Gadget Access

If, like me, you think from time to time about switching from a PC to a Mac, you’ll want to check out Robert Jensen’s account of how, in the course of reviewing the new iMac, he fell in love and ended up buying one.

The lack of cable clutter is delightful, but of course the changeover is not quite seamless. I got interested in Mac potential when Apple’s Boot Camp and Parallels made it possible to use Windows programs on the Mac. There are a couple I just can’t give up.

But Jensen apparently is not taking that easy way out. He has just published the first in what he says is a series of tutorials describing what’s involved in transferring years of your life to a different operating system.

A Japanese company called D-Barcode has chosen to illustrate the fact that a little bit of creativity can do absolute wonders to the mundane aspects of everyday life – by unleashing their imagination on something as taken-for-granted as a barcode. By blending art into these unexciting lines of black, D-Barcode has elevated the status of a barcode from that of being simply functional to being a precious collectible.

Apparently, these arty barcodes are available on virtually all of Japan’s grocery items and have radically changed the shopping-for-grocery experience. Each one is a visual treat – a scorpion stuck in the zipper, couple on a couch, dangling strawberries, man lifting a heavy load and so many others. Fortunate are those that get to enjoy this fabulous art for free.

Via Fosfor gadgets.

I don’t have a non-digital camera anymore, but I do have a lot of old photos in boxes in the hall closet, and a lot of negatives to go with them. My mom even has boxes of slides in her hall closet.

Wouldn’t it be good if there was a way to turn old negatives and slides into digital photos? Enter

Firebox’s new scanner, which you plug into your computer via USB and then feed negatives or slides into. They are then transformed into good-quality digital images which you can crop, save and upload to photo-sharing sites (or whatever else you like to do with your digital pics).

Plus you can get rid of those old boxes of pics and finally have some room left in your hall closet: it’s win-win!

Buy it for $141.50.

I don’t have a non-digital camera anymore, but I do have a lot of old photos in boxes in the hall closet, and a lot of negatives to go with them. My mom even has boxes of slides in her hall closet.

Wouldn’t it be good if there was a way to turn old negatives and slides into digital photos? Enter

Firebox’s new scanner, which you plug into your computer via USB and then feed negatives or slides into. They are then transformed into good-quality digital images which you can crop, save and upload to photo-sharing sites (or whatever else you like to do with your digital pics).

Plus you can get rid of those old boxes of pics and finally have some room left in your hall closet: it’s win-win!

Buy it for $141.50.

Last weeks coolest gadget competition was the closest yet, as I’m typing this it is tied so I’ve reached out to Twitter followers for help decide the final winner (you can follow on Twitter at AlCarlton) and the lead then swapped 3 times before the voting was closed.

The final winner is the SL2 Survival Tool, so congratulations to Gaj-It on their return to winning ways.

The SL2 Survival Tool is a super-tough, compact and lightweight tool that is indispensable for anyone who’s into camping, fishing or hiking, and is an upgrade from our popular SL3.

As well as its sturdy little black and serrated locking ‘A’ grade blade, it comes with a remarkable firesteel (developed by the small, but, no doubt, perfectly formed, Swedish Defense Department) which will light fires with ease even in the wet - it produces an astonishing 3,000°C hot spark. The handle of the firesteel contains a small but powerful waterproof torch, and in the body of the SL2 is a piercing rescue whistle, as well as a handy belt clip. The SL Series Survival Tools make you wonder how anyone survived without them.

Pushed into second place by a solitary vote was the COM-BAT Spy Plane.

The COM-BAT is designed to provide short-term but real-time surveillance and feedback to soldiers in urban combat zones using a collection of sight, sound and smell sensors while running on 1 W of power. The Army is hoping that the spy plane could scavenge power from vibrations, wind and of course the sun, which the University of Michigan has a particular expertise in. The robot they believe is “to be 1,000 times smaller and more energy efficient than systems being used now.”

Well done Eco Talks, you were so close.

Shining into third place we have the Wicked Lasers Torchlight

There something always has been alluring about the lasers, perhaps it’s the idea of a futuristic society and a futuristic way of perpetuating violence, that makes us fall in love with lasers. However, this time it is a laser flashlight brought to you by Wicked Lasers, which can even burn paper easily

Well done gadgets Blog.

