Filed under ‘Computer accessories’
RFID project kit
Want to tinker with RFID? This kit includes over a dozen types of RFID tags, a USB based RFID reader, various cards, a keychain, and instructions for many RFID projects including an RFID door lock, RFID login to Windows XP, and RFID enabled safe.
» Apx $99 from ThinkGeek.com
USB charger
If you’ve got a device that can be charged via USB, then this is a must have for travelling. These USB chargers enable you to charge your iPod, cell phone, PDA, or any other USB charged device - all from four AA or AAA batteries. They have a built in USB plug, so all you have to do is add batteries and plug in your USB device.
» Available from ThinkGeek.com
Swiss Tech Util Key
ThinkGeek have just got new stock of the Swiss Tech Util Key - it’s about the same size as a normal key, but features a nice bundles of essential tools:
* Semi-serrated knife blade
* Micro flat or Phillips screwdriver
* Eyeglass screwdriver
* Bottle opener
* Made from 420 stainless steel
* Lifetime warranty
» More info at ThinkGeek.com
USB Skype phone
We’ve tried a few ultra cheap USB Skype phones from eBay, and most of them were absolute garbage. Some of them barely worked, and the ones that did work sounded awful. So when we got the SYBA Sky Basic USB VoIP phone, we thought it would be just another cheap and useless product. It is incredibly cheap (apx $9.99), and it feels cheap too - but in use the sound quality is suprisingly good - infact good enought to forget you’re using a Skype phone at all. If you don’t mind cheap plastic, then the SYBA Sky Basic is easily the best ‘cheap’ USB Skype phone around.
» Available from Newegg.com
Affordable digital photo frame
Digital photo frames are nothing new, but they all seem to be a bit too expensive for what is pretty simple technology. We spotted this cheap little frame at newegg.com for only $39.99 - the CSIT GG-001 digital photo frame can display BMP, JPEG, TIF, GIF, and PNG images on the 1.4 inch LCD, has a built in flash memory that can hold up to 80 photos, and has a clock/thermometer display.
TrackStick GPS logger
I’ve been looking for something to track the altitude of my RC planes, and this looks like it just might do what I want. The TrackStick GPS Data Logger will keep a record of time, date, location, speed, direction and altitude - and then playback the data to your computer (via USB) using GoogleEarth or MapQuest. The TrackStick has 1mb of memory, and can record up to 4000 events - so it can even be used to plot cycling or driving routes. I’m getting one!
» Available on eBay for around $150.
DX1 keyboard
Build your own keyboard - then rip it up and start again. The Ergodex DX1 is a specialized keyboard that allows you to design and build your own custom key layout, you can even put your own backgrounds under the clear tray. Each key on the DX1 can be assigned a command or macro - which is excellent for games, as well as graphics and music applications such as Photoshop and Cubase.
» Available at ThinkGeek.com
Wi-Spy spectrum analyzer
The Wi-Spy is a tiny 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer, designed to analyze and troubleshoot Wi-Fi networks. It analyzes the signal strength for Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth, microwaves, Zigbee and 2.4 GHz cordless phones - and displays an instant spectrogram view of amplitude, frequency, and time. The Wi-Spy is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.
» Available from ThinkGeek.com
USB LCD
The Pertelian USB LCD display acts as an additional display for your PC, enabling you to run full screen games, movies or applications on your monitor and still keep an eye on your email, IM, weather and MP3 playback via the electroluminescent backlit USB LCD screen - all without interupting your primary display.
» Available from ThinkGeek.com
Nintendo Mario mouse
Probably not the most comfortable mouse to use, but if you’re a Nintendo fan then it will hardly matter. The two button USB Mario mouse is officially licensed by Nintendo, and features the legendary plumber Mario from the original Famicom Super Mario Bros game. There’s also a Goomba version.
» Available here
