4.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Symmetric shape makes it comfortable for both left and right-handed users
• Anti-gravity comfort pivot places less stress on your wrist
• Supports both Windows and Mac OS X
• Built-in container to hold the USB transmitter

Cons:

• Pivot raises height of mouse, making it awkward to transport

Every desktop computer requires a mouse. Although companies such as Microsoft and Logitech offer ergonomic mouse designs that curve to the fit comfortably within the contour of your hand, there’s still the problem of your wrist. Depending on the physical position of your desk in relation to your arm, your wrist may need to bend a certain way to hold and use any mouse. The unchanging shape of a mouse means that you need to hold your wrist at a fixed angle.

Since holding your wrist at such a fixed angle for extended periods of time can be uncomfortable at best or dangerous at worse (think Carpel Tunnel Syndrome), SmartFish Technologies offers their Whirl Laser Mouse. This wireless mouse looks and behaves like any other wireless mouse except for its unusual anti-gravity comfort pivot, which makes the mouse appear as if it’s floating in the air.

This anti-gravity comfort pivot represents the actual base of the mouse that slides on a flat surface and tracks the movement of the mouse. However, this pivot also lets the top portion of the mouse rotate to adjust to your hand and arm position. Move your arm and wrist and the mouse smoothly adapts to your motion, providing maximum comfort to your wrist no matter what position or angle you hold the mouse.

Unlike other ergonomic mouse designs, the Whirl Laser Mouse is symmetrically shaped, which makes it comfortable for both left and right-handed users, unlike other mouse designs primarily designed for right-handed users.

Initially, the Whirl mouse may feel awkward with the mouse raised above the surface of your desk, but it’s easy to adapt to it and the gentle rocking motion of the mouse soon becomes familiar and comfortable. Switching back to a traditional mouse will suddenly feel awkward when you realize how much an ordinary mouse places stress on your wrist due to its fixed and unchanging shape.

Like a regular mouse, the Whirl Laser Mouse includes a left and right button along with a middle scroll wheel. The mouse requires two AA batteries (included) along with a wireless transmitter that you must plug into the USB port of any Windows or Mac OS X computer.

If you won’t be using your Whirl Laser Mouse for an extended period of time, you can flip it over and use its on/off switch to conserve battery power. If you plan to take your Whirl Laser Mouse with you, you can tuck its USB transmitter into a recessed spot that will securely hold it in place.

While this built-in storage container for the USB transmitter makes it easy to move the mouse, the pivot makes this mouse unusually tall, which means it can be more cumbersome to tuck away in any laptop carrying case compared to a regular mouse.

If you want a comfortable, wireless mouse that works equally well with either Windows or Mac OS X, then you’ll be pleased with the Whirl Laser Mouse. Its unique anti-gravity comfort pivot really does work and provides a measure of comfort not found in any other ergonomic mouse. Just be aware that the bulk of the mouse makes it a bit awkward for constant travel, but it still may be the best mouse you can use for any computer.

Amazon has it for $49.99.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Never needs batteries, can be recharged by sunlight or artificial light
• Thin (1/3-inch) and easy to move or carry
• Concave keys make typing more comfortable
• Officially only supports Windows but also works with Mac OS X

Cons:

• Can’t adjust the angle of the keyboard
• Lacks special context menu button found on most Windows keyboards
• Flimsy plastic legs prop up the keyboard

If you’re already convinced that wireless keyboards give you more flexibility, you’ll have no problems understanding the appeal of Logitech’s latest wireless keyboard. However, the biggest problem with any wireless keyboard has been the need for batteries that tend to run out just when you need the keyboard the most. Fortunately, Logitech’s Solar Keyboard K750 eliminates the problems of batteries by including two built-in solar panels that can generate power in both sunlight and artificial light.

The built-in solar panels can generate power even under artificial lights.

To preserve power, there’s an on/off switch along with a button that can show if the keyboard can generate power from the current lighting conditions or not. Press the lighting condition button and if the current lights are strong enough to power your keyboard, you’ll see a green light appear next to a smiley face picture. If the lighting conditions are too weak to power your keyboard, a red light will appear next to a frowning face picture.

A smiley or sad face light appears to indicate the lighting conditions for recharging your keyboard.

If you’re running Windows, you can download an optional program that can visually show how much power remains in your keyboard. Although this power monitoring program only runs on Windows and the keyboard only officially supports Windows, you can use the keyboard with a Macintosh as well.

Besides eliminating the need for batteries, Logitech further reduces the keyboard’s environmental impact by packing the K750 keyboard in a recyclable cardboard box. The box contains the keyboard itself, a USB Unifying Receiver, a USB adapter, and a cleaning cloth.

The Unifying Receiver plugs into any USB port and provides the wireless connection needed to connect the keyboard to the computer. This Unifying Receiver works with Logitech’s other wireless devices such as their wireless mouse or trackball, so if you already have a wireless Logitech device, you only need to plug a single Unifying Receiver into your computer.

To make it easier to plug the Unifying Receiver into a USB port, the keyboard also comes with a USB adapter, which simply extends a USB port to make it easier to plug the Unifying Receiver in. If you can comfortably plug the Unifying Receiver into a USB port, then you can set aside this USB adapter.

Setting the keyboard up is as simple as turning it on and plugging the Unifying Receiver into your computer. The keyboard is amazingly thin and light, making it easy to move or carry wherever you need it.

The K750 keyboard is surprisingly thin.

You can lay the keyboard flat or prop it up at a fixed angle on two thin plastic legs. Unfortunately, these two plastic legs only adjust the keyboard at a fixed angle. Even more disturbing is that these plastic legs don’t feel especially sturdy. Accidentally sit on the keyboard while it’s propped up and these plastic legs are likely to snap off or break.

Tiny plastic legs pop out to prop the keyboard at a fixed angle

Typing on the K750 keyboard is amazing comfortable due to the concave nature of each key, which allows your fingertips to rest inside each key for maximum comfort and accuracy. The keyboard provides the exact same layout as ordinary keyboards including twelve function keys at the top of the keyboard, a T-shaped cursor keypad, and a separate numeric keypad on the far right.

Curiously, the keyboard only offers the special Windows key on the left side of the space bar. Where most keyboard offer the Windows key and a context menu key on the right of the spacebar, the K750 keyboard displays a special Fn key.

Instead of a Windows and context menu key, the K750 keyboard displays an Fn key.

Pressing this Fn key lets you use the top row of function keys. If you omit pressing this Fn key, then the top row of function keys default to controlling a hardware feature of your computer such as adjusting the volume or fast forwarding an audio file.

The K750 keyboard is not only comfortable to type on, but its wireless feature makes it capable of controlling your computer from a distance. Its built-in solar panels eliminate the biggest headache of wireless keyboards, which normally requires replacing batteries periodically.

