(Credit:
Chip Chick)
The most remarkable thing about this particular item is that it's the first silly USB flash drive dubbed a "luxury item" we've seen in more than a month--which, as these annoying keys go, is an eternity. Yet the "SwissMemory Prestige" is in a class by itself.
Where to begin? The cost, for one--ranging in the gold and diamond versions from $3,200 to $6,000 for 1GB of storage, which is hardly anything these days. Second, their designs don't exactly lend themselves to elegant wearable jewelry. And third, as Chip Chick rightly points out, this is undoubtedly the most impractical of items ever to bear a Swiss Army mark. Talk about adding insult to injury.
Other than that, we think they're just fine.
(Credit:
Tech Digest)
As the convergence trend steams ahead, we've seen everything from air-purifying lamps to camera-speaker combos. (We didn't say it was a good trend.)
So logic would dictate that this would be inevitable: the keyboard PC. Cybernet's ZPC-945SL is an all-in-one QWERTY keyboard that includes an Intel Pentium 4 processor, up to 2GB of memory, a hard drive, built-in speakers, a mini-PCI slot and six USB ports, according to Tech Digest. But even though it sits only 1.5 inches high, we're not sure if it would be approved by the ergonomics police.
(Credit:
Future of Things)
The chip is connected to the brain with hair-thin electrodes implanted in key brain locations. Scientists then use a computer to order the bird to fly right or left and up or down.
The research is "military and intelligence" related, paralleling similar work by scientists with "Swiss Army homing pigeons" and sharks by the US Navy.
The Chinese scientists have successfully implanted similar electrodes in rats, mice and monkeys. No worries; they're still on the menu.
This range finder goes for $7,000. Camo boonies
hat is extra.
The gnomes in the itty-bitty Swiss hamlet of Ibach have come up with yet another Swiss Army essential, the GolfTool. It features 10 tools, including a tee puncher ("for the frozen ground"), a groove cleaner and the perennial toothpick and tweezers. Of special interest is the accompanying range finder;good for up to 1000 meters.
Of course the Crave crew won't settle for that. So we asked ourselves, what would a US Navy SEAL use? Well, that would be the PLRF15C Pocket Laser Range Finder, also by Vectronix. This model, while lacking a toothpick and tweezers, will blow your golfing buddies away with its sheer tactical appeal.
Weighing in at 620 grams, roughly the same as a medium can of tuna, it fits nicely into your average golf bag. Stride to the tee, lift the range finder to your eye, focus on the flag and presto, the eye-safe laser gives you the exact distance at any range from 5 meters to 3.5 kilometers out. The 15C version offers a digital compass, azimuth and elevation functions and includes a data port for your computer. You can try recording your hole-in-one for later viewing. Play any course in the world using the optional GPS receiver hook-up.
In the rough? No problem. It's designed for harsh environments, "from steamy jungles to icy mountains" as well as "the clutter of the urban terrain." The waterproof, 3 volt lithium battery is good for at least 5000 measurements, according to the manufacturer.
The U.S. Navy has ordered 1,420 PLRFs for its elite SEAL teams, so what are you waiting for? They're going for only about $7,000 a pop.
(Credit:
Tesora)
There are some pretty lame ripoffs, spinoffs and ostensible updates of the classic Swiss army knife on the market, but this isn't one of them. The "Cyber Snipa Dog Tag" combines the most essential of the knife's features--including our personal favorite, the scissors--with 21st century elements such as an ultra-bright LED flashlight and a removable 512MB USB drive, according to Slashgear. (Why a USB key? We have no idea, but we've already demonstrated a demand for them in rugged terrain.) All this in a package that capitalizes on the dog tag trend.
(Credit:
Firstech)
In the grail-like quest for the ultimate all-in-one device, all gadgets are possible targets for any manner of technological combinations--no matter how grotesquely unnatural. And it turns out that even the lowly car-key remote isn't out of bounds.
Firstech is coming out with a new "CompuStar Pro" remote that includes a "multi-color LCD, clock display with alarm, vibration and audible alerts, in addition to programmable time and temperature start at up to a 2-mile range and a parking meter timer," according to Gizmowatch. And with a 900MHz frequency, we wonder why they didn't go all the way and turn this into a phone as well.
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