Gizmodo: scrolling

DIY Scrolling LED Business Cards Miss Point of Business Cards, Still Cool

Kit Eaton — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:45:00 EDT

Over at Instructables is this DIY project that will let you make your own slender electronic business cards with built-in LED display. They're pretty cool, displaying a number of different scrolling data messages at the push of a button, and apparently cost just about $5 per card. The "slender" description means you'll have to be good at soldering surface-mount components, though. To me it's a cool project that will impress people, but kinda misses the point of business cards: easily disseminating your contact info. An LCD QR-code business card— now that's something I'd fancy. Head over to Instructables if you've got the LED maker-urge. [Instructables]

Logitech MX 1100 Mouse Review (Verdict: Our Favorite Mouse Ever)

Jason Chen — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EDT

The Gadget: Logitech's MX 1100 cordless laser mouse, which is a combination of the MX1000 (which we've used for years) and the slightly newer MX Revolution. It's wireless, which is great for most everyone, and contoured to your hand for extra comfort. There's also an on-board DPI toggle for sensitivity and the ability to switch between regular scrolling and super speedy scrolling.

The Price: $80

The Verdict: Our favorite mouse yet. The exterior is totally molded to fit your hand with very cozy grooves for the thumb, ring and pinkie. Like the MX Revolution, it's missing the fast scroll buttons found in the MX1000, but makes up for it with the fast scroll/regular scroll wheel toggle that lets you switch between standard scrolling and the super fast turbo spin that shoots through 10,000 lines of Excel in seven seconds. Then there are the other buttons.

The exterior DPI toggle can adjust sensitivity on the fly without opening up the control app and the "body" thumb button is good for whatever function (Exposé on Mac or Flip 3D on Vista) you want to assign. The forward and back thumb buttons are still there, and are still nice and soft, and the right and left mouse clicks have just the perfect amount of feedback to balance out feeling solid, being quiet and feeling satisfying. It also solves the flaw Logitech mice have had the past few years where it's hard to middle click the scroll wheel because it would tilt to either side, activating the side scrolling.

The two questionable design decisions are its use of AA batteries, which means it's not natively rechargeable, and the fact that lefties will feel even more uncomfortable using this than with previous ergonomically-shaped mice. We're right handed, but a few of our friends (we call them leftovers) wish they could use these along with us. Maybe make a left-handed version with all the internal pieces mirrored, but only 1/20 the production count? As for the batteries, this might be better, since our experience with Logitech mice is that the contacts between it and the docking station always get worn out, which leads to an inability to charge after a few years.

If you're like us and can see past these very minor quirks, you'll definitely be happy picking one up for daily use. At $80, it's not on the absolute highest side of the mice scale, plus it's actually still cheaper than the $99 MX Revolution, so power users will definitely be happy using this for years;or at least until Logitech decides to refine their design even more. [(Logitech (MX 1100) and Logitech (MX Revolution)]

Diesel LED Watches Have Hidden Mirror Displays for Sci-Fi Chic

Kit Eaton — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:15:00 EDT

Ah, a digital watch with an LED display that's not impossible to read... fantastic! Even better, the LEDs on these new watches from Diesel are a dot-matrix screen, and are hidden behind a mirror surface that makes the whole package look suitably sci-fi. Like something Luke would've worn on his cybernetic wrist. You can even program the display to scroll messages up to 20 characters long. Having "Use the Force..." scrolling past is too much, you think? Available with a mirrored patent strap (DZ7091) or a black leather one (DZ7092) for $170. [Diesel via Technabob]

How To Enable Two Finger Scrolling on Old Apple Laptops

Jason Chen — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:00:30 EDT

Owners of old Mac laptops can join in on the fun of the newer laptops with this two-fingered scrolling trackpad driver. For the unfamiliar, two-finger scrolling means you press two fingers down on the trackpad and move up or down, and whatever you're looking at scrolls up or down. Essentially like the scroll wheel on a mouse.

Only install this on old laptops that don't have scrolling enabled. The new ones use a different trackpad that won't work. – Jason Chen

Project Page [Sourceforge]

Okwap S868 Windows Mobile Smartphone With Virtual Click-Wheel

Jason Chen — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:45:35 EST

Just when you think HTC's dominated the market, OKWAP's S868 Pocket PC phones comes out and shows that HTC's not the only Taiwanese brand that can make good Windows Mobile smartphones. The S868 runs WM5 Pocket PC Edition (the non-gimped, touchscreen one) and has an Intel PXA270 416MHz Processor, 128MB ROM, 64MB RAM, a 2.4-inch screen, a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0 and an SD slot.

But that's not the most interesting feature. The most interesting feature is the iPod-like virtual clickwheel which allows you to "scroll" like you would an iPod. Simply swirl your thumb in a circle over the number keys and you get a similar effect. The phone's on sale now in Taiwan for 15,000 Taiwan dollars ($455).

– Jason Chen

OKWAP S868 Pocket PC Phone [IT Tech News via Mobile Mag]