If you want a wireless keyboard that’s environmentally-friendly, powers itself through sunlight or artificial light, and provides maximum comfort for typing, then the K750 is definitely in a class of its own.

You can buy the Logitech K750 at Logitech for $79.99.

The most common way to control a computer is through a mouse, but a mouse requires lifting your hand and moving your arm. A more ergonomic solution is to use a trackball, which lets your hand rest in one place. Although trackballs aren’t as popular as a mouse, the Logitech M570 wireless trackball might make you change your mind.

This wireless trackball consists of the trackball itself and Logitech’s tiny Unifying receiver that plugs into a USB port. This Unifying receiver works with all of Logitech’s other wireless products such as keyboards and mice, so if you lose it (which is easy to do since it’s so small), you can always get a replacement wireless receiver easily. The Unifying receiver lets you connect to both a Windows or Mac OS X computer from up to six feet away.

One main advantage of the Unifying receiver’s small size is that it allows you to keep it plugged into a laptop computer without forcing you to remove it every time you need to pack your laptop back in its case. The Unifying receiver’s small size makes it nearly flush with any laptop’s side so you can just plug it into your computer once and forget about it.

For those times when you do need to unplug the Unifying receiver, the trackball’s battery compartment includes a special slot for holding the receiver securely in place.

The Unifying receiver can be transported inside the battery compartment.

To power the trackball, you just need a single AA battery, which Logitech claims will last up to 18 months. (For your convenience, Logitech even includes a single AA battery that’s already installed inside the trackball.) To further conserve power when you’re not using the trackball, you can slide an On/Off switch to turn the trackball off completely.

Using the trackball is extremely comfortable. Four rubber feet on the bottom of the trackball hold it securely in place on almost any surface. Besides the traditional left and right mouse buttons and a middle scroll wheel, the trackball also offers a Back and Forward button for jumping backwards and forwards inside any browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, or Safari.

These Back and Forward buttons worked automatically under Windows 7, but they won’t work under Mac OS X until you first download a free Logitech Control Center program, which lets you configure how the trackball behaves.

To make the trackball’s Back and Forward buttons work on Mac OS X, you need to download free software from Logitech.

The trackball’s shape is specifically geared towards right-handed users who can comfortably manipulate the trackball with their thumb while pressing the left and right mouse buttons with their index and middle finger. Left-handed users can still use the trackball, but it may feel more awkward manipulating the trackball with your pinky.

The trackball, left and right mouse buttons, and scroll wheel work as expected. Using the Back and Forward buttons to flip through web pages in a browser is a nice added convenience so you don’t have to scroll and click the Back and Forward buttons in your browser all the time.

Logitech’s M570 wireless trackball is much less tiring to use than a traditional mouse with the added advantage of its wireless capabilities, which lets you place and use the trackball anywhere near your computer. The additional of special Back and Forward browser buttons makes the trackball faster than a mouse for heavy web users.

Despite all of its advantages, this trackball may still not change the minds of those who prefer the mouse over scrolling the trackball with their thumb, which in itself can get nearly as tiring as moving your arm to manipulate a mouse. If you aren’t convinced about the benefits of a trackball, the Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball may not change your mind. However, if you’re looking for an alternative to a mouse and want a versatile trackball, Logitech’s latest wireless trackball will likely meet your needs.

Pros:

• Single AA battery lasts up to 18 months
• Ergonomic shape
• Special Back and Forward buttons that works with a variety of browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, and Safari
• Works with both Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7 and Mac OS X
• USB wireless receiver can be tucked safely inside the trackball for transport
• On/off switch to conserve battery power
• Rubber feet holds the trackball secure on almost any surface

Cons:

• Designed for right-handed users, left-handed users may find it clumsier to use
• Mac OS X requires an additional free download to make the Back and Forward browser buttons work

Amazon has the Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball for $50.

For years, the distinction between desktop computers and laptop computers has been clear. To control a desktop computer, you use a mouse and to control a laptop computer, you use a trackpad. When Apple released their latest MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops, they introduced a trackpad that could detect a variety of one, two, three, and four finger gestures for manipulating items on the screen. Curiously, these finger gestures were impossible to duplicate on a desktop Macintosh until the recent introduction of Apple’s Magic Trackpad.

The Magic Trackpad can supplement or replace your mouse for controlling a desktop Macintosh. Essentially the Magic Trackpad is nothing more than a slab of aluminum that provides a much larger trackpad surface than those typically found on laptop computers.

• Length: 5.17 inches / 13.13 cm
• Width: 5.12 inches / 13.01 cm
• Height: 0.18 – 0.72 inches / 0.46 – 1.83 cm
• Weight (without batteries): 4.94 ounces/140.05 g

The Magic Trackpad connects wirelessly to a computer through Bluetooth with a range of approximately 33 feet. Unlike wired devices that can draw power from the computer, the Magic Trackpad requires two AA batteries (included with the Magic Trackpad), which slip into a cylindrical container that elevates the Magic Trackpad at an angle.

Setting up the Magic Trackpad initially can be challenging because the tiny instruction book is flat out wrong. First, you must make sure you’re running Mac OS X 10.6.4 or higher.

Next, according to the instruction book, you can pair your Macintosh to the Magic Trackpad through the System Preferences window where you can click on the Trackpad icon. Unfortunately, you won’t see this trackpad icon until you get your Macintosh to recognize that the Magic Trackpad even exists.

To do this first step, you actually have to click on the Bluetooth icon that appears in the upper right corner of the pull-down menu, then choose Set Up Bluetooth Device. After you go through this process, you must go through an additional step and download a software update to make your Magic Trackpad work with your Macintosh. Only then will you be able to customize the Magic Trackpad through the trackpad icon displayed in the System Preferences window.

While initially setting up the Magic Trackpad can be clumsy, once you get it working, the Magic Trackpad provides a smooth, almost glassy touch surface that flawlessly detects multiple finger gestures. To simulate the left click of a mouse, the default mode is to simply press down on the entire Magic Trackpad surface. However, you can also customize it to detect a left-click whenever you tap one finger on its surface.

The Magic Trackpad simulates right-clicking by pressing two fingers on its surface at the same time. The Magic Trackpad supports pinch and rotate gestures for enlarging screen images or rotating pictures, two-finger sliding gestures for scrolling, and a four-finger swiping gesture to simulate pressing Command+Tab to display all currently running programs so you can switch programs. After you get used to these finger gestures, using an ordinary mouse starts to feel unnecessarily restrictive and limited.

Besides bringing multi-finger gestures to desktop computers, the other main advantage of the Magic Trackpad is that it requires less effort to use than an ordinary mouse. To move the mouse pointer across the screen with a mouse requires that you move your hand and arm. To move the mouse pointer the same distance with the Magic Trackpad requires that you move one finger. As a result, using the Magic Trackpad places less stress on your hands and arms, making the computer more comfortable to use for longer periods of time.

