Tech Digest

Action Lounge SR4 Multimedia Mat - the hi-tech camp bed

Today's "seemed like a good idea at the time" hybrid gadget is the Action Lounge SR4 Multimedia Mat, which promises to combine stereo sound with a place to rest your head.

Except that it's not a bed, more like a doctor's couch without the legs. Unfold the Multimedia Mat and you get to lie down with your music - with the head rest packing in some stereo speakers and a subwoofer. There's an audio input for connecting up your music or sound source, a headphone jack if you want to keep the sound for yourself and a remote control for the volume.

Quite what this offers over and above the classic sofa and stereo combo I don't know, but if it ticks your boxes, it's available now for £35.

Find out more

One For All Kameleon Generation III home theatre control - now with added home lighting control

One For All are true to their word with their new Kameleon Generation III home theatre control. Yes, it will control all your home cinema, but it'll also control the lighting in your home too!

In fact, it's the only universal remote control on the market to include light controls - it can switch and dim up to 256 lights if you fancy creating a bit of a 'mood' in the room while you wantch your movie. That's a bonus, the main business is home theatre and it can control all of that kit, including TV, DVD, Sat cable, freeview and amplifier. It's also programmable, so you can use a 'one button' function to switch off your stereo, turn on your DVD, boost your surround sound or dim the lights when the movie starts.

It's also slim, ergonomic and pretty solid in an aluminium casing. Prices vary, depending how many devices you want to control, but start at £69.99

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Ministry of Sound in Car Audio and Accessory Kit - turn your car into a club

Not sure how 'hip' the Ministry of Sound club is these days, but it seems to have maintained its popularity, which means there's a ready-made market for this Ministry of Sound in Car Audio and Accessory Kit.

Yes, you can cover your car in an assortment of MOS logos.For your money, you get the in-car hi-fi, which features 4 x 17 watts RMS, FM/MW digital tuner with 30 station presets, RDS/EON, CD-R/CD-RW/MP3 playback, Multi-coloured LCD display with LED backlight, full sound adjustment and detachable fadcia and carry case. Also included are the MOSCA092B in-car speakers - 6 x 9in 4 way pair of speakers with 350 watts peak output, along with the MOS Gear Knob (aluminium and chrome finish with MOS logo) and a branded aluminium tax disc holder.

Available now, you can pick up the set for £89.99.

Ministry of Sound shop

The Sky Ceiling

Taking the trompe d'oeil one step beyond, SkyCeilings are photographic illusions of real skies that fit into standard ceiling grid systems. Luminous SkyCeilings feature fluorescent or LED lighting that illuminate the translucent images from behind. Ambient SkyCeilings are made from opaque image tiles that are lit by room or cove lighting. They're pretty, but also practical: patients in high-tech health care settings, like radiology suites, register much lower stress levels if they have the illusion of outdoors.  One time when having an unsophisticated brain is actually advantageous!  [GT]

The Sky Factory via Technovelgy

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Accenture Technology's "Persuasive Mirror"

As if it isn't dispiriting enough to look in the mirror at the best of times, Accenture Technology is developing a "persuasive mirror" which inspects your body via cameras on either side, then sends results to a monitor which morphs your image showing what you would look like after a weekend blowout or if you continued smoking.  Undoubtedly the next step will be actually instructing you to get a  haircut, get a real job, and vote Tory.  [GT]

The Register via engadget

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Ultrasone launch limited Edition 9 headphones

Ultrasone claim that they've released the world's best headphones in their limited Edition 9s.

The headphones incorporate S-Logic technology which combine natural surround technology and reduced sound pressure levels up to 40%. They also reduce electromagnetic field radiation by up to 98%. They have a frequency range of 8-35,000Hz, 40mm Titanium-Mylar drivers, SPL of 96dB, 3 metre cable and weighing in at 310g.

Aesthetically, they're done out with black chrome ear cups and nameplates, and they've even used Ethiopian sheep leather in the ear pads and headband pad to ensure maximum comfort (I had no idea Ethiopian sheep were more, err, comfortable)

They're limited edition and are being shown off at the Audio Engineering Society show in San Francisco this month. Not sure if they'll make it over here.

Ultrasone

American Power Conversion launches UPB10 Mobile Power Pack - charge on the go

American Power Conversion (APC) has introduced the UPB10 Mobile Power Pack - a mobile power pack that's smaller than a pack of cards, but can keep your gadgets charged for hours when you're out and about.

The device uses lithium polymer battery cells - which have a higher power density than traditional lithium ion cells - which means a greater power output, so more charge available. It's compatible with a wide range of mobile devices and can generate up to 55 hours of additional music time for an MP3 device such as the iPod Nano, and 8 to 10 hours of additional email and talk time for smartphones like the BlackBerry or Palm Treo. And it doesn't mean loads more weight in your bag - it weighs just 3 oucnes.

The pack includes the actual UPB10, plus an AC to USB power adapter and a USB to Mini B power cable. It's available now for around £44.95.

APC website

Rubik's Illuminate Cube - retro toy becomes light and speaker

Another piece of Japanese madness inspiration, this time taking the Rubik's Cube and adding light and sound to create the Illuminate Cube.

There's one big downside here - it's not a functioning Rubik's Cube, so you can't have a twist when you get bored. But you can hook it up to a music source (or your computer) for a miniaturised novelty sound system. And even better, it's also a lamp that will flash in time to your music - not unlike the dancefloor in the 70s classic, Saturday Night Fever.

The Rubik's Illuminate Cube is set to go on sale in Japan later this month for 5,250 Yen (around £24). The good news is that you'll also be able to buy online at Geek Stuff 4U - and they ship worldwide.

Geek Stuff 4U website

Via Retro To Go

Parrot Minikit hands-free mobile speakerphone

Parrot has a new device on the market for hands-free calling wherever you are (not just in the car) - the Minikit hands-free mobile speakerphone.

The Minikit is small - the size of a wallet - and will work with virtually all Bluetooth-enabled mobile handsets on the market. It's audio quality comes from a built-in two-watt high-fidelity speaker and a built-in omni-directional microphone supported by the latest DSP-2 signal processing technology. It's also the only speakerphone in its category with advanced voice recognition technology, so you can set up your phone book with voice tags for true hands-free voice dialling - important when driving.

