2008 July 15 | tech gadget update

Jul 15 2008

‘Starpex’ full-size wood guitar controller for PS2/PS3

Posted by: admin in Life Gadgets

If you find yourself feeling like half a man while using the sorta-cheap standard-issue Guitar Hero and Rock Band guitars BUT you don’t think you’re quite ready for the responsibility of owning and learning to play a real guitar, here’s a nice tiny baby-step along your path to self-realization. It’s a real-feeling, full-size guitar for […]

starpex

If you find yourself feeling like half a man while using the sorta-cheap standard-issue Guitar Hero and Rock Band guitars BUT you don’t think you’re quite ready for the responsibility of owning and learning to play a real guitar, here’s a nice little baby-step along your path to self-realization. It’s a real-feeling, full-size guitar for Guitar Hero and/or Rock Band (the PS2 or PS3 versions only).

It’s called the “Starpex” – huh? — and it features “an instrument-quality, high-gloss lacquered finish with a hardwood body, neck, and headstock handcrafted by a leading guitar manufacturer giving the authentic guitar experience that Guitar Hero and Rock Band enthusiasts crave.”

guitar over player blowup

This thing actually looks pretty cool. There’s a well-placed Star Power/Overdrive button next to the enhanced strum bar and a built-in tilt sensor which grants players to activate Star Power or Overdrive just by tipping the guitar up and down and back and forth just like real rock stars. The 10 fret buttons are also high quality, with “optimal button travel for enhanced feel, reduced fatigue, and higher score potential.”

Finally, the guitar features a modular design, so you’ll be able to customize it in the future with new guitar bodies, pick guards, and so forth. The Starpex will cost $179.99 and will be available in late August at various electronics retailers.

Full press release:

Peak Products Unleashes Starpex™, the First-Ever Full-Size, Wood, Playstation®2 and Playstation 3 Guitar Controller with the Authentic Look and Feel of a Real Guitar

For those about to rock…Peak salutes you!

Boston, MA– July 16th, 2008 - Peak Products, a gaming peripheral company dedicated to providing the best in instrument quality gaming controllers, announces Starpex, the first-ever full-size, wood, PS2™ / PS3™ Guitar controller with the look and feel of an actual guitar. Starpex boasts an instrument-quality, high-gloss lacquered finish with a hardwood body, neck, and headstock handcrafted by a leading guitar manufacturer giving the authentic guitar experience that Guitar Hero™ and Rock Band™ enthusiasts crave. Other unique features include…

Full Guitar Hero and Rockband Functionality for PS2 and PS3 – Starpex is compatible with both PS2 and PS3, and grants users to experience the full list of game play features in both Guitar Hero and Rockband, including toggle effects switch and solo button functionality.

Very special Speed Star Power / Overdrive Button provides the fastest and most accurate access to Star Power and Overdrive. Additionally, built in tilt sensor technology allows users to access Star Power and Overdrive in a more traditional way.

Optimized Whammy Bar maximizes comfort, provides superior feel, reduces fatigue and provides a higher level of durability.

High Quality Ten Fret Button Design features optimal button travel for enhanced feel, reduced fatigue, and higher score potential. Ten fret buttons means that players have the option of using traditionally positioned fret buttons, or rock out with solo buttons high up on the neck which also provide critical soloing abilities in Rockband.

Enhanced Strum Bar gives the perfect balance of tactile and audible feedback to maximize enjoyment and scoring.

Connectivity Options – Dual wired / wireless capabilities allow players to use a 15’ wired cable or a 2.4 Ghz wireless connection (both included).

Forward - Thinking Compatibility – Starpex’s modular design allows users to easily separate the electronic components from the body of the guitar which will grant for further customization including new guitar bodies, pick guards, and more.

“With well over 11 million duplicates of Guitar Hero/Rock Band sold on the PlayStation consoles, we see a tremendous opportunity in bringing Starpex to market” states Jamie Leece, Vice President for Peak Products. “Never before have Guitar Hero/Rock Band enthusiasts been able to shred with a hardwood, handcrafted authentic guitar controller that’s built with the look and feel of a real guitar. This will change the way the games are played.”

The Starpex will be available in Circuit City and various retailers with an MSRP of $179.95 in late August. For more information on Peak Products, please visit www.Go-Peak.com coming on line in August

Jul 15 2008

Shape Up Alarm Clock Dumbbell Won’t Shut up ‘Til You Do 30 Reps [Ala

Posted by: admin in General Gadgets News

Shape Up from Fred and Friends is one of those bullying-style digital alarm clocks, designed to force you awake. It’s shaped like a mini dumbbell and won’t stop buzzing until you do 30 reps. This would not get me out of bed in the AM, nossir. But it might make me smile. Smile happily as I grip its conveniently throwable shape and fling it heartily out of the window into the garden, and slip back to sleep. There’s no info on price or availability, you may be pleased to know. [OhGizmo]

Via [Gizmodo]

Jul 15 2008

No lights or camera, just (laser) action for new Radiohead video

Posted by: admin in Life Gadgets

Without the use of any cameras or lights, Radiohead has created a new video for its song “House of Cards”. Wispy points of light capture the ephemeral nature of a party scene as the scanner makes its way through a crowd, eventually ending up outside. Two different scanning systems enable the director, James Frost, to […]

Without the use of any cameras or lights, Radiohead has created a new video for its song “House of Cards”.

