Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Product: Rocketfish Twister Mouse
Price: $39.99
Rating: 6.5/10.0
Pros: Great design, long battery life, rather comfortable
Cons: Features are nothing special, might be too small for some hands, weird shape for some
Overall: The mouse was good for me and it did its job to the fullest, what more could you ask for in a mouse beside a more natural shaped mouse.

Design - 8.0 - My first impression was of course, wow this is small because well it should be. The Twister mouse fits great in your hand and the ability to twist from a flat into a more curved, more ergonomically comfortable design has really impressed me. The sleek almost piano black finish feels good on the fingers. The mouse is equipped with a motion sensored scroll display in the middle, while the scroll has been around for a while I enjoy the new age design combating the now, older technology.

To contrast the outdated scroll wheel and in my opinion to breathe life back into a basic notebook mouse, the designers created a housing inside the mouse for its usb power. Having the mouse house its own power source saves time and makes your product ready to use whenver you are. The last great design concept is the special pouch it comes with to keep your mouse clean and safe.

Features - 5.0 - Rocketfish provides you with a program to install if you are interested in customizing the features of the mouse. You can change which mouse is your primary click. The program itself is not needed to utilize the mouse and I felt that there weren’t any special benefits of it. There was no real convenience added to the customizable features.

Performance - 6.5 - It works like a mouse should but that is no reason to give it an award. It works great and has long battery life which is pretty good for 2 AAA batteries. The laser does not skip and works great on most surfaces, it lacks performance on glass tables but I would bet most laser mouse products will share the same fate.

Overall - 6.5 - Rocketfish has done its job fine and well. They created a product that is strong as a whole rather than looked at as separate quantities, I’d like to strengthen this by saying that the features of the twistermouse alone can not sell this product however the total package makes for a perfect mini friend when working on your next project. I would reccommend it and I would like to thank the PR firm MS&L Digital for providing this product. It is important to note that Rocketfish did not send us this product.

With computer protection being such a booming industry you want to make sure you are sticking with the best. I have had that opportunity with Norton Internet Securities. Surfing the web, making online transactions, sending and receiving files with out any fear of being scammed, screwed or threatened is a great feeling. It’s like going to the mall without any concern for how much things cost. With Internet securities they take the fear of being online out of the equation and allow for freedom roam through the vast information superhighway.

Their fraud protection is in my opinion the strongest feature with this product because it automatically scans each page to ensure that is it indeed a legitimate one. This is extremely important when providing personal information. Protection against key loggers is also an exceptional feature and one that most people, including myself at first, did not even know existed. Hackers can spend there lives watching your keystrokes with the intention to steal your social security or bank account numbers.

Like a 24/7 watchdog Internet Security is always on the prowl watching for any activity that does not correlate with your normal practices and it will always alert if there is a problem. With constant updates of virus definitions and internal fixes you know you will receive the ultimate in online care.

However, Symantec should also be praised for the great customer service. A fine product is only as good as those who help to make it and help make it run smoothly. Over the course of a few months I have been working with Symantec to make sure my products work and fix any problems that I would run into. They were quick to email me and get me back on the road to the information superhighway.

As a kid I loved cargo jeans, cargo pants, really anything with extra pockets. The more compartments the better, and that’s how you will feel with this Cargo laptop bag. It is brilliantly designed for both comfort and convenience. With 11 pockets and 3 zippers you can carry your life with you anywhere you need to go. My favorite feature of SFbags Cargo bag is the sleek para gliding buckle that holds the front flap down. It is the same buckle used to protect para gliders when they are out in the air. It even has a place for your cellphone. SF bags allows you to fully customize your bag from size to color and type, so if a Cargo bag doesn’t strike your fancy help yourself at SFbags.com to create your own. We live in a world where we can have what we want, when we want it, and done just the way we want it.

This company seems to live up to this motto and then some. The Mambo Combo comes with a bag of your choice, along with a special sleeve to fit the specs of your laptop. No longer will your precious cargo slide during travel or fall out unexpectedly. Each sleeve has a strong Velcro belt to keep your notebook safe, and keeping in tune with the rest of SFbags it even comes with a pocket for storage.

Another aspect of the Mambo Combo is the accessory bag, this mini bag which fits nicely inside any of your SF laptop bags is equipped with 2 zippers which houses one large pocket and two smaller ones allowing ample space for any last minute extras you need for your commute. I love the bag and most of all I love the customer service they provided for me.

Read [SFbags]

Hewlet-Packard is working it’s way to introduce there very own handheld titled Mscape, much like Sony’s PSP and Nintendo’s DS. The idea HP has been toying with is to put a new perspective on the gaming environment, mainly putting your actual living environment as part of the game. For example you could be sitting in a park and playing your Mscape and the park bench could become a part of your real game environment. It all sounds confusing and I’ll admit my shoddy example does not do much justice but there may be potential.

The plan is to have a motion sensor built into the handheld which is similar to Nintendo’s Wii. HP has not been too open about the details but it seems like myself and other gaming enthusiasts will have to wait it out. The one thing they did unveil is their current tagline, “Your world is the playing field. Get in the game”

Read [Crave]

Okay friends so here’s the deal DLO put together a brand new Mp3 docking system called the Transpod. It’s obviously for your iPod but can also be used for any other music player. The catch is, this one has a video output to plug into a TV screen (if you have one) installed in your car. So not only can you listen to your tunes via radio frequency you can also entertain those in the back with your movie library.

The Transpod retails for $99.99, which is a pretty good deal considering the options you have, plus it will charge your iPod. So for this price what else would you receive?

