Gizmodo: Accessories

Moshi Zefyr: A Macbook Heatsink On Your Lap

Adrian Covert — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:06:48 EDT

Moshi's Zefyr is a portable cooling pad for the MacBook that provides a near silent fan, powered by USB, and offers a temperature drop of roughly 6 degrees Fahrenheit. The Zefyr is designed to place your MacBook at an ergonomically beneficial tilt, and when not in use, the Zefyr collapses to better fit in a bag.

The Zefyr also provides a pass through USB port, so that peripheral use is not sacrificed. A portable cooling pad might be a little silly, but for anyone who's experience the heat of a MacBook on their lap, and worries about going sterile, it may be useful. It's available now in black and silver colors, and sells for $75. [Moshi]

Guitar Hero: On Tour DS Bundle Coming in June

Adrian Covert — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:59:45 EDT

In a conference call today Activision said that their DS rendition of Guitar Hero will be hitting stores in June, and Nintendo was so impressed by the controller add-on, that they're allowing the hardware to be included with the game as a bundle set. Activision didn't discuss price or specific release day, but it's good knowing the game is coming sooner than later. Let's hope it's as awesome as the console version. [Joystiq]

Lightning Review: Nyko Kama Wireless Nunchuk

Jason Chen — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT

The Gadget: Nyko's Kama, a Wireless Nunchuck for your Wii that syncs up with an included dongle on your Wiimote.

The Price: $34.99

The Verdict: Works as advertised. We spent hours going through several games, including Mario Galaxy, and the Kama plays just as well as the standard Nunchuck. It's convenient when you're playing Wii Boxing to not have the cable inbetween your two hands, but when you're playing Mario, it's not all that noticeable either way.

The downside to the Kama is having to charge yet another pair of AAs, plus the fact that you're paying a $15 premium over the standard controller. The upside is you're going entirely wireless, which looks and feels much better. It's also one or two millimeters wider than the standard Nunchuck, which is probably better for adults since the standard one is slightly too thin. Also, the trigger buttons are clear plastic.

Note: We did run into one instance when the Kama kept becoming "stuck" in one direction, always making Mario run off to the left or right. Re-sycning the two controllers didn't help, nor did taking out the batteries and rebooting them. Only shoving in a regular wired Nunchuck or resetting the Wii itself seemed to fix the problem. It probably wasn't a battery issue, since we replaced both batteries with newish ones. We only ran into this once in the entirety of our play time, however, so you shouldn't encounter this often. [Nyko]

Update: Nyko tells me that the issue might be because the unit was from an early production lot. They're sending another one for me to test and see if I can reproduce the problem.

i-Bean Head Mounted Video System Puts a Display on Your Glasses

Haroon Malik — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:25:00 EDT

Haven't you always wanted your Armani shades to have an inbuilt TV display, of 21-inch effective size at 1-meter distance? Well, thank the heavens for the i-Bean, as it will grab onto any of your shades with sucker mounts and do exactly that. Sure, it may weigh you down an extra 10g, and will set you back $385, but think about the geek chic factor. The i-Bean comes equipped with a TV tuner that can operate with either 3 AAA batteries or via AC power, so you can now have Desperate Housewives on the bus, which is no way as cool as it sounds. [Red Ferret]

Waterproof PSP Bath Bag Is Every 9-Year-Old's Wet Dream

Jason Chen — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:40:00 EDT

As Adrian pointed out, if we had these PSP bath bags when we were nine, we'd be a whole lot cleaner and a whole lot wrinklier than we are now. It's a bag. It holds your PSP. It goes into baths. That's pretty much all you need to know. It's unclear to us why you couldn't just get a sandwich bag from Target that would do the same thing, but sandwich bags don't have that fancy pants cord at the top. Does the PSP camera work with Skype video? Because we have an idea... [Impress via PSP Fanboy via Kotaku]

Nyko's Kama Wireless Nunchuk On Sale in Limited Quantities Now

Jason Chen — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EDT

Nyko's Kama wireless Wii Nunchuk (no, not the adapter) is going on sale now, online, before the official retail launch in May. If you buy now, you'll have a chance to get one of the limited edition grey, black, pink or gold units that sync wirelessly to your Wiimote adapter. The limited edition won't be available in stores, hence the limited part, so if you want a colored one you'll have to act fast. [Nyko]

