Ed Sutherland - page 83

Here’s one of those ‘lifeboat’ questions: you’re on a snowy mountain, the rescue ‘copter is 8 eight hours away and your iPod runs out of juice. Do you a: listen to the whistling wind and stay toasty warm inside a heated jacket or b: hotwire your jacket to power your ‘pod? That may be the situation if you purchase the Refugium Jacket from Mountain Hardwear.

The $375 jacket claims to keep you toasty warm for 8.6 hours using Ardica’s 10-watt power source located in the coat’s shell near a person’s shoulder blades. The heat can be adjusted (there are three settings) by pressing a tab near the chest.

But for CoM readers, here’s the real feature: a USB adapter can re-route the energy used to heat the jacket to an iPod. Of course, it’ll cost you $50 extra to contemplate whether listening to your favorite tune really is to-die.

[Via Product and Gizmodo]

We’re on the home stretch, feeling the last rays of Summer and preparing for the inevitable ‘frost on the pumpkin’ (for non-U.S. readers a quick trip to Wikipedia might be in order) marking October. Meanwhile, we dwell indoors, warmed by the heat generated by our Macs and thoughts of even more gadget deals. This week kicks off with a dual dock from Gigaware to juice up both your iPod and iPhone, a faux leather case from Kroo if the PETA folks come knocking at your door and a pair of “digital performance” glasses which we take as just cool-looking computer specs.

Details on these and other bargains can be found after the jump at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page.

If you’ve developed migraines attempting to navigate Apple’s oh-too-cute one-button iPod Shuffle interface while fuming over the controls on the iPod’s proprietary headphones, we might have your answer: the Tapstick.

The $30 Tapstick is a double-whammy. Not only does the device return your buttons for play, pause, skip, navigate and the VoiceOver feature, the accessory from Scosche plugs into any headset.

Although minimalism is hot – witness the iPhone’s sleek design – carried to its natural conclusion brings us form over function with the Shuffle a prime example. While reviving a few buttons may seem like a small move in the right direction, it should save many Shuffles from being relegated to the spare change drawers and unused gadget box.

[Via Product and Gadget Lab]

If Apple was in the paper business and Cupertino was in charge of designing the ubiquitous notepad, the result might have been similar to an Australian’s play on the fascination with everything ‘pod’. The ‘Notepod,’ which the cheeky makers – Inventive Labs – describes as “in a form reminiscent of a popular smart phone,” costs $17.95.

The circumspect description isn’t without reason. Apple is notoriously lawsuit-happy. Although, the 100-page Notepod can’t run apps or sync with iTunes, besides the gridded pages and the cardboard covers it does bear a striking physical resemblance to the iPhone.

Despite (or because of) a potential lawsuit, the people behind the Notepod have a ready market of iPhone owners looking for just the perfect low-tech companion product.

[Via Product and Gadget Lab]

Want to hear some news even more shocking than Microsoft’s supposed me-too tablet? This tidbit should surely knock you back on your heels – there’s another case out for the iPhone. That’s right, it’s Friday and we have the weekend gadget roundup, including more deals on Time Capsules and Apple TVs.

For details on these and other Apple bargains (like a 17″ laptop sleeve), check out CoM’s Daily Deals page.

Wacom today introduced a version of its Bamboo tablets with the familiar gesture and multi-touch features of the iPhone. Along with the traditional touch-sensitive pen, the tablets recognize nine gestures, including select and drag, double-click and navigate.

There are two version of the Bamboo: a Pen option is $70, while the Pen & Touch tablet is $100. The tablets have a 5.8 x 3.6-inch touch-sensitive area.

The Bamboo is bundled with Adobe’s Elements, which costs $80 by itself.

[Via Wacom and Gadget Lab]

How far can marketers ride on the iPhone’s coattails? Quite a distance, if MovieWedge is any gauge. Marketed as the “best iPhone, iPod and portable media device holder/stand in the world!”, the $10 patent-pending product bears a striking resemblance to a 98-cent bean bag. But there has to be more to it, right? Well, yes – more marketing-speak.

