As with Movea’s Gyration Air Music Remote, the company’s latest input peripheral can also work sans a surface. The aptly-named Gyration Air Mouse proudly boasts MotionSense technology that enables it to work both in-air and on desktop, meaning that you really can just wave your mouse around like you just don’t care (and have it do something meaningful). The RF-based unit weighs in at under 4-ounces and is designed with professionals in mind, particularly those turned on by the idea of using the in-air motion tracking to wow clients when showing off that amazingly mundane PowerPoint presentation. It should be out this November for a penny under $100, and you can glance over the full release after the break.

from engadget

GYRATION AIR MOUSE WITH MOTIONSENSE™ NOW AVAILABLE AT RETAIL

Portable Mouse Ideal for the Road Warrior; Works Both In-Air and On Desktop

Milpitas, CA, September 24, 2008 – Movea, Inc., the leader in motion-sensing technology for business communications, home entertainment and mobile computing, today announced the retail availability of its new Gyration Air Mouse with MotionSense technology. The compact, wireless mouse was created with the mobile professional in mind, and is designed to work in the air or on a flat surface like a desktop.

Movea’s MotionSense technology provides precise in-air motion tracking, so users can control the mouse cursor intuitively and with ease, whether delivering a PowerPoint™ presentation or watching online videos. Precision motion sensors guarantee faithful responses to natural hand movements whether in the boardroom, the living room or a cramped space, such as a seat on an airplane or train. A simple flick of the wrist will command presentations, enhanced with Movea’s GyroTools™ presentation effects, or control multimedia entertainment on a laptop, allowing users to change the volume or skip a song on iTunes™, or flip a TV channel on Slingbox™.

Weighing less than four ounces, the Air Mouse is compact enough to fit in a messenger bag, briefcase or purse, and versatile enough to be integrated with a PC or laptop from wherever a user wants to work or enjoy digital entertainment. With a sleek, ergonomic design, the Air Mouse works very comfortably for left- or right-handed consumers.

“The market for notebooks is transforming, as more people are buying them equipped with wide screens and media features, and using them not only for traditional business applications but also for entertainment access,” said Greg Smith, Vice President for Marketing at Movea Inc. “The Air-Mouse was designed with such people in mind, providing mobile workers and entertainment buffs the freedom to control their PCs whether they’re at home or on the road.”

Using a proprietary radio frequency (RF) technology, the in-air controls are effective up to 100 feet and work through walls. The Air Mouse includes a laser sensor for precise desktop tracking, making it ideal for working at a desk or other flat surface. The RF USB dongle stores conveniently inside the mouse, which ships with an elegant travel case and, due to its small size, easily packs into the smallest of handbags.

The device will be available for purchase in early October with a suggested North America retail price of $99.99. For more information on this and the family of Gyration motion-sensing products, visit www.gyration.com.

Read – Eye-Fi getting 2x faster
Read – Eye-Fi going international
from engadget

A cable has to have a certain something to cause optical interrupt to these trade-show weary eyes. Then this comes along, the Plug It USB adapter. We doubt it’s the “world’s smallest” USB charging and data cable as they claim. Nevertheless, it’s definitely convenient and small enough to be slung from your keys or even that eyelet found on many mobile devices including most cellphones. At the moment, it’s available in a handful of proprietary models for connecting to a wide range of Samsung and Nokia devices. A mini USB version allows it to connect to just about everything else including Blackberrys, cameras, PMPs, MP3 players, etc etc. Well, except that iPod in your pocket. Available now for about €8/$12

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from engadget

Oh, how far we’ve come. Just 2.5-years after Tritton unveiled an adapter that enabled users to run a VGA-equipped display at 800 x 600 via USB, Sewell is offering up a USB-to-DVI converter that actually supports UXGA (that’s 1,600 x 1,200 for those counting). In a package no larger than a deck of cards, this thing houses some 256MB of RAM, supports up to six simultaneous displays (requires six adapters, obviously) and even plays nice with Windows Vista (sorry, Leopard fanatics). There’s also a DVI-to-VGA adapter thrown in just so your bases are covered, and so long as you’re running a rig made within the last few years and have a USB 2.0 port (or six) to spare, you’re in business. Well, after you cough up $149.95 to claim one for yourself, that is.

