Gadgets Connect

Posted Mar 3rd 2008 6:17PM by Darren MurphFiled under: Laptops Truth be told, the bona fide Optimus Maximus keyboard is still quite a few bills higher than most folks are willing to pay, which makes the likelihood of a similar layout hitting laptops anytime soon that much slimmer. Still, we’re sure the technology will become cheaper to produce over time, and we certainly dig any future that has products resembling the concept pictured above. (Read the full post about ‘Optimus Maximus keyboard for laptops? Yes, please.’…)

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Frontlines: Fuel of War proves that publishers can sometimes sabotage their own effort by choosing the wrong level to demo. The game’s fast-paced action and its gripping, chillingly real storyline work so much better in the final product than they did in the Xbox Live demo. The odd thing about that is that the demo level is much more fun inside the game, which probably has something to do with context. When Geek.com first looked at Frontlines, the game seemed like it was sadly going to fall into the realm of “just another Xbox 360 shooter.” In the Frontlines preview, we discussed how the game seemed like a censored version of Call of Duty 4, with mediocre controls, overly busy screens, and a clear political agenda. (Read the full post about ‘Review: Frontlines: Fuel of War for Xbox 360′…)

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Schwag bags and hangovers aren’t the only things we brought back from CES. We also got a stowaway in the form of Logitech’s diNovo Mini. Cracking open its stylish, black clamshell revealed everything we’ve ever wanted in a keyboard/remote hybrid: A full QWERTY layout, dedicated media buttons, and a mini trackpad. Paired with its rechargeable lithium-ion battery and Bluetooth connectivity, the Mini should’ve been the Holy Grail for home theater PC controllers. Unfortunately, when it came to pairing that style with actual functionality, Logitech balances things …poorly. Logitech had the right idea in bringing the keyboard to the living room, and that’s where the Mini truly shines. (Read the full post about ‘Review: Logitech DiNovo Mini Remote Masters Your PC/ Home Entertainment Center’…)

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Aah, the old "wire is wire" debate, in which demanding audiophiles insist or deny that you need premium cables to get decent sound. The latest ammo comes from a couple of wisacres at Audioholics, who did a blind listening test of of a high-end system where the only difference was the speaker connection — $100 Monster cables, premium Belden wire and straightened coat hangers. By and large, the panel couldn’t tell the difference.Do Coat Hangers Sound As Good Monster Cables? [The Consumerist] Tags: pvp, toys, DAB, ipod (Read the full post about ‘Coat Hanger Beats Pricey Audio Cables’…)

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Posted Mar 3rd 2008 6:23AM by Thomas RickerFiled under: cellphones, Features Regardless of the cause, we certainly like the trend of these enhanced touch-screen UIs dominating the high-end cellphone market. Now meet ASUS’ GUI slickness destined for their newest touchscreen devices including the ZX1. Starting with a Windows Mobile 6.1 core, ASUS slathers on a new customizable Multi-Home 3D interface meant to simplify access to your today screen, life and business applications. Think HTC’s TouchFlo only sexier. ASUS even threw in some “album cover flow” to the media app and the ability to more easily manipulate all your digital media with enhanced figure gestures. (Read the full post about ‘ASUS’ new touchscreen GUI prettifies Windows Mobile 6.1′…)

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The RoadRunner is a Bluetooth neckset. Similar in principle to bone-conduction speakers, the microphone picks up vibrations from your larynx and turns them into sound. Because it doesn’t rely on vibrations in air, it’s useful in the outdoors, and “when driving a convertible or a motorcycle.” Apart from looking very creepy, this is probably a little claustrophobic. To me, the claim “fits snugly around your neck” means “tight enough to provoke a gag reflex”. The $40 headset does have one unique feature, though. It’s “suitable for men with beards”, unlike any other Bluetooth headset. (Read the full post about ‘Bluetooth Headset Swallows Deep Throat Vibrations’…)

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I would say that many people who already own cell phones would probably have gone through a fair number of handsets in their entire lifetime. After all, I am already in my fifth cell phone today, changing one every couple of years or so. Well, what do you normally do with those old handsets and their batteries? Chances are you would have thrown it away without giving much though, and the stockpile of used and outdated electronic products are starting to clog up landfill sites, and those very sites get larger and larger each day. Should we continue to head in the same direction each day, the environment would definitely be under more stress than it can handle and it will buckle up one day, coming back to bite our children in the future. (Read the full post about ‘Green Cell battery concept’…)

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Posted Mar 3rd 2008 4:31AM by Ryan BlockFiled under: Misc. gadgets Wipe that look off your face, it should be completely clear by now that as time progresses, the probability of a concept or thing — any concept or thing — being made into some form of USB-powered device approaches one. Around here we just call it Engadget’s Law.[Via technabob]Tags: cool gear, MP3, cable, home cinema (Read the full post about ‘USB Boxer floats like a butterfly, stings like a 500mA USB current’…)

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Designer Nuno Teixeira has come up with the iView concept that features a wrap-around display complete with a secondary LCD built right into the back - making it suitable for students as well as those involved in the graphic design field. Why not go for broke in the concept by throwing in a couple more webcams? I’m willing to wager my family jewels that this concept won’t be materialized anytime soon, as the final retail price would be way too exorbitant for anyone. Tags: consumer electronics, wireless, Hi-fi, Ogg (Read the full post about ‘iView Concept’…)

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Looks like the Sigma DP1 has a date and price: according to their site, it’ll be out tomorrow for ¥89820, or about $850 US. Those that just can’t wait to find out more about this sucker should check out Pop Photo’s very early first impressions. Although they don’t have a lot of conclusions to make about it in their first 24 hours of testing, there’s certainly a sense of excitement in the air about a smallish point and shoot equipped with an over the top 14 megapixel FOVEON X2 CMOS pulled right out of Sigma’s SD14 DSLR. (Read the full post about ‘Sigma DP1 priced, dated, and manhandled’…)

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