Apple does not provide an estimate for battery life, but the Magic Trackpad provides an on/off button along with the ability to shut down power when it detects long periods of inactivity. As a result, Apple claims that each pair of batteries should last for several months before you need to replace them.

The Magic Trackpad can also work with a Windows PC, as long as you download the Windows drivers, although it won’t support all multi-finger gestures like a Macintosh. In addition, the Magic Trackpad can work with any Macintosh so you could even use it with a laptop Macintosh in case you want a larger trackpad surface area.

Despite the initial trouble setting it up, the Magic Trackpad is pleasant and easy to use. After using the Magic Trackpad for a while, you may soon find that using a mouse will feel clumsier and more tiring by constantly lifting your hands and arms to do anything. The Magic Trackpad may not replace a mouse, but it can.

Pros:

• Large surface area makes it easy to use
• Bluetooth wireless connection provides up to 33 foot range
• Flawlessly detects multiple finger gestures
• Long battery life, includes two AA batteries
• Less tiring to use than a mouse
• Works with Windows PCs with additional free software

Cons:

• Can be challenging to set up initially
• Requires Mac OS X 10.6.4 plus additional software updates
• Limited finger gestures available when using it on a Windows PC

Apple Magic Trackpad is available from Amazon for $69.

Every time you fly in a commercial jet plane, a blackbox records everything the plane does. In case of an accident, recovering this blackbox lets authorities determine what the plane was doing up to the time of the accident.

With the DRS 1100 you can add similar blackbox features to your car. The DRS 1100 consists of a video recorder with a Secure Digital (SD) card reader (and an included 4GB SD card), a mounting bracket, and a lengthy power cord for plugging the unit into a cigarette lighter.

The idea is that you fix the mounting bracket to your windshield using its adhesive backing, attach the video recorder to the mounting bracket, and plug the power cord into the cigarette lighter and video recorder.

To allow you to mount the recorder on the windshield or dashboard, the camera lens swivels up or down, allowing you to aim the lens forward no matter what odd position you mount the device. When you’ve mounted the device, you’re ready to start driving.

The moment the video recorder detects a sudden impact such as rapid deceleration from braking or a jolt from getting hit (or running into an object), the video recorder automatically kicks in and starts recording video footage, approximate car speed, and GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates on to its SD card.

Pop this SD card out, plug it into any Windows PC, and run the X-Driven program that lets you access and view the saved video footage. Now you can view data that shows the speed of the car and location, which can help clarify exactly what happened at the scene of an accident.

Rather than wait for a car crash to start the video recorder, you can also press an On button to start the video recorder manually. This can be useful to track where a vehicle has been and how fast it might have gone. Anyone in charge of commercial vehicles (or teenagers borrowing the family car) can appreciate having this information available to review at a later date. This lets you verify not only where the driver went, but how fast and whether he (or she) drove carefully or recklessly.

The included 4GB SD card can hold a surprising amount of video, but you could easily substitute a much larger SD card if you wish, up to 16GB. The video camera isn’t top of the line (just 1.3 megapixel), which captures VGA (640×480), QVGA (320×240), or Mega (1280×960) video resolution. Such a variety of video resolutions lets you capture the quality you like best.

Now here are the drawbacks. According to the manual, turning on the unit and waiting a few minutes will allow the device to start capturing GPS coordinates, but my unit never managed to do so, even after 20 minutes of driving around.

Beyond this flaw, which might have been limited to my particular unit, another problem is that you need to use the company’s X-Driven software to view the recorder data, which gets stored as a proprietary .ub1 format. Unfortunately, the X-Driven program only runs on Windows so if you’re using Linux or a Macintosh, you can’t use the X-Driven program and thus you can’t view any recorded data from the recorder.

While useful and interesting, the DRS 1100 is definitely not a must-have product, but more of a gee-whiz product. Still, if you don’t mind spending $299, the DRS 1100 can be invaluable when you need it the most. With its ability to capture video immediately during and after an accident, the device can capture crucial video evidence to protect you legally.

Leave the device running continuously may not always be practical due to the storage space long video recording sessions would gobble up, but doing so could also help you prove your case in court if stopped by a police officer for running a stop sign or traffic light. With video evidence supporting your case, you could spare yourself a traffic ticket and higher insurance rates, which could make the device pay for itself.

Ultimately, the DRS 1100 is a luxury item, but an extremely useful and desirable one. After seeing the DRS 1100 in action, you may want one just for the novelty, but also because you recognize its potential for capturing video footage when you might need it the most. You might never need the DRS 1100, but you’ll certainly want one.

Pro:

• Captures decent-quality video at various resolutions
• Captures GPS coordinates
• Automatically turns on when jolted during a car accident

Cons:

• Requires Windows, can’t view recorded data using Mac OS X or Linux
• GPS coordinates didn’t seem to work on my unit
• Recorder stores video in files only readable by the X-Driven program

You can buy it here for $299

Most people have cell phones that include a built-in camera. Unfortunately, these built-in cameras often have limited resolution and zoom capability along with less than stellar image quality. For those ready for a dedicated digital camera, the Kodak EasyShare Z915 is worth considering.

The most compelling feature of the Z915 is simply the quality of the images it can capture. The camera can capture images up to 10 megapixels resolution for extraordinarily sharp pictures. However, to capture more pictures in the same amount of storage space, you can choose from a variety of resolutions including 10.0, 8.9, 7.5, 5.0, or 3.1 megapixels.

Like most digital cameras, the Z915 stores images on Secure Digital (SD) cards (supporting a maximum of 32GB), but if you fill up your SD card or forget to put one in, the camera includes built-in 32MB of memory that allows you to capture approximately four 10 megapixel images before running out of space. This built-in memory can be handy, but its small size limits it to occasional or emergency use.

Beyond its 10 megapixel maximum resolution, the camera also offers 10x optical zoom. Cheaper digital cameras often offer digital zoom where the camera artificially enlarges an image at the sacrifice of grainier images. As a result, digital zoom is less desirable than optical zoom. No matter how far away an object might appear, this camera’s optical zoom lets you zero in on that image, making it perfect for capturing long-distance images such as a girl playing on a soccer field or an elephant roaming around in a zoo enclosure.

Of course, capturing high-quality images is useless if the camera takes too long to record an image between the time you press the shutter release and the time the camera actually captures an image. Fortunately, the Z915’s picture-capture speed is less than 0.3 seconds, which insures that you’ll capture the precise image you want, even moving images such as a child riding a bicycle or someone jumping off a diving board.

To further improve your pictures, the camera offers optical image stabilization so if your hand shakes slightly while taking a picture, you won’t wind up with a blurry image of a potentially great shot. To insure that you capture the right image, you can capture video (640 by 480 resolution at 30 frames per second) along with accompanying audio. This video quality won’t be as sharp as individual pictures, but it may be sufficient for occasional use. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to rely on this camera to record video exclusively.

