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Titanium USB drive keeps on ticking

Slava Tyukalov is one busy inventor-slash-entrepreneur. Only a few months ago he generated tons of interest in his handmade wireless mouse, a beautiful creation of graphite, aluminum and Italian leather. Now SlashGear says he's come up with a USB drive that features an important addition: titanium.

Why? Because he apparently wanted to make it as close to indestructible as possible, being waterproof, anti-shock, anti-vibration and anti-static. (For a demonstration of its durability, check out the YouTube clip below.) We have just one question: Why are people so determined to abuse their poor USB drives anyway?

The lumberjack's laptop case

One of digital technologies benefits has always been saving trees--or so we thought. It seems somewhat ironic then that such products as wooden computers, TVs and cameras appear to be on the rise.

Either way, we should have known that techno-fashion accessories wouldn't be far behind. Enter MoMA's wooden laptop tote, which is purportedly made from "ecologically thinned cedar," whatever that is. Shiny Shiny says you must pay for the privilege of being on the cutting edge, of course, to the tune of $265. But you'll be the envy of everyone at the next Gilligan'… Read more

But can it read your doctor's writing?

Despite all the tablet computers in the world, few people would choose to write longhand using a screen and a stylus when paper is an option, as fellow Craver Leslie Katz observes. Taiwan-based Genius knows this well, which is why it has developed the G-Note 7100, a digital tablet that MobileWhack says will let you store your chicken scratches on the computer through a USB connection.

That's hardly unique--it's really the point of having such products, after all--but the Genius model does have some other convenient features. One is that it can use any letter-sized notepad, unlike some … Read more

The Shadow knows hybrid tech and Rat Patrol styling

From Basra to Kabul, no environmentally aware burkha babe is going to be able to resist this 4x4, turbo-charged, hybrid, diesel-electric recon hotrod.

Created by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS,) the Shadow RST-V (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle) boasts stealth, survivability and low mileage. That's big, considering that about half the military's money--and a third of its manpower--is devoted to hauling stuff around, 70 percent of that stuff being fuel.

The aluminum-bodied RST-V seats four (seating by Oregon Aero), does 70 mph and has a 470-mile range. Bulletproof windows and armor are optional. Weaponry includes your standard machine … Read more

This summer take a sub, hit a pub

It may be hard to imagine if you're anywhere near Chicago right now, but summer will arrive before you know it. And what would the season be, pray tell, without one's own personal submarine?

The Dutch company U-BoatWorx is here to help with its "C-Quester," which MobileWhack says can dive up to 50 meters and cruise at 4 knots. You can even get a custom paint job. (How do you pimp a submarine?)

The underwater vehicles come in two sizes, at 9 and 11 feet, with the latter seating two--perfect for Valentine's Day, starting at … Read more

Radix malorum est 'World of Warcraft'

Considering the medieval-fantasy appearance of much of the World of Warcraft universe, I suppose it's not that surprising that WoW-obsessed high school students would start using the game to enhance their English and history class projects. And here we have it: some kid actually put the game to good use and turned it into a machinima platform for a re-enactment of the Pardoner's Tale from Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.

If you consider medieval humor to be unspeakably vulgar, well, then, ye be warned. And if old English literature isn't your preferred form of game video, you … Read more

Another game release, another DS Lite

If you happen to be visiting Japan this spring, you may see some unusually long lines outside stores on April 26. That's when Nintendo is planning to debut a DS Lite special edition to coincide with the release of the anticipated Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, according to Plastic Bamboo. The special DS will initially be sold as a limited-edition bundle with the role-playing game, but it's unclear whether the laser-etched device will be available on its own later on. Either way, you can expect to see the usual sequence of events: the rush of fanboys, Flickr photos … Read more

Take your 'Lost' fandom a step further with Dharma food labels

Okay, who here thought last Wednesday night's episode of Lost absolutely owned the six previous episodes of Season 3? And who here can't wait until this coming Wednesday for the next installment? (Who does Desmond think is going to die!?!) Well, now I'm looking forward to the next episode even more, since a bunch of very creative people over at Insanely Great Tees have put up a visual tutorial of a way for you to turn ordinary food into Dharma Initiative rations. You know, like the ones found in the hatch that got blown up at the … Read more

A perfect gift if she hearts laptops

You've undoubtedly noticed a fair number of desperate Valentine's Day pitches from various companies, but this one is the real deal. Say what you will about its aesthetic properties, but Ego-Lifestyles' "Love Edition" laptop is a product designed especially for the holiday--as opposed to those that just have an inscription or some other after-market afterthought.

Finished in pink and red leather, this Ego sports an unmistakable heart on its handmade case of custom leather, according to Sybarites. It's also finished with a red bow and silver heart charm, just in case you missed the rest … Read more

Is LG taking a new 'shine' to Verizon?

It's not exactly the LG Shine that we were lusting after at CES, but when we spotted the LG VX8700 over on Engadget Mobile we immediately thought, "Ooh, shiny!" Aside from Verizon maybe getting first dibs at it, we haven't been able to dig up any additional information about this shimmery new phone. For now, you'll have to make do with a pretty picture of what looks to be a very nice successor to the LG VX8600.