Zeppelin Mini - another slick and expensive iPod / iPhone dock speaker

This speaker caught my eyes while shopping. It's nice looking, but what's cool about is that you can rotate the dock so you can watch your movies on your iPod touch, iPhone, and iPod nano.

This eye candy also will set you back $399.95! Will make a nice gift though =)

Links:

Zeppelin Mini website

Appliances to go with your Apple stuff

Looking for electric kettles, calculators, fans, mugs, air humidifiers to go with you iMacs and iPhones. Plus Minus Zero (a Japanese company) have designer appliances to go with your Apple gadgets.

Here's their website.

iZoom - tripod and zoom lens for the serious iPhone photographer

Princeton Technology has a kit that comes with a tripod, zoom lens, and a case to attach the lens. It can zoom in 8 times the original iPhone camera can, and uses optical zoom to give you much clearer picture quality.

The kit will set you back around $40 USD and can be found in Japan. Comes in white and black.

Source:

iZoom website (Japanese)

2010 Lucky Bag in Japan

As the day when Apple sells their lucky bags every year in Japan approached, while tempting, I have decided to sit out this time. Reason is to save money for the Apple tablet, slate, pad, or whatever you want to call it. (Personally, I think they're going to reuse the name iBook)

Lucky bags this year is priced at 35,000 yen (about $375 USD). And each Apple Store in Japan offered them in limited quantities. A few of the bags are deemed the "lucky" ones, and if you're lucky to get one of these, it means you'll get a MacBook Pro 13 inch along with a bag of goodies.

Seems that lots of people this year lined up showing that Apple has no fear of recession. And as usual, lines start forming from the night before.

The theme this year is music and if you stood out and waited in the cold, here is the list of things you got:

• iPod nano (Product) Red
• Apple USB Adapter
• Nike + iPod Sport Kit
• inCast Sports Armband Pro
• Crystal Jacket Set for iPod Nano 5G (special Lucky Bag version)
• Atomic Floyd TwistJax
• iHome iP38
• 2 free iTunes song card
• Apple Store special T-Shirt
• InCase Nylon Compact Backpack

According to Japanese blogs, the total value of all the items total up to around 75,000 yen (around $800 USD).

Definitely great stuff if you're new to iPod nanos. However, I'd imagine most people lining up at loyal Apple fans, so I'm not sure if they'll be all that happy.

Source:

Ascii.jp (Japanese)

A magical iPhone stand

I picked up this mobile phone stand at a Disney Store in Japan. Basically it has this anti-slippery surface that secures the phone. It's like magic. And best of all, it's about the same size as the iPhone. Only time will tell how long the surface can hold my iPhone. Pics below:

The stand itself.

Look, Mickey is holding my iPhone!

And one more shot of the iPhone on the stand. Magical, isn't it?

Turn your iPhone into a DSLR

Being tied up with work. Hopefully I can get some more posts up on a regular basis.

Anyways, here's something cool to share. The Japanese company Gizmon has two lens that you can attach to your iPhone. One is the fish-eye (about 40-50 USD), and the other is the wide & macro (about 20-30 USD).

The wide & macro lens is actually two lens attached together. When two lens are together, it is wide angle. Take off the wide angle lens attachment, it becomes macro.

The lens are mounted with a magnet to a mount that you tape to your iPhone. If you don't want to tape directly, you can always tape the mount to an external case.

To see some photos of the wide and macro lens in action, click here. (Japanese)

To see some photos of the fish-eye lens in action, click here. (Japanese)

Pair these together with some camera apps, and you can do some fun photography with your iPhone.

Sega Toys brings fireworks to your home

On sale this month from Sega Toys is a toy that projects fireworks to walls and ceilings at your own home. You can choose and sequence the type of fireworks as well as being able to create your own original fireworks. Neat! It's available in Japan for around 12,00 yen ($120 USD) on Amazon Japan.

Source: Uchiagehanabi

Now you can charge up to 20 iPhones/iPods all at once with Parasync

If you have 20 iPhones or iPods, then the dock for you is here - the Parasync can charge AND sync up to 20 iPhones or iPods. Isn't that neat!

Via Gadgeteer

Source: Parasync homepage

CTU 24 GPS Navigational Unit - Only in Japan

Came across this the other day in a magazine. In Japan, they have a 24 CTU themed car navigational unit. The dubbed voices of Chloe and Jack Bauer will provide the directions to help you reach your destination. It'll even count down as your approach the destination with the 24 hour clock style.

Source - 24 Radar Detection (Japanese)

A USB drive that looks good on your key chain from LaCie

I'd like to have one of these. LaCie itsaKey USB Flash Drive is a USB drive in the shape of a key.

Comes in 4GB and 8GB models.

Learn more at LaCie's website.

Chumby on sales in Japan at Bic Camera

Spotted this at the Japanese electronics store, Bic Camera in Shinjuku. I wouldn't mind having one of these = )

4 months later: My Mac Mini G4 Media Center

So 4 months after I converted my Mac Mini G4 into a media center that primarily record TV shows, stream music and shows I recorded. So did it work out well?

Recording and streaming TV shows: NO GO

I found myself to rely on my HDR (hard disk recorder) connected to my TV to record and watch TVs. Seems like I still retain the habit of watching TV. So in the end, didn't really find myself recording and streaming TV to my other computers.

Maybe if I had an Apple TV, the setup would work better.

Streaming music

Streaming music actually worked quite well with the AirPort Express. Add a iPod touch or iPhone as a remote, it works like wonder.

The biggest problem: not able to sync with my primary iTunes library

Because the Mini wasn't powerful enough to serve as a primary iTunes library, I ended up with a primary iTunes library on my iMac and another one on the Mini. And having two libraries to manage has some serious usability issues.

