Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals

We all know the holiday season is coming up, but even if you’re on the hunt for a gag gift for your fav-o-rite prankster, we can’t not recommend the following turds enough. Up first is the absolutely unbelievable Night Sweat Alarm watch, which actually wakes you up if it detects that you’re perspiring. Why? Legend has it that no one knows. Moving on, we’ve got the USB Volcano — a perfect mix of your first-grade science project and your college-era infatuation with all things USB. Things start to get really absurd when viewing the self-explanatory Glass of Milk Light and the Retro Handy Handset, but even those are potentially topped in stupidity by the Air Flow Mouse and cake-shaped USB drives. Have a look at each below before casting your vote, but keep that barf bag handy.

Read - Sweat Alarm watch
Read - USB Volcano
Read - Glass of Milk Light
Read - Retro Handy Handset
Read - Air Flow Mouse
Read - Cake-shaped USB drive

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Filed under: Peripherals

There are ergonomic mice, floaty mice, geometric mice, and of course gaming mice, but, if you’re the type of guy or gal who’d rather be fondling a Hurst pistol-grip than any of those sissy things, then 4Door’s RoadMice are for you. They’re wireless mini modern muscle car mice that replicate the look of autos like the Dodge Charger, Chevy Z06 ‘Vette, and Ford Mustang, complete with two-button hoods, 800 dpi optical sensors, scroll wheel induction cowls, and even working headlights for safe clicking at night. Each one comes with a USB receiver, six-month unlimited mile warranty, and a vaguely authentic looking title certificate if you register online. Yeah it’s all a bit cheeky, and we’re thinking that lip-spoiler on the back of the Camaro wouldn’t do your palm any favors, but, for $45 in a variety of colors, they’re cheaper and more useful than the other bits of automotive memorabilia scattered around your office.

[Via Autoblog]

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Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

With Wrath of the Lich King just around the corner, it’s time to up your game and finally make it out of the low double digits with that Blood Elf mage you keep telling us about. Maybe SteelSeries can help. The high-end gaming peripherals builder recently snapped up Ideazon, and together they’ve built the official World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse in close cooperation with Ideazon’s BFF Blizzard. There are 15 programmable buttons scattered across the mouse, and a new in-game configuration utility to graphically assign the buttons just where they’re needed. You can save different profiles for different purposes, and choose one of 16 million colors for those LEDs down the back. Just don’t expect any fancy auto-levelling macros or even a recommended control scheme — Blizzard still expects you to do the hard work of lining up your favorite actions and buying your gold on eBay. The laser mouse hits on November 13th to coincide with the Lich King launch, and should retail “under $100.”

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Filed under: Peripherals

Another month, another ergonomic mouse. Somehow, against all odds, we’ve found ourselves believing that this one may actually make a difference. Who knows — maybe it’s the fact that Hippus’ HandshoeMouse was developed at two medical universities in Holland and not in someone’s basement. Or maybe it’s because “extensive medical studies support the concept.” At any rate, the critter — which enables the user to “place the whole palm of their hand on the mouse without having to cling on to it” — comes in a trio of sizes based on how humongous / diminutive your gripper is and can be purchased now in black or white for €120 ($166). For ultimate carpal tunnel shielding, we’d recommend use of it with the LapWorks Gamers Desk… but only if you’re okay with being single forever.

[Via HotHardware]

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Filed under: Gaming

If you’re having trouble choosing which gaming mouse to sink your teeth into next, here’s a newbie to add to the ever growing pile: the Nova Slider X 600. Not surprisingly, it’s tethered to a “recommended” mouse pad — a cornerstone product for this French based company. As for the laser mouse it features “indestructible” super-glide ceramic feet for speed and precision, along with 8 programmable buttons, a gold-plated USB connector, five luminous color options, and a cable that is notably positioned to the side. The 16.5-inch x 11.5-inch “OVER Slide” mouse pad boasts a 12,000 dpi ceramic surface, and promises “zero lag and optimal conditions” for the laser — you know, way better than that magazine you’ve been using. The mouse and pad can be had for $99.99 and $39.99 respectively this November.