One nice feature is the camera’s ability to use two ordinary AA batteries instead of a proprietary rechargeable one. This gives you the ability to buy replacement batteries anywhere while traveling. Just toss a bunch of spare AA batteries in your pocket and you’ll never risk running out of power ever again.

The camera includes a USB cable for transferring images to a computer along with Kodak’s EasyShare software for both Windows and Mac OS X. (The EasyShare software is a PowerPC program, which means Intel-based macs will run the program in emulation mode.) The EasyShare program allows for simple editing and enhancing of pictures, similar to iPhoto.

The zoom feature is particularly impressive as these two below photographs show. Notice the level of detail that allows you to zoom in and capture minute details of an image. Such zoom capability lets you capture images far away in sharp detail and clarity without physically getting near your subject.

Given its inexpensive price and variety of features, the Z915 camera is a perfect choice for casual photographers who demand quality combined with ease of use. You won’t mistake this camera for a professional camera, but the quality of its captured images can still rival the best that more expensive cameras might take.

You can grab one here for $184.

Pros

• Uses ordinary AA batteries
• Includes 32MB built-in memory
• 10x optical zoom
• 0.3 second click-to-capture speed

Cons

• Camera can’t accept additional lenses
• 32MB built-in memory can only store a handful of 10 megapixel images
• EasyShare software not a Universal Binary file for Mac OS X

If you’re outdoors in the dark, you’ll probably need a flashlight. Unfortunately, almost every flashlight is built the same way as a long tube. This makes it convenient to carry, but makes it less convenient to prop up anywhere. Even worse is that most flashlights are cumbersome to carry due to their long length. If you want a small, more compact flashlight that comes with a built-in stand, you might want to look at the Altus Lumen PAD-L.

Departing from the traditional tube design of most flashlights, the PAD-L more closely resembles the rectangular form factor of an iPod. This makes it easy to slip into a pocket and hold in your hand comfortably. Tapping a button in the side gives you four different levels of illumination ranging from low to high.
Unlike other flashlights, the PAD-L includes a hinged cover and metal stand that swings out, allowing you to prop this light on the ground to free your hands from holding it. By adjusting this metal stand, you can aim the light at different angles, which can be perfect when you’re working in the dark by yourself and can’t spare a hand to hold an ordinary flashlight to illuminate a specific area. To power this device, you just need four AAA batteries that fit under a metal cover that you can screw shut.

Besides being an interesting flashlight in its own right, the PAD-L may also appeal to your environmental concerns. The aluminum case is made from recycled materials, the LED light is up to 40 percent more efficient than ordinary lights, and the LED lights contain no mercury or other heavy metals that could leak into the environment.

Whether you care about its “green” environmental impact or not, the PAD-L is a handy flashlight to keep around the house or when traveling. Its small size makes it easy to slip into a purse or pocket when you’re going to be out at night. Although you can attach a string to its adjustable metal stand, it would be more convenient if the case itself offered a built-in clip so you could tie it to a belt loop or keychain.

The device does come with a carrying case, which does have a built-in metal loop, but when the light is tucked into its carrying case, you can’t use it.
The case could also use some ergonomic consideration. It looks and feels like a clunky metal box designed by the military. It would be nice if it were curved or shaped to contour more closely within the grip of a typical hand.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the PAD-L is a unique type of flashlight that’s perfect for taking everywhere you need light. If you need a small light that can stand up on its own, or if you want to use an environmentally friendly light, then the PAD-L should replace or supplement your current flashlight.

Pros:

• Small form factor that makes it easy to carry and hold
• Comes with a carrying case
• Built-in adjustable metal stand
• Four levels of illumination
• Environmentally friendly materials

Cons:

• Could use an ergonomic design to make it more comfortable to hold
• Would be nice to have a way to attach this device to something with a built-in clip without tucking it in its carrying case
• Small size can make it easy to misplace

The Altus Lumen PAD-L is available here for $39.90.

Half the fun of capturing pictures on a digital camera is sharing them with others or looking at them yourself. When you find a group of particularly interesting images, you could print them out and frame them, but then you would need a separate frame for each picture. A better solution is to store and display all your images in a digital picture frame.

Like other digital picture frames, the GiiNii GN-711W 7-inch Wedge Digital Picture Frame lets you store images on a variety of memory cards (SD, MMC, xD, and MS) or transfer images directly from a computer to the built-in 512Mb memory. Oddly, the GiiNii picture frame includes a USB port but does not include a USB cable, which you’ll have to buy separately.

While most picture frames let you create visual transition effects or play movie files (AVI) or audio files (MP3 and WMA), the GiiNii frame also provides a limited number of editing tools for changing the brightness, ratio, contrast, or color of your photos. If your pictures need drastic corrections, you’ll need to rely on Photoshop or other photo editing tools, but the GiiNii’s simple tools can make a good picture look even better.

To access these various effects, the picture frame displays four buttons on the side of its triangular base. This base makes the picture frame sturdy and compact, but its four control buttons on the side all look alike with no identifying labels to be found. You’ll constantly need to refer back to the manual to figure out which button does what, and if you lose the manual, you’ll just be forced to stare at four identical buttons and left to press each one to figure out what it really does.

One added bonus of this picture frame is its inclusion of a clock, calendar, and alarm. Instead of just displaying pictures one after another, it displays a clock and calendar in between images. Now you can check the time and look at your pictures.

Perhaps the most interesting feature has little to do with displaying images at all. You can program the picture frame to lower its power consumption by a fixed percentage that you choose. This helps save power at certain times of the day, such as at night when nobody will likely be looking at your pictures anyway.
If you just want a digital picture frame, you can find that anywhere, but if you want a power-saving, alarm clock picture frame, you should definitely look at the GiiNii Wedge picture frame.

Pros:

• Built-in 512Mb of memory for storing pictures
• Accepts SD, MMC, xD, and MS media cards
• 800×480 resolution
• Includes a clock, calendar, and alarm
• Works with MP3, WMA, ABI, JPEG, TIF, and GIF
• Offers energy-saving feature

Cons:

• Does not include a USB cable for connecting and transferring files from a computer
• Cryptic control buttons

The GiiNii GN-711W Wedge Digital Picture Frame is available here for $80

If you routinely poke around dark areas and need to take pictures of what you see (such as a home inspector peeking underneath a house), you could use a camera and carry a flashlight. However, carrying two items can be clumsy, so as a simpler alternative, you could carry Swann Surveillance’s unique flashlight that combines a digital camera with a video camcorder.

