Gadgets Base

Posted Jan 15th 2008 4:52PM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Features, Laptops
Apple’s Macworld 2008 booth is naturally gargantuan this year, but practically empty — that is, if you don’t count the teeming hordes of people surrounding the MacBook Air table and watching the presentations on the big screen. Apple only has its new product on display, which means mainstays like regular iPods, iMacs, MacBooks and MacBook Pros were nowhere to be seen. The booth is fairly dominated by an end-to-end table filled with MacBook Airs and their respective Apple guardians. Time Capsule seems a bit of an afterthought, as does Apple TV.

Gallery: Apple Macworld booth tour

How many times have you wanted to take a picture with your camera phone, but found that you were too far away to get a decent shot? Honestly, I can’t say that I’ve ever ran into that issue myself. However, if you’re one that loves to take pictures, but doesn’t actually carry a real digital camera then you’ll be pleased to see these telescopic lenses for your phone.

This has to be the first gadget of its kind that I have seen. I usually don’t even bother with the camera on my phone. It’s not that the camera on my phone isn’t great, well, actually it is. It’s not bad as far as phone cameras come, but that’s not saying a lot.

As you could well guess, it’s next to impossible to make a lens that would work with all different phones. That’s why these will only work with a Motorola RAZR V3 or KRZR K1. If you don’t mind carrying this around in your pocket all the time, then it will only set you back $19. Personally, I’d rather just carry a small camera around with me.

Source: GeekSugar

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Posted Jan 15th 2008 11:48AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Home Entertainment Apple has officially announced movie rentals for iTunes. Studios involved include Touchstone, MGM, Miramax, Lions Gate, Fox, Warner Brothers, Walt Disney, Paramount, Universal, and Sony, just to name a few. The new feature will launch today with 1,000 available films by the end of February — prices will come in at $2.99 for a regular rental, and $3.99 for new releases. You’ll be able to begin watching your movie in 30 seconds, and will have the rental for up to 24 hours, during which time you can transfer the file to an iPod or iPhone and take it on the go. Additionally, you’ll be able to nab HD rentals for just $1 more, respectively.

Posted Jan 15th 2008 11:45AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Storage
Apple announced a companion to Time Machine today, Time Capsule. Essentially a hard drive and Airport combined — an NAS from your favorite Cupertino team. The wireless drive will come in 500GB and 1TB configurations, and will feature 802.11n, as well as server grade hard drives. They will clock in at $299 and $499, respectively (Steve says they’re aggressively pricing them because they want everyone to backup). You’ll be able to backup your notebook or desktop wirelessly from anywhere in your home. Available in February, pre-order now.

Gallery: Apple Time Capsule

Posted Jan 15th 2008 2:11PM by Ben Drawbaugh
Filed under: Laptops
If you’re the type who just has to be the first to have everything, then don’t waste any time and rush over to Apple.com to pre-order your MacBook Air. Aside from the regular list of MacBook accessories, you’ll have to decide if it’s worth $300 to go from a 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo to a 1.8Ghz. The only other choice to ponder is if your also the SSD type. Sure, SSDs are faster and use less power than their spinning brothers, but at $999 — and 16GBs less capacity — it’s a hard pill to swallow. Of course you can get the ultimate MacBook Air for $3,098 and while you’re at it, go ahead and get an all but useless optical drive for $99 and what is almost sure to be a required accessory on any first gen product; AppleCare at $249.

OT-E227 is the name of the new cellphone launched by Alcatel, and believe it or not, it only costs £9.99, that is, if you also buy a £10 top-up credit.

This selective deal is only available at Orange, and is included on the sales that offer 50% off the original price. But as people say - you get what you pay for - and for £9 you have a simple cellphone with basic functions.

According to Alcatel, the device that features a 1.5-inch TFT screen is great for “first time mobile users”. Besides the battery life (325 hours on standby, or 10 hours while in use), and the 3 color options (fuchsia, black, and rosé) there isn’t much information about the OT-E227, so consider it a rudimentary cellphone.

Product Page

Via Pocket-Lint

Now I know many of you out there are holding your breath with anticipation of the next slick industrial design to come out of Apple at this week’s MacWorld show, but while you guys wait, I came across this unique computer design that I actually thought was worth a mention.

Product designer Ross McBride created this concept for a tower PC, giving the computer a persona that brings back memories of the first time I booted up a Macintosh and saw the Happy Mac face. McBride describes the bold blue computer simply by stating “We ascribe personalities to our computers anyway. Why not go all the way?”

Now comes the sad face. The design is currently stowed away in the designer’s “idea” file, and it doesn’t appear that he has plans to produce these. Too bad. I’d love to see an entire server room filled with these, all with different facial expressions.

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blue, case, computer, concept, face, pc, person

Posted Jan 15th 2008 11:03AM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Features
Thanks for joining us for our live Macworld 2008 keynote coverage! We’re in, so click on, all our real-time updates are posted just after the break.

Note: this time we’re updating from bottom to top, with the latest updates below.
Bonus: You’ll also be able to read it in Spanish this year!
8:35am - Media signs are going up. Any minute now.

8:33am - Looks like they’re about to open the doors to the conference hall.

8:20am - They just pointed to the hall doors.

8:18am - Bomb-sniffing dogs; that’s a new one for Macworld!

8:05AM - We’re in line, and what a line it is. The press crowd is absolutely enormous. Apple won’t be admitting for a little while yet, so stick close!

Did you take one look at this red blob and wonder wth it was? Take another closer look. Take a look at this blown up version of the photo. Still don’t know? Well, it’s an alarm clock wedded to a fire alarm bell. Possibly the loudest alarm clock ever? You can judge for yourself by making one yourself courtesy of the folks over at Hacked Gadgets!

Posted Jan 15th 2008 3:31AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Look at that. Five of the faithful lined-up since noon Monday for Tuesday morning’s MacWorld keynote address by Steve Jobs. Not a girlfriend in sight. We presume that their eyes rolled-back in prostrated worship once the photo opp ended.