Innovative and useful. It's not often you can say that about a secure digital memory c but OCZ Technology can boast both claims in their new range of SD cards. It's a standard sized SD card perfect for digital devices with a neat twist. Unlike conventional SD memory, OCZ SD Dual converts into a high-speed USB 2.0 connector eliminating the need for an independent card reader to transfer or view pictures or data on any PC. Just slip off the housing to reveal a USB 2.0 ready connection. It's simple, fast and convenient. In fact, it's the number one must have gadget in the MaXit labs. This card is ideal for high performance digital cameras, MP3 players, PDAs, GPS units, and more. Now you can store and transfer everything from photos, music, and videos in virtually all your favorite digital devices without the hassle of cables or card readers.
 

Who said there's no use for your old IBM "M Series" keyboards anymore? This creative fellow shows us step by step how to convert the keyboards of yesteryear into keyboards of an even further distant, fictional time. H. G. Wells would be proud.

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With CeBIT 2007 set to start, ASUS announce ten new hardware products to tempt your wallets. If all these at once is like an early Christmas, then take the following several descriptions as a metaphorical peak under the wrapping:

DAV Centre A33 – the Ultimate digital entertainment unit, built in 5.1 Channel Home Theatre sound with 100W per channel at 8Ω, for the first time a home computer system with superb sound as standard.

P2-M2A690G – following on from the hugely successful Pundit barebone series the P2-M2A690G is a leather-textured book size barebone that supports Blu-Ray, HDMI, S/PDIF out and is fully Vista ready proving a small centre to your digital home.

LS201 – the LS201 LCD is an ultra slim 20” LCD that has jewel-class glass for the ultimate in scratch resistance and an exclusive Light-in-Motion base providing ambient backlighting for a gorgeous soothing effect.

MW221U – 22” LCD Monitor with full HDCP encryption and an industry leading at the size 2ms response time, coupled with Trace Free Technology it means you have super high quality images that stay sharp even at fast speeds.

EN8800GTX AquaTank – a powerful ready to go custom Water Cooled 8800GTX card offering an increase of speed of over 11% with still being 12°C cooler than the reference GF8800GTX cards.

ASUS OC Gear – a world exclusive, for the first time enthusiasts now have the power to overclock in real-time. The 5.25” drive bay occupying OC Gear displays real-time info direct from your graphics cards, allowing you to overclock, control fan speeds and keep an eye on temperatures from the front of your case

XG Station – the XG Station will have its first public demonstration at CeBIT allowing slim and light notebook users to experience the power of desktop graphics. Along with a USB 2.0 hub and Dolby Headphone technology the XG station seamlessly integrates Notebook technology with PC Graphics Power.

Asus W5Fe – the world’s first SideShow notebook will be on display so you can get a firsthand look at how the external screen work, how it seamlessly integrates with Vista and how a notebook can become fully integrated into your working life.

Lamborghini VX2 – the exceptional VX2 shows off exactly how a automotive collaboration should be done, exquisite design details, powerful specifications and an unsurpassed pride of ownership making the experience of a Asus Lamborghini VX2 unlike any other notebook available on the market.

Asus U1F – a powerful Vista Business notebook squeezed into a chassis less than 1kg in weight. The ultimate in portability, coupled with the latest technology like an LED screen and the latest low voltage Intel Processor for superb battery life.

If you are in CeBIT over the next week drop by the ASUS stand, Hall 2, Stand A12 for a good old peak at all this hot hardware!

 

Serious FightPad Technology If you are off to CeBIT this year, you'll be able to check out the new FightPad Advanced that is celebrating its première in the Revoltec gaming range at CeBIT 2007 in Hall 24 Booth E11. This innovative keyboard extension has been developed specifically for advanced computer gamers. Its optimal, ergonomic key layout (ultra-precise keystroke) allows extremely fast access to the game control elements.

Using twenty macro keys and the extensive software, key combinations, text sequences and mouse movements can be programmed, resulting in shorter reaction and input times.

The seven specially developed grey FightKeys provide added game control optimisation. The blue underlight and the high-gloss, refined Steel Grid surface guarantee an extra-special visual effect. The new Revoltec FightPad will be available as from the end of April 2007.

