Gadget Access

The quintessential luggage-toting image of bookworms has long gone. Now, even more so with something like the Sony Reader Digital Book available.

The Sony Reader Digital Book can carry up to 160 ebooks in its 1/3-in. think frame. Weighing a mere 9 ounces, the Sony Reader is perfect for a bookworm on the go. You can download files from the Sony Ebook store, although you can also view files of various formats such as PDFs, texts, RTFs, Word documents and BBeBs. It features a six-inch display and boasts paper-like screen technology. You can use the Sony Reader until 7,500 page turns before the need for a recharge. In my opinion, this is the next best thing to the Amazon Kindle, especially since the Kindle costs a full USD$100 more. The Sony Reader Digital Ebook retails for USD$299.

via Techeblog

For the most part, keyboards don’t usually have a built-in trackball, but thanks to the Wireless Slim Keyboard, available at Brando, that can change.

As you can imagine, having a 800 DPI trackball on a keyboard is very useful for those situations when the normal mouse stops working. Or for example, if you forget to take the normal mouse, along with the keyboard.

It works with 4AA batteries, which can be considered its negative point. Other features include a small number of hot keys, for internet, my computer, and multimedia; and a wireless working mode via a USB transmitter - 2.4GHz Radio Frequency.

Price: $55

Product Page

Via GeekAlerts

It might not be classy to tackle butt-cleaning solutions, but hey, it’s a part of every day life. And hence, I bring to you, from the land of Japan, a complete butt-cleaning solution.

In CES 2008, Takagi has showcased the Takagi toilet seat. Based on what I’ve heard from Japanese friends, butt-cleaning toilet seats aren’t that uncommon in the country. For the rest of us, lower mortals, however, it’s a different matter. The toilet seat has the functionality to warm up (when your butt is feeling cold), wash you and then blow dry you. On a serious note, I think this would be especially helpful for patients with disabilities. The Takagi toilet seats will be available in the USA for USD$750.

via DVICE

What could be hotter than CES booth babes this year? The ultra-cool Sony XEL-1 LED TV! Yes, I did just do that.

This candy for your eyes is the first available LED TV in the United States and will cost early adopters a cool $2500 for an 11″ high definition screen. This new entrant into the US market signifies the beginning of the end for the old school LCDs and older school plasma that will quickly fade out of the market as additional LEDs come out at cheaper and cheaper prices. This geek’s estimate… OLEDs will outsell LCD and plasma TVs in 2011.

You want some specs on the XEL-1, well at 3mm thick it’s a bit hard to watch from the side. The OLED picture has a contrast ration of 1,000,000:1 which provide the deepest black levels on the market. If you’re green, you’ll be happy to learn that the OLED technology is 40% more efficient than traditional LCD panels and does not require the use of harmful mercury during it’s manufacturing process.

The Geeks have been following this emerging technology and are excited that it has finally come to market.

Click for a larger image.

Not only did we have the chance to stop by Blu-ray’s booth, but we also strolled through the HD DVD booth.  As you can see by the pictures in the photo gallery, the HD DVD booth was nice, but didn’t have that huge feeling that the Blu-ray camp had.  Maybe it’s because Blu-ray just stole another studio away from HD DVD, or maybe they just would rather spend their money on research and development than a booth at CES.  Either way, check out the pics below and let us know what you think…

Check out the gallery: CES 2008 Booth Tour: HD DVD

Posted Jan 12th 2008 9:24AM by Ryan Block
Filed under: CES, Meta
Hard to believe, but the 150,000 some-odd people that flooded into Vegas for CES have all gone home — including your Engadget editors. Sure, it wasn’t the most exciting CES in recent memory, but it wasn’t without merit, either. Why, just think of the eight thousand HDTVs announced, blockbuster format war news, or iriver’s unexpectedly show-stealing lineup. One thing’s certainly for sure: you demanded we give wall-to-wall coverage of CES, and we’d like to hope we did you right. See you at CES 2009 — and every day in between!

Gallery: Gear and loathing in Las Vegas - Engadget has left the building

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Check out our leaving Las Vegas posts from 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Posted Jan 12th 2008 9:03AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Portable Video, Wearables
It’s not often that we see a pair of new wearable PVRs within the span of 24 hours, but sure enough, Ajoka is launching its Belt Buckle DVR just after we peeked the VIEVU PVR-PRO. ‘Course, we’re fairly certain this one’s arriving a little late to be an official member of the “multifaceted belt buckle” fad, but with all the utility crammed into this one, it’s got a fair shot at gaining traction, regardless. As for specs, this hidden camera can record video at a paltry 176 x 144 resolution, and considering that no built-in memory is included, you better bring your own SD card. Also, you can transfer captures and recharge the battery via the USB port, but sadly, no price is disclosed.

Posted Jan 12th 2008 5:58AM by Ryan Block
Filed under: CES
The Tole Pure is alright, but the live demo was pretty awkward.

Now that CES 2008 has ended, it is time to look back and check the products that won awards. The Omnistat2 isn’t your normal thermostat, because it can even help you pay the energy bills.

Since it is a high-tech thermostat, the Omnistat2 can control with exaction two details of your home: temperature, and humidity. Afterwards, it is able to make adjustments in order to gain more efficiency, which in the end translates into less money for energy bills.

Sadly there is no information about the price, mostly because it is hot at CES. Expectations for the launch are on the 2Q.

PS - It was the Honoree Award for Design and Engineering in Home Appliances.

Via SlashGear

MacWorld reviews the Apple iPhone and writes, “On the iPhone’s back face is the tiny lens of its compact, two-megapixel camera. It doesn’t zoom and doesn’t work well in low light, but with still subjects in well-lit areas it produces nice results. It’s definitely more appropriate for fun shots when no other camera is around than as a replacement for your digital camera, even if your camera is five years old. (The camera also can’t record video, at least not with the current version of the iPhone’s software.)”

Read more about the Apple iPhone.