I don't know what it is, but I've always had an eye for weird stuff. Maybe that explains all those weird guys I attracted in college! Nonetheless, the Weird Hunter is back to tell you about the strangest, the most unusual USB devices she has ever seen.
I needed a new graphics card for my HTPC, so I popped on Newegg in search of something cheap with a TV-out. I had a few demands, save the TV-Out and the PCI Express port. Little did I realize what I'd stumble across, however: only the baddest digital bling I've ever seen! MSI customized the heatsink on their RX300HM graphics card such that it spells out the company's name, which is sort of the graphics card equivalent of a flashy grill across the front teeth, or 20-inch dubs, or something like that. My first thought was that the logo would read through a windowed PC case, since it's the flat edge of a graphics card that sticks out towards that window. However, from that angle it's really upside down. And here's a puzzler for you: I wonder if MSI's corporate executives have funky knuckle rings made from the same stuff?--Jeremy Kaplan
A few days ago we posted about FaceTracker technology from FotoNation. FujiFilm must have enjoyed that post, because it's just announced the F31fd: a camera that promises to read your face and take the best possible picture.
Called a "Face Detection System," the technology analyzes your mug by using algorithms and triangulation to optimize focus and exposure. And (something like what happens in an aerial dogfight) you know the system is working when it shows a green rectangle around your face; smaller white squares can find up to nine other people in the picture. A movement-tracking feature keeps the camera locked on people until they move out of the frame. According to FujiFilm, the technology will work regardless of the person's position and will not be confused by eyeglasses or other facial obstructions. The company also claims its technology will work better than the competition's, because the Face Detection System is built directly into the camera's processor.
Boo! That's what I have to say about the Halloween Ghost Computer Mouse. Not boo in the "that stinks" sense, but in the spooky parlance, of course. I love it's shape, and big eyes/buttons. It's got a scroll wheel too--can't LIVE without those. (Although ghosts aren't living, are they?) A gadget so cool, its speaks for itself. Get it for $35.98 from FabStuff.
Admit it: Your mobile phone is something you throw in a bag or pocket, drop occasionally, and just hope has enough juice left to make a call when you need it. Sure, when it's brand new you treat it with a bit more respect, but after a couple of months the phone is bound to take a beating. Now comes a phone that is more chic than geek, and it could be the phone you treat with the respect it deserves. The Serene is Samsung mobile technology housed in a sleek case designed by Bang & Olufsen, and it's a phone everyone might want... at least until they hear about the $1,275 price.
The design of the Serene is unique, with the display and microphone in the lower shell and the circular keyboard and speaker in the upper shell. Despite the minimalistic look, the Serene comes with features such as a digital camera, e-mail and SMS functionality, and Bluetooth. It will be available in Bang & Olufsen stores this November. And before that price turns you off... remember that the Serence package includes a travel charger. Not that most people could afford to go anywhere, after buying it!
Just when I think there can be no better ducktastic gadgets out there, I'm hit with this one! This mouse with a floating duck inside is only the best invention ever! What a great way to quack up your co-workers, waddle around the Web, and duck and paste!
Made by Pat Says Now, a Swiss company, the Duck Computer Mouse has three buttons and a scroll wheel and connects via USB. It sells for $35.98 from FabStuff. The also sell the Koi Computer Mouse, which is pretty darn cool too, albeit duck-less.
This week on gearlog radio....PJ Jacobowitz explains our test results on the Slingbox Pro; Cisco explains what is new in notebooks, from high-definition players to Core2 Duo processors; Jen Deleo runs down the weirdest iPod accessories ever. (Well, at least so far.) Plus, I give a quick recap of the Pop!Tech show and give the final word on the Sony Reader.
An early Halloween legend spoke of a group of people who had grown tired of using their mobile devices purely for functional purposes. They craved games... and the cursed wish was made. An eerie answer came... a Web site called Astraware arose from the depths of the Internet (scary as that is on its own!) to supply productivity-sapping games to the masses.
Children and adults alike can now celebrate the Astraware Spooktacular, from Friday, October 27, until midnight of October 31. Six weird and wacky games for Palm OS, Windows Media Pocket PC, or Windows Media Smartphone are available at 50 percent off their regular prices. You can purchase Zuma, Broken Sword, and more. Prices range from $4.95 to $19.95. Brave souls can also become a member of the site for free, completing the covenant and receiving Mars Needs Cows at no charge.
The legend goes on to say that the individuals who invoked the gaming ritual were never again the same... and you could hear whispers of what sounded like "Bejewled" echoing throughout their offices....--Andre Bermudez
If you've sprung for a second-gen nano, you want to keep that gorgeous piece of electronics goodness in pristine condition. Power Support is offering a new product called Crystal Film Set, which protects your baby from dirt and abrasions ($15 for a set of two films). Also available from this company are the really attractive Kimono iPod cases ($40) and a clever product called the Cord Gatherer ($10) that helps rein in those annoying headset cables. Lots more at the site.
Better yet, the company's offering Gearlog readers 15 percent off any product at the site! Just enter the promotional code GEARLOG when you purchase from the Power Supply Web site. You can use this code till November 30.
Scary movies and videogames have their place, but for me, there's nothing like a spooky read to chill me to the bone. Thanks to Google's book-indexing project, some of the best scary stories are available online to read, some to even download and print out if you prefer. You can also search these texts for words and phrases; as Google explains:
"This year, make exploring some of these classic spooky tales part of your treat. Discover who famously uttered "nevermore," why Van Helsing was forced to behead the "bloofer lady" and how Ichabod Crane met his untimely end in a tranquil glen called Sleepy Hollow."
