www.omnibc.ca

 
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** Sharper Image Rotating Speaker System   www.siproducts.ca

** Duracell Pocket USB Charger, www.duracell.com

** Griffin WindowSeat, www.griffintechnologies.com

** Griffin iTrip with SmartScan, www.griffintechnologies.com

** Samsung Omnia II, www.samsung.ca

** LG New Chocolate BL40, www.ca.lge.com

** LG GW620R, Eve (Android), www.ca.lge.com

** yada rearview mirror speakerphoneYV-V16, www.letsyada.com

** yada Earpiece YD-V1, www.letsyada.com

** Sony-Ericsson VH310 Earpiece, www.sonyericsson.ca

** Jabra Stone earpiece, www.jabrastone.com

** Motorola T325 Visor www.motorola.ca

** Motorola HX1 earpiece (bone), www.motorola.ca
(c) Rogers Broadcasting Ltd.
(used with permission)

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** WowWee Rovio robot, www.wowwee.com
** Kodak EasyShare W1020 WiFi Digital Frame, www.kodak.ca
** SensoGlove (golf glove), www.sensoglove.com
** Brookstone Wireless Key Finder, www.brookstone.com
** ASUS 1000HE Netbook, www.asus.com
** Logitech PureFi Anywhere 2, www.logitech.com
** Griffin iTrip Auto Universal with SmartScan, www.griffintechnologies.com
** ECOSOL Powerstick (USB charger) (Made in Canada), www.ecosolinc.com
** Mophie Juice Pack, www.mophie.com
** magicJack long-distance device, www.magicjack.com
** Matias Laptop Armor Case (Black, 15”), www.matias.ca
** Digital Thirst Light plant meter, www.thirstylight.com
** Mini-Motion Games (skateboard, racing, etc.), www.aptusgames.com

First off was the new Microsoft Home Server. This is a new software package that comes pre-installed on home server solutions from hardware manufacturers like HP. The Microsoft Home Server is a plug-and-play solution that connects to your network through a normal ethernet cable and becomes available both to all the computers and other units on your network as well as through the internet. Home Server serves two purposes; it’s a back up unit for all your computers and it’s a place to localize and share content throughout your home and make it available if you are out of your home. So who needs a Home Server? If you ask Microsoft, everyone. The product is created to address the growing need for backup, storage space and file sharing in the home environment. If you ask me I’d say anyone who has a lot of pictures, music and video on their computer and want to be able to access these files from one location rather than having to either have several copies on different computers or or using USB drives or other cumbersome media. It could also work for small businesses who are looking for a cheap and easy backup and storage solution although I think Microsoft would want them to go with a more business oriented product. Finally it will tie well in for all those of you out there who download purchase movies on-line and want to view them on your TV through your XBOX360.

Personally I wish this product had been launched about 8 months ago so I didn’t have to build my own custom backup solution on our systems at home. The rock solid plug and play capabilities and ease of use plus the expandable storage systems like the HP Home Server is a cheap and easy way of solving several problems.

Next on the list was Microsoft’s many gaming solutions. There really wasn’t much new here in terms of revolutionary innovation but we were presented with some fairly palatable updates to existing products. On the XBOX360 front there was the much talked about black XBOX360 Elite with it’s 120GB hard drive and HDMI output, the HD-DVD player that turns your gaming console into a full home entertainment system and the new pink and blue controllers that will be available in the near future. In the games department they presented two new titles: Viva Piñata: Party Animals and a multi player version of the hugely popular board game Scene It! Both of these offerings are targeted toward the family market and from what I saw I’d say they are pretty strong.

Viva Piñata: Party Animals is an action/adventure version of the on-line community game Viva Piñata which will appeal to a much larger audience. Personally I found the original to be dreadfully boring and tedious but this game looks like a lot of fun. It features 40 mini-games like speed eating and races and has lots of fun little animations and quirks.

Scene It! Lights, Camera, Action is a console version of the hugely popular DVD/board game about movie trivia. It can be played by 1 – 4 people and can easily get highly competitive. All the standard Scene It! plays are included, from “find the missing piece” to “picture puzzle” to “name that movie” making it a fairly entertaining game. The only problem is that the number of players is limited to the number of controllers (so if you only have two controllers forget asking your friends to come over to play) and considering the speed at which this game can be played you wonder how long it will take before you start getting repeat questions. Nevertheless I think the XBOX360 version of this game works better than the DVD version.

On the PC gaming front the only thing that really grabbed our attention was the highly customizable Sidewinder gaming mouse. I’ll be posting a video on this one ASAP. The mouse lets you change the weight and balance, sensitivity and even glide with buttons and accessories. I’m not much of a gamer myself but I’d like to try it out as a PhotoShop mouse because I think the sensitivity options would be excellent for designers. More on that later (meaning when Microsoft gives me one to test out).