The MovieWedge’s features include:

The company includes links to favorable press, including CrunchGear: “this is such a good idea.” What is more interesting is the reviews were written in March and mentioned MovieWedge would be available any day. Why the delay?

Nearly six months later, the second-coming of MovieWedge is appearing.

“It’s probably a little chunky for the minimalist traveler, but we like it anyway,” wrote Gadget Lab’s Charlie Sorrel. The Wired site noted MovieWedge offers a “plush lip” for devices plus that micro-fiber material that’s perfect to “quickly polish away greasy smears from grubby thumbs.”

But $10 to wipe your hands? “But, it’s a bean bag with branding,” noted Giz.

[Via Company Page, Gadget Lab and Gizmodo]

Now that Apple has released a new version of its iPod touch, the floodgate of first- and second-generation units offer some good bargains. Today, we include two options – refurbished touch’s from the Apple Store and a MacMall deal. Weather you’re into leather or metal, we have an iPod/iPhone case for you. Plus, in our drive to offer you choices, today’s other lead-off hitters give you two discounts on Mac hardware or screen protectors.

For details on these and other products (like a portable solar charger), check out CoM’s Daily Deals page.

Turn at the right corner. Look behind you. Is that TomTom in the rear-view mirror?

Those probably aren’t instructions most of us will hear from our GPS units, but they might have been in the minds of Kensington when it released a “cost-effective” alternative to competing systems. The windshield or vent car mount also “acoustically increases speaker volume without additional battery drain on the iPhone,” the company claimed Wednesday.

The mount is placed either on an auto’s windshield or in a vent. How can volume increase without using any power? The keyword in the last paragraph may be “acoustically.” We’ve all experienced the great acoustics in a tiled bathroom or the cathedral ceilings of a church. Maybe Kensington’s discovered an electronic voice bounce better when backed by a windshield or a hollow vent? Who know, no details were provided.

But what is evident is that Kensington is taking a slap at TomTom. In August, the FCC released photos of TomTom’s Car Kit, including a GPS mount that can reportedly be positioned either vertically or horizontally . The kit also includes a SIRFstar GPS chipset and Bluetooth.

Kensington’s acoustically updated GPS mount goes on sale in November, including at all Apple stores.

[Via iClarified and Kensington]

There are a number of ways to bring your iPod or iPhone along for the ride, but playing tunes in your auto usually requires an FM link with iffy quality. Griffin Technology, however, smooths out the bumps by teaming its iTrip audio hardware with a retro interface thanks to a bit of free software from the App Store.

To get past the problem of finding a transmission-free FM frequency, the iTrip ($50) scans for the best signal, then automatically sends your iPhone or iPod to the spot. The iTrip also features an LCD display for the current frequency, plus will offer in-dash readouts of the current track for cars with RDS (Radio Data Systems). RDS-capable autos can receive inaudible information (such as traffic reports) alongside FM content sent by RDS broadcasts. The iTrip is rounded out with a mini USB port that can connect to your iPhone, making on-the-go recharging a snap.

Along with the hardware, Griffin is offering a free iPhone application, complete with a display of a large retro-style dial for precise tuning.

Griffin isn’t alone in the FM iPhone market. Belkin also offers its TuneBase FM product.

[Via Griffin and Gadget Lab]

If you’ve wanted a MacBook for so long, but have held off waiting for the right moment, wait no longer, because we lead off today’s caravan of Apple bargains with deals on MacBooks, MacBook Airs and two offers on MacBook Pro laptops. Of coursem no hardware extravaganza would be complete without a deal of Time Capsules.

For details on these and other items (such as the Gogo iPod and iPhone case), check out CoM’s Daily Deals page.

Remember when wearable computers were all the rage? Well, we’ve come far from the days of geeky head-mounted displays and backpacks stuffed with electronics. Killa is a Vancouver-based interactive apparel firm that specializes in turning the common into wearable consumer electronics. In 2008, for instance, the company introduced a line of coats, including a pea coat, that had iPod controls sew into the sleeve. Now Killa is remaking the ordinary World War II satchel.

The bags, the first in the Killa Vintage series, are actual World War II items from Germany – with a bit of updating. Touch pad controls connect to your iPod via Bluetooth. Also, the bags include a solar panel from Germany’s Solarc. Along with a unique upgrade of 50 year military gear is how and where the solar iPod bags can be purchased. First, sales are limited to 20 per year and only to buyers able to visit Killa’s Vancouver store.

Now solar backpacks for iPods aren’t new – a number of companies offer them, including O’Neill Europe, Voltaic Systems and others.

The scenario is familiar: you’re rockin’ out to your favorite tunes and you have to answer a phone or converse with someone, requiring you to pause the iPod, remove an earbud, then the reverse to get back to the music. Apple took a stab at easing this annoyance by including a pause and volume switch on the earphone’s cord. However, Sony Ericsson has come along with an even more intuitive solution: motion-sensitive earbuds.

The MH907 ($55) automatically pauses music when one earbud is removed, restarting when the SenseMe technology detects human contact. The technology sounds fantastic, except it requires Sony Ericcson’s fast port connector, currently not available for the iPhone.

[Via Gadget Lab]

It’s fall in the U.S., the leaves are beginning to turn color, but the deals keep coming. Today we highlight hardware, software and a discount duo for iPod touch owners. Apple is selling MacBooks starting at $849, while iPhone owners can grab Spore Origins for just a buck. Meanwhile, you can take a stroll through Mac hardware history with deals on early iMacs, PowerBooks and more.

For details on these and other products, check out CoM’s Daily Deals page.

Okay, at first the idea of using your iPhone while biking makes about as much sense as gabbing away on your phone while behind an auto’s steering wheel. But if risk is your middle name and you need your touch-screen on your handlebars, Dahon has just the ticket. The company’s BioLogic iPhone bike case is both waterproof (includes touch-sensitive membrane) and shock-proof. The case also pivots 360-degrees, permitting an on-bike experience in either landscape or portrait mode.

The BioLogic iPhone case ($60, January) can be teamed with Dahon’s ReeCharge system that provides juice for your gadget via the bike’s generator.

[Via Bikehugger and Gadget Lab]

Monday’s are confusing enough without your iPod and your iPhone running on empty – now comes the perfect solution: a dock that will charge both your tunes and your talkie at the same time. It is always a good idea to have a spare iPhone battery, just in case you are away from your charger – we have a deal on a 100mAh external battery (and it’s in black, too). Finally, our opening trio includes a 15% off deal on Mac gear with no minimum purchase.

For details on these and other bargains (such as a wireless USB kit), check out CoM’s Daily Deals page.

When news appeared of a iPhone holster that also gave Apple’s sleek design a bulky BlackBerry keyboard, the gadget press was beside itself with indignation. “iTwinge Is the Stupidest iPhone Accessory Of All Time, Ever,” roared Gizmodo Wednesday.

How opinions change in just two days and a bit of viral video. That YouTube clip from gadget’s maker “Makes Me Cringe a Little Less,” is Giz’s revised opinion on the iTwinge.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of interest (Positive and negative) in the iTwinge,” Michael Nykoluk, Partner in Mobile Mechatronics, told CoM by email. The company reports it will have “limited preproduction quantities available” the week of October 5th.

To answer some of those negative reviews, Mechatronics released a YouTube video Thursday showing the iTwinge in action and listing some of its benefits, including fewer typos due to the $30 gadget’s physical keyboard.

[Via Mechatronics and Gizmodo]

If you are a parent you know the drill for the iPod Generation: turn that down before you lose your hearing, inserting the required cautionary tales of sitting too close to the speakers at a Stones concert. The usual reaction: “What did you say?” (lifting one headphone cups.) Well, Griffin Technology was speaking to the choir when it introduced MyPhones, their new volume-limiting headphones for children.

