Gadget Access

This is one of those gadgets you can only get away with if you’re either married, very old or completely shameless.  It is a solar fan which attaches to the bill of your hat to keep you cool while out antiquing or whatever it is people do that wear strange hats.  This ranks up there with the umbrella hats, both of them are just not right.  I realize when it is extremely hot and you’re stuck outdoors you have to do anything you can just to keep cool.

However, I’ll take a bandanna that’s been sitting in the freezer any day over this sort of thing.  That or if you’re female you can just store your underwear in the freezer.  Then you don’t look like a dork who just bought an attachment for their hat.  You just are secretly wearing undies that double as a Popsicle.  The fan is being sold by Brando  for $10.  It also has no battery, so if you’re planning on a hot evening, you’re out of luck.

Source: Ubergizmo

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You know how filling up a fridge’s front with your more memorable photos can be a fun thing to do? Well, that is now possible in a radically different manner with the Digital Fridge Photo Frame.

DigiFrame the digital magnetic photo frame is a stylish accessory for your home. Display up to 66 of your favorite digital photographs on the magnetic picture frame – downloaded via USB – and stick the digital photo frame to your fridge. You can even use this stylish fridge photo frame as picture frame for your desktop by simply folding down the back stand. Show off your loved ones and keep your treasured memories safe on a sharp LCD display with a generous 2.4 inch screen. All the most common file types like JPG are recognized and the built-in rechargeable battery of your USB digital photo frame can be powered up via any USB port - a full charge delivers 11 hours of life.

Unfortunately, the Digital Fridge Photo Frame is not compatible with Macs as the bundled software CD works with Windows-based computers only. You will be able to pick this up for £29.99 a pop.

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As promised, Nikon has started shipping its newest camera, the 12-megapixel D700 DSLR. The D700 is already listed at Ritz Camera and is retailing for $2,999.99 (body only). Ritz Camera said that it’s got limited supply of the D700 so if you’re keen on getting this new camera, you better hurry up and reserve your unit now. The store promises to deliver the D700 within 24 hours after an order is placed.

Looking back at our previous coverage of the D700, we told you that this camera packs a 12.1-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor complemented by Nikon’s EXPEED image processing technology, an ISO sensitivity of up to 6,400, continuous shooting speed of 5fps, a 3-inch VGA color display with 170-degree wide-angle viewing, two live shooting modes. In addition, the D700 is encased in magnesium alloy body. It also employs the Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System and Nikon’s Scene Recognition System. This is also Nikon’s first DSLR that comes with a built-in flash.

Product [Ritz] Via [I4U]

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Toshiba is very good at dominating the laptop market, and it looks like they have tried to make a new kind of ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC). 

This particular UMPC features an Atom processor with 64GB of ssd storage.  It has Windows Vista, as well as a GPS.  Not only does it have a lovely silver frame, but a 5.6-inch touchscreen. 

As you can see from the picture, the touchscreen allows for an intriguing keyboard for a double-handed interface.  I’ve never really seen anything like it before, but I’m certain that I am wrong. 

I mean if it were that innovative, wouldn’t Toshiba put this UMPC prototype into production. Can you believe that Toshiba isn’t going to put this out?  I believe the reason for this is that they say it is too small. 

Maybe they will change my mind after this entry to Gadgetell.  That’s right, Toshiba, the people have spoken, or, at least, they will speak. 

Via [Gizmodo]

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Here’s another touch-free gadget to add to your touch-free arsenal, a touchless faucet adaptor. All you need to do is attach this infrared-based adaptor to your existing water faucet. Just place your hands near the gadget and the water comes on. Not much more to it. There is an override switch so you can turn on/off the faucet manually (but that’s so 2007).

No need to hire a plumber to have this installed either. But you will need to get a few AAA batteries.

Gimme!
Price: $38.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Posted in Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 25th 2008 at 3:01AM
We’re still a bit gun shy when it comes to surfing over to PEAK Surgical’s website after watching that PlasmaBlade demonstration video, but a new release from the outfit affirms that said electrosurgery scalpel has just been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. The “tissue dissection system,” as it’s so gruesomely called, has been given 501(k) clearance, meaning that PEAK can now market its tool for use in general surgery. So, anxious to camp out and be the first in the country to get sliced and diced by one of these? Bombard your local hospitals with phone calls starting next month.

[Via MedGadget]

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Filed under: Misc. gadgets

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 24th 2008 at 9:15PM We know, we know — this one’s going to be a doozie, but it’s something that just has to be done. For folks out there too far from the reaches of GSM or simply unwilling to cough up the requisite dough to pay for AT&T’s comparatively pricey plans, we figure Kevin’s question will hit very close to home:

“What is the best alternative for the iPhone / iphone 3G? I am looking for a touchscreen phone that has most of what the iPhone can provide, such as media and decent web browsing. I am also looking for a device with a lower cost (with or without a new plan). Could you please help point me in the right direction?”

Feel free to dish our your best options for GSM and CDMA, particularly if you’ve wondered this yourself and found your answer. Keep it civilized down there, alright? Got a question you’d like to pose to Engadget’s fine, fine readers? Shoot it over to ask at engadget dawt com and hope for the best.

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Filed under: Ask Engadget, cellphones

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 24th 2008 at 7:02PM
You think your liquid-cooled rig is pretty snazzy, don’t you? After Purdue researchers get their technology on the streets, that stuff will seriously look like old hat. The team is working on a “miniature refrigeration system small enough to fit inside laptops and personal computers,” which would hopefully boost cooling performance while enabling computers to be smaller. According to Suresh Garimella, they have “a very good handle on the technology,” but it’s still a ways from being implemented in end products. Don’t worry though, we’re sure the likes of Alienware and Voodoo PC will have it up as optional equipment just as soon as it clears the quality assurance lab.

[Via TheFutureOfThings, thanks Iddo]

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Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 24th 2008 at 8:19PM
Nothing too fancy from Kingston Technology today, just a couple of more capacious flash drives and an all new one for good measure. For starters, the DataTraveler 400 with MigoSync software and the DT100 are both now available in roomy 16GB flavors. Meanwhile, the DT101 arrives on the scene with security software, capacities up to 8GB and in cyan, pink and yellow hues. Each of the newcomers should be available now, with the 16GB DT400 demanding $196, the 16GB DT100 costing $85 and the DT101 line ranging from $14 to $44.

[Via BIOS Magazine]

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Filed under: Storage

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 24th 2008 at 9:15PM We know, we know — this one’s going to be a doozie, but it’s something that just has to be done. For folks out there too far from the reaches of GSM or simply unwilling to cough up the requisite dough to pay for AT&T’s comparatively pricey plans, we figure Kevin’s question will hit very close to home:

“What is the best alternative for the iPhone / iphone 3G? I am looking for a touchscreen phone that has most of what the iPhone can provide, such as media and decent web browsing. I am also looking for a device with a lower cost (with or without a new plan). Could you please help point me in the right direction?”

Feel free to dish our your best options for GSM and CDMA, particularly if you’ve wondered this yourself and found your answer. Keep it civilized down there, alright? Got a question you’d like to pose to Engadget’s fine, fine readers? Shoot it over to ask at engadget dawt com and hope for the best.

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Filed under: Ask Engadget, cellphones