Kensington releases new notebook lock

Kensington has dealt with notebook and desktop accessories for quite some time to date, and their expertise in this department is not to be underestimated, otherwise they would’ve pulled out from such a market a long time ago as the customer is certainly always discerning. Well, this time round Kensington will aim to help you secure your precious new notebook wherever you go, not by arming it with some sort of magical electrical force field that will only deactivate at your command, but a more simple solution that is pretty much secure in its own right - the Kensington MicroSaver DS Keyed Ultra-Thin Notebook Lock. Boasting a modern design that functions to safeguard while providing a physical deterrent against theft of valuable business equipment and the sensitive data stored within them, the new MicroSaver DS Keyed Ultra-Thin Notebook Lockwill come in a ground-breaking ultra thin design without sacrificing on performance and reliability.

This notebook lock is special as it can secure even the thinnest notebook around, so all you MacBook Air users as well as the new MSI X-Slim series will be pleased to note that this $49.99 anti-theft device will also handle those notebooks perfectly. Some of the features and specifications available include :-

Advanced disk style keyed locking mechanism - the most secure available
• Revolutionary slim design, ideal for Ultra-thin notebooks
• A rotating head and pivoting cable allow you to easily connect to your notebook and position the lock
• Attaches to most notebooks via the Kensington Security Slot found in 99% of notebooks
• Patented T-bar locking mechanism provides superior strength and theft protection
• Super-strong carbon steel cable provides greater security in a 10%-thinner design
• 5-ft carbon tempered steel cable
• Includes two keys
• Rubber tie for cable cord management and portability

You can place your pre-order for the Kensington MicroSaver DS Keyed Ultra-Thin Notebook Lock from Amazon.com and Kensington.com, where it will ship at the end of the month to other major retailers.

Product Page

Sanyo SCP-2700 from Sprint

Sanyo isn’t exactly one of the more famous names when it comes to the cellphone market here in the US, although they have come up with some pretty good looking clamshells in the past like the Katana series. Well, the latest handset from Sanyo to hit Stateside would be the SCP-2700 from Sprint that ought to make for a great graduation gift if you happen to know anyone in college or high school seniors who have yet to own a cellphone (a rare number, I suspect). What’s up with this handset? Well, let’s take a closer look at what it can offer right after the jump.

The Sanyo SCP-2700 will come with a 2.2″ color LCD display that isn’t touchscreen - now isn’t that a welcome change from the slew of touchscreen handsets that have been making their way across markets all over the world lately? Well, call it old technology, but it does have its niche. The compact candybar handset will feature its own QWERTY keyboard to help you get those text messages and email out in double quick time. Not only that, it will cater to either gender with Impulsive Pink and Deep Blue colors, and with threaded text messaging, it will be much easier to keep track of your conversations each time an email or text message comes in. For folks who can’t live with emoticons, there is a dedicated emoticon key that makes it a snap to insert smiley faces and other symbols into their text messages and emails.

Heck, to make the entire graduation a much more fun affair, why not purchase two SCP-2700’s for free (both mom and daughter can get one apiece to help them keep in touch about the latest in fashion as well as boyfriend advice across a long distance once the “little girl” grows up and leaves the nest) as long as they’re new-line activations and tied down to a two-year service agreement on two Individual Plans with messaging, or a Family Plan with messaging.

Press Release

Belkin turns on the style in iPod nano 4G cases

Belkin is no stranger when it comes to iPod accessories, and this time round they’re offering more than just mere protection for your iPod nano 4G, but intend to suit those portable media players up in a way that will also attract positive attention. Both the Micra Chex and Fuse Cases reflect the re-emerging iconic checkerboard design and bold color trends of the 1980s, where the former will feature subtle graphical detail that enhances your iPod without hiding the color of your nano. All of these new cases will be available worldwide - that means the US, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia, while the Micra Flow Case will only make its way to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. They’ll retail for $19.99 (single) and $24.99 (2-pack).

Press Release

The Park ‘N Place Garage Parking Aid

It was a long time before I became used to actually parking my car in a garage and everyone has their tricks for dealing with getting in far enough.  The most common one I’ve seen is hanging a tennis ball from the ceiling, but that trick has its own list of problems.  You have to make sure it’s hung at just the right spot, which can be a little more tedious than utilizing a gadget such as this.

