The ante of USB flash drive designs has been raised yet again, this time with the Gold Bar USB flash drive model. You ain't fooling nobody with this $27 device that carries 4GB of data, but somebody desperate out there might actually think it is worth a few grand, so we'd advocate caution if you want to wear it around your neck.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Gold Bar USB Flash Drive
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Monday, June 1, 2009
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Coming soon: Ultrasone Zino headphones
Labels: Headphones, new gadget, Ultrasone Zino headphones
We tend to really like Ultrasone headphones, but for a lot of folks, they're just a little too pricey. Well, the Germany-based Ultrasone has realized it needs a more-portable--and affordable--pair of headphones that will appeal to iPod owners on the go.
Enter Ultrasone Zino, which features an on-the-ear, fold-up design and some snazzy chrome trim. The headphones are due to hit Amazon next month and will retail for a somewhat reasonable $129.99.
Recently, we got an early listen to the Zinos and were impressed with what we heard in the limited time we spent with them. They delivered punchy bass and good detail, and they felt quite comfortable. We look forward to reviewing them for real in a few weeks.
Get a BudTrap, share a BudTrap Buddy
Labels: BudTrap Buddy, Headphones, Ipod, MP3 player
Here’s a simple solution to a very common problem. If you’re like me chances are you tend to wrap your headphones around your iPod or MP3 player. Unfortunately, the next time you go to use your MP3 you spend the next five minutes untangling your headphones.
The BudTrap is a simple solution which helps you keep you headphone cords tamed. The company offering BudTrap also has an interesting way to spread the word regarding its use. For every BudTrap sold you will also receive four BudTrap Buddys just so you can share them. Another bonus is that US$1 of every purchase goes toward a social cause.
If you’re looking to share a BudTrap Buddy or receive one you can do so through Twitter or Facebook. Clearly, the folks from BudTrap believe the product is so good it should be shared. The BudTrap costs just US$4.99 and is available online.
Read more at the BudTrap website
Brian’s Opinion
Hey, I think this small, but simple solution is a fantastic idea to address a very common problem. What I find genius though is the way they are marketing it. I love the idea of people being able to share BudTrap Buddys.
Sure, the BudTrap Buddys are just as functional as the BudTrap, but they don’t look as good. That being said, they will no doubt encourage people to upgrade to the full BudTrap. In turn they will receive BudTrap Buddys to share.
This is viral marketing at its best. Here is a perfect example of a company leveraging social websites like Twitter or Facebook to market their website. It’s genius, pure genius. Mostly because it doesn’t cost a lot of money and it will no doubt be very effective in generating word of mouth advertising about the product
LaCie intros Cover, Coat and Cozy hard drive bags
Labels: drive bags, LaCie intros Cover, new gadget
LaCie has this week introduced a new range of bags aimed at users of its external hard drive range. There are three types available offering different levels of protection for you drive
The Cover is the thinnest and lightest of the bags offering minimal protection from bumps and focuses on stopping your drive getting scratched. It is meant to slide into a pocket and is available for both 2.5? and 3.5? drives at a price of $7.99 each
The Coat ups the protection from the Cover and adds a bubble design. Another nice feature is the fact the bag is reversible so you can hide the bubbles and have a suede fabric finish instead. There’s also a secret accessory pocket and four color options available (black, gray, red, or
orange). The 2.5? version costs $11.99 where as the 3.5? version costs $15.99
For people who want the best protection for their drive LaCie has created the Cozy which is made of EVA. The exterior is solid, but has a flexible pocket on the side. Inside your drive is held in place by memory foam giving you more options as to what drives you can store in the Cozy. Available in three colors (black, gray, or red) the 2.5? version costs $14.99 while the 3.5? version costs $19.99.
All the bags are now available to buy in the LaCie Shop and a compatibility chart (PDF) is available to make sure your hard drive will fit in the bags – this includes drives from other manufacturers.
Read more at the LaCie press release
Matthew’s Opinion
It’s nice to see LaCie supporting the use of these bags beyond its own products with the compatibility chart having a long list of other makes of drive. You are going to buy one of these bags after your hard drive purchase so they aren’t really losing any potential sales by doing that.
Having a bag for an external hard drive is only going to be of value if you move it a lot. I have a few external drives, but for the most part they never leave my desk and just act as backup devices. If I want an external drive bigger than a USB stick then I would first look for a drive with “toughness” built-in, but if I couldn’t find one that suits I have no problem buying a separate bag for it.
The LaCie Cover seems a bit pointless to me. It only offers protection from scratches where as I wouldn’t be too concerned about that in a storage device. It’s the data that it contains that you should be worried about
Griffin Technology PowerDock 4
Labels: new gadget, PowerDock 4
If you are a lover of all things Apple, you no doubt have at least two gadgets that use the Apple connector. Two is pretty manageable but what if you have four? Most of the time the gadgets don’t need to be synced to a computer so instead you end up plugging up four AC outlets. If this seems unweildy, check out the PowerDock 4 from Griffin Technology.
The PowerDock 4’s name says it all. It’s a docking station that can power 4 devices simultaneously as long as they use Apple’s connector
Setup of the PowerDock 4 is very straightforward. You unpack the dock and then plug it into an AC outlet. The PowerDock 4 ships with 8 Universal Dock inserts including ones for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPod nano, and others. In my case I charged up a first generation iPhone, first generation iPod touch, iPhone 3G and iPod nano. I only needed to use the insert for the nano and then all four were charging with ease.
The nicest part of the PowerDock 4 is how easy it is to use. The other nice part is how cool it looks. Instead of dangling four different cables, I can easily insert my four devices into the PowerDock 4 when they’re not in use, knowing that they will be charged and ready when I need them.
