Archive for the ‘Computer Gadgets’ Category
Thursday, November 13th, 2008 |
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Callpod Inc., a company specialized in the mobile electronics industry, introduced a couple of days ago the Drone, a plug and play VoIP and Bluetooth stereo USB adapter for PCs and Mac computers. In the past year, Callpod introduced several innovative products that won some important awards in the domain, such as the Chargepod, a well-received 6-in-1 portable gadget charging solution, the Dragon v2 Class 1 Bluetooth mobile conferencing system.
The Drone is made of die-cast zinc and high impact polycarbonate for strength and durability and can seamlessly switch between Bluetooth headsets and headphones and can connect to any PC or Mac computer via USB port. It has an operating range of 100 meters and its combined features surpass any other Bluetooth USB adapter.
“The Drone was designed to surpass anything else in this category ever created. We wanted the Drone to be strong, elegant and easy to use. We did not want to put the burden on the consumer of dealing with complicated CD ROMs and computer settings. You simply plug in the Drone and it’s ready to go”, said Dareen Guccione, Callpod CEO and co-founder. “Whether you listen to music, make phone calls via Skype or want to print utilizing a range of 100 meters, the Drone is the simple answer”.
Those of you out there using Skype and VoIP calling programs on a daily basis might consider the Drone, since it akin to relying on a Bluetooth headset without having to remain tethered to your computer or desk. At least you can now walk over to the fax machine and let the person on the other end of the line know that you have received whatever was sent, without having to excuse yourself and put him/her on hold while you check it out.
In addition, the Drone allows music lovers the luxury of listening to their favorite songs without being attached to a wire. It allows multi-taskers to take on chores, play video games or just sit and relax. The Drone can clearly and efficiently stream and control music via iTunes, CD, Windows Media Player or any other computer bases audio sources using the same 100 meter range.
But this isn’t everything you’ve got to hear about the Drone. This device is also equipped with features to support data transfer for use with Bluetooth printers and other peripheral devices. For example, if you want to transfer data to and from your computer via the iPhone, Palm Treo or any other Bluetooth cell phone or PDA, the Drone allows you to do this with no headache involved. It can also be used with Bluetooth photo printers and cameras, enabling the user to transfer and print photos. More than that, there is the possibility for you to transfer data from PC to PC or Mac to Mac. Again, the Drone transmits this data up to a range of 100 meters, so that you can have your Bluetooth peripheral device in a separate room.
The Drone is currently available for $49.94 and for more information you can visit the company’s official website.
(Source coolest-gadgets.com)
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Friday, October 17th, 2008 |
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As I was writing yesterday an article about a cool device manufactured by a company called Century Japan, an alternative LCD screen, codenamed LCD-4300U, I also analyzed whether I need such a device or not. The USB powered 4.3-inch LCD is ideal for whoever needs to have a second screen, in order to focus attention on important things, sending the unnecessary stuff to the secondary one.
Well, today I’ve discovered a similar device, which might be a great alternative for all of those out there who are searching for a second screen and can’t make up their minds, as they’re lacking information. Therefore, Nanovision, a Korean company, presents the Mimo USB LCD mini monitor, another choice if Century’s one doesn’t satisfy your requirements.
We all need, at a certain point, a little more real estate on our computer screen, there’s no doubt about it. So plug one of these 7-inch Mimo displays into a USB port, install the included software and you have instant convenience. The Mimo UM-710 shows up in your Display Settings control panel just like any other monitor, and you can drag any window or widget onto it for your viewing pleasure. A great thing about this device is that you can even connect multiples to the same PC without need for any special video card. More than that, each mini-widescreen features a sharp 800 x 480 display resolution, and can be rotated into landscape or portrait modes.
This way, you can drop an email window onto it, so that you keep an eye on that as you go about more important stuff. You have now the chance to park weather widgets on it, an RSS feed, reminders and to add screen real estate to a small, go-to area.
The $78 UM-710 model is the basic version, while the UM-750, which costs $147, is provided with a touchscreen, a built-in webcam and a DMB television tuner (which works only in Korea thus far). At this point, this mini Mimo displays are only available in Korea, but hopefully they will find their way beyond state boundaries at some point in the near future. For now, you should be content with admiring the devices from afar, surfing the Funshop Korea website.
(Source technabob.com)
Posted in Computer Gadgets | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 16th, 2008 |
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You know how they say: two is better than one! And this one applies also with the monitor for your computer. Yes, it’s true, most of the genuine geeks out there have two monitors of equal size, but for those who just want a tiny little screen for checking an application or two, this device is perfect for you.
A company called Century Japan has presented a cool device that is also known as an alternative LCD screen and it’s codenamed LCD-4300U. With an official sell and launch in Japan in the middle or late November, this USB powered 4.3-inch LCD is the ideal companion for anyone on the go who wants a second screen. Think of this Century LCD-4300U as a way to improve your performance when working on a laptop, or to keep your attention focused on the main while the unnecessary stuff goes for the secondary screen, whether it’s a MSN conversation or your RSS reader.
If a 4.3-inch digital photo frame may not get much attention in the already commoditized market, but a 4.3-inch WVGA display might catch your eye. Because this fairly unique miniature USB monitor is both portable and environmentally friendly. You see, this display is powered by the USB bus itself and will not pollute the planet as well as other tech devices are prone to do.
