With gaming keyboards, everyone likes something different.  Personally, I hate the ones that have the gaming portion detached from the rest of the keyboard.  However, I’m a bit biased, because I actually found the keyboard that works best for me.  Well Logitech is releasing a new gaming keyboard within their G-series product line.  It will be at this year’s CES, which also means it’s not going to be sold just yet.

The G19 keyboard of course offers keys that light up (which seems to be a requirement among gaming keyboards).  It also has a tiltable 320 x 240 pixel color GamePanel LCD.  It can display details about the game you’re playing, and will work with over 60 different games (which includes World of Warcraft).  It can also display pictures, videos, void data and computer details.  The keyboard itself has 12 different programmable keys with three different macros per key.  It also has two USB ports built into it.  They will also be releasing the G35 Surround Sound Headset and the G9x Laser Mouse.  The keyboard will be out in March and will be sold for $200.

Source: Kotaku

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment
• 
  

We’ve all heard that rechargeable batteries are the more environmentally friendly way to go.  The reasons a rechargeable battery would be better are fairly obvious.  You use them more times, so that’s less waste to go into the landfill.  However, this year at CES Fuji is claiming that they will be debuting an environmentally friendly non-rechargeable battery.  Which might not make it as good as a rechargeable, but would be better than nothing.

When batteries are tossed out they have harmful chemicals that get absorbed into the ground.  The Fuji EnviroMAX have created a battery that they are saying has no components inside that could be harmful to the environment when it’s left to rot in a landfill.  The batteries have no cadmium or mercury as well as no other types of heavy metal components and harmful substances.  The battery cylinders themselves are made of PET plastic.  The PET plastic is recyclable unlike steel, but PET does have some environmental issues of its own.  The packaging for the batteries are made of recycled and recyclable materials.  They are also said to last longer than alkaline batteries.  They will be available in AA, AAA, C and D models.

Source: GoodCleanTech

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment
• 
  

The speculation that Steve Jobs skipped the last Apple keynote may actually be due to the fact that it was so uninteresting that it wasn’t worthy of his dramatic presentation skills. In the end, the final Apple keynote at MacWorld was about as uninteresting as the next step products Phil Schiller was tasked to “schill.” From the next iLife `09 update to yet another $2700 17” MacBook, there really wasn’t anything introduced that made live blog comments go beyond “this is disappointing,” “boring,” and “what a let down.” No dual port mac mini, no iphone Nano, no Cloud, not even the Beatles catalog on iTunes. But there is some highlights in all the gloom –

iPhoto 09 introduces “faces,” there you can search for pictures by face. It works like a corkboard showing shots of your favorite people. Identify who you want to search for and iPhoto goes and fetches all the pictures of that person. And if it finds a photo with a face iPhoto doesn’t recognize, it will ask you their name and then go find other photos with them in it. That’s pretty cool. Also “Maps,” which uses Google Maps to pin and anchor all pictures taken around that location on the map. It uses geotagging from the 3G data in the iPhone or another GPS capable camera. And if you don’t have the GPS feature, you can enter locations manually in iPhoto for future search. And a Facebook support which allows tagging of pictures on Facebook to be pulled down by iPhoto. Interesting.

iMovie 09 comes with software driven image stabilization to settle down any jumpy home videos you make have taken. Very cool. And another cool clip allows you to create an Indiana Jones traveling line on a globe to transition from one location to another in a video. I like that. Garage Band `09 has help for budding musicians with it’s “learn to play” feature which has 9 custom lessons on how to play both guitar and piano. ASll done by major artists like John Fogerty, Sting and Sarah McLaughlin. And in the future, lessons will be $4.99 and delivered and stored into the Garage Band app. That’s trick.

Then came the new 17” MacBook Pro. $2700 (doesn’t Cupertino know about the ailing economy?) with the expected refinements and here’s something interesting – an irreplaceable battery! That’s right, even though Apple swears you can recharge it three times longer and it’s life is up to 8 hours, if the battery goes belly up, there’s NO replacement. That’s sure to go over like a lead balloon.
The “one last thing” everyone hoped for ended up being a new three tiered DRM free pricing structure on iTunes … .69/.99/1.29, with tunes available over the AT&T 3G network as well. And in since iTunes is DRM free starting in the 2nd quarter, users will be able buy on iPhone and sync back to other Apple devices like another ipod. Not bad.

But that’s it, gang. The Apple Era ends with a whimper, not a bang.

Hat Tip – Technologizer/Cover It Live

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment
• 
  

HP has expanded it’s Planet Partners Recycling program and added a buyback element to it. The new program dubbed the HP Consumer Buyback and Planet Partners Recycling Program, will buy back any brand of PC, monitor, printer, digital camera, or which still has some sort of value, rather than simply recycle the e-waste it receives. And it’s a lot. To date, HP has recycled close to one billion pounds of computer waste and hopes that the new buy back program will double that figure by 2010. Here’s how it works.

Users looking to cash in on their old gadgets go to the HP Quote site and choose the specs of the gadgets they want to unload from the pull down menus. Tell HP the quantity and it’s condition and receive a free quote. If specs are not available for your particular item, merely choose the “other” option and a form will popup asking for details on processor, hard drive, video card, RAM, etc. Then the quote will be generated based on those figures. It is important to note, however, that HP does not give the user the choice of cashing in and shipping it for a song. Users must accept either standard or premium shipping and that cost is deducted from the total offer HP is making for your tech.

