the gadget guy

Sony Voice Recorder With Camera

2005-04-04T09:17:00.000-04:00

Sony Voice Recorder
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

This is kind of a strange concept. It's not a video camera, but a voice recorder with camera. I spend a lot of time dictating in my line of work and have never once thought to myself, "I wish I could take a picture" while I'm dictating.

From the press release:

"Those looking for convenience and organizational features for recording speeches, dictations, interviews or class lectures need search no further. Sony's new line of digital voice recorders provide compact, durable and visual components in high-quality recording.

Bringing voice recording to new heights, the ICD-CX50 model is a voice recorder with the added benefit of a built-in camera and color LCD screen.

To see a presenter, a 1.2 effective megapixel CCD camera is incorporated into the unit. The camera contains a 4X digital zoom to get closer to the object being photographed, and a 256MB flash memory to store up to 4,000 pictures (640 x 480 JPG). From thumbnails to folder names, information is displayed on the LCD, making it easier to navigate to and from desired screens."

It still seems odd to me, if you need to record and take pictures, why not just video tape the lecture? No pricing yet.

This One Goes To Eleven

2005-04-04T09:07:00.000-04:00

Powermate
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Most of us (especially us guys) can't resist the temptation to play with knobs. See a knob, turn a knob. Whether it is a car radio or a home stereo, it is almost as if we are preprogrammed to fiddle with them.

Griffn Technology has released what might be the ultitmate knob - the PowerMate:

"PowerMate is the coolest volume knob your computer has ever seen - but it's so much more. You can use it to edit home movies or scroll through long documents or create your next audio masterpiece. How can PowerMate be this cool? Because it's an assignable controller that you can program to do anything you want, in any application. Customize it to your needs and go wild!"

Pretty cool and useful. About $45.00, click on the headline for link.

Monday Morning Distractions - Squares

2005-04-04T08:57:00.000-04:00

My new favorite flash game should get you going this Monday morning. Take a driving disco/tech beat, add a simple concept - you are a black square, use your mouse to hit other black squares - don't hit a red square or game over, and voila! a great distraction for this week. Go ahead and play. You can thank me later.

Update - I screwed up. Big Time. Wrong link. Now it is correct. Still a great game. Give it a shot. My apologies!

Click on the headline for link.

Cheap Electronics Secrets - Sales Circular

2005-04-02T15:21:00.000-05:00

Sales Circular
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Hey, Gadget Guy, how do you know if that computer. mp3, camera, etc., is a good price? Well, besides checking Frrogle, I head on over to SalesCircular.com to see what some of the big brick and mortar stores are having on sale for the upcoming week.

It has listings for every state and a breakdown by electronics category. You never know what might be on sale -

Click on the headline for link.

Flash Player With Speaker

2005-04-02T14:30:00.000-05:00

Aiwa AW690
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

The Aiwa AW60 flash player includes a micro-speaker among its features, but to save space it was incorporated into the cap that goes over the USB plug. Sure, it probably sounds like crap, but at least it's there if you need it. I'd guess it's more useful for playing voice recordings than Jay-Z. There's only one other player with something similiar, the M-Bird XT-21.

The 4-color OLED screen is nice addition but the controls look a little simplistic to be much good for navigation. Other features include FM radio, line-in recording, 128mb-1gb capacity. No pricing or release date. (Via dapreview)

April Fools' Gadgets To Annoy Your Friends

2005-04-01T12:06:00.000-05:00

supriser
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

The Surpriser - light activated hysterical laughter that is timed to go off about 10 seconds after the light is turned on. Set it up in yout bathroom late at night - and wait for the fun (and the subsequent butt kicking).

About $10.00. Click on the headline for link.

But Does It Also Clean Your Balls?

2005-04-01T11:43:00.000-05:00

Robo Caddy
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Some days, I think my favorite part of writing about gadgets is thinking about the headlines to go along with them. Anyway, I am absolutely convinced that golf has some of the coolest, innovative and expensive gadgetry as any sport. Take this little number:

"This remote control cart shoulders your golf bag for you, so you can put all your energy into your game. The lightest and most maneuverable powered caddy available, the cart can make 360° turns and can even go in reverse (unlike other models) at the touch of the remote control.

Its pocket-sized remote control gives you complete forward, left, right, and reverse command up to 100 yards away, and the caddy can travel up to 6 mph."

Only $1,500.00, available from Hammacher Schlemmer. Click on the headline for link.

