Mobility Electronics has launched the latest in its line of Stowaway portable keyboards under its Think Outside brand, the Bluetooth-based Stowaway Sierra. Ok, so it’s not quite as catchily-named as the Stowaway Shasta, but it does look to be a fair bit more versatile, compatible with Windows Mobile 5, Pocket PC, Palm and Symbian-based devices (with Bluetooth, of course), as well as Windows XP and Mac OS X, for anyone that finds their full-size desktop keyboard a little too comfortable. Unlike some portable keyboards, the Stowaway Sierra packs decently-sized 19mm keys, including dedicated numeric keys and shortcut keys for your smartphone, PDA, or Windows XP — yet it still manages to fold up into pocketable (depending on the pocket) 5.0 x 3.5 x 0.9-inch package. You can snag this one now for $129.99.

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from engadget

Although PCMCIA inputs may be waning in popularity (just don’t tell Mercedes owners) while making way for those snazzy ExpressCard slots, we’re sure quite a few laptop owners are still looking for a worthwhile component to shove in that unutilized port, and Buffalo’s IFC-CB2ES just might be the ticket. This eSATA (external serial ATA) card doubles up on Ratoc’s REX-EX30S by sporting two hot-swappable inputs for those moments when one external drive just won’t cut it — the device also includes Acronis’ MigrateEasy software, which makes for easy system backups in case your notebook drive craps out, and Buffalo touts the card’s ability to boot directly from an external drive in case of such emergencies. If you’re running short on USB / IEEE 1394 ports and desperately need the spacious relief that only external storage can provide, you can dust off that PCMCIA slot and snag the IFC-CB2ES later this month for Â¥4,700 ($40 US).

[Via Akihabara News]
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from engadget

As if to prove a point to their comrades in the Microsoft Windows division, Microsoft Hardware has just launched nine new peripherals to show ‘em how its done. We won’t trouble you with all nine products, but the four highlights of the launch are plenty to be getting on with. Pictured above is the new Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000, which claims to be the first wireless rechargeable backlit keyboard, and who are we to argue? The ‘board features ambient and proximity sensing, while keeping it slim at a mere 1-inch thick, and it should be available next February for $250. Next up is the do-it-all Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000, which stuffs in slide presenter, laser pointer, media remote and laser mouse functionality into its meaty girth. The Bluetooth mouse should be out mid-October for about $100. Microsoft also has the new Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, with high-def laz0r tracking and intense ergonomics, and the new LifeCam NX-6000 webcam, which features 7.6 megapixel stills and 2.0 megapixel video in a minuscule package. The cam should be out in November for $100, while the Laser Mouse 6000 should follow in January for $80. Now, if only we had a shiny new OS to use these with.

Read – Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000
Read – Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000
Read – Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000
Read – Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000

From engadget

Wireless Presenter Mouse 8000

Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000

Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000

It’s not like your average SNES of PSX-inspired PC gamepad is really too much of a chore to lug around, but if you’ve really got to get your game on with minimal addition to your gear bag, Buffalo‘s new USB Micro-Pads seem to be the way to go. The folding controller comes in both an analog stick version (pictured) and a traditional direction pad edition, and both Micro-Pads feature dual shoulder buttons, a couple of extra face buttons, and a mini-USB to USB adaptor. Along with being a good match for most PC emulators and other relevant titles, we’re thinking this could do good things for a Pocket PC-based emulation fan if Buffalo brings the necessary drivers to the table, but we’ll have to wait and see. No word on price or availability yet.

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If your fresh new laptop has an ExpressCard slot that’s not already preoccupied with a TV tuner, external SATA adapter, or EV-DO card, you might be interested in a little something that maximizes your ability to become the ultimate couch potato. Interlink Electronics has released its Bluetooth-enabled Media Remote that just so happens to fit snuggly inside your machine’s ExpressCard slot for storage and recharging. The device works with pretty much every media suite out there, including Windows Media Center, Dell Media Experience, Windows Media Player, iTunes, RealPlayer and presumably anything else with track / volume controls. Sporting a 30 foot range, a full week of battery life, and weighing only 1.1 ounces, this $49.95 media controller should make good use of that open ExpressCard slot — unless, of course, it’s reserved for more critical tasks.

[Via MobileWhack]
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from engadget

Notebook users who have a free PCMCIA slot can make use of it by slotting in the 20-in-1 memory card reader from Lindy Electronics. There are no special drivers to install – all you need to do is to insert it and you’re good to go. This card reader has just a single slot with a multi-card interface and supports the more popular card formats, among them are SD, MMC, HS MMC, DV-RS-MMC, C-Flash, T-Flash, MiniSD, RS-MMC, MS, MS-Pro, HS-MS-MG-Pro, HS-MS-Pro, MS Select, MS Duo, MS-MG, MS-MG Pro, MS-Duo-MG, MS-Pro Duo, MS ROM, X-card. Do take note that certain cards require an adapter which is not bundled with Lindy’s 20-in-1 memory card reader.

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from ubergizmo

It’s actually pretty hot that MSI’s new StarReader USB flash memory card can handle something like 52 different formats, including CompactFlash, MicroDrive, MemoryStick Pro, MemoryStick Duo, MemoryStick Pro Duo, SD, miniSD, microSD, MMC, RS-MMC, MMC mobile (when you click on the link and read the full list you’ll see they’re being a little shady and counting even slight variations in formats as different card types), but what we’re really digging is that it can handle SIM cards, too, something that’s still relatively rare in an all-in-one card reader.

[Thanks, Oliver]
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from engadget