We don’t do a lot of coverage on tools and home improvement, but there was something just so primal about this, it got my Tim Taylor dander up.

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Or just Milwaukee) announced a cordless, compact electric ratchet that puts out 35 ft-lbs. of torque at 250 RPM.

That’s strong.

The tool weighs only 2 lbs. and can reach extremely right spaces, making it easier to remove nuts from tight spaces of a car without needing clearance to move a traditional ratchet.

“The M12 Cordless Ratchet not only provides a compact, battery-powered solution for one of the most widely used hand tools in the world, but also presents a clear and effective solution for users who are frustrated with the hassles of using pneumatic tools,” says Robert Shaw, product manager for cordless at Milwaukee. “The new cordless ratchets provide a portable solution for professionals who struggle with dirty, cumbersome air hoses and the inherent service costs of pneumatic tools on a daily basis.”

Here are the specs on the different models:

Specifications (2456-21)
30 ft-lbs of torque
250 RPM
1/4” Ball Detent Anvil
Length: 10-3/4”
Weight: 1.9 lbs
Includes 2456-20 M12™ 1/4″ Ratchet, (1) M12™ RED LITHIUM™ Battery, 30-Minute Charger & Carrying Case

Specifications (2456-20)
30 ft-lbs of torque
250 RPM
1/4” Ball Detent Anvil
Length: 10-3/4”
Weight: 1.9 lbs
Includes 2456-20 M12™ 1/4″ Ratchet (battery and charger sold separately)

Specifications (2457-21)
35 ft-lbs of torque
250 RPM
3/8” Ball Detent Anvil
Length: 10-3/4”
Weight: 1.9 lbs
Includes 2457-20 M12™ 3/8″ Ratchet, (1) M12™ RED LITHIUM™ Battery, 3/8” to 1/4” Adaptor, 30-Minute Charger & Carrying Case

Specifications (2457-20)
35 ft-lbs of torque
250 RPM
3/8” Ball Detent Anvil
Length: 10-3/4”
Weight: 1.9 lbs
Includes 2457-20 M12™ 3/8″ Ratchet (battery and charger sold separately)

Love binary code? You’re not alone (who knew).  After the successful launch of a 4 bit binary watch, Cadence Watch Companies made a binary wall clock to appease your inner nerd.

The wall clock will have a 13 1/4 diameter clock face, be battery operated and black in color.

“Following enthusiastic response among computer geeks in regards to the 4-Bit Watches, we are proud to give the home and office some attention,“ said Vanya Buvac, President of Cadence Watch Company. “The wall clock is subtle enough to disguise your inner geek, but stylish enough to hang proudly on you wall.”

The clock costs $68.00 and is available at http://cadencewatch.com/4bit-clock

Beezid.com is sponsoring the new weekly segment “Gadget Review” beginning Wednesday, September 7 on the live SModcast “Jay and Silent Bob Get Old.”

During the segment Jason Mewes (Jay) and Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) will review a new tech gadget. Each week, audience members will have the chance to win the featured product of the week, signed by Mewes and Smith. Also, everyone who enters the contest will be eligible to win a quarterly contest to attend a live taping of the show.

“Jay and Silent Bob Get Old” is recorded live on Fridays at the Jon Lovitz Podcast Theatre at Universal Studios CityWalk, and airs on Wednesdays on Kevin Smith’s “Smodcast Internet Radio.”

Beezid.com is a top-rated penny auction website for various products and smodcast.com  is a network of podcasts with original programming.

Geek Noun/g?k/

-An enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity

Minimal (Adj  \?mi-n?-m?l\)

- Barely adequate, the least possible

It’s hard out there for a geek. Not only do I find that statement to be true, it’s even tougher for a geek who loves gadgets, yet has little to no money to purchase any such technology. Consequently, I call myself a “Minimal Geek.”

I love technology and I don’t remember a time where electronics weren’t on the top of the list of things I wanted to own. To this day, I find myself wanting gadgets and gizmos aplenty before I even think about buying other things I might actually need; like clothes. With all the passion I boast for technology, there’s one little roadblock that gets me every time. I don’t have the money to buy ANYTHING expensive, and electronics/gadgets (whatever you like to call it) tend to be on the pricy side.

As a “Minimal Geek”, I’m slightly forced to keep my collection of technology, well, minimal. I own a four-year-old MacBook Pro, an iPhone 4 and an Xbox 360. I would love an iPad 2 and a new MacBook Air, but that’s just not going to happen anytime soon. If I was to add just those two products together, that’s roughly $1,500, and that’s if I get the cheaper forms of the products! These prices may not sound ridiculous to some people, but I can’t drop a cool thousand ever time a new gadget hits the scene. So, as broke as I am, I try to keep the technology I do have nice, so it never craps out on me. I hope to get a new laptop soon, but seeing as my cash flow is more minimal than my electronics’ collection, I’ll have to save up for a long time.

As simple of a choice I have to whether I’ll be able to make a big tech purchase (an easy yes or no), it still seems to be a tough decision either way. Until the day I’m filthy rich, without a money problem in the world, I shall geek out with the best of them and plague my mind with wishful thinking of sparkly new tablets, laptops, and electronics galore. It sure doesn’t help that I have expensive taste. Thanks a lot Apple.

And here we go again.

Try walking into Target, Wawlmart, Staples, or a discount furniture store this time of year.

Everyone is spending all that discretionary income on back to school and back to college items. Beds and futons. Microwaves and microfridges. Notebooks and netbooks. It’s a cornucopia really.

We guarantee you missed something vital.

Here are five things you need, but didn’t buy, for your dorm or recently graduated apartment.

1. A home theater receiver with HDMI

You may have speakers. You may not, so keep that in mind.

What we know you DO have is a video game console or two, a Blu-ray player or DVD player and cable service with DVR. You also have that shiny new flat panel your parents bought you.

You need a home theater receiver to (a) have surround sound and (b) organize everything into a manageable mess.

An old hand-me-down receiver will not work. You need a receiver with HDMI ports.

On a budget, the Yamaha RX-V371BL will do the trick. It has four HDMI inputs as well as an output. This means you only need HDMI cables to wire up your PS3, video player, etc. You do not need several multicolored cables for video and optical cables for audio. One wire, done.

Of course, if you want to get a little more complicated and a lot more high-end, check this out.

2. A personal smoothie blender

You want the Oster BLSTPB-WBL My Blend 250-Watt Blender. Just trust our judgement on that.

You want to get in shape. You want to eat and drink healthy things. You just don’t have a handy solution. For all of $29.50, you can have a personal blender that makes fruit smoothies, mixes protein shakes, and allows you to craft something just for you.

The 20-ounce BPA-free plastic bottle is dishwasher safe and fits most cup holders.

It will pulverize frozen fruit, fresh fruit, ice, and even veggies, if you’re really healthy.

The My Blend also comes in a variety of stylish colors.

3. A keyboard case for iPad

You may very well have been lucky enough to own an iPad or have received one as a gift. The iPad is wonderful. The apps. The multimedia. The battery life. Love it.

The super duper new folding case? Not so much. It slips off and doesn’t provide much protection.

It’s also a bitch to type anything long on a touchscreen.

The Logitech Keyboard Case for iPad 2 solves a lot of these problems.

First, it is an aluminum case. It adds a new level of protection beyond the soft cover you may have purchased with the iPad. It’s also soft on the inside to keep your screen safe.

Second, it’s a real keyboard, no worse than a laptop keyboard. It lets you sit there and take notes or write emails or blog more comfortably on an iPad.

It also works in portrait or landscape mode.

4. HDMI and Cat5e Cables

We touched on wires a bit in the first option, but cables are the salt of the techno-dorm’s earth. The two main wires in services today are HDMI multimedia cables and Cat5e network wire.

Do. Not. Buy. Them. At. Best Buy.

At their core, cables and wires are cheap. They are just wire! Copper, plastic, rubber. Raw materials. They cost very little to make.

Do not pay $50 for an HDMI cable and $30 for a network cable.

Buy your cables on Amazon. You can get a good HDMI cable for $10 or a decent cable for about $3.

Network cable is even cheaper.

You can get 25-feet of Cat5E (which works for gigabit ethernet) for 30 cents on Amazon.

You need cables for all your devices. Don’t pay a lot for them.

5. A Crock-Pot

Even if you can’t cook at all, you can still use a Crock-Pot to make food.

And the Crock-Pot Cook and Carry 6-Quart Oval Manual Portable Slow Cooker lets you not only cook but bring your melange of foodstuffs with you. You can actually bring something homemade to that housewarming party you’re going to next week.