[Via Everything USB]

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Filed under: Peripherals

LaserGames is a mod for projectors allowing up to two players to interact with a game using a run-of-the-mill (red or green) laser pointer in place of a mouse or controller, minus the precision response. Developer Alpay Kasal of Lit Studios isn’t giving any hints on how this thing works, but we imagine it uses sensor technology similar to interactive projections — you know, the ones where a video is projected on the ground and you get to kick around a soccer ball and then watch some tacky Nokia ad at the end. If you’re up for trying this out first hand, Kasal’s prototype will soon be on public display for some wild and crazy retina burning action — no word yet on when or where. Check out his video after the jump.

Continue reading LaserGames mouse emulator: more fun than blinding a 747 pilot

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Filed under: Peripherals

We know — there’s a certain sect of you out there that just goes bonkers whenever a new mouse and / or keyboard is released. Unfortunately, we’ll be catering to the other 99% with this one. Alongside a few new laptops, a new desktop and a pair of digiframes, HP is also unveiling a whole host of input peripherals this evening. Up first is the HDX Laser Mouse, which features five programmable buttons, on-the-fly DPI switching up to 2,400, five individual setting profiles and USB 2.0 connectivity. Next up is the Wireless Comfort Desktop, which includes a spill-resistant Wireless Comfort Keyboard, a Wireless Vector Mouse (800 DPI), a USB wireless receiver and four AA batteries (imagine that!). Last, we’ve got the Laser Gaming Mouse with VoodooDNA, which cranks the DPI up to 3,200 and includes VoodooDNA GUI software. As for pricing, you’re looking at $39.99, $79.99 and $59.99 in order of mention.

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Filed under: Peripherals

It’s a mouse, it’s a television remote control — really, besides a bag of chips and a great Belgian lager like Budweiser, what else is needed for a sedentary lifestyle? The C@T-one (get it, cat one?) ships with a 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle and should work with your PC-based media center or FORIS.HD TV. ¥12,600 (about $120), problem solved.

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Peripherals

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Filed under: Peripherals

It’s not all BlueTrack hysteria for Microsoft today — the company’s hardware division also took the wraps off that Arc Mouse we spotted back in July and the new Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000. The two-part wireless Arc Mouse isn’t just pure fashion — the folding design allows it to flip closed for easy storage and portability, and unfolds to full size when in use. Sadly, it doesn’t get the hot new BlueTrack tech, but uses a traditional optical sensor instead — but the 2.4GHz connection provides a 30-foot range. The Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000 is your basic travel optical mouse, but it’ll get six months out of one AA battery. Both of these should be out this month — the Arc Mouse will come in black and red for $60, while the Mobile Mouse 3000 will come in black and white for $30 — there’ll be some colorful special editions in Target as well. Check the Mobile Mouse 3000 after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft Arc Mouse unfolds into view along with the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000

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Filed under: Peripherals

Yeah, so we might have forced Microsoft’s hand into announcing the fall Zune lineup a day early, but nothing can upstage the pure excitement of the Say Goodbye to Laser campaign — awww yeah, the BlueTrack mice are official today. The new tracking tech uses a (surprise!) blue beam and wide-angle “specular optics architecture” to work on a wider range of surfaces than traditional optical or laser mice, including granite, marble, and even carpet. The new tech will debut in two new mice: a revised wireless Microsoft Explorer Mouse and that Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse that we’d already spotted. Both will be available at Best Buy in November for $99 and $79, respectively.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals

While you may be more familiar with the word Gyration paired with mouse, Movea has decided to combine its excellence in cursor-pointing with its knowledge of remote-making. The HTPC universal remote, christened Gyration Air Music Remote, includes a backlit LCD that can display music choices from WMP / iTunes, a motion sensor for inputting mouse commands from your couch (up to 100-feet away) and RF / IR support. If all that fits your bill, you can grab one now for $179.99 or $229.99 when bundled with a wireless portable keyboard.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras, Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Seriously, our hands are trembling at the mere thought of having to actually use any of these shameful peripherals. A camera that takes the good with the (mostly) bad? A star-shaped mouse guaranteed to accelerate the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome by 409%? A USB fan that blatantly lies about purifying the hot air coming from that clogged up tower of yours? All present and accounted for, sir, and that’s not even the half of ‘em. We have all ideas you too would want to keep your digits far, far away from any of the disasters linked below, but give the list a look and let us know which one you think is the most pitiful of all.

