Hasta La Gadget!

Ah, the allure of fantastically expensive headphones. They conjure up a world few of us will ever be a part of. If you can’t imagine spending over $100 for a pair, consider the Ultrasone Edition 8 Limited, which will launch today. They list for $1,699. So instead of making a mortgage payment, you could buy headphones. That’s a fair swap.

There will only be 888 of these headphones made, which adds to the elegant appeal. Based on the design of the original Edition 8, these special-edition headphones offer their own luxurious details, such as a dark-brown-and-silver look, MU-Metal shielding, and outer ear cups created from ruthenium in a matte finish and embossed with a walnut inlay. Each of the 888s is stamped with its own number.

And you thought your Driving Force GT was pricey. Thrustmaster is today introducing its newest gaming accessory, a startlingly expensive new racing wheel designed to give PlayStation 3 and PC gamers the chance to feel as if they truly are screaming ahead in hopes of being first to fly under the checkered flag. The Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit 430 Scuderia Edition is a complete wireless cockpit ensemble, requiring far more space than an NYC studio apartment affords to completely unfold, and given that it weighs 23 pounds, you may need to bust out your Ricky Bobby uniform to make sure you aren’t roughed up when leaning hard into turns. The wheel itself measures 11-inches in diameter, and it’s said to be an exact replica of that found on the Ferrari 430 Scuderia (“down to the smallest details,” we’re told), and the all-metal pedals should provide quite the sensation to those who prefer to roll shoeless. Check it this June if you’re having trouble ridding yourself of disposable income.

Continue reading Thrustmaster gets fancy with Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit 430 Scuderia Edition racing wheel

Thrustmaster gets fancy with Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit 430 Scuderia Edition racing wheel originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lensbaby has popped out another new reality-distorting lens, this time for photographers who are a little too fussy about the technical side of things (you know who you are). Aptly named the Control Freak, the new lens has the familiar twisting front end which gives the trademark Lensbaby look – a single sharp spot placed wherever you like in the frame with surrounded by blur – but it also lets you lock it down for more, well, control.

It works like this: You push and pull the front section to get your subject in focus, and then twist to move the sweet-spot. When you’re done, hit the focus lock and everything is clamped down. Now you can twist the little swizzle-sticks to fine-tune the tilt effect and rotate the fine-focusing ring to get things just-so.

While the purpose of this lens is close-up and studio work (it will focus as near as nine-inches), where this level of control is useful, the fact that you can shoot freeform when the locks are off means it can double as a regular Lensbaby. It is even compatible with the Lensbaby Optic Swap system, so you can swap in the fisheye or soft-focus optics.

The Control Freak has a 50mm ƒ2 double-element lens, and comes with mounts for pretty much any modern camera system, including Micro Four Thirds. It will cost you $350, and is available now.

Control Freak [Lensbaby. Thanks, Jessica!]

See Also:

• Hands-On With Lensbaby Fisheye and Soft-Focus Optics
• Lensbaby Gets Fisheye and Soft Core Optics
• Destroy All Photos: Lensbaby Fisheye and Soft Focus Lenses …
• Review: Lensbaby Composer Lets You Art Up Images Sans Photoshop …

With the new Wired app, Conde Nast has built, unequivocally, the best magazine for the iPad. And yet I find myself asking, is this it? And will it cost this much? More »

DARPA putting scopes that ‘see’ wind turbulence into the hands of snipers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 10:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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