The Original Messenger Bag Might Still Be the Best

Mark Wilson — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:58:00 EDT

While we are adorned with the latest and greatest in trendy, designer messenger bags, J.Crew has recreated and rereleased the original. Modeled after the U.S. Postal Service's standard bag from 1868 until the 1970s (before they ditched timeless style and durability for blue nylon), "the original" leather postal messenger features fine leather reminiscent of the favorite baseball glove we never had, along with a secure buckle strap to keep your valuables safe. At 15" wide, we think it will fit many 'a laptop. But for $795, a less-historical-more-practical inner lining would be nice. [jcrew via gizmodude]

LapStrap Carrier is a Laptop Bag Without the Bag

Adrian Covert — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:50:00 EDT

Seriously, if you buy this thing, you're an idiot. The LapStrap is supposed to save you the trouble of bagging your laptop by looping it around the hinge and closing the lid. But I have issues with this thing. I can imagine the laptop lid flying open while on the go, almost ensuring destruction. Muggers would have a field day if people used the LapStrap on city streets. And my biggest problem is that the LapStrap is nothing but marketing hype and a $25 pricetag. It's just a messenger bag shoulder strap fashioned into a loop. No thanks. [The LapStrap via Crave via BBG]

Video: Hands-on With the Nintendo Wii Wheel

Adrian Covert — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:00:00 EDT

I got up close and personal with the Wii Wheel at last week's Nintendo Media Summit, where I (literally) played hours of Mario Kart Wii. I tried playing with the wheel attached and without, trying different configurations of play. And after spending a day with the peripheral, I can't exactly call it great, but it's not horrible either.

My first thought when this was announced last year was that I didn't need a piece of plastic to hold my Wiimote in place; I'd steer the controller by itself just fine. But last Thursday came around, and I approached the wheel cautiously, got comfortable, and even warmed up to the little white circle. While the game can certainly be played without the wheel, there's something that just feels right about holding it in your hands. There's more room to grip with your hands, and you're given a better frame of reference as to how much you're steering.

There is also an elongated, horizontal button on the back that acts as a mechanical proxy for the B trigger button on the underside of the Wiimote. Hitting the B button is a key part of the drift element in Mario Kart. Without the wheel, trying to hold the Wiimote horizontally in two hands while pressing the 2 button for gas and the B button for drift was a bit awkward. Not so much with the wheel in the hand.

However, the wheel took a little getting used to. I found myself oversteering at first, forgetting to steer later, and waving the wheel in strange directions (also exhibited in the above video by Kotaku's Michael McWhertor). But after awhile, I calmed down and found a sweet spot where I could play with a bit of skill. So the Wii Wheel may not be God's gift to racing control, but it doesn't make the experience any worse either. And as far as Mario Kart itself goes...go talk to Kotaku, they're the game freaks. [Mario Kart Wii @ Kotaku]

All Spark USB Hub Gives You Unwanted Responsibility

Haroon Malik — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Captain Witwicky had an excuse; he didn't know the Decepticons were after the All Spark. In fact, he didn't even know what the Decepticons were. If you opt to purchase this All Spark USB hub, with four ports and retailing at £13.99 ($28), what exactly would be your excuse? Still, if you do decide the All Spark USB hub is for you, prepare to die at the hands of your maniac MacBook, once the All Spark gives it life. Scary. [Everything USB]

Nintendo Power Contest: Wii Wheel Cost Driven Down to $9.99

Jack Loftus — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:30:57 EDT

Your friends still aren't worth the cost of admission to your place for a game with Nintendo's Wii Wheel, but they're getting closer now that a Nintendo Power contest rules page lists the peripheral at $9.99. [GoNintendo]

Digital Office Assistant Keeps You in Order, Won't Bare Cleavage

Haroon Malik — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT

This Digital Office Assistant, a concept by Michael Kritzer, actually looks rather useful, and is designed with open plan offices in mind. The device sits on four wheels, houses a collapsable workspace, seating area, notebook slot, auxiliary power outlets, in-built external HDD and general storage compartments.

