The technology exists to make most of our compact gadgets even smaller than they already are. But unfortunately there’s a point where things get too small for human hands and fingers to operate. And that’s exactly what I thought the first time I saw the Swiftpoint mouse, which has been around for a while, but only recently available in North America. It’s smaller than even the smallest of travel-friendly mice offered by the likes of Logitech, and I wondered if its compact design traded functionality and usability for portability.
But it turns out my concerns were completely unfounded, and after only a few days the Swiftpoint has not only become my travel mouse of choice, but it’s even starting to encroach on my Apple Mighty Mouse’s territory for day-to-day use. I’ll explain why in my full review after the jump.
Not to knock those who enjoy a good cross-country run, but skiing seems to be a lot more fun when gravity does all the work for you. But not everyone has access to majestic peaks that make a downhill run possible, so that’s where the Skizee enters the picture. It’s kind of like a snowmobile minus the seat and front skids, which are replaced by a person wearing skis. So what you’re left with is just the tread part, powered by a 10.5 hp 4-stroke engine, which pushes a skier forward at what looks to be a pretty good clip based on the following video:
When folded down the Skizee can easily fit in the trunk of a car making it infinitely more portable than actual snowmobiles, which usually require their own trailer. But not surprisingly something this fun looking doesn’t come cheap. And in addition to buying a set of skis which aren’t included, the Skizee will set you back $2,500.
DSLRs are vastly superior to their point-and-shoot brethren when it comes to the quality of the picture taken. Unfortunately there is one area where the DSLR will always fall short in comparison, and that’s portability. The nature of these cameras means that they are always going to be bulky. That’s okay, because we’re willing to sacrifice portability to get that perfect shot. Of course that doesn’t mean we can’t find easier ways to carry them around.
This Loop from Luma is an interesting take on the camera strap. It’s designed as more of a sling, which is worn across the chest, allowing your camera to rest conveniently at your hip. What’s more, is that there are a variety of ways that you can attach it to your camera. Sure, you can use the existing strap loops, but if those don’t suit your needs, you have other options. One attachment allows you to mount the strap using your tripod mount (while not blocking access to your mounting screw). Another puts the point of contact on the lens (if you’re using a large telephoto lens). Comfort and convenience in the form of this strap will run you around $70.
I recently started using one of Jawbone’s ICON Bluetooth headsets after switching from a competitor’s product, and while I try and stay impartial when it comes to technology, let’s just say my eyes, or more appropriately my ears, have seen the light. But as is often the case, right after you upgrade one of your toys something newer immediately comes along, and in this case it’s Jawbone’s new ERA Bluetooth headset.
It’s got all of the features that have made Jawbone’s Bluetooth headsets popular so far including the latest version of their military-grade NoiseAssassin 3.0 technology which cancels out noise and wind so the person on the other end of a call can always hear you. And it will auto-adjust the sound of the incoming call as well so that you can always hear the person you’re talking to even in noisy situations. That’s further assisted by a new 10mm wideband speaker in the earpiece which Jawbone claims is 25% larger than the one used in previous models.
But what’s most interesting about the ERA is that Jawbone has given it the power of motion controls thanks to a built-in accelerometer, so it’s like having a little Wiimote sticking out of your ear. But instead of playing bowling, Jawbone’s MotionX technology lets you do things like answer calls by tapping the headset a couple of times, or shake it to automatically go into pairing mode. Nothing incredibly advanced just yet, but the foundation is there to do some really cool stuff later on I think. Available now directly from Jawbone for $129, and at brick and mortar stores in a few days.
LaCie recently teamed up with French luxury brand Christofle and their new Galet USB flash drive is the result of that partnership. Hand-crafted in France from precious silver the Galet is supposed to be a luxury accessory like a fine pen or a designer watch, and as such it has a luxurious ~$150 (£94.99) price tag to match. It’s a little hard to fathom why anyone would drop that much money on just 4GB of storage that isn’t some obscenely fast SSD, but LaCie has always been known for their high-design storage solutions, and I’m sure they won’t have much trouble finding willing buyers for this one.
Earlier in the week I was jealous of Minneapolis’ bus stop shelters which were decked out to look and function like real ovens as part of an advertising campaign by Caribou Coffee. And this week I turn my jealousy towards the public transit riders of San Francisco where Yahoo has equipped 20 Muni bus shelters with touch-capable digital video screens capable of playing a handful of simple games like shape puzzles and trivia.
But it’s not just a way to appease impatient riders or subtly hide a few advertisements. The displays are all networked together allowing you to compete against other riders, and when playing you even get to choose what neighborhood you’re from, scoring 100 points for your particular hood if you win. And to encourage participation, on January 28th the neighborhood who’s amassed the most points will get to enjoy an exclusive party with the band OK Go on February 5th.
Bring a touch of geek class to your next dinner party, or more likely D&D gathering, with this exposed circuit board candelabra. Instead of open flames it uses LEDs controlled by “advanced computer algorithms” to create the traditional flickering effect, and instead of being large enough to look at home on a grand piano, it’s almost small enough to squeeze inside an empty box of playing cards. It’s powered by a single 9V battery which doubles as a necessary stand when attached, and is available for just $9.25 from Perpetual Kid.
When you want to take your laptop out of the house, you likely put it in some kind of laptop bag or backpack. This allows you to easily carry the computer, along with any cords and accessories you might need. However, it can also add a lot of bulk, depending on which one you get. If you want to ditch the bag and just find an easier way to carry the laptop, why not add a handle to it?
The mBrace (get it?) is a conceptual handle for your unibody MacBook Pro. You just slip the handle through the opening beneath the screen. When the laptop is closed, the device puts pressure on the lip just above the top row of keys, rather than the actual hinge. You’ll then be able to carry around your laptop by the handle, instead of gripping it the usual way. To be honest, I’m not really sure that this design solves any existing problems, but if you want to help it along, you can back the project over at KickStarter.
The most practical use for a USB duplicator like this is to speed up the process of copying corporate info to a bunch of promotional USB flash drives you intend to give away at a trade show. If you’ve decided not to just let an outside company do it, whether for cost or security reasons. And thanks to the Nexcopy SSUSB160PC’s support of USB 3.0, that copying process will go even faster now. Assuming of course you’re using USB 3.0 flash drives.
But what company is already giving away USB 3.0 flash drives as promotional/informational items? And where do I find them? There were still companies at CES, arguably the most tech-friendly of trade shows, distributing their press kits on plastic discs! So I find it hard to believe that USB 3.0 flash drives have reached the point of being an affordable promotional item. The duplicator does become a little more useful if you’re looking to clone a pile of USB 3.0 external hard drives for your traveling sales team or something, but with a price tag of $1499 I’d say it’s probably smarter to just drag your feet for another year when these are more commonplace and a lot cheaper.
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