Gizmodo Australia » Peripherals

Atlona’s HDAiR Wireless USB-to-VGA/HDMI Adaptor Adds Audio

Jack Loftus — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0000

The capable Atlona HDAiR Wireless USB-to-VGA/HDMI adaptor was missing one key ingredient when it launched earlier this year: Audio. That’s been fixed, thanks to this latest refresh.

And a refresh this certainly is, as this is the same product, but with audio output. Specifically, audio output in 3.5mm analogue and embedded HDMI. The $US219 piece of kit is also compatible with both Windows Vista and Windows 7. [Engadget]

Sewell USB-to-DVI/VGA/HDMI Delivers HD Resolutions

Jack Loftus — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Old PC, new PC – doesn’t matter. This DisplayLink chip-equipped display adaptor from Sewell will take any ol’ PC and provide support for resolutions up to 2048×1152, all powered via USB.

So yeah, if you’re been chomping at the bit to get HD quality resolutions delivered to your monitor via a USB connection, this may be the adaptor for you. Comes in a kind of periwinkle blue hue for $US99. [Sewell via Engadget]

Magic Mouse Drivers For Windows Now Available

Chris Jacob — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Magic Mouse owners lusting for multi-finger gestures on a PC can stop wishing. Some good ol’ fashioned hackery pulled Windows drivers from the latest Boot Camp update. You can grab them here, report back with results. [Uneasy Silence, thanks Dan!]

Self-Explanatory

Mark Wilson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:44:20 +0000

See subject, IMDB quotes section for more. [Geek Stuff 4 U via UberGizmo]

Threadless Shirts Become iPhone Cases

Mark Wilson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:20:00 +0000

In a surprising but sensible partnership, Griffin will be adding Threadless designs to their iPhone cases. So far, only two models are available, and the going rate is $US35.

[Griffin via Gearlog]

Is There Any Point To The World’s First Wireless USB Drive?

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:10:00 +0000

I get that it is cool technology, but I don’t get the Imation Pro WX. It’s the world’s first Wireless USB disk drive, sure, but there are already drives that are Wi-Fi enabled. So how is this different?

Imation argues that, by providing a one-to-one connection over the air, the Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive “limits the possibility of signal interception”. That’s a pretty vague claim to me. They also argue that it works like any other USB drive, although it only transfers data at 15 megabytes per second. But even while you don’t have to connect with a cable, you have to plug in a USB key. So why not just leave a regular drive on the desk and plug the cable for a better rate? And if you want wireless, why not get a drive that is Wi-Fi enabled?

The only good argument is simplicity: You don’t need to connect to a server using the network, the drive just pops up in your desktop. But then again, connecting to a networked drive is not that difficult. Certainly, not difficult enough to pay the $US500 that this 1.5TB drive costs. [Press Release]

Wow, It Took Him This Long?

Mark Wilson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:31:52 +0000

Everyone’s making money off the iPhone, so that might as well include George Lucas. $US30 this December. [StarWarsShop via ChipChick]

Solar iPhone Charger Concept Has Another Use

Jason Chen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Although it’ll be awkward to have this iPetals solar charger out on the street, taking advantage of the sun to keep your phone charged is just smart.

Only a concept now, but this charger — that’s also an iPhone stand — is easy enough that some Chinese company could quickly put out a solution in a few months.

[Petit Invention via Into Mobile]

TomTom Car Kit Now Available

Nick Broughall — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:30:26 +0000

Pop quiz: How much would you pay for an iPhone windshield mount? If you answered $160, then you might want to look at the TomTom windshield mount, which is now available to purchase.

Sure, it’s not just a suction cup with an iPhone jack in it – this thing has its own GPS receiver, a built-in loudspeaker and microphone, and an auxilliary out for playing music through your car stereo.

But the truth is that you can pick up an (admittedly entry-level) dedicated satnav for that price. Plus, the cradle doesn’t actually come with the TomTom software, or even a code to download it. Which kind of makes this a rather expensive option.

[TomTom]

Detecting False Coins With Mouse Sensors

Jesus Diaz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:03:00 +0000

A team of Spanish researchers at the University of Lleida have developed a way to detect false coins using a mouse’s optical sensors. The system works comparing patterns in two euro coins, which at the ongoing exchange is about $US15,302.

The system rotates the coin, sampling its surface using the 30 x 30 pixel resolution optical sensor. Then it compares it to a stored model, giving you the nay or the yay with more accuracy than anyone, or about the same accuracy as an expert. [El Mundo — In Spanish]