These slow cookers make stews and and chilis very doable. Anyone can cook with a Crock Pot, and if you’re new to living on your own, you need one. Unless you enjoy Ramen every day.

Oh, and it’s $29, so no price excuses here.

Dad deserves something nice for Father’s Day this year as in every year. Long gone are the days of ties and Oxford shirts.

He needs something techy, edgy, and functional. And sometimes they need new versions of things they’ve had for years. Here are some leather gift ideas too.

Buy your dad: A paper shredder

We’re not saying your father is a white collar criminal. Actually, odds are that dear old dad already has a paper shredder.

He just needs a new one.

If your dad’s paper shredder is a dinky clip-on-the-trash-bin model from 10 years ago, buy him the Swingline Stack and Shred. It shreds credit cards, staples, paper-clipped documents and up to 100 pages at a time. Your dad will never have to worry about having his identity stolen.

Blast tested the Stack and Shred, and it is the best shredder we’ve ever used. It sucks up anything you throw at it and then asks for more. It’s especially great for dads that are accountants, lawyers, or insurance salesmen. ($215)

Buy your dad: A power drill

Cordless power drills are a staple in every dad’s arsenal. They build walls, assemble furniture, mount televisions to the wall, and fix nearly everything.

Trouble is, the same drill your dad bought in 1998 isn’t cutting it anymore. Ask your dad how long the battery stays charged in his drill…

The Milwaukee 2601-22 M18 Red Lithium 1/2 in. 18-volt Compact Hammer Drill is the solution. It’s up in the typical tool lovers price range, but it has a reliable battery with good life.

Two key words phrases: hammer drill and 18 volts. Don’t buy a 12-volt drill.

The M18 can deliver 550 pounds of torque with a variable speed trigger, making projects much easier. We tested. We approve. ($199)

Buy your dad: A Root Beer Brewing Kit

For some reason, dads just seem to love root beer, and this is kind of a cute gift that’s great for younger kids/dads.

ThinkGeek is offering the Root Beer Brewing Kit that will let you and your dad do just that.

The kit is cheap, includes everything except the sugar, and lets you make about two gallons of root beer in a few days. ($26.99)

Buy your dad: A gas grill

Oh God, does your dad need this…

A lot of dads — a LOT of dads — have stood by their old faithful grill since, oh, before you were born.

Remember one word: Weber.

The Weber Summit is the best gas grill on the market, but for $2,000, your father can buy his own damn grill.

The Weber Genesis series is an excellent higher-end choice for a dad who needs a new grill. We’ve tested the Genesis E-310 three-burner grill, and we approve. It cooks food perfectly and evenly. Pool your funds with mom and the siblings. It will benefit you as much as him, only he’ll enjoy it more. ($699)

Buy your dad: A flash drive

You’d be amazed by how many fathers need more USB flash drives.

Dads benefit from their storage capacity, small size, and utter ease of use. Do you remember the old days? Did anyone out there try to teach their dad to burn data to a CD-R?

We like the Verbatim: TUFF-‘N’-TINY drives for their small size and keychain cache. The 4GB version will hold all his photos, important documents, and the family’s Quicken backups. ($23.99)

Last but not least, buy your dad: An iPad

Your dad will never ask for it. Trust us, he wants one.

Blast’s editor teamed up with his brother and mother to buy dad an original iPad for Christmas. He hasn’t put it down since. The iPad can do everything that a computer can — and it’s newer.

If you have the extra dollars, go for the 3G iPad, but if you don’t think dad wants or needs another Verizon or AT&T contract, you can stay with WiFi. Another bit of advice: Most dads don’t have massive music collections, and they don’t download nearly as much video content as you do. The 16GB iPad 2 should be sufficient. ($499)

The website Think Geek prides itself on selling “stuff for smart masses,” offering a wide array of gadgets, toys and nerdy sundries. Little did they suspect that one such brainy product would create mass hysteria at the Burlington Mall.

The Samurai Sword Handle Umbrella, a featured product in the site’s “Japan Fan” section, combines the functionality of a traditional umbrella with the flair of a realistic-looking samurai sword handle, all done an intimidating shade of matte black. Retailing for $20 (the shorter “Tanto” version) or $30 (the full-sized “Katana” version), this item is no stranger to controversy akin to the ‘gunman’ threat that forced the Burlington Mall to evacuate shoppers and call in the SWAT team.

In August of 2010, the item prompted a similar panic at an Atlanta college, resulting in a SWAT team visit and a ban of the umbrella from the school’s campus.  At the time, ThinkGeek joked that the product should carry a new warning: “May incite SWAT teams.” In each situation, it was the carrying of the umbrella – slung across the back like a traditional sword, with only the handle exposed – that provoked the weapon reports.

Both incidents have been roundly mocked on the Internet, held up as evidence of local authorities overreacting in our increasingly paranoid world. However, a cursory Google search reveals that, for roughly the same price, one can purchase a similar umbrella with a hidden blade inside – evidence that, perhaps, a little paranoia is healthy.

Bedford-based iRobot has introduced its latest floor-cleaning device, one designed for cleaning icky bathroom floors and all those hard-to-reach places where grime collects.

The Scooba 230 is designed to be compact enough to clean tight spaces around toilets and alongside tubs. It’s 6 1/2 inches around and 3 1/2 inches tall.

It can also destroy up to 97 percent of common bacteria.

It will be available soon at $299.99. iRobot is also going to unveil another Roomba vacuum cleaner at the CES show in Las Vegas later this week.

“I’ve got gadgets and gizmos aplenty; I’ve got whozits and whatzits galore!”

It’s that time of year again and you’re left wondering what to buy the person who has everything or at least give something besides that lame gift card. Here are 21 different gifts at every price point that are sure to be a delight to whoever receives them.

Open it!  $9.99

Did you know that each year an estimated 300,000 people visit the hospital as a result of a laceration incurred from packaging, mostly during the holiday season? To avoid having your own Larry David breakdown over a plastic wrapped gift, pull these out of the drawer before anyone starts unwrapping anything on Christmas morning to save your sanity and to avoid spiking the coffee.  This highly anticipated package opener now offers a five-in-one method to open everything under the Christmas tree safely and easily.  Open it! Allows you to cut it, snip it, slice it, unscrew it and pop it open.  It’s even lefty compatible.

Scosche: flipSYNC $19.99

Scosche’s flipSYNC is pretty damn awesome if you ask me. If you’re not home or near a car, how do you plan to charge your phone? The flipSYNC attaches to your keychain so you always have a way to charge and sync your phone or MP3 player. The flipSYNC features a USB 2.0 for fastest data transfer possible. Available for both Blackberry and iPhone/iPod with the data cable included.

Desk Pets: SKITTERBOT $19.99

Save the coffee mug full of peppermints for the coworkers you don’t like and buy your neighbor who always has your back one of these for when “doin’ work” ain’t on the schedule. Who needs the water cooler to have a joke when at your desk you can race these for endless bragging rights. The world’s fastest legged micro-robotic toy that travels one foot per second with 5 full-function remote control that allows you to go forward/back/left/right/stop and retractable USB charger for 15 minutes of play. While it sits on your desk begging you to ignore your TPS reports it the SKITTERBOT has red heartbeat eyes that pulse to egg you on. Available in red, blue, clear and green all operating on their own frequency for multi-player racing and battling.

EZ Grill $4.99 – 9.99 (depending on size)

Is there anything better than tailgating? Tailgating can be more fun than the actual event if you do it right but who wants to deal with messy grills you have to transport home later? Not I said the hostess. EZ Grill’s are ready-to-use recyclable, convenient and portable instant grills complete with foil pan, grill grate, stand and charcoal.  Instant all-natural charcoal included – NO additives, unnatural chemicals, fillers or lighter fluid.  Convenient clean-up means no mess. Lights with one match and cooks for at least 1 ½ hours and it’s approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). So encourage your diehard Dolphin fan, or whoever it is you root for to tailgate and gtfu out of your living room for a silent Sunday.

Hercules: XPS 2.0 35 USB Speakers $19.99

I confess, I do not own a stereo, an iPod or any other device to listen to music from other than my laptop. The speakers on my laptop just don’t cut it for when I get the urge to sing into my hairbrush either. The Hercules XPS 2.0 35 USB speakers provide that extra oomph. They are so easy to plug into your headphone jack so in you can listen to it wherever without needing an outlet to plug into. It comes equipped with a padded carrying case for portability.