Read - Mouse pad / USB hub / mic
Read - USB Whack It
Read - Yang Ying Camera
Read - Star Mouse
Read - Key-shaped USB key
Read - Totally original touchscreen MP3 player
Read - USB fan with super-secret germ killing powers

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video

So we know that Microsoft is gearing up to launch those new “Blue Track” mice on September 9th, but Ars Technica says that there’s a good chance we’ll be getting new webcams and — surprise! — Zunes as well. Sadly, the new mice might still be the most exciting things on the ticket — the LifeCam VX-5500 and LifeCam Show NX-8000 are pretty much just webcams, and we’re not expecting anything Zune hardware-related beyond beyond bumps to 120GB and 16GB and perhaps that blue flash number. Still, there’s a chance we could be surprised by those rumored new software and service announcements, but Microsoft’s going to have to reach deep into the wow box to steal attention from a certain black-turtlenecked raconteur who’ll be taking the stage in Cupertino to announce some minor new PMPs that day as well. Let the games begin!

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Filed under: Peripherals

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Filed under: Peripherals

We’d say the jump from traditional optical mice to laser mice was pretty momentous, and it sounds like Microsoft is getting ready to jump again — Microsoft Hardware put up a teaser this afternoon for a September 9th announcement featuring the tagline “Say Goodbye to Laser.” Yeah, that’s not exactly subtle, is it? We’re hoping a return to old-school trackballs with grimy little wheels is in order, but we’re just sentimentalists at heart.

[Via Seattle PI, thanks Spencer]

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Filed under: Peripherals

We had a hunch that Microsoft would be launching a SideWinder-branded keyboard this fall, and sure enough, the suits in Redmond are keeping the revitalized name alive with an all new September-bound input peripheral combo. The SideWinder X6 is hailed as the “first gaming keyboard created by Microsoft from the ground up, and the only gaming keyboard on the market with a switchable key pad.” When not in gaming mode, the key pad transforms into a full-programmable macro pad. You’ll also find two-color adjustable backlighting, mode switching and a $79.95 price tag. As for the X5 mouse, this critter packs nine buttons (five of which are customizable), a 2,000DPI laser tracking engine, six DPI settings (adjustable on the fly) and a $59.95 sticker. Full release is just after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft intros SideWinder X6 keyboard and X5 mouse

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Filed under: Peripherals

Hard to believe it has been well over a year since Logitech unveiled its original Cordless Desktop, huh? As of today, said outfit is formally introducing the Cordless Desktop Wave Pro, a two-pack that includes the Wave Keyboard and the MX1100 laser mouse. You’re plenty familiar with the first half of the equation, but the new critter promises to last up to six whole weeks on a full charge, and the included USB plug enables users to charge and work if they’re okay with a temporary tether. You’ll also find a 1,600DPI sensitivity rating, MicroGear precision scroll wheel and eight programmable buttons. Look for the happy couple to land in the US in October and Europe in mid-November for $129.99, while the mouse alone will go for $79.99 two months earlier in each region. Full release after the jump.

Continue reading Logitech reveals Cordless Desktop Wave Pro keyboard / mouse tandem

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Filed under: Peripherals

Today Logitech is unveiling its V550 Nano cordless laser mouse. This $60 mouse packs a few tricks including that itty bitty 2.4GHz USB nano receiver, 18-month life off 2x AA batteries, and “Clip-and-Go Dock” which affixes to your laptop. the 3.91 x 2.28 x 1.34-inch V550 also features Logitech’s superb hyperfast scrolling. Expect it to ship sometime later this month in the US and Europe.

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Filed under: Peripherals

Yeah, we’ve seen the cart come before the horse before, and such is the case with NZXT’s Avatar gaming mouse. Shortly after being previewed, the outfit has done its duty and made things official. Specs wise, we’re looking at 7 customizable buttons, a 2,600DPI optical sensor, 4-speed DPI switch, ambidextrous design and a rubber grip to keep your palm secure even when the sweat really gets to pourin’. It’s available now to challenge your Razer for $59.99.

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