Technabob » desktop

Invoxia NVX610 Turns Your iPhone into a Land Line Phone… for a Price

Conner Flynn — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:30 +0000

Your iPhone is awesome. It’s sleek, compact. There’s an app for whatever you need. If only there were a way to turn it into a land line phone, it would be perfect. Because as it is, it gives you way too much freedom. There may not be an app for that, but there’s a dock for that.

The Invoxia NVX 610 Desktop docks your iPhone and turns it into a modern looking land line style phone, allowing you to make calls using the dedicated invoxia application. The built-in In Vivo Acoustic technology claims to deliver superior sound quality. Your mobile and business contacts are merged into the Contact button, while all your recent calls go into Recents. Sounds cool enough, so how much is it?

This is one expensive device to turn a phone into a… phone, at $500 (USD) from Amazon.

[via Likecool]

Dust Extinguisher Mini Vacuum Cleaner: Break Glass in Case of Dust

Lambert Varias — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:00:59 +0000

If you have a computer, you need the Dust Extinguisher. It’s that simple. Anyone who says he’s never eaten while using the computer is lying. Ergo, you have crumbs and other remnants of food on your desk, keyboard and other surfaces. Then you have dust and dead skin and other horrible things that are thankfully tiny enough that we forget that they’re there. But they are. Hence the Dust Extinguisher.

The Dust Extinguisher has a 4″ hose, perfect for sucking up dirt from tiny spaces. When it’s time to clean the Dust Extinguisher, just twist the top off to access the filter and throw away the stored crap. And since it looks like a toy, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to convince your younger sibling to clean up for you. They’ll probably even volunteer for the job when they see this thing in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

VAT 19 sells the Dust Extinguisher for $13 (USD), but as of this writing they’re out of stock, so you might want to order one from Amazon for now instead. It runs on two AA batteries, not included.

[via Craziest Gadgets]

Education iMac Drops Below $1,000: Will You Get One?

Range — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:28:06 +0000

I’ve mentioned before that I’m somewhat ambivalent about the all-in-one PCs, mostly because they use laptop parts to get to that svelte size, but Apple has announced the specs of their education iMac, which sits at $999. That’s $200 less than the cheapest consumer model. You won’t get Thunderbolt or a Core i5, but you’ll get a decent computer for that price.

So what does a grand buy you? A 3.1GHz Intel Core i3 Dual-Core processor, 21.5-inch LCD screen, AMD Radeon HD 6750 with 256MB, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a Superdrive and OS X Lion. The next cheapest iMac that’s available for the mass market costs $1,199.

Instead of the Thunderbolt port, this iMac has a simple mini Display Port. For $200 more, you can get a 2.5GHz Quad-Core i5, 4GB of RAM, and 500GB of storage. While some people might perish the thought of getting this sub-$1,000, a lot of students will purchase this because of the price-point.

[Apple via MacRumors]

Laptop to Desktop Conversion: Less Portable, but Less Trash Too

Lambert Varias — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:51:13 +0000

Instructables member Michael Chen’s friend gave him a broken laptop. Chen decided to treat the situation as a glass half-full and converted the distressed laptop into a desktop. It may sound counterintuitive, but then again he practically made something out of nothing and extended the lifespan of the computer.

Chen retained the laptop’s screen, motherboard, hard drive, RAM as well as its power adapter, then made a frame-like case using acrylic sheets, sandwiching the screen and the motherboard together. A couple of extra tweaks here and there – drilling fan holes, relocating the power button etc. – and he had a new desktop computer.

As other Instructables members and commenters pointed out, you could also look for a similar or compatible laptop body and transfer the old laptop’s guts there. Chen also suggests using a touchscreen kit so you end up with a touchscreen computer instead. The form factor of this particular conversion makes it easy to mount the computer to a wall. Check out Instructables for the full walkthrough.

[via Hack A Day]

Krator Neso 04 Speakers: Inspired By Sydney Opera House But Made in Taiwan

Range — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:20:52 +0000

While these distinctive speakers are inspired by the Sydney Opera House, they’re actually made in Taiwan. I think good-looking desktop PC speakers are always a good thing, since they usually don’t look like much.

At last week’s CeBIT show, Krator showed a few different pairs of speakers. There’s the Neso 04 Drop to the nature, the Neso 04 Surrealism and the Neso 2, which is handcrafted out of wood. The ones I like the best are the Neso 04 Opera House, pictured below:

The new models look interesting enough, though I wonder how good they will sound. Probably as good as all of the other desktop speakers out there, unless they end up being really expensive.