IDAPT i3 Universal Desktop Charger $49.99

If you have a power strip devoted entirely to charging your gadgets, toss it. The i3 Universal Desktop charger simultaneously charge three different portable devices and clear cord clutter with one affordable system. Interchangeable “quick release” tip system allows for easy, customizable charging

System that is compatible with over 3,500 brands of mobile devices, including Apple, Nintendo, PSP,

Blackberry, Garmin, and more. Package includes either six of the most popularly used interchangeable tips, or you can custom chose 4 tips. Available in black, silver, white, and pink

iSkin: iPad Vu $64.99

If you just so happen to have an iPad on your holiday shopping list, a case cannot be forgot. The iPad Vu case is designed for fashion, functionality and protection with an environmentally friendly soft plastic with a beautifully patterned hard plastic back shield that entirely embedded Microban antimicrobial protection, which is exclusive to iSkin. Vu’s unique rear-bottom hatch that can be easily removed for docking it into the iPad keyboard or standard dock. Recessed volume and power button coverage, an integrated earphone port cover, and home button protection. Available in multiple colors: Pink, Aqua blue, Blue, Red, Orange, Purple and Black.

FINIS: Lap Track $74.99

An avid swimmer would appreciate the ability to easily keep track of the number of laps they have swam, lap times, lap chrono function, split times, calories burned as well as the date and time on a clear 6” by 6” display. With four ways to mount the device for different size tiles.

Sony 8GB E Series Walkman Video MP3 $79.99

For those nonconformists like myself, there are some MP3 players out there that do not reflect a certain piece of fruit in order to be of quality or easy to use not to mention for a lesser price. The Sony E series Walkman has a long lasting battery with up 50 hours of music or up to10 hours of video playback, FM turner, drag-and-drop file transfer, Clear Audio technologies, headphones and a 2.0” LCD. Available in black, red or blue.

Aren’t you tired of us just, literally, pouring stuff down your throats for free all the time? The games, the movie passes, the electronic gizmos. When will it stop?

The next item up for free: Wicked Audio: Wicked Little Buds.

The Wicked Little Buds are the next evolution in earphone design. They are noise-isolating yet super-small.

We have two, and they will be yours. Oh yes, they will be yours.

You know the drill. Register as a Blast user. Comment on the story. Two random comments will win. Post by Thanksgiving, and you’ll get these badies shipped over on Black Friday.

About the Wicked Little Buds:

• Petite earbuds feature a semi-glossy finish and feature tiny Wicked Logos on the ends of each bud
• Fiber-like cord enhances the aesthetic appeal and gold-plated tip prevents corrosion
• Light weight form provides a “barely there” feeling for the ultimate in comfort
• Available in 4 stylish colors: Black, Blue, Purple and Silver
• 5.8 mm Driver, 20-20,000 Hz Frequency, 1.2 Meter Cord
• Price: $29.99

Christmas shopping for your favorite gremlins that trash your house on a daily basis and may at times deserve a lump of coal in their stockings but always manage to sucker you into a heap of presents under the tree can be exhausting. Here are 10 gifts that just might peak their interest on Christmas morning and may offer you with your own chance to have your belly shake like a bowl full of jelly or at least have those 5 minutes of uninterrupted time to yourself.

Twilight Turtle Constellation Night Light $24.99

For your little buddy who needs a lovey, a modern take on the beloved glowing creature from our childhood, the Twilight Turtle gently transforms nurseries and bedrooms into a starry sanctuary that comforts and calms children by projecting a complete starry night sky onto the walls and ceiling of any room. Choose any one of three soothing color options blue, green, and amber to create magical, tranquil environments. Auto shut-off; 45 minutes sleep timer.

Playskool’s Alphie $34

I remember this toy growing up along with Teddy Ruxben so I was delighted to see it brought back for my own boys. The new Alphie is just an improved version of our classic Playskool favorite. The small robot provides fun and engaging entertainment by teaching your child letters, math skills, special reasoning, cause and effect, sings and plays music and features light up buttons while using double-sided cards to improve your preschooler’s abilities from a different point of view. Additional cards can be bought to add additional lessons for a broad range of activities.

Fisher-Price iXL 6-in-1 Learning System (Blue/Pink) $79.99

If you’re not ready to splurge for a hand held game device and your child wants something that is multipurpose then the iXL is the way to go. This handheld learning tool has 6 different features that allow your child to use the digital reader, game player, note pad, art studio, mp3 player and photo viewer. The iXL comes pre-loaded with software for the various applications so there is never any need for additional cartridges. It opens just like a book revealing a 3.5” color screen with a built in speaker, action button, tethered stylus, headphone jack, SD memory card slot and built-in memory.

Live Butterfly Garden $19.99

If you just happen to be around the TV with your child when this commercial comes on then you know the response, I WANT I WANT I WANT! Aren’t you a little curious to see the butterflies too? Witness one of nature’s most spectacular transformations up close by watching butterflies metamorphosis in the convenience of your own back porch. The kit includes a reusable, collapsible habitat with a feeder, five butterfly larvae, food and complete instructions.

Scientific Explorer’s Mind Blowing Science Kit for Young Scientists $19.99

Winner of Parents’ Choice Approved Award and Dr.Toy One of the 10 Best Educational Products 2005 Award this kit contains a variety of experiments and instruction guide with scientific explanation. Spark your child’s curiosity in science while they are young! Learn about colors, learn about volcanoes. A great family kit with experiments that will intrigue several ages and may promote several of unwarranted experiments at least in my own home but all in good fun.

FINIS: Wyland Dolphin Tail $29.

Do you just happen to have a little girl in your life that is quite certain she would be the prettiest mermaid ever? The Wyland Dolphin tail allows your child to turn into the mermaid with their monofin that slips onto both feet and secures with an adjustable Velcro strap so they can mimic a dolphin swimming technique. A portion of all Wyland’s sales goes to their ocean preservation efforts so you can ensure that one day your little princess might have the chance to search for her very own thingamabobs.

Think Geek: Kids Guitar & Drum Kit Electronic T-Shirts $29.99

My boys play air guitar to Guns and Roses, true story. So when I saw these shirts I thought how perfect they would be at providing countless hours of entertainment over objects that neither could snatch out of each other’s hands and then proceed to beat each other with. These shirts produce authentic sounds for rocking out wherever they may be. The shirts are based on real playable instruments with each button on the shirt’s guitar neck representing a major chord. Strum the guitar by waving the magnetic pick over the strings and clip the amp speaker to your belt. The drum shirt features 7 different drums and sounds with an embedded speaker with volume control. The shirts are available in children’s sizes as well as adult sizes small – 2XL to satisfy even your biggest kid.

Coloud: Marvel Comics Headphones $40

Between the handheld devices that bleep constantly and the road trips filled with DVD players blaring the latest movie craze, there are times that silence is more than golden; it’s a damn necessity in order to keep mom from losing her mind. That’s where the Coloud headphones come in hand. Unlike ear buds on your child that sometimes have an issue with remaining in or comfortable, Coloud headphones are easy for your child to place on or remove into any 3.5mm jack, including iPod, without needing assistance. Coloud offers several Marvel characters there will be no mixing up who owns which. The sound quality is pretty awesome too for those impromptu jam sessions that we parents just need to sneak in while the ones who make the most noise are fast asleep.

GigaBall $49.99 (for the 51” version available in a variety of colors)

It’s a known fact children love two things; being outdoors and balls. What could be better than one that combines those two plus allows your child to climb inside of the ball for an all around good time? The Gigaball allows you to bounce it, climb it, get inside it and roll around with endless possibilities and hours of entertainment. It hasn’t been determined who will laugh more, the children or the parents watching this roll around their yard but it’s a guaranteed good time to be had by all. With weight capacity 150lbs, there is a good chance you just might get a chance to try it out for yourself while providing that adult supervision of course.

World’s greatest Shelby slot car racetrack $249 (verify pending 2010 Holiday catalog, check site for details)

I admit that this toy is entirely for me and has nothing to do with my children much less the ones in your life. When I found this last year while searching for toys, I immediately thought of the badass slot car track I had when I was 8 and how cool it would be to own this one now. I kick myself for not splurging on it not caring that it would have taken up the entire living room in my apartment, I would have a slot car track again dammit! It proves to be an impressive track with twists, turns and 63 feet of track. The cars come equipped with neodymium ground-effect magnets and extra-long guide pins so while in a heated race you don’t have to worry about the cars flying off the track. Included in the set are two cars, two controllers, grandstand and pit, power pack and of course the track. The Restoration Hardware site states the item is sold out however per their customer service department neither denied nor confirmed that the track will be back in their 2010 Christmas catalog so keep a look out for it when they release it later this month.

This is what we mean when we squeal “nerdgasm!”

The man-gods at ThinkGeek announced today they will be selling a Star Trek Pizza Cutter, shaped in the form of the original U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, glimmering in all-metal construction.