The flashlight requires three C batteries and weights 520 grams (without the weight of the batteries). It’s rather large for a flashlight with dimensions of 3.11 inches at its widest point, which is its front, 3.85 inches high, and 12.83 inches long. The head of the flashlight contains the bulb and the built-in camera and microphone. If you’re used to ordinary household flashlights, this unit will seem monstrous in comparison. However, if you’re used to typical police style flashlights, this item simply sports a larger head for its lens.
There are three levels of illumination that you can choose. Just turn on the flashlight, aim it, and now you have the option of taking still pictures or video. If you choose video, you can capture audio as well. The camera captures images at 640 by 480 resolution, which is acceptable but definitely grainier than typical digital cameras or video camcorders.

The flashlight captures video in MPEG-4 format at 30 frames per second (fps) and can a maximum of 18 minutes stored on its built-in 128Mb memory. If you plug in an optional SD card, you can store up to 1.5 hours of video on a 1Gb SD card.

After capturing pictures, video, or audio, you can download the data to your computer through an included USB cable, which plugs into any USB 1.1 port.

Despite the limited camera resolution, this flashlight can be especially handy for taking pictures wherever you can point the flashlight, such as inside a car engine or in an attic. For security purposes, the flashlight can help you record events without another person’s knowledge.

Since the camera and microphone are hidden in the flashlight’s lens, you could point the flashlight at anyone and record video and audio without their knowledge, which could be handy for storing crucial visual and audio evidence. The built-in microphone captures adequate sound, but don’t expect crystal clear fidelity. Overall, the built-in microphone and cameras are sufficient for typical uses for this flashlight.
The Swann Surveillance Flashlight DVR may be a bit expensive for ordinary use. However, if you need a hidden camera and microphone tucked inside what appears to be an ordinary flashlight, this product is truly one of a kind.

Pros:

• Built-in and hidden digital camera, video camcorder, and microphone
• Sturdy construction
• Built-in memory with optional expansion with separate SD card
• Includes USB cable for transferring data to a computer

Cons:

• Photograph and video quality lower than an ordinary camera
• Audio quality of the built-in microphone is sufficient, but could be better
• Expensive compared to buying a separate camera and flashlight

The Swann Surveillance Flashlight DVR is currently available here for $238

Apple’s latest 3G iPhone has dominated the smartphone market with good reason. Its touch screen makes using the phone a joy and its storage and audio capacity makes it an excellent music player. Probably the weakest link of the iPhone is its relatively limited battery life. Unless you only use your iPhone to make telephone calls, chances are good you’ll never get through an entire day without needing to recharge its batteries. Since you may not always be near a convenient electrical outlet or USB port on a computer, you may want to invest in a portable battery pack that can power your iPhone. One of the more stylish iPhone battery packs is the Juice Pack from Mophie.

The Juice Pack is basically a battery embedded inside a protective case. Plugging the iPhone into the battery is as simple as slipping the iPhone inside the Juice Pack. The manufacturer claims that the Juice Pack can extend talk time and Internet use time up to 6 hours, video playback up to 8 hours, and audio playback up to 28 hours. However you use your iPhone, the Juice Pack insures that you’ll never need to worry about running out of power in the middle of the day again.

Charging the Juice Pack takes about 3 hours. Just plug in the included USB cable to the USB port of your computer and you’ll be able to recharge the Juice Pack and synchronize your data at the same time.
When plugged into the Juice Pack, your iPhone can still play audio and take pictures with its built-in camera. Surprisingly, the Juice Pack doesn’t block the iPhone’s external speakers so music sounds just as good as if the Juice Pack wasn’t even there.

To help you monitor the Juice Pack’s power, you can press a button on the back that illuminates zero to four lights. A full charged Juice Pack illuminates all four lights while a Juice Pack with less power will illuminate fewer lights.

Despite its added bulk, the Juice Pack doesn’t interfere with the slim size and weight of the iPhone. You will notice the added weight and thickness, but after a day or two carrying your iPhone plugged into the Juice Pack, you shouldn’t notice much difference at all.

For $99.95, the Juice Pack is reasonably priced, especially if you frequently travel and can’t recharge your iPhone during the day. If you can’t afford to let your iPhone’s batteries die on you, then the Juice Pack will be a wise investment.

Pros:

• Light weight
• Extends the iPhone’s battery life dramatically
• Doesn’t interfere with the iPhone’s ordinary use

Cons:

• $99.95 may be a bit pricey for some people
• Thickness of the Juice Pack adds bulk and weight to the iPhone

The Mophie iPhone 3G Juice Pack is available here for $100

Everyone knows that light bulbs burn electricity, but if you get compact Energy Star fluorescent light bulb (which looks like a thick strand of spaghetti twisted in a circle), you can cut back on the amount of power consumed compared to an ordinary incandescent light bulb. In fact, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star fluorescent light bulb, that could save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for an entire year, save up to $600 million dollars in energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 800,000 cars.

For yet one more way to cut back on your energy usage, consider getting the Crystal Energy Cell, which clamps on to a compact fluorescent light bulb.

The Crystal Energy Cell looks like a plastic dome, but is made from photo luminescence crystals. Turning on the light charges up the Crystal Energy Cell. When you turn the light off, the Crystal Energy Cell emits a soft green glow. Depending on how long you’ve left the light on, this green glow can last for several hours. While this light may not be strong enough to read by, it’s just enough light to let you see your way without stumbling through a pitch dark room.

Think of the Crystal Energy Cell like a nightlight that always turns on when you turn off the light. Attach this product to a light bulb in your bedroom and you’ll always see its green glow at night. Plug this product on a light bulb in a kitchen or hallway, and you’ll always have a light to see at night without turning on a light bulb and burning up electricity.

Since light bulbs eventually burn out, you can detach the Crystal Energy Cell from a burnt out bulb and snap it on a new one. Unfortunately, you can’t snap this item on an ordinary light bulb; you must always use a compact Energy Star fluorescent light bulb.

Since the Crystal Energy Cell is basically a glow-in-the-dark device, you may not want to place it on any light bulb where its glow might disturb you, such as on a lamp right next to your bed.

Overall, the Crystal Energy Cell is a unique idea that acts like a power-free nightlight that always turns on whenever you turn the lights off. As long as you use compact Energy Star fluorescent bulbs, you may find this product handy to keep you from bumping into anything in the dark.

Pros:

• Power-free light source
• Inexpensive
• Always-on nightlight

Cons:

• Only clamps on to compact Energy Star fluorescent light bulbs
• May not want to use in rooms where you prefer total darkness, such as a bedroom

Crystal Energy Cell is available here for $19.95

Almost everyone has access to a digital camera or video camcorder. While most people just take pictures by holding their camera with one or two hands, more serious photographers rely on tripods. Unfortunately, tripods can be clumsy to carry and useless in certain situations. If you want to take a picture out a skyscraper window or under a bridge, a tripod won’t do you any good. To mount a camera securely and aim it in different directions, take a look at the Smart Pod.