Third up: Windows Live. We all know MSN Messenger and Hotmail and some have familiarized themselves with the MySpace alternative Live Spaces. Microsoft has made the wise choice to consolidate all their on-line offerings into one package simply called Windows Live. This all-inclusive download now gives you all the Live applications at once: Messenger, Live Spaces, MSN Mail, Photo Gallery, the blogging tool Writer etc etc. It’s pretty obvious Microsoft is feeling the pinch from Google (with Picasa, Blogger, YouTube etc) and social networking sites like Facebook so they are trying to gain some ground with this block release. The idea is that you have one login that covers everything, from your Messenger list to your blog to your email to your search preferences to your photo gallery. Whether it’ll work or not is another matter all together. But for now let’s just see where it goes. The Windows Live package was released today so jump on in and try it out. I know I will.

Last but not least was a comprehensive walk through of the security features in the new Microsoft flagship Vista. I think this presentation was designed to quell some of the fears surrounding Microsoft and security and they did a pretty good job. Vista features some very advanced parental controls which allow parents to block their kids from surfing certain sites on the web, playing certain games and even sets time limits on when they can use the computer. These are all features I know my parents would have loved (and I would have hated) when I grew up and with the enormous amount of shall we say inappropriate content available out there it is important for parents to regain some control of what happens on the home computer.
In addition to the standard security features on Vista, Microsoft now offers OneCare – coined as “All-in-one security and performance for your PC”. Basically it’s a software package containing antivirus, antispyware, anti-phishing and a software firewall along with some other tools. I have to say I find it somewhat questionable that Microsoft sells a security package when many of the security problems it fixes are caused by bad program design on their end. However much of the security problems we see on the web today such as spyware and phishing can’t be blamed on Microsoft and these are problems that have to be dealt with appropriately. The yearly subscription covers 3 pcs and is in the same price range as the competitors so I guess it boils down to who you trust your computer security to. I have yet to see a comprehensive test of OneCare versus other offerings so I really can’t give you any advice other than to try it out and see what you think. For most people any antivirus software will do the trick and a router will keep most evildoers out of your private files.

Overall it was an interesting event and it shows that Microsoft is a lot more than just spreadsheets and pie-charts like some people claim.

We probably all had one when we were kids – at least we did where I grew up: The Swiss Army knife. And the number of blades and accessories on your shiny red pocket knife was the truest gauge of your status. Well, that was then. This is the future and Victorinox (makers of the famous red Swiss Army Knives) are going full speed ahead into the techno era.

In a box by my side lies three knives that show just how far the brand has come from the original folding knives:

• The SwissMemory – a knife with a 256mb, 512mb, 1GB or 2GB USB memory stick
• The Golf Tool – a knife with a set of tools for golfers
• The Rescue Tool – a knife with tools specially designed for rescue personell

The commonality between all these and the myriad of other modern-application tools from Victorinox is that they are designed for modern life and modern problems. The SwissMemory combines two common pocket gadgets in one and there’s even one that carries an mp3 player! The golf tool gives you all the tools you need for your passtime sport in a convenient package and the Rescue Tool makes everything from breaking windows to cutting seat belts easier for those who dedicate their lives to saving lives.

Read on for more thoughts on the complete product line.

Looking through the catalogue of products there were a couple of other lines that make the good old pocket knife current. The Cybertool knives are designed with the computer tech in mind and contain a bit wrench with Hex, Pozidrive, philips and torx bits as well as a DIP switch setter and wire cutting and crimping pliers. The Lite series also has a built in LED light. The Rescue Tool is part of a series of application-specific tools that also contains the Parachutist, Fireman, Jumpmaster and Locksmith. And finally there’s the Swisstool series which borrows heavily from the Leatherman Tool plier design. The Swisstool does a one-up on Leatherman by keeping the other tools on the “outside” so that when the pliers are opened you have a comfortable grip.

All in all I’d say Victorinox and the Swiss Army Knife still belongs in modern culture, although I would think twice about brining any of these on the plane. I’d gladly switch out my 12 year old Letherman Tool for a Cybertool for all the times I have to delve into the inner workings of a computer to do some tinkering. And I’d feel safer knowing that rescue personnel have a belt cutter handy if disaster was ever to strike.

Product page

After decades (if not centuries) of consumerism people have finally started to open their eyes to the idea that our wasteful way of life might be damaging both the planet and ourselves. On the heels of the new Green Wave a whole range of new products are arriving to help ease the burden on our planet. One such product is the Universal Solar Charger from USB.BRANDO.COM.HK. This gadget is a battery that can be charged either by solar power or an AC adapter and that will charge most cell phones or USB powered devices. Convenient for when you are out and about and run out of battery. And if you are consistent in using the solar charging feature it will reduce your carbon footprint a tiny little bit.

