Systemax Assault Notebook

This notebook reminds me of the one Robert Hawkins uses in Jericho. Made from magnesium alloy, complete with anti-shock padding and spill-resistant keyboard, this is a laptop you can take with you to the battlefield! Okay, maybe not really, but it's still a tough machine.

The computer is powered by an Intel dual core CPU up to 2.33 Ghz, up to four gigs of ram, a 160 gig harddrive, 14.1" XGA display and Intel GMA 950 graphics chip. For OS, you can select either Windows XP or Vista. Nothing stops you from putting Linux on it, of course.

Source article on Ubergizmo

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Desktop warfare kits

Medieval times were not the most pleasant times to live in. If you didn't die in a war, it would probably be from the plague or some other nasty disease. But there was one thing those medieval dudes had that rocked bigtime: their artillery. Forget cannons, howitzers and mortars, meet the ballista and the trebuchet!
This kit contains miniature versions of those awesome war machines. While they may be a bit underpowered to storm the castle of some evil lord and save the beautiful princess, they are perfect for some office mayhem! The ballista is excellent for firing at targets that are in you line of sight, while the trebuchet can hurl projectiles over cubicle walls.
Back in the days, it was also common to set projectiles on fire before launching them. For obvious reasons, I don't recommend doing this in the office, even though some kinds of correction fluid may be quite flammable, and those little plastic bottles would make fine ammo for the trebuchet (for the love of God, don't try this, and if you do anyway, you didn't get the idea from me!).

Buy from Firebox

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Lego Mindstorms NXT

Whenever I see an advertisement for Lego these days, it makes me wish I was born some twenty years later. When I was a kid, the most high tech kits available from Lego were the pneumatic sets. While those sets were cool, they are nothing compared to the stuff that's available today, and the most impressive of them all is this one.
With the Lego Mindstorms NXT kit, you can build your own robots and program them from your computer. The brain of the kit is the NXT unit, a 32-bit microprocessor that connects to your computer through a USB port. The NXT unit has an LCD display, a speaker, three input ports and four output ports. Included are a sound sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, an ultrasonic motion sensor and three advanced servo motors.
The programming environment works on a PC and a Mac; no Linux support, although I wouldn't be surprised is third party software is already available. Programming the NXT unit is done with intuitive drag-and-drop controls. And finally, if you have a Bluethooth enabled cellphone, you can use it to control your creations!

Buy from Firebox

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Attempt at building links...

Okay, so this isn't about gadgets. I need links to my blog. If you want to exchange links, just put a comment with your url and I will add you to my blogroll. And if you want two links from a PR5 blog, check out Electric Venom. All you have to do is link to the article "Bite Me", send a trackback and you will get two incoming links. And if your blogging platform doesn't support trackbacks, you can use this manual trackback form, wich works excellent.
The same blogger also runs the same thing on her other blog, wich is a PR4. It works the same way: link to "I think therefore I link", send a trackback and you will receive two incoming links.

Bar Set Gift Box

Here's a great gift for anyone who likes to mix cocktails. Or for anyone who has watched the movie "Cocktail" too many times and thinks he can impress women by imitating Tom Cruise. The set includes following items:

• a cocktail shaker;
• a strainer;
• a stirrer;
• ice tongs
• a double spirit measure

All items are made of high quality stainless steel. Booze is not included, unfortunately.

Buy from The Gadget Hub

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Plantronics Calisto communications hub

Although this device looks like a cordless phone, it is much more than that. It essentially combines a landline phone, a cellphone and a VoIP device in one. The handset, wich looks like a cellphone, has all options any DECT cordless phone has. But the true power of this set lies in the Bluethooth headset. This can be used with any Bluethooth-enabled cellphone, or be used as a headset for VoIP calls. And, of course, it also works with landline calls. The handset can import contacts from Microsoft Outlook. Up to two hundred contacts with up to three phone numbers each can be stored.

Source article on Chip Chick

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R2D2 Trashcan

Where does a true Star Wars fan dispose his garbage? A trash compactor like the one on the first Death Star would be sweet, of course, especially if it comes with one of those beasts that almost killed Luke Skywalker, but since most people don't have enough space for such a machine (not to mention for the beast), we'll have to do with this one. This R2D2 trashcan is a licensed Star Wars collectible. It stands 24" tall and is very detailed. The only thing that's missing are bleeping noises when you drop something in it!