This device consists of two main parts: a clamp and an 18-inch flexible arm that lets you mount a camera on the end. The clamp is a standard C-clamp that lets you attach this unit to any edge such on a door, a sign, a tree limb, or piece of furniture. Just tighten the clamp around any edge, secure the arm on the clamp, attach your camera to the other end of the arm, and you’re done.

Now you can twist and turn the arm in any direction to aim your camera in the direction that you need, which may be impossible to duplicate with an ordinary tripod.

This product’s greatest strength is its solid construction. The clamp is tough enough to hold this unit in place even if you stretch the flexible arm horizontally and mount a heavy video camera on the end. The flexible arm bends easily, but not willingly, which lets you twist it in the shape you need without worrying if it might droop, sag, or unravel at any time.

Conversely, this product’s greatest weakness is partly due to its solid construction. Trying to twist its mounting arm into your desired position can feel like trying to bend a steel rod in a cruel isometric exercise. When you get the arm bent in the shape that you need, you can be sure that it will hold that shape, but struggling to force it into that shape is the hardest part.

Since this product needs to clamp around an edge to secure it in place, you won’t find this item very useful in wide open spaces. In that case, you’ll be better off with an ordinary tripod and save the Smart Pod for when you can clamp it around a tree or street sign.

For any photographer who needs to mount a camera, but finds ordinary tripods too limited, the Smart Pod may be what you need. With its ability to clamp on to any edge and twist its arm in various directions, the Smart Pod is a versatile mount for any type of camera.

Pros:

• Sturdy construction
• Ability to twist and aim a camera in any direction
• Can securely clamp to any edge

Cons:

• Arm can be difficult to bend
• Needs an edge to mount this product

Update: Stan from Smart Pod contacted us and pointed something out.  The version we reviewed is the strongest and most robust Smart Pod designed to handle the heaviest of cameras.  They also make a lighter version (a child could bend it) which is much easier to bend and manipulate.

The Smart Pod is available here for $50

Running out of power is an all too common problem with portable game consoles, mobile phones, MP3 players, and digital cameras. The usual solution is to carry a power adapter with you wherever you go so you can recharge at the nearest convenient electric outlet (if you can find one). A second solution is to lug around a bulky battery pack that can provide additional power to your portable electronic device. Now you just have to worry about keeping this battery recharged at the same time as your electronic devices.
For another solution, look at the Solio H1000 charger, a portable solar panel designed specifically for recharging most portable electronic devices. Anywhere you can see the sun, you can use the Solio H1000 charger.

The entire unit consists of a solar panel and a battery enclosed in a plastic case with a built-in handle. The handle makes it easy to carry and its relatively small size 7.8 x 0.71 x 2.6 inches (198 x 68 x 18mm) dimensions makes it easy to slip in a purse or just hold in your hand.
A built-in cable clips to the top of the unit, but to plug it into any electronic device, you must use one of three included adapters: a full-size USB port (for iPods and iPhones), a mini USB port (for most devices such as Blackberrys, digital cameras, or Palm PDAs), or a Nokia N-series plug (for Nokia mobile phones).

Attach the correct adapter to the built-in cable, plug in your portable electronic device, and you’ll have two ways to use the Solio H1000 charger. The first and most obvious way is to lay the Solio device in the sun with the correct adapter plugged into the unit and your portable electronic device. This charges your device or lets you run it off solar power. The rated output is 1.5 to 5 watts.
A second way to use the Solio is as a portable battery. The Solio’s lithium-ion battery can is rated at 3.7V and 1000mAh. Charge up the battery by laying the device in the sun, or charge it up through an included USB cable.

However you decide to charge up the Solio’s battery, you can now use it as a portable battery pack so you can run your devices even in the complete absence of the sun. Just one hour of sunshine can equal approximately 15 minutes of talk time on a mobile phone or 40 minutes of music on a typical MP3 player.
Overall, the Solio H1000 is a great accessory for anyone who needs reliable power on the go. The addition of a battery to store power makes this solar panel useful even at night or when the sun isn’t shining.
Perhaps the biggest flaw with this device are its multiple adapters that you must use to plug it into different devices. If your portable electronic device doesn’t fit one of the three included adapters, you can order different adapters directly from the company.

More troublesome is that you’ll need to keep track of three separate adapters, which are small enough to lose easily. Take the wrong adapter with you and you’ll be out of luck. To be more useful, this device could have included a built in carrying case to hold all three adapters.

Stranger still is the curiously named Start button on the back of the unit. Pressing it displays a red or green light that indicates the charge remaining in its built-in battery. When completely discharged, the battery will display a red light when you press the Start button or a flashing green light when charging.
One green flash indicates 20% charged, two flashes equal 40% charged, three flashes equal 60% charged, four flashes equal 80% charged, and five flashes equal 100% charged. Such a confusion of flashing lights could have easily been avoided by just using a simple row of lights that visually displays the amount of battery charge remaining.

Overall, the Solio H1000 charger is a handy device for anyone who finds themselves away from power outlets during the day. Leave this device on your car dashboard to recharge, or haul it around wherever you go. Its extra bulk can make it slightly cumbersome to take with your portable devices, but you’ll find its ability to bring you power anywhere can be invaluable.

Pros:

• Easy to use with three included adapters
• Built-in battery to store power when the sun isn’t shining, can also be recharged through a USB cable
• Small and light 4.6 ounces (131g)

Cons:

• Adapters easy to lose
• Power indicator light confusing to understand

Solio H1000 Charger is available here for $80

The mouse that came with your computer is probably a generic mouse designed to do common tasks like using a word processor or a web browser. If you spend most of your time playing video games, you’ll find such an ordinary mouse merely sufficient. For a special mouse designed for gamers, look at the NZXT Avatar mouse.

Physically the NZXT mouse is symmetrically designed for both left and right-handed users, unlike some mice that curve in one direction. For greater gripping power during intense gaming sessions, this mouse includes rubber grips so your hands can’t slip off easily, even when perspiring. Teflon feet at the bottom of this mouse gives it a smooth feel. These physical features alone might be worth its $69.99 price, but it also offers additional features specific to gaming.

Besides the standard left and right mouse buttons and a scroll wheel, this mouse includes a left and right side button and two additional buttons directly underneath the scroll wheel. One problem with so many buttons is that you’ll need to get used to their positions. The left and right side buttons can be particularly clumsy to use since it’s easy to press them by mistake just by moving and squeezing the mouse too hard. The two top bottoms underneath the scroll wheel can also force you to curl your finger back at an uncomfortable angle just to press them.

To take advantage of these additional buttons, you need to install a special driver and customize it through its own program. This special software lets you configure all seven of the mouse’s buttons to perform various functions such as scrolling up or down the screen or adjusting the sensitivity of the mouse on the fly.

Depending on the resolution of a game and your screen, you may need to adjust the mouse’s sensitivity. With an ordinary mouse, you could do this through the Control Panel, but with the NZXT mouse, a simple click of one of its buttons can let you modify the mouse’s DPI (dots per inch) settings from 600, 1200, 1800, or 2600 dpi. LED lights, built-in along the mouse’s edge, visually displays the current DPI setting.