[Via SewellSupport]
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from engadget

If Belkin’s new Razer-powered SpeedPad keyboard is a bit too unfamiliar for you, then perhaps Razer’s own new Lycosa keyboard will be more to your liking. As you can see, it boasts a full complement of keys to handle those odd non-gaming tasks, although its not without its share of gaming-minded amenities as well. Those include backlighting on the all-important WASD key cluster, a non-slip rubber finish on all the keys, and support for up to 10 different software profiles which you can switch between on the fly. Those looking to stick with Razer for all their gear will also soon be able to get their hands on the company’s just-announced Piranha headset, which boasts a noise-filtering microphone, an in-line remote with volume and microphone-muting controls and, of course, that trademark blue glow. Look for it to be available sometime this month for $80, with the keyboard set to follow in November for the same price.

Read – Razer Lycosa
Read – Razer Piranha
from engadget

We know, Microsoft’s resurrection of the SideWinder brought back fond memories for most us of, but with all the alternatives already out there in the gaming mouse niche, it’s going to take a bit more than fuzzy feelings to get our $80. Thankfully, the folks over at I4U News spent some quality time with the new SideWinder mouse, and after realizing that it looks a bit gentler in person, they proceeded to crank through hours of gaming to see how it fared. Notably, the LCD screen was dubbed “actually useful,” the 2,000dpi was said to be “plenty of sensitivity,” and the thumb buttons were deemed “perfect from a tactile feedback perspective.” Still, reviewers found more hype than substance in the Quick Turn button, and while the scroll wheel seemed “great for gaming,” it wasn’t as friendly during everyday tasks. Nevertheless, the crew awarded the revived critter a very generous nine out of ten stars, but if you’ve still got your doubts, hit the read link and check out the full skinny.

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from engadget

Intel’s announced USB 3.0 specification could push throughput beyond 4Gbps (300MBps) at the application level while introducing Quality of Service in support of HD video streams. Besides supplanting Firewire once and for all, a clear goal of the new “SuperSpeed USB” is to keep up with the transfer speeds of flash chips. “We don’t want to be the bottleneck in the system,” says Intel’s Jeff Ravencraft who is overseeing the 3.0 initiative. Intel, HP, Microsoft, NEC, NXP, and TI will present the initial spec for a design review in November with first silicon to be stamped in “early 2009.” While the new interconnect (pictured) will remain backward compatible with USB 2.0 and prior devices, new cables laced with an optical link and a max length of 2-meters will be required to take advantage of those high speeds according to a senior engineering manager with NEC. Meanwhile, a 1Gbps throughput is being targeted with Ravencraft’s other baby: Wireless USB 1.1. Sounds great, but with existing 480Mbps Wireless USB silicon only achieving about 40Mbps in practice, Intel would be wise to focus on efficiency, not theory. Of course, it’s all just a lot of smack-talk ’til they deliver, but with Apple running Intel inside now, Sony putting USB in their camcorders, and eSATA proliferating for external disks… well, Firewire’s days sure seem numbered.

