Hammacher Schlemmer sells some very strange products and some very cool products. The company has announced a new product that is both strange and cool called the Thermodynamic Cell Phone Charger. The device is a little pot designed for your campfire that is able to produce electricity. The way the product works is you fill […]
Pioneer Electronics has unveiled its latest DJ controller called the DDJ-SB. The new DJ controller is designed to be more compact and portable than Pioneer’s DDJ-SX and DDJ-SR units while still offering the level of control and performance DJs look for. The DDJ-SB two-channel DJ controller is aimed at entry-level DJs. The product promises the […]
Boosting the battery life on a mobile device is easy; they just need to get a lot thicker. But since none of us are willing to give up our svelte smartphones or tablets, we’ve bought into a life that involves bringing charging cables wherever we go. A hassle that’s now slightly less annoying with these ultra-thin USB cables that can easily slip into the slimmest of pockets.
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One of last year’s most successful Kickstarter-funded projects was the MaKey MaKey, a device that allowed you to input keyboard commands to a computer using everyday objects. A new USB device called the Verve is similar to the MaKey MaKey, but it’s more versatile. Using a variety of sensors, the Verve lets you trigger mouse and keyboard input using real-world actions or events.
The Verve consists of a central console and seven types of sensors that plug into the console. It also has a companion program that has both Windows and OS X versions. The program is used to map the input from a sensor to a mouse or keyboard key, as well as to set the threshold – i.e. the intensity of the input – to which the mapped key will be triggered. For instance, you can use attach the motion sensor to a sword and make your videogame character attack when you swing the sword. Or you can leave the motion sensor by your cubicle and make your computer show your desktop when someone passes by. Because you’re not hiding anything there.
Pledge at least $99 (USD) on Kickstarter to get a Verve kit as a reward. The kit will come with one of each sensor along with all the cables you need. I’m a bit conflicted with the potential of the Verve. On one hand, the variety of sensors means it encourages a creative and diverse array of input options. On the other hand, the one-to-one correspondence of a sensor to a key makes it quite cumbersome to setup anything beyond a simple command.
The MaKey MaKey is so easy to use because it gave you several inputs just by plugging in one board. The Verve gives you seven sensors, but each sensor can only be mapped to one key. What modern software uses just one key? From what I understand it also does not support key combinations (e.g. ctrl+X). And what if you want to use more than one unit of a particular sensor? It’s amazing how cheap and user-friendly sensors have become, but I’m not sure if the Verve will be a legitimately useful product or a mere curio.
[via DVICE]
If you’ve dropped a small fortune on a nice pair of over-the-ear headphones but are just connecting them to your laptop’s built-in headphone jack, you’re probably not hearing everything you paid for. For a better sonic experience, a dedicated DAC—or digital to analog converter
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The word is spreading here near the end of 2013: USB is over, if you want it. USB PD (Power Delivery) is set to be the new standard for the next generation, working with standard specifications set to start taking effect as early as 2014. This technology may very well change the way we power […]
There’s a lot to love about USB. The plugs are small and convenient. The cable can carry both power and data. Plus, USB is, well, universal. This is why USB is considered by some to be the future of electricity. Smart grids, more convenient storage, solar power—according to a new Economist report it’s all easier with USB.
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Anyone who’s on the road a lot for work, school, or pleasure knows it can be a challenge keeping your gadgets charged up and ready to use away from an outlet. If your travels take you outdoors a lot, keeping your gadgets charged and keeping you in touch can be particularly troublesome. A company called […]
When it comes to prolonging the life of your laptop, there’s no easier upgrade than adding an ultra-compact USB flash drive to expand its storage capacity—particularly if it’s got a small SSD on board. And a company called PKparis is now laying claim to the title of ‘world’s smallest USB 3.0 flash drive’ with its new K’1 that more than looks the part.
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Audio-Technica has been producing all sorts of audiophile grade audio gear for a number of years. The company is particularly known for producing some high-quality USB turntables that are able to turn vinyl records into digital tracks via USB connectivity. The company has announced a new set of audiophile grade USB headphones will launch in […]
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