Gadgets Blog

Sony is off the blocks with new e-book readers that come in the form of the Reader Pocket Edition and the Reader Touch Edition which we’ll look at in greater detail below. This isn’t the first e-book reader to be released from Sony, and will most probably prove to be quite the competitor towards the Amazon Kindle and its sequel. Both of these e-book readers from Sony will be available at the end of this month onwards from various sources including SonyStyle.com, SonyStyle stores and select retail partners. Apart from that, you can also pick up new releases and New York Times bestseller titles in the eBook Store from Sony for $9.99 apiece, making it cheaper compared to the actual paperback, saving you costs on purchasing a bookshelf as well.

First off is the Reader Pocket Edition that comes with a 5″ electronic paper display which is crammed into a stylish chassis. Nice to know that Sony has released it in a bunch of different colors, including navy blue, rose and silver. The Reader Pocket Edition is a snap to navigate through using but a single hand, where the relatively small size also means it can slip into a purse or jacket pocket without causing any noticeable bulge. Also known as the PRS-300, this model can hold up to around 350 standard e-books with its internal memory, and the battery is able to last up to two weeks of non-stop reading before it requires a trip to the nearest power outlet. The Sony PRS-300 Reader Pocket Edition will retail for $199, making it the most affordable dedicated reading device on the market at the moment.

As for the Reader Touch Edition, you can tell by its name that the PRS-600 (model number) will come with a responsive, menu-driven 6″ touchscreen display which makes it possible to take advantage of quick, intuitive navigation, page turning, highlighting and note taking with but a swipe of the finger or using the included stylus if you hate leaving fingerprints over all your devices. The stylus will also come in handy when one needs to take down handwritten notes on the go, while those who are more comfortable with a virtual keyboard can opt for that as well. It will come with a pre-loaded Oxford American English Dictionary to expand your word power, boasting memory card slots for Memory Stick PRO Duo and SD formats. $299 will net you the Sony PRS-600 in either red, black or silver colors.

Press Release

For those of you that can’t just sit back and enjoy the music on your iPod, there is this DJ Mixer.  Of course you’ll also have to know someone that has a second iPod in order for this to work, but I doubt that’ll be too much of an issue.  It’ll also work with random MP3 players, so if you have a spare MP3 player you could always use an iPod and an MP3 player.  Although for those of you with music on your iPhone, it doesn’t say specifically that it’s compatible with the iPhone.

If you’re purchasing this for an iPod though, you could always give an iPhone a whirl and see how it works with the device.  It is officially compatible with the iPod Touch, iPod Nano 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations, the iPod Classic 4th and 5th generations as well as the iPod Mini.  It will actually charge up those iPods while it’s hooked up to the mixer, but it won’t charge your average MP3 player for obvious reasons.  It includes an AC adapter and a set of headphones that fold up.  You can purchase the DJ Mixer for $120.

Source: Likecool

I’m beginning to become a Crosley speaker fanatic, the first one I spotted was the Crosley Attic Speaker.  That one is a little more unisex than this one, but I still really like the new one too.  The Table Alarm Clock Speaker features the same retro look of the Attic Speaker, but gives it a bright blue coloring, which makes it perfect for women who want to listen to their iPod.  It looks like something you’d find in a thrift shop, although, obviously, in far better shape.

The down side with buying something that just plays your MP3 player is that it doesn’t charge up your iPod, which makes it a bit of a deal breaker for me.  However, if you prefer to charge your iPod someplace other than your bedroom, then this will work out just fine.  The alarm clock would be a great gift to give any student that is headed back to school later this month.  The clock plugs into the wall, so it needs no batteries, and has all of the usual things a clock radio would.  Things such as AM/FM options, a snooze button and volume control and station knobs.  You can purchase the Crosley Table Alarm Clock Speaker for $58.

Source:  ChipChick

Just because you’re taking pictures through your phone camera, doesn’t mean they can’t have an artistic flare to them.  Now you can have that artistic twist added as soon as you take the picture with these various lenses.  All of which have their individual effects that they add to the picture, some are a little cheesy, others are a bit more subtle.  The lenses are affordable, so you might as well pick up a few of them and have fun playing with your photographs.

These come in a total of 5 different forms.  There is the green wide angle lens, which you can guess what that does.  There is then the blue kalediscope lens, the sparkle lens and a heart lens that adds the outline of a heart around the edges.  There is also the starburst version, which is probably my favorite out of the bunch of them.  You can check out how they will look on a picture when you go to the seller’s website. To purchase yourself one of these it’ll cost you $8 from Urban Outfitters.  Unfortunately, they don’t get any cheaper if you buy more than one, but it’s still not a bad price.

Source: GeekyGadgets

I have seen fold-up bikes before, and none of them were very impressive. The first I ever saw was back in the eighties, in the Sharper Image Catalog. If I were to find a picture of that particular bike, then I would post it here so you could have a good laugh.

A student name Dominic Hargreaves has won the James Dyson Award for his innovative folding bike that is appropriately named The Contortionist. As you can see, the whole frame fits within the wheel’s 26 inch circumference.