This is right up there with the Tetris ice cubes. Any method in which we can combine our two natural loves — science fiction and food/drink — adds a true sense of enjoyment to our lives.

“After years of staring at the iconic shape of the Star Trek Enterprise we finally realized in one ‘aha!’ moment what the saucer section of the ship was best used for… cutting pizza!," said Senior Merchandiser Ty Liotta. "After a bit of ergonomic adjustment we ended up with the best pizza wheel on this side of the galaxy.”

The ships saucer is replicated by a sharp 4" diameter steel blade and the 4.5" handle mimics the warp nacelles and generators.

The cutter is available for $24.99. It’s not dishwasher safe, so hand wash it if you use it to cut pizza like no man has cut pizza before.

Dear Mom,

After all the things you’ve done for me (like paying that credit card I ran up back in my first year of college) I figured I’d do something different this Mother’s Day.

Instead of the usual flowers and a card, I wanted to find you a present that’s both useful and works as a reminder that you’re a hip, cool mom who’s not afraid to crank her iPod — and all that awful, awful music that was popular in the 70s.

So I put some thought into it this year and found five fun tech toys that I think you’ll enjoy. Gadgets aren’t just for Father’s Day, after all.

You know how you’re always concerned about germs and making sure me and my brother wash our hands before every meal? Time to return the nagging — err — favor.

You’ll love the iSkin Microban iPhone and iPod case. ($24.99 to $34.99 at the Apple Store) It’s antimicrobial and prevents the growth of germs and bacteria and can be washed with soap and water.

While we’re on the topic, you’ll also love this iHome iP39 Stainless Steel iPod/iPhone dock. ($99.99) It’s has a built-in kitchen timer, so it’s perfect for jamming out to your Celine Dion songs while waiting for those amazing blueberry muffins you make when I come to visit. I think this one’s a win-win for both of us.

For Christmas, dad bought you that cool, pink digital camera. The CEIVA Pro 80 digital picture frame ($147.99) will let you display all your new digital snapshots. It comes with the "Dazzle Crystal Kit" of Swarovski crystals you can use to decorate the frame anyway you like. I’ll leave that to you, but I’ve always pre-loaded the fame with photos of your two wonderful sons and doting husband.

Now I’ve noticed that you and dad have been stocking the wine rack lately with healthy reds and sweet whites. Take the Skybar Wine Traveler ($19.99) along on your next picnic. It’s insulated and keeps pre-chilled wine at the perfect temperature. The convenient carrying handle makes it easy to lug around to parties and cookouts — like your amazing annual Memorial Day picnic where you and dad spend all day cooking every imaginable dish from smoked ribs to macaroni salad.

Before you go out, I know you like to make sure your hair is done just right. That’s why you’re getting a T3 Giftset. ($200) It comes with the featherweight T3 hair drier with brushes, sectioning clips, and conditioner. The T3 is high-efficiency. It uses very little energy, and its ionic infrared heat will dry your hair 60 percent faster than a normal drier.

The Rundown

FOR THE IPHONE MOM

The iSkin Microban iPhone cover It’s an iPhone case that protects against germs.

Why: Your mom will appreciate that all those hand-washing lessons have rubbed off on you.

FOR THE WINE DRINKING MOM

The Skybar Wine Traveler It keeps chilled wine cool for hours so the wine is ready to enjoy when you are. A convenient carrying handle makes it perfect for toting wine to dinner parties, picnics, or evenings out on the town.

Why: Your mom shouldn’t have to drink warm white wine on a hot summer’s day.

FOR CHEF MOM

The iHome iP39 Stainless Steel iPod/iPhone docking stereo, alarm clock, and kitchen timer Perfect for listening to music in the kitchen.

Why: Her favorite songs put mom in a good mood. Good moods lead to cookies and pies and other delicious treats.

FOR MOM’S HAIR

The T3 Giftset The T3 ultralight, high-efficiency hair dryer with brushes, sectioning clips, and conditioner.

Why: Because your mom deserves to look fabulous.

FOR THE SHUTTERBUG MOM

The CEIVA Pro 80 Digital Picture Frame decorated with Swarovski Crystals

Why: Your mom needs a stylish method to display her favorite photos of you.

FOR MOM’S JEWELRY

Brookstone Ultrasonic Jewelry and DVD Cleaner.

Why: It cleans your mom’s jewelry and movies with ease and without any chemicals. And it’s on sale for $39.95.

We’ve heard some of what Hercules has to offer in the budget audio spectrum, and it ain’t bad.

That’s why this new $99 5.1 system is an eye-catcher.

The XPS 5.1 70 Slim is a computer speaker system designed for movie watchers and gamers. They’re ultra-slim and have two drivers per satellite for mids and highs.

The all-wood subwoofer promises to add some thump also.

It’s 75 total watts RMS (4 x 7.5W for the front and rear satellites, 15W for the center speaker and 25W for the subwoofer) but the big thing is that it’s under $100. It’s hard not to at least be curious.

There’s a certain musical element in the air today at Fenway Park, and it’s not just “Sweet Caroline.”

Producer/artist Dr. Dre, music industry legend Jimmy Iovine and basketball phenom LeBron James will be at Fenway Park today to unveil the Red Sox Beats by Dr. Dre headphones from Monster.

We had an early chance to check out the officially licensed Red Sox Beats. These full-size headphones were pitched to us promising audiophile-quality sound and all the fashion that a diehard Sox fan could ask for.

We tested them out after unboxing a set yesterday of these headphones, which had been a secret until now. They sound great and are very comfortable.

And they should. After all, the headphones were designed by the legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Interscope Geffen A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine, who know a thing or two about good audio.

"The Red Sox are one of the most historic and respected franchises in all of professional sports," Iovine said about why he decided to run with the Sox as the first and right now only set of Beats sports headphones. Iovine and Dr. Dre have designed custom headphones for athletes like King James in the past, but this is the first officially licensed professional sports team to have a set of Beats.

A few drawbacks — the headphones need two AAA batteries to operate. It can be a bit of a nag to take off the battery cover and replace it.

They come with a protective carrying case, two 1/8-inch cables and a 1/4-inch adapter. The Red Sox logo and name look good on the phones. The luxury sports market is a tough nut to crack, but these look and sound great.

Also, these Beats are an investment. At $399.99, they’ll run you about as much as a day at Fenway for two with hot dogs and beer, so be ready to make an investment if you want to listen to tunes and movies on that new iPad while showing off your team pride.

The iPhone is essentially an efficiency tool. While most of us think of efficiency in terms of work or school, the iPhone makes us more efficient in any aspect of life. So, in honor of spring and St. Patrick’s Day, we give you three apps for (efficiently?) getting your drink on.

Happy Hour- This free app finds you food and drink specials in your area. The app is unique in that its rankings are based on what those that have been to an establishment say about it, so users get up to the minute information on the good, bad and ugly about any prospective watering hole before committing to it. Users can click through any location that might interest them to see a menu, amenities and hours. The app only works for 35 major cities, but if you’re in one of them, this app is a must own.

Interactive Cocktail Entertainment (ICE)- ICE doubles as both a handy recipe guide to all your favorite drinks, and an educational game that teaches you how to make those drinks. Users can play in different game modes, from practice to becoming a professional bartender having to make drinks for impatient customers on a time crunch, both of which teach users how to make their drinks in a fun way. The list of cocktails is not nearly as long or detailed as some other recipe guides out there, but for those that want to learn to make famous staples while playing a free game, this app is perfect.

Toasty- No one wants to pull a Michael Cera in Superbad and blank on what to toast to. Having a good toast ready at all times is an important weapon in any drinker’s arsenal. Those in a pinch can launch Toasty and simply shake their iPhone, which in turn scrolls through a nearly infinite list of interesting or funny toasts, until they find one that suits their needs. Not a groundbreaking app by any means, Toasty is a fun app full of useless facts that even non-drinkers can enjoy.

In iPhone News

Insiders are reporting that the iPhone 4.0 software will support multitasking on the device. Speculation surrounding multitasking has been swirling fairly consistently since the iPhone’s inception, but Apple’s response to the most consistent criticism against the iPhone seems imminent now.

Since jailbreaking iPhones became popular, it has become readily apparent that the problem with running multiple third-party applications simultaneously was not a technical one. To take that one step farther, the iPod application, despite being native, is still just an app, and users can run it concurrently with some other apps on the phone. It is Apple’s security setting that prevents the phone from multitasking. This seems reasonable enough, considering running one app at a time eliminates the potential for viruses and spyware, lessens the drain on battery life and erases the need for communication between apps to allocate the iPhone’s resources.