First: Syncing the TV shows you recorded is troublesome. I have to copy and import the files from my Mini to iMac's library.

Second: New music is always added to my primary iTunes library, which makes my Mini library out of sync. I'd have to update the library from time to time. And I can't listen to the new music I just bought or added right away from my Mini.

So the lesson here: one library is better than two libraries.

What's next: From media center to a wireless access point / file server

I'm now planning to bring this Mini to my office now. I'll hook it up with an ethernet cable and share the connection wirelessly. It'll also serve as a file server where I'll primarily use it with Apple's Backup application to backup files.

BT-1: Bluetooth webcam for the Mac

Just saw this over at Ecamm's network.  This would be useful when you're video chatting, and you have to show something to the other person.  Instead of bringing the thing or paper to the camera, you can take the camera over to the thing you want to show.  Nice.  

This could work nice with Delicious Library, where you can take the camera and scan your books and stuff. 

It charges via a mini USB.  This brings up the only thing I don't like about Bluetooth accessories, the necessity to charge everyone of them.  I have enough things I need to charge - ie., phone, cameras.  And more Bluetooth accessories means more stuff I have to plug to charge.  Luckily this camera uses a mini USB so you don't need to use a plug or another USB port (assuming you have another device that uses mini USB to charge).  

Link:

BT-1

Images of Wii Controller Prototypes

Ever wondered what Wii controller prototypes looked like?

Source: http://2tentime.com/archives/50304035.html

Where's the iCamera?

I've never been a fan of photography.  I found small digital cameras and cellphone cameras adequate.  That was the case until a few years ago when I got to try shooting with a digital SLR (single-lens reflex) at an electronics store.  That was the first time I experienced the camera shuttering and that was one of those moments that you remember.  There is something about the sound of the shutters, the force feedback, and how the camera's instant reaction when you press the button to shoot something.  

After that I did some research, and eventually I settled on the E-410, which was light, small and portable.  In order to take the pictures I want, there is a lot of things to learn about.  For example, lens, shutter speed, and aperture.  

Like most hobbies, photography is deep.  There's a lot to learn, and most cameras todays have buttons and dials, along with digital menus that is required.  Sometimes, I think, wouldn't it be great if there was a camera that was the equivalent of an iPhone.  A camera that is intuitive and easy to use for everyday people.  Maybe SLR cameras that just have one button, and exchangeable lens that have names regular people could understand (instead of something like  70-300mm F4.0-5.6, how about Zoom, or Blur, or Close...)

Anyways, so where is this iCamera - the camera for the rest of us?

Print without ink: Polaroid PoGo

I came across the Polaroid PoGo the other day while shopping.   It's basically a mini mobile printer that you can attach your cameras or cellphones to, and it'll print 2X3 inch photos using special "ZINK" photo paper.  The coolest thing though is that it prints without ink.  

It also supports Bluetooth so you can print wirelessly.  According to the pamphlet I got, it claims to print one photo per minute, and can print up to 15 photos per charge.  You can find it on Amazon for $95 dollars.  

Personally, I don't know what I'd use it for, but the inkless part is just cool =)



Link: Polaroid Pogo website

Quick review: Apple Wireless Keyboard

I have used the most recent version of Apple's wireless keyboard for almost a year now.  And this is one of my favorite gadgets.  Here's a quick review.  

What's good:

• The design: it's compact, it's thin, and it's elegant.  
  
  
• Comfortability:  Although it's not complete flat, but the flat keys and the small angle of the keyboard provides a very nice typing experience.  I took out my old Apple wireless keyboard and I realized how much stress it had on my wrist.   I think once you get used to typing on this keyboard, you really can't go back to the traditional keyboards.  
  

What's no so good:

• Lacking the number pad:  I was used to using the number pad for entering numbers especially, so that's one thing I really miss.  It's really a pity that there is not wireless version with a number pad.  If you're absolutely need number pad, I suggest going with the wired version.  
  
  
• The function key row shares with the one-touch access keys to Mac features such as brightness and volume.  Although it would increase the size and it would not be consistent with the notebook keyboard layouts, but since it's primarily used at home, I wished they separate the function key rows and create a new row for the one-touch access keys.  The one touch access keys to control things like volume, iTunes, and brightness is really convenient, but I also use the function keys quite often.  I have one touch access on as default, so I have to hold down the fn key on the lower left to use the function keys.  
  

On my wish list:

Since the wireless keyboard is quite portable, I wish one day I could pair it up via Bluetooth with my iPhone.  That would be awesome!  

Conclusion

If you don't have much space on your desk and you don't mind not having a number pad, I fully recommend this keyboard.  (Of course, you'll need a Mac.)  If you haven't used a recent Mac notebook that features this kind of keyboard, be sure to try it out at an Apple store to see if you like the touch and feel of the keys.  Personally, I think it's let stress on the wrist, and that's a good thing =)

Thanks for reading!

Gadget Ad: Princeton Tablet Monitor

Tiny tiny miscro SD card reader from Buffalo

I'm not sure how small these card readers can get.  But Buffalo's BSCRMSDC micro SD card readers are pretty small.

They are available in Japan for around $9.  Photos below.

Link:

Buffalo (Japanese)

i-Station Rotate - A speaker system that docks iPhones and touches horzontally

The problem with speaker systems for iPhones and iPod touches right now is that they dock vertically, which means you can't really watch your videos unless you tilt your head 90 degrees.  

Logic 3's solves the problem with the i-Station Rotate.  You can rotate the iPod in the dock from a vertical position to a horizontal position.  With the i-Station Rotate, you can finally watch movies from your iPhone / touch docked in a speaker system.

Sources:

• Logic 3
  
• iLounge Review of i-Station Rotate