The rest forms a convenient handle that can be dragged around by the rider when the bike is not in use. It reminds me of modern luggage that you see now, which seems to require a retractable handlebar and tiny wheels.

One of the problems with folding bikes was the issue of where to put them after they are folded. They can’t take up too much space, and many earlier folding bike models used smaller wheels. The end result looked like some sort of scooter.

The Contortionist might be a bit more spacious, but which would you rather have: an entire bike leaning against your office wall, or just the wheel? Sure, you could put your bike on a rack outside, but how safe is that?

Hopefully, Mr. Hargreaves will find a manufacturer for his invention, because his forthright thinking is just what we need in an era where more people should ride bikes rather than drive.

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If you’re smart, then your sarcasm detector should have gone off when you read the headline. So, maybe you don’t need another motion-controlled game, but I’m not certain if there is a Deer Hunter game designed for the Wii.

After all, it seems like every video arcade today has Dance Dance Revolution and some deer hunting game that looks like the one the man in the photo is holding. They also have some other classic stand-ups like Pac-man, Dig Dug, but they are sadly a pale remnant of a bygone video arcade era.

Yes, the home consoles probably killed those classic games, and so it is natural to want to create a home version of this deer-hunting game. This one works with a battery powered rifle and sensor bar, with all the software needed to run on your television built in. Yes, Big Buck Hunter Pro is not for the Wii, Xbox 360, or PS3.

Keep in mind the it does have a Teen rating, due to the realistic portrayal of deer meeting the fate of Bambi’s mom. I’m sure there are many out there who would refuse to buy this game because they refuse to be associated with hunting, but you should probably remove all other First Person Shooter games if that is the case.

Okay, I’d better step off my soapbox. You should be able to get the Jakks Big Buck Hunter Pro for about $49.95.

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For shutterbugs who have been frustrated many a time by the lack of battery power during the most crucial of moments, chances are they would jump at the first chance of nabbing the Nikon Battery Grip which is able to hold a half dozen AA batteries. These batteries will be used to discharge power into your Nikon D200 when connected, saving you the trouble of toting around extra batteries while giving you the opportunity to snap photos long after other people’s cameras have run out of juice. The Nikon Battery Grip will retail for £99.59 and adds stability to the camera apart from carrying more juice.

Forget about having one ring to rule them all - the Logitech Unifying Receiver aims to free up your USB ports from the tyranny of USB gizmos around the desk by connecting up to half a dozen compatible devices, making sure your notebook or computer has free USB ports that can be used when the situation calls for it. This new Logitech Unifying Receiver won’t be too lonely where released, since it is bundled with new Logitech products including the K340 and K350 wireless keyboards, Marathon Mouse M705 and Wireless Mouse M505. You can always leave the Logitech Unifying Receiver inside your computer when traveling since it won’t stick out like a sore thumb, measuring just 8mm from the USB port. It keeps everything paired together via 2.4GHz wireless connectivity and boasts 128-bit AES encryption for added security.

Press Release

I’ve covered mini-projectors several times on this blog, greatly anticipating the day when every consumer has one. Yesterday, a landmark was made as Nikon announced that its Coolpix S1000pj will include a miniature LED projector.

This 12.1 megapixel camera comes with a 2.7 inch LCD viewscreen, a 5x wide-angle NiKKOR lens, and can capture HD video at 1280 x 720 pixels. Oh, by the way, Nikon also put out three other cameras, but who really cares about that, let’s talk about the projector on the S1000pj!

All the user needs is a flat surface and he or she can beam their images to a 40-inch size. The user can also mix music, and create effects along with transitions for these pictures.

So, is this the beginning of a new age of photography? In all honesty, I kind of hope not. After all, we already live in an age where people who want to share their photos can just put them on their iPod, or just show them on the digital camera itself. I mean, you could practically show a picture of you sharing your pictures.

Does anyone want to be the annoying guy or girl who just “has to” show his or her photos to everyone? Now that person is going to have a captive audience as they projecting their pics on any flatscreen nearby. My advice: have an excuse ready to leave the room.

Of course, current miniature projector technology has always been somewhat weak at best. I’m guessing that the S1000pj will seem antique within a few years. You should think before you purchase one, as it will set you back about $430.

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Nikon is a trusted name when it comes to digital cameras, and it is nice to know that the company doesn’t aim to rest on its laurels anytime soon with a new Coolpix line being unleashed upon us consumers, featuring the S70, S1000pj, S640 and S570. First of all, the S70 will continue from where previous touchscreen models left off, featuring Nikon’s most recent update to its internal technology with a 3.5″ Clear Color Display and a new generation of touchscreen controls that make photo shooting and playback a snap. Apart from that, it comes in a stylish dual-texture design with the ability to capture video in high definition at 720p resolution, although you won’t be able to get full HD with this. Other features include a 12.1-megapixels sensor, a 5x wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR lens, ISO 6400, 5-way VR Image Stabilization System, Subject Tracking, Scene Auto Selector Mode and Nikon’s Smart Portrait System.