However, people love their social media and instant messaging apps (among many other apps whose functionality would greatly increase if multitasking were enabled). Instead of checking into the applications to carry out a function, it would be much more efficient if the user could run these apps and be able to seamlessly glide in and out of them as needed. While an argument for push notifications can be made, they are a cheap substitute for actually having an app open and fully running while carrying out a function in a different app, especially since many applications can’t take advantage of push notifications for their functions, like foursquare (Wouldn’t it be nice to run the app and have it check in on your location periodically without any work on the user end?) or Pandora.

The biggest problems Apple will have to address when creating a multitasking platform are crashes and poor performance and an intuitive system for iPhone users to switch between applications. I would be in favor of holding down the center button to bring users to a menu with all the running applications on the phone and the ability to launch new apps from the home screen, and moving the voice-enabled phone execution to a new home, as users will undoubtedly use the multitasking function more than it.

Apple can’t afford to wait any longer on multitasking for the iPhone or they run the risk of losing developers for the platform, and subsequently customers, especially with all of its major competitors already enabling some form of multitasking on their platforms. If I had to guess as to why multitasking has yet to reach the iPhone, I would say it is because of the rigorous demands that Apple puts on their product’s functionality before they release it to the public. Multitasking on a device with such limited capacity as a smartphone is a complicated issue for Apple’s developers, though I expect that when the iPhone finally does support multitasking for third party apps, it will set the iPhone apart from the competition.

Digital forensics provider Paraben Corporation has released a new product designed to detect porn on a person’s computer.

According to Paraben, the average age of a person first exposed to pornography online is 11 — whether on purpose or .. cough … not.

The Paraben Porn Detection Stick scans a PC and peripherals like flash cards and external hard drives and seeks out all those nekkid pics.

“Creating a tool that empowers parents with the ability to find risks to their children was very important to me as a parent and as a professional fighting crimes against children,” said Amber Schroader, CEO of the Utah-based firm.

The product’s internal software can scan images for skin tones and body parts on 15 supported image formats. It doesn’t say anything, however, about video files.

The product is $99 and promises a 99 percent success rate.

So that still leaves, what, 10 gigs of porn on your computer?

I guess there are some of us who could use this.

Scosche Industries is putting out an iPod/iPhone charger that doubles as a nightlight.

The comapny’s second such charger promises a smaller footprint and tighter stability on your outlet.

Scosche also added a USB port to the reviveLITE II, so you can charge another USB powered device while powering up your iPod or iPhone.

And a-scared of the dark, you have a nifty LED nightlight.

It’s available now for $24.99 online and at retailers.

Hate messing around with cables? Want to put the music from your BlackBerry onto your home stereo system without a lot of hassle? BlackBerry users will be very excided to hear about the BlackBerry Music Gateway, a companion accessory for your BlackBerry from RIM.

This device allows you to wirelessly transmit music to your stereo system from your BlackBerry Smartphone or any other compatible Bluetooth Mobile device. The process is simple; choose a song on your BlackBerry Smartphone or any Bluetooth enabled device that supports the A2DP profile, hit play and you’re hearing that song through your stereo speakers wirelessly via the BlackBerry Music Gateway.

The first thing I noticed about this device is its compact size, measuring in at 50 millimeters both horizontally and vertically. The device is so small that you could easily place it somewhere and forget about it. On the front of the BlackBerry Music gateway is a LED light, which indicates the status of the device. Along the back is a Micro-USB power connecter and a 3.5 mm stereo jack. In the box, RIM includes an RCA auxiliary cable in addition with a 3.5 mm stereo cable. The RCA auxiliary cable allows you to use the standard red and white RCA audio connecters to connect the product to your home stereo system or you may choose to use the standard 3.5 mm connection.

Once powered on and connected, the product performed very well. Setup was a breeze and the included manual and documentation had very clear directions on how to get the product up and running. All that is necessary is for you to pair up your phone or device with the BlackBerry Music Gateway. Next, select a song and your wirelessly streaming it to your stereo via the Blackberry Music Gateway. The sound quality and range were excellent and I was able to walk around my entire house without any drops in audio. The music sounded loud and clear and I really like how it gives you the ability to adjust the volume directly from the device and stream music within applications. I was able to launch Internet radio applications like Pandora and Slacker Radio and hear the music streaming over 3G to my stereo via the BlackBerry Wireless Gateway with great clarity.

One small disappointment is that the product does not include a power cable in the box; instead they urge users to use their existing travel charger. This may bug some users, especially Blackberry Tour owners like myself, as the Tour travel charger that RIM urges you to use isn’t compatible with the Music Gateway. Tour users must purchase an additional travel charger in order to power the device, which is a minor drawback.

I find this product very useful and I love how it creates a seamless integration between your BlackBerry Smartphone and your existing home stereo. The $89.99 price tag along with the $30 cost for an optional adaptor if your device charger isn’t compatible, may be a bit steep, but the product definitely performs well above my expectations and does everything RIM claims. Sound quality, setup and range were all very good and if you own a BlackBerry Smartphone and you’re tired with messing around with wires to hook up your Berry to your stereo system, you really can’t go wrong with the BlackBerry Music Gateway.

The device sells for $89.99 and is available directly from BlackBerry.

The end is just the beginning my friends.

Today in San Francisco, Steve Jobs and team-Apple, revealed the latest in portable gadgetry. A predictably-dressed Jobs took the stage and officially announced the iPad, early this afternoon.

The iPad!

It’s basically the missing device between your iPhone and computer and it’s pretty intriguing.

Here’s the skinny.

It’s 0.5-inches thin; 1.5 pounds; 9.7-inch IPS display; multi-touch; powered by 1GHz Apple A4 chip; available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models; Bluetooth 2.1 plus EDR and 802.11n WiFi; speakers, mic and 30-pin connector; syncs over USB; and has an up to 10-hour battery life.

How we'll soon read the Newspaper?

The 16GB model will cost you $499 ($629 with 3G), or 32GB for $599 ($729 with 3G); or 64GB for $699 ($829 with 3G).

AT&T, still the exclusive carrier of Apple devices, including the iPad, will charge you 250MB of data per month for $14.99 or $29.99 for unlimited usage.

Thankfully, the data fees are assigned and charged directly on your iPad and give you the option to cancel at any time because there is no contract associated.

It's huge, man!

The WiFi models ship in 60 days (sometime in March) and the 3G models in 90 days, or April.

And not to worry, if you’ve accrued quite the collection of iPhone/iPod Touch games over the years, they’re all compatible with the iPad. Phew.

Source: Gizmodo

With college costs on the rise, it’s hard for students to stay on a budget and survive living on their own. Your first apartment can be cold, damp and drafty, and if you’re a student in Boston, your heating costs may take a big bite out of your monthly budget. Electricity costs money, but If you plan ahead, you can use that extra cash towards your books, entertainment and late night food runs.

One gadget that might help is a draft guard under your door to help keep your warm air in and the cold air out.

Made from the same foam used to insulate pipes in Northern Canada, the Twin Draft Guard keeps the internal climate from being affected by the outside elements allowing for more efficient temperature regulation, and it can save you 20 percent on your energy bill. It’s a simple, cost-effective way to reduce heating costs this winter and put some extra money in your wallet to enjoy college life. It’s also great for blocking out those noisy parties that your roommate decides to throw the night before your big exam.

The Twin Draft Guard is easy to install, stays in place and fits windows and doors up to 36 inches. All you have to do is cut the inserts to the length you need, insert them into the cover then slide the Twin Draft Guard under the door. Doors open and close easily as it glides over all floor surfaces, even carpet. The Twin Draft Guard retails for $9.99 and is available at Lowes, Walmart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walgreens, or online.

LaCie, in collaboration with designer PhillippeStarck — the designer responsible for the Virgin Galactic Spaceport — recently released the LaCie Starck Desktop Hard Drive and the LaCie Starck Mobile Hard Drive, born from a 15-year partnership between the two companies.

“Choosing to work with my good friend and exceptional designer Philippe Starck is always exciting. He brings a poetry to his work, and helps us deliver products that combine function and beauty.” said Philippe Spruch, Chief Executive Officer of LaCie. “The new Starck products showcase this amalgamation perfectly with LaCie’s constant innovation and Starck, who is the ultimate designer.”

The two drives both come with a USB 2.0 interface. Both drives feature aluminum cases to serve as both protection for internal components and to aid in heat dissipation. The mobile model features a conveniently placed built in USB 2.0 cable, allowing for easy access without the worry of misplacing or forgetting a cable on the go. The desktop edition features a touch sensitive surface capable of launching an application of the user’s choice. It also features an LED Starck signature symbol which glows orange or green to indicate activity. Both also include LaCie’s Desktop Manager and Backup Assistant software.

