RSS Feeds
Peripherals
Apple Ships New, Un-Shocky USB Power Adapters
Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 1:25 PM on October 7, 2008
Less than a month after Apple initiated the recall process for its USB iPhone power adapters, customers are reporting that their replacements have been received. The original adapters had metal prongs that could break off and remain in a power outlet, which carried an electric shock risk. The new one looks exactly the same as its predecessor, except it's bedaubed with an extra green dot. [TUAW]
To the modern modder, the NES cartridge is 
Gadgets like this Beer-Filled USB Flash Drive really make me question the basics. More than my first-year university philosophy class did, anyway. Existential angst, the downfall of western civilization, and "customisable floaties" after the jump.
D-Link announced a new router yesterday which sounds a lot like other flagship home routers that have already hit market: The $US200 DIR-825 is dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz N plus Gigabit ethernet. These are all great features, but the surprising one is that the USB port in the back uses a new protocol that lets networked PCs treat it as a local USB port, even if they're all the way across the house. The good news for your broke arse is, if you have one of several D-Link routers listed below, you can inject your router's USB port with the same virtual connectivity... for free.
The Presidential Polygraph is a USB lie detector that will let you quickly and easily determine whether or not someone is telling the truth. For a mere $US50, it comes with all the stuff you'll need to determine whether or not your brother-in-law really loves your sister: a pulse oximeter finger clip, skin galvanisation finger wraps, a "breathing apparatus," and the necessary software. And, because no one lies better than politicians, it comes complete with creepy likenesses of the 2008 presidential candidates. If only you could hook it up to the TV for tonight's debate! It would probably overload and set your computer on fire. [
Oh yummy. And they probably come in boxes made of rye bread. All I want to know is where is my new MacBook Air made of bacon? Hmmmmm. Bacon. [
So things didn't work out with the screenplay. And that backlot audition turned out to be a backseat party for two. But don't give up your dreams so quickly! It's a known fact that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck had to open mouth kiss for 5 seconds to get Good Will Hunting produced—in front of girls even! So pick up this Hollywood Film Kit and get back on the horse. The USB Spotlight will make your eyes sparkle as "producers" get a full look at your "talents" compliments of the simulated 35mm webcam and your AdultFriendFinder account. $US25. [
Projectors, unless they're of the mini- or HD-kind tend to have me thinking "meh..." apart from LG's new HS102. 'Cause though it has just 800 x 600 native resolution with switchable 4:3/16:9 ratios, it's got Phlatlight LED illumination tech that gives it a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and 150 lumen brightness and it's got a Divx player (playing files from USB-attached storage, it seems) built right into it. And there's a rechargeable battery jammed in there too, making this projector portable in the real sense, since it'll run for two hours unplugged. Out in South Korea for around a $US555 equivalent, there's no word on when it'll hit these shores. [
The humble USB socket has provided power for some weird gizmos, but I think this might just take the biscuit: it's a USB-powered volcano. A fake one (duh!) in fact, with plastic lava beads that erupt out of the volcano in a water-filled desktop toy. Awesome—the mega-destructive and impressive power of nature reduced to one naff toy that you even have to provide your own water for. At least it's got bright LEDs inside so at night it kinda, sorta looks a little like the real thing would do. Okay, so it doesn't look anything like a real cone volcano... but that doesn't stop me liking it. Yours for a mere $US18. [
Generally I think "