Don’t tell me you don’t know what to do with a second screen! It’s simple – if you’re working on a very important project that you have to finish in a very short deadline, you can concentrate on your main screen, and send your “social” stuff on the second screen. This way, you can easily save precious time flicking between windows and tabs. You might be suggested by all sorts of people that communication stream should be turned off while working on all of those things, but that’s not very modern-day office, is it?
Compatible with Windows XP/Vista or MAC (with Intel CPU), the Century LCD-4300U features a 800 x 480 WVGA resolution and boasts the image with 200cd/m3 lumens brightness. In addition, the company confirmed that up to seven of these small screens can be hooked-up to a single PC.
Measuring 77 x 127 x 17 mm, the Century Japan LCD-4300U will cost you £120 asking price (plus shipping from the far east) and whether you want to purchase it or not it’s a matter of your personal net addiction.
(Source coolest-gadgets.com)
Posted in Computer Gadgets | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 16th, 2008 |
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When I enter my room and have a short look (short because I just can’t stand the pain for any longer) under my working desk, I feel how cold shivers move down my back. I know what’s down there, it’s not the first time to analyze the place, but seeing that unaesthetic bunch of cables and power strips lying around is driving me crazy, because I imagine how colonies of little dust monsters are collected there, ready to attack the person who gave them the permission to exist, in the first place. Is it fair?
However, there might be a solution for this problem. The CableBox Out-of-sight Cable Storage will help me keep everything neat and tidy, because, after all, the place you live in and the way it looks like are the first signs about the type of person you are.
Underneath or on top of the desk, next to the computer or behind the TV, loose tangled cables are always dust traps and make things look quite messy. And the CableBox will solve these issues. The only thing you should do is to simply place your power strips or surge protector inside the CableBox and there’s no need for you to unplug anything first. Then stow away the surplus cable lengths, close the lid and your job is done. Designed with cable outlets on either side of the enclosure, CableBox will fit almost any size power strip with extra space for the cords, adapters and so on.
Using the CableBox helps you gain more space and this is what you were looking for, isn’t it? Designed to fit all shapes and sizes of surge protectors and power strips, the fire retardant plastic lid is also the perfect spot to place connected devices. Included rubber feet prevent it from slipping.
The CableBox is available in Black or White and measures 15.6 x 6 x 5.3 inches (40 x 15.4 x 13.4 cm). This nifty home improvement idea can be purchased for $24.99 from BlueLounge.com or ThinkGeek.com.
(Source coolest-gadgets.com)
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Monday, October 6th, 2008 |
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I have written before about an ergonomic mouse device, the Switch Mouse, released by the world’s better-known manufacturer of ergonomic products for the office, Humanscale. It’s very important for such companies to become aware of the fact that spending lots of hours each day in front of a computer is a widely spread activity and people must do that in maximum comfort and with minimal long-term health risks.
Clicking and scrolling on a regular basis is one of the causes that can lead to pain in the hands, arms, and even in the neck and shoulders. This is why scientists at the medical universities of Rotterdam and Maastricht have intensely dwelled on the problem and developed a new mouse called Handshoe Mouse which combines the state of the art design with usability.
The objective was to develop a contour which ensures a relaxed hand position and the resulting shape does precisely that. In other words, designers tried to create something like the best ergonomic mouse. In order to use the switches and scroll wheel, all you need is a minor contraction of the muscles of the fingers, contrary to conventional computer mouse which requires continuous lifting of the fingers and thus muscle action.
Scientists at the medical universities mentioned above started their research from a very specific purpose, to develop a mouse that is as healthy as a mouse can be. In order to do that, they measured muscular tension in the hands and arms of mouse users and analyzed control behavior over a period of 4 years. The conclusion was surprising: the test subjects had an unnecessary strong muscular tension, even when they are not using the mouse. Project Leader Prof. Dr. Snijders brings the explanation for something like this to happen: “It immediately became clear to us that this is an important part of RSI problems (repetitive strain injury). For the tension in the fingers also directly affects the muscle groups in the neck and shoulders”.
Therefore, they aimed at reducing as much as possible the muscular tension in the fingers, which makes the use of the mouse device a whole lot difficult. Snijders said that “we put the whole hand – id est the ball of the thumb – on the mouse in a relaxed fashion”. In addition, the Handshoe provides control and relief to the affected muscles.
The Handshoe is available in three sizes for the right hand: small, medium and large, so that the ergonomic design could work for anyone of you. To find out which size of the mouse fits your hand, you have to measure on the inside of the stretched out hand, the distance from your wrist (the cross over between hand and arm) up to the tip of the ring finger. This length provides an indication of the required size: length up to around 170 mm is small, from around 170 mm up to 190 mm is medium and larger than 190 mm is large. You have correctly measured the size when the wrist rests comfortably on the tail-end, the second joint of the thumb (proximal phalanx) rests on the thumb rest and the finger tips do not, or just lightly, touch the desktop. The finger tips should be near the lower edge of the buttons, close to the desktop.
The Handshoe Mouse is not only comfortable, but also nice to look at thanks to its special shape, and it’s available in three different colors: deep black, pearly white and high tech transparent. The device is compatible with Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT, XP or Vista, with Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X and with Unix, and can be used as soon as it has been plugged into any USB port. It has an 800dpi precision optical tracking, twice the tracking precision of many other optical mice.
The Handshoe Mouse is now available on its official website for an amount of $119.95, for North America and Canada, and €119.95 ($166) for the rest of the world.
(Source Techpin)
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