From a technical point of view, the company claims the mouse supports a maximum speed of 40 inch/second, a maximum acceleration of 15g, and a maximum frame rate of 6469 frames/second, which should make it suitable for playing any type of video game from the oldest classic to the latest first-person shooter.

This mouse plugs into any USB port and works with any computer. However, its special software features are only available for Windows XP/Vista, so if you’re a hard-core Windows gamer who demands the best equipment to hunt and gun down radioactive mutants, space aliens, or zombies in your favorite video game, the Avatar NZXT mouse may be what you need to elevate your gaming to the next level.

Pros:

• Ergonomic design for left and right-handed users
• Seven programmable buttons
• On the fly DPI setting

Cons:

• Advanced programmable features work only with Windows XP/Vista
• Placement of extra buttons may be inconvenient for some users

The NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse is available here for $70

Nearly everyone has seen a laser pointer that lets you highlight presentations from a distance. While such lasers are useful, they’re also relatively harmless unless you stare directly at the laser for long periods of time. If wielding a mild laser pointer is too tame for you, then look at the Elite Series of lasers from Wicked Lasers.

These lasers are slightly larger than a ballpoint pen (15mm by 155mm) and made out of chrome finished brass, giving it an elegant appearance. It runs on two AAA batteries, which give the laser a battery life of approximately 90 minutes. This may seem like a short amount of time, but it’s mainly because this Elite Series of Wicked Lasers is nothing more than a low-powered weapon.

At close range, it can easily pop balloons, light matches, and burn exposed skin. Point this laser at a PowerPoint presentation on the wall and you’re liable to scorch the wall. Point this laser at an attacker at close range, and you have a high-tech self-defense weapon.

Its output power ranges from 100mW – 200mW with a beam divergence of 0.8mRAD – 1.2mRAD and a beam diameter of 1.6mm. If you’ve ever wanted a real laser, the Elite Series puts that power in your hands.

Due to the high-energy this laser emits, this is definitely not a toy or an ordinary laser pointer for casual office use. This is a powerful weapon that needs to be treated with care, so you’ll want to keep this out of the hands of children and other unsuspecting people who may play with it and hurt themselves by accident.

If you visit the Wicked Lasers web site, you can read testimonials from soldiers in Iraq, who have battle-tested this unit and praised its performance. If you need high-tech firepower in any situation, the Elite Series of Wicked Lasers will more than meet your demands.

There are a few notable drawbacks to this laser.  For one, it sucks the life out of its two AAA batteries far too quickly. If you use this laser frequently, you’ll churn through AAA batteries fairly often, so the cost of additional batteries will add up. Another problem is that the on button is flush with the unit, so it’s difficult to turn it on by mistake (such as when carrying it in your shirt or pants pocket). However, perhaps a cap or some kind to cover over the lens would be helpful just as one more barrier to protect people. That way if you want to use it, you’d have to remove the cap and then deliberately point it at something. The way it is without a cap, it’s too easy to point it at something and turn it on, only to find out that you’re pointing it at something fragile like someone’s eye or on your exposed skin of your arm.

Pros:

• Powerful laser, especially for its size
• Small and lightweight
• Made from high-quality materials,looks great

Cons:

• Short battery life
• Looks harmless like a typical laser pointer, but is far more dangerous making it easy to hurt someone

Wicked Lasers, Elite Series is available here for $499.99+

If you travel in your car, you probably take an MP3 digital music player (such as an iPod), a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a mobile phone (such as an iPhone) wherever you go. The biggest problem with relying on so many devices is that they often run out of power at the worst possible time. While you could carry each device’s charger with you so you can plug into a convenient electrical wall outlet, you may not always have access to such a power outlet. As an alternative, you can turn your car into a power source with USB Fever’s car charger.

This device plugs directly into your car’s cigarette lighter socket, but unlike similar devices, it actually includes a cigarette lighter socket so you no longer have to choose between having an accessible lighter socket or plugging in a charging device.

Besides the lighter socket, this item includes four USB ports so you can plug in an iPod, iPhone, or any portable electronic device that can recharge from a USB port. Now you can recharge all your devices as you drive and when you park, they’ll be ready to go with you without the risk of losing power.

Besides recharging portable devices like iPods or iPhones, you could also use this device to power one of the many portable printers. Just plug a portable printer into a USB port, connect the printer to your laptop, and you can print documents right in your car.

To use this device, you’ll need to bring (or buy) USB cables for each device you want to recharge. On the rare chance that four USB devices draws too much power, this item includes a fuse to prevent any damage.

If you spend more time in your car than inside where you can find an electrical wall outlet, this low-cost car charger will be the best investment you could make. Plug it into your cigarette lighter, and then plug in up to four USB cables to charge your portable devices. Other than the fact that the company only sells this device in one color (black), there’s little reason not to use this car charger to insure you’ll never run out of energy again (unless, of course, you forget to bring your USB cable with you).

Car Charger with 4 USB Ports and 1 Cigarette Socket is available here for $23

Flash drives are convenient for transferring data between computers, but too often, most flash drives are too fragile to survive the bumps and bruises of being carried in a pocket or purse. Inevitably, people drop their flash drives on the ground and step on it or leave it in their clothes that they drop in a washing and drying machine. If you need to transfer data and can’t risk losing it through damage or physical abuse, you might want to look at the ATP ToughDrive Camo.

Like most USB flash drives., the ToughDrive Camo includes a cap to protect the metal end that plugs into the USB port. It also includes a removable hook that lets you attach the flash drive to your clothes, such as through the belt loop on your pants.

What sets the ToughDrive Camo apart from its competition is its tough synthetic polymer coating that encases the entire unit and protects it from physical damage. This rugged rubber coating includes a camouflage design to emphasize its military-style toughness, while the removable cap fits snugly over the exposed metal portion that plugs into the USB port. While this cap fits tightly, there is no way to keep the cap attached to the ToughDrive Camo itself when it’s plugged into a computer. Lose this cap and you’ll lose the ToughDrive Camo’s ruggedness as well.The ToughDrive web site includes testimonials from military veterans who have exposed the drive to the dirt, heat, and grime of the Middle East and found the ToughDrive Camo survived all environments. Part of the ToughDrive Camo’s protection comes from its synthetic polymer casing, but another part of its protection comes from its internal components wrapped in a protective casing as well. This combination of internal and external protection insures that the ToughDrive Camo will live up to its name.

The manufacturer estimates a ToughDrive Camo can last up to 10 years and transfer data at speeds up to 30MB/second. While you can use the ToughDrive Camo with any operating system including Mac OS X and Linux, it includes a special program that works only with Windows XP/Vista

This program lets you partition your flash drive and password-protect it. Now the ToughDrive Camo can not only physically protect your data, but its password partition can prevent unauthorized users from peeking at your data at the same time.