Key to MyPhones is the 85db limit, the maximum the $39.99 headphones permit. The 85db number is the threshold for safe listening; above 85db and your hearing will be damaged, according to the Academy of Pediatrics and other safety experts. “Parents can rest easy, knowing that their kids’ hearing is not compromised,” Griffin Technology founder and CEO Paul Griffin announced.

Along with over-the-ear rather than in-the-ear design, the new headphones also offer soft rubber ear cushions and an adjustable band. But the addition that may be most embraced is the heavy-duty cable for what Griffin calls “a traditionally weak link in headphone design for kids.” I prefer to call it the saving parents big bucks option. Headphone cords are not simply conduits for wiring, but a hanger, a pulley, and a dangler for the attached device.

MyPhones also speaks the creative side of kids. Headphone owners can replace the inserts with designs created by other children by going to the www.myphoneskids.com site.

[Via Griffin]

We end the week with a trio of top Apple gadgets: MacBook Pro laptops complete with AppleCare, Griffin’s TuneFlex iPod Dock for in the car, and special App Store download deal for “Secret of Monkey Island.”

For details on these and other bargains (such as Jabra’s “Dog Tag” Bluetooth Eardset), check out CoM’s “Daily Deals Page.

Tired of wrapping your iPhone in titanium? Looking for something a bit more ‘real’ when it comes to cases? Well, you can’t get more ordinary than some cardboard and a Sharpie-looking typeface. That’s the concept behind Case-Mate’s “recession case.”

“The recession case lets you keep cash in your pocket without sacrificing on unique design for your beloved iPhone,” the company announced. The case costs $0.99 individually or a “bailout bundle”of 10 cardboard cases for $7.99.

At least it’s not shocking pink. That was my first reaction to the Pentax K-x, the updated big brother to the K2000. Maybe Pentax thought the K-x would be lost in a sea of competing black-hued cameras. Maybe the company is taking a cue from Apple, with its rainbow of iPods. Whatever the reason, once you get beyond the color issue (there are also navy blue and traditional black versions) the device does sport some interesting features.

The K-x offers photographers a 12.4 megapixel chip with a shutter firing up to 24 frames-per-second. Along with face-recognition and other usual suspects, the K-x will also shoot 720p HD video, an ability not often seen on still cameras.

We lead today’s parade of Apple bargains with a MacBook Pro laptops starting at $780. AT&T again has sales on refurbished iPhone 3Gs, starting at $49. Also, MacMall has a 75 percen blowout on Apple software and accessories.

For details on these and other items (like Apple Final Cut Express HD), check out CoM’s “Daily Deals” page.

We start today’s review of Apple bargains with white 13.3-inch Core 2 MacBooks for $599. After yesterday’s $600 dock/stereo on steroids from Bose, we get back to basics with a simple dock with remote control. Rounding out the day’s top three deals: a 17-inch MacBook Pro for $1,999.

For details on these and other items (like the 60 percent off deal on iPod and iPhone accessories), check out CoM’s “Daily Deals” page.

At what point does a dock become something more than a simple way shuttle tunes or recharge? If you’re Bose, the speaker people, you attach a stereo and a $600 price tag. The SoundDock 10 weighs in at 19 pounds and 10-inches.

“Bose SoundDock 10 sits a few notches above any of its stablemates,” according to Gizmodo. Although wireless, you’ll want to find a permanent spot for the SoundDock. A Bose engineer hinted at its size, describing the unit as “transportable,” as in a Chihuahua is portable; a St. Bernard is transportable.

If you’re still looking for a deal on previous-generation iPod nanos, the Apple Store is making way for the latest versions of the popular MP3 player. Apple also has MacBook Pro laptops starting at $999 and MacBook Airs for $1,099.

For details on these bargains and more (like the NanShield), check out CoM’s Daily Deals page.