Buy from think Geek

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Guide to backpack buying

In about a week, school will start again, and for many people that's the time to buy a new bag for their kids. As many doctors will tell you, a backpack is the best way to carry your books to school. It distributes the load evenly on both shoulders and is the most comfortable way to carry something.
Split Milk has an interesting article on buying a new backpack. Of course, for going to school you need a different kind of backpack than for camping. Here are some of the points you should pay attention to (summarized from source article):

• Comfort; A good backpack should have wide shoulder straps, a padded back and not be too big or heavy for a kid.
• Durability; Backpacks that are used for school have to endure quite a bit. They are dropped, thrown and who knows what else. Pay attention to the fabric, stitches and zippers. Also, brand names are often more durable. I myself still use my Camel bag I had since high school.
• Load capacity; Large enough, of course, but not too large. It should be big enough to hold books, a pencil box, a lunch box, or anything else for a day of school.
• School rules; Sometimes, schools require or ban certain types of bags. For example, when I was in high school, we were required to put some sort of reflective material on our backpacks, so we were clearly visible in traffic.
• Price; Not to be ignored! Although brand-name bags are usually more expensive, they will last a lot longer, and may turn out cheaper.

The Split Milk article also has a list of different cool backpacks. One that I would definitely want is the Skullcandy Link Street Pack, a backpack with active speakers built into the straps, connections for a phone headset and power and volume controls.

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Mint credit cards

The Mint Credit Card is a brand-new Mastercard credit card that's packed with all sorts of features. First of all, you don't pay any annual fees, unlike with most other credit cards. Your credit is interest-free up to 56 days; after that, there's an average 14.9% annual interest rate.
The card offer online account management, where you can view your balance and transactions, and mobile service. With the mobile service, you can view your balance and transaction on your cellphone using simple text messages. And like all credit cards, it comes with pin and chip security measures and online fraud protection. If you are interested, you can apply for a credit card online!

This is a sponsored post. See the disclosure policy for details.

Stuffed animal speakers

While these aren't exactly high-quality speakers, they sure are cute! They make a perfect gift for kids. The speakers cost between $10 and $15, with free shipping. And they are USB powered (they still connect to your audio port, they only draw power from the USB port).

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Slambango

You have probably seen something like this in a movie. Guys in a bar who down a shotglass in one gulp and smash the glass on the table with a loud bang. This game makes this even more fun, as it combines drinking, slamming glasses on the table and a bit of Russian roulette!
Here's how it works. The set contains six shotglasses, a pack of caps (like the ones used in toy guns) and a round board. One of the glasses is loaded with a cap, and then all of them are shuffled and placed on the board. They are filled with liquor and then each player downs the glass in front of him and slams it on the table. The one with the cap will produce a loud bang, indicating the loser! You can make up all sorts of games for this: placing bets, strip slambango, ...

Buy from The Gadget Hub

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Kittie pencil sharpener

To be honest, I don't know what to think about this. Personally, I think it's hilarious, but I can imagine other people may think it's sick and twisted. Whoever came up with this sure is! At first, people will think you just have a small cat figurine on your desk. Until you use it, that is. To make it even more bizarre, the cat will meow when you put a pencil in his butt.

I don't recommend putting this on your desk if you have to deal with potential customers, or at least not use it when talking to them.

Buy from Firebox

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Cheap basic server

This tiny computer houses a basic server for only $99. The system runs on a 333 Mhz AMD processor, has 128 megabytes of ram and a ten gig harddrive. It has a built-in VGA adapter, a modem, network interface and four USB ports.
This device isn't intended to be used as a web server, of course. It can be used as a file server in a small network or as a firewall. Speaking of firewalls, this computer is excellent for running Smooth Wall, a firewall that runs on a custom-build Linux OS. You just install the OS and the firewall software on the computer and you're ready to go! This requires two network connections, though, so you'll probably also need a USB ethernet adapter. Once installed, the firewall is accessed and cofigured through a web interface.

Source article on Technabob

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Action Camera footage

Yesterday I posted about the Action Camera and mentioned some cool things that popped in my mind. One of them was filming a rollercoaster ride and apparently, I wasn't the only one thinking about that! The people at Think Geek have made a short demo video with the Action Camera, including a rollercoaster ride!

Of course the video quality isn't exactly high definition, but it looks very acceptable. It's a lot better than most cellphone cameras!

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Action Camera

This camera is excellent for capturing spectacular action shots. Unlike traditional cameras, wich are hand-held, this one can be attached to whatever you want. Want to capture a downhill mountainbike ride? No problem, just mount it on the handlebar! Want to capture a bungee jump or skydive? Put it on your helmet! Perhaps you could even use it to film rollercoaster rides. Don't try taking a normal camera on a rollercoaster, because they won't let you, even if you duct tape it to your hand. Believe me!
The Action Camera has a 640x480 CMOS sensor and 32 megabytes of internal memory. An SD card will expand it up to 2 gigabytes. The camera has a USB port for downloading footage to your computer and an RCA connector to view videos directly on a tv.