[via AkihabaraNews via CrunchGear]

GameCube Desktop Organizers Would Only Be Better If They Still Played Super Smash Brothers Melee

Technabob — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:04:12 +0000

If you’re like me, your old Nintendo GameCube is either gathering dust in a closet somewhere, or you’ve eBayed it by now. But there is one other thing you could do with your GameCube – turn it into a desktop organizer.

Actually, turning your GameCube into a desktop caddy is a task best left to the pros, like Etsy seller GreenCüb, whose tagline is simply “Office Supplies Made from Recycled Video Game Systems”. At this point the only said office supply is their GameCube caddy, which offers ample storage for your paperclips, pushpins, pens and other desktop doo-dads.

Each organizer is made from an actual (broken) GameCube, and features a handy metal tray in place of the disc drive, a pull-out drawer where the controllers once plugged in, a magnetic paperclip caddy on the vent holes, and pen/pencil holes in place of the Power and Reset buttons. There’s even a little shelf on back for storing your iPhone or other compact gadget too.

Sure, I suppose you could try and do this yourself, but I’d suggest that you head on over to GreenCüb’s Etsy shop and just buy one ready-made. Prices range from $39 to $49 (USD), depending on the particular GameCube model you want.

Turn Your iPhone Into a Desk Phone

Range — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:04:09 +0000

There are a few desktop handsets for your iPhone, but this one is quite minimal, which makes it more attractive than some of the others out there. I guess something like this makes sense if you’re using the iPhone as your main home phone.

The anodized aluminum iPhone Desktop Handset acts like a base and receiver for your iPhone. It allows you to make calls and receive them without having to hold the iPhone. The base can even charge your iPhone while it cradles it – using your own charging cable.

It’s available for $60 (USD) from Hammacher Schlemmer. If that’s too much for you, you can probably hack your own – or you could just hold your iPhone to your ear.

[via Ubergizmo]

Seagate Momentus Xt Hybrid Hard Drive: Solid (State) Performance

Lambert Varias — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:04:27 +0000

Seagate’s new Momentus XT hard drive has most of the benefits of a pure solid state drive without most of the cons. The Momentus XT’s hard disk drive comes in three capacities – 250 GB, 320 GB and 500 GB. Compared with drives of similar capacities, Momentus XT drives are almost three times as expensive as normal hard disk drives, but they’re anywhere from 4 to 10 times less expensive than solid state drives. So why go for the middle? All Momentus XT hard drives are equipped with 4gb of solid state memory, enough to significantly boost boot-up times and application launches.

Of course, with these things there’s nothing more convincing than actual tests. Here’s Seagate’s comparison of the performance of different hard drive capacities. If you don’t feel like sitting through all 8 minutes, jump to 7:04 for the final times.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

As I said, most of the pros of an SSD without most of the cons. You can order Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drives at Amazon. The 500 GB model is currently available for $134 (USD), the 320 GB sells for $125, and the 250 GB for $100.

Asetek Liquid Cooled All-in-One Pc: Cool Inside and Out

Lambert Varias — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:34:57 +0000

All-in-one PCs look nice and simple to set up, but they don’t appeal to hardcore computer users because these people know that it’s the insides that count, and PCs with slim form factors generally don’t have top of the line CPUs and GPUs because of the lack of airflow inside their cramped spaces. Until now, that is. Asetek claims that they’ve come up with a PC that combines the best of both worlds – a slim computer with drool-worthy guts, in this case a 130W Intel Core i7-920 desktop processor and a 75W nVidia GTX280M graphics card.

Installed in the stand of Asetek’s prototype is a high performance radiator coupled with a low profile fan. The coolant is distributed to cold plates attached to the GPU and CPU via a pump. Also, Asetek would like us to know that these parts are all high performance or low profile or both, as explained by Thermal Engineer Todd:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Ah, the old lab coat-wearing expert; why won’t you go away? No word yet on when the PC will be finalized, but I’m pretty sure this one won’t be cheap. That, and the fact that some PC enthusiasts actually enjoy customizing their rig means that this will have a limited appeal, but it’ll still find a home with well-moneyed folks, savvy graphics people, and hardcore gamers who don’t care about constantly upgrading their systems.

[via DVICE]

Apple Magic Trackpad Coming Today Says Rumors

Shane McGlaun — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:24:33 +0000

One of the things I hate most about working on a notebook or netbook is the trackpad. I really hate those things. They are just not nearly as accurate for me as a normal mouse. I would never consider using one for my desktop like the Apple Magic Trackpad rumored to be launching today.

I would say this thing will fail miserably, but there are two points working in its favor. One is that the thing is said to recognize handwriting, which is cool and will let me sign digital files. The other is that it has the Apple logo on it, which is the most important feature of the device for many.

The trackpad reportedly connects via Bluetooth. We will have to wait a bit longer before Steve takes the stage to see if the rumor is true. All I know is that he had better whip out that iPhone we have all been hoping for because if a trackpad is as good as it gets today I won’t be happy.

