Gadgets

Mac addicts and "Star Wars" aficionados are some of the most loyal fans alive, so it was probably inevitable that someone would invent something to bring the two forces together. MacSaber is a piece of software that promises to "turn your Mac into a Jedi weapon" by using the computer's motion sensor to create lightsaber sound effects.

As warm weather lures more boaters out to the water, one way for passengers to stay safe is to pack GPS or radio-tracking systems. Then, if a vessel capsizes far from shore or anyone gets swept overboard, search-and-rescue teams can find the boat or person.

ACR Electronics in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has been in the marine-safety device business since 1956. And its products are battle-tested: Three models are being used right now in the Volvo Ocean Race, a 'round-the-world sailing challenge.

If one of the participating 70-foot yachts is abandoned--as the Spanish boat movistar was in the seventh leg of … Read more

White earbuds are, like, so 2001, according to the folks behind the iPod-skewering IDon't Web page. Of course, those folks have a vested interest in reversing the iPod craze.

IDont.com is the latest in a so-called "viral marketing" campaign, in which corporations aim to come off as anything but corporate through a cheeky Web site designed to look like a grass-roots uprising. As little white-earbud clad sheep saunter on the home page, IDont.com declares, "The time has come to rise up against the iTatorship. There is an alternative."

Interestingly, however, the only alternative … Read more

Everybody likes getting packages to unwrap, and a lot of people like gadgets. So why not combine the two for a regular feature? That's the working philosophy behind Unboxing.com, which posts photos and videos of various products being unboxed. An item from yesterday even pointed to a Dutch site called Uitpakparty that unboxes something every week.

Your beach bag might already be packed with protection for yourself, such as sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. But what about your poor iPod or other digital music player?

Allsop is the latest to offer a waterproof iPod case, which the company also notes will protect any electronic gadget from "sand, pudding, or anything else nature can throw at it." Unlike those made by OtterBox, Allsop's Splash Pack DriPod is a soft case, much like souped-up Ziplock bag, that allows constant access to click wheel while the iPod is sealed and protected. The company says it's … Read more

Amid all "The Da Vinci Code" hype of recent weeks comes word of a clock featuring the artist's most famous visage--the Mona Lisa. Designed by Boym Partners, the clock is configured so the moving hands are made up of the painting's background. The minute hand consists of a section of La Gioconda's right eye, which circles around oddly as the time ticks.

ProductDose.com interprets the gadget as poking fun at the concept of hidden meaning in Leonardo da Vinci's famed work, which is thought by some to be a statement on gender, among … Read more

Engadget has uncovered the Donald Trump of mobile phones, made of 18k gold and boasting no fewer than 120 carats of diamonds. The price: $1 million. (No word on what kind of reception it gets.)

If, as so many of us do, you spend much of your day in front of a PC, you likely move your hand from mouse to keyboard countless times during a given stint at the computer. The Combimouse aims to eliminate the need for that back-and-forth by merging mouse and keyboard into one device.

The product looks something like an odd-shaped split keyboard. The right unit functions as a mobile combination keyboard/optical mouse that can be moved around on a support surface just like a conventional mouse. Its grip is similar to that of a regular mouse and its … Read more

Big electronics like colossal boom boxes, giant cell phones and industrial-size camcorders went out of style along with big hair in the early '90s. Thankfully, camcorders today aren't limited to behemoths that have to be lugged around on your shoulder. Now, the choice is usually between choosing a cheap purse-size camcorder or coughing up a few bills for a tiny camcorder or a tiny camera with a camcorder built-in.

Pure Digital recently announced its Pure Digital Point & Shoot Camcorder. It sells for a street value of around $100, making it a better option than buying a cheap analog … Read more