The HTPC setup is becoming more and more the norm now than just a computer enthusiast project. Major manufacturer support for these projects is making HTPC creation easy enough for just about anyone. Logitech, Microsoft and Lenovo all have models that combine QWERTY keyboards with multimedia controls. The latest from IOGEAR improves on Logitech diNovo Mini’s design in several key areas.
The IOGEAR Mini Wireless Multimeda keyboard has a full QWERTY and combines it with a tiny pearl trackball for mouse control, all in a footprint measuring just 6.5″ x 4″. The trackball sensitivity can be controlled on the keyboard itself. However, the layout is definitely made for the right-handed, lefties will need to adjust. Nearly all keys are backlit and almost every key has an alternate function. There’s also a full top row of multi-function multimedia keys as well for volume and video player control. When you close the lid, the keyboard will automatically go into sleep mode for saving battery life. The wireless dongle achieves more than adequate range from a discrete nano-sized dongle, giving you about 30 ft. range. But has IOGEAR included enough features or lowered the price point enough to make it a serious competitor? Read the details to decide for yourself.
Normally you’d only need to carry an umbrella with you when it’s overcast and rainy (which seems like every single day where I’m at) but the Fanbrella looks like it’s also handy for days when the sun is beaming down. As umbrellas go it looks pretty non-descript, though I do like the use of plastic for the shaft and ribs ensuring they’re sturdy but won’t rust.
But what kind of justifies its expensive $79.95 price tag is a built-in motorized fan located underneath the canopy. It spins at 650 rpm refreshing the user with a constant downdraft, and the three plastic blades collapse along with the rest of the umbrella so it doesn’t have a bigger footprint when not in use. It does require a constant diet of 6xAA batteries crammed in the handle which keep the fan running for about 5 1/2 hours, which makes me wonder if a solar panel and rechargeable batteries could be integrated into its design somehow.
Remember when Sony’s VAIO P compact laptops first came out and the company’s ad campaign tried to convince us they could actually be stashed in your back pocket? We all had yet another good laugh at Sony’s expense, but it turns out if their ad agency had actually done their homework such a premise was actually plausible. The Tactical Pants Blog set out to find a pair of trousers that could hold the iPad 2 which is significantly larger than the VAIO P, and while there was definitely no perfect solution, there are a couple of options believe it or not.
The winning pair, Blackhawk’s Warrior Wear tactical pants are unfortunately discontinued, but they feature an enormous back pocket that could not only house the iPad 2, but also let the wearer actually walk around with it in tow. The 2 pictured above, the Kitana and Genuine Gear’s tactical pants scored a B and B- respectively in the blog’s testing, and while they were certainly able to carry the iPad 2 with minimal discomfort, you’ll have to give up any hope of being able to sit while one is stashed away.
Cambridge Consultants’ Prism through-wall radar product line has been around for a few years now, but the latest version, the 200c pictured above, is one of the more inconspicuous iterations. Using ultra-wideband signals the device is able to see through walls made of wood, concrete or bricks and provide a 3-D view of human movement and positions from front, side and overhead angles, making it easier to determine a threat situation before entering a building.
And because the latest version is one of the smallest and lightest yet, it can easily be hidden in a backpack allowing someone to simply lean back against a wall while wearing it to glean useful tactical info. The images produced by the Prism 200c system are then transmitted in real-time to a nearby PC or even a handheld device for analyzing, so the user doesn’t look like they’re actively spying on what’s going on inside. As for the price? Since it’s being targeted at police and military organizations, you’ll probably need a good chunk of government funding to afford one.
Sharper Image you’ve done it again! Your random Mad Libs style approach to product design (An iPhone dock with a built-in _________) has led to this mashup of classic 1970′s-era lighting with modern gadgetry. Called the Black Light in Stereo this awkward 4-foot long dock has a set of stereo speakers located at each end, bridged by a long, thin black light in-between that can either be left on steady, set to pulse or even react to the music being played with a ‘Music Response’ mode. It’s of course compatible with iPods as well as the iPhone, and it’s just $149.99 for the opportunity to purposely expose yourself to increased levels of ultraviolet light while rocking out!
One of the things I hate about clothes shopping is actually having to try things on in a cramped changing room. It would be nice if one size from one store fit as well as the same size from another, but that’s just not the case. And even though sizing may never be standardized, there’s still hope that clothes shopping doesn’t have to be as torturous as I find it to be.
mybestfit is a free full-body scanning service that provides you with a handy guide as to what size of clothing you’ll need at specific stores or brands like Levi’s, Eddie Bauer and the Gap. Instead of lasers, which I’m sure some people would be uncomfortable with, the scanning booth uses a ‘vertical wand’ array of 196 antennas that rely on radio waves to build up a 3D model of your body as it encircles you in about 10 or 15 seconds. (Amassing 200,000+ points of data.) From there your body shape and size is used to create a ‘mybestfit Shopping Guide’ telling you what size to choose for your favorite brands, hopefully making your shopping experience a little easier.
At the moment the only mybestfit scanner listed on the company’s website is in Pennsylvania, but hopefully more will be popping up in the near future… like specifically at the malls where I shop… I hope.
At first glance I thought this armor-like housing for the Xbox 360 Slim was a clever way to ‘lock-down’ your console and prevent it from getting easily pinched should someone break into your home looking for an easy score. But it turns out the Base Vault from Calibur11 is about as effective at preventing your console from being stolen as a decorative case would be to the iPhone. In other words, save for the slightly annoying feet sticking out at the bottom, thieves still won’t think twice about snatching it.
So what’s the point of using it? Well in this case it gives the Slim a bright, red finish (Vampire Red to be exact) and it provides it a little bit of extra protection, though from what I’m not sure. Those feet also make it a bit more stable if you prefer to use it standing on edge, plus there’s a handy molded hook on the side for hanging a controller. And since the 360 Slim doesn’t feature swappable faceplates like the original 360, it conveniently turns out that the company behind the Base Vault, Calibur11, happens to sell a similar line of customizable options compatible with the case. $59.95, available in a handful of different colors.
Related Tags: HTPC, keyboard, Reviews
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