The Nike+Sportsband is finally here, being the logical evolution of the Nike+iPod kit. After all, this new release does away with the need for an iPod, but allows you to monitor your workout through the band contraption and monitor embedded within your Nike trainers. After all, not everyone enjoys working out while grooving to their favorite tunes, preferring instead to soak in the natural atmosphere of birds chirping away as they herald a new dawn. The Nike+Sportsband will offer real-time access to pace, distance, time and calories burnt - and these data can be transferred to your computer via USB later. It can hold up to 16 hours of workout data, which ain’t too shabby for a £40 gizmo.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

There is something about glowing products that seem to inexplicably draw people towards them - case in point, the Mini Tritium Glowing Keychain. This keychain uses the same radioactive material found in compasses, gun sights, watches and other items that glow at night. One good thing about using tritium is the fact that you don’t need to purchase any batteries, since it has more than enough “juice” within to glow for year after year even in complete darkness. The Mini Tritium Glowing Keychain will be able to go on glowing for approximately 10 years, ensuring you will never lose sight of your keys even after dropping them in the middle of the forest with the moon being blocked by ominous looking clouds. It retails for $9.80 each and comes in a choice of white or green glows.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

There is nothing quite like a soothing back massage after a hard day’s work, but what happens when you’re too poor to afford a massage chair or even go for an hour’s worth of manual massage at the local parlor? Well, there is always the Massaging Backpack that vibrates constantly, pummeling your upper back for some much needed relief. I’m not too sure just how much battery power this nifty device needs, but at €39.90 it is definitely worth checking out. One thing’s for sure - it’ll add a stutter to your speech while using this.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

Is this one of the weirder looking desktop speakers you have ever come across? Courtesy of Sega Toys, the i-Spin Speaker Robot comes in the form factor of an egg but is much hardier than Humpty Dumpty. He is capable of dancing according to the current tune being played, featuring connectivity to audio players thanks to a connecting cable. In addition to dancing to its integrated melody, it will be able to respond to external audio and voice signals as well. Powered by a trio of AAA batteries, the Sega Toys i-Spin Speaker Robot comes in blue and pink color choices, retailing for approximately $52 each.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

The Hitachi CPX3 3LCD mobile short-throw projector is the latest from Hitachi, targeting widescreen laptops and imaging applications that look their best when the 16:10 aspect ratio is used. Features include :-

• WXGA (1,280 x 800) resolution
• 2,000 lumens brightness
• HDMI terminal
• Wide-angle lens
• Integrated 1W speaker
• 3.9 pounds

Interestingly enough, the CPX3 comes with security features that include My Screen PIN lock, My Text and a transition detector.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

Soldiers could, in the near future, bring up a detailed 3D map of the surrounding area at will if General Dynamics UK actually manage to pull off their project successfully. This “near real-time” 3D map system uses a wide range of technologies to make it possible, including LIDAR, thermal imaging and x-ray backscatter techniques in order to display buildings, streets as well as the objects and people living inside. Now that’s what I call technology - no idea just how much processing power is required to churn all this information, but it will definitely come in handy where hostage situations are concerned.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

Some people believe that the AMD will spark a new “chip war” by releasing a bunch of products, but to me it sounds more like a potential “price war”, which is very different. “chip war” makes reader think that it is about technology. That’s not true. Unless AMD has a significant upper-hand in the efficiency (performance per watt, dollar…), they won’t be able to do anything more than a price war. It comes down to having a better architecture as the foundation for all new products. Without that, it’s all about the discounts.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

One might say that Palm’s days are pretty stormy but today was a good day as the company announced that more than a million units of its entry-level Centro have been bought by customers. That’s good news for Palm, as many phones from big companies don’t even sell more than 100,000 units.

Unfortunately the margins on the Centro are not likely to be high, but we hope that it will be enough cash to let Palm come up with a thinner phone.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

Intel is said to be working on a wireless protocol that would connect the video output from small devices like smartphones, media players to a larger display (monitor, TV…). The idea of connecting small devices on large displays is good: small displays inherently limit the usability of the user interface, given that visual interfaces are currently the best.

But “how” the gadget connects to the large display is not really the central issue. Today, it would be possible to send video data via USB, but the real issue is that the operating system (OS) embedded in these small devices does not support larger formats. Also, there is little to no video hardware acceleration in many devices. That becomes a serious issue at higher resolutions. At least the hardware exists for that.

I would love to be able to connect my smartphone to a large keyboard and monitor to reply to emails, or browse the web. Hopefully, this work by Intel will get us one step closer.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones

Sony Ericsson has rolled out the Z750a, making it the first 3G/HSDPA handset for the US market to date. This affordable and stylish handset features a reflective mirror clamshell case, complete with a hidden OLED reflective display screen in front which illuminates discreetly whenever there is an incoming call or message. I love such displays, and they have been used in previous Sony Walkmans thus far to great effect. Other features found on the Z750a include :-

• 2 megapixel camera
• 3G connectivity
• AT&T Mobile Email application support
• 26MB internal memory
• Memory Stick Micro slot
• 3D gaming capability
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 2.2” QVGA 262k Color TFT display

The Sony Ericsson Z750a will come in Mysterious Purple, Phantom Grey and Rose Pink colors when it arrives in AT&T stores and authorized dealers early this month for $49.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate and a 2-year contract.

Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones