Gadgets, Gizmos, and Games for Geeks

Apple has admitted to shipping some 5.5G iPods infected with a Windows virus called “RavMonE.exe.” Apparently the virus infected a PC at an iPod manufacturer’s facility and subsequently found its way onto some of Apple’s players.

Want to take advantage of the high resolution display on your laptop? Now you can with this new mobile device which features an over-the-air digital high definition receiver. Autumnwave’s OnAir GT features tuners for both high-definition over-the-air and digital cable (QAM) broadcasts as well as for analog over-the-aid and cable signals.

Belkin’s forthcoming SportCommand seeks to provide a solution for remotely control your iPod in inclement weather or while performing outdoor activites. The remote provides wireless control of key iPod navigation including pause/play, next/previous track and volume.

Toshiba has shown us the future of television in the form of the most unwieldy contraption I’ve ever seen. Looking like a cross between a space helmet and some sort of industrial grade hair dryer, the prototype system is said to provide an all-encompasssing 360-degree television experience on its massive convex screen.

This may be old news, but since I never saw this commercial, I figured that some of you might not have either. The commercial is for Sony’s BRAVIA line of TVs and features a drop of over 250,000 multi-colored superballs down the streets of San Francisco.

Check out these nifty mini artworks by artist Cynthia Malaran, inspired by classic computer and video game systems. Currently available works include the Apple Newton, Classic Macintosh (diptych seen above), Atari and NES joysticks and a 3.5″ boot disk.

This new soft drink from Coca-Cola and Nestl

If you live in Chicago like me, the top story yesterday was the presence of celebs including Oprah Winfrey, Bono, Kanye Wes and Penelope Cruz on Michigan Avenue for the announcement of Bono’s Product RED. Product RED incorporates special products and services from a variety of major corporations including American Express, Converse, Armani, Motorola, Gap and Apple.

Palm’s new Treo 680 series of smartphones were announced today. They come in four colors: graphite, crimson, arctic and copper (does anybody else out there think this is a Cingular exclusive?) and feature a smaller form factor than earlier models.

Looking for the perfect gift for the video gamer who has everything? Check out these totally cool Ms. Pac-man and Ghost rings designed by Tiny Armour Jewelry. Also available in the collection are a variety of other pac-man inspired jewels including neckaces and earrings.

According to this post over at Kotaku, the Sony Playstation 3 will only include a crappy composite video cable when it’s released in Japan. Apparently, even though the Playstation 3 is all about high definition gameplay and movies, you’re expected to go spend even more money to get it to output onto anything other than a crummy old TV.

Real Snail Mail is an art and technology project being conducted by the technological artists collective of Boredom Research. The project has real snails delivering electronic messages via tiny RFID tags attached to their shells. The messages are delivered literally “at a snails pace.”

The new Epson EMP-TW1000 is a front projector which features a native 1080p (1920×1080) resolution LCD panel. The projector features HDMI 1.3 inputs for digital signals, and supports true 1080p inputs. In addition Epson’s new color engine is said to produce a color gamut that’s 115% broader than NTSC standards.

Boy, the reasons to NOT get a PS3 keep piling up. The folks over at Opposable Thumbs have made the astute observation that since the PS3 has no IR receiver port and only a Bluetooth remote control.

A couple of weeks back, I reported on dumb quotes by Sony execs and I thought for sure that I had heard every ludicrous comment possible about their upcoming Playstation 3 release. I guess Sony Australia’s boss, Michael Ephraim, wanted to make sure we didn’t run out of choice sound bites.

This amusing commercial for the Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on has found its way to YouTube: Now is it just me, or is the dancer who does the DVD dance better than the main HD-DVD dancer?