[Via EETimes and The Inquirer]
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from engadget

It’s nearly fall and that can mean only one thing: er, new mice and webcams from Microsoft. Yeah, about as exciting as moms taking you shopping for new big-boy school trousers. Granted, the 1.3 megapixel LifeCam NX-3000 and 2 megapixel LifeCam VX-7000 are decent and all as are the new $50 Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 and $50 Wireless (RF) Notebook Laser Mouse 7000. But the action, Jackson, comes with the October release of the $100 Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 (pictured). We’re talking both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth packed into the transceiver (toggled with a switch) with 1GB of flash baked-in allowing it to pull double-duty as a flash drive. Nice, but the laser mouse itself features a 3-contact, magnetically-held charging cable which automatically senses whether you’re using a rechargeable AAA (included) or off-the-shelf Alkaline when in a jam. Snap the transceiver in-place beneath the mouse and everything powers off presto quick. Peep the gallery for a healthy mix of hands-on and glamor-shot action.

Gallery: Microsoft Fall 07 mice, cameras

Read — LifeCam NX-3000
Read — LifeCam VX-7000
Read — Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
Read — Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 7000
Read — Mobile Memory Mouse 8000

from engadget

Those looking for a matching keyboard and mouse set now have yet another option from Logitech, which today busted out its new MX5500 combo. This one includes the company’s existing MX Revolution laser mouse with its speedy metal scroll wheel, along with a new keyboard that boasts a built-in LCD along with the usual array of controls for music and other features. Both peripherals also rely on Bluetooth 2.0 to keep ‘em untethered from your PC, and each promise to let you take full advantage of Flip 3D and other Vista-specific features (though Vista is not required). Look for this set to be available later this month for $170.

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from engadget

We’ve seen a couple interesting gaming mice come out of Leipzig this year, and the SteelSeries Ikari Professional Gaming mouse is right up there with Microsoft’s new Sidewinders and Razer’s Lachesis. The outer shell is built to accommodate the “three major gaming grips” of “Swipe, Claw, and Palm,” and gamers can select their choice of models: a high-res optical version for FPS gamers, or a laser system for RPS and MMO addicts. Both feature switchable DPI settings and five programmable buttons, with a proprietary 500MHz transmitter to reduce any lag or interference. No word on price, but SteelSeries says these’ll be out in Q4, so you gamers had better start saving your pennies.

[Via IGN]
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from engadget

As if cramming its third-generation optical sensor in the Diamondback wasn’t good enough, Razer is out to up the ante once more its newly-unveiled Lachesis. Compared to Microsoft’s shiny new SideWinder, this creature touts double the DPI (that’s 4,000 here, for those keeping score), and according to Razer, the 3G laser sensor “stops tracking at much lower lift-off levels than any other laser sensor, preventing tracking errors when the device is lifted off its tracking surface.” Of course, you’ll still be able to switch DPI on-the-fly sans special drivers, and the Ultraslick, Teflon-coated feet ought to glide around effortlessly for a good while. Razer’s latest USB gaming mouse will go on sale globally this October for $79.99, and will be available in Phantom White and Banshee Blue colors.

[Via MaxitMag]
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from engadget

We’re still not entirely convinced how effective Zink‘s portable digital camera / printer combo will be, but at least now we have an expected ship date. Zink has updated their site to say that their “digital polaroid” will be shipping in late 2007, which will hopefully mean a fall release date. Zink has also released some of the Integrated Digital Camera and Printer’s specifications, which aren’t altogether that interesting — it has a 7 Megapixel CCD, 2-inch display, and SD memory card slot, just so ya know. All we care about is how good the printer is on this chunky combo unit.

[Thanks, Piper]
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from engadget

Logitech, makers of more input devices than you can shake a USB stick at, officially announced the somewhat radical G9 mouse and an update to its keyboard companion, the G15. The mouse, if you’ll recall, is a bit innovative as it allows for interchangeable grips, adjustable weight, and can store setting profiles onboard which require no added drivers to utilize. The G15, in a similar fashion, allows for all sorts of customizable options, including 18 separate programmable “G” keys, which can be setup for a total of 54 macros. The keyboard also includes an LCD display, which Logitech feels will give “gamers critical information to help them win,” because we all know there’s nothing more helpful when gaming than to have to look away from the monitor. The G9 and G15 will be available in September for $99.99 each.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
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from engadget