[via Engadget]

Desktop Connect Vnc App: and Just Like That, Flash on the iPad!

Lambert Varias — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:00:05 +0000

If you ask me, the perfect tablet would be a combination of the iPad and the JooJoo; i.e. an iPad with a camera, support for Flash and a USB port. Fortunately for (future) iPad owners, the Desktop Connect app by Antecea takes care of two of those missing features. In a nutshell, Desktop Connect lets you remotely view and use a desktop computer, meaning you can view, use and edit files from your main computer without having to transfer them to the iPad, reducing the need for a USB port. Want to play Flash games or watch Flash videos? No problem.

As you can see in the screenshot above, Desktop Connect lets you “use” any OS that your desktop has, be it OS X or *gasp!* Windows, or even Linux. Here’s a quick demo of the app by TechnoBuffalo‘s Brandon Miniman:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Now all the iPad lacks is a camera. No actually it still needs a USB port. You can purchase Desktop Connect at the iTunes store (link opens iTunes) for $12 (USD).

Woodguy’s Custom Steampunk Desktops Look Great

Range — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:18:50 +0000

I have to say that some of the steampunk mods that I’ve seen don’t always look that good, but I’m truly amazed at Woodguy’s creations. He does custom steampunk additions for your computers.

The steampunk aesthetic tends to polarize opinions. Some people love it, some people hate it. But no matter what you think of steampunk, you’ve gotta hand it to Woodguy for his craftsmanship.

His handmade steampunk computer accessories are made from wood, brass, and copper, then finished off with a patina to give them that truly antique look. I have to warn you though, they aren’t cheap. Prices start at $325 (USD) for a mouse/keyboard combo to almost $1,000 for a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

You can check out his website for further details, or his Etsy shop.

[via Yanko Design]

Dell Froot Concept Computer Does Away With Keyboard, Monitor

Technabob — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:02:19 +0000

How’d you like a desktop computer that works without any physical keyboard or monitor? That’s what industrial designer Paulina Carlos envisions with her Dell Froot concept PC.

Instead of connecting to a traditional monitor or USB keyboard, the Froot features a pair of projectors – one that casts the keyboard on a tabletop, and the other one that projects the computer screen on the wall. Besides the small projection hump in the middle, the left-hand side contains the ports, and the right has a slot-loading DVD drive.

Paulina conceived the Froot for a Dell sustainable design contest, and if ever produced, its colorful case would be made out of a biodegradable starch-based polymer. And, of course no monitor or keyboard means fewer raw materials, and less junk in the landfill when you eventually move on to your next computer.

Perhaps this could be a real commercial application for Light Blue Optics’ recently unveiled Light Touch system?

[via Behance Network]

Desktop Zamboni Vacuum Sweeps Up, but Makes No Ice

Technabob — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:26:37 +0000

Do you like to eat in your cubicle, leaving crumbs all over the place? Here’s a fun way to keep things neat and tidy the next time you make a mess on your desk. This miniature Zamboni machine is actually a handheld vacuum cleaner.

While it won’t make you a tiny little ice skating rink for your Dorothy Hamill action figure, this little Zamboni vacuum cleaner should do away with any loose detritus you leave sitting around after you chaw on your croissants.

So far there’s no word on when and where you’ll be able to get one of these, but in the mean time you can bookmark the product page over at UrbanTrend and wait it out. Are you really in a hurry for one of these, anyway? Really?

[via Nerd Approved]

Design Hara’S Green Pc Struts Its Woody Goodness

Technabob — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:18:09 +0000

While all of you guys are ogling the latest and greatest Tablet PCs and 3-D TVs at CES, here’s a new desktop PC that’s sure to draw some stares. Design Hara’s eco-friendly “Green PC” definitely caught my eye.

The compact PC comes is a small handcrafted chassis, complete with handmade wooden side panels that come from Italian cypress wood or Canadian rose wood. While Design Hara claims that with this computer “you can simply save the earth!”, I wouldn’t go that far unless you use it to cure cancer or something. That said, it is built using at least some sustainable components and power consumption is rated at only 60 watts per hour, which isn’t bad at all. It looks awesome alongside the less-than-eco-friendly clear acrylic speakers by Ferguson Hill in the photo below, they don’t come with the computer anyway.

The case is loaded with a Zotac 9300 Mini-ITX motherboard, the base system runs on an Intel Core2Duo CPU and comes with a 1TB hard drive and 4GB of RAM. They also throw in a Blu-ray drive for good measure. Sure, the specs sound completely average by today’s standards, but design is what this baby is all about.

No word on when or where you’ll be able to get one of these, but for now, you can check out more photos and specs over at Design Hara.