Follow That Lamp

2005-03-31T12:29:00.000-05:00

Solar Lamps
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Pretty cool looking collection of Solar Powered Motion Sculpture Lamps. From the website:

"This unique collection of solar powered decorative lamps provide soft, indirect lighting. The whimsical, animated wire sculptures are powered by directing a swiveling solar panel towards a sunny window or the lamp's bulb. A collection of original gifts!"

About $40.00. Click on the headline for link.

Roger That!

2005-03-31T11:56:00.000-05:00

Walkie Talkie Watches
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Man oh man, if I were a kid, I would love to have these. Imagine how cool it would be to pretend that you are Starsky, no wait, maybe Hutch (boy am I dating myself). I wouldn't even care if the device kept accurate time as long as I could press a button on my watch and say something cool like "10-4" over and over again.

I don't have a whole lot of information about the range on these walkie talkies since you apparently have to be a dealer in order to get true specs.

What I do know is that these are supposed to retail for about $50.00 a watch. Whatever the cost, they sure look like fun.

Float Like A Butterfly, Fall Like A Rock

2005-03-30T10:14:00.000-05:00

Hoverboard
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Who wouldn't want their own personal hovercraft? Admit it, ever since you watched the Jetson's as a kid you wanted either jet shoes, your own space craft or at the very least that gizmo that gets you showered and dressed automatically every morning.

Well, while we might be a few years away from a couple of these, you can build your own hoverboard to make do while we wait. "The hoverboard uses high performance hovercraft technology to lift a 200+lb rider 1 inch above the ground. A 6 horsepower 4-stroke gasoline engine spins a multi bladed propeller to force air under the craft."

You can buy the plans to build it yourself for $50.00; or buy it fully assembled for $9,000. Lots of videos on the website, click on the headline for link.

PowerSki JetBoard

2005-03-30T10:02:00.000-05:00

PowerSki JetBoard
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

How often does this happen to you? You want to go water skiing, but there's no one around to drive the boat. That's not a problem anymore. From the website:

"One of the most radical water toys ever invented, the PowerSkiJetBoard is an engineering masterpiece - the inventors have taken the form factor of a surfboard and built in an ingenuously small and flat 45 horsepower motor capable of propelling it to 40 mph. With the rear thrust, rail and the three fins beneath, the JetBoard carves better than anything else on water, tarmac or snow, generating G-forces up to 6G and enabling the rider to get almost horizontal (check the pics inside). The JetBoard never cavitates or slides out, enabling a standing rider to perform continuous, stable, high speed turns with slight shifts in weight."

About $7,000, click on the headline for link. (Via gizmag)

Radio Pen

2005-03-29T09:34:00.000-05:00

Radio Pen
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Other then the fact that this is so cheap, I'm not sure who the intended audience for this gadget is supposed to be. From the website:

"This clever ballpoint pen features a built-in FM digital scan tuner â great for private, discreet listening in libraries, offices...just about anywhere. Clip to your pocket for handsfree use with the included stereo earbuds. There's a handy volume control wheel on the cord that plugs into the top of the pen. Radio detaches from pen for independent use."

At least the price is right - about $10.00. Click on the headline for link.

What's Going On In Your Bedroom When You Are Not There (Wouldn't You Like To Know?)

2005-03-29T09:22:00.000-05:00

Camcorder Spy Clock
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Here's something for all of you paranoid types. "This low profile, fully functional and discreet LCD clock has a digital video camera hidden inside. The motion-activated camcorder will turn on and record full-motion video whenever someone moves into its wide field-of-view, then shut off automatically when activity stops. When you return, simply play the AVI digital video files through your computer or laptop using the included USB cable.

Unlike elaborate, expensive security cameras that require a VCR or television for playback, this discreet device is a simple, self-contained system that is ready to go right out of the box."

How much for this peace of mind? Only $199.00 from Sharper Image. Click on the headline for link.

Funky Spelling Alert - Phlat ball

2005-03-29T09:07:00.000-05:00

Phlat ball
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

From the website:

"Phlat Ball is half 6" ball and half 9" throwing disc and is taking Australia by storm.

You Phlatten the ball by squeezing the top and bottom together and it sticks in place, then throw it like a disc, and it pops out into a ball, which is really quite clever. The release from disc to ball is random, so you never quite know if you're going to be catching a ball or a disc. And of course if you happen to miss-throw it (heaven forbid) and it lands on an inconveniently placed roof, simply wait and when it pops into a ball shape it'll roll off - neat. Of course it's also great for travelling, as it packs flat, or rather 'phlat'."