Thanks again to all voters, commentators and submissions (if you wish to be included in this weeks contest submit your story by Thursday (instructions)).

The randomly drawn $50 Amazon voucher for commenting goes to Kris, congrats. The voucher for telling a friend about the contest goes to Dipesh. Massive thanks again to everybody taking the time vote, comment and for spreading the word.

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Oh no, not another one of these video headsets that still have yet to catch on. This particular one that you see here is from camera giant Nikon and called the Media Port UP.

Most of these video headsets that we have reported on, like the myvu, are usually designed to take video files off of the ipod and make them a private experience for the viewer. I’ve got to give kudos to the Media Port UP because it is WiFi ready, and allows the user to view files with the Windows Media Player.

So, are we looking at the next stage of mobile computing? No more laptops or netbooks, but surf the web while you’re walking around. Well, it does have a memory of 4 to 8 gigabyte hard drive.

Other specs include 120 minutes of playback time for video, and 270 minutes of playback time for music. The Media Port UP is even designed with some hands-free operation. So when a user moves his or her head, it somehow affects the playing.

Not bad, but does it have to be so ugly? I mean, look at the lady in this picture. I feel like she should be telling me “Resistance is Futile”. Would it have been even more freaky if they designed it to view with two eyes. Right now, you should be able it at the Up Store for about $580.

Source

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Despite vehemently denying a new Kindle was on the way, it looks like Amazon is getting version 2.0 ready to go. Boy Genius Report picked up some pictures which seem to show the next generation of Amazon’s proprietary e-reading device.

The new-look Kindle has no SD card slot, a more rounded look (in fact, it looks bigger, which is a weird way to go, but it is apparently thinner) and has a more conventional keyboard. It also has the advantage over other readers like the Sony PRS-505 (and upcoming PRS-700 - seriously Sony, a catchy name is half the battle) in keeping the ability to wirelessly download books in minutes.

But there’s no confirmation from Amazon as to whether this is the final design, and no announcement on when to expect it in the US - or if those of us in Europe who have been loyal Amazon customers for years will ever get the chance to get our hands on one… please?

Via Crave.

Nyko is a name associated with gaming peripherals, and this time round they have announced its new Media Hub+ for the PS3. This peripheral is most useful for those rocking to a 40GB PS3 since that model has the least number of USB 2.0 ports, allowing you to gain another three USB 2.0 ports by plugging in the Media Hub+. In addition, it has a memory card slot that reads both SD and Memory Stick cards, further expanding its media capabilities without looking out of whack when connected to the PS3. Since it is self-installing and requires no additional power, the Media Hub+ is a snap to hook up and can be yours for $19.99.

Source: IGN

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by Darren Murph, posted Oct 6th 2008 at 7:59PM
Let’s be honest here — you skimped by snagging the 40GB playstation 3 back in the day, and now you’re in need of a few extra USB ports and a multicard reader. Thankfully, your fortunes have changed since the days of your original purchase, primarily due to your drunken decision to bet the farm on Seth Petruzelli over the weekend. Whatever the case, Nyko’s unsightly Media Hub+ — which adds a trio of USB sockets and a multicard reader to the 40GB PS3 — is finally available, and it’s just $19.99 for those with no shame in adding it to the face of their console. So, who’s tossing a brown grocery bag over their head and picking one of these up?

[Via IGN]

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Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 6th 2008 at 7:59PM
Let’s be honest here — you skimped by snagging the 40GB playstation 3 back in the day, and now you’re in need of a few extra USB ports and a multicard reader. Thankfully, your fortunes have changed since the days of your original purchase, primarily due to your drunken decision to bet the farm on Seth Petruzelli over the weekend. Whatever the case, Nyko’s unsightly Media Hub+ — which adds a trio of USB sockets and a multicard reader to the 40GB PS3 — is finally available, and it’s just $19.99 for those with no shame in adding it to the face of their console. So, who’s tossing a brown grocery bag over their head and picking one of these up?

[Via IGN]

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Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals