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Sidewinder Rolls Out
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Video Games,
Microsoft’s gaming mouse, the Sidewinder, has been unleashed. The device is cusomizeable for every game with its advanced software and accessories. It features three presets for switching between 400, 800, and 2000 dpi, or you can set it to your own specifications. It also has a one-button touch to Explorer games in Windows Vista. The mouse itself has weight cartridges, replaceable feet for glide, a wide metal scroll wheel, and an LCD display on the mouse itself. The Sidewinder carries a MSRP of $69.99 at Best Buy.
Read More 
| Microsoft
So we recently told you about the diskette notepad, made of actual floppy disks and lined paper. Clearly jealous, circuit boards are now seeking their share of the limelight, as you can now buy photo albums (remember those?) with a front and back cover made of these recycled computer parts. Each album has six plastic wallets that hold twelve 2.5 x 3” photos. What techie geek or digital camera-phile wouldn’t love this? Available for $17 USD.
Read More | Acorn Studios via Chip Chick
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The USB Roll-Up Drum Kit
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, USB, Music, PC / Laptop, Toys,
Is there anything that handy USB port can’t be used for? For instance, check out this cool USB-powered Roll-Up Drum Kit, which has 6 drum pads, and pre-programmed sets of music for genres such as rock, African and Jazz. You can also customize the drum sounds, record tracks to email to friends, and there’s even a tutorial. According to the website, the drums are compatible with Windows XP and Windows 2000, but there’s no mention of the persnickety Vista, so beware. We suggest you bring it in on your last day of work…to guarantee you go out with a bang. Check out the website for a demo video. Available for $28 USD.
Read More | My Virtual Zone
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The Coughing and Screaming Ashtray…Need We Say More?
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
If you have a loved one who smokes a lot, here’s a gag gift they’ll (hopefully) appreciate. It’s the self-explanatory Coughing and Screaming Ashtray—which looks like a real pair of healthy lungs. But place a cigarette on it and…you guessed it…the ashtray starts making hacking and screaming sounds. Gets your point across while tempered with a dose of laughter. Should be great fun at parties, just don’t invite that one self-righteous smoker (we all know one) who won’t appreciate the joke. Available for $10 USD.
Read More | Find Gift
For Ladies Only: The Miss Macgyver Tool Set
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
With so many women living on their own or with female roommates, we’re surprised this wasn’t invented sooner. The Miss MacGyver Tool Set is a cleverly-named collection of 5 tools, each in a pretty pink color, that perform a total of 45 functions! Includes a hammer, two sets of pliers, wire cutters, knives, screwdrivers, scissors, openers and much, much more. Plus, you get not one, but two pink tool belts! The set is lovely, feminine and means business—just like you. Available for $46.45 USD.
Read More | Latest Buy via Nerd Approved
Unboxing The XShot
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Smartphones, Misc. Tech, Movies, Product Reviews, Videos,
We just received an XShot, the cool little extension device that you attach to your still or video cam that allows you long and/or panoramic shots without the aid of an extra person. Its stainless steel shaft is indeed lightweight and extends 37-inches. The screw is a standard one used on tripods and it has the tilt capability of 180º. The company claims that it will fit in your pocket when closed (9-inches,) but those would have to be some pretty big jeans to accommodate it. It does, however, have a nice lanyard for carrying and a very comfortable rubber grip. Full review and demo after the jump.
Click to continue reading Unboxing The XShot
Read More | XShot LLC
Ever been too tired (or too drunk) to shake a martini, but wanted just one more fine shaken drink in the spirit of everyones espionage hero James Bond? The Perfect Temperature Martini Maker comes to the rescue. The automatic martini shaker features a temperature gauge to shake your martini to a perfect 34F without over shaking (and thus diluting the delightful concoction within.) The dream of drinks at the push of a button might finally be here.
Does it take some of the showmanship out of crafting the perfect drink? Yes! Does it add a touch of techno-gadget perfection to an otherwise gadget barren wet bar? HECK yes! Pick one up today for about $100.
Read More | Hammacher Schlemmer via Shiny Shiny
A Wintertime Treat: Warmkeyboard Heats Things Up
Posted by Jenny Lewis Categories: Accessories, USB, Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop, Peripherals,
Cube farm dwellers, say goodbye to stiff fingers. Uncontrollable climate control systems can often leave us with numb digits, something that all of the “Cozy Legs” heaters, blankets and trips to the coffee machine in the world can’t fix. Finally, someone has tried.
Whether you file this internally as just another USB accessory or a legitimate peripheral, Warmkeyboard has the potential to be useful in more than just the “inputting characters” way that your run-of-the-mill keyboard is. Like your run-of-the-mill keyboard, it’s a standard 104-key plug and play keyboard with media hotkeys. However, unlike your standard issue keyboard it has heating elements underneath the keys that keep your fingers nice and toasty while you work.
Powered by both the USB plug and an AC adapter (unfortunately you can’t type AND be warm without two power sources), Warmkeyboard can be yours for $49.99.
If you have ever considered going into the poster making business, HP Korea has released its HP Scitex TJ8500. The printer can produce up to 70 sheets/hour at 336 dpi. In addition, it can make 140 1.5 m X 1.8 m posters per hour and 100 billboards in 8 hours. Their environmentally friendly UV850 Supreme ink will work on vinyl, banners, canvas, and self-adhesive materials, as well as untreated material. Check with HP for availability and price on the Scitex.
Frustrated on a trip to Paris when he wanted to take pictures with his family, Michael Daoud couldn’t get a decent background. Lo and behold, the XShot was born. The telescopic rod attaches to most compact digital single-shot and video cams with a built-in thumb screw. Adjust the angle, set the timer, extend the device, and shoot away. Daoud claims that it has a reach of over 3 feet and can handle up to a 5 person shot. The XShot weighs only 3.9 oz. and will fit in your pocket when not in use. We think, aside from the ingenuity, the best part is the affordable $24.95 price tag.
Read More | XShot Product Page
