fitpc
What’s all this then? At first glance it looks like it might be some sort of wireless gadget but believe it or not it is a complete PC, and no, that’s not a giant key. It’s called Fit-PC Slim and the whole thing measures just 10 x 11 x 3cm, which isn’t much larger than a pack of 20 cigarettes. Inside the box they have managed to squeeze an AMD Geode CPU running at 500MHz, there’s 512Mb RAM, a 60GB hard drive, Wi-FI and audio adaptors plus all the usual inputs and outputs. It comes pre-loaded with Linux or XP; there’s no fan, so it’s completely silent and all it needs to run is a simple 12-volt power supply. Amazing stuff, though you might now be asking why, and I have to say that I have no easy answers, but for someone out there it’s just what they’ve been waiting for!
Here’s a wireless utility with a difference. The Xirrus Wi-Fi Monitor generates a radar-like display to show all of the wireless networks in range of your laptop. By translating relative signal strength into range it shows, in a rather eye-catching way, which ones are likely to give you the best connection. For obvious reasons – unless you have a rotating and highly directional Wi-Fi antenna on your PC the display cannot tell you which direction the access point actually is, but it looks great. Versions of Wi-Fi monitor are available for Windows Mac and Linux, and the only catch is the XP version requires that you install Yahoo Widget Framework, which adds another 15Mb to the download, (the Vista version installs as a sidebar Gadget)
Bloggers are constantly looking to attract more readers. Of course, content is almost always everything, but spicing up texts or images with some interesting gadgets can definitely increase the popularity of the majority of weblogs. After a testing period, Google has finally launched the Google Gadgets for blogs. All the fun applications that have ever been built by Google engineers or third party developers, and which are in Google’s database, are available for all bloggers.
People can choose whatever application they like from the Gadgets Directory, integrated in the layout of blogs. Users who have an older version of the dashboard, which displays the “templates” button, have to update it to the “layout” button. From there, in a few easy steps, everyone can upload various applications to make their blog more interesting and useful to readers. Gadgets automatically adjust to the width of the sidebar. Their height, measured in pixels, can be adjusted to make the applications more or less prominent on the webpage, according to personal preferences. Read the rest of this entry »
Now this really is my kind of gadget…. This is the Boom arm workstation and as you can clearly see it is the ideal gift for the gentleman, or lady, who likes to do their laptopping in bed. It’s also a boon, or should that be a boom for those who are bedridden but not by choice, and it could prove handy for wheelchair users as well. The manufacturers even see it being used by exercise nuts, whilst on a treadmill but that’s probably going a bit too far. Fully adjustable and reasonably portable, it’ll set you back around £150. UK availability has yet to be announced but if you just can’t wait you can always see if they’ll send you one at: EasyChair WorkStation Products
Here’s an interesting little gadget for iPod and iPhone owners, it’s a mini LED/LCoS projector called the QuingBar MP101. Just pop in your pod (or phone) into the docking slot on the top and it’ll throw up a 640 x 480pixel image, up to 50cm across, on any handy white surface or wall. Okay, so the picture is going to be a bit grainy, and with only 15 lumens on tap, not very bright, but it has to be better than going boss-eyed trying to watch a movie on the handset’s titchy screen. It has a built in speaker and it’ll also charge you iPod or iPhone while it’s in place. No price or UK availability yet – it’s only lust been launched at a European trade show, but I’m guessing £150-ish and in the shops in a month or two.