• No installation required; simple to move from car to car
• Powerful integrated antenna for even stronger iPod transmission through your FM radio
• Built-in USB connection to simultaneously charge your cell phone or other electronic device
• Enhanced design with more flexible mounting arm
• Two interchangeable faceplates included; others available for purchase online
• Four assignable presets and indigo blue backlit LCD display for ease of operation
• Auxiliary line-input for use with non-iPod MP3 players

While a docking system is really great for those who can’t imagine using CD’s, what are those again? The hardest part about a dock is the strength of the radio frequency, the last thing you want is to be caught listening to static instead of your ultimate road trip remix. But hey, even if you have static you can at least get your video now.

Read [Crave]

The New Nokia 7088 is a little bit of everything from the wonderful new world of color that Nokia has used to inspire its L’Amour Collection. While it screams fashion this new phone brings sophistication to the table being the first CDMA model to incorporate the sliding.

At first glance you will notice the gem looking pad set around a cool looking metallic frame. When you hold the phone in the palm of your hand you will notice a tough leather feel sort of like the interior of a brand new car. This feel wraps tight around the surface providing comfort and a feel of a no slip grip.

The fashionable phone comes in an egg shell white which has brought its own attention to the game. “...We are pleased to be able to bring this bold expression of style and taste to CDMA customers,’ said Larry Paulson, vp and general manager of Nokia’s CDMA business. With consumers getting locked into service plans and getting stuck with a phone for one or two years, it seems that this is one style I wouldn’t mind to keep for the long haul.

The Nokia 7088 has one key dedicated to activating its video recorder as well as camera with LED flash. With an extra-large 128 x 160 pixel color display you are sure to create stellar videos and memorable photos. Other specs are a; two-way speakerphone, voice recorder, calender, and let not forget the built-in mobile browser.

The Nokia 7088 is expected for release in selected markets during the 2nd quarter of 2007 in Asia/Pacific, Middle East, Africa, China and Latin America.

Read [SlashGear]

Move over Western Union, get outta here paypal, there’s a new instant money moving venture out there. Obopay uses your cellphone as well as a PrePaid Mastercard to send, receive, and spend all the greenbacks you can. After searching their site I was debating what I could use the program for. It seems pretty simple, just download the program and transfer money via text message. If your friend owes you money he or she can simply text you money straight from their Obopay account.

While all of this seems pretty convenient, the program is not as safe as a bank nor is it a means to save money. If your looking to get rid of not only cash, but your wallet or purse then this program would suit you. Where you’re going to put your PrePaid Mastercard is another question. The problem is if you are the only one with the program it is about as useful as playing catch alone, sure you can throw the ball but who’s going to receive.

This program would work swimmingly with parents who want to keep track of there college kids spending. Obopay uses an example of a daughter needing money for books, her mother simply sends her cash via text to her daughter phone and the cash is instantly transferred on their PrePaid Mastercard. I like this idea the best, and feel it would work in other situations just like this.

Read [Obopay] via [SiliconBeat]

Thats right friends! Sirius, formerly known for its satellite radio is going one up in technology. The service plans to be offered in the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country as well as the 2008 lines of Dodge and Jeeps. Mainly Dodge Grand Caravan Minivans, Charger, Magnum, Jeep Commander, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The factory installed option is to include backseat tv receiver plus a one year subscription to both tv and radio for $470 MSRP. After the first year the tv service will run $7 and will only be available with the purchase of a radio subscription.
To stay on the safe side, while TV could be played in the front, it will only work in the back seat while the car is in drive. The Radio works in the front while TV works in the back which makes full use of all of Sirius’ components. If a tv screen is put in the front then it will work when the car is in park if it is equipped with a program called mygig.

Read [Orbitcast]

Bioscrypt an enterprise access control technology company based out of Canada has created the worlds first 3D facial recognition camera for individuals accessing computers. The VisionAccess 3D DeskCam performs both verification and identification operations. The highly accurate camera is able to scan your face regardless of poses or lighting conditions.
This easy to use hands free camera will secure your identification on your personal or any computer that you attach the camera too. It doesn’t require any passwords or special keycards that could risk hacking or copying.

The DeskCam is about 3 inches tall and half inch wide desktop form and connects via a single usb. The camera scans 40,000 points in your face and diplays it on a 3D mesh. You can drag your virtual face in any direction and even flip it inside out. This software will be shipping to its customers in the second half of 2007.

Read [Press Release]

When you look at the Mona Lisa or Stary Night, what do you see? What do you feel? Museums all across the globe are turning to the public to help tag the artwork seen by millions all over the world. This new style on old artifacts comes in part due to the fact that the average person does not know the name or creator of such pieces. They do however remember the feeling they got from the piece or even what they felt it was trying to convey. Museums throughout are being helped by people ranging the lovers of great masterpieces to those who find art in a bag of Reeses Pieces.

The point being that we all see things differently. Some may see the Mona Lisa and use the tags; woman, Leonardo DaVinci, bold, and some could say profound, magical, or even awkward. While tagging is a new web 2.0 idea it really has been around as long as language has been used. We have been describing things and attributing them to memory for thousands of years, however with technology ever increasing and our minds only able to retain so much information tagging is helping us to categorize and find nearly anything we are looking for.

I imagine tagging taking over our libraries and eventually wiping out the dewey decimal system. For example when looking for books on technology, specifically space travel, readers will be able to find books tagged under their desired topic rather then hunting through a barrage of numbers.

Read [NYTimes]