Wallet Flash Drive is ‘credit-card-thin’

I just hate losing those flash drives and buying a new one every month. I always wished to have a flash drive that could be carried in the wallet but still big enough not to be misplaced easily. Now here is something that would answer these concerns.

The 'credit-card-thin' wallet flash drive has been built by company named TopTech Products. This flash drive can be easily carried in your wallet as a normal plastic card. The dimensions are 3.4-inches x 2.1-inches x 0.11-inches.

The flash drive can store upto 4Gb of data and has support for USB 2.0 on Windows, Linux and Mac platforms. Availabe in five colours – clear, gray, orange, red and blue. At $24.99 I feel its good enough.

Wonder how much the iPhone 3G S really costs?

The new Apple 3G S costs just a few $$$ extra to Apple even after several upgrades from the iPhone 3G. iSuppli, the company known for tearing down gadgets and then estimating the cost of each component one at a time, has estimated the cost of new iPhone 3G S to be $179. Which means that the new iPhone costs Apple just $5 more than the iPhone 3G.

The 16GB iPhone 3G S costed $172.46 with a manufacturing cost of $6.50, making a total of $178.96 per handset. Though the cost given by iSuppli does not include other costs such as the cost to develop iPhone software, royalty paid, packaging & shipment, advertisements & promotions to name a few. However AT&T pays quite higher to Apple than $199 offered price tag offered to the customers. AT&T covers up the cost with the subscription cost and service revenues for the contract period.

"From a component and design perspective, there's also a great deal of similarity between the 3G and the 3G S," said Andrew Rassweiler, director and principal analyst, teardown services, for iSuppli. "By leveraging this commonality to optimize materials costs, and taking advantage of price erosion in the electronic component marketplace, Apple can provide a higher-performing product with more memory and features at only a slightly higher materials and manufacturing cost."

The new iPhone has double the memory than that of the iPhone 3G. Apple has also upgraded the camera to 3.2Mp and some additional components like the magnetometer for the inbuilt digital compass. Toshiba sells the most expensive part of the new iPhone 3G S, the NAND flash memory at $24. While the cheapest part comes form Cirrus Logic which is the Audio Codec.

Looking at the iPhone 3G S sales and the profit Apple makes via the ATT kickbacks, we should be buying AAPL

Cisco announces new Linux-powered router

Cisco is a well known name when it comes to networking devices and this time they have announced a new Linux-powered router known as the Linksys by Cisco Wireless-N Broadband Router with Storage Link (WRT160NL). This new model is actually the next generation WRT54GL that complements the existing Linksys by Cisco consumer router line-up. When you take a look at it, it actually closely resembles other Linksys by Cisco N-routers, although it does come with built-in connectors for external antennae. As for consumers who prefer external aerials, the new Linksys by Cisco router design also comes with integrated R-SMA antenna connectors. In addition, the integrated Storage Link functionality allows consumers to hook up their USB storage device to the router in order to create a powerful media sharing solution which makes room for video, photo and music sharing through the integrated media server.

The Storage Link port allows users to connect USB storage devices to the router, enabling other people connected to the network to share file items like music, video, or data files. The media server is able to stream to computers as well as other UPnP AV digital media adapters. In addition, the integrated Storage Link port will also support FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS file systems in both read and write mode. The two R-SMA antenna connectors were specially designed to enable tech savvy users to be more flexible in their antennae choice and placement.

The $119.99 WRT160NL router will feature the following system specifications :-

• Linux powered
• 802.11n draft 2.0 certified
• 400Mhz processor
• 8 Megabytes Flash memory
• 32 Megabytes DDRAM
• Storage Link port (USB 2.0)
• UPnP AV media server
• Wi-Fi protected Setup pushbutton security
• 2 x R-SMA antennae connectors

According to Aaron Marinari, senior product manager, Cisco Consumer Business Group, "In the past we have had many successful Linux powered devices with the WRT54GL and NSLU2 being great examples. The WRT160NL is the logical next step combining Linux, 802.11n technology and USB storage functionality. We see the WRT160NL as a possible successor of our WRT54GL as the market transitions to 802.11n - but then with storage functionality on top of that."