Up next would be something that many people have raved about - the S1000pj which is capable of turning your photo-sharing experience into a multimedia one with the touch of a button, as it will automatically project images and videos up to 40″ in size. With the camera’s special slideshow function, you can now playback pictures with background music to boot alongside pretty unique transitions, making gullible people think you’re an overnight PowerPoint sensation. Features of the S1000pj include a 12.1-megapixels sensor, a 5x wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR lens, ISO from 64 to 6400, 5-way VR Image Stabilization System, Subject Tracking, Scene Auto Selector Mode and Nikon’s Smart Portrait System. Read more about it in detail here.

As for the Coolpix S640, this sleek and fast camera comes with enhanced speed capabilities for you to shoot images within the fastest start up time possible for a consumer level digital camera, clocking in at 0.7 seconds from the moment it is turned on alongside a short shutter release time lag. Other features packed into its slim, stylish all metal body include a 12.1-megapixels sensor, a 5x wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR lens, a 2.7″ Clear Color LCD display, ISO from 64 to 6400, 4-way VR Image Stabilization System, Subject Tracking, Scene Auto Selector Mode and Nikon’s Smart Portrait System.

Last but not least would be the Coolpix S570 that is but an entry level digital camera, offering a decent shooting experience without breaking the bank. It will be powered by a 12-megapixels sensor, a 5x wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens, ISO 3200 at full resolution, a bright 2.7″ LCD display, 4-way VR Image Stabilization System, Scene Auto Selector Mode, Nikon’s Smart Portrait System and movie mode.

You can pick up the S70, S1000pj, S640 and S570 for $399.95, $429.95, $249.95 and $199.95, respectively, when they arrive at store shelves later this September.

Press Release

Most people would know Microsoft to be a software company, but they do have some pretty good hardware peripherals for the everyday computer user as well. I remember Microsoft’s early foray into the world of computer peripherals, where their ergonomic keyboard was split down the middle in a contoured manner - great for those who do plenty of typing in front of the screen each day, but not so conducive when you’re a hardcore Quake player, having bound a bunch of keys to selected weapons that are separated by a plastic chasm in the middle. Well, this time round, Microsoft has released its latest Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 series that will bring together the Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard layout complete with a soft-touch palm rest.

The keyboard boasts design elements that will further enhance its look and feel, featuring an updated soft-touch palm rest, low-profile quiet touch keys and a contoured, compact shape which ought to find a place on any desk. It won’t be complete without the Wireless Mouse 5000 though, where this pointing device comes with rubber side grips and an ambidextrous shape that will cater to both lefties as well as right handers, boasting Microsoft’s BlueTrack Technology that offers a wider array of options when it comes to using the mouse on various surfaces compared to regular optical and laser mice. The mouse and keyboard will be hooked up wirelessly to your computer through a reliable 2.4GHz mini-transceiver which has a working radius of 30 feet.

The Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 will be out later this August, retailing for $79.95. Of course, you can place a pre-sale order on sites such as Amazon.com, where it will ship the moment it is officially released. Each purchase will be accompanied by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty from Microsoft. Bear in mind this targets office drones and not gamers!

Press Release

One quick blow on a device and cops can find out just how much alcohol you’ve consumed.  Sadly though, so far they haven’t had a roadside way to test for drugs.  Which means cops have to drag in people that they suspect to be using drugs.  Well that will be changing at some point in the somewhat near future.  Instead of dragging people down to the station for a test, Philips has a test they’ve developed to help cops out on the side of the road.

It uses nanotechnology and instead of blowing like you’d do for the alcohol test, you spit.  Then after 90 seconds it gives a color coded read out.  It will detect any cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamines and methaphetamine.  This isn’t exactly great for drug users, but for those that don’t use drugs and just seem to look the part this is definitely good news.  It will end any harassment much faster through a quick test.  Philips hopes to get these out to cops in Europe by the end of this year.  There’s no word when it will make it to the US though.

Source: Geekologie

Picture the first cars that were ever assembled, such as the Model T and what not. They look very different than the cars than the cars of today, right? I suppose that automobile design has a certain (for lack of a better word) evolution to it.

So let’s hit the fast forward button to see what the shape of cars will be in the future. I’m not certain what you were thinking, but I never would have come up with this. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that designer Ralph Tayler-Webb’s Halcyon car is ugly, I’m just saying that I wouldn’t have gone with such an indescribable, almost amorphous, shape.

Tayler-Webb was apparently inspired by nature to create the Halcyon. He was inspired by the tranquility and silence of a glider flight, and realized that technology should blend in with nature, not stand out from it.

The Halcyon is designed to glide through landscapes rather than drive, and it is good for the planet in other ways. It is lightweight and fuel-efficient, with an electric motor constructed from porous aluminum.

In all honesty, I can’t help but think that cars will never look like this. However, I’m sure if you were to go back in time and show Henry Ford what his automobiles look like today, he would probably laugh at you.

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