If four charging ports seems excessive, there’s also the PowerDock 2, which as its name suggests, will charge two devices simultaneously.
The only negative I found with the PowerDock 4 is in its packaging. It comes with 8 Universal Dock inserts that are each numbered. The problem is that the information on which number goes with which insert is on the box and not in a manual or piece of paper of any sort, so you have to hang onto a piece of the box if you want to reference which insert works for which device. Otherwise, the device itself is solid and something that’s very welcome in my office. If Griffin would add a reference sheet in the package and / or a reference page on its website, I would not have any issues with the PowerDock 4
Pyramat PM1900 Cobra Gaming Chair
Labels: Gaming Chair, new gadget, nice chair
The foldable, self supporting, Pyramat PM1900 'Cobra' Gaming Chair is perfect for those who want the amazing quality of the Pyramat Gaming Chair range, but don't have the space to keep one permanently out in the lounge. But don't be deceived! The Cobra when unfolded is as large as the Pyramat PM400 or PM420
With surround sound, thumping bass and all the Pyramat features you would expect, this chair, one of the newest in the range, really is the best for smaller spaces, or if you have someone who just isn't keen on having one sitting in the sitting room all the time. It's full sized metal frame makes it exceptionally strong and lightweight, but its size when folded (a mere 23cm thick) makes it perfect for storing under the bed or in the wardrobe.
With all the features on would expect to get from the Pyramat Gaming Chair range, the Cobra has amazing surround sound, boom bass and is extremely comfortable, which is also helped by the breathable backrest and the contoured seat.
The cobra, like the rest of the Pyramat range, is compatible with iPod's, MP3 players, Playstation, X-Box, GameCube, PSP and Nintendo gaming machines, and can also be connected to your DVD, Computer (PC and Mac), TV and stereo systems.
Main features
- Colour - Red with Black detailing
- Pyramat POWERSUB? 20 Watt Subwoofer
- High-quality 6 Watt Surround Sound Speakers
- Breathable Microfiber Fabric
- Lightweight Metal Frame
- Works with all iPod's, MP3 players, Playstation, X-Box, GameCube, PSP and Nintendo gaming machines.
- Works with DVD, Computer (PC and Mac), TV and stereo systems.
- iPod?/MP3/PSP Audio Input
- RCA Multi-player Audio Outputs
- Connect up to 8 Units Together
- RCA Audio Inputs
- Headphone Jack
- Volume and Bass Controls
- Easy to fold for storage
- Compatible with All Gaming Consoles, Audio and Video Devices
- Colour: black body colour with red detailing
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The unit connects through the audio out connection (or headset connection ) on your TV so is compatible with HDMI and Scart.
- Size: (H) 70cm X (D) 56cm X (W) 44cm
- Weight 10.8Kg
- Ages 8 to 99
Mini Contessa Ice Maker
Labels: freezer, ice maker, new gadget
Forget faffing about with the freezer! Make ice in just ten minutes with your very own electronic ice maker.
It's practically the law that if you're staying in a hotel with an ice machine, the first thing you do after dumping your bags is fill up the ice bucket. Even if you don't need any ice, the sheer brilliance of being able to have it at the touch of a button is what counts. Filling up a plastic tray and waiting for four hours doesn't have quite the same panache, does it?
The Mini Contessa Ice Maker is the newest member of the world-renowned "Contessa Ice Makers" family. A smaller sister to the standard machine, this ice maker's capacity for production and storage will surprise many and with a small footprint it frees up even more countertop space. Small and handy, it makes ice cubes quickly and easily; ideal for home entertaining, bbqs and parties.
Now you can have your very own ice maker in your home or office, with a choice of three different cube sizes. This stylish silver tabletop machine from Contessa is incredibly easy to use, and produces ice in a fraction of the time a freezer takes.
Getting yourself a glassful of ice is as simple as filling the machine's water tank and pressing the 'on' switch. The Ice Maker works on a 10 to 16 minute cycle depending on the size of cube selected, producing 10 cubes per cycle. Alternatively if you want a huge pile of ice, the Maker will hold up to 70 cubes (approx. 0.7kg on medium setting) of ice.
The Ice Maker may not be instantaneous like a full-size ice machine, but it doesn't take four or five hours like ice trays do and you won't end up cracking your worktop bashing the cubes out. Strictly speaking it's a portable machine, in the sense that it will fit on a tabletop and can be easily transported to parties or functions, but don't take portable too literally and try and carry it around in your rucksack.
This slick and stylish gizmo from one of the top names in the business is ideal for parties, and especially romantic evenings. After all, a bottle of Blue Nun in the fridge just doesn't have the same air of sophistication as champagne on ice.
Please note: Refrigerant materials need time to settle after transportation. We recommend the Ice Maker is placed on a sturdy flat surface and left for a minimum stabilisation period of three hours before being switched on.
Technical Specifications:
* Voltage: Nominally 240V AC 50Hz.
* Maximum power: 130W
* Water Tank capacity: 2 litres approximately
* Ice Cube Size: Small: Cycle time 10 minutes
* Medium Cycle time: 12 minutes
* Large Cycle time: 16 minutes
* Dimensions: 400 High x 310 Wide x 380 Deep (mm)
* Net Weight: Approx. 15 Kgs
* The number of ice cubes produced per cycle is 10.
* The Ice Cube Basket holds approximately 70 cubes or 0.7 kgs. of ice on medium cube size setting.
* The appliance can produce approx 12 Kg of ice
in a 24 hour period dependent on the water temperature and ambient conditions.
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