Most mice are designed to fit a wide variety of hand sizes, but the results aren’t always perfect. So Rainbow has created yet another mouse that can be customized via a set of 2 different covers. The ‘medium’ sized cover sits relatively flush to the mouse itself, while a ‘large’ sized cover appears to add a considerable amount of junk to the mouse’s trunk, fitting larger hands.
The mouse itself comes in 3 different flavors with varying levels of functionality, including a high-end wireless model, but they all seem to include a laser optical sensor, a scroll wheel and various programmable buttons. The basic, corded version is available for around $20(£12.99) while the fancy wireless model is about twice that at $40(£26.52).
If you’re the sort of audiophile that prefers to listen your music on vinyl, you’re no doubt aware of how un-portable your favorite music is. Not only are the records hard to tote around, but you’re probably going to need to bring your own player. If you’re dedicated enough to do this, then you might be interested in a rather small record player designed for the audiophile on the go.
The Crosley Revolution is a dual-speed turntable with portability in mind. It is battery-powered, so you’re not tied to a wall (though it doesn’t appear to have the option to be plugged in, which means you’ll need to keep a lot of AA batteries on hand). Other features include dual headphone jacks, stereo speakers and a carrying case. If you’re looking to digitalize your collection, there is even USB output (and the necessary software) for converting your records. Look for it on sale soon for $150.
Last week was National Robotics Week, and over on BotJunkie we posted a lot of great stuff, including a bunch of live event coverage. If you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s some highlights:
-Video of the first public demonstration of Stickybot III, the latest version of Stanford’s climbing robot that uses the same type of sticky material that gecko toes are made of to stick itself to a sheet of glass.
-Video from the back seat of Junior III, a robotic car that can drive (and park!) itself.
-Video demonstration of the world’s fastest industrial robot, the Adept Quattro, as it goes up against a moving platform controlled with a Wiimote.
There’s more coverage over on BotJunkie.com, so come check it out!
I’ll admit to being somewhat tempted by the Samurai Sword Handle Umbrella that ThinkGeek’s been selling. But when it’s raining I like to carry an umbrella that can be easily stashed in my bag, and that’s just not going to happen with one that’s 40 inches long. This miniature version however might just fit the bill. It’s got a faux samurai sword handle just like its bigger brother, but a compact, though historically inaccurate, design that I think I can live with. I just wish it wasn’t $50(¥4,650) when the ThinkGeek version is just $29.99.
Researchers at the University of Washington and Intel have come up with a clever way to expand the desktop real estate of a laptop, without increasing the size of the display or the hardware. Well, relatively speaking. Their Bonfire concept adds a set of cameras and compact pico projectors to either side of the laptop’s screen which projects onto the tabletop of wherever you’re working. Now besides functioning as an extra set of displays on either side of you, the cameras also allow for a certain level of real world interactivity. So for example, you could quickly ‘scan’ a photo by simply placing it next to your laptop, or the software could detect when you’ve removed and placed your headphones on the table, automatically pausing your music.
The concept was recently shown at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, and while the setup seen in the video is obviously a bit bulky at this point, the size of cameras and pico projectors will inevitably one day shrink to the point of making this concept totally plausible.
Designed to attach directly to your video capable DSLR’s hotshoe mount (though still requiring its own power source) the DP-SLR 5.6 inch HD monitor from SmallHD provides a better way to monitor what’s being recorded than your camera’s built-in LCD. The display’s 1200×800 resolution equates to a screen density of 270 pixels-per-inch, and a viewing angle of almost 180 degrees means multiple people on set, from the director to the DP, can huddle around and monitor what’s going on at the same time.
The DP-SLR’s chassis is made from a single piece of milled aluminum for strength and durability, but it only weighs in at about 10 ounces. As for connectivity, the standard unit, which sells for $899, includes HDMI, component and even a composite connection, while a more expensive $1,199 unit adds 3G/HD/SDI connections. (Apparently 3G-SDI is a new single cable serial link standard designed to replace dual link HD-SDI.)
While considerably more expensive than your typical magnesium flare, I like these LED Duro Flash alternatives which could end up being a lot cheaper in the long run, if you use a lot of flares. Made from a cast aluminum alloy they have no moving parts, not even an on/off switch, so they’re water and weatherproof. And even though they each weigh about 1lb, they’ve been tested to withstand weights up to to 20,000lbs, so they should easily survive being runover by even a tractor trailer if used on the side of a highway.
The kit includes 6 flares, either all blue, all red, or a 50/50 mix, and come in a carrying case which also serves as a charging dock. Once placed back in the case they’ll automatically turn off and start charging, and vice-versa, and on a single charge they’ll provide about 4 hours of illumination. Like I already mentioned, at $179.95 for the kit they’re a bit expensive to buy for a random emergency, but for law enforcement and highway patrol types who work at night, they’re probably way cheaper than going through a box of regular flares every day.
I know you guys are pretty excited about the HP Touchsmart that we’re giving away, but as we all know, there can be only one winner. Of course that doesn’t mean you can’t have a shot at winning something else. This week the folks at RichardSolo wants one of you to get their new 1800 battery backups that we mentioned a little while back.
The RichardSolo 1800 will charge up your mobile device at least once, with a little juice to spare. It’ll also give you a flashlight and laser pointer when you need them. Just drop us a comment and next Friday I’ll pick one of you at random to take home the prize.
When was the last time you actually read through an entire EULA? Unless I’ve encountered one that was only a couple of lines in length, I probably have never read one completely. After all, who wants to read through pages of legal mumbo-jumbo just so they can install something? Armed with this knowledge, British retailer GameStation acquired the souls of roughly 7,500 unsuspecting customers.
As part of an April Fool’s stunt, the company added the following clause to their Terms and Conditions page:
By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions. We reserve the right to serve such notice in 6 (six) foot high letters of fire, however we can accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by such an act.
Related Tags: Ergonomics, Mouse
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