Wispy points of light capture the ephemeral nature of a celebration scene as the scanner makes its way through a crowd, eventually ending up outside. Two different scanning systems enable the director, James Frost, to capture the images as they progress from faces to houses in a neighborhood at the end of the cul-de-sac.

In a refreshing merge of tech and no-tech, the making-of video shows the crew physically breaking up the image, by placing various objects in-between the scanner and the subject. A pane of glass with water dripping down it breaks up the image, while another effect is created by waving bits of mirror. The result is an image with a distorted data stream further enhancing the distinctive look.

Check it all out here.

Jul 15 2008

How To Be A Spy

Posted by: admin in Video

How to be a spy in 4 easy steps: 1: Secret cameras. 2: Watch the clips. 3: Cool gadgets. 4: Cool moves.

Jul 15 2008

Sidekick 2008 Images Appear, Larger And Clearer [Sidekick]

Posted by: admin in General Gadgets News

Some more images have popped up at Hiptop3 of the forthcoming Sidekick Gekko aka 2008 from T-Mobile, and they’re the ideal we’ve seen to date. This is a slender looking hiptop witch will launch with a multitude of skins, making it the most customizable Sidekick to date. And really, with a feature like that, you’d think the code name would be “chameleon”, but what do we know? [Hiptop3]

Via [Gizmodo]

Jul 15 2008

Some more upcoming Xbox 360 features

Posted by: admin in Life Gadgets

I may have just fallen in love with my Xbox 360 all over again. Major Nelson has been sent a letter from Xbox LIVE’s general manager Marc Whitten outlining a few new features that’ll be released for the Xbox 360 console later this year. They are… · Play from hard drive. Copy your games from the […]

xbox360

I might have just fallen in love with my Xbox 360 all over again. Major Nelson has been sent a letter from Xbox LIVE’s general manager Marc Whitten outlining a few new features that’ll be released for the Xbox 360 console later this year. They are…

· Play from hard drive. Copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive. Not only will the drive not spin, but load times are quicker, as well. Of course, you’ll still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game.

· Access Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web. Browse and purchase Marketplace content whenever you want from Xbox.com and it downloads automatically to your console. Buy that new map, TV episode, the latest Xbox LIVE Arcade game or set up a motion picture to watch when you get home from work.

· Dashboard built into the new Xbox Guide. For everyone who loves the blades interface, it’s not going away; they are now built directly in to the new Xbox guide. Each feature and option is available right from the guide. You can even access your full games library at all times. No matter where you’re (in dash or in game), immediately call up your games played list and directly launch a game.

· LIVE Celebration system. Create a party of up to eight friends, and stay with them from one game to another, or watch a Netflix motion picture together, or share a slideshow of your personal pics. It works with all Xbox 360 titles, not just upcoming games. LIVE Celebration allows up to eight people to chat in the dashboard, so you can meet up before playing.

· Xbox LIVE Primetime. This whole new category of games is going to give you more reasons to get on the internet with your friends. Games will support everything you’d expect, like Accomplishments and leader boards, but many of these games will include real prizes. You can invite your friends, and even set a reminder for an upcoming show. Each game is broadcast simultaneously, so everyone is answering the same questions. Many events will have a live host, calling the shots as they happen.

· Avatars. Your on the internet identity started as a Gamertag - it then grew into a personalized Gamercard. Now, it has evolved even further into avatars. You can express your style, check out new outfits and share this with the community. Avatars will also be integrated into Xbox LIVE Arcade games, LIVE Party, as well as retail games.

· New display support. Because you asked for it, we’re adding 16X10 over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440×900 or 1680×1050.

The 16×10 thing is great and the hard drive thing is SUPER great. Read more over at MajorNelson.com if you’re interested.

Jul 15 2008

Sprint: HTC Touch, Samsung Ace both drop to $100

Posted by: admin in Life Gadgets

The HTC Touch and the Samsung Ace are both going for $100 (after a $100 mail in rebate) on Sprint. You could also get the red-hot new Samsung Instinct for just thirty bucks more, but let’s try to stay focused here. We’ve reviewed both the Touch and the Ace and, for $100, you could […]

sprint

The HTC Touch and the Samsung Ace are both going for $100 (after a $100 mail in rebate) on Sprint. You could also get the red-hot new Samsung Instinct for just thirty bucks more, but let’s try to stay focused here. We’ve reviewed both the Touch and the Ace and, for $100, you could do much, much worse. That’s not a bad price at all.

via Brighthand

Jul 15 2008

Xbox 360 to Play Full Games Directly Off the Hard Drive [Xbox 360]

Posted by: admin in General Gadgets News

Microsoft dropped a bunch of awesome bombs in their keynote, but there’s more! Marc Whitten reveals that you’ll be able to replicate full games and play them directly off the hard drive to shrink load times (and silence disc spinning), though you’ll still need the game inserted so they know you own it.

Also, you can make Live Marketplace purchases from the web and they’ll automatically download to your console. Further on the UI upgrades, the old blades are just moving to the new Xbox guide—every feature, including games library is always available. Last, they’re supporting new resolutions: “16X10 over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440×900 or 1680×1050.” Home run, Microsoft. [Gamerscore]

Via [Gizmodo]