It also features last-number redial and for privacy, you can switch a call from the speakerphone to a mobile phone by pressing the green 'call' button - or the reverse to transfer a call back to speakerphone. The Minikit features 10 hours of talk time, more than one week of standby time and will fully recharge in only three hours.  It also comes with both a 12V and 120V charging unit.

Available from late October, it should retail for around £60.

Parrot website

The Smile Helmet

Blogging as I do, I can be grumpy all day and no one will be the wiser. But if you're in a field that requires you to be pleasant to people all day long, you might consider the Smile Helmet, designed by Tim Simpson. A sensor in the front of the helmet detects anybody within a 2 metre range, at which point the mouth is pulled into a broad grin by a small servo motor and some concealed fishing wire. According to Simpson, the helmet addresses the facades of social interaction and explores our responses to affected expressions. You better smile when you say that, stranger. [GT]

Smile Helmet via MAKEzine

Related stories: Cyberman Voice Changer Helmet - become a Doctor Who villain l CES 2006: Skullcandy's music helmet and headphones l Review: Scala Rider Bluetooth Helmet Headset

Stainless Steel Pocket Map

Suck.uk presents this map of the London Tube that's credit card sized and made of stainless steel so you don't have to worry about spilling coffee on it if you're checking it during rush hour. It retails for £7.50. There's also one for the New York Subway System if you'd prefer. [GT]

Stainless Steel Pocket Map

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The Blimp Bomber - missile dropping fun around the house

The first of what will undoubtedly be many daft gadget-related ideas for Christmas - the Blimp Bomber, which will float round the house, depositing its cargo at the click of a button.

The Blimp Bomber is a new triple fan thrust version - go forwards, backwards, left or right, spin, ascend or just hover around. It's essentially a helium-filled balloon. Fill it up, attach the turbo fan, then control it via the R/C 27MHz transmitter/receiver. There's a target mat for bombing practice and once you've mastered that, you're free to drop your load on your mates' heads (as I'm sure it was intended).

Available in the coming weeks, you can pick it up for around £50. Helium gas is extra.

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Dyson's revolutionary Airblade dyer - is it really all that original?

You may recall the Dyson Airblade hand-drying system we featured recently, with the word "innovation" featuring heavily. Well, it's perhaps not as much of an innovation as we first thought.

If you missed it, click here for our one-minute video review. But to sum it up, the device can dry off your hand in in seconds, courtesy of pressurised air, that sucks off the excess water, leaving your hands dry and anti-bacterially clean - perfect for holding that post-club kebab. However, according to a story on Engadget, it's not that new - a similar dryer is available from Mitsubishi - the Jet Towel - and it even looks like Dyson's new baby.

So, maybe Dyson isn't re-inventing the hand dryer - just improving it slightly with a faster blow.

Check out Dyson's Airblade in action

Via Engadget

One Minute Video Review: Philips Living Colours Life

More from the Philips Simplicity event now, and this time they're giving you a reason to completely give up on the whole decorating your house experience. With these lights you can throw practically any hue onto your walls, without even a hint of paint. They're planned for launch in the UK in the new year.

Mister Tipster desktop RSS headline generator

I sometimes worry about my obsession for information. I need to know what's happening (especially when it comes to gadgets), which often means flicking through numerous browser windows for the entire working day. And even then I miss things! Life might be easier if I had a Mister Tipster hooked up to my PC.

FeedVision's Mister Tipster hooks up to your Windows XP PC (sorry Mac owners), keeping track of all your RSS feeds. When something new comes up, the headline is displayed on the device's four-line LCD display, with configurable lights that can be set to flash when a word or phrase is detected. A bit like having the Grandstand videprinter on your desk (but with added lights).

It's available in three colour schemes - dark blue text on a grey background, yellow text on a black background or the classic Game Boy color scheme above, retailing for $135.

FeedVision website

Via Engadget

IXOS XMM238 iPod Speaker Cube

Following on from Yamaha's Cube portable speaker system comes another small and square sound system - the IXOS XMM238 iPod Speaker Cube.

And it is small - just 70 x 70 x 70mm. Just as well as it's designed as a travel speaker for your iPod. Available in the three colours you see, it offers up 2w of sound and up to eight hours of battery-powered playback from any iPod model. And once you get home, you can plug it into your PC via USB for desk-based sound.

Supplied with 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack and USB cables, but not the 4 x AA batteries needed for power, it's available now for £17.99.

Find out more

Play musical safes with the Zaporozhye

If music be the food of love, play on, seems to be the message of the Zaporozhye, the musical condom. There's a sensor in the base and some teeny-tiny speakers that play music "louder and faster" as the sex becomes more enthusiastic. No word on cost, playlist, or how long it'll take Banksy to reprogram them to quote Paris Hilton. [GT]

Zaporozhye, the musical condom [via Ubergizmo]

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US Air Force prototypes a PHaSR

The Personnel Halting and Stimulating Response uh, device, about the size and weight of an M60, fires a pulse of light that temporarily blinds anybody in the beam. It seems to be a crowd-control device more than anything else, but has a beam rather than a cone area of effect (and as noted at Gotta Have One) may just be thwarted by a decent pair of polarizing sunglasses. Certainly, despite the name, not something you can nail somebody in the back with and have them be unconscious until the plot demands otherwise.

US Air Force PHaSR Weapon

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Roadstar LCD TV Boombox with music and DVD playback

For me, the term "Boombox" doesn't really apply to anything apart from the old school Brixton briefcase - the monster sound systems with an output that could damage brickwork. This Roadstar  5 in 1 TV Boombox isn't that - but it does have a few  extra features to compensate.

These features include a 5-inch high resolution TFT LCD screen, a multi-system tuner, DVD playback, along with CD-R/CD-RW/MP3 discs (and of course, standard audio discs), an FM/MW tuner, remote control and battery/mains operation.

A good all-rounder, which is available now for £149.99

Product page

Via Shiny Shiny

Lenovo's Bond-style USB webcam

Most webcams are quite large (and indeed round) affairs. Not so the Lenovo USB webcam, which is both slim and stylish - and with a spring attachment for fitting on even the slimmest screen.