These meticulously designed peripherals are available at www.lacie.com as well as other authorized dealers and resellers. The Mobile drive is available in 320GB and 500GB and goes for a starting price $99.00. The Desktop drive is available in 1TB and 2TB flavors and retails for a starting price of $129.00.

“Technological genius explodes exponentially, each time with incredible power whose limits are yet to be known,” said Starck “The power remains, never abating, symbolically characterized by the sculptural magma that one attempts to cleave, to master within this geometrically perfect strongbox. A symbol of strength mastered, of freedom guided, of incandescent magma heeding to the form of its cast. The interpretation is free. But the mystery remains.”

Most 3D software, gaming or otherwise, available up to this point has been very gimmicky. Either you were traversing polygons in a huge, virtual reality apparatus at a theme park, you were peering into a set of unwieldy goggles which rendered Wario in an ugly red monochromatic landscape–and yeah, we know you’d rather leave the horrendous Virtual Boy buried in the annals of your memory.

However, desktop 3D gaming is actually experiencing somewhat of a renaissance, and you can actually experience pretty decent 3D gaming from your computer.  We’ve looked at the hardware offered by North Quincy, MA computer manufacturer Psychsoftpc before, but the maker has since expanded their offerings, and now you can order your gaming rig with NVida’s 3D Vision Kit with their Psyborg Extreme Gamer PCs to experience 3D gaming straight out of the box, provided you have one of the many supported steroscopic montors. And, as the computer maker points out, this is probably the closest we’ll ever get a holodeck.

The kit comes with viewing glasses that function on the same principles as the ones you wore when you watched latest Pixar flick. Each eye sees a slightly different image, and the brain integrates the two images to produce a depth of field. The best part of the entire system is that the software inteagrates with existing games, meaning most games are compatible with the viewing system. NVidia often demos the system by playing Mirrors Edge, an experience that has to be absolutely and delightfully nauseating.

As we said before, Psychsoftpc makes some powerful computers, and by offering NVidia’s 3D Vision Kit with them, the package only becomes even more valuable.

Widget Factory LLC, creators of the “world’s thinnest iPhone and iPod touch stand” has introduced their newest collection”"the iBend Artist Series.

The iBend itself weighs less than one gram and is incredibly thin. They come 2 to a pack and are easy to store.

Three renowned artists from Canada, New York and California designed the Artist Series. Each artist was responsible for four designs, which come two per pack. This resulted in a grand total of 12 new designs for iPhone and iPod Touch owners.

The iBend Classic is available in black and white for $4.99 and the Artist Series packs are available for 7.99 from www.myibend.com

Kensington announced a new car mount, which amplifies sound on September 22. The new mount can be used with any iPhone navigation application and is the newest addition to Kensington’s iPhone accessory line.

The Kensington Windshield/Vent Mount with Sound Amplified Cradle nearly doubles the sound of turn-by-turn navigation instructions or other sound without the need for additional batteries or draining of the iPhone battery by redirecting the sound towards the listener instead of straight down.

The device mounts to either the user’s windshield or vents and comes with rubber inserts to fit with all models of the iPhone. Another benefit to mounting your iPhone is to give it better reception.

This is a great addition for those of us who live on the go and need to keep our attention on the road while also being productive. The device will be available in Apple retail stores beginning in November 2009 and will cost $39.99.

On September 15, DAP technologies announced its new Kinysis rugged tablet. The device weighs about three pounds and runs with Microsoft Windows.‚  The Kinysis also features a hot swappable battery, modular customizability, and integrated wireless communication.

The device is fully rugged and complies with MIL-STD-810F, a military standard for in-field use. To comply, a device has to pass free-fall resistance, immersion, rain, humidity, and vibration tests.‚  For example, the Kinysis can be submerged up to a meter in water and still maintain full operational functionality. You gonna do that with your ThinkPad tablet? Didn’t think so.

“Whether it’s outside standing up to what Mother Nature dishes out, docked inside a service vehicle, or being tossed into a greasy toolbox, DAP’s Kinysis rugged computer is built for challenging environments,” said Gianni Parisse, general manager of DAP Technologies. “Maintaining the integrity of our customers’ data through their daily environmental challenges is our top priority because we understand that data is both mission-critical and essential for operational efficiency.”

The full touch-screen version of the Kinysis tablet PC.

DAP’s Kinysis runs Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard Operating system on an LX800 processor. Storage is handled by an SSD of up to 32GB and the seal expansion bay on the device can house custom modules. Another option is a Universal Imager that has auto focus and the ability to capture video and read certain bar codes. For wireless productivity, the Kinysis has Bluetooth and wi-fi with optional 3G connectivity.

The device also comes with two screen options, either a color TFT half-SVGA screen LCD screen and a tactile QWERTY keyboard or a color TFT full WVGA LCD screen. The screens are anti-glare and vibration and shock resistant. They can be operated with a stylus or a finger.

The Kinysis is ideally suited to field service operations. It gives teams the ability to track customer requests, access how to guides and maintain full data synchronization with the main database. The batteries for this device are hot swappable and designed to last a full 8-hour shift.

Toshiba announced on ‚ September 9 that it would be releasing a new line of 1.8-inch single platter hard disk drives with capacities up to 160GB. These new products are being targeted towards next-generation portable media players and digital video camcorders.

The new drives, under the unwieldy MKxx34GAL line moniker, offer a thin and light package with the highest single platter storage capacity in the industry, the quietest seek function, and the most efficient power consumption. It appears they will only be available to manufacturers with the 160GB model shipping now and the 60GB, 80GB and 120GB models following later in the month.

“1.8-inch HDDs are key components in a variety of handheld and mobile products that require the combination of high-capacity, durability, cost-effectiveness and reliability in a small and compact footprint,” said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at Toshiba Storage Device Division.

“With the increasing demand for anytime content access and capture, we continue to see healthy opportunity for 1.8-inch HDDs in portable devices. Our 1.8-inch products have fueled innovation in a variety of markets, and have been installed in many products that are today, common household items.”

Maybe we’ll see one of these in the next iPod refresh?

Product Specifications

Model Number ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  MXX34GAL
———— ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ——–
Maximum Capacity ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  160GB / 120GB // 80GB / 60GB
(Formatted) 1
—————- ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  —————————-
Number of platters ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  1
—————— ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ —
Areal density ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ 467 Gb/in(2)
————- ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ ————
Average seek time ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  15 ms
—————– ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  —–
Rotational speed ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ 4,200 RPM
—————- ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ ———
Buffer memory ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ 8 MB
————- ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ —-
Interface ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  Parallel ATA
——— ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ————
Interface transfer ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  100 MB/sec rate
—————— ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ———-
External ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  54.0 mm x ‚ 71.0 mm x 5.0 mm dimensions (WxDxH; mm)
———— ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ —————————-
Weight (g) ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  48 g (max)
——— ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ ———-
Energy consumption ‚ 0.0019 / 0.0025 // 0.0038 / 0.0050 W/GB efficiency
—————— ‚ —————————————
Shock resistance:
Operating ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ 5,880 m/s(2) (600 G, 2ms)
Non-operating ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  14,700 m/s(2) (1,500 G, 1ms)
————- ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  —————————-
Acoustics:
Idle ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  14 dB
Seek ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  15 dB
—- ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  —–

Sony released the BDP-N460 Networked Blu-Ray disc player last week, a Blu-ray playing, media streaming machine.

The player is capable of typical features like playing Blu-Ray dics and DVDs as well as streaming several kinds of pay and free video content from Sony’s BRAVIA Internet platform, including content from YouTube and Slacker. Late this fall, the player will also get streaming content from Netflix.

“Whether its full HD 1080p or streaming video and audio from the Internet, entertainment comes in so many flavors that consumers want choice,” said Chris Fawcett, vice president of Sony Electronics’ home audio and video business “Leading the entertainment experience, Sony brings the best of both worlds together in one player that offers more content than other stand-alone devices on the market.”

The BDP-N460 is capable of 1080p output and is compatible with the latest audio codecs. It is even BD-LIVE compatible with a broadband Internet connection and external storage.

The device incorporates cross search functionality with the BRAVIA Internet platform, making finding content much easier. It also includes Sony’s Precision Upscale HD, which upscales DVDs to near HD resolutions. The player even prevents damage to discs and itself using Sony’s Precision Drive technology, which helps detect and correct wobbling discs in the drive.

The device is available now, and retails for around $250.

