At the start of their press conference today Casio said they’d be revolutionizing the digital camera market with a new P&S model. And while the industry hasn’t been completely shaken to its core by their new TRYX, I still think it’s going to be a very popular choice among consumers. The 12.1MP, back-illuminated CMOS sensor-equipped camera boasts a clever variable frame design which lets you do everything from propping it up on a desk to holding it like a camcorder for extra stability to even hanging it on a wall.
At just 0.59 inches thick it feels only slightly larger than a smartphone, and the majority of the body is composed of a 3-inch 460K pixel LCD display, with all of the controls integrated into its touchscreen UI. It also captures full 1080P HD video and even high speed clips up to 240fps if you’re willing to settle for a resolution of just 432×320. While the models on display after their press conference weren’t functional, the video demos of the TRYX also showed off a streamlined UI with clever features like a region-specific motion sensor shutter so if you were taking a self-groupshot for example you could snap the pic simply by waving your hand in the corner of the frame. Available in April for $249.99.
Unless they’re already gung-ho on saving the planet, it’s hard to make eco-friendly products seem exciting to the average consumer. But Dexim Santom’s replacement iPhone charger, which stops drawing power from an outlet once your iPod or iPhone is topped off, manages to catch your attention. It promises to reduce unnecessary standby power drain by up to 85%, but most people will only care about its eye-catching electroluminescent cord which has a glowing marching ants effect that shows the power flowing from the outlet to your device.
When your device is completely drained the animated effect runs at a fast pace, but it slows down once the charge level reaches 65% so you know when it’s more than half-charged. And once it’s completely charged, the glowing cord shuts off completely. Of course you may be wondering why an eco-friendly charging alternative wastes energy with a glowing effect, but according to the company’s reps the electroluminescent effect is a by-product of the power already flowing through the cable. Expect it to be available sometime in march for $39.99.
If you’re wanting an authentic looking lightsaber, then you’re probably going to look at purchasing one that’s been mass-produced. Generally the Force FX sabers are the go-to for authenticity. However, not everyone wants something that was built in a factory. After all, part of the jedi training is building your own lightsaber, and that’s exactly what Bradley Lewis has done.
Looking through the pictures on his website and watching the video below, this guy has thought of everything. Something you don’t see on most crafted sabers is the ability to open it up and see the “power crystal.” Granted, it’s actually just a set of LEDs, but who cares? If you have the time, patience, skills and tools, then you’ll find the step-by-step instructions on his site most helpful on your journey to become a jedi.
Wow, I can’t say I ever saw this one coming. After the company’s restructuring, General Motors realized the value of their OnStar service and has been trying to find new ways to further take advantage of the brand. This has led to smartphone apps letting users interact and monitor their vehicles, and new services integrating OnStar with social networks like Facebook. But today the General revealed just how far they want to expand the OnStar brand by introducing an OnStar-equipped standalone rearview mirror that can be installed in older GM vehicles, or more surprisingly, non-GM vehicles.
That’s right! If you’ve ever used the Sync system in your Ford and wished it had all the bells and whistles that OnStar does, your wish has come true. For $299, plus installation which is expected to run between $75 and $100, you can have your rearview mirror professionally replaced so that your vehicle can take advantage of the more popular OnStar features like turn-by-turn navigation, voice control, vehicle recovery, crash and emergency response and even hands-free calling. Of course some of the more advanced integration seen with GM’s current vehicle lineup isn’t available with this solution, but if you really want them just go buy a GM vehicle. In addition to the cost of the mirror and installation, there are also monthly or annual fees for the OnStar service which start at $18.95/month and go up to $199/year.
Well it’s no surprise that so far CES has already had more than its fair share of tablet announcements and reveals, not to mention a seemingly never-ending supply of accessories for the existing players on the market, like the iPad. So you might be thinking to yourself, another iPad folio OhGizmo!? Borrrring! But you know that’s not how we roll here on the OG.
When I happened upon the iDM70 at iHome’s booth today I noticed there was something different about this folio case, and that would be a built-in set of rechargeable stereo speakers. But since it uses those super-flat NXT panel speakers, the ‘Sound Sleeve’ really doesn’t look or feel any thicker than the other folio cases already on the market. A lithium-ion battery, which can be recharged via a built-in USB cable, provides the power, and the speakers connect to your iPad via its headphone jack, so volume is managed with the iPad’s standard controls. The case can also be reconfigured into one of six different positions depending on how you want to use it, but that feature is probably a given at this point.
Outside of musicians, performers and audiophiles, there hasn’t really been a push to get custom-fitted earphones into consumer’s hands. Yes, there are services that will make them for you, and they don’t quite cost a king’s ransom. But the process is complicated requiring you to make a mold of your ear by yourself, or visit someone who will do it for you. And that’s the part of the process that a Montreal-based company called Sonomax is trying to eliminate.
While you won’t be able to run out to the store and buy them anytime soon, today the company was showing off their Sculpted eers custom molded earphone system which can be made by anyone, by themselves, in just 4 minutes. The process looks fairly simple and straightforward too. The default silicone tips on the earphones are very soft and can be inflated like a balloon, but instead of pumping them full of air the headband fills them with a soft solution that fills your ear canal. So when they solidify after 4 minutes you’re left with a perfect fitting pair of custom earphones which provide better sound isolation than even the most expensive generic pairs you can buy.
Who knew that paper shredders could be a thing of beauty? CES 2011 is officially underway, and one of the first things to catch our eye at CES Unveiled was Black & Decker’s new iShred paper shredder. Besides sporting a retro-futuristic design with a glossy white plastic finish, the shredding slot is located on the front in a vertical orientation, which as far as I can tell only serves to keep the whole thing slim.
It’s a cross-cut shredder so all of your private docs end up as little bits of confetti, and everything falls into an easily accessible bin on the bottom which is contoured towards the top making it easier to empty without spilling little bits of paper. The size of the shredder makes me think it’s better suited to larger office environments rather than the home, but since the shredding head is fully enclosed you won’t have to worry about anyone, like little kids, from accidentally getting hurt. $99.99, available now in select stores.
I love my iPad, as it has a wide variety of uses. Unfortunately one of the things I don’t enjoy as much as I’d hoped is playing games on it. The screen is the perfect size for gaming, but the lack of any real ability to have physical controls is annoying. Yes, the same holds true for the iPhone, but for some reason it seems a bigger problem on the larger screen. Thankfully the people at Ten One Designs have a simple solution.
The Fling is a joystick that attaches to your iPad screen using a pair of suction cups. The joystick itself is made from a conductive material that allows it to be used on the touchscreen. It’s a clever way to get around an annoying issue. I’d still rather be able to plug in a real controller of some sort, but that seems like too much to ask. But for $25, I wouldn’t mind getting one of these.
With more and more of our time being spent in front of a display of one form or another, it’s about time that someone set their design expertise on upgrading the lowly, but oh so necessary, TV tray. And üutensil, makers of the Autonomous Saucier we brought you early last year, have done just that with their Picnicc tray.
Keeping with their policy of randomly doubling letters in pre-existing words, üutensil’s Picnicc features a cut-out cup holder at the top, contoured indents for keeping side dishes and plates in place, and a hidden magnet underneath designed to keep cutlery from sliding off onto the floor. And it’s done in a way that makes the Picnicc look very 21st century and modern. So when using it you’ll feel more like a futuristic space traveler than someone who was too lazy to clean off their dining table. Coming soon!
Related Tags: CES2011, Digital Cameras, Photography
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