For me, the standout feature is the sliding lens cover, which is apprently inspired by Minox's famous 60s spy camera. Ideal for any budding super spy. Apart from that, it's a fairly standard specification, with a 1.3 megapixel sensor, built-in noise-cancelling microphone ansd as the name suggests, USB 2.0 connectivity.

If you are looking for some style above the substance, it's worth a look and retails for $80.

Product page

Via Engadget

Danes teleport light into matter

As usual, the most cool technologies are still in the prototype stage, but one can't help mentioning that physicists in Denmark have teleported light into a cloud of atoms. In this case, the light is basically the data and the atoms are basically the storage, comparable to how information is stored on a hard disk - with the implication that fast-as-light storage could be only a teleport away. [GT]

Scientists teleport light to matter for 1st time

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GPS pay-as-you-go for cheaper car insurance or big brother passenger?

Norwich Union have introduced a scheme where drivers pay for their insurance monthly based on when, where and how many miles they drive, as well as their age/status, rather than on an annual rate based more on the driver than the driving. (Update: I saw this today on the news though I've since seen it's been in use since January 2005.)

Once they've paid £50 to get a GPS chip fitted to their car, their journeys can be monitored to see what types of road they drive on, and whether they drive at peak or off-peak times. This then generates a price per mile which is totalled on their monthly bill.

Examples of pricing might be 1p per mile for off-peak motorway driving for 24-65 year olds, up to £1 a mile for the (oh so dangerous) under 24s driving at night.

I can see some benefits to the scheme:

* low-mileage and off-peak drivers may pay less than under their fixed annual insurance.
* environmentally, it may make people consider if the car is the best way to complete their journey.
* might reduce peak journeys for those that don't have to drive then (if the queues don't put them off, the cost might)

On the other hand, there are some concerns:

* this box will effectively know everything about where, when and how you drive. Possibly worrying depending upon who has access to the information.
* Those outside urban areas without good public transport, or who work out of hours, may be forced to pay more when they have no transport choice.
* What about multiple drivers of the same vehicle?

Of course it's worth noting that this is just one scheme, currently in trial, offered by one insurance company, but given the way society seems to be going, it wouldn't surprise me if it becomes more commonplace.

I know people who say that Big Brother isn't a problem if you haven't done anything wrong, but I still wouldn't want people knowing exactly how I drive, when and where I am. Would you?

Presumably, the data could also be used when an accident has occurred, apportioning blame accordingly.

What's next in our chip'n'pin society? We have pay-as-you-go mobile phones, car insurance, 'pay-as-you-throw' refuse disposal, water meters... Some schemes more invasive than others, of course, but is Big Brother creeping in more than we'd like?

Via BBC

Hitachi's HMR-1 CD player and MP3 recorder

Hitachi has added a bit of extra functionality to the portable CD player in the form of the HRM-1, offering recording to SD card, without the need to connect up to a PC.

The HMR-1 is around the same size as a standard portable CD player, with MP3/WMA playback as well as standard audio CD. However, its best trick is to record to SD card - just stick in your CD and transfer tracks to the card - useful if you listen to music via a phone or PDA. You can also transfer music to the card from other externally attached sources. But before you get ideas, it doesn't burn DRM tracks.

Available from late November in Japan, it will retail for around 25,200 Yen (around £114).

Hitachi website

Via Engadget

Neiman Marcus recommends outer space for Christmas hols

For the geek who has everything plus five friends, the Christmas present of choice this year is surely the Neiman Marcus space trip for six, including after-party with Virgin honcho Sir Richard Branson. Not to mention a full medical (although you probably have health insurance), training, and the actual free-fall experience of space on Virgin Galactic. Yours, for a mere £930 000. Just don't forget your space malaria shots. [GT]

Neiman Marcus gift book offers space flight, BMW [via GUSHMagazine]

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Linkman stop-smoking gadget

Speaking as someone who has quit smoking, oh, five or six times now, the Linkman is an interesting gadget (with a terribly meaningless name) that will probably only work for people who can come up with free ways of disciplining themselves.  Basically, you press a button on it, and if it lights up green, you can light up, and if it lights up red, you have to wait.  The idea is that it extends the pauses between cigarettes until you forget about them completely.  $80.  Here's a cheaper tip: make and drink a cuppa every time you want a cigarette, and only smoke it if you still want it afterward.  If you're just a 'chipper' (under 5 cigarettes a day) that'll cut you down.  But if you're a chipper you probably already know better.  [GT]

Linkman Stop Smoking Aid

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One Minute Review: Dyson Airblade. Strike 2

YouTube is playing silly buggers, and I know the Dyson video isn't showing, so lets try it this way. It requires a bit more effort on your part, as you now have to click here, but just think of how much more clued up you'll be on Dyson's latest innovation. But you should know, there aren't actually any blades involved, despite the name.

Yamaha Cube portable speaker system

Yamaha has entered the very crowded portable speaker market with the Cube, which it claims is the "the best sounding speaker system for its size".

It is small - just 3.5 inches each side and certainly has the looks. But, according to Yamaha, it also packs the sort of audio quality you'd find in much larger devices. This is down to the SR-Bass (Swing radiator Bass) function, which maximises internal energy within the enclosure, producing a deep and powerful bass you shouldn't get from such a small unit. It also reproduces the entire frequency range through its 3cm Titanium Cone and high quality digital amplifier.

And to keep a minimalist look, just one button controls all functions. Available in time for Christmas, you can pick it up for £99.

Yamaha website

Genius Web Cam Dog - chat away and help Guide Dogs for the Blind

On looks alone, you just know that this Genius Web Cam Dog could hold its own in the novelty Christmas gift market. But buying one is also doing some good - with donations from each sale going to the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity.

The Web Cam Dog (as the name suggests) comes in the shape of a fluffy dog with a web camera in its nose, a microphone and an integrated USB cable in its dungarees. It might not be highest specification of webcam, but it's miles haead in the cute stakes. And buying one really does some good.

Available now, you can pick one up for £19.99.