Full stats, another picture and pricing inside.

Features:

The Universal Solar Charger retails for $69 US and is available online.

A whole lot less geeky looking than other models, this new, lightweight (less than an ounce) headset is a perfect pair to your K1 KRZR, especially if you have the RED version. I say less geeky ‘coz the image of one running around and shaking/bopping your head with a wireless piece of plastic stuck on your head is still close to goofyness.

But I like it. I like it a lot. It works really well, with controls for the your phone’s music player built-in the right ear piece. If one of your geeky or non-geeky friends call you, the music will pause and you can use the S9 as a Bluetooth phone earpiece. A mic is hidden in the earpiece. Answer and hang-up the phone with the buttons on the left side and control volume with the same set of buttons.

You can use the unit with all compatible Bluetooth-enabled phones and stream music from a compatible Bluetooth-enabled stereo music phone or from a compatible Bluetooth-enabled MP3 player. There will be an iPod adapter available soon, sold in a set for about CAD$190 (CAD$150 for the headset alone).

Pairing is a very simple process. Turn it on and and if doesn’t find a previously paired phone, it will set itself into “find me” mode automatically. Charging is done with the included mini-USB adapter, the same one used to charge newer model Moto phones.

And oh yeah, I did get a great workout. The unit is water and sweat resistant and cleans easily. I rocked slowly lifted the weights with everything from AC/DC and Led Zep to Black Eye Peas and Nelly.

I remember way back when Microsoft released their first ergonomic keyboard. It looked weird and my computer nerd brothers proudly proclaimed that noone with any skills would ever use these things. And then my mom bought one for her home office. Needless to say we were all sold on the concept once we got past the geek factor.

Now, years later, Microsoft is releasing their Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000. It’s pretty much a wireless version of the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 and the Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 in one package (which according to my calculations is 10,000 and not 7000. But I digress).

In their own words:

With the average consumer spending approximately six hours per day on their computer, Microsoft responded to the growing need for comfortable peripherals with its new desktop that makes optimal use of the ergonomic designs of the bestselling wired keyboard

The desktop (yes, we are a bit confused about the name too: It really is just a keyboard and a mouse – no desk included) features 2.4GHz wireless technology which allows you to operate your computer from 30 feet away (binoculars not included), the crazy-but-comfortable “Gull Wing” design for less strain on your wrists, a huge palm rest and the comfort and precision of the laser mouse.

The “desktop” is set to hit stores mid August at a price of $149.95 (Canadian)

Stay tuned for our hands-on test.

While the rest of us were too chicken law abiding to cross the line into someone else’s connection the guys over at GeekTechnique have taken the next step and develloped the ultimate piggyback router. The aptly named Slurpr is a wireless monster with 6 antennas, 8 LAN ports and the ability to access any and all wireless signals in your area, open them up and mash them together to create the broadest broadband available over Wi-Fi (illegaly of course).  It’s built from commercially available parts found around the net and will retail for the hefty price of 999 Euros (if it ever reaches production before the creators get slappend with a monster lawsuit).

As of now the Slurpr is merely an experiment but  if you visit Slurpr.com you can vote on your most wanted features, whether or not the creators will end up in jail and even pre-order a box to supersize your BitTorrent addiction.

Product page 

Now Toshiba has gotten in on the deal. Their recently launched LapJacks are vinyl stickers customized to cover that dullest of areas of your laptop and make it pretty / exciting / dorky / the property of a company. You can also get LapJacks to fit your cell phone or a pile of other electronic devices.

All you have to do is pick one of the hundreds of ready-made graphics or upload a photo, logo or other artwork and you’re good to go.

Toshiba was not the first one out of the gates with this product though. Both Schtickers ,  SkinIt and Pimp My Laptop already provide you with everything you need to make your electronic devices as tacky as possible. We suggest garish tie-dye patterns, expletives, questionable sexual content or bad family photos not to mention rivaling PC manufacturer logos.

A LapJacks runs for £14.99 (about $31.50 Canadian) plus shipping.

Ever wake up with a distinct feeling you’ve been probed by an alien? Ever dreamed of a weird cone shaped ray of light coming down from the skies to lift you up to a flying saucer filled with hot alien women? Ever felt like you are being watched? Constantly? If you say yes to the last one, you are probably right. If you said yes to the first two you should get your head out of the -90s and just go ahead and buy The Abduction Lamp . That way you can wake up and stare right into your best dream / worst nightmare.

The Abduction Lamp features a full metal retro-style flying saucer, cone shaped tractor beam, antenna that controlls the light (on, off or strobe) and an alien peeking out of the window. The user can position different figurines underneath the tractor beam to illustrate different types of abductions.

The Abduction Lamp is merely a concept at the moment but I have a feeling it’s going to be a big hit with nerds sci-fi fans the world over.

Product page