Archive for the ‘USB Gadgets’ Category
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 |
<-125x125 Button - left->
Imagination has no boundaries, I’ve said it before, and I could say it over and over again. Whether we’re fully aware of the development of mankind or not, we witness the immeasurable creativity of the human mind on a regular basis. It’s like an explosion that can’t be stopped, whatsoever, the primordial Big Bang that created the universe and reinvents it day by day.
Maybe I wasn’t born to be an inventor, I’m pretty sure about that, but I can’t explain myself how people come up with all sorts of unbelievable concepts. I, for example, have always thought that food has one purpose and one purpose only: to be eaten. It’s the tragic destiny of fruits and vegetables and I’m mildly sympathetic. It’s hard to be one, when you are not left alone and your life comes to an end earlier than expected. But what’s better: a sudden end or a bunch of ingenious people having you sculptured according to their imagination?
In this context, toast printers shouldn’t take us by surprise. They are not something new, but one of the finalists in the design competition run by the appliance manufacturer Electrolux brought a novelty which made everyone talk about it. It’s a scanner designed to print out any graphic or text onto a slice of bread and it’s said to be the first internet-enabled toasting printing appliance. I don’t know where this fascination with burning images into toast comes from, but one thing is for sure: you can read your RSS feeds or the latest headlines at breakfast, from your slices of bread and then eat them.
The Scan Toaster was created by industrial designer Sung Bae Chang, student of Sejong University in South Korea, and submitted it in the 2008 Electrolux Design Lab contest which ends October 9 in Zurich, Switzerland.
The small printer is about the size of a CD case and connects to a computer via USB cable. Once you’ve plugged in the toaster to a free USB port and the slice of bread is in its place, pictures, logos, news and weather are downloaded and the software will start burning what you want.
The toaster features a network of toasting “modules”, meaning hot wires that rotate within a 30 degree radius and help burn the image or text onto the slice of bread. As far as printing elements are concerned, they are small enough to toast pixels at a fairly high resolution and with varying brightness (burnt-ness, in this case) and allow recognizable brownscale images.
The Scan Toaster is undoubtedly a very interesting concept, but it’s still in its design stage, so there are no plans to manufacture it on a mass scale. Although it’s fun to see what level technology can attain, I’m not sure I’d like my boyfriend to eat at breakfast a slice of bread with my face on it. For the only reason that having such a piece of art destroyed would be the greatest sin of them all.
(Source engadget.com)
Posted in Funny Gadgets, USB Gadgets | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 |
<-125x125 Button - left->
If what you’re looking for is a super small keyboard for your mobile device or your laptop, then a miniature device would be the perfect solution to your need. Maybe it’s easier for you to take it on the go wherever you travel, and it’s understandable. But show me the crazy man who’d like to torture himself to death by typing on a small keyboard, so small that the typing experience itself seems tinier than ever.
Ok, there’s nothing wrong with the keyboard. It’s a low keycap notebook keyboard with 56 keys including all the ones which are common to a standard keyboard like Caps Lock, Num Lock and function keys. Nothing unusual so far, isn’t it?
But let me tell you that this Super Tiny Keyboard measures 170 x 73 x 15mm and weighs 116 g. Pretty small, right? But it was you who wanted something small, lightweight and portable so that you wouldn’t have to worry about bringing the traditional, big and heavy keyboard when you are traveling.
In addition, the device comes in package with a USB retractable cable and has a mini-USB connector on the back. Therefore, you can plug it into whatever device you have, as long as it’s equipped with a working USB port.
I, for one, wouldn’t appreciate such a device for a day-to-day use, but I suppose it’s just reminiscence of the tiny laptops like the EEE from ASUS that had an impressive effect on the consumer.
The Super Tiny Keyboard is available on Brando’s website for an amount of $25.
(Source gadgets.boingboing.com)
Posted in Computer Gadgets, USB Gadgets | 3 Comments »
Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 |
Apart from allowing us to move around and run, our feet might also save our lives in some delicate situations. For instance, when in your cubical and playing a game or watching some porn instead of working on your report or whatever you are supposed to do, the sound of feet is how you know when someone is approaching your cubicle. This way you know you have to cease what you are doing an make it appear you were hard at work. But how exactly are you going to move that fast? Well, this is where your feet come “in handy”, but you still need the Stealth Switch.
With the foot-activated Stealth Switch you can easily avoid getting caught fooling around at your computer by your boss. First, you have to install the special software and plug the hidden foot switch in (it goes either between the keyboard and your computer, or just into an available USB port). Hide it under your desk and your feet can activate it whenever needed. When you activate the switch, it can hide the current window, hide all windows, or hide all windows except for specified windows. Keep in mind that it doesn’t just minimize windows, but totally erase from your screen. The Stealth Switch can also mute the sound, hide the taskbar, hide the desktop icons, and password protect the restore function. When the coast is clear, another quick tap and you are ready to get to “work” in no time.
The Stealth Switch is available at ThinkGeek for just $24.99.
Posted in USB Gadgets | No Comments »
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 |
So, you got your air conditioner running 24/7, but what about the comfort of your palms? Don’t know what you do with your hands all day long, I was actually referring to those times when you frantically type on your keyboard and your palms get all sweaty and sticky. I’d say we are lucky, because Thanko has come up with a new keyboard model dubbed Cooler USB.
Apparently, the Cooler USB keyboard works pretty much the same way as any other keyboard. Additionally, you can find special air vents in the palm rest area to keep those fingers and palms dry. Thanko even included a switch on the front end of the keyboard, so you can turn it off whenever you don’t need it. There is a group of three fans that will ensure you get an adequate amount of air to keep your hands dry as you type reports or play some fast paced RTS. The keyboard maker doesn’t say anything about the actual noise produced by the Cooler USB keyboard, but look on the bright side, you’ll never have to wipe your hands clean before shaking other people’s hands.
The Thanko Cooler USB keyboard will set you back $62.
Posted in USB Gadgets | No Comments »
Friday, February 22nd, 2008 |
The USB Pole Dancer is the perfect gift for a friend in the office, a bachelor’s party gag or the gadget loving guy.
The USB Pole Dancer is powered directly from the USB port on your PC and will entertain day or night. Three multi-colored disco lights in the base unit serve to recreate an authentic nightclub atmosphere.
See more details: Cables Unlimited USB Pole Dancer
Posted in USB Gadgets | No Comments »