On the rare occasion that I take a bath--I much prefer showers, plus I have a phobia that someone is going to drop a hairdryer into the tub and electrocute me, yes I've watched too many cheesy B movies. Bygones. Anyway, I almost always make it too hot, and I've just suffered too many times. Sure I test the water before I dive in, but there's a 3-second delay (like on the old Howard Stern show) between when you stick your leg into the tub and that realization that your flesh is boiling. OUCH!
That's where this adorable Water Thermometer Duck waddles in. My bathroom is already adorned with several rubber duckies, so he would fit in perfectly. This guy sits in your tub and takes the temperature of the water--he beeps if it's too hot (not sure what the duck's threshold is, though). You can also read the temperature on his easy-to-ready LED screen. And he comes cheap too--only about 9 bucks from Gizoo
Want proof that the US cell phone market has no resemblance whatsoever to anywhere else in the world? A post on MSMobiles.com turned me on to this slide from a presentation made by Symbian , which illustrates how startlingly different we are in terms of smartphones compared to other parts of the globe. Basically, the North American market ("NoAm" on the slide) is dominated by three homegrown players: formerly-California-based PalmSource, Washington-based Microsoft, and Ontario-based RIM, the Blackberry guys. Symbian, the European smartphone consortium dominated by Nokia, plays a pretty small role here, and we don't have a single Linux phone.
That isn't the case elsewhere. There are tons of Linux phones in Japan and China, and Symbian pretty much owns Europe, the Middle East and Asia (aka EMEA.)
There are a lot of reasons why the markets on this chart are different from each other. North America, Japan and China all have both CDMA and GSM networks; Europe has no CDMA (and more importantly to the chart, there are no Symbian CDMA phones.) The North American and Japanese markets are dominated by powerful carriers that dictate phone prices and features; China and Europe are more open. Also, everybody likes a homegrown solution native to their region of the world.
Here's two light up products from ExtremeGlow.com that combine my love for Halloween and lights!
The Pirate Bones Body Light is a pin that uses 2 CR927 batteries to glow in red and blue. The best part is, they sell for just 70 cents!!
The Sound FX Spider Pendant necklace actually reacts to sound. Each one comes with a "steady on" setting to make it flash constantly as well as two sound level settings for both normal and loud environments. It sells for $2.--Jen DeLeo
"Monster Mash" facts:
- Did you know that the popular song "Monster Mash", performed by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Cryptkickers, was originally going to be called either "The Monster Twist" or "The Mean Monster Mashed Potato"?
- About.com reports that "the sound effects on the record were all performed in the studio: the creaking door was a nail being pulled from a piece of wood, the bubbling beakers were suggested by blowing through a straw into a glass of water, and the heavy chains were dropped onto plywood for that "shackled" effect."
- Apparently, Elvis Presley hated the "Monster Mash".
- And the band played this song to awaken US astronauts around Halloween.
I don't know what it is, but I've always had an eye for weird stuff. Maybe that explains all those weird guys I attracted in college! Nonetheless, the Weird Hunter is back to tell you about the strangest, the most unusual USB devices she has ever seen.
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I needed a new graphics card for my HTPC, so I popped on Newegg in search of something cheap with a TV-out. I had a few demands, save the TV-Out and the PCI Express port. Little did I realize what I'd stumble across, however: only the baddest digital bling I've ever seen! MSI customized the heatsink on their RX300HM graphics card such that it spells out the company's name, which is sort of the graphics card equivalent of a 
A few days ago we posted about 
Boo! That's what I have to say about the 
Admit it: Your mobile phone is something you throw in a bag or pocket, drop occasionally, and just hope has enough juice left to make a call when you need it. Sure, when it's brand new you treat it with a bit more respect, but after a couple of months the phone is bound to take a beating. Now comes a phone that is more chic than geek, and it could be the phone you treat with the respect it deserves. The 
Just when I think there can be no better ducktastic gadgets out there, I'm hit with this one! This mouse with a floating duck inside is only the best invention ever! What a great way to quack up your co-workers, waddle around the Web, and duck and paste!
An early Halloween legend spoke of a group of people who had grown tired of using their mobile devices purely for functional purposes. They craved games... and the cursed wish was made. An eerie answer came... a Web site called 
If you've sprung for a second-gen nano, you want to keep that gorgeous piece of electronics goodness in pristine condition. Power Support is offering a new product called Crystal Film Set, which protects your baby from dirt and abrasions ($15 for a set of two films). Also available from this company are the really attractive Kimono iPod cases ($40) and a clever product called the Cord Gatherer ($10) that helps rein in those annoying headset cables. Lots more at the site.
Scary movies and videogames have their place, but for me, there's nothing like a spooky read to chill me to the bone. Thanks to Google's book-indexing project, some of the 
On the rare occasion that I take a bath--I much prefer showers, plus I have a phobia that someone is going to drop a hairdryer into the tub and electrocute me, yes I've watched too many cheesy B movies. Bygones. Anyway, I almost always make it too hot, and I've just suffered too many times. Sure I test the water before I dive in, but there's a 3-second delay (like on the old 
Want proof that the US cell phone market has no resemblance whatsoever to anywhere else in the world? A post on 
Sometimes I miss 
The 