Lenovo ThinkPad T400s notebook

 

Lenovo has rolled out yet another new notebook for the masses known as the ThinkPad T400s. This model seems to eschew the best of Lenovo’s past products thanks to the designers from the Lenovo stable who have tried to make it even more intuitive than ever, leading to an improved overall computing experience. The main inspiration behind the T400s would be the ThinkPad X300 which is currently the thinnest and lightest notebook from Lenovo’s stable. Measuring a mere 0.83″ in thickness and tipping the scales at less than four pounds, the notebook manages to achieve its extremely skinny frame courtesy of its 14.1″ LED display, accompanied by a solid state drive and a second generation Top Cover Roll Cage. This unique roll cage is made out of similar material found in bicycle frames and airplanes - that is, monocoque carbon reinforced fiber. Not only does it help keep things lightweight, it also lets everything remain sturdy. The T400s is nearly 20% less in weight compared to the ThinkPad T400, as well as when compared to its rivals, the Dell E6400 and HP 6930P.

Features of the Lenovo ThinkPad T400s include :-

• Choices of Intel 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo processors (standard voltage) and graphics
• Choices of solid state drive storage up to 128 GB or 250 GB hard drive storage
• 9.5mm slim DVD burner or Blu-Ray player
• Ethernet, WiFi and optional WiMAX3, WWAN,3 Bluetooth and ultrawideband connectivity
• 34mm Express Card slot or 5-in-1 multimedia card reader
• Support for Lenovo’s ConstantConnect and Protect technology that allows users to maximize integration of their BlackBerry smartphone and ThinkPad laptop
• Nearly six hours of battery life
• Supports up to two monitors via a Display Port and VGA connector
• Meets the Energy Star 5.0 criteria for energy efficiency
• Built-in USB/eSATA port

The ThinkPad T400s notebook is now readily available from $1,599 upwards.

Sabre OLED gaming keyboard

Remember Art Lebedev's OLED keyboard that worked, albeit costing much more than what most of us are willing to pay for a fancy peripheral? Well, here's something similar albeit going for much less with a less impressive feature set, where only the numeric keys will feature OLED capability, while the rest of the keys are pretty much your run-of-the-mill stuff. Known as the OCZ Sabre, it comes with a layered shortcut system and blue LED sidelighting to make up for its shortcomings. While we do know that the Sabre is more than ready to ship, there is no word on a price tag just yet.

ColorWare takes in iPhone 3GS as well

ColorWare is a company that has long made a name for itself when it comes to making your favorite gadgets different from what commoners own. For example, instead of the usual black or white iPhone, why not let ColorWare splash a shade of your choice to stand out from the rest of the crowd? Apart from solid colors, you can choose from metallic colors as well. Owners of the new iPhone 3GS can also get their handsets done up by ColorWare at the moment, although ColorWare themselves won't be offering the iPhone 3GS at this moment. Depending on your budget, you can just change the back-plate of the handset for $150, although there is the option to throw in another $20 and change the bezel frame and button or $15 each for the SIM holder as well as earbuds.

Toshiba offers next generation of portable hard drives

The portable storage industry for computers has a fair number of players in the market, and Toshiba is among one of the more notable names. This time round, the Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD) has introduced its latest next generation USB 2.0 portable hard drive that not only totes your data, but it helps keep them safe and sound thanks to a complete system backup, password-protected encryption for added security and enhanced software features. For folks who want a worry-free non-enterprise, comprehensive and easy-to-use solution for their precious data, they won't go wrong with Toshiba's latest offerings.

Each of these new brightly colored easy-to-use portable hard drives from Toshiba help do away with the complexity of computer backup, thanks software specifically written for both Windows and Mac environments. Windows users will be pleased to know that Toshiba is the first storage manufacturer who has thrown in the NTI BackupNow EZ software that enables users to perform a complete system backup with but a click of the mouse button. In addition, should anything untoward happen to your data, the NTI BackupNow EZ allows the user to restore the complete system. Yes, this works as well even if Windows is unable to start. Not only that, the software is able to scan a user's system and provide personalized recommendations on the best coverage for files, folders and the entire computer just in case one doesn't know where to start.

As for those who are loyal to the Mac platform, Toshiba's new backup drives will be equipped with NTI Shadow 4 for Mac, allowing users easy identification of files and folders to back up, alongside the selection of a convenient schedule for storage. Apart from that, Toshiba's external hard drives can also play nice with Apple's Time Machine right out of the box. You can choose from 320GB and 500GB capacities that will retail for $119.99 and $149.99, respectively.

Gateway rolls out LT3100 netbook

Another day, another netbook arrives on the scene. Gone are the heady days where the first Eee PC 700 rolled out with much fanfare - these days, anyone and everyone is jumping aboard the netbook bandwagon and to no surprise - sales of this particular market has been extremely encouraging to say the least, and it doesn't look set to decline anytime soon, so why not? Gateway is another computer manufacturer who has dived into the netbook market with the LT3100 being their latest addition to their stable. This will be the first 11.6″ netbook from them that is powered by an AMD Athlon processor, tipping the scales are a weightier 3.14 pounds while measuring no more than an inch thick. The sleek and compact design adopted by the Gateway LT3100 allows you to bring it just about anywhere without having the fashion police chase you down.

