Ion iType gives your iPhone a full QWERTY

Ion, the popular manufacturer of iPhone accessories has recently launched their new product – iType which is a full QWERTY keyboard gadget that transforms the iPhone into a much more convenient to use mini computer. This is great for those who text and email alot while on the go with their iPhone.

There are some downsides though. Since Apple won’t allow the use of external accessories to act as input for the iPhone interface, you won’t be able to type emails just by tapping on Mail as it won’t recognise keystrokes from the iType as simple as that. You must use Ion’s iType application to write everything you want, and afterwards send the content via email or do a normal copy/paste to another application.

In addition, as you can see the iType is a near full size keyboard, which means carrying this around with you won’t be so portable afterall!

Rumours at the moment suggests the Ion iType will be approximately $100 / £70.

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Sony Ericsson HBH-GV435 Bluetooth Headset - DPY 901537/2

Clear Digital Sound and lasting comfort The sound and design features of the HBH-GV435 allow you to wear the headset at all times. Whether you are in a busy office or a loud factory, this headset makes sure that you can hear your caller loud and clear and that you can be heard too. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) makes the sound crisper and clearer. Fast automatic volume adjustment makes the required change to the volume depending on the situation, while Bluetooth 2.0 guarantees the best and most stable link to your phone possible. Optimal ergonomics If you have a working day filled with phone calls, this is the ultimate Bluetooth headset. The new discreet design hides snugly around your ear without a visible boom, leaving your ear canal uncovered so that you can talk clearly to people face-to-face as well as via your handset. Easy to put on, it is so comfortable that you might forget that you are wearing a headset at all. Keeps its promises Even through prolonged use of HBH-GV435, you won't be caught short with up to 8 hours talk time and up to 300 hours standby time. The headset facilitates Auto pairing and redialing, exploiting the latest technology to make using HBH-GV435 is easy and secure.

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GrandTec GLW-1000 Virtually Indestructible Keyboard

The Virtually Indestructible Keyboard, a silicon-based flexible computer keyboard, features a unique combination of durability and soft, comfortable feel. The washable, “roll-able” keyboard has been called “the best thing to happen to typing since the backspace key.”

The VIK combines state-of-the-art technology with practical design to produce the perfect keyboard. The unique layout offers quick, reflexive typing action that is not only silent, but also more comfortable than standard hard plastic keyboards. The “flat-out” design eliminates negative-angle wrist stress, an unfortunate and impractical holdover from the archaic days of manual typewriters.

The silicon-based material is impervious to most anything including water, coffee and cleaning solutions. From the classroom to the factory floor, the Virtually Indestructible Keyboard is poised to revolutionize how the world types.

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Sony SNC-RZ30N IP Network Color Camera (NTSC) with Integrated Pan/Tilt/Zoom

Combining network functionality with Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) capability, the SNC-RZ30N camera takes remote monitoring and general IT applications to the next step by offering the flexibility to see almost anything within the camera's range and field-of-view over an ordinary TCP/IP network. By simply using a popular web browser like Microsoft Internet Explorer, images and the PTZ movement of the SNC-RZ30N camera can be controlled using a PC at any location and at any time without the need for any additional software or plug-ins. In addition, installation and operation of the SNC-RZ30N camera is easy thanks to its browser based set-up menu and user-friendly GUI (Graphic User Interface). The versatile and flexible SNC-RZ30N is packed with incredible features and comes in a sleek, compact and lightweight design that can be ceiling mounted or placed on a flat surface. The SNC-RZ30N is an ideal choice for virtually any IP remote monitoring application!

Features and Benefits:

• 25x Optical Zoom Capability
• High-resolution CCD sensor
• Built-in PCMCIA card slots
• Analog composite video output connector
• High quality image/selectable parameters
• Image transfer using FTP/SMTP
• Activity Detection/Alarm Trigger
• Analog Composite Video Output
• RS-232C/485 Transparency Interface
• Simultaneous Access
• Network Security-IP Filtering
• Network Security- Password Protection
  

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Me Too Gadget: The Stix Brings Motion Controls To the PC

Continuing in the grand tradition of shameless gadget imitation for the benefit of the consumer public, manufacturer GoLive2 has come up with the latest version of the Wii-mote: The motion-sensing Stix, for the PC.

The wireless GoLive2 Stix are 'touch sensitive' controls that will be compatible with hundreds of PC games, and will be conveniently offered at their own game portal, Sphere. The company will also support third party and independent game developers and help them adapt their games to the Stix scheme.

Oddly, there will be three different types of Styx with increasing levels of features, the Stix 200, the 400 and the 100. (Did they not learn anything from the Vista potpourri feature-set pricing plan?). The Stix 400 will be compatible with all of the approved games, including all the Games for Windows.