Genius website

Clone Your Own Verichip

Whenever I hear about some new unbreakable security, I remember the Dilbert strip where he's trying to write a good anti-smut filter, and Dogbert says, "You're pitting your intellect against the collective libido of every bored teenager on the planet?"  Such seems to be the case with Verichip.  An implanted dot which contains your medical information and other security clearance ranging from your tab at a Baha beach club to a secure government facility in Mexico, it can apparently also be cloned with a piece of hardware any monkey can make for around £10.  Though It's important to remember that I designed this device for absolute minimum parts count and cost. I therefore made some fairly disgusting tradeoffs. A lot of what I did is terrible design practice.  So he's modest as well as bored.  [GT]

Demo: Cloning a Verichip Yourself [via MAKE]

Related stories: Surgery and the lost sponge: RFID to the rescue | HP's Memory Spot puts a computer on a grain of rice | Bugged bins to monitor your rubbish

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/10/how_to_cloning_a_verichip_your.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

Sennheiser CX300 headphones get the iPod colour treatment

Sennheiser have upgraded their CX300 headphones - by turning them white. And yes, according to their press release, it is to appeal to the 'iPod upgrade market'. I presume that's people that don't like the iPod earphones (which let's face it aren't the best quality around) but like the white. The 'look I'm still using an iPod come and nick it' brigade.

So now we have classic black, matt silver and iPod white (I wonder if they'll get done under Apple's stringent 'leave our name alone' laws? Maybe it's just a working title).

They're designed to minimise sound leakage out whilst reducing background noise for the wearer. They're an ear canal design based on Sennheiser's professional in-ear stage foldback monitors.

The CX 300 employs an advanced, miniaturised driver, tailored by Sennheiser for smooth, acoustically correct in-ear operation; this provides them with an extended response (18 Hz-21 kHz) for satisfying musical detail and impressive yet well defined bass.

They are supplied with three different sized ear adapters in soft, silicone rubber that ensure long-term comfort, as well as the excellent in-ear seal necessary both for ambient-noise reduction and deep bass.

They're available now priced £39.99

Sennheiser

One Minute Video Review: Dyson Airblade

Before you watch the video, it seems only fair to warn you that there are in fact no blades involved in this film, despite Dyson's name. It is in fact a hand dryer, but in typical Dyson fashion, involves something a bit different to your bog (geddit?) standard model.

£5,000 - that's our average yearly spend on gadgets

How much have you shelled out on technology this year? According to a new survey, our gadget spend is likely to be £5,000 - that's what 60 per cent of us spend, with around 30 per cent of those surveyed owning up to buying 15 gadgets each year.

The mobile phone still leads the way as the most popular - 26 per cent voting it  their 'favourite ever gadget'. It was also most-treasure gadget, narrowly beating the TV. The best new innovation was HDTV (46 per cent), with the constantly-delayed Sony PlayStation 3 being the most eagerly awaited gadget, follwed by the Nintendo Wii. And if you're buying a gadget fan a Christmas gift, comsoles are the way to go - a third of those surveyed want to see one on Christmas morning.

The survey was conducted in anticipation of the  Best of Stuff and What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision show, which returns to London from 3-5th of November 2006, London’s Novotel in Hammersmith will be converted into a Mecca for gadget worshippers - and it'll also be an early opportunity to see Sony's PS3 console. Single day tickets are priced at £13 in advance and £15 at the door.

Best Of Stuff website

Review: MobileWear bluetooth watch

The Propaganda

Fossil make watches. Sony Ericsson make phones. Together they make.... phone watches. This is their partnership answer to Motorola and Oakley who created the O-Rokr shades. The MobileWear watch uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone, displaying vital info on the screen in the clock face.  So is it a better deal than the not-so-lovely shades?

The Good

Unlike certain other partnerships that we could name, this watch actually looks like a watch. It's adapted from a number of existing Fossil watches, and to look at it you wouldn't notice anything amiss. There are two buttons on the side which control the Bluetooth functions, as well as a winding wheel to set the time.

To pair with your phone, it's simply a case of choosing the relevant icon and pairing it. Couldn't be easier. The icons are simple and just give you the ability to pair, turn the Bluetooth on and off (so it can just act as a normal watch) and choose whether you want to receive alerts for messages.

Once you've paired it the fun really starts. Receiving a phone call means you'll be alerted via a discreet vibration from the watch. You've then got scrolling text on the screen which alerts you who's calling. You can also reject the call from the phone, in which case the call goes to voicemail. There's also a vibration each time you get a message, and a little envelope icon is displayed.

The Bad

The watch is a chunky metal affair, and is likely to only be attractive to 50% of the population. The strap can either be metal or rubber, but either way, it's not going to set female hearts a-racing.

The functionality is great to begin with, but I was unable to secure a connection after about 30 minutes of use. This might be due to the battery power being low, or the fact that it was an early production sample, but either way, it didn't work.

It's a Sony Ericsson product, so does in fact only work with Sony Ericsson phones. This is contrary to many other Bluetooth devices which connect to everything, despite being made by one particular manufacturer.

In our opinion

When it works, it's fun. There are elements that would make it even more James Bond, such as being able to answer calls from your phone, or text messages being displayed on the screen rather than just an alert that they're on your phone. It's £150 from Widget.co.uk so not a cheap accessory, but you'll pay a large percentage of that for a Fossil watch anyway.

Zip-Linq's Road Warrior Kit 2 - first aid for your gadgets

Here's a nice idea - as we carry so much technology around with us (and as we're so reliant on it), how about a first aid kit for our gadgets - like this Road Warrior Kit 2 from Zip-Linq.

The company claims the Road Warrior Kit 2 contains every essential technology connection that you're likely to require. The latest version includes a USB 2.0 a Male to mini 5 Pin USB Cable, USB Notebook Light, USB 2.0 A Male to A Female, Cat5e Twisted Pair Gigabit ready patch cable, Cat6 crossover adapter, Male to Male USB adapters, stereo ear buds with a microphone (for VoIP) and a USB mouse. Each cable is retractable and all are held in place with soft foam inserts.

You can buy the set now, which retails for around £35.