Just place it on the ground at the spot you need it, which is a touch more simple than trying to hang something from the ceiling.  Then when you’re pulling in, you have a big red indicator to let you know how far you can pull in.  To top it off, once your car bumps the sign, it has flashing lights that will go off on contact.  It’s also on a flexible stand, so you won’t have to worry about breaking the gadget.  There’s no assembly required and the batteries are included.  You can purchase it from Vat19 for $16.95.

Source: Techeblog

From the WWDC: Apple still sticking to expensive laptops in this economy

New Macbook Lineup promises cheapest/greenest ever.

Today, at the Worldwide Developers conference, Apple introduced their latest lines of MacBooks with the typical, high price tag and cool, formfitting features and upgrades.

First on the list was a new 15″ MacBook with a brand new display that has a higher “gamut” of colors and a very long improved battery life of 7 hours and 1,000 charges. It also comes with it’s fastest processor to date - a 3.06 Dual Core CPU and up to 8GB or RAM. The 15″ Macbook also comes with a new SD card slot and the option of up to a 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive or a 256GB SSD drive. Price range - a stunning $1700 to just over $2200, IN THIS ECONOMY.

Next came the 17″ MacBook Pro, updated to 2.8 Ghz with 500 gig HD. Just your standard updgrade.The 13″ Macbook Pro chimes in at $1200 - cheaper than the current MacBook Pro of similar size. There’s also the new MacBook Air, which goes up to 2.13 GHz up to $1800. IN THIS ECONOMY.

No Netbooks for Cupertino, it seems.

According to Apple, these new laptops are the greenest laptops ever and will be running OSX Snow Leopard.

But seriously. A $2200 laptop when you can get a PC for as low as $300 which performs as fast? Cupertino would’ve done better jumping on the netbook bandwagon and setting a higher standard.

Photo/Live Blog Hat Tip - MacRumors

The Remote Pet Feeding & Viewing Camera Kit Large Feeder

For those that have to travel on a regular basis and they have a pet they can’t take with them, it can be frustrating.  You have the options of leaving them there and just attempting to find someone to feed them on occasion or you can take them to a kennel of some kind.  Either option works, but a kennel costs money and sometimes having someone stop in isn’t exactly a reliable method.  Instead, you can try out this feeding system that also allows for you to see exactly how your pet is doing while you’re away from home.

You can view your pet from anywhere in the world, as long as you have the internet and remote access to your at home computer.  When you purchase the feeder you’ll receive a large autofeeder, dishwasher safe bowl, 24hr programmable timer and a non-chewable cord.  The non-chewable cord would definitely come in handy for those leaving this for a dog.  They seem to get even more adventurous when no one is around to keep them entertained.  Really, I’d think this set up would be better for cats, but it’d work for either dogs or cats.  It also includes all needed software, the camera and any other hardware you might need.  You can purchase the large feeder for $289.99 on SmartHome.

Source: Gizmodiva

New iPhone finally gets video and more

New iPhone 3GS: faster and now with video!

At the World Wide Development Conference, the new iPhone, dubbed iPhone 3GS (speed) introduces a much faster interface and processor, cut and paste, yada yada yada, but what iPhone fans will really enjoy is the new 3MP camera with autofocus, auto white balance, and VIDEO!

BUt that isn’t more. Not only can users capture those priceless moments in video, but they can also edit those clips with the new editing app and then upload either to YouTube, Mobile Me, or email.

The camera shoots in standard definition VGA with audio and at 30 frames per second. Users can also swap between still photo and video mode on the fly. And a new API will enable integration of video capture into applications so that apps of the future will enable the video feature to it’s fullest potential.

There are plenty of other features as well, including vastly improved battery life, a digital compass, voice control, remote wipe in case users find they’re in the unfortunately position of having their iPhone lost or stolen, but the video option means that long weekends and vacations can now be enjoyed and remembered on the fly without lugging around yet another camcorder for video. Very nice.

Cost is $199 for 16GB, 299 for 32 gigs, and the 8GB stays at $99. Comes in black or white and is available June 19th.

