Tire pressure caps keep you informed

All vehicle owners should make sure that their tires are properly inflated (and I don’t mean the spare tire around your waist that’s hanging downwards) if they have maximum mileage and optimal road safety on their minds. Unfortunately, most people don’t take the trouble to check their tire pressures regularly, which results in faster wear and tear on their wheels that could compromise road safety as well. With these special pressure valve caps, you can check your tire pressures at a glance without having to use those pesky tire pressure gages. Available in 32 psi and 36 psi color-coded caps, they will retail for $7.98 each.

iStation T3 is a nice little PMP

It is nice to see some healthy competition in the Portable Media Player (PMP) market. The iStation T3 from Korea coincidently has the small “i” in front of it, but could easily give the iPod a run for its money.

The super-sized screen is one extra bonus at 4.3 inches, and has a 480 x 272 resolution. Other features include TV Out, USB connectivity, an SDHC memory card slot, an integrated FM radio tuner, as well as voice recording capability.

Of course, as with most PMPs, it is all about what formats it can play. In this case, the iStation can play quite a bit of audio files with WMA, MP3, OGG, FLAC, APE, AC3, and WAV. As for the video formats, it covers MPEG-4, AVI, DivX, XviD, and WMV.

As far as the memory is concerned, you will find them available in many sizes including 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities. As for the battery life, it has 10 hours worth per charge.

Did I mention that it also has Windows CE 5.0 OS? Well, it has it. Did I mention the price? Well, that’s because there is no word on it. There is also no word on an availability date either, but if you want a bit of a taste, check out this nifty video.

Fusion CA-IP500: Next Generation of iPod Compatible Car Stereos?

It is not surprising that most new car models come complete with iPod compatibility on their stereos. However, most of these iPod compatible stereos usually just have a place to plug in the cable, which makes it awkward for the driver.

After all, many countries have laws that allow only hands-free phones, to prevent accidents from distraction. Yet what is more distracting for a driver than changing tracks on their iPod while behind the wheel? Another issue with this type of iPod cable set-up is theft. If a driver parks his or her car and leaves the iPod attached to the cable, it makes a tempting target for thieves.

I suppose this is why Fusion created the CA-IP500, which will literally swallow your iPod whole. This will allow the iPod playlist to be broadcasted through the car’s stereo system, and it can be accessed via the minimally distracting CA-IP500’s controls, which resemble iPod controls.

Other features include a dot-matrix OLED display, SRS Wos sound shaping, AM/FM tuner, 7-band equalizer, and it has a security code so only the driver can access his or her iPod. By the way, the CA-IP500 can also charge your iPod when it sits inside.

The CA-IP500 is priced at about $349, and is compatible with the iPod Touch Gen1 and Gen2, the iPod Classic Gen5, Gen6, Gen7, and the iPod Nano Gen2, Gen3 and Gen4.

iBreath iPhone/iPod accessory could potentially save lives

I’m not certain if there is a huge market for personal breathalyzer tests, but I definitely think the iBreath is on the right track.

For starters, it is designed to plug right into your iPhone or iPod, which serves as the power source for this electronic breathalyzer. All the inebriated needs to do is blow into the whistle-shaped end there, and he or she will get an automatic readout of his or her Blood Alcohol Level, without an officer ever being present.

There is no doubt that the iBreath could easily save lives, and the life that it saves could be the driver’s. Yet this main feature is not enough for designer David Steele, who took it a step further at put an FM transmitter on it. This will enable the driver to listen to some music off their iPod/iPhone from their car radio. Maybe that will sober him or her up.

Tenqa SP-01 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Bluetooth technology is a real boon IMHO, as it helps free us from the tyranny of tangles and a wired mess, especially where headphones are concerned. Well, the Tenqa SP-01 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker comes in an extremely compact design that makes it a snap to fit into just about any home, and there is no need for you to live in a mansion since it would do very well in a cramped apartment. Perfect for those who want a personal audio system sans wires, as they get to enjoy wireless music from a suitably-equipped iPod, MP3 player, personal computer or a cell phone. There is no word on pricing, but these should hit the market pretty soon.

Logitech G13 Advanced Gaming Keyboard

Take Darth Vader’s head, mix it with the buttons on his chest, and then merge them into one gadget. The result would be the Logitech G13 Advanced Gaming Keyboard.

Actually, Logitech reveals in a recent Press Release that the G13 is really a combination of the Logitech G15 keyboard and G9 Laser Mouse. In this same release, the company promises that the G13 is a more superior model than other gaming keyboards.

“Unlike other gameboards that focus only on programmability, the G13 advanced gameboard incorporates the principles of our award winning Comfort Wave design…the G13 gameboard gives you a powerful advantage over those forced to work with less.”

Logitech also states that the G13 has three game modes, 25 programmable keys, and a programmable analog stick. This allows for over 87 ways to control your game, and even allows for custom button profiles as well as creating macros without having to pause the game. Another prominent feature is the 160 x 43 pixel GamePanel LCD to show live game stats, system info, or messages from other players.

The G13 also has pre-configured settings for many popular games including World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade, Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

The Logitech G13 should be available sometime this month in Europe and the United States for about $79.99.

So readers, do you agree with me about my Darth Vader opening comment, or what? Also let me know if there are other gaming keyboards out there that are truly improving your game.

Shiro SQ-S PMP is Solar Powered

I’m not sure if the world needs another type of PMP, but I will definitely give Shiro credit for trying something different.

Shiro has put a solar cell on the back of the SQ-S, which gives the user the option to charge the device with the power of the sun. Considering that power to PMPs is always an issue for mobile music, it is refreshing to see a PMP that does not require a wired charging method like an AC cord or USB cable.

The user has the option of using a USB cable if he or she wants to. Just to put it in perspective, it takes six hours with a “full sun” to charge the SQ-6, but only four hours with the USB. With a full charge, the SQ-S is capable of up to 38 hours of music playback and 10 hours of video playback.

The screen of the SQ-S is a 1.8 inch 65K color display, made for both video and photo playback. The SQ-S comes with 16GB of built-in memory, but does not have a memory card slot. It supports formats of MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, APE, OGG, and M4A. It also has an FM radio and is capable of FM recording.

My source does not have a price or availability date for the SQ-S, but the solar powered feature could really change the PMP market. Unless some other company has already tried this already. How about it, readers? What’s your opinion on solar-powered PMPs? If you know something that I don’t, feel free to leave a comment.

Nokia N97: The next cool smartphone

Our friends from Finland recently unveiled the Nokia N97 at the Nokia World 2008 conference in Barcelona this week. This quad-band world phone is HSDPA compatible, with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The N97 is designed for the social networking generation with Web 2.0 compatibility, which can support streaming flash videos. One of the most prominent features is what the company calls “social location” which can enable integrated A-GPS sensors with an electric compass to automatically update users’ social networks, or let them share their location via photos or videos with friends.

The home screen can be personalized with widgets of favorite Web and social networking sites. Also included in this little package is the Nokia Music Store, Nokia Maps, and the N-Gage gaming platform.

The phone has a 3.5 inch screen that is a touchscreen with 640 x 360 (16:9) display, as well as a slide out QWERTY keyboard. Other features include a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, plus dual LED flash that can shoot stills and record 30fps video. As for memory, it has 32GB worth of onboard memory, but if you want more, you can use the 16GB microSD card.

The N97 costs about $697, but probably won’t be available until around the second quarter of next year.

GPS Home Device

This is the simplest portable GPS locating device available, ideal for finding your car after shopping, returning to a favorite spot on the beach, or returning to camp. Simply push a button to mark your current location and the device points the way back. Nearly the size of a drink coaster, the compact receiver fits easily on a keychain, in a pocket, or in a purse. Unlike typical GPS units that are highly complex, this one only has two buttons: one for power, another for setting your starting point and two other destinations. It uses an advanced GPS receiver chipset that provides a high degree of accuracy–within five yards–in urban canyons or heavily forested environments thanks to its superior Time To First Fix for locating and locking onto satellite signals. It counts down the distance (in yards, miles, meters, or kilometers) as you approach your starting point and its self-calibrating digital compass displays your heading in degrees and indicates direction with an easy-to-read arrow.

Lemur Autovision to help increase road safety

If used correctly, that is. The Lemur Autovision is a device that is a snap to install in just about any vehicle, and it helps you get a clearer picture on your driving, recording important information like speed, distance and brakes while you tear up asphalt in your vehicle. Parents who review such data after their kids have taken out the family car for a spin will be able to better advise the younger ones on picking up life-saving pointers when driving.

Some of the features available on the Lemur Autovision include :-

* Real-time feedback
* Reports speed, distance, brakes
* Convenient keychain LCD
* Easy to install
* Affordable - no monthly fees
* Tamper Proof and PIN protected

You can pick up the Lemur Autovision for $99.95 a pop, and unless used responsibly, it will remain pretty much useless when it comes to cutting down the number of road accidents and fatalities. Still, a tool like this should not go unnoticed as any bit could go a long way in helping us make our roads safer for everyone.

The Start Your Engines Alarm Clock

If your love of cars isn’t being expressed quite enough in your current home décor, you might check out this alarm. There have been other alarms similar to this one, but luckily this one is a little cheaper than the others I’ve seen. If you’re on the lookout for a gift for a guy impossible to buy for and he has a love for cars this would be an easy gift to pick up. I’m sure he’d get a kick out of waking up to the sound of a high-powered V8 engine.

Although frankly I’m not sure how easy it would be to wake up to the sound of an engine. It’s not that it couldn’t possibly be loud enough. The issue more is if you live in the city, the sound of your alarm might blend into the traffic noise you’re used to hearing outdoors. Luckily the engine noise will grow in pitch and intensity until you turn it off. The clock also includes an AM/FM radio and can be powered by either the AC adapter or AA batteries. You can purchase it for $29.95 on Hammacher Schlemmer.

Verizon Wireless have those who are hankering after the Samsung Omnia so that they can parade it to family and friends this upcoming holiday season in mind, by launching the Samsung Omnia from tomorrow onwards. Just in case you’re not too sure what the hulabaloo is all about concerning the Samsung Omnia, it comes with a highly advanced 3.2” touch screen display, making it a viable alternative to those who have tried the iPhone and yet found it wanting in certain enterprise aspects. All I can say is, the Samsung Omnia looks set to be one of the best Windows Mobile 6.1-powered handsets to date judging by its specifications and early round of reviews online. More on the handset right after the jump.

Mr iSpy Digital Camera Binoculars

Now here's a hot gadget from the Nifty Gadgets Department at Chilli Technology. In essence, it's a clever hybrid of a pair of compact binoculars and the art of the digital camera. Enabling one to get up close and personal with all manner of distant happenings.

Simply get up close and snap. Or switch to video mode and capture distant objects as never before. It's that easy. It's like having a giant telephoto lens at your disposal in a camera not much bigger than one's palm. Its beauty is that you simply snap what you see, with no complex viewers or screens to try to second-guess.

Features

* Image sensor 1.3 Megapixel CMOS
* Memory: 16MB SDRAM
* USB 1.1 interface
* Lens: F2.8, f=28mm
* Two resolution modes: 1280 x 1024 pixels or 640 x 480 pixels
* File formats: Movie: AVI/Still Image: JPG
* Video Frame Rate: QVAG (320x240) mode: 9fps-13fps
* Focus range 10m-infinity
* Auto exposure

Advanced Hand Free Operation in the Car

There has recently been a law passed where I live that says that all cell phone calls made in cars must be hands-free. I suppose this is designed to prevent accidents from inattentive drivers always on the phone, but I still see drivers with cell phones pressed to their ears in blatant violation of this law.

Maybe these drivers need an Ego Flash. The Ego Flash has nothing to do with a motivational talk in any way, but an advanced Bluetooth hands-free device for the automobile.

The Ego Flash has two components, one of them is the actual processor of the two, and the other is the device with a 1.6 inch OLED display. This display has caller ID, controls the phone, it can hang up, and even do redials.

It can also do text messaging, and it will even read them aloud. By the way, did I mention that the Ego Flash can hold 10,000 phone contacts? It is also able to play MP3s right from the phone itself.

Hand Camera Concept Design

Sometimes, I will see something that is worth photographing. If I don’t have a camera on me, I take my two fingers and make an L-shapes and frame the subject in question. It’s the same thing you see directors do on television. I always wondered if real filmmakers do that in reality. They probably don’t.

A Japanese designer named Mac Funamizu is currently designing a camera of the future that works on this age-old finger principle. The camera is put in a pair of sunglasses, and what you see here is what the user is seeing through the sunglasses.

Funamizu’s camera works by putting your fingers in the place where you would want to frame your subject. Then you take your picture with a wink. That is a literal wink by the way, as in you shut your left eye, and the picture is taken in your literal hand frame.
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Kingston Data Traveler arrives 64GB size

Kingston is well know for their range of memory products, and the DataTraveler line has been pretty popular all this while. This time round, they have just increased the maximum capacity in the Kingston DataTraveler 150 USB flash drive to touch the 64GB mark, making it a viable substitute for portable hard drives.

According to Jaja Lin, Flash business development manager, Kingston, “The new 64GB DataTraveler 150 takes transportable storage to the next level with big capacity in a small package. As file sizes increase with digital media content such as music and photos, the need for USB Flash drives with high capacities will continue to rise. The DT150 certainly addresses those needs today.”

You won’t have any problems with the Kingston DataTraveler 150 64GB running on Windows Vista, XP and Windows 2000 in addition to Mac OS X 10.3 (and above) and Linux 2.6 (and above) platforms. Each $177 purchase comes with a five-year warranty and 24/7 tech support.

USB Desc Vacuum Cleaner

Do you eat at your desk? Does your work area or PC get covered in food crumbs? Suck up dust and crumbs with the coolest USB vacuum cleaner ever. According to the supplier; "with its classic retro style you can suck your way to success!" So, I'm now sat here trying desperately hard to not let my mind sink to the gutter and start making Monica Lewinsky comparisons but it's just too easy to resist. As seen on channel Five's Gadget show.

WiFi Watch

If you’re the kind of person who’s always on the lookout for a WiFi network and want to find the best place to get connected, enter the digital WIFI Watch, a great watch with a handy WIFI detection feature.

Lots of people rely on WiFi, having to be hooked up to the net is essential for both business and pleasure, and when out and about, WiFi ‘clouds’ help to get the best out of web-enabled gadgets. The WiFi Watch is a discreet alternative to holding your laptop computer in the air, and it's no trouble whatsoever to keep with you at all times. At the touch of a button this clever digital watch will reveal the strength of local WiFi connections, so you can select the best location from which to hook up.

In addition to its essential WiFi feature,the watch is anti-static, shockproof, is water resistant up to 100 Metres, and comes with useful functionality including an alarm, countdown timer, world time zone mode and calendar, and all this for under £25.


More Information

•Digital WiFi Watch
• Watch Features: Chronograph, Countdown, Alarm, Hourly Chime, Dual Time, Lap Memory
• Wifi Detection
• Detects interference intensity of 2.4ghz signal
• Detects AP stations over 100 metres outdoors
• Anti-static and Shock Proof
• 100 Metres Water-Resistant

LG Prada II has a matching Buetooth Watch

Well, since Prada has essentially conquered the world of fashion, I suppose it is just natural that they take on the world of cellular phones. The Prada has a full 3-inch touchscreen, with a slider QWERTY keyboard as well.

Other features include dual-band HSDPA, quad-band GSM, plus a full HTML browser. The user also has the option of listening to FM radio, and watching television with the TV out option. There is also a document viewer for whatever you want to read.

In other words, your phone has entertainment as well as being a phone. As far as memory is concerned, there is 60MB of internal memory, and the phone has a microSD slot.

All this, plus it comes with a matching watch. Did I mention it is Bluetooth? Not only will you be able to view incoming calls and texts on the watch, but it is stainless steel and genuine leather. You can also view the world time, but you have an alarm with stop and snooze.

You should be able to buy the LG Prada II in European countries like Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. The price is about 600 euros, but no word on price on the matching watch.

The UFO USB web cam with built-in fan

The bright red little web cam could be easily shifted to make sure you’ve captured the perfect angle for the shot.

It also features a built-in microphone and a fan. Making sure that you can keep yourself cool during those all night gaming escapades. Not that I’d know what that’s like, I’d never stay up till six in the morning just because I got too absorbed into Kara. Alright, so I have a couple times. The web cam also has built-in LED lights if you need some extra task lighting.