Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Here’s a contraption that would go nicely with your monster computer lounge setup. It’s the Gemini P29 wireless keyboard, which supposedly is the world’s “first 5-in-1.” However I haven’t been successful in clearly identifying what the other three features are, aside from it being a keyboard and a wireless remote.

It’ll measure larger than most average-sized keyboards, but the reason for this can be clearly seen - extra buttons and a joystick put on top, possibly for added convenience and more control. A 10 meter (about 33 foot) radius is afforded to you via a USB dongle for your PC, so you can control your PC apps, among other things, remotely.

Interested in getting one? I’m sure Xenics (from Korea) would be glad to help you out.

Product [Xenics Korea] Via [Akihabara News]

ThinkGeek has begun to offer the highly desired Optimus Maximus keyboard, although currently out-of-stock, the item can now be ordered by anyone. Of course we say anyone with a little bit of sarcasm because not everyone is going to be willing to shell out the $1,589.99 that it retails for. The keyboard has 113 keys that are actually all individual OLED screens and each one can be programmed to do just about anything you can think of. The keyboard also has two USB ports and a SD card slot that is used for storage of the keyboard settings.

Just in case the keyboard is a little pricey for your budget, ThinkGeek is also carrying the Optimus Mini Three keyboard, which is a mini keyboard with three programmable keys. While not quite as cool as the full keyboard it retails for a much nicer $134.99. Sadly both items are currently listed as out of stock.

Product [Optimus Maximus keyboard] Product [Optimus Mini Three keyboard] Via [Wired]

Microsoft’s track record with regards to innovation isn’t something you can call spotless, but a recent patent filing puts them on track to beating the rest of the world in a classic case of “Why didn’t I think of that?” Their patent couldn’t get simpler. It’s called the Wearable computer pointing device, and is supposed to be an easier way to operate a mouse by wearing it in your hand. With the Wiimote and iPhone promoting all kinds of high-tech sensors, a device such as this just had to be concepted. Right? 

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Kensington has offered up the uniquely styled Ci70 keyboard, and along with the dark and low-profile design it has built-in USB and miniUSB ports. The keyboard features two USB 2.0 ports and one miniUSB port along with media keys for volume and track control as well as five programmable hot keys. According to Kensington the Ci70 has a “35% smaller footprint” which in turn “saves desk space and reduces clutter,” and while I will believe that statement is true, the Ci70 also just looks cool. Add in the fact the keyboard will work with both a Mac or a PC and it seems to be a nice deal. The Ci70 keyboard is currently available from Kensington and retails for $49.99. Keep reading for a few more pics of the keyboard…

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I don’t know what the occasion is, but apparently Microsoft has decided to dish out its Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 in 5 dazzlingly bright colors. And no, the one pictured here is not pink, so stop your hating. This, my friend, is what the color Dragon Fruit looks like. At least that’s true according to Microsoft. Other colors include Aloe, Milk Chocolate, and Creme Brulee, and Pomegranate. You’ll be able to get these babies from Best Buy in May for around $30, and will reportedly be rolling out to other stores by June. Artsy type geeks, I think, are gonna love this.

Via [Gizmodo]

Very small and compact sub-laptops like the Asus Eee PC, Cloudbook, and the Intel 2go PC which was first referred to as the Netbook, are quickly rising to fame. Maybe because of their price and portability. They may not offer much on the specs but such small laptops can come in very handy. Now, don’t you just think that a small USB mouse like the Super Slim USB Mouse can be perfect accessory? You know, a tiny mouse for a tiny laptop.

The mouse may look weird since it’s size is almost half of a regular sized mouse. Just when company peripheral manufacturers are designing ergonomic mice, this slim mouse comes out with a bang. The optical mouse comes with only one button which leads me to ask how am I gonna do the right click, it being important to me. A scroll is also placed at the right side of the thin mouse.

The slim optical mouse costs only a little less than $12. Not bad since this one could be great for travel and for sub-laptops that have no Bluetooth connectivity, but seriously, I think I’m gonna have a hard time using this one.

Read [GeekAlerts] Product [DealExtreme]

Seems like a lot of brilliant ideas abound in the mind of desktop computing visionary Art.Lebedev. After giving us that funky, interactive, and slightly over-priced Optimus Maximus keyboard, he now plans on making an entirely new type of keyboard to remedy the lack of physical keys in the Maximus. This year, he says their team’s goal is to create a prototype of a keyboard with transparent keys overlayed on a single display. Basically, what they’re trying to do with this is create an entirely visual keyboard, but instead of patching together hundreds of different screens for keys, they will use only one big screen. Trying to picture this thing working is hard in itself, so I won’t count on this project to be completed any time soon. But they are aiming to have this completed before the year ends and hopefully start production of it at that time as well. Or if not, then production will start in early 2009.

Read [Optimus Project] Via [Gizmodo]

Product: Sandio 3D Game O2 mouse (aka 3D Motion Controller with Laser Gaming Mouse)
Price: $79.99
Rating: 5.5/10
Pros: A good core laser mouse, comfortable wrist attachment, programmable mini joysticks and cool lookin’ lights.
Cons: Not as plug-and-play as promised with certain programs. Programming interface is not very intuitive. Some ergonomic issues as well.
Overall: As a regular mouse, this works pretty well but the 3D components are more awkward than necessary. Only consider buying if you have a specific non-gaming 3D need, forgiving hands, a strong wrist and lots of patience.

In a 2D computer screen world, it can really become a pain in the wrist to try and navigate virtual 3D environments. Sure, VRML has pretty much dissolved from the world wide web but videogames, Second Life and even Google World still provide some pretty cool 3D goodness you’ll want to easily navigate.

Enter an innovative take on the computer mouse, Sandio’s 3D Game O2. It relies several mini joysticks that, when used together, are meant to help more naturally navigate through 3D environments. The concept may be great but the execution is a bit lacking especially for gamers.

Read [Gamertell]

Frankly I don’t get the idea behind Logitech’s diNovo Mini. If you have a TV and you want to easily control it, you’d normally use a remote control right? If you have a laptop or a desktop and you want to work on it, you’d not sit too far from it right? Then what’s the use of a wireless keyboard that you can connect to your PC and TV?

Well yeah, the diNovo Mini looks sleek, good and your friends would definitely say “wow, what a good looking small gadget you have there!” Other than that, the Logitech does some pretty standard functions that may either impress you or make you ignore it. The diNovo gives you convenience and style of a palm-size mini-keyboard with backlighting technology that makes text entry effortless even if you are in a low-light environment. This mini wireless keyboard has an integrated dual-purpose click pad that can be used as a touchpad to point and click for easy navigation.

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IOGEAR who has recently claimed that their products, especially the Wireless Laser Mouse, are germ-free, is being fined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The $208,000 fine is for the computer peripheral company’s unverified claims that pathogens and bacteria are eliminated by their products.

Associate Director of EPA’s Communities and Economics Division Katherine Taylor said:

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