With a retractable wand, the Digital Office Assistant can be pulled around to your heart's content, following you to meetings, lunches and bathroom appointments. It probably won't be as handy as conventional assistants in the latter meetings, but at least your lappie will be safe and accessible. What more could you ask for? [Michael Kritzer via BornRich]

SpaceNavigator 3D Mouse Gives Full Range of Motion to Second Life Avatars

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:00:00 EDT

3Dconnexion's SpaceNavigator, a rubber-capped multi-axis metal dial meant mainly for 3D design, has been put to even better use as a pan-dimensional controller for Second Life. The video says it all: watch as Beast, one of the "Lindens" who works at Second Life's founder company, demos movement of his avatar on both land and in the air, and even use SpaceNavigator side by side with a mouse. It's perhaps even cooler in build mode, where you can twist, push, pull and tilt—basically have free range of motion—when doing heavy construction. The SpaceNavigator is already available for $60, and works with Google Earth, Adobe Photoshop and a bunch of CAD and GIS apps. It will be available in Second Life at release 1.20. More detailed info below.

3Dconnexion 3D Mice Coming To Second Life
Linden Lab's support of the SpaceNavigator 3D Mouse brings new levels of direct control and immersion to the Second Life Grid platform

NEW YORK - April 3, 2008 - Today at the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo, 3Dconnexion, a Logitech company, announced that its 3D mouse product line will be supported by the Second Life Grid , the platform behind the popular online 3D virtual world created by Linden Lab . 3Dconnexion's 3D mice - including the award-winning SpaceNavigator - will be supported by Second Life beginning in mid-April, offering Second Life residents better control and coordination with 3D objects.

While traditional mice control motion on a two-dimensional plane, 3Dconnexion's 3D mice allow effortless movement and control within a 3D environment. On the Second Life Grid platform, this means that actions such as moving, flying and designing are more intuitive. While designing, users can simultaneously pan, zoom and rotate without stopping to select commands.

"Being able to move freely within and around the environment is a crucial component of the Second Life world experience," said Joe Miller, vice president, platform and product development, Linden Lab. "3Dconnexion's 3D mice have the capability to increase the immersion and improve the overall experience of our Residents and we're always open to such developments."

"3Dconnexion's 3D mice make the Second Life world experience even richer because avatars can now move in a more intuitive and fluid manner - movement no longer needs to be predicated on keyboard commands," said Dieter Neujahr, president of 3Dconnexion. "Beyond supporting a more immersive virtual experience, 3Dconnexion's 3D mice bring professional 3D design capabilities into the hands of Second Life Residents who enjoy creating their surrounding world, as well as to groups using the Second Life Grid platform as a collaborative tool for education and business training."

Advanced navigational capabilities offered by 3Dconnexion 3D mice include:

* Fluid avatar control: Residents can effortlessly control their avatars by gently lifting, pressing and turning the 3D mouse control cap.

* Easy access to camera views: With a twist of the control cap, residents can navigate the camera view and enjoy fluid and highly intuitive control while in flycam mode.

* Quick-switch between flycam mode and avatar motion: The pre-configured buttons on the 3D mice give residents a streamlined navigation experience with the ability to easily transfer between flycam mode and avatar motion - without stopping to select keyboard commands. In addition, the Second Life interface includes default navigation settings for 3Dconnexion 3D mice, allowing people to adjust the speed and settings according to their preferences.

* Control of 3D objects in build mode: While working in build mode, users can pan, zoom and rotate 3D objects to view designs from multiple angles. The 3D mice's pre-configured buttons can be used to change the view to camera mode, providing advanced control of 3D objects and enabling a fluid design process.

3Dconnexion provides advanced and affordable 3D mice that are supported by more than 120 of today's most popular 3D applications, including Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended and Acrobat 3D, Autodesk Inventor , AutoCAD , 3ds Max , and Maya , Blender, CATIA, Google Earth and SketchUp , Microsoft Virtual Earth , NX , Pro/ENGINEER , SolidWorks , and many other CAD, DCC, AEC, and GIS applications. For a complete list of applications supported by 3Dconnexion, visit www.3dconnexion.com/solutions/cad/all_sup_app.php.

Pricing and Availability

Beginning in mid-April, the Second Life Grid platform will support 3Dconnexion's product line on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista , and Macintosh OS X 10.4.6. SpaceNavigator Personal Edition (MSRP $59), SpaceNavigator Standard Edition (MSRP $99), SpaceTraveler (MSRP $199), SpaceExplorer (MSRP $299), and SpacePilot (MSRP $399) are available from major online resellers including Amazon, Apple.com, Buy.com, CDW, Dell, and PC Mall, as well as directly at www.3Dconnexion.com.

About 3Dconnexion, a Logitech Company
3Dconnexion, a wholly owned subsidiary of Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI), is the leading provider of 3D mice for 3D design and visualization. 3Dconnexion devices support today's most popular and powerful 3D applications by offering users a more intuitive and natural way to interact with computer-generated 3D content. 3Dconnexion's award-winning 3D mice serve a wide variety of industries and are used by 3D designers, animators and artists worldwide. 3Dconnexion is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with European headquarters in Seefeld, Germany and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.3Dconnexion.com.

Marumi Macro Ring Light for Point & Shoot Digital Cameras Makes Your Face More Attractive

Jason Chen — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EDT

The flash on most point and shoot cameras is harsh and makes your subjects look horrible. It's fine if you're just taking a night shot of your buddies in a bar, but when you want slightly higher quality shots for your eBay photos or your "personal collection," you need something like this Marumi Ring Light to get more uniform illumination. This way there's not just one harsh flash light spot on the person's face. It still doesn't help those people who photograph their naked junk being reflected off a teapot on eBay, other than, you know, making sure their junk is lit correctly. [Enjoy Your Camera via DVice - DSLR Version]

Wii Wheel Gets $14.99 Price Tag; Your Friends Aren't Worth it

Haroon Malik — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:30:00 EDT

Looks like the fellows at Gamestop let the pricing for Nintendo's Wii Wheel slip, and $14.99 is the price you'll be paying for each friend you have over on Mario Kart Wii day, (April 27th.) The game will retail at $49.99, which includes one Wii Wheel to boot, but for multiplayer mayhem, you're going to have to fork out that little bit more. Friends suck...not in a good way. Jump to see a blown up shot of the flier with the figures. [Gamestop; Thanks, David W]

Bird-Electron EZISON 0 is Chunky Portable Speaker Bliss, Almost

Haroon Malik — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:22:49 EDT

The EZISON 0 speaker has Bird-Electron written all over it; it's pricey, utterly ridiculous and has a design that makes us swoon. Available in white, red, gold, blue or silver aluminum finishes, the EZISON 0 is quite the looker whatever color you should choose, but we just cannot get our heads around the 7350 Yen ($73) price tag. After all, a portable speaker that relies on your MP3 player for juice via the 3.5mm jack connection isn't going to pump out the tunes. In fact, standing in at only 73×76×32mm, the EZISON 0 probably sounds just as good as an electron sized bird. (See what I did there with the old semantics? Please, stay seated.) [NewLaunches]

Trakonya Mutator Force Feedback Device Makes You Pay for Bad Gaming Skills

Haroon Malik — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:30:22 EDT

The Trakonya Mutator attaches to a gamer's wrist and will then shock said gamer if they screw up in-game. The device only functions with Unreal Tournament for now, but wider support is in the pipe works; next stop? Half Life—nice. We can think of a ton of games this type of self inflicted punishment would work well with, but for $59, we're going to need wider support than just Unreal Tournament out of the box. Still, couple this with the 3rd Space Vest and you'll be sure to end each gaming session with a flurry of bruises and fond memories. Bliss. [Product Page via Everything USB]

Lousy Wii Fit Accessories Already On Their Way

Jason Chen — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:30:00 EDT

The Wii Fit isn't actually even available yet officially in the US, but manufacturers like Subsonic have already developed a line of "accessories" to help you get the most out of your Nintendo Wii "exercise" kit. There's a silicon mat to lay on top of your WF so you don't slip on all that sweat you're going to be working up, and a rechargeable battery pack for your board (it's wireless). Rounding out the pack is a carrying bag and a microfiber spray and dust cleaner for wiping those feet stains off your Fit. Not a bad lot if you're going to be using the thing daily, but nothing you couldn't make out of stuff you already have lying around. [Kotaku]

My Touch Keys Brings Tactile Feedback to iPhone

Haroon Malik — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:45:02 EDT

My Touch Keys is a simple idea; a thin sheet of plastic with holes where each key appears is mounted onto the iPhone's screen. When the keyboard is used, you can "feel" each key as you press, thanks to the slight depression the My Touch Keys sheet offers. Though this isn't exactly a new concept, it is the first time it has been commercially made available, and we think it may be a worthwhile investment for some. Watching a movie with the plastic film attached will probably annoy you to no end, but if you can't quite get to grips with the whole touchscreen thing, there are probably worse ways to squander $8. Additionally, the guys at My Touch Keys are running a BOGOF promotion, meaning you can grab yours for $4, just as long as you have someone to go halvsies with. [Product Page via OhGizmo]