For those who do not yet have an unlimited data plan and an EV-DO USB modem, fret not as the Gateway LT3100 helps you remain connected at all times thanks to its Wi-Fi capability, although it doesn't support 802.11n, it does handle Wi-Fi 802.11b/g pretty well, enabling you to keep in touch with family and friends through a variety of methods including emails, updates on social networks and online entertainment. What makes the Gateway LT3100 outstanding is its Ultrabright high-definition widescreen display that measures 11.6″ across diagonally, making you scroll less as it packs in more line across the cross section each time you open up a document. After all, it also crams in a 16:9 aspect ratio that is entertainment friendly, packing in 1,366 x 768 (WXGA) pixel resolution for incredibly clear and crisp images. Not only that, the larger display sizes makes room for a full-size keyboard within that makes typing a whole lot easier.

Surprisingly enough, Gateway has priced their LT3100 at a mere $399.99, where each purchase comes with a one-year warranty, preinstalled Microsoft Works with Office Home and Student 2007 Trial, Gateway Recovery Management, Adobe Reader, and Norton Internet Security 2009 Trial software.

USB Airplane Hub with built-in fan

This is now at the top of the list of my favorite combination gadgets.  Not only does it make an adorable USB hub, but the propeller also doubles as a fan.  All of the devices worked into the plane just look like a normal part of it.  Instead of the ports looking out of place, they look like they belong there.  Plus when your office is getting just a little too hot you can flip on the propellers and cool yourself off.

As you can probably already see, there are 4 different ports for your various USB devices.  The fan itself has an on/off switch and features soft blades for safety reasons.  When you actually plug it into your computer's USB port it will for 5 seconds make a flying-off sound effect.  Just be forewarned, if you play the video on the seller's website that demonstrates the sound effect, make sure your volume is turned down.  The plane comes in the white you see here or you can pick it up in silver instead.    You can purchase it for $14 from Gadget4all.

Belkin’s Series of Comfort Mice

Typically when you go to grab for a portable mouse to use with your laptop, you're staring down a very miniature item.  Even before grabbing it you know the hand cramp that is bound to follow if you have to use it for very long.  However, it's better than nothing, so you tolerate it and grumble throughout your tasks on your laptop.  Even if you have gotten used to the discomfort, afterwards your hand usually looks the slightest bit deformed from trying to grip the tiny mouse.  Well Belkin has released a mouse that's supposed to be quite a bit more comfortable.

Their series of Comfort Mice are at least making an attempt to get things going in the right direction.  These come in a few different versions, one is completely wireless, another uses Bluetooth and the last has a retractable cable.  With that many options you're far more likely to find something that fits your needs well.  The retractable mouse is $20, the wireless is $30 and the most expensive of the three, Bluetooth, is priced at $50.

Pentax Optio W80

Sure, digital cameras are very common, and unless some company has a camera that really stands out in some way, there is very little that distinguishes one digital camera from the other.

I suppose the "standout" feature on Pentax's Optio W80 is that is one bad mother…shut my mouth! I'm just talking about the Optio W80! Then you should dig it, because the W80 is "shockproof".

How shockproof? Well, this 12 Megapixel camera can withstand a drop of 3.3 feet, and can go underwater for 16 feet for up to two hours. It can also work in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other specs include a 5x internal lens and it is a wide angle at 28mm. And since no digital camera can just shoot stills these days, the W80 is no exception as it records 720p at 30 frames per second. It also features face, smile, and blink detection, as well as auto scene recognition. The Optical image stabilization is Pentax's digital Pixel Track SR. Very nice.

The Pentax Optio W80 should be available in July for about $300 in colors of Cardinal Red, Azure Blue, and Gunmetal Gray. The company is also offering a custom designed protective skin for $16.95 and a floating wrist strap for $19.95.

The iJector projects iPod and iPhone video

Projectors are getting pretty popular these days amongst businesses and consumers, and we are still not to the point where all of us can have a projector on our cellular phone for our video footage.

I suppose this is why the iJector was invented. All the user needs to do is stick their iPhone or iPod on the dock, and you can project them at a great brightness at up to 50 inch diagonal. The resolution has a low resolution at about 557 x 234.