The ergonomically designed FightPad complements the Revoltec gaming family which already features the Revoltec FightBoard, the 2000 dpi FightMouse, three GamePads and a clever Lan-Bag. More details over at the Revoltec Website.

According to Science Daily, mass spectrometry is no longer limited to what can be taken to the lab. Purdue researchers have created a device they liken to a tricorder, a handy 20-lb. device that combines mass spectrometry with DESI (desorption electrospray ionization), allowing chemical composition to be determined outside of a vacuum chamber. Purdue suggests this could be useful for everything from detecting explosive substances or cancer to predicting disease. Researcher R. Graham Cooks says, 'We like to compare it to the tricorder because it is truly a hand-held instrument that yields information about the precise chemical composition of samples in a matter of minutes without harming the samples.'"

Sounds like these guys might have watched one too many episodes of Star Trek.

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Las Vegas, NV, March 7 Eastman Kodak Company today announced the latest additions to its award-winning line of consumer digital cameras, including the KODAK EASYSHARE Z712 IS and Z885 Zoom Digital Cameras, with high ISO and image stabilization for taking great action pictures in any lighting conditions.

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The latest iTunes update hints at the gaming capabilities of the Apple TV box confirming the Job's box unannounced features. AppleInsider probed the newly revised software and found it contains twenty four text strings for game management, game syncing, lack of space warnings, and user attempts to transfer unauthorized games to the Apple TV. 

No details on the actual games have been confirmed by Apple or when they are likely to be featured but don't expect Crysis and Half Life 2 gaming hitting the AppleTV box anytime soon unless Apple are hiding some fancy peripherals up their sleeves!

Canon claim to have the worlds fastest digital camera with the launch of the Canon EOS-1D Mark III. With a new 10.1M Cmos sensor enabling standard ISO 100-3200 and high-speed shooting up to 10fps with 110 Large JPEG shots per burst, it certainly is no slouch.

High speed precision auto focus is improved with 19 cross-type AF points supporting F2.8 aperature and 26 assist AF points help capture really, really fast moving action. USB 2.0 compatibility is now standard and a large 3" monitor helps improve operation ease.

Response also is enhanced by a startup time of approximately 0.2 sec. and a minimal shutter release time lag of 55ms, 40ms using Custom Function. WhatÙs more, the new shutter has a maximum speed of 1/8000 sec. and high speed X-sync at 1/300 sec.

Professionals who want shooting performance without the usual noise will also welcome the addition of the new silent single shooting function in drive mode, which greatly minimizes shutter and reflex mirror noise.

Unfortunately the price tags gets a hike too - the suggested price of £3,050 is way above the street price of its predecessor. The full specs are impressive (over the page for full details) and go someway to justifying the cost.

 Meccano's latest creation is a Wi-Fi droid that guards your PC. Dubbed the Spyke robot, the device is controlled via Wi-Fi and can be operated from your desktop with some smart software.

The Meccano Spyke can read out Skype conversations, play MP3's, broadcast images via a webcam and guard your computer with a sophisticated array of motion detectors. The sensors spring into action when movement is detected and can sound an alarm or send a picture via email. So you can catch the stripey lags with your prized Dell PC and notify the law who'll turn up three days later.

We were kinda hoping the name implied that the Robot came equipped with deadly knives and cutting instruments that could be armed to slash, stab and cause untold pain on any would be thieves. Unfortunately, the design boffins at Mecanno thought a loud sound and picture capture would result in less law suits from the criminals maimed by a terminator style robot - well criminals do have rights you know!

More Robot pictures after the click.

Samsung's second generation Blu-Ray disc player is expected to be out next month. The BD-P1200 was shown recently at the CES. This player excels over its predecessor, the BD-P1000 with a host of new features.

The BD-P1200 adds support for 1080i to 1080p conversion via its Hollywood-Quality Video (HQV) processor that performs deinterlacing on both Blu-ray and non-Blu-ray formats such as standard DVDs.

The player also adds remote device control over HDMI 1.3, as a part of the HDMI-CEC specification. This allows for improved interaction with the devices, such as using the disc players remote control with the TV to have the instructions sent to the player. It also allows the player to control the TV. This improved feature is being labelled AnyNet+ by Samsung.

The new player will also add in 7.1 channel audio support, over the existing Dolby Digital Plus and DTS support, amongst others. There's no news yet on the price of the BD-P1200.