Hat Tip - Mac Rumors Live Blogging

Pill MP3 Player

We at Coolest Gadgets reported on the Pill USB Drive not long ago, and it reminded me of the Pill MP3 Player that is under development.

Hopefully you can see how small it is from this photo, but if the keyboard isn’t enough to give it scale, then you should know that the Pill MP3 Player is 2.7 inches long and approximately one inch in diameter.

What you can’t tell from the photo is that the user has to pull it apart in order to access the controls, and he or she must twist it forward or back to skip tracks. Other than that, this is all I know about this presently conceptual product. I have no idea how many audio files it can hold, but if it is anything like the Pill USB, it is good enough for 30 minutes of MP3s. That really isn’t much.

I am going to go out on a limb and assume that the user needs to download their tunes by some USB to mini-USB connection.

The Pill MP3 Player is planned to be in production (or should I say prescription) later this year. So, is this the dawning of pill-shaped electronics? Why don’t they just make our cell phones pill shaped, so we can just swallow them whole to take our calls?

Source

JVC UX-LP5 Hi-Fi with iPod Dock

Considering that we live in the age of the iPod and other MP3 Players, it is very easy to forget that some of us still crave Hi-Fis. In all honesty, I am betting that there is a whole generation that does not know what a Hi-Fi is.

It would appear that JVC is prepared for this brave new world with the UX-LP5. As you can see from the picture, the UX-LP5 has a retractable front flip dock made for the iPod. Not only can the user listen to his or her iPod audio tracks, but the UX-LP5 comes with a video output so he or she can play iPod-stored video to a connected TV. It also has a front audio input to connect to other audio products.

This 30 Watt, two channel Hi-Fi has a total power output of 70 watts with its twin speakers, and has a CD Player, AM/FM radio tuner, and it its compatible with MP3 and WMA audio files. There is also a USB port for accessing other files as well.

Kudos to JVC for merging the Hi-Fi crowd with the iPod crowd. The next time I want to purchase a new Hi-Fi, I know exactly where to go. Of course, I can’t remember the last time in this decade that I was in the market for a Hi-Fi. It is amazing how times have changed.

I believe the JVC UX-LP5 is currently out now, for a price of about $149.95.

The Scosche tapStick iPod Shuffle Case

Although the fact that the shuffle has no buttons makes it look nice, it does make certain situations a little obnoxious.  Especially for those that enjoy listening to their Shuffle in the car.  In that case the headphones aren’t plugged in, which is where the controls normally are located.  With this Scosche case, it allows for you to control your iPod and has larger sized buttons to keep things easier while you’re on the road.  After all, trying to mess with buttons when they’re tiny can be a little dangerous while driving.

The Scosche tapStick case comes with a 3 foot long aux cable.  When you plug in your iPod, it leaves an opening to plug that cable in and then you can plug it into your radio.  These aren’t out just yet though, so you’ll have to tough things out a little longer.  You can pre-order them now though and they will be shipped out as of the first week of July.  To pre-order the tapStick it’ll cost you $29.99, which isn’t too bad of a price as far as iPod accessories go.

Epix: Watch Movies before they are out on DVD, on your computer

Considering the amount of online movies on Hulu and Cracke that I watch, it would appear that three studios (MGM, Paramount, and Lions Gate) are going to have a different approach to online films.

The films that Epixhd.com will show are the ones that you will want to see. These are the films that have already had their run in the theater, but haven’t come out on DVD just yet.

Wow, I could really access these films in Full HD (720p streaming) from my computer? That sounds too good to be true. Well, it sort of is. You see, Epix wants to use servers in IPS data centers, so you would have to sign up with TV distributors for it. So unless you have a TV cable provider that is also the same provider as that Internet service, good luck at seeing Epix.

Oddly enough, it would appear that if you did have this arrangement, Epix would be free to you. Okay, so you are telling me that I could watch Wolverine on my computer in the next few months for nothing? And not that oneWolverine film that got released before the movie was out in theaters, but this version would be before the movie comes out on DVD.

An application like Epix could change the movie industry in an epic way. We shall see. Right now, it is only available in private beta.