can excuse yourself from game and get your meat. There’s even a warning indicator should the temperature spike, indicating a flame up.

Available from Brookstone for about $70.

Hat Tip â€" Oh Gizmo!

Nintendo Wii, your days could be numbered. Sure, you have been dominating the console gaming world with your motion-controlling Wiimotes, but are you ready for Project Natal?

Microsoft has recently revealed this full-body, motion-sensitive controller at E3 in Los Angeles, and it has understandably received a lot of attention. Project Natal is a TV-mounted camera/microphone that can sense motion, three-dimensional movement, even sound.

In other words, it is a controller without a controller, like the iPhone games that require nothing but movement. The company demonstrated this new technology with two new games. The first was Ricochet, a brick-blasting game that puts the player in the midst of Breakout, and Paint Party, a game that allows you to splatter paint with virtual brushes. You can see Ricochet demonstrated after the jump.

On hand at E3 to introduce Project Natal was none other than acclaimed director/producer/mogul Steven Spielberg. Is he now exclusively doing video games like Boom Blox?

Anyway, Spielberg said that “people are too intimidated to pick up game controllers”. Oh, that is a slam on button-munching PS3 and Xbox 360 joysticks, isn’t it? By the way, someone in the conference also slammed users who “sit on the sofa using some kind of preset waggle commands”. Oh, now the Wii is getting burned!

Project Natal should be available on all versions of the Xbox 360 “soon”. Yeah, I know, I want it ASAP, but that was all the word that was given. No word on price, either. Expectations are high.

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Sony Ericsson has just released a mobile phone called the Aino which is able to sync wirelessly with a PS3. I am not certain if this is the first mobile phone to connect to a video game console, but if it is, then it is a long time coming.

After all, who wouldn’t want instant access to their digital content on their PS3 from their mobile phone? As long as there is mobile internet available on the Aino, the user can sit back at watch whatever content is on that large PS3 hard drive.

In addition to that huge connect-to-PS3 as their biggest selling point, the Aino can also sync wirelessly to your PC. Other features include a 8.1 Megapixel camera, 3G connectivity, and assisted GPS. It also comes with a Bluetooth headset, a wireless dock, and light-up headphones.

When I first saw that the Aino could sync with the PS3, I immediately had visions of surfing through the main menu of the PS3 on my mobile and playing games, sans joystick. Not in this version of the Aino, but I am hoping that I’m giving Sony Ericsson a few ideas. Not that they aren’t already thinking what I’m thinking, I’m sure.

Sony Ericsson’s Aino should be available in the fall, but so far, there is no word on a price. Rumor has it that the Aino is slated for a European-only release.

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