Factron Quattro iPod nano Case is the Real Full Metal Jacket

Haroon Malik — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:10:00 EDT

Mizumori Ado's exclusive iPod nano case, called the Factron Quattro, sure as hell has the street cools about it, but unfortunately, it looks like its going to be a limited run in Japan only. The designer, Mizumori Ado, used a full aluminum construction to match the iPod nano's housing, and we have to say, the Factron Quattro is the only way to protect your fat PMP. After all, the hefty clunker sure does have a tough time getting in and out of pockets and bags without scratching itself. Available in green, red, silver or gold and with the option of various scrawled patterns adorning the rear face plate, the case does look quite unique. Check out the gallery for some more shots and know that no pricing details are available, but we'd guess you'll be paying a pretty penny if you are able to get Mr. Importer on the case. [Akihabara News]

Super Slim USB Mouse Takes You Back to Basics, Wants Gadget Domination

Haroon Malik — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:55:00 EDT

Gadget lovers beware; the technology Antichrist is among us, and it is disguised as a USB mouse with only one button and a scroll wheel. The Super Slim USB Mouse does away with everything you could expect in a traditional PC mouse, and instead incorporates the bare minimum in way of functionality.

With a black red color scheme, it fails miserably to conceal it's Lucifer-life roots. Sure, you could pay $11.32 to own one, but it would probably begin to breed with your high-tech gadgets when you're asleep, morphing them into antiquated, lumps of plastic and metal junk. You have been warned; the Super Slim USB Mouse is nothing short of a gadget devil—steer clear. [GeekAlerts]

USBee Flash Drive has Bendable Neck, Heat Ventilation, Vague Resemblance to a Bee

Adrian Covert — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:25:56 EDT

The USBee flash drive is attention-grabbing, not only because of its bee-themed appearance, but also because of its bendable neck and curvaceous shape. The USBee also features heat ventilation around the circuit board so that you don't fry your precious content. This would be a good thumb drive solution for the Macbook Air and its unfortunate USB situation. [Yanko Design]

Audioengine AW1 Lets You Stream Music With Little Fuss

Haroon Malik — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:03:50 EDT

Audioengine has released a software independent, wireless music streaming solution, called the AW1. The AW1 set contains a receiver module and transmitter; the receiver connects via USB, RCA or line-out and the transmitter connects to your PC via USB. The audio sent is then picked up by the connected audio source, with a reported 100-foot range.

Interestingly, the transmission method is unique to Audioengine, which uses their own AvenraAudio technology. We're not too sure how that sounds, but it supposed to churn out CD-quality output with no dropouts or static. At $149, it may be worth the investment if the sound reproduction is as good as they claim. [Audio Junkies]

Gigabyte's Cool Rain Memory Cooler Was Blade Runner Prop in Past Life

Haroon Malik — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:00:00 EST

OK, Gigabyte's Cool Rain Memory Cooler was never featured in Blade Runner, and yes, we called it stupid overkill, but just look at it. The watercooled unit, which we mentioned earlier, can accommodate memory in dual channel form, has a radiator that flips open, uses two heat spreader units and a blue LED. If only our sneakers looked this sci-fi. (Yes, we liked LA Lights.) [Newlaunches]

G-FI: "The World's First Wireless GPS Accessory for the iPhone"

Haroon Malik — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:02:00 EST

Hot off the heels of yesterday's press event, PosiMotion is laying claim to the first wireless GPS accessory for the iPhone and iPod touch. I'm sure the built in locator and google maps program will be just fine for most, but the GPS add-on will actually be compatible with any device with a Wi-Fi connection, but will ship with software to allow for proper iPhone/iPod touch integration. The G-FI is said to be in the final stages of production, and it shall be released in the "next few months," whatever that means. In the meantime, make do with the rendering of the G-FI unit, which shows it running on the late Cingular network. PosiMotion, it's back to the Photoshop with ye. [G-FI; Thanks, Tony. M]