Buy from Firebox

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Weekly tech & lifestyle blog

Since it's always fun to have something interesting to read after a week of hard work, A Cool Friday serves you all sorts of interesting, weird or plain and simply funny stories. They focus on technology, gadgets (mostly about the iPhone) and typical internet humor. Their latest article, "8 reasons why getting insurance isn't a bad idea, is really worth checking out.


This is a sponsored post. See the disclosure policy for details.

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Automatic bartender

For the rich bachelor who has everything (except this) or the bar owner who is too lazy to serve his customers himself, there's the Digital Beverages MyFountain.

The device holds twelve types of liquor, connects to a waterline and has a carbon dioxide cartridge. It has a touch screen, where you can select the drink you want. It can also be connected to a computer, so you can modify the menu or add your own recipes. It won't, however, do all sorts of fancy tricks with bottles and cocktail shakers.

Digital Beverages website

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PS3 Portable Display

This display turns the Playstation 3 into a giant PSP. Okay, it might not fit in your pocket, and it might be a bit on the heavy side (not to mention the batteries you'd need to run it), but it would be portable.

The display has a 7" diagonal and a 234x480 pixel resolution. Not exactly high definition of course. Perhaps this should belong in the category "What the hell were they thinking"?

Source article on Ubergizmo

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Sun Jar

During the day, this jar looks like any other ordinary glass jar, with perhaps the small difference that it's opaque. When darkness falls, the magic happens. Light that has been collected during the day will make this jar glow! No, it doesn't contain fireflies or a miniature star core. It contains... Well, I have no idea, but it's cool anyway. Three hours in the sun will make it glow for about five full hours. It produces a soft, eery glow, wich makes it excellent as a mood light.

Buy from Firebox

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Computer Travel Kit

This zip-up bag contains five essential on-the-road accessories for your laptop: a mini optical mouse with retractable cable, an earphone, a microphone, a miniature 4-port USB hub and a USB cellphone charger with adapters for five different brands of cellphones.

Exactly what you need when you travel a lot and need to use your computer!

Buy from The Gadgeter

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Butterfly CD player

A cd player can't possibly be any smaller than a cd, because then it wouldn't be able to hold the cd, right? Wrong! Check out this device. It plays MP3 files like any other portable audio player, but it has a feature that no other players share. It opens up like a butterly knife, turning it into a cd player!

The pictures clearly show how it works. The player consists of two parts, rotating around the display. When open, a cd can be inserted in it. The motor is located in the same part as the display, and the laser sensor is in one of the "butterfly wings". Nothing is mentioned about capacity, battery type and life and wether it can only play cd's or also rip them. Anyway, a truly unique gadget!

Source article on Gadget Reviews

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Halo 3 themed XBox 360

Microsoft is planning to make Halo 3 a true gaming milestone. They have already released a Halo 3 themed Zune media player (to be honest, I have never even seen a Zune in a store or know anyone who has one), now they have announced a Halo 3 XBox 360!
The console will sell for 399.99$ and include a green-and-gold finish, a matching controller, headset (also in matching colors), a Play & Charge kit and some other, undisclosed accessories. The console will also have an HDMI port for connecting it to a high definition TV set; a cable isn't included, though. It will be released in september.

Source article on Engadget

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Steelkeys 6G Keyboard

When it comes to expensive gaming keyboards, nothing beats Logitech and Razer. Now a third player is introduced: Steelkeys! Their new keyboard, the 6G, doesn't look very special at first. In fact, it looks like any other keyboard! No green light coming from under the keys, no LCD display, no special keys to record macros. Then what makes this keyboard stand apart? Quite simple: it's very though. Unlike other keyboard, this one can take a serious beating! No more smashed keyboards during deathmatches! Also, it has a much faster response time than the average keyboard, so multiple simultanious keystrokes are deciphered more accurately.

Source article on Ubergizmo

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Apple unveils new iMac

Rumors have been going around about this for quite a while now, and here it finally is: the new iMac. As predicted, it's made of aluminium, and the 17" model has been dropped, leaving only the 20" and 24" models.

The basic design has remained the same, but it has become a lot sleeker. Considering how compact it all is, it's basically a laptop converted to a desktop. To get an entire computer in such a small housing, they simply have to use laptop components; I can't imagine how it would otherwise be possible while still getting enough cooling.
It also has a new keyboard, and in my opinion, it's the most hideous keyboard I have ever seen. Apple doesn't seem to care wether it's ergonomic or user friendly, it just has to be different from the rest and stand apart. They tried that once by creating a mouse shaped like a hockey puck, and it failed miserably.

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NES Emulator on iPhone

A short time before the iPhone was released, an announcement was made that it wouldn't support third party applications, wich lead to disappointment among Apple fanboys. However, there are hackers who can get Linux to run on a toaster (not really, but it wouldn't surprise me). Would it be possible there are people who are able to put third party apps on the iPhone anyway?
Stupid question, of course. Everyone knew all along it was only a matter of time. Here's one piece of custom software for the thing: a NES Emulator! As you will see in the video, it's not quite finished. It runs slow and the controls suck. However, it's still quite impressive that this has been achieved in such a short time!