When I tested it on an old IBM Celeron laptop, it quoted me $112 for it minus $23 shipping – making my final cash quote at almost $90. There’s also a trade in element which will allow users to apply the quote towards an HP product, or, if your technology has no value and is an HP product, they will still recycle it for you or point you to a worthy charity to donate it.

HP may not offer top dollar or give you what you think you can get on eBay, but given the state of the economy, every little bit helps. And it’s a pretty good option for selling stuff lying around and fighting eWaste at the same time.

Hat Tip – C’Net

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment
• 
  

I know what you're thinking: you already have a TV, why do you need to watch TV via your PC... right? But what about when you're not at home, and don't want to pay to download something, or wait a day until your favorite show arrives online?

In that case, AverMedia's AverTVHD Volar USB TV tuner for the bargain price of $25 shipped (from newegg.com) starts to seem like a very good idea indeed. If you're confused by the concept, don't worry: it's simple enough. You just plug the tuner into a spare USB port and it allows you to watch TV on your computer - and Windows Media Player will even let you pause and rewind live TV.

Make sure to use discount code EMCABAGDJ before January 12 to get that final price - and check out The Cheapskate blog for other great deals.

Via CNET News.

If you haven’t had a chance to pick up the Rechargeable Heated Insoles, then you’ll need some way to warm your feet once you’re inside.  It’d be great to curl up next to a fireplace or wood stove after being outside, however, most of us have nothing more than a vent to defrost over.  Which usually doesn’t do the trick, this foot warmer will likely help you warm up quickly.   It’s not the first foot warmer out there, but this Japanese foot warmer doesn’t use electricity to power up.

Instead, it’s filled with small beads the rub up against each other to create small amounts of heat.  Once it wraps your feet in them it will keep your toes nice and warm.  It’s an odd method and hopefully not just a novelty product that barely works.  However, the down side is that it’s not being sold in either the UK or the US.  You’d have to get it to you through the Japanese site.  You can purchase it for about $60.

Source: Gizmodiva

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment
• 
  

It does make me wonder sometimes - housewives hate the sight of cobwebs all over the house, especially those left behind by daddy long legs, and here we are with a gizmo that supposedly helps spiders spin more webs. Ah well, at least this is placed outdoors where spiders have better luck catching some insects in the tangled web that they weave.

All you need to do is stick the Spider Web Maker in your garden, sit back, and wait for one of your arachnid chums to finish their architectural delight. Marvel at the visual spectacle that is the spider’s web from your very own garden.

Unfortunately for the spider, you might get bored of their “work” once they’re done, and wipe the slate clean to get a new piece. I’d be bummed too if I were that particular spider, seeing somebody figuratively flush my sweat and blood down the water. At least each £7.99 purchase comes with an information booklet written by Natural History Museum scientists, providing more information on spiders and their webs.

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment
• 
  

Mention the word tundra and what is the mental image you get? Chances are, it ain’t a pretty sight. Desolate, icy cold lands with extremely harsh weather - no sane person would want to move there due to the location, unless he/she is a certified hermit who wouldn’t mind suffering from frostbite or hypothermia once in a while. Well, amidst the rugged landscape, we’re pretty sure that whatever survives in that condition are super tough, and that’s generally the idea that AT&T and Motorola want us to have with the new Motorola VA76r. This tough 3G clamshell handset features a rugged exterior that is able to hold its own in harsh environments - making it the perfect cell phone for teenagers, outdoor enthusiasts and contractors. You know how fragile those souped up 3G handsets are these days, they’re as dainty as they’re expensive.

The Tundra VA76r meets U.S. 810F Military Specifications (MIL) for drop, dust, vibration, humidity, severe temperatures and rain, making me wish I had one right now so that I won’t need to be extra careful when lugging around my phone. In addition, the Tundra boasts Motorola’s CrystalTalk Plus with dual microphone technology for superior, crystal clear conversations despite all the ruckus that’s going on around you, alongside the ability to hook up with a single person or an entire group at the touch of a button courtesy of PTT technology. Other features include voice activation, phone book locking for call restrictions, a rugged antenna and keys that can be easily pressed while wearing gloves - perfect for those who live in countries where there’s plenty of cold weather all year round.

If you’re interested in bringing the Motorola Tundra VA76r home, it will retail for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year contract. At least the Tundra is much better looking compared to rugged handsets of yore, so you don’t have to be ashamed about whipping one out in front of friends.

Press Release

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment
• 
  

They will also be showing HD streaming on the Mac via the Web-based SlingPlayer on Sling.com.

Posted in Audio/Video, Home Theater, CES, Gizmo of the Day, Phones

The most exciting time in the HDTV / home theater industry each year is the start of the year, at CES. Now just a few short days away, from Thursday 7th January 2009 to the 11th, CES 2009, also known as the Consumer Electronics Show will run.

During CES 2009 all the major electronics companies such as Sony, Samsung, Philips, Pioneer etc will announce all their new HDTVs for the 2009 year. I can’t wait to see all the new models, and see all of the new improvements they have made.

As usual all the companies will be trying to out do each other. I predict, much like last year, everyone will be fighting for the world’s slimmest HDTV. Also, I think me might see, more 240Hz/ 480Hz HDTVs, maybe a larger (>11-inch) OLED HDTV, “Eco” HDTV, Internet connected HDTV, and 3D HDTV features.

I will keep this post updated with all the CES HDTV announcements as they come in.

2009 CES HDTV Announcements

• Samsung 2009 HDTV Lineup
• LG LH95 / LG LH9500| LG 55LH95, LG 55LH9500