It weighs in at about 120 grams and has dimensions of 195×145x96mm. The brightness level is at 20 lumens, and the lamp can stand about 30,000 hours.

The iJector is one of those "made for iPod" products that should work for most iPod products, and is compatible with the following:

iPod nano generation 1
iPod nano generation 2
iPod nano generation 3
iPod video generation 5 30 GB
iPod video generation 5 50 GB
iPod Classic 80GB
iPod Classic 160GB
iPod touch 8GB
iPod touch 16GB
iPod touch 32GB
iPhone 3.0

Suspiciously absent from this bulleted list is the iPhone 3GS. Uh-oh.

The iJector is a licensed Apple product and costs $700. It looks like it will be available in Japan only, on July 17.

The Wireless Bathroom Speaker

If  you're not fond of the cases that although do protect your iPod in the shower, it still requires that your iPod be near water, you might like this wireless idea.  With this you can have your music playing in the shower, all the while your iPod is tucked safely away somewhere nice and dry.  Plus for the guys there's a fogless mirror so you can shave in the shower.   Just mount it to the shower wall and you'll have an endless supply of music, well at least until the batteries die.

In addition to being able to play music from your iPod, it also has an FM radio.  Which offers you a little more versatility if your iPod doesn't have enough music on it for your tastes.  While you're in the shower you can also keep track of the time since there is an LCD clock.  One down side is that having this in the bathroom means anyone can have music in the shower.  Even those that sing painfully off key.  You can purchase the Wireless Bathroom Speaker for £24.95 or about $40.

Lightlane Improves Bike Safety

As someone who used to bike a lot, I can tell you that it is dangerous to be out on the road. If you have ever been out there, then you know how out of place bikers feel when massive automobiles are passing on the left, and especially when they honk their horn.

The Lightlane is designed to create a bike lane where there isn't any. It's a pretty simple concept that uses two high visibility Diode Pumped Solid State green lasers to make a bike path on the street as the biker rides.

So now a driver can see the path projected, and, unless he or she looks too close, will treat it like at actual bike lane. Hopefully they will respond properly, and not honk their horn. Yes, I have a personal beef against drivers who honk their horn at bikers for no apparent reason. It scares the crap out of me!

The Lightlane was originally a concept device. (Of course, what device isn't a concept, seriously.) But it appears that the inventors have figured out how to mass-market it. However, I would like to see how it is put on the bike. I mean, is it on the frame?

I wish my source had more to say about this particular product, like a price or availability date.

Portable Pizza Oven a great option for the RV crowd but please, not while in Rush Hour

The Porta Pizza Oven. Great for RVs, bad for rush hour

If I had an RV or camper and was looking to bake a pizza or cake while camping, the Portable Pizza Oven might possibly be a good option to add to my camping gear. But if I was stuck in rush hour and was a tad hungry, using this while driving would be a recipe … for disaster.

The Porta Pizza Oven plugs into the 12 volt cigarette lighter receptacle. It has heating elements above and below for all around cooking and can handle a small cake pan or pizza. It folds out like a typical toaster oven and has two settings - high and low - for cooking and warming up.

As I said, if you're looking for something to free up some plug space on your portable generator, and have spare counter space on your RV counter or camper, this could be a good option - just make sure you start up the engine from time to time to keep from killing the battery.

But if you're looking for a hot food option while your commuting to work on the freeway, you may find that this oven turns your vehicle into a car-be-que by sitting on the passenger seat while operating.

Cost is $36.00 from Stupidoholic. http://www.stupidiotic.com/product_info.php?cPath=9_15&products_id=193

Hat Tip - D'Vice http://dvice.com/archives/2009/06/theres-no-way-t.php

Sailboat uses kite power to move on land and in water

Harnessing the power of the wind to travel is nothing new. America was discovered thanks to it, goods travelled all over the world for eons as a result of it, there's even a super bowl of sailing in the world's oldest athletic competition (the America's Cup) which couldn't happen as a result of the wind. And cargo ships are even considering using giant kites to travel on the wind as a green way to cut costs and save the environment while sailing the seas. So it's nothing new. But toss in the ability to travel from the road straight into the ocean on the wind, and suddenly the "coolness factor" asserts itself. Especially when you can see an opening scene of a new Bond movie in it's future.

Called The Sea Quad, this sailboat (actually more catamaran) is more kite powered than sail, although an easy moment of riising a small mast is certainly a design option. But the main mode of propulsion for the Quad is kite power. Check out the cool video:

A bar is connected to the kite flying in the winds above, and the pilot maneuvers by tacking the kite into the wind. It can also be powered by conventional sail mast. But it's not cheap, as the sticker is just south of $14,000. Takes up to two passengers.