Find out more

MobilEye corrects your lousy driving

Since our bumper is maybe a little more scuffed than it could be, largely because of dumpsters and shopping carts mysteriously charging the car, the Mobileye looked pretty exciting. Basically, it's a very complicated combination of sensors and Radar and Lidar and a bunch of other sophisticated stuff that boils down to a screen telling you whether you're about to crash into something. It also gives you some ideas about where the road actually is when you drive places where there doesn't seem to be one. Some judicious hunting around should find a dealer near you that has a demo unit installed. [GT]

MobilEye [via SciFi]

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Suspicious Looking Device entitles you to cavity searches

Are you tired of not being noticed enough by the authorities?  Would you like to be strip-searched more often?  Do you need a date for the dance and not care how you get more attention?  You need a Suspicious Looking Device from Junk Funnel Labs.  A bright orange doohickey of deliberately uncertain provenance, it has disconcerting attachments and a huge LED counter to maximize its eye-grabbing appeal.  It also makes ominous noises, as you can hear in the movie.  Priceless.  [GT]

Suspicious Looking Device [via Boing Boing]

CyrusLink LinkDock compact iPod dock

Here we go again with another iPod dock. This compact curved CyrusLink LinkDock boasts 4 speaker units, touch sensitive volume keys, remote control of volume, treble and bass, iPod adapter, and line in and out. It features advanced Neodymium and alloy speaker technology as well as a built in amplifier.

It measures 11 x 21 x 10cm so is small enough to fit into luggage, and weighs just over half a kilogram. It does everything else a dock should do, charging and syncing your iPod.

It's actually been out for a little while, and received some decent reviews including a 5-star at What Hi-fi, who said "Quality, value and convenience - the CyrusLink iPod dock has them all. Plug in your player, and you’re off."

It's priced £70

Cyrus Audio

Lindy combine mousepad and 4-port USB hub, and light it up

I find that I rarely use a mouse pad these days, as my laser mouse works quite happily on my wooden desk, but if I were to then I might try Lindy's new illuminated mouse pad complete with a 4-port USB 2.0 hub.

Though I haven't seen a spec sheet for it my presumption (always good for being told I'm wrong) is that it's not a powered bus, so you'll probably only get away with low-drain devices (all the really useful things like Christmas trees and mug warmers and fans, plus maybe a camera and iPod dock.

If you're prone to losing your mouse then a glowing blue perimeter on your mat might be just what you need. It looks quite swish (the pink mouse doesn't come with it), and should help with your USB-overloaded digital life.

It costs a very reasonable £14.99.

Lindy web site

Duck Fadar - glowing Star Wars buddy for the bath

So, what do you get if ou cross a rubber duck, Star Wars and some LED lights? Duck Fadar - a glowing bath time buddy.

Yes, it looks like Darth Vadar on a raft - but stick it in your bath and it's a nice variation on the traditional plastic duck. But wait, there's more - flick off the light and watch Duck Fadar phase through an assortment of colours for some mood lighting in the bathroom. The LEDs are water-activated, so once you've taken Duck Fadar out of the bath, you'll get a glimpse of the dark side (sorry).

Available now, you can pick one up for £6.95 from Firebox.

Find out more

Mark Tilden's RS Media exclusively available at Debenhams

Yesterday, we featured Robosapien creator Mark Tilden talking about his latest project - RS Media. If you liked what he said, you'll be interested to know that RS Media is launching in the UK next week, exclusively through Debenhams until October 21st.

RS media combines Robosapien V2's features with some multimedia functionality -  a full colour LCD screen, a USB connector and MP3 and MP4 playback. RS Media can display and store data easily from your PC or play a song through the speakers in his hands. Using the Personality editor, you can edit all his movements, sound files and video files.  You can even assign voice files or choreograph a routine to a favourite dance track.

In addition, you can import photos or watch an entire movie using the external memory card slot - or let RS Media take a photo or video clip with his colour camera, displaying it on the LCD Screen. And everything can be controlled by the supplied remote control.

You can pick one up for a £299.99

Debenhams website

Scaramanga's golden gun goes on sale on eBay. Well, almost.

Okay, so it's not the actual pistol used in The Man With The Golden Gun. Instead, this is a replica made to the original specifications, which you can dis-assemble into its constituent parts: pen, cigarette case, lighter and cuff-link. You still wouldn't be able to get on a plane with it, mind. Oh, and it comes with a bullet inscribed '007', in case you happen to meet any pesky British agents who need dispatching. My advice: shoot them first, THEN talk them through how clever you are.

Also today on Bayraider: Michael Jackson gets immortalised in wood, plus a RAWK Guns'n'Roses pinball machine.

TrackItBack stickers for finding lost gadgets

TrackItBack stickers have a freephone line listed on them and a code unique to you, so that if you lose your mobile, PDA, etc, some kindly stranger can ring up and let be known what's become of your stuff, without actually having the kindly stranger show up on your doorstep with your digital camera full of incriminating pictures of you Vogue-ing while you watch a bootleg of Superman Returns. $13 USD (depending on the size) for the regular ones, or $15 USD for the more decorative variety. [GT]

TrackItBack [via Chip Chick]

Related stories: Could lost data mean less holidays? | Five causes of lost digital holiday snaps | Surgery and the lost sponge: RFID to the rescue

Thursday Top 10: Reasons to Love Microsoft's Zune

Following the controversy around Tuesday’s Top 10 Reasons To Hate Zune, here’s the promised second installment taking a more positive spin on Microsoft’s multimedia device. Because hey, it’s not all bad by any means. Zune is big news in the consumer gadgetry market, with Microsoft clearly hoping it’ll do to Apple’s iPod what they hope Xbox 360 will do to PlayStation 3. If that makes sense.

Anyway, here’s ten reasons to roll out the bunting for Zune. And in the interests of fairness after Tuesday’s Wi-Fi hoo-ha, one of them is entirely false. Enjoy.

1. Everybody loves an underdog. And let’s face it, iPod could do with some competition. It’s not as if the other manufacturers – including those licensing Microsoft’s own platform – have made great inroads into Apple’s market share. Healthy competition should spur even more innovation on both sides.

2. Mmm... widescreen. I’d rather watch movies on this baby, even if I have to turn it sideways to do it. Hopefully Microsoft will have some good deals with the movie studios by the time Zune launches.

3. Microsoft is smart. They launch, learn and improve. Remember the days when Xbox was just a big ole whirry box with rubbish games? And now look at Xbox 360. Whatever you think of the first-gen Zune, subsequent iterations will be better.

4. The brown Zune. Maybe all those people who said brown was The New Black had a point. And it does go nicely with my corduroy jacket...