Wristwatches Banned in College-Entry Exams Thanks to One Lousy Cheater

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:10:07 EST

Some kid used his cellphone-connected watch to receive incriminating text messages during a college-entry exam in Thailand and now "all kinds of watches" have been banned from 18 exam centers. Thailand has a seriously competitive testing system, with selectivity in some engineering and medicine programs reaching 1 in 100. Still, you'd think that a kid caught using an innovative way to cheat would be sent to the head of the class (kinda like Captain Kirk and that Kobayashi Maru business). I wonder what they'll do when everyone has cellular/GPS implants—little bit harder to ban, I'd imagine. [Reuters]

Multimedia Watch Makes Wrist Mounted Accessories Useful (Almost)

Haroon Malik — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EST

The day when the watch is once again a useful piece of technology is looming over us. For proof, check out Chinavasion's Multimedia Watch, which packs in a 1.8-inch LCD (160 x 128), voice recorder, in-built loudspeaker, 8GB flash, as well as support for pretty much every media codec ever conceived. (AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, MP3, WMA, JPEG and the list goes on.)

The E-book reader function will ensure you need to wear spectacles within a week's usage, whilst the earphone jack will save your eyes and let you rock out to your stored tunes. Video plays back at 20 fps, so you really couldn't get any good viewing done, but V3.0 of the Multimedia Watch is going to be mega for sure. [Chinavasion via Geekalerts]

Ears On Sony's PFR-V1 Space Headphones

matt buchanan — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:43:03 EST

Pulling on the Sony PFR-V1 Personal Field Speakers is like putting on orthodontal headgear—bewildering and maybe slightly humiliating. The metal probes that stick into your ear for bass are cold and creepy, like I'm being probed. If you lean your head back, they dive deeper into your ear and pick up a serious sensation of weight. And unless you have big hair (like me, 'cause I need a haircut), you probably look like a tool wearing them. But once the ear prongs warmed up, so did I—I prefer the feel to headphones or earbuds, actually.

It's pretty light as long as you don't look up. And you don't feel space age-y. The sound is good, but it's not isolated, so you can (and do) hear a lot of ambient noise, though if the volume's up, you can't really make out what anyone's saying. Bass didn't particularly stand out, but it wasn't lacking. My two big concerns: The sound doesn't quite justify $500, and I don't know how comfortable they would be after a couple hours of continuous wear. I think they're pretty neat overall though. [Sony 2008 Line Show]

Sony Slims Down Its Noise Canceling Set With MDR-NC40

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:01:00 EST

Sony figured out two reasons people don't buy flagship noise-canceling headphones—whether Bose or Sony or others: they're awfully expensive and freakin' huuuuge. The MDR-NC40 coming out in March costs $100, and is both cheaper and slimmer than the bulky $400 NC500D. This set runs for 40 hours on a single AAA battery and can be used as passive headphones when the battery runs dry. Most importantly, you can fold them up into their leather case and slip them into your bag without causing a massive luggage hemorrhage. [Sony]

Cure Your RSI with Eggs and a Side of Sausage

Sean Fallon — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:20:10 EST

Repetitive stress injuries are a dead serious issue people. And to help alleviate your pain, you need a serious solution. Fortunately, some compassionate soul has developed just such a solution in these sausage and egg themed wrist rests. In addition to their ergonomic benefits, these rests also remind you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Available for around $18. [Product Page via TFTS via Uberreview]

Hand-Carved Wooden iPod Cases Deliver a Touch of Class

Adam Frucci — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:20:00 EST

While these iPod Touch cases aren't the most pocketable or practical cases out there, they're beautiful and unique enough to warrant sharing. Handcrafted from cedar and mahogany, they feature really lovely detailing and look to be really high quality. They range in price from $31 to $80 and come in a variety of styles. The version above is carved out of a single, solid piece of sustainable-grown mahogany, which is a big step up from whatever plasticky crap you currently wrap your iPod in. [Product Page via Technabob]

$0.46 iPhone Headphone Adapter Costs $4.98 to Ship

Haroon Malik — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST

That's right folks, that recessed headphone port problem on the iPhone can now be solved by means of a 46 cent investment. Unfortunately, the $4.98 shipping does bring the total cost up a little, but at just over $5.00—sorry, we failed math class—this is still a pretty solid deal. [Amazon. Thanks, Jake]

Hasbro Room Tech Clock Wirelessly Wakes the Lamps in Your Room

Haroon Malik — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:55:00 EST

Hasbro's Room Tech Clock, which looks like a mix between an iPod and a Goomba, is an alarm clock with a wireless link to the shroom-shaped Room Tech Lamp. When the alarm goes off, two things happen; the alarm clock will either stomp its fists on the table making an awful racket, play back the radio or pump out tunes from a connected MP3 player. Secondly, the Room Tech Lamp, which is styled like a shroom-Martian hybrid, will be activated, bringing illumination to your dank, dingy room.