Looks like fun, hopefully won't be too long before this hits the States. Click on the headline for link.

Desktop Cellular?

2005-03-28T10:02:00.000-05:00

Desktop Cellular
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Are you letting your long distance minutes go to waste each month? Ever wonder why you pay for a landline phone when the truth is, you make most of your calls from your cell phone anyway. The Universal Desktop Station aims to change all that:

"Enjoy the comfort of holding a regular handset or even talk hands-free while using your cellular minutes with the Universal Desktop Station, a wireless phone base station that charges your cell phone battery as you talk. This base station supports all cellular networks.

Use the Universal Desktop Station to make longer phone calls with your mobile phone, without consuming your mobile phone battery and without the discomfort associated with mobile phones. Its built-in speakerphone makes it possible to talk hands-free, and even using the handset, you'll be avoiding the risk of cell phone radiation"

About $65.00, click on the headline for link.

Time Marches On

2005-03-28T09:22:00.000-05:00

Robot Clock
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

This animated Robot Flip Clock literally moves. Held in place on your desk via the rubber feet, the Robot Flip Clock's legs swing when the numbers flip to create the image that the clock is moving towards you. Could be scary if you have deadline approaching.

This unique timepiece was created by designer Michael Daniel. It measures 8" x 3" x 8"H, comes with 2 C batteries and sells for around $80.00. Click on the headline for link.

Monday Morning Distractions - Paper Toss

2005-03-28T09:10:00.000-05:00

In honor of the NCAA Tournament, here's a little flash game that mimicks something that we have all done from time to time - shoot hoops with crumpled up pieces of paper. Add an oscillating office fan to the mix and adjust your shots accordingly. This should be good for killing a bunch of time this week. As always, click on the headline for link.

Next Killer Cell Phone Application?

2005-03-27T13:33:00.000-05:00

Motorola Screen3
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Motorola announced its new SCREEN3 service at CITA about two weeks ago. SCREEN3 is an always-on data service that pushes text and images to the idle screen of your handset. Kind of like the mid 90s screen-saver, Pointcast, SCREEN3 offers news, entertainment, weather and other configurable content that can be consumed passively by watching the idle screen; if you want more details, just click once to get the full story. This is undoubtedly the first appropriately designed experience of internet based content on a mobile phone.

The V551 will be the first handset with SCREEN3 , but be sure many will follow. (Via Josh Rubin:Cool Hunting)

Like A Car Wash For Your Mouth

2005-03-27T13:23:00.000-05:00

Hydra Brush Ultra
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Have you been eating Cadbury Eggs since 7:00 a.m.? Maybe you've nibbled the ears off of a couple (or 6 or 7) chocolate bunnies or have had so many Peeps that your teeth feel like a road sander just spread sugar crystals all over them.

Well, here's your solution. From the website for the HydraBrush Ultra:

"Other power brushes boast their high speed spinning action (4,000 rpm and more), speeds that generate a feeling of discomfort. HydraBrush on the other hand relies on accurate bristle positioning to obtain effectiveness, and as a result, the brushes can reciprocate at a fraction of the speed of other products, resulting in user enjoyment of a comfortable massage with every use.

In addition to six brushes, HydraBrush has four (4) water jets that effectively oral irrigate during the brushing process. HydraBrush is much more effective than other oral irrigation devices because the water jets are preset to an angle that directs the pressurized fluid precisely into the gingival pockets and between teeth, again eliminating the element of human error.

HydraBrush, with its six brushes and four water jets all working simultaneously, generates an oral cleansing with effectiveness far beyond that of any other oral care product. The cleaning process is also very enjoyable. A common testimonial of first-time HydraBrush users is along the lines of 'its like putting your teeth through an automatic car wash' just enjoy the ride and come out squeaky clean. Another common comment for first-time users is 'it feels like I just got a cleaning from my dentist.'"

About $179.00, click on headline for link.

Chew On This (Or I Must, I Must, I Must Improve My Bust)

2005-03-26T16:37:00.000-05:00

Bust Up Gum
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Some things you just can't make up. And being the magnanimous guy that I am, I consider this post a public service announcement. From the article:

"A chewing gum produced by a Japanese company can say the manufactures help enhance the size, shape and tone of the breasts.

The gum B2Up is proving to be a big hit say Bust-Up gum, when chewed three or four times a day, the chewy also improves circulation, reduces stress and battles ageing.