5. It’s got Wi-Fi. And yes, that means you can send full-length tracks, not 30-second samples like some fool the other day was claiming. People have been wishing Apple would bring out a Wi-Fi iPod for ages, but Microsoft got there first. Simply having it in Zune gives potential for all manner of cool features. Over-the-air downloads, streaming live TV, 64-person Minesweeper battles. It’s all good.

6. Worthiness. For everybody who buys a Zune, Bill Gates effectively gets a few more dollars to spend on good causes. Which is better than giving Steve Jobs more moolah to spend on polo-necks.

7. Goblins. Zune is powered by little green goblins pedalling minature bicycles. Trust me, it is. And that's cool.

8. Good relations. Apple’s negotiating tactics have rubbed the music industry up the wrong way, although it’s too early to tell if the same is true of the movie studios. Microsoft could steal a march by going in as the good guy with these people. Especially if Bill leverages his multimillionaire contacts and calls up Paul McCartney. “So, about those Beatles albums that haven’t ever been sold digitally...”

9. The buttons look nice. Look, you can't look down on superficiality in this market.

10. The FM radio. Who'd listen to radio when they had their entire music collection to hand? Plenty of us. How else are we supposed to keep up with The Archers?

Pour your own pints with Carlsberg's Draughtmaster

All bets are off for the gadget most men will be putting at the top of their Christmas lists this year. I’ve just had a hands-on demonstration of Carlsberg’s new Draughtmaster, which lets you pull pints of lager in the alcoholic comfort of your own home. And while it’s got a couple of flaws, I can still think of a dozen friends off the top of my head who’ll want it.

The device basically lets you pour pints of Carlsberg Export through a proper beer tap, and takes five-litre kegs, which is almost nine pints. It's not the first home pint-puller, but it's the most environmentally-friendly.

“There’ve been a few on the continent, but they used aluminium kegs,” says Carlsberg marketing controller Chris Lewis. “You have to return them to a store to get a refill. Ours are made of plastic, and fully recyclable, so when you finish one keg, you just pop it in the recycling bin and fit another one. And it also means we can sell them online.”

The Draughtmaster goes on sale next week in 85 branches of Tesco Extra, and on the Tesco website. It’ll cost £129, with kegs costing £13.99 each – i.e. around £1.55 a pint. However, if popular it’ll go on general sale next year through other stores and websites. Carlsberg developed the technology, and then partnered with Breville to make the device itself.

“The idea was to have something that’ll sit happily in people’s kitchens,” says Lewis. “It won’t look out of place next to your smoothie maker or coffee maker. And the advantage is that there’s no fiddly cleaning to do once you’ve finished a keg, unlike those devices.”

So what about the potential flaws? First is the lack of choice – it’s not much use if you don’t drink Carlsberg Export. However, Lewis says that when the Draughtmaster goes on general release, the company intends to widen the choice of kegs to include its other brands. He mentions Carlsberg and Skol, and the company also owns Tetley's.

Secondly, to work properly, the kegs need to be cold. “We recommend putting them in the fridge overnight or for half a day,” says Lewis. “Once it’s in there, the built-in chiller keeps it cool, but it does need to be cold when you start. The colder the beer, the better the pour!”

This proved to be the case during the demonstration, where the Draughtmaster produced an enormous head on two successive pints. And yes, Lewis was holding the glass at 45 degrees. The problem was that having fitted a new keg to demonstrate how quick it is to do – and it took around 10-15 seconds – it hadn’t been chilled enough. Hence the mighty head.

This is all fair enough, but imagine you’ve invited, say, four friends round to see your new gadget, as you would. And say you stick to the British binge-drinking stereotype and drink five pints each over the course of the evening, making 25 pints in all. That’s three sizeable kegs that you need to have chilling in your fridge for a day beforehand. Admittedly, for most single men, this isn’t a problem, especially as many already have entire fridges devoted to booze.

Carlsberg is quite keen to stress that the Draughtmaster isn’t intended as any kind of pub-killer. “It’s not about stopping people from going to the pub,” says Lewis. “We know people drink at home from cans and bottles, and we know they’re not happy with that. At least they’ll now have an alternative – a freshly pulled pint!”

Rest assured, we’ll have this in for a video review as soon as we can get our hands on one (and recover from the subsequent hangover).

Kingston Technology's Mini Fun USB drive - flash drives get smaller (again)

Looking not unlike Lego bricks, Kingston Technology has launched the Mini Fun USB Flash Drive, claimed to be the smallest storage gadgets currently available in the industry at just 1.5 by 0.75 inches and in a range of capacities up to 1GB.

Aimed at schoolchildren, The idea is to attach these colourful units to your keyring or phone to store and retrieve documents, photos, music or school assignments anytime. They also come pre-loaded with Atlantis and Magic Vines gaming software by Big Fish Games. Atlantis is an adventure game to - you've guessed it - the long-lost city of Atlantis, while Magic Vines is a location-based puzzle game. Yes, both sound quite educational. 

Available now, prices for the drives range from £6.30 plus VAT for the 256MB drive, through to £12.60 plus VAT for the 1GB model.

Kingston Technology website

Sony Ericsson launches MBW-100 Bluetooth watch

Sony Ericsson, in assocation with Fossil has introduced the MBW-100 Bluetooth watch, a mobile accessory/fashion item that allows you to keep in touch with your phones functionality as easily as checking the time.

As an analogue watch, it's certainly a looker, crafted from high quality (and scratch-resistant) stainless steel with a silver facia. It's also water-resistant up to 30m. But it's the Bluetooth functionality that's the big selling point.  An OLED display beneath the watch face displays who is calling when a call is incoming. A simple key press on the watch can reject the call. You can also control your music from the watch (play, pause and skip tracks), get notification of text messages and there's out-of-range notification when you are separated from your phone.

There's also a battery level indicator, with Bluetooth functionality good for seven days between charges, with the time going for a further seven days after that. The watch will auto-pair with the following Sony Ericsson phones -  K610, K610i, K618, K790, K800, V630, W710, W850, Z610, Z710.

Available in time for Christmas, it should retail for around 300 Euros (around £203).

Sony Ericsson website

Kensington launches Wireless Presentation Remote

Kensington claims in can liven up your office presentations - and it can do it with the Wireless Presentation Remote, which gives you the freedom to roam while you demonstrate your project ideas.