[via Yanko Design]

The Amazing Retro-Styled Philco Pc

Range — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:30:06 +0000

I love my laptops, but this amazing concept PC might just make us want to get back into desktops! This incredible looking PC looks like a retro-styled TV.

The Philco PC was designed by Dave Schultze, which was inspired by the classic Philco Predicta TVs from the fifties. It kind of reminds us of Lost in Space.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

This cool desktop comes with a Steampunk keyboard and mouse. The keys on the keyboard look a lot like the ones you get on old typewriters.

This stunning piece of design uses a few interesting concepts. It looks very good and clearly takes us back to the ’50s.

I wouldn’t mind working on one of those, though I’m a bit concerned about the monitor. One of the great things about PCs is that you can just change components, like the monitor. It looks like this wouldn’t be possible with this design. However, it still looks beautiful.

[via Yanko Design, photos by Dave Schultze]

Desktop Arm Wresting Involves No Actual Arms or Wrestling

Technabob — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:58:52 +0000

If you’re too much of a girly-man to actually arm wrestle your friends, then here’s something that should let you show off your physical prowess without flexing too much muscle.

I actually think they should have called this desktop game “Thumb WrestleMania”, since your arms aren’t going to be doing much more than keeping your hand from falling off while your thumb-mash your way to victory. Arm WrestleMania sets the stage for your big bout, backing each fight with crowd noises, dinging bells and an electronic announcer.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

It’s also perfect for settling office disputes, deciding the fate of employees you may have to lay off, or your next Sophie’s Choice. Now I must warn you, I was a Track and Field master back in the day, so I will take all comers and smash them into the ground with my lightning-quick manly thumb.

You can get your hands on Arm WrestleMania over at Firebox UK for £14.99 (appx. $25 USD).

Rumornabob: New iMac and Macbook to be Released “in the Next Several Weeks”

Lambert Varias — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:30:26 +0000

Research firm Wedge Partners recently claimed that Apple will unveil updates to the iMac and the MacBook within “the next several weeks” (like what, 64 weeks from now?) The MacBook redesign “is likely to be limited,” (perhaps it’ll just be renamed to macbook. or MaCbOoK) while the new iMac will have a “thinner, organic design, likely with smoothed or rounded edges.” No word on specs though.

Wedgie Wedge Partners also thinks that Apple will have another round of price cuts along with the release of the new Macs, as a response to the impending release of Windows 7, Microsoft’s well-received OS, this October. Apple does follow a fairly regular hardware update cycle, so I guess the first part of the rumor is no surprise, but price cuts? Want. Maybe Apple will release a 13″ Unibody MacBook with a removable battery for $1,000. Hah! I wish.

What would you like to see in the next Macbook & iMac? What the hell does “organic design” mean? And what exactly does a “research firm” do? So many questions.

[via Tech Trader Daily via MacRumors]

The Future of Desktop Computing is Looking More and More Like Star Trek

Lambert Varias — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:16:19 +0000

Microsoft’s “top research and strategy officer” Craig Mundie demoed various flashy & functional future tech that the company believes will be an integral part of the future desktop computing experience. Mundie’s demo included “hologram-like videoconferencing, a virtual digital assistant, and multiple surface computers, along with voice-, touch- and gesture-recognition technology.” Where’s the visual & olfactory recognition tech?

Mundie’s sample office setting eschewed the keyboard, mouse and even the monitor. His desk was a multi-touch surface computer, and the walls were monitors as well, capable of displaying “a virtual window or collection of digital photos to a corkboard of sticky notes or various workspaces.” That’s nice, except I hope that in the future we’ll still have real views and not “virtual windows”. Mundie also showcased a Project Natal-like tech, wherein he put himself in the middle of an architectural demo. Imagine being able to see and walk through a life-size model of your house before it’s actually built. The future is going to be awesome. To those who can afford it anyway.

[via Crave UK]

Put a Cell Phone on Your Desktop

Technabob — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:00:37 +0000

Who needs portability when you can have a good old-fashioned desk phone? This unusual phone lets you use your mobile phone SIM card to connect to wireless phone networks instead of landlines.

The CVFK-M14-US Business Phone looks like a regular desk phone, but is actually a dual-band (850Mhz/1900Mhz) GSM phone. That means it should work on all of the major US carrier’s digital networks. The phone works on either AC power or battery, so I suppose you could carry it around and whip it out of your purse to take a call if you want to look really silly.

Assuming you don’t want to invest in a landline, and don’t want to go with some sort of VOIP phone on your internet connection, this phone might work for you. Otherwise, I can’t see too much purpose if you already have a cell phone in your pocket.

If you can think of a good use for one of these, you can grab one over at Chinavasion for $67.91 (USD).