B2Up contains the plant extract, Pueraria mirifica and works by slowly releasing the compounds it contains.

This they say helps to keep the muscle tissue in good order, Pueraria mirifica, also known as Kwao Krua, is a species found in Thailand and Burma, and has been used by indigenous hill tribe people as a traditional medicine for generations.

The plant's tubers contain a number of chemicals called phytoestrogens, including miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol, these natural compounds which create the effects of the female sex hormone oestrogen, as they are very close in chemical structure to oestradiol, the main human oestrogen.

B2Up says that it is the effect of these two chemicals, coupled with a third phytooestrogen isoflavone, which makes its gum work."

Feel free to insert your own straight line in the comments section. Click on the headline for article.

Have A Funky Easter

2005-03-26T11:54:00.000-05:00

bunnies
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

I don't usually (in fact I never have) post links to flash animation sites, but in honor of the holidays, and given that I have been so busy playing with my new PSP (hands-on review to follow at some point), that I am posting this for your enjoyment.

Turn up the volume and click on the headline for link.

Free Software - Spell Check Everything!

2005-03-26T11:46:00.000-05:00

tinySpell
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Here's a great little program that will let you spell check your typing even from within applications that don't have a native spell checker - tinySpell.

From the website:

"Occasionally you need to check the spelling of words in an application that does not include a spelling checker and you don't want to launch your word processor just for that. This is when tinySpell becomes handy. It is a small utility that allows you to easily and quickly check the spelling of words in any Windows application. tinySpell monitors your typing on the fly and alerts you whenever it detects a misspelled word. It also checks the spelling of every word you copy to the clipboard.

tinySpell installs itself in the system tray for easy access. It comes with an American-English dictionary containing more than 110,000 words."

Click on the headline for download page. Did I mention that it's free?

Codename "The Color"

2005-03-25T12:17:00.000-05:00

Muro MR-200
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

I'm not quite sure why Muro felt it necessary to give its new MR-200 mp3 player a code name. It's not like this is some sort of "24" themed end of the world device which will require Keifer Sutherland to save us all at the last minute. Or is it?

"The color" measures only 60 x 38 x 17mm and packs a near-1-inch 65k color OLED screen for displaying MPEG-4 movies and JPEG pictures. Battery life isn't too shabby; some 13 hours per built-in li-polymer battery charge.

Next to MP3 and WMA, Ogg Vorbis is also supported. Direct-encoding can be done into WMA-format, while FM-tuner + recorder & voice recorder are also part of the deal. Of course, "the Color" also supports USB2.0.

Capacities and pricing not available yet. Keifer Sutherland sold separately.

End Of A Pick-Up Line?

2005-03-25T12:06:00.000-05:00

cigarettes
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

"Got a light" may soon go the way of "want to check out my mood ring" as a pick-up line. What am I talking about?

Well, we all know that bans on smoking and tobacco advertising are spreading like wildfire. But that hasn't stopped inventors coming up with ways to make smoking easier. The latest is a self-lighting cigarette designed by Gashbam Enterprises of Israel that does away with the need for matches and can be lit on a windy day.

The cigarette has a tip anointed with sulphur and phosphorus. Striking the tip against a rough pad on the side of the packet ignites the cigarette, which is reinforced with slivers of bamboo or tobacco leaf to stop it breaking.

Just great, next they'll invent a pill that gets you drunk and eliminates the need for going to bars, and millions of guys who wear long gold chains and big collared button down silk shirts will spend the rest of their lives wandering the streets on New York like lost deers caught in headlights. Let's all hope that *that* day never comes.

iBeam Watch

2005-03-24T11:39:00.000-05:00

iBeam Watch
Originally uploaded by thegadgetguy.

Here's a neat little gizmo that might actually make someone's life a little easier. It's a watch with a built in magnifying lens and light.

"By combining high-tech functions with a classic style, the patented iBEAM Optical Timepiece provides so much more than an ordinary watch. Built into the watch's face is an optically certified 5x magnifying lens that pops up at the touch of a button. This is especially handy when it comes to reading maps, menus, food labels, phone books, or even when you're partaking in your favorite hobby like coin or stamp collecting. You'll always have a magnifier on hand - or rather, on wrist!

Also discreetly hidden in the watch's casing is a high-powered LED flashlight. This light turns on and off with a touch of a button, and is excellent in cases where light is needed most, such as theater aisles, walkways, stairways, alleys, and car interiors."

About $100.00, click on the headline for link.