But will the motion control scheme have an impact on PC-based gaming?

As of now, the answer is probably no. This is especially the case since the control's success has been limited to the one Wii console, and even some Wii games have not coordinated with the control scheme that well.

Another reason for our skepticism is that PC gamers are uncommonly attached to their keyboard and mouse as their instruments of choice. Would you blame them? The rapid (but precise) shuffling of a sensitive gaming mouse in the middle of a Crysis bust-out is exciting stuff.

The Stix will be available at the end of August.

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Fingerprint Authentication Mouse Locks Files With Biometrics

Truth be told, I have an assortment of files on my computer I’d rather not have other people look at. Whether it be secretive outlines for future blog posts or confidential paper work and conversations, there are just some pieces of data I’d rather not have viewed by any nosy desktop hunters.

While there are plenty of ways to hide the files behind a wall of security features, such as marking files as hidden or developing a password system, the only method some people feel secure with is the use of biometrics. The Sequiam Biometrics ScanQ Fingerprint Authentication Scanner and Software is made especially for securing your personal files which need a little extra privacy.

The scanner, which is compatible with Windows 2000/XP/Vista, comes stocked with a collection of biometric security features, such as securty authentication for opening and using specific files, logging into Windows, and an assortment of other security measures. The fingerprint scanner is built right into a mouse for easy space integration.

Aside from biometric security, the USB-powered ScanQ offers two security options. One is using only your fingerprint, and an option for ultra secure files which enables both a fingerprint scan and a password in order to access the file.

For $70, the Sequiam Biometrics ScanQ Fingerprint Authentication Scanner is a pretty nice value for the added security and peace of mind it offers if you have files which need to be held under lock and key.

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Green House EXC-ESA2

Green House has just released its GH-EXC-ESA2 card that increases the connectivity of your notebook. It will feature a couple of 3.0Gbps eSATA slots, a JBOD external drive, and support for RAID 0/1. Not only will it come in the older PCMCIA Type II model, there will also be a PCI Express version. Both devices have been certified to run on both Windows XP and Vista, so Mac owners are out of the loop yet again. Bummer! No idea on how much this costs, nor whether it will be available outside of Japan or not.

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Fool burglars with a realistic security camera with working LEDs

If you own a small business or just have a lot of valuables in your home, you’ve probably considered purchasing a couple of security cameras. Unfortunately such things cost money, and thus aren’t always an option. If you’re only mildly concerned that people are going to try and break into your place, why not get a couple of dummy cameras instead?

Sure, you don’t have the comfort of knowing that you’ll catch thieves on tape should they break into your house or business, but that’s not really the point of having a fake camera. There’s a good chance that if the dummy cam is placed in a very conspicuous area and looks good enough, anyone looking to break in would just move along to the next house.

This Dummy IR LED Bullet Camera certainly looks real enough to make just about anyone think they’re being watched. They’ve added in LEDs which are activated by a photocell, which would be enough for me to believe it’s real. The cameras are far cheaper than the real things at $34.99. Then again if someone figures out your ruse, you’ll wish you had gotten live cameras.

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Linksys intros Wireless-G Internet Home Monitoring Camera WVC54GC

We're going to give Linksys a free pass on this ridiculous naming scheme just because we're actually happy to see a bigger name bringing a consumer-friendly wireless security camera to market for a reasonable price. The Linksys Wireless-G Internet Home Monitoring Camera WVC54GC is pretty straightforward for a networked camera, sporting 802.11g and 10/100 Ethernet connections, and VGA video recorded to a MPEG-4 or Motion JPEG codec. The camera can be limited to local network video streaming or opened up to the internets either publicly or privately. There's also a Security Mode setting that can send video snippets via email if the camera detects motion in its field of view. You can then remotely log on to the stream and set the video to record to a local hard drive or on a predetermined schedule. The camera is available now for a mere $120.

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Hitachi's CP-A100 projector brings short-throw within US distance

Hitachi's CP-A100 is pretty unsightly, sure, but what it lacks in sexiness it totally makes up for in utility. Needing just 1.6-feet to project a 60-inch image, this 3LCD machine can get a Halo match upside your wall regardless of how many beanbags are cluttering up the area. If you'll recall, we spotted the Japanese variant just months ago posing all pretty for us, but it looks at though an Americanized flavor is now official. As for specs, you'll be looking at an XGA (1,024 x 768) resolution, 2,500 ANSI lumens and a contrast ratio of 500:1, and just in case your colleagues like to borrow company kit without asking, there's a Kensington slot, security bar and multilevel PIN locks to keep it planted. Unfortunately, a definitive price / release date is missing, but hopefully Hitachi will have this critter out to stores real soon.

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