For those who grew up in the information age, the convenience of being able to manage multiple devices from a central location “" namely, our couch “" is very important. Well now, thanks to IOGEAR’s HDMI control center, you can now mange all of your HDMI inputs and home office peripherals from your couch.

The IOGEAR HDMI Control Center.

The device is complete with a wireless keyboard with a built in laser trackball allowing users to easily navigate, switch, and interact with all their HDMI peripherals. For example, the device allows users to quickly switch from a Blu-ray movie to a computer connected to their HDTV, type and send a quick email, then switch back and continue the movie all from the device’s remotes. This is extremely useful for those who work in front of the TV or prefer the ease and organization of a central organized location for work. It may also be the solution for those of us that lack a home office.

The device is simple plug and play with a sleek design and, according to IOGEAR, works with game consoles, set-top boxes, Blu-ray and DVD players and media servers/computers.

“At IOGEAR, we are constantly innovating new technologies to give consumers the easiest and most complete computing and entertainment experience,” said Miranda Su, executive vice president of IOGEAR. “As convergence increases between these two mediums, we strive to offer solutions that efficiently and cost-effectively bridge this gap.”

IOGEAR’s HDMI Control Center is at the 2009 CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, GA right now and until September 13^th at booth 5715.

Every day it seems like there’s another social network you need to keep updating. We’ll freely admit that should you try to keep up with all of them, it can get overwhelming. While there are sites like Friendfeed which aim to collect all of your social network happenings on one website, you’re still tied to your computer to be able to keep tabs on your friends.

But now, Motorola is introducing the Cliq with Motoblur, which allows you to update, post, and read everyone on all of your social networks all on the homescreen of your phone.

Motoblur is Motorola’s first offering built on top of Google’s Android phone OS. Motoblur is the “solution” that allows you to post to Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Gmail, and last.fm. Content is delivered to the home screen of the phone in different categories to let users better handle the stream of information.

Updates, including statuses, wall posts, and friend feeds from social networks are delivered to the “Happenings” box, while email and networking messages are delivered to the “Messages” box. You can update all or some of your networks from the “Social Status” box, and an RSS feed reader will deliver headlines to your home screen.

The underling Android system allows tight integration between Google’s offerings, including Gmail and Google Calendar, as well as contact syncing with your Google account.

The Cliq phone itself is packed with 3G and A-GPS, wi-fi, a 5 megapixel camera, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and a standard headphone jack to let you listen to music or stream last.fm playlists. The Cliq doesn’t have an official release date other than “fourth quarter” from T-Mobile. Definitely looks like something to add to the Christmas list.

Fall is here in New England, right on queue, which means only one thing: it’s time for football. Most of us will have to resign to watching the Pats from our flat-screens, but for the lucky few with tickets to Gillette, tailgating is a right of passage. Of course, there’s a right way and a wrong to go about tailgating, as many a back injury can attest to. That’s why there’s the Shade Wagon.

The shade wagon is a high-capacity wagon capable of carrying two full coolers on either side of a storage console that also mounts an umbrella. The wagon comes with a cooler and two seats, with a capacity for twice that, plus a volcano grill. The umbrella also anchors the wagon to keep it from rolling away. Fold down a side on the Shade Wagon, and nylon straps hold it level, forming a table. When the nylon straps aren’t holding the side up, they can be used to carry folding chairs.

Unlatch them, and then you have two bench seats. No tailgating party would be complete without music, and the Shade Wagon comes built in with a battery operated Altec Lansing speaker to plug your iPod into.

While marketed as a tailgating tool, it would be just as appropriate at the beach, picnic, or any outdoor event. Fire up the grills and pass us a hot dog.

Apple’s Rock and Roll event in San Francisco heralded what was possibly the biggest news in recent Apple memory, Steve Jobs’ return to the throne as the public face of Apple. Second to that, and possibly less exciting, Apple announced updates across its entire iPod line and to iTunes.

iPod Nano.

Apple is adding a video camera to its iPod Nanos, allowing users to take still pictures or film clips for easy uploading to YouTube later, all at the same price pont as a 4 GB Kickflip.‚  Apple is also “" and finally, in our opinion “" adding an FM radio. While we haven’t listened to a radio since 2003, its always seemed a cheap component that everyone else has always offered. But in typical Apple fashion, they’ve bettered it: users will be able to live-pause the music, and tag songs to later find them in iTunes. Pricing for the Nano is $149 for 8GB, and $179 for 16GB, all of which come in Apple’s standard candy colored offerings.

iPod Touch.

Apple’s iPod Touch line also saw battery and memory upgrades and price drops. The 8GB iPod touch is now only $199. However, users can also purchase the 32 and 64 GB models for $299 and $399 respectively which include new Open GL firmware for better video and game performance, a necessary upgrade to maintain Apple’s relevance in the mobile gaming marketplace.

iPod Shuffle

Apple’s iPod shuffle is also getting five new colors and price drops. The 2 GB model is only $59 dollars, while the 4 GB model is $79. There still aren’t any controls on the player itself, meaning you’re still limited to headphones with the built-in controls. Apple did announce that many manufacturers are adding support for the controls on board, or through adapters.

All of these are solid upgrades, and while there’s still no tablet, this should definitely take Apple successfully into the upcoming holiday season.

Today, Atdec launched its Telehook TH-1040-VFM full-motion mount. The mount allows the viewing angle to be adjusted up to 40 degrees, useful for those with TVs in high glare areas. The Telehook TH-1040-VFM also allows TVs to be moved to landscape and portrait mode after installation. Pinwheel TV, anyone?

This is made possible through use of a ball joint which offers wide adjustment of up to 40 degrees in any direction, allowing users to find that perfect sweet spot for our TV. There is no need to screw and unscrew numerous bolts with Atdec’s “Simple Tension” Adjustment system, and their Smooth Glide technology allows for effortless adjustment of screens up to 55 pounds. ‚ The TH-1040-VFM’s quick release mechanism guarantees fast and easy TV attachment and removal, though the idea of a quick release on our giant glass TV scares us more than anything else. Also, Atdec also says the mount is theft resistant, though that seems to be the opposite of “quick release.”

“We are really in the TV viewing business and that’s what Atdec’s mounting solutions are all about: providing the best and most elegant way to ensure optimum viewing experience no matter what the environment may be. The new Telehook TH-1040-VFM is a perfect example of this philosophy with its ability to offer infinite fine-tuning of the viewing angle via a variety of easy to adjust pivot points. Innovative design, matched with a stylish look and reliable build, make the new mount an ideal choice for any home or commercial TV installation.” Said Jerome Green Director of Atdec.

The TH-1040-VFM supports panels between 12 inches and 40 inches and a weight up to 55 pounds. It will be available in mid September for $169.

Microsoft announced the new LifeCam Cinema, a 16:9, 720p high-definition webcam.

It’s the first home webcam to offer widescreen video with an onboard 720p sensor. It also auto focuses, keeping video sharp from a minimum distance of just four inches.

It’s also one of the only webcams marketed to work well in low light, and it has image stability and de-noising abilities that reduce graininess.

The LifeCam’s onboard noise canceling microphone also make it perfect for Skype.

Check out the fact sheet here.

Microsoft seems to have an answer for just about everything Apple does. And not that it’s a bad thing either. Apple gave us Snow Leopard; Microsoft is giving us Windows 7, which has been called their most capable operating system to date. Apple gave us retail stores, so Microsoft announced it was opening retail locations near by.

In response to Apple’s millimeters-thick stainless steel keyboard, Microsoft’s latest announcement is the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000, their thinnest keyboard ever. ‚ The entire keyboard is only slightly thicker than the AAA battery that powers it at the back. The stylish keyboard has Microsoft’s familiar ergonomic curved layout.

Something missing from most laptops these days is a number pad. For anyone who uses numbers with any frequency, an external keyboard becomes a necessity. The downside is that a number bad adds a great deal of bulk. Microsoft solved this but making the keypad a standalone product that comes with its own carrying case. Pair it to your computer when you need it, and stow it away when you don’t.

The Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 will retail in October for $90, while the number pad will be $45. Certainly not the cheapest keyboard set ever, but probably worth taking a look.

Today, Atdec launched its Telehook TH-1040-VFM full-motion mount.

This TV mount will be useful for those of us who have chosen to put our TVs in high glare areas, as it allows the viewing angle to be adjusted up to 40 degrees. The Telehook TH-1040-VFM even allows us to use our flat panels in landscape and portrait mode after installation and can support panels between 12″ and 40″ and a weight up to 55 pounds.

