Gadgets, Gizmos, and Games for Geeks

Alienware’s new media center PC, the DHS A has a slick industrial design that would look great in any home entertainment system. The real killer here is that this is more than simply an HTPC. The DHS A is a complete home entertainment system, featuring 1000 watts of on-board amplification as well as high definition video via HDMI outputs.

According to a post at GWN, Microsoft clearly does not sanction the use of the popular Nyko Intercooler on the Xbox 360. The first Microsoft rep stated that the device simply drains too much power from the 360.

The NV-U71T is Sony’s latest entry into the portable GPS navigation arena. The new model is their first to feature a RDS-TMC traffic receiver which provides real-time traffic data and can automatically plot an alternative course around heavy traffic areas.

Designer Nicolas Cheng’s pocket watch /LED alarm clock merges old school and modern design into a single design that’s simply stunning. The clock automatically illuminates when picked up, then turns off when placed back on a surface.

As much as Japan provides us with some amazing inventions and top-notch consumer electronics, they’re also responsible for some of the most oddball, eccentric stuff out there. In case you were worried about misplacing your memory stick, or embarrassed by its unsightly looks, you can now hide your USB memory stick in the bowels of this keychain doll from Elecom.

Lik-Sang, one of my favorite places for imported game systems and accessories from the Far East has been unexpectedly shut down as a result of increasing pressure from pending litigation from Sony. The nail in the coffin appears to be a recent judgment that ruled their sale of PSP consoles from Asia to Europe was unlawful.

The ZScanner 700 from Z Corp lets you scan three-dimensional objects without requiring any complex mounting hardware or tripods. Typical 3D object scanners have to be mounted with a tripod or mounting arm, and it’s almost impossible to scan small, enclosed spaces or objects which could not be brought to the scanner.

This has gotta be one of the creepier robotic animals I’ve seen from Japan in some time (or at least this week.) This frightening little guy sits on your dashboard and uses GPS technology to point you in the direction of your destination.

The oh so small netstix series of computers from gumstix are full-fledged Linux systems in the form-factor of a pack of gum. Now the maker has announced a significant speed bump from the earilier 200MHz processor to a new Intel XScale 400MHz processor.

Face it, the reason we play sim games is so we can act out our inner God complexes. Who here among us didn’t just build up our SimCities just so you could unleash Godzilla and a tornado on them?

Want to make sure your kids have a truly white Christmas this year? Well with a little elbow grease, some cold weather and some cold hard cash you can. The SG4 and SG5 snow makers from Snowathome.com

I’ve seen phones with GPS and PDAs with GPS, but this is the first time I’ve seen a full Windows Mobile phone with built-in GPS navigation capabilities. The Dopod P800W is a full Windows Mobile 5.0 smartphone with 802.11b/g wireless, Bluetooth and an integrated SiRF III GPS receiver.

With all the ridiculous looking gameplay videos we’ve seen coming out for the new Nintendo Wii, I thought you might find this amusing: I can’t decide whether I like the tea time or the tattoo artist game better.

One of the concerns about conventional CDs and DVDs is that they will eventually lose their data at some point in the future. In order to solve this problem, a Japanese recording engineer has developed the first compact disc made from glass.

Artists Jess Giffin and Jim TerMeer have created this ingenious design which integrates those ugly power supplies into a work of art. Designed to accommodate the many power adapters cluttering our living space, this ship powers our electronic devices with their cords in its wake.

We’ve seen tons of retro LED clock designs emerge over the last couple of years, but this one takes the cake. The $89 Open Edition LED Clock breaks the digits of the clock into four self contained displays (2″ x 1.5″ x 1.5″ each), attached by cables.