According to the product page, the Desktop Boxer is the “most advanced USB toy of 2008″ thanks to fully interactive software and realistic boxing ring sounds. Users can control the boxer’s punches and movement via their keyboard, and the device will keep track of successful hits on the speed bag. Personally, I think that I will withhold judgment on the “most advanced” claim until we are further into 2008. Besides, there are already more amusing office gadgets on the market. Available for £29.99 or around $70. [Product Page via Toyology]
Wired’s Apple insider (heh) says it is. Their rendering is super skinny and shaped like a teardrop when it’s closed, bulging at the hinge and tapering down to the edge. Ethernet ports are jettisoned in favour of wireless only—the most sensible explanation for the “Air” moniker yet. Aluminum casing, ultra-thin, all wireless—all reasonable given what’s come out. The much less likely bit is that the screen itself is multi-touch—trackpad, maybe—but obviously we’ll see tomorrow. And a full-frontal:
Griffin has introduced the new PowerDock that is capable of charging up to 4 iPods at once. It’s a perfect charging solution for music loving families, or any dude who has multiple iPods and insists on using them all. Its functionality is limited to charging for now, but it is not hard to imagine the upgrades that could occur down the line.
That having been said, you could always get yourself a JVC NX-PN7 and enjoy multiple iPod docks and playback capability starting this April. The Powerdock is expected to be released in two models: the 4 slot version featured above for $US70 this April, and a 2 slot model following for $US50 in June. [Crave]
I’ve never been to Tokyo, but I hear they have a bit of a problem with crowded subway trains —a fact brought up countless times as I traveled from Gizmodo HQ to the convention centre during CES. Needless to say, I heard “It feels like Tokyo in here” more than once. Thankfully, these packed trains did not result in a shameful groping of my buttocks. In Tokyo however, this can be a serious problem.
The portable subway strap is designed to show female passengers that your hands are occupied —thereby reducing your chances of being falsely accused of groping. Apparently, the 525 yen ($5) product has proven quite popular with commuters. Although the train above seems to have a much more awkward situation brewing. [Product Page via Pink Tentacle]
Pissing away electricity —just about everyone does it. That is why this “Saverclip” concept from designer Lee Young Don could prove useful to anyone looking to save a few bucks on their electricity bill. The clothespin-like device latches onto any power cable and determines energy usage by measuring the electromagnetic fields emitted by specific electronics (it also recharges using the same fields).
Alright, so even though Microsoft is giving everyone a free Xbox Live Arcade game because they feel bad about the outages—or want to stem a bubbling revolt—a trio of Texan greedmongers sued over it. Result: No more Xbox Live status updates from Major Nelson, whose mouth has now been covered with legal red tape. Guess we’ll know it’s fixed when it’s fixed now. Thanks, assholes, we hope it’s worth the fat pot of nothing you’ll get out of it. [Major Nelson via Kotaku]
The tricycle house is one Hong Kong designer’s mobile solution to the cramped and expensive housing problem facing his city. It features a door, a window, a writing desk and a fold out bed contained within a 3 x 4 foot “hut.” Despite the cramped living conditions, the idea has a lot of fans. During the video, a design student comments that “he has considered all of the necessities.” Uh…bathroom? Privacy? Protection from the elements? Eh? Eh? [Reuters via Spluch]
What do you do when you’ve got a platform (PS3) that’s a fantastic media playback machine but lacks games? You bring games TO IT. StreamMyGame allows you to stream the visuals and sound directly from your PC onto your PS3 at up to 3200×2400 resolution (PS3 only supports 1080p), supporting Windows XP, Vista, and DirectX 8-10. All the rendering’s done on the PC, so you don’t have to worry about the fact that current Linux implementations on the PS3 don’t have full access to the console’s hardware. The upside? A gigantic library of games in your living room. [StreamMyGame via MaxConsole via Kotaku]
Okay, so DRM is dead dead dead. Hurray, right? Well, Wired says it’s simply being swapped out for digital watermarking, which will lay out breads crumbs for the labels to follow as songs make their way across P2P networks, and the bundle of evidence will allow them to place pressure on ISPs to engage in large-scale network filtering.
CES is filled with thousands of gadgets and lots of people to talk to. But most of these “new” products are really just moderate updates. So in case you missed the goodies in the wave of CES news, here’s just our favourite stuff after the jump. Yes, lazy people—life takes care of you again!