Instead of conducting presentations with a mouse or notebook touch pad, the Kensington Wireless Presentation Remote allows  you to control that presentation from up to twenty metres away. To use it, you just slot the USB receiver into the notebook USB port, which frees you up via the remote unit. And it also features a built-in laser pointer that can indicate key areas throughout the presentation.

Compatible with both PCs and Macs, you can pick it up for around £35.

Kensington website

One less reason to hate Zune

Ahem. As several eagle-eyed Zune fans have spotted (and pointed out), one of the Top Ten Reasons To Hate Zune was wrong. You don't transfer 30-second samples via Wi-Fi to other people's Zunes. It's full-length tracks, but they can only be played three times. Apologies to Microsoft, and all who sail in her.

In the meantime, don't forget that tomorrow – as promised on Tuesday – it's Top Ten Reasons To Love Zune. Hurrah! I'll try to squeeze in at least one factual error about iPods to make up for the confusion.

Sony to introduce e-book reader and online store

Sony will launch its Portable Reader System PRS-50 e-book reader in the US during October, alongside an online digital book store with some 10,000 DRM-protected titles for purchase and use on the machine.

Whilst specs are sketchy at present, it will use technology from E-Ink that allows an individual page to be displayed without consuming any battery power. Power is only required to display new pages, and a single charge of the internal battery should provide up to 7500 page turns.

It will display Sony's own DRM-infested books, but not books with any other protection system. It will, however, show documents and books that aren't protected, including PDFs, RTF and image files.

Sony has special software, that's will initially only be available on a Windows XP PC, that must be used to upload books to the gadget. Oh goodie. And yes, that means that Mac owners get left out in the cold.

Mind you, we could all be left out in the cold in Europe, as Sony don't have plans to release it here until at least the second quarter of 2007. It will retail in the US for around $350.

Are you interested in a dedicated e-book reader or would you invest in something like a tablet PC which can do a whole host of other things?

Tuesday Top Ten: Reasons to hate Microsoft's Zune

It was the consumer technology industry's worst kept secret for months. It was supposedly Microsoft's iPod-killer. And now Zune has been unveiled, the reaction has been... decidedly mixed. Which appears to make it the marmite of the personal media player world. And while there are plenty of bloggers and IT hacks out there who are always happy to  be rude about Microsoft, it does seem there are some legitimate criticisms of the new device.

With that in mind, here's Tech Digest's 10 Reasons To Hate Zune. Don't worry, we'll have 10 Reasons To Love Zune on Thursday. Stick the boot in, then cuddle up. It's called tough love. Anyway, on with the kicking.

1. Only 30GB of storage space. With Apple having just released an 80GB iPod, Microsoft comes across as a little bit stingy. How are we going to fit our 50GB of illegally downloaded Hollywood blockbusters onto it?

2. Name ambiguity. Do I pronounce it Zyoon or Zoon? Until someone gives me a definitive answer, I'm sure as hell not walking into Currys to be patronised by some twerp who can't wait to correct me.

3. Who wants Wi-Fi sharing anyway? Especially when it's 30-second song samples, and only of stuff you've bought from the official Zune store. I don't want to spend every bus journey fending off requests from kids who want to send me their latest Lady Sovereign mash-up. EDIT: See comments for correction to this point.

4. The brown Zune. I mean, brown. Jesus.

5. Another closed ecoysystem. So let me get this straight, will the songs I buy from the Zune store work if I buy another MP3 player in the future? Or will I have to buy them for the third time, having already repurchased all the ones I already got on iTunes?

6. Wot no games? I thought this was supposed to be Xbox in the palm of your hand. Swizz! Yes, I know this may be the rumourmongers' fault rather than Microsoft's. But still.

7. It's not that stylish. And if this is supposed to be an iPod-slayer, isn't it duty-bound to look nice? I'm not saying it's ugly, but [insert yo' momma joke here]...

8. It won't work on Macs. Hello Microsoft, us Mac-owners aren't all lap dogs of the Jobs Empire, y'know. Some of us might've quite fancied buying a Zune, but apparently it won't support Macs at launch, and the Zune Marketplace will be Windows-only too. Cheers for that.

9. It won't work with Napster. Or, indeed, any digital music store that uses Microsoft's own Plays For Sure DRM platform. D'oh!

10. They're being a bit shifty about Zune's battery life. This could mean it runs out of juice in 10 minutes unless used with the screen off and at 10% volume. Or it could mean it ships with futuristic fuel-cell batteries powered by rechargeable goblins, I suppose.

Armageddon USB Hub - world destruction with USB ports!

Probably the most ridiculous gadget I've seen in a long while - but still quite useful. The Armageddon USB Hub relieves your anger with a press of the Red Button, but also earns its keep by adding some bonus USB connectivity to your PC.

Yes, if everything's going wrong and work is getting on top of you, there's only one thing to do. Turn the key, flip the switches and press that Red Button. Unfortunately, your PC doesn't explode, all you get is a honking noise, but you'll feel better for it. Probably not a good enough reason to buy, so here's another. It plugs into a USB port, but gives you access to four USB ports in exchange. And you can never have enough of those - not with so many stupid USB gadgets around.

It's available now, priced at £39.99.

Find out more

Dunk Mug for leftists and rightist tea drinkers alike

Another way you can keep your space clean is to put your sweets in a nice tidy little spot - and rather than pretend you're going to wash two dishes, you can put your coffee in the top of the Dunk Mug and your biscuits in the bottom.  £14, and UK-made to boot.  Available in left-handed and right-handed.   [GT]

Dunk Mug [via Coolbuzz]

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Stainless steel Old-Time USB Radio

Next time Adam West asks you if a toilet paper roll makes him sound like he's on old time radio, you can pass him the USB Retro Radio to complete the mood. It's an AM/FM radio with a stainless steel faux microphone, which is powered from your USB port. $19 USD. [GT]

USB Retro Radio

Related stories: Thursday Top 10: Silliest USB gadgets | USB-powered missile launcher | USB camping lamp and FM radio

Aero Garden - an indoor vegetable patch without the dirt

Allotments are all the range right now, but waiting lists are usually in years, especially in the cities. And when you get one, you'll probably give up on it two days into clearing the weeds. But there is an easier and cleaner way to grow salad and herbs - the Aero Garden.

