As excited as we are about Casio’s Exilim EX-F1 camera with slow-mo and high-def video modes, we’re even more thrilled to see actual competition in this category. Samsung announced its HMX20C (or HMX20) at CES, and is now officially shipping it, at least in Korea, for a price around US$850. That’s about US$150 less than Casio’s Hiro Nakamura supercam. Here’s what’s similar about the two models:
This retro-styled rocket lamp is more than the absolutely most perfect accessory to complete any room, it’s the absolutely most perfect accessory to complete any room that’s built from the igniter can of a freakin’ jet engine. One-of-a-kind and shamelessly worth its US$2,100 sticker price, we want to push each and every one of its glowing jewels…even though we know that they don’t actually do anything…and that they probably aren’t even buttons in the first place. [Moto Art via Bornrich]
Bless Skymall and its world of wonderful and strangely fascinating gizmos for bringing us this: the portable neck traction device, supposed to help relieve tight muscles and “joint and nerve pressure.” Simply place around your neck (that’s a worrying start, if you ask me) and “pump the inflation bulb until you feel a comfortable stretch.” That’ll be somewhere short of popping your head off like an unfortunate Legoman, I guess. Available now, for all you crick-necked blog readers who don’t sit at your PC properly, in three neck sizes for US$69.98. [Skymall via Random Good Stuff]
The Tech Report has assembled a very straightforward bang-for-your-buck video card graph. Plotting performance on Crysis’ high quality setting, you can see the simple facts laid out very clearly—like that the GeForce 9600 GT is probably worth its US$5 pricetag over the Radeon HD 3850. These metrics always vary by game, and Crysis’ highest settings don’t demonstrate these cards at their best (the top performer can’t even break 40 frames per second). But it’s a quick tool to tip the scales on your next purchase. [Tech Report]
QStarz has just announced the BT-Q818 eXtreme—the self-proclaimed world’s most powerful Bluetooth GPS receiver. The 51-channel chipset and 32 hours of use time are impressive, but it’s the adjustable update rate that’s their claim to fame. The user can choose between 1 and 5Hz updates, with each Hz good for one update per second. In other words, the QStarz eXtreme can sync your position an impressive five times a second, which should be more than enough to placate the most dedicated of car racers and anvil droppers. No word on price or release date at this time. [product via Navigadget]
Forget touchscreen, solar powered or even self-destructing coffee tables… Kyle Downes has modded the coffee table into its best version ever: a retro-tastic NES controller. Just look at the sleek lines, the high quality finish and classy glass top. And then giggle at the fact that it actually works. Don’t believe it? Check out the video after the gallery.
NASA wants to get you in bed, and if that wasn’t luring enough, she wants to pay you US$17,000 for 90 days. Sadly, there is no French lingerie involved: their Bed Rest Project wants to study the effect of long-term microgravity in humans, putting you in a sightly-tilted bed, with your head down and feet up:
When it comes to laptop bags and cases, there are traditional-style ones, modern ones and downright unusual ones… we can’t decide which to put the new BUILT Laptop Backpack into. It’s almost a traditional rucksack, made out of fancy water- and stain-resistant neoprene, but it’s shaped to hug your back like a half a bulletproof vest. An image helped by the fact that it’s available in Police black or Army green. It does look kinda comfy, and it’s got three pockets: for 12-inch to 17-inch laptops, accessories, and whatever fits in the shoulder one. Available now, in two sizes, for US$80. [BUILT via Be Sportier]
This is a story of a not so environmentally friendly, but rather groovy repurposing idea: reusing CDs as records (remember them?) At the UK’s Futuresonic festival last week, a guy named Aleks Kolkowski had his vintage record-cutting machine ready to carve sound tracks into old CDs and DVDs. People simply had to turn up with an old disc and a sound file and he’d “overwrite” the CD with a track ready to be played on a turntable. Neat! I’d have been there asking Aleks for a copy of my first ever record (that’ll be the theme to Watership Down— I know, I know) on a crappy old AOL CD I found recently. [Futuresonic via DIYDaily via ]