The Room Tech Lamp has a touch sensitive domed head, which allows the user to turn the light on, as well as select from a variety of colors simply by touching it. Additionally, the lamp has a speaker built in that can be hooked up to your MP3 player. The Room Tech duo are due out in September and will retail for £39.99 ($79) each.

Given Gizmodo writers mostly work from their beds, the biggest chore in the morning is turning on the light; we're just too lazy to pull the blinds up. Frankly, how we got by without the Room Tech series is quite beyond us. We're already in line. [Pocket-lint]

Von Zipper Snow Muffs Headphones: One Less Thing To Worry About

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:34:08 EST

Say you're Brian Lam, out there on the slopes of Tahoe, snowboarding as your iPhone drops the biggest beats since the Propellerheads' dropped Decksanddrumsandrockandroll. It sounds grand, but there's a logistical problem: You have goggles, plus the earmuffs your mom knitted for you, plus your (definitely not white) earbuds, all connected to your head using different straps, levers and pulleys. Von Zipper combines them all into one easy system: the $20 Snow Muffs/H-Phones will attach to most ski goggles—but particularly those that Von Zipper by coincidence also sells, for $60 to $160. [Product Page via Book of Joe]

Japan Only: Solar Charger Cellphone Charm

Haroon Malik — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:25:00 EST

Strap-Ya has accomplished what we thought was impossible; they've created a useful cellphone charm: a small solar cell that retains energy for when your handset is out of juice. Simply clip it in, and it will give you the vital power boost in your second of need. If the sun is playing away from home, the solar charger even comes with an AC adapter that allows it to be charged up and used as a spare battery. Alas, it is merely a concept for us. The charger works with just a handful of Japanese handsets. [Product Page (Japanese) via Tokyomango]

DS Lite Sound Shell Adds Speakers, Unnecessary Weight

Jason Chen — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:29:07 EST

The built-in speakers on the Nintendo DS Lite may not be spectacular, but they manage to get the point—and by point we mean the musical bleeps and bloops of the latest Zelda game—across quite well. GameTech disagrees, which is why they created this Sound Shell DLite addition that not only adds slightly stronger speakers on the back, but a stand to prop your DS up in case the whole thing becomes slightly too heavy for your underdeveloped arms to lift. $30 gets you the entire contraption. [Impress via Technabob via DS Fanboy via Kotaku]

Turntable Watch: OK, OK, We Get It, You Like Vinyl

Adam Frucci — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:10:01 EST

So you really like turntables, do you? Perhaps you're a self-styled DJ, or maybe you're just one of those awkward vinyl aficionados who tut-tuts every time someone talks about MP3s. In any case, I'm sure you're looking to rub what you consider to be such a sweet hobby/obsession in the faces of others. This turntable watch is modeled after the classic Technics 1200 down to the tiniest detail, so much so that you'd swear you could spin some wax on it if only records came in such wee sizes. It's available now for $65 and a small shred of your dignity. [Product Page via Book of Joe]

Greenhouse FM Transmitter Brings Music Streaming to Your Obese iPod nano

Haroon Malik — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:00:00 EST

The fat, fun-loving iPod nano just got music streaming capabilities, all thanks to the Greenhouse FM transmitter. The streaming device looks rather swank, and is available in five complementing colors, including metallic black, silver, red, green and blue. It will allow you to chuck out your tunes to any free radio station, by tuning the transmitter into the free station using the plus and minus buttons either side of the display.

Unfortunately, we don't think the green and blue versions match entirely, but with an LCD screen for FM station display and great styling to accompany your iPod nano, you cannot go far wrong. Pricing and shipping details are not available at present, but we shouldn't imagine you will be waiting too long. [Akihabara News]