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(Credit: Stealth)

If you're building a computer into your car, you probably couldn't do much better than Stealth's new LPC-625F for a platform. This mini PC is about the size of a hardback novel, so could be mounted under seats or behind an interior panel. A fanless design means less noise while keeping dust and dirt from getting into the case--the aluminum case works as a heat sink to cool the processor. The LPC-625F uses a 2.5-inch ruggedized hard drive designed to work in mobile environments, and a solid-state hard drive is available for serious shock resistance. The computer can run off 12-volt DC.

The LPC-625F ships with a 2.26GHz Intel dual-core processor and a gigabyte of RAM, upgradable to four gigabytes. Built-in Wi-Fi turns the car into a rolling router, and makes remote access easy for operating system and interface tweaking. Most interesting is that the LPC-625F supports full HD video, letting you build a really nice video system in your car.

I didn't imagine there was much room for innovation in USB-recording interfaces, but at the 2009 NAMM show--the annual convention for buyers and sellers of professional music gear (read: music gearhead paradise)--a couple of companies introduced some new takes on this very prosaic, but necessary, piece of gear.

The StealthPedal from IK Multimedia is a USB interface and MIDI controller that looks like a wah-wah pedal.

(Credit: IK Multimedia)

For the uninitiated: A recording interface is the bridge between your musical output and your computer. You attach it to the computer, then plug your instrument (or multiple instruments, or output of a mixing board) into it, and voila. There are countless types of interfaces at all levels of price and complexity, but for home musicians who just want a quick way to get their musical ideas down on their hard drives, an inexpensive USB interface is the way to go. M-Audio is probably the best-known brand at this level, although Tascam and Edirol (part of Roland) are somewhat common as well.

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(Credit: Northrop Grumman)

Remember how Tom Cruise's flyboy character in Top Gun seemed as at home riding the roadways on a motorcycle as he was jockeying an F-14 in the air?

Maverick is probably the kind of guy Northrop Grumman had in mind when it came up with the "visual centerpiece" of its 20th anniversary celebration of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. Actually, the more immediate entertainment industry tie-in is with the TLC series American Chopper--Northrop tapped Orange County Choppers, the Newburgh, N.Y., motorcycle shop behind the TV show, to design and build a bike to do homage to the B-2.

The first flight of the B-2 bomber took place in July 1989, just a few years after Top Gun became a box office and home video powerhouse. Northrop plans to fete the aircraft throughout the year, so the B-2 Stealth Bike will be making the circuit of trade shows, air shows, and other events. Also, the 2009 premiere of American Chopper will feature an episode on the design, development, and production of the B-2 bike.

The defense contractor didn't offer up any details about the bike's engine or its road-handling ability. Its focus was on the design elements. For instance:

Its gas tank and extended front cowling are shaped to resemble the B-2's unique cockpit and fuselage; major components are painted to match its color.

And the less obvious:

Each side of each wheel contains five machined aluminum B-2 models positioned in the shape of the Air Force star, each model engraved with the tail number of one of the 20 B-2s in the current fleet.

All in all, a bit cheesy, really. But hey, I drive a Camry, watch HBO, and served in the Army, not the Air Force.

Over at Wired's Danger Room blog, Noah Schachtman rightly cracked wise about the bike: "Forget the Blackwater cufflinks and the attack helicopter Hawaiian shirt. The contest for most awesomely bad defense trinket is official over."

See also: "Photos: A brief history of stealth aircraft"

(Credit: Stealth Computer)

A Canadian company that goes by the apt name of Stealth Computer is determined to bring military-grade specs to consumer gear. A few months back it came out with its "TuffTouch" monitor, a 17-inch touch-screen LCD encased in aluminum alloy for harsh conditions, and now it has a big brother.

The latest model in Stealth's SV-2400 "Industrial Grade" line is a full 24 inches of ruggedized goodness, fortified in steel casing. The steroidal screen has a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels and 160-degree viewing angles.

Most important to the survivalist set, it can withstand "water, dust and dirt intrusion and performs well beyond ordinary commercially available monitors," according to the company, and is ideal for "human machine interface" applications. Which could be a good thing when your robot is having a bad day and taking it out on the equipment.

(Credit: Brookstone)

As long as some people simply can't stand leaving their USB ports unoccupied for any length of time, here's at least one way that they can be used without making a fool of oneself while saving some desk space at the same time. The "Photo Frame Speakers" will blast away in stereo from behind the frames on either side of the computer, though the pictures aren't digital--not exactly seemless technological convergence, as Everything USB notes, but it'll do in a pinch. Especially if you use them at the office while your Metal Gear Solid 4 headset is recharging.

(Credit: USB Fever)

Even after seeing all the crazy functions that have been incorporated into the once-lowly mouse, we never anticipated that privacy would be one of them. Yet that was the stated goal of a combo Skype phone-mouse we saw recently, and now it's been cited for another one as well.

There are many different types of privacy, however, and the purpose of the "USB Smart Privacy Mouse" isn't to protect confidential conversations and such--instead, it's intended to keep prying eyes from snooping on your computer monitor. That makes it quite similar to the "Phantom Mouse" that debuted in Japan last month: Both can instantly "conceal any and all programs in windows" with the touch of a button, as described by GeekAlerts.

And as we noted with its predecessor, it can be a lot quicker than searching around under the desk for a "StealthSwitch."

Stealth Computer let slip a new LittlePC today, one that combines a Core 2 Duo processor with a PCI expansion slot. The LPC-450PCI is basically a Core 2 Duo version of the single-core LPC-350PCI covered here last year. Both models use the same chassis, which is displayed by Thing (the hand) and features room via a riser card for a PCI expansion card.

Why, thank you Thing.

(Credit: Stealth Computer)

With a Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of RAM, an optical drive, and a slew of connections--Ethernet, serial, USB 2.0, FireWire, video, audio--this LittlePC packs in many of the features you would find on a full-size desktop. You'll want to make sure you're buying a LittlePC for some sort of demanding industrial scenario, however, because these custom-built, small-form-factor PCs count among their best customers large commercial and scientific enterprises, militaries, and governments. For small militias, I would recommend they look at an HP Pavilion Slimline. You see, all of Stealth Computer's miniaturization--and accompanying ruggedness and reliability--comes at a price. Carrying a considerable premium, the baseline LPC-450PCI costs $1,450, or nearly 2.5 times as much as the baseline $599 Mac Mini that boasts a faster Core 2 Duo processor and twice the RAM.

(Credit: Kenwood)

(Credit: DOD)

After having conquered TVs, projectors, and even mice, the Stealth invasion now has its sights on the iPod. A new Kenwood stereo dock headed for the Japanese market bears the unmistakeable flying-wedge design, but its sound doesn't exactly match the menacing appearance--its speakers put out only 1.9 watts, according to Akihabara News. With that kind of audio, you might as well get a wooden cube and save some money.

(Credit: Cineversum)

(Credit: DOD)

The Stealth bomber gadget trend is gaining momentum. The latest to join the fleet is the "BlackBird" line of projectors from France's Cineversum, a triad of high-end models all in 1080p resolution. We're not given to spreading conspiracy theories, so we'll just note that they bear a resemblance both in name and appearance to the U.S. Air Force's "Blackbird." To find out if there's a deeper connection, you'll have to pay dearly--as in a base price just shy of $16,000 for the cheapest model, according to Engadget. If there's a black helicopter involved, you'll know why.