By Andrew Liszewski

A few years ago Microsoft Research showed off a prototype camera called the SenseCam which took a unique approach to photography. Instead of pulling out your camera to snap a random moment for posterity, the SenseCam is worn hanging from your neck all day and thanks to light, infrared (body heat) and other sensors, the camera’s fish eye lens continually snaps photos of your life. And a built-in intervalometer can even keep it capturing life’s little moments every 30 seconds, no matter how boring or mundane they may be.

The SenseCam was never available as an actual purchasable product from Microsoft, but a UK-based company called Vicon Motion Systems has licensed the technology for their Vicon Revue, which is essentially the exact same thing. Besides the obvious uses for creating documentaries and not-so-interesting YouTube time lapse videos, Vicon Motion Systems seems to be marketing the Revue as a useful tool for those suffering from memory impairment conditions like Alzheimer’s.

The included Revue Desktop software allows you to organize and annotate photos at the end of the day, though that could be a heck of a lot of work given the Revue’s battery is good for 12 continuous hours. And if you think it looks like a fun way to capture your life, the ~$775 (£500) price tag seems to be discouraging people from ordering one for just novelty use.

[ Vicon Revue ] VIA [ Gizmag ]

By David Ponce

I’m fairly sure that I don’t need to do much evangelizing on the iPod Touch 4th generation. This is Apple’s latest and includes pretty much everything an iPhone 4 has, minus the calling. It’s like a mini iPad, only better. (This is some kind of joke, though you’re not required to get it…) And you can either buy the 8GB model straight from Apple and pay $229. Or you can buy it through LogicBuy’s deal for $205, which is $24 less, and get a $25 Amazon gift card thrown in the mix. It’s the same product either way, so why not save?

[ $24 Off iPod Touch (4th Gen) Plus $25 Amazon Gift Card ] VIA [ LogicBuy ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Back in July we reviewed a handful of Powermat accessories, including their Receiver Hard Case for the iPhone 3G & 3GS. While we liked the convenience of being able to just set the iPhone down and have it start charging, it came at the cost of a fairly bulky case plagued by an inductive coil on the back that stuck out like a sore thumb.

But half a year later not only do we have a new and improved iPhone, but also a new and improved Powermat case to go with it. And let’s just say ‘improved’ is an understatement. From our own testing we found that Powermat has addressed most of the issues with their case designed for the 3G & 3GS, and left us with a wireless charging solution for the iPhone 4 with minimal compromises. More after the jump.

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By Andrew Liszewski

For a mere $7.95 from Archie McPhee you can fool your less intellectually-gifted Christmas guests into thinking you’ve got a top-of-the-line icebox in the kitchen. This magnet is made to look like one of those built-in water & ice dispensers, though if your guests try and use it they’ll be rather upset to learn that not only is it not real, but they won’t be able to enjoy a glass of gravy, nacho cheese or even fries at the push of a button. Worst-dinner party-ever!

[ Refrigerator Upgrade Magnet ] VIA [ 7Gadgets ]

By Andrew Liszewski

The YikeBike caught our attention last year as another electric commuter alternative to a car, like the Segway. But unlike the Segway, which was banned left and right when it became available, you probably won’t have any trouble riding the YikeBike around city streets since it mostly looks like you’re just riding a bicycle. Made of carbon-fiber the YB is capable of going up to 6.2 miles on a single charge, and tops out around 14mph. Not exactly Chevy Volt ranges or speeds, but it should suffice if you live and work in an urban area. And since it folds down, you’ll never have to worry about finding parking.

And while it might provide a bit of sticker shock if you’re trying to decide between the YikeBike and a regular bicycle, last year the company was estimating a price tag of ~$5,500, where as you can officially buy one now in the U.S. for ‘just’ $3,595. I don’t know if it’s a case of them grossly overestimating the cost to make it seem slightly more affordable when it actually went on sale, but it’s a nice change when something so unique ends up costing less than expected. (COUGH! OLPC COUGH!)

[ YikeBike ] VIA [ Wired Gadget Lab ]

Like myself, I’m pretty sure the first foray into personal computers for a lot of you was the Commodore 64. But if it wasn’t, and you’ve wondered why so many people are fond of that brownish, taupe over-sized keyboard, now’s your chance to experience it for yourself. Commodore USA has just posted a collection of specs and photos of their new Commodore 64x, which is an updated version of the original.

The new C64x however is a fully functioning PC as we know it today, with a mini-ITX PC motherboard featuring a Dual Core 525 Atom processor, an NVIDIA Ion2 graphics chipset, 2GB of RAM expandable to 4, a Blu-ray drive and all the ports and connectors we’ve come to expect. It’s also got Cherry brand key switches so the keyboard feels like those beloved IBM keyboards of yesteryear. But most important of all, the C64x lets you boot into an authentic Commodore 64 emulator for loading classic titles. How I’ve managed to live all these years without access to Print Shop Deluxe is beyond me.

[ Commodore USA - Commodore 64x ] VIA [ Chip Chick ]

By Chris Scott Barr

I have a DSLR, and let me tell you, carrying around something as bulky and expensive as that can be terrifying. Slung around one shoulder and hanging just above my hip, that thing is just one smacked wall away from destruction. Granted, I’ve had it for almost three years now, and it has only managed to take a couple of small scratches from my clumsiness. However, it would be nice if there were a better way to protect it, without keeping it stashed in a protective carrying case.

One company does offer a solution unlike any I’ve seen before. It’s a silicon body armor for your camera, along with a protective armor ring for your lens and cover for your LCD. Each piece of armor is specifically designed for a different camera model, making sure that it is a perfect fit. It might not help it survive in a particularly crushing impact, but everyday bumps and smacks might have a lessened effect on your camera if it has one of these. The best part is that the armor only costs $40. I’d say that’s well worth the money.

[ Camera Armor ] VIA [ PetaPixel ]

By David Ponce

As I’m sure most of you know, the Dell XPS 15 is a 15 inch gaming laptop. They tend to be (like most gaming rigs) a little on the expensive side, so it’s to see prices drop. So not only is there a $290 on this model, you also get a $100 gift card sent to you with your purchase. At $1,149, you get a Core i7 model with 6GB DDR3 and 2GB NVIDIA GeForce 435M graphics. Matter of fact, here’s a little more on the machines:

The New Dell XPS laptops feature anodized aluminum display back, brushed aluminum palmrest and diamond cut trim around they keyboard and touchpad area. Also sports Skype-certified 720p HD webcam, JBL designed & certified speakers with Waves MaxxAudio and optional backlit keyboard, 9-cell battery, integrated TV tuner, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, 9-in-1 Card Reader, USB 2.0/eSATA combo port with PowerShare, USB 3.0 (on XPS 15 & XPS 17 only) and more.

[ Dell XPS 15 At $1,149 Plus $100 Gift Card Thrown In ] VIA [ LogicBuy ]

By Andrew Liszewski

What it lacks in subtlety, XCM’s HDMI Capsule switcher makes up for in simple usefulness. I’m hesitant to call it a run-of-the-mill HDMI switcher though. Technically all it’s really designed to do is switch between 4 connected HDMI sources, but its frosted plastic housing hides a rainbow of surprises. Literally! The box glows either green, blue, red or yellow depending on which input is selected. So if you color coordinate it with your gear properly, you should be able to see what’s currently selected at a glance from across the room. Available from importers like Play-Asia.com for ~$30.

[ XCM's HDMI Capsule Switcher ]