User learns the S in iPhone 3Gs stands for “sink”

An iPhone user proves it's not the "Jesus phone" after all by dropping it in the pool!

Hat Tip to Crave for this YouTube link of a user videotaping poolside using his iPhone 3Gs. He suddenly drops it and into the drink it goes. But here's the amazing part. It continues to video tape while in the water and according to C'Net, two days after dropping it into the pool, IT STILL WORKS.

The iPhone comes with a 3 MP video/still camera with autofocus. Now, obviously, since it sunk like the proverbial rock, rather thank walk on water, it simply can't be called the "Jesus phone" anymore. But considering that the phone continued to record while sinking to the bottom of the pool (including some uber cool underwater sound effects) and even works after the owner dove in and retrieved it (witness his comment "crap! it still works!), and days later it's still working, it's pretty amazing and shows how well these phones are put together, especially when it isn't rated as being water proof.

Only time will tell if corrosion doesn't set in and brick his iPhone. But if it doesn't, this is a Timex moment to be sure.

Jailbreak iPhone 3GS with 24Kpwn Exploit [Coming Soon]

iPhone 3GS Jailbreak software might be just around the corner, as we've just got to know about the 24Kpwn exploit in iPhone 3GS due to which  jailbreak of iPod Touch 2G was made possible still resides in the bootrom of iPhone 3GS. iPhone 3G and iPod Touch 2G 0S 3.0 jailbreaks are already available and working great.

Redsn0w for iPhone 3GS ?

Now when the exploit is known Dev Team would definitely come up with the tethered/untethered jailbreak of iPhone 3GS via Redsn0w and that will be soon. For those who are looking for unlocking the new iPhone 3GS after the jailbreak is made available, Dev Team has confirmed that ultrasn0w unlocking tool can be used with the new iPhone 3GS.

Nokia N97’s India Pricing Revealed, Stock Arrives

Our sources confirm that the Nokia N97 has started to flow into the markets (India) and the pricing is currently at a premium owing to stock/supply shortages. While the official MRP is over Rs 36000, you can hunt for a deal at Rs 35400 locally (we tried Mumbai). Though waiting a little would reward you with a hefty discount with the pricing expected to go around the Rs 32000 mark soon.

So if you are itching to buy a Nokia N97 in India and still looking to save a few $$, we suggest that you hold on for a while.

Seagate releases new FreeAgent storage solutions for Macs

Mac users are not left out in the latest round of product releases from Seagate as the company has lined up an advanced range of mobile and desktop FreeAgent for Mac storage solutions and accessories, and they are the FreeAgent Go for Mac with USB, FreeAgent Go Pro for Mac, the 2TB FreeAgent Desk for Mac and FreeAgent Go Dock+, a powered USB hub and dock for the FreeAgent Go, where we'll all take a look at it in further detail right after the jump. This comprehensive storage toolkit solution for creative professionals of today will not only offer capacity improvements but performance enhancements as well to help store, record, protect and share creative inspirations. All of the Seagate FreeAgent for Mac solutions will be available formatted as HSF+ for Mac OS X and are Time Machine ready for added convenience.

FreeAgent Go Drive for Mac
The new Seagate FreeAgent Go for Mac storage solution is a USB 2.0. Seagate FreeAgent Go Drive for Mac is available this month for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $99.99 USD for 250GB, $119.99 USD for 320GB and and $149.99 for 500GB.

FreeAgent Go Pro for Mac Drive
The Seagate FreeAgent Go Pro for Mac storage solution is slim, compact and offers fast throughput with FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 connections and includes the required cables and dock. The Seagate FreeAgent Go Pro for Mac is available this month for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $129.99 USD for 250GB, $149.99 USD for 320GB and $189.99 for 500GB.

FreeAgent Go Dock+
The Seagate FreeAgent Go Dock+ includes three available USB ports to act as a USB hub. The included protective case keeps the FreeAgent Go drive safe while on the road. FreeAgent Go Dock is available immediately for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $39.99 USD.

FreeAgent Desk Drive for Mac 2TB
The high-capacity FreeAgent Desk drive for Mac 2TB features a brushed aluminum arctic silver finish that is a perfect match for the current iMac Desktop. With a FireWire 800/400 connection, the FreeAgent Desk for Mac 2TB is now available for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $339.99 USD for 2TB.

Have you drawn up your shopping list yet?