This is made possible through use of a ball joint which offers boundless adjustment up to 40 degrees in any direction, allowing us to find that perfect sweet spot for our TV. There is no need to screw and unscrew numerous bolts due to Atdec’s “Simple Tension” Adjustment system, and their Smooth Glide technology allows for effortless adjustment of screens up to 55 pounds. The TH-1040-VFM’s quick release mechanism guarantees fast and easy TV attachment and removal.

The TH-1040-VFM offers a maximum reach from the wall of 17 ‚½” and a minimum distance from the wall of 4″. It supports VESA mounting hole configurations of 4″x 4″, 8″x 4″ and 8″x 8″. It features a cable management system, a theft resistant design and is compatible with masonry and timber stud wall mounting hardware.

“We are really in the TV viewing business and that’s what Atdec’s mounting solutions are all about: providing the best and most elegant way to ensure optimum viewing experience no matter what the environment may be,” said Atdec’s Jerome Green.

“The new Telehook TH-1040-VFM is a perfect example of this philosophy with its ability to offer infinite fine-tuning of the viewing angle via a variety of easy to adjust pivot points. Innovative design, matched with a stylish look and reliable build, make the new mount an ideal choice for any home or commercial TV installation.”

The TH-1040-VFM will be available in mid September for $169.

Plasma and LCD TVs become more and more affordable, affording more and more consumers with stellar picture quality. But for audiophiles who want great sound to go with their great picture, decent sound equipment has remained rather outside of the reach of the average consumer.

The ZVOX 440.

Swampscott-based ZVOX, self-proclaimed pioneer of all-in-one home theater system, is introducing two new high-performance sound bars at affordable prices.

Made of hand-crafted wood cabinets and premium grade sound parts as opposed to the usual plastic and cheap components seen in typical all-in-one sets, the sets generate virtual surround sound from three compact speakers and a built in subwoofer all from a slim profile.‚  Set-up is simple, with just a single jack connecting the TV and speaker bar. And because green features are all the rage, the sets will put themselves into stand-by mode after a few minutes without any input.

The ZVOX 430.

It’s something of which North American cell phone carriers should take note. Kenya’s Safaricom, in partnership with Chinese cell maker ZTE, has launched a solar powered cell phone made from recyclable materials, Bloomberg reports.

ZTE Coral-200 Solar. Credit: Flickr/techfever

ZTE claims its Coral-200 phone can recharge using the sun’s rays and has a talk time of a little over two hours. In a country like Kenya, the phone is a perfect addition to current cell options.

While there are more than 17 million cell phone subscribers in Kenya, only 1.3 million have access to constant electricity. Many people have to go into major metropolises just to charge their phones, a major inconvenience.

While the ZTE Coral isn’t the glitziest solar phone on the market, it serves a great purpose to people in Kenya.

Samsung Blue Earth

Earlier this year Samsung also introduced a solar phone with spectacular specs. The phone is made of recyclable plastic and boasts a pedometer, MMS‚ capability and a touch screen. LG and Sharp have also manufactured solar phones. None of phones are, however, slated for a U.S. release. What a waste.

Samsung Blue Earth. Credit: Flickr/uriondo

Cell phone carriers in North America should look to these phones as options for at least the outdoorsy-types. Solar-powered phones give campers the ability to stay connected while in the wilderness, just in case something happens.

As low-cost options with GSM networks, consumers could purchase the phones as at least backups to their iPhones or smart phones until solar phones can boast more impressive features, more along the lines of those offered by smart phones.

I know I’d love to have one.

The Sungale ID800WT Digital Picture Frame.

Digital picture frames fit into an awkward part of the technological landscape. On one hand, they’re certainly the next evolution of the standard wooden frame “" why only display one picture when you have thousands waiting to be seen on your computer? On the other, they’re almost backwards thinking “" in a worlds where every decide you have does many things, they’re like a really small computer monitor, except less useful, because they only display pictures.

Sungale has released the ID800WT in hopes of mitigating this discrepancy by loading the frame with a Wi-Fi card and touch screen, meaning the device can access current weather and forecasts, your stock information, internet radio and YouTube if you hook it up to external speakers, and even your Gmail, all on top of displaying a rotating slideshow of your pictures. Most of the widgets worked as promised; the news reader loaded the stories from Google News or Yahoo! News, and while the font was the most legible, this was really nifty. Unfortunately though, I found the YouTube widget frequently froze the device when I tried to load a video.

The available widgets on the home screen of the ID800WT.

The transitions available were standard, and maybe it’s just the fact that I enjoy the clean Mac aesthetic, but I feel like they were a bit dated. The “card stacking” and “bloom” transitions ceased to be cool with Powerpoint 97. Personally, I think it’s time for more grown up transitions.

One of the really cool features is the ability of the device to link to your online Picasa albums. If you have them set to sync from your computer to Picasa, then the device can then sync them to its onboard memory, obviating the need for cords. That being said, if old school is more your style, the device showed up on my Mac as an external flash drive without any fuss, and all I had to do was drag and drop the photos I wanted. You can even keep them organized by folder, and the frame intelligently displays photos from within the folders, making it easy to swap “albums” in and out. The half-gig of on board memory is actually rather roomy, especially if you crop your photos down to the 800 x 600 resolution of the screen, which is simple in a free editor like Picasa.

The home screen of the ID800WT.

The frame itself is matte black plastic, and while it’s won’t exactly win any award in the design department, it’s certainly good enough to fit a standard dƒ©cor, and isn’t ugly by any stretch of the imagination. The screen is bright and clear, minus all the fingerprints from being a touch screen. However, the inclusion of a soft screen wipe is definitely thoughtful. Obviously it’s hard to photograph a bright screen correctly in a photo like this, so you should just take my word for it. The screen itself has an 800 x 600 resolution, which is very high for a screen this size “" think back to the 90′s when your 13.1″ CRT monitor had the same resolution. The touch-screen was nowhere near as responsive as, say, an iPhone “" typing in my email password was particularly frustrating. I tried to use the on-board file explorer to arrange the photos, but I decided that it was easier just to plug it in and do so from Finder.

The fact that your device can do all of these things certainly gives it a leg up over your standard digital picture frame, assuming you have a solid Wi-Fi connection “" and this is where the frame failed me. The Wi-Fi connection was extremely flaky, to the point where I couldn’t sit on my couch fifteen feet away from my router. The only time I got a semi-decent connection was when I put the frame directly on top of the router, but even then it gave out, and I frequently had to remind the device to connect to my network.

The solution turned out to be to turn off my router’s security. While this may work on occasion, I’m clearly not going to be broadcasting an unencrypted network all the time in my crowded neighborhood, which means the device loses a lot of it’s “always on” potential if I have to change my router settings every time I want to use the weather, traffic, or email widgets. Another minor quibble is that I think the power cord actually isn’t long enough. If you wanted to hang it on a wall, you’d likely be limited to hanging it directly above an outlet, or running a rather unsightly extension cord.

The back of the ID800WT.

I can’t help but feel like all the pieces are in place for the ID800WT to be an amazing device “" it ‚ just falters on the execution. As a digital picture frame, the device performs near flawlessly, as it should. The widgets however are just too clunkily implemented to be truly useful. The makers should look toward a device like the Chumby, which has a small touch screen and cycles through photos and widgets much the same way, but with a much more svelte implementation. Of course the Chumby is itself rather chucky by nature “" you won’t be hanging one of them on a wall anytime soon. What we all truly need is a love child of the two.

Overall, the Sungale ID800WT is stellar at being a digital picture frame, and while the onboard widgets may not replace hopping onto your iGoogle homepage in the morning, it wouldn’t really be a poor choice if you were in the market for a digital picture frame.

The last time we threw a party, we pulled out our plastic Guitar Hero controller and absolutely shredded “Free Bird” on Expert in an attempt to make our ex-girlfriend jealous of what she left behind. However, the skinny hipster dude that she brought told us that if we wanted any real respect, we would need to get our hands on a real guitar. They proceeded to make out together when everyone should have been watching our solo. We then went to go cry in a corner.

The thing is, while we can learn to play just about any video game, the skill to actually play a real guitar has always proved a bit elusive to us “" we played the French horn in high school after all.

However, the time has come when Guitar Hero meets a real guitar. Fretlight is a guitar manufacturer that makes a series of acoustic and electric guitars “" you know, the ones with strings “" that have built in LED lights on the fret board that show you where to put your fingers to actually play notes, chords, and even music. This essentially makes learning to play a guitar as easy as learning to play Guitar Hero.

Fretlight also publishes free Mac and PC compatible software with lessons to teach you the basics and songs to let you show off your skills. There’s also a plugin for Garage Band, and a number of third party software programs available to expand your repertoire.

We’ve got ours in the mail right now, and we’ll be practicing all month. Check back later to see if we were able to build the skills to win the ex back.