The Aero Garden grows your vegetables andf herbs at the touch of a button - and it's all by water and air (or aeroponics tecnhnology to be more precise) - not a bit of dirt in sight. The manufacturers also claim it's 100% natural and organic based and grows your plants five times faster than soil, with a guaranteed harvest in just 28 days.

You can buy a kit online that includes everything you need, except the water. If you haven't got your own garden ot vegetable patch, you can pick up the Aero Garden online for around $150.

Product page

Via Uncrate

Freeplay Energy launches Indigo - the self-sufficient LED lantern

Freeplay Energy has launched the Indigo LED lantern, which it describes as "the ultimate self sustainable reading light, table lantern and flashlight" - and something worth a look if you've a camping holiday planned.
 
Available in a silver or green finish, the Indigo lamp uses Freeplay’s three-way charging system - operating off a charger, rechargeable battery, or if you want to do your bit for the environment, by simply winding it up. The Indigo will deliver an hour of white light per 60 second wind or up to two hours of light on the lowest setting (night light).  The LED charge level indicator displays the optimal winding speed and the lantern is fitted with a dimmer switch, to adjust its brightness from maximum strength to a night light. Fully charged, the Indigo will provide up to 2.5 hours of continuous ultra bright light and 70 hours of night light.

On the shelves this month (September 2006), it's priced at £34.99

Find out more

The Half Suit business bib

Like many women, I like a man in a suit, and on those lines, would find a man in a half suit, er, well, not even half a man. However, if comfort is the name of the game, The Half Suit may prove $135-$150 USD well-spent. A stylish spin on the lobster bib, it's intended to provide the illusion of professionalism during videoconferences while you're in your pants (or less) below the bicep. And when you're done with it, you can donate it to the touring Max Headroom company. [GT]

The Half Suit

Related stories:Thursday Top 10: Silliest USB gadgets l Wednesday interview: Robin Shephard of Eleksen on the future for smart fabrics l Bagir and ElekTex introduce the iPod suit

CallBlocker screens your phone calls: choose your interception message

I could start a rant about how much I hate telesales calls, but I think most people hate them so I won't . Even after I've added myself to the Telephone Preference Service block list, unscrupulous automated systems from overseas still phone me, silently intimidating me or shouting at me in a faux American accent how lucky I am to have won something somewhere. Then there's the local companies that seem to be totally ignorant of TPS...

OK, sorry, I said I wouldn't rant.

For a mere 50 quid it's now possible to screen the calls automatically. Plug the CallBlocker into your phone and it will intercept all calls and present them with a challenge. The default one is: "You have reached CallBlocker and not an answering machine. All commercial sales calls and fund raising requests are not accepted, place this number on your do not call list. Personal and invited callers press 5 on your touch phone to proceed."

If that's too formal, you can record your own greeting message.

Now, it does rely somewhat on the cooperation of any human telesales person not just to go ahead and press 5 - though they'd soon incur my wrath if they tried that one. It could also get tedious for your friends and relations to have to listen to your blocking message every time, so hopefully it's possible to just press 5 straight away to be put through.

It's a tempting gadget, but the default message is way too boring. What message would you record to deter unwanted calls?

CallBlocker (via Red Ferret Journal)

One Minute Video Review: Parrot Photo Viewer

I took a look at the Parrot Photo Viewer, which is designed to display photos from your phone or other Bluetooth equipped photo device. You can pick on up for £150 here. 

Imation adds flash storage to charity wristbands

All the rage a couple of years back and still doing steady business are the coloured charity wristbands. They showed you'd done your bit for charity, but served no other practical use. Well, Imation plan to change all that.

It's launched USB flash drive wristbands in a range of "charity-friendly colours". Much the same as the ones previewed at this year's CES, they're available in capacities ranging from 32MB to 1GB. The bands can also be customised with a logo or message if you're willing to commit to purchasing 100 of the wristbands direct from Imation Japan. Intel has already taken advantage of the offer, with branded wristbands already doing the rounds at the company's HQ.

No news on price - probably best to contact the company direct for a bulk price.

Imation website

Via The Register

PowerSquid Surge3000 Calamari Edition: more cable but more able

I (like you) hate cables.  So, a gadget with more cables in it should not be provoking this kind of enthusiasm - but really, the thing I hate more than cables is having nowhere to plug the dratted things in.  Enter (so to speak) the PowerSquid Surge3000 Calamari Edition, the most elaborate power bar I've ever seen.  Instead of being the usual long brick of outlets (with perhaps one modestly set aside to hold all your adapters) it has six grounded plugs on little cables so that you can attach as many blasted adapters as you need to without canceling out half the strip.  Brilliant!  The full-bore surge protector model is the priciest at $70 USD in black, or $80 USD for the 'Calamari' edition, but the entry level black model comes in at $13 USD (and would be a bargain at twice the price if it delivers).    [GT]

PowerSquid Surge3000 Calamari Edition

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USBCell - standard batteries that recharge via USB

Moixa Energy has launched the USBCell - a rechargeable battery can charge straight from any USB port.

USBCell can be used exactly like a normal battery - initially it's available as an AA battery, with a full range of sizes to follow. Using one is simple - just pop the lid to reveal a built in connector and charger. Then plug it into any powered USB port on your desktop, laptop, keyboard or games console, to charge. It's also beneficial to the environment - offering a simple way to recharge a battery, without the need for additional chargers and cables - which could reduce the consumption of single-use batteries.

The USBCell can be purchased online for £12.99 (including delivery) for a packet containing two AA batteries.

USBCell website

Lexar JumpDrive Mercury with built-in capacity meter

Lexar has launched what it claims is the first USB flash drive with a capacity meter in the UK - the JumpDrive Mercury.

The built-in capacity meter is based on Electronic Paper Display (EPD). The display is a paper thin, shatter proof and doesn't rely on external power to provide the information. It also retains the information after being unplugged. The drive also features PowerToGo, which allows you to carry and access your PC programs wherever you are (rather like U3), plus there's pre-loaded EverNote software, which is good for quickly capturing and storing information, along with advanced security, including encrypted areas and a file shredder feature for secure deletion.

The JumpDrive Mercury is available in 1GB and 2GB versions. Prices to be confirmed.

Lexar website

Nintendo NES Controller alarm clock