The ToughDrive Camo is available in sizes ranging from 1GB to 8GB at a price of $20 and up, depending on where you buy it. Although the ToughDrive Camo can’t survive extreme damage like gunfire or having a truck run over it, it will likely survive the typical physical abuse that the average user will likely put it through. If you want a rugged flash drive, the ToughDrive Camo should be tough enough for you.

Pros:

• Rugged exterior coating makes it easy to grip and protects against shocks
• Fast and reliable

Cons

• Cap can be easy to lose
• Special partitioning and password-protection program only works on Windows XP/Vista

Available here

Official product page here

If you enjoy playing or manipulating puzzles, you’ll likely enjoy the NeoCube, a unique puzzle that consists of tiny magnetic spheres that allow you to twist, mold, and manipulate them to create interesting geometrical designs.

The amazing part about this puzzle is how simple it can be to play, yet how deceptively complex it can really be. Grab the magnetic spheres and lump them together. Rather than form a shapeless blob, the magnetic spheres tend to orient themselves into specific shapes such as cubes, rectangles, and even stars.

Pull a layer of spheres and the entire strip peels away like a sheet of paper. Twist this sheet of spheres in circles and they’ll naturally form complex designs such as triangles, stars, and circles.

You can manipulate these spheres to create two-dimensional designs or for greater complexity, wrap the spheres around themselves to create more fascinating three-dimensional designs. The spheres seem to naturally connect into geometrical patterns and with a little twisting and prodding, you can coax the spheres into forming more complicated designs.

Visit NeoCube’s web site and you can watch a video of someone effortlessly twisting and shaping the NeoCube into beautiful patterns. While this video makes it look easy, the surprise is that when you start playing with the NeoCube yourself, you’ll find it’s just as easy for you to do it too.

For $34.95, the NeoCube is a deceptively addictive game that can amuse you for long periods of time. While you can visit NeoCube’s web site to find additional ideas or tips for manipulating the puzzle, it would be nice to have a printed tutorial included. Another potential problem may be that the cost for a bunch of magnetic spheres might seem a bit high, but once you start playing with the NeoCube, you’ll find the price is worth it.

Pros:

• Unique puzzle game that exercises your creativity
• Easy and fun to play, addictive

Cons:

• Seemingly high cost
• Online tips and tutorials only, comes only with a single sheet of instructions and guidance

NeoCube is available here for $34.95

The latest trend with video games is to play opponents over the Internet. While battling human opponents in your favorite game can be more challenging, you might want to take online gaming one step further and shoot at each other using the MSN Missile Launcher.

This toy plugs into two USB 1.1 port of any Vista/XP/2000 PC and includes an integrated webcam along with three foam missiles. The idea is that you plug this toy into your computer, plug another toy on your buddy’s computer (either in the next cubicle or anywhere on the planet), and connect with your friend through the MSN Messenger program.

Through MSN Messenger, you can control the MSN Missile Launcher connected to your buddy’s computer and your buddy can control the same toy connected to your computer. With its three foot long USB cable, each missile launcher can be placed within the general area of the PC.
Using the integrated webcam on each toy, each player then swivels the missile launcher up, down, right, or left to find the target (the other person). When you see the target through the webcam, click the mouse and fire a foam missile. After three shots, your friend will have to reload the missile launcher and you can start playing all over again.

To add to the fun, the missile launcher includes sound effects and can fire its foam missiles up to fifteen feet. If you don’t have a friend with an MSN Missile Launcher, you could hook this up to your home PC, control it from work, and use the included paper target with a bulls-eye to practice shooting the missile from work. (You’ll only get three shots before you’ll need to rush home and reload the missile launcher though.)

Rather than shoot at the paper target, you could also use this toy to monitor the activities in your home and fire at anyone in your house such as your spouse, kids, or even a burglar. Unfortunately, this toy lacks the ability to use its webcam as a motion-detection device to fire at targets automatically in the absence of your control.

For $60, the MSN Missile Launcher is a unique gift. After playing a few times, the novelty of firing foam missiles at each other may soon wear off, however. Still, if you’re looking for something different that can keep you amused with your computer, the MSN Missile Launcher may be the gift for you.

Pros:

• Fun idea for competing against your friends
• Easy to setup and use

Cons:

• Limited long-term playing appeal
• Only works with Vista/XP/2000, no Macintosh support
• Only works with MSN Messenger

Available here for $60

Unlike traditional night lights that plug into a wall outlet, the NiteTrip runs off three AAA batteries. This allows you to place the NiteTrip anywhere you need it regardless of the location of any electrical outlets. (You could even place the NiteTrip outside temporarily if you want, although it’s not designed to be left outdoors.)

The use of batteries makes this light completely portable. Place it in the bathroom, in a closet, in a hallway, or in the middle of a room. Wherever you can find a flat surface, that’s where you can place the NiteTrip, independent of any electrical outlets.

The light itself consists of a soft, blue LED light that emits a soft glow. The purpose of such a light is to illuminate an area without subjecting you to a harsh, blinding light such as turning on an ordinary lamp.
More unique is that this LED light appears at the end of a metal neck that you can twist and turn in unusual shapes so you can point the light in any direction you need. For example, you could twist this light around the corner of a wall or wrap it around a handrail down a flight of stairs.

While most night lights stay all the time, the NiteTrip gives you three options. You can have the light illuminate constantly, or you can take advantage of its motion-activation sensor that can turn on a light after 30 seconds or 5 minutes. This lets the NiteTrip stay off and conserve its batteries until it detects someone stumbling around in the dark. Then it lights up to illuminate the area.

For $24.95, the NiteTrip is an improvement over the traditional night light. However, be aware that it does have some disadvantages. Where you can plug most night lights into an outlet and forget about it, the NiteTrip relies on batteries, so you’ll need to keep spare batteries around. While it won’t burn out batteries at an outrageous rate, you might prefer the convenience of not relying on batteries at all.

Another possible limitation is its motion-activation feature, which only gives you three options: 30 second delay, 5 minute delay, or on all the time. If you want the light to turn on after 1 minute or 45 seconds, you’re stuck with the fixed time delay options.

Despite these minor flaws, the NiteTrip is a fun and interesting twist on a traditional night light that kids will certainly enjoy. The light is small and light enough to take with you on the road so you can place a night light in anywhere in a hotel room. Get a couple of NiteTrips and place them in various positions around your house. After seeing the NiteStrip, old fashion night lights may just seem too limited.

Pros: Adjustable neck allows you to twist or turn the light in unusual directions, Soft, blue LED light, lightweight, easily portable

Cons: Motion-activated timer limited to either 30 seconds or 5 minutes, battery-powered (three AAA size batteries) only, no option for plugging it in

NiteTrip motion-activated light available here for $24.95