By Andrew Liszewski

While their website isn’t going to win any awards when it comes to design or usability, the twoeleven Foosball Table created by ‘id-entity’ does manage to score a few points in the design department. The curvy plastic finish would look great in any gaming room, and other features like an LED scoreboard behind each goalkeeper, a ball lift that looks like it’s made from carbon fiber and retractable cup holders add to the cool factor. But unfortunately the addition of LCD displays on each end just seems stupid. As far as I can tell they’re not tied into the game whatsoever, and they’re positioned in a way so that those actually playing foosball can’t see them. Not to mention the fact that they’re positioned under the cup holders, ensuring they’ll be coated in a sticky film after just a few days. Price and availability are unknown.

[ twoeleven Foosball Table ] VIA [ Be Sportier ]

By Andrew Liszewski

The Romans had many great ideas when it came to government and politics, so why not take a page out of the history books the next time there’s conflict-a-brewin’ at the office? This Inflatable Gladiator Combat kit comes with 2 inflatable shields, 2 inflatable helmets and most importantly, 2 inflatable maces. Just push the table and chairs to the side of the conference room and you’ve got your own miniature Colosseum where you can decide who’s turn it is to clean out the microwave. But you’ll probably want to consult with human resources (and maybe security) before you start introducing lions into the mix.

The Inflatable Gladiator Combat set is available from gadgetepoint.co.uk for about $16.00.

[ Inflatable Gladiator Combat ] VIA [ Nerd Approved ]

By Luke Anderson

Are you looking for a way to instill panic and fear into those nearby with only your MP3 player? Sure, you could go out and buy yourself a Zune, but you might just get pitied, rather than feared. No, what you really need to do is cram a Sansa Clip into a grenade housing.

Just look at that thing. If I didn’t know what was in it, I’d probably run like hell if I ever saw one. You’ve got ominous buttons, a switch and some sort of cord that’s probably connected to a wireless transmitter that will set off a chain reaction of explosions throughout the city. I really think the guy did a good job with this thing. By opting to use the buttons and switch that he did, it still has that military feel to it. You just have to wonder if he wears this thing on his belt while he’s out jogging.

[ Flickr ] VIA [ UberGizmo ]

By Luke Anderson

Whether you’re a Windows person or a Mac person (or even Linux for that matter), you have to admit that the folks over at Apple have style. When you look at almost any of their products, you can tell that a great deal of time and effort went into making everything look sleek, from the outer shell down to the user interface. I good example is Cover Flow, which lets you browse through your music selection by looking at the cover art of each individual album cover. Well it seems that another designer has decided to take that same idea, and move it into the physical world.

I’m trying to think of the last time that I went to a store and picked up a music CD. Whatever it was, you can bet the case is long gone. Those things are bulky and almost as useless as the disc contained within these days. However, if you’re just dying to show off five of your favorite cases, you could set them on a custom-designed shelf to look like you’re browsing them in cover flow. Thankfully this is only a concept design. First, this look could be achieved without a special shelf, those little grooves aren’t going to do a whole lot. Second, who still owns CD cases?’

VIA [ Coolest-Gadgets ]

By Evan Ackerman

This is the Quantum Concord C Lab QuantumGravity watch. I don’t know how it works, and neither does anyone else, but it certainly looks, um, intriguing. I also have no idea how you tell what time it is; I can only assume that there are some bits (like the external case) missing from this picture.

The one feature of this watch that we do know about is an aerial bi-axial Tourbillon mechanism, which is a gizmo that allows the important bits of the watch to freely rotate to keep them properly aligned with respect to gravity as the watch moves. Very cool, but it’s probably not as accurate as the waterproof solar powered atomic syncing watch that Casio gave out for free at its press conference (our lucky reader zedd zero is getting one of those in the mail), but for a purely mechanical watch, I’d imagine it does a pretty good job.

More details (and probably a price with a whole bunch of zeroes on the end) will be released March 26th; in the mean time, you can imagine how unpleasant the 48mm diameter case with a 22mm diameter depth would feel on your wrist and how you don’t really want one anyway.

[ Watchluxus ] VIA [ DVICE ]

By Evan Ackerman

Despite looking slightly wonky, ring flashes are really a worthwhile upgrade if you use flash a lot. Why? A flash is a monodirectional light source offset from your lens, and most of the time it casts weird shadows and fuglifies your pics. A ring flash solves this problem by emitting light from a circle around the lens, evenly lighting your subject and even creating some neat effects.

The Ray Flash is an attachment that sticks itself onto your existing flash (assuming you have an expensive Nikon or Canon external flash) and redirects the light through “a sophisticated system of internal light-shapers.” It’s not supposed to significantly alter the brightness of the flash, or change the color temperature.

A worthwhile upgrade it may be, but the Ray Flash costs a staggering $200 from ExpoImaging (the same people who brought you the ExpoDisc). I can’t fathom why it costs this much since as far as I can tell there’s no electronics in there… But, I guess it’s still cheaper than buying a second external flash unit to help cancel out those shadows, and leaves you only needing two hands instead of three.

[ Ray Flash ] VIA [ RFJ ]

Dear David,

For next year’s CES, I have some demands. First, a suite at the Wynn. Near the top, with a good view and an open bar. Second, one of those Hummer stretch limos to drive me to the LVCC with a license plate that says OG4EVR. Third, a bulletproof vest that I can wear on the show floor. The Jack Ellis press vest is “designed to provide media representatives with distinctive and comprehensive protection” and is “ideal for extended use in higher risk environments,” and will (hopefully) protect me from being stabbed by PR crazies with USB drives as well as from the impacts of out of control toys. There’s no price listed, and I’m sure it’s not cheap, but I’m worth it, right?

…Right?

Your faithful editor,

-Evan

[ Jack Ellis ] VIA [ RFJ ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Flash drives are finally reaching storage capacities where they’re actually useful as a backup tool, instead of just for transporting files. So at CES 2009, Sandisk introduced what they claim to be the first USB flash drive to include a dedicated ‘Backup’ button. What innovation! At the push of a button your specified files are automatically copied to the flash drive, and for extra peace of mind the drive’s got password protection and AES hardware encryption to keep your files safe and secure. The drives should be available sometime in April of this year in capacities ranging from 8GB to 64GB, and will sell for between $39.99 and $199.99.

[ SanDisk Ultra Backup USB Flash Drive ] VIA [ Uncrate ]

By Andrew Liszewski

As the story goes, this mind-blowingly great Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device replica (or ASHPD for short) was created by Flickr user emilyskeith’s boyfriend to compliment her Aperture Science Test Subject costume. Now since Hallowe’en is many months away, I assume the costume is for an upcoming convention or cosplay thing, and it’s safe to say if there’s a costume contest at all, she’s going to win hands down.

There are about 7 photos of the ASHPD from various angles on her Flickr page, and the attention to detail and subtle weathering on the gun are just fantastic. I’m sure I’m not the only one who wouldn’t mind shelling out a bit of coin to have one of these kicking around my apartment. You know… for emergencies and stuff.

[ Flickr - emilyskeith - Portal Gun ] VIA [ Kotaku ]