Source article on The Unofficial Apple Weblog

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Black Ghost Helicopter

Black helicopters. One of the most popular subjects in spy stories, conspiracy theories and predictable action movies. Now you can fly your very own black helicopter! Well, not the real thing of course, even though that would be the coolest thing ever, but a micro sized radio controlled one. But hey, the fact that it's small makes it even more stealthy!
This palm-sized helicopter is powered by an internal lithium battery and controlled with a short range infrared remote control. It's easy to fly and strong enough to withstand a crash. A single charge is enough for ten minutes of flying. Keep in mind that this helicopter is designed for indoor use!

Buy from Firebox

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Message Paperweight

Glass cubes with a message to keep the paperwork on your desk where it belongs: on a big, chaotic pile! Five different messages are available:

• Ctrl/Alt/Del
• Mr Big
• Nobody Understands Me
• Top Secret
• I Thrive On Chaos

Too bad you can't have them custom made with your own message...

Buy from The Gadget Hub

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Google Phone in 2008

Google has been developing phone prototypes for a while now and putting huge amounts of money it the project. Now, a decision is finally made. Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp is working on a Linux-based phone planned for release in early 2008. Google is already negotiating deals with mobile phone operators in Europe and the US. No technical details are known yet.

Source article on Gadget Spy

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Coupon Chief Offers

Within a few months, the holiday season will start again. Halloween, Thanksgiving (for US-based readers), Christmas, New Years Eve, ... Everybody will be shopping for gifts once again. To make this a bit less stressfull on your wallet, Coupon Chief has some great promo codes available!
Griffin offers a 5% discount on all iPhone accessories. Considering the hype for this thing, chances are someone in your family has one of these. Griffin sells cases, power adapters, car accessories and cables.
Dell offers impressive discounts on desktops and notebooks. The Inspirion 1721 notebook has a $259 discount; for the Dimension C521, a nice $350 discount is available! And besides computers, they also have a wireless router on sale!
The greatest deal, however, comes from Shop 4 Tech. They offer a 10% discount on everything, and that's quite a lot! Shop 4 Tech sells all kinds of electronics, storage media, accessories, printer supplies and games and accessories for all gaming consoles.



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Eternity II

You might wonder why this puzzle is called "Eternity II". First of all, it took almost that long to design it, and second, it will probably take that long to solve it. This is a difficult puzzle. And not just difficult, REALLY mind-bending difficult. In fact, it's so difficult the designers will give two million dollars to the first person who solves it!

In case this has made you drool, I point out again that this puzzle is incredibly difficult. On the bright side, there are many possible solutions (several thousands, out of a quadrillion possible patterns you can form) and it doesn't require a Stephen Hawking-like IQ to solve. The designers claim it's as likely to be solved by a five year old as by Stephen Hawking himself.

Buy from Firebox

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New LG smartphone

LG launched a new smartphone in Korea, the LG-KC1. It is compatible with Mobile Wimax, has a 2.8" touchscreen, a 2 megapixel camera, bluetooth, audio/video player, 512 megabytes of internal memory and a Micro SD card slot. It runs on Windows Mobile 5. So far, it's only available in Korea but a modified version is rumored to launch worldwide.

I can at least name one thing this phone has and the iPhone has not: expandable memory! Why don't other phones, that are often technologically superior to the iPhone and/or cheaper, get that kind of insane attention? When was the last time you saw people camping in front of a store to get the new Samsung phone?

Source article on Akihabara News

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Logitech announces G9 laser mouse

Logitech has announced a new gaming mouse, the G9 Laser Mouse. It has an adjustable resolution of 200 to 3200 dpi and a scroll wheel that can be switched to click mode. The color of the leds that light up the mouse can also be changed.

The mouse allows you to save up to five profiles in its internal memory, wich you can use without needing any drivers. It also has an interchangeable grip to customize the feel of the mouse, and weight cartridges can be added to change the weight. To make it glide smoothly across any surface, it has teflon glide pads on the bottom. The Logitech G9 will be available in september and cost $99.

Source article on Oh Gizmo

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Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon

Star Wars fans are in for a treat! Lego has announced the Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon, the biggest Lego set ever. Just take a look at it!

Words cannot describe how cool this is. The two coolest things ever, Lego and Star Wars, combined in a set that just oozes awesomeness! The finished set (wich has over 5000 pieces) is 90 cm long and built to scale of the minifigs, so you can actually put them in the cockpit! Of course, Star Wars minifigs are included (Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan).
The first production series includes a numbered certificate of authenticity. The sets will be available on october 1, but can already be preordered.

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