Gadgets 2008

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 20th 2008 at 6:01AM
We’ve seriously stopped trying to understand what differentiates one DXG camcorder from the next. Every release reads something like “blah, blah, 1080p,” followed by a price that’s simply too good to be true. The DXG-595V claims to capture 1080p (imagine that!) video onto your SDHC card for a mere $200, and the ability to snag stills / connect to your SDTV via composite or S-Video is thrown in for free. Thanks, DXG — can’t wait for you to slap a new model number on some leftover inventory and treat us again next month.

[Via Gearlog]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Aug 20th 2008 at 9:25AM
Well you can’t say you didn’t see this one coming — between the leaked shots, more leaked shots, and those — yes — leaked press materials, this was only a matter of time. That’s right: Palm has gone and gotten all official with its latest and greatest smartphone, the now-familiar Treo Pro. The new Windows Mobile device is being sold unlocked (!), and features an HSDPA cell radio (tri-band UMTS, quad-band GSM), GPS, 802.11b/g, a 320 x 320 touchscreen display, 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM, a 2-megapixel camera, support for microSDHC cards up to 32GB… and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack! The Pro will run you $549 contract-free here in the States, while you’ll be able to purchase it through Vodafone and O2 for prices ranging from €399 to nothing at all (with a contract, of course). Hit the read link and take a tour of the new device, or watch the totally radical — and long, and detailed — video after the break.

Gallery: Palm’s Treo Pro gets official

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Filed under: Cellphones

After the phenomenal success of Michael Phelps at the Olympics this summer, I predict swimming pools across the land will be booked solid for many months to come. If you’re a keen swimmer (or plan to become one) but miss your music when you’re in the pool, you might be tempted by Speedo’s new MP3 player.

Designed especially for in-pool listening, the Aquabeat comes in an array of neon colors and has large, easy-to-see controls. I’m not entirely sure how the headphone situation works - maybe those wires are retractable? - but Speedo says it’s safe to use.

Via Shiny Shiny.

Once in a while, you’ll find a product that is good for kids, adults, and the environment. The Tamiya Electric Car is one of them.

The Electric Car requires no batteries, but is powered by the wind. The Tamiya Loopwing Wind Power Generator Set comes with a miniature windmill whose blades are able to turn with even the lightest of winds. This spinning powers a tiny turbine, and you can use that to charge the electric car.

If the car is connected to windmill charger for 5-10 minutes, then the car is good for about 1-2 minutes of playing. That may not seem like much to you, but I think we all have electric tools that charge for a long time and work for a short amount of time. I have a Black and Decker electric screwdriver that works for about 5 minutes after one hour’s worth of charging.

Parents will definitely save on batteries with this toy. Not only that, it teaches kids to “reduce, reuse, and recycle”. No wonder why it is billed as an educational toy. I’m not certain if I agree with its age recommendation aimed at those 15 years of age or older, because I think it is the younger ones who need to learn to save energy and stop using toys that just burn up batteries.

The Tamiya Loopwing Wind Power Generator Set is available at the Tamiya America site for about $67.

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Summer is not over yet, so there is still some time left for you to head to the great outdoors in a trailer with your family and friends. Just in case you don’t have an idea on what are the creature comforts you will be able to enhance your trailer with, let Tailgating Innovations help you out. These won’t come cheap though, as prices start from $12,500 and go nowhere but upwards - just like gas. High Definition display - check. Top-of-the-line audio system - check. Long lamp life - check. You will have a much more enjoyable holiday experience with enhancements from Tailgating Innovations, that’s for sure, albeit at a rather high price.

Hat tip: Bob

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FROM APPLETELL - It’s all about ease of use, why shouldn’t iPhone copy and paste be part of the big picture too? With the OpenClip project, it just may be.
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The podXtreme might be small in stature but it boasts more than enough wattage to pump out a stunning audio performance no matter where you are.

No one will suspect that you hold the power to fill an entire room with sound in your pocket. When you pull the podXtreme out for the first time, people might even chuckle. But when they stumble back from the powerful sound this mighty speaker projects, you might just find yourself smiling at their amazement. No other speaker on the market packs such a punch in such a small unit. The secret resonation provides the podXtreme with such a powerful bass boost that you’re going to need to pimp out your iPod or MP3 player. Operating the same way as a quality sub-woofer, the secret resonator helps to elongate your sound through the expanded tunnel, creating a deeper bass and richer sound.

Never judge a book by its cover, my friends. The same principal can be applied to the podXtreme as well. You can pick one up for $9.45.

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Archos recently came out with 3 new devices, all of which are Internet Media Tablets. These new gadgets are set to combine music/video playback, TV, and the Internet, all in one sweet device. These new Archos tablets are called the Archos 5, Archos 7, and Archos 5g.

Let’s begin with the Archos 5. This device ranges in models with storage capacities of 60GB to a massive 250GB. It comes with a 5-inch screen to display the Internet and videos as clear as possible. Next, we have the Archos 7 and the 7 stands for it’s screen size, a beautiful 7-inch display. The cool feature in this one as opposed to the Archos 5, is that it can play live TV, a nice feature to have in any handheld device. As usual, it also can access the Internet and play videos. If you have a lot of videos stored on your computer and need a big device to store it all, then the Archos 7 is the device for you as it stores from 160GB to a crazy 320GB.

Lastly, we have the Archos 5g Tablet, which is designed for people always on the go and wanting to use the Internet wherever. The Archos 5g comes with 3.5g HSDPA technology, allowing you to connect to the Internet on the way to work, or on a long car ride. It boasts a hi-res 5-inch screen, and a 30GB hard drive. All three of these Internet Media Tablets come with something unique and perfect for everyone. Unfortunately, no word on pricing or availability at this time.

Read [Archos]

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Wish to control your own super robot, then get the latest LEGO Mindstorms NXT. Featuring a robotic construction, this device lets you build and program your own computerized robots. This PC and Mac compatible device is completely USB friendly. LEGO Mindstorms NXT works efficiently with 6 x AA batteries.

Features

• Bluetooth Wireless Communication
• 100 x 64 pixel LCD graphical display
• USB full speed port
• 4K bytes FLASH, 512 Byte RAM

LEGO Mindstorms NXT comes with 3 output ports and 6-wire cable digital platform. Its loudspeaker delivers 8 kHz sound quality and its sound channel delivers 8-bit resolution and 2-16 kHz sample rate. LEGO Mindstorms NXT incorporates 32-bit ARM7 microcontroller.

Price and Availability

LEGO Mindstorms NXT is available at a price of £179.95.
Source: Firebox

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Get away from those old fashioned radios by bringing in the new stylish Tangent Quattro WiFi Alarm Radio. Giving you an instant access to over 6000 radio stations, this radio alarm can be linked to any wireless network. For security, Tangent Quattro WiFi Alarm Radio features WEP and WPA1. The speaker fitted in Tangent Quattro WiFi Alarm Radio delivers a 3” full range at an 80Hz – 20,000Hz frequency range.

Features

• FM Radio
• Alarm Clock
• Wi-Fi Internet Radio
• Stream music from your PC

Tangent Quattro WiFi Alarm Radio can also be connected to an MP3 player. You can easily store six of your favorite radio stations on this interesting Alarm Radio. Tangent Quattro WiFi Alarm Radio supports various file formats like Real Audio, Windows Medai Streams, OGG Vorbis, AAC, AIFF, WAV, AU and MP3.

Price and Availability

Tangent Quattro WiFi Alarm Radio is available at a price of £179.95.
Source: Firebox

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