(Credit:
Olinari)
This is a sad commentary on the state of modern culture. There was a time when lockets were reserved for photos of loved ones or, in the '70s, perhaps a gram or two of an illicit substance. Now? A USB drive.
It's obviously not the first time we've seen a memory stick worn around the neck, but most of those trinkets were the actual drive themselves. There's something about secreting it as a hidden treasure that makes this "Olinari Sterling Silver Dog Tag" particulary perverse, not to mention overpriced at $349 (or $319 without the 2GB Sony Micro Vault). Luxist calls it "the perfect hoiday gift for that hard-to-buy-for, rugged person" (rugged?) but we're reasonably sure we could come up with something better for that kind of money.
(Credit:
KoogaPet)
Depending on where you live, lost kids (and adults) aren't the only ones who could use the occasional aid of an identification device. In San Francisco, for example, it's been widely reported that dogs outnumber children.
And with about 10 million pets expected to get lost each year, technologies like "KoogaPet" will become an increasingly common sight. Though far from the only digital dog tag on the market, the KoogaPet is much smaller than others and holds more data.
The $30 dime-sized tag, which is waterproof and comes in various colors, can store information transferred from the computer through its USB connection. To take full advantage of the device, however, the company offers a 24/7 service for another $1.99 a month that would "retrieve the pet's information from the company's database, contact the owner, and send immediate alerts with pictures to shelters and veterinarians within a 10-mile radius of the pet's home." We still think that such devices would be infinitely more effective if they were combined with some kind of GPS or other tracking technology, but it's at least a start.
Not recommended for actual military use.
PC gaming still remains a staple of the modern geek. Even though Wiimotes and gamepads are fun, you just can't beat a mouse and keyboard in a straight-up multiplayer shooter. Cyber Snipa makes gaming accessories specifically for PC gamers. The company makes your usual variety of mice and keyboards, but it does offer two pretty unique products for the geek in you.
They'll do little to actually identify you, but the Cyber Snipa Dog Tags are still a pretty useful bit of kit. Instead of showing your name and blood type like military dog tags, these geek-minded tags contain tools and other useful features. One tag holds a tiny set of pliers, a bottle opener, phillips head and slotted screwdrivers, a nail file, and an LED flashlight. The other tag holds a USB memory key, available in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB flavors. The tags are about half an inch thick, bulkier and heavier than your usual dog tags. Still, they're also a lot more useful for the average PC gamer.
The front pocket unfolds into a keyboard pouch.
Besides the Dog Tags, Cyber Snipa also lists the LAN Bag among its off-beat gamer accessories. Unlike standard backpacks or notebook cases or computer-hauling harnesses, the LAN Bag is built simply to carry your peripherals to LAN parties or other PC gamer gatherings. Thanks to a nifty fold-out pocket, you can carry your favorite keyboard, mouse, gamepad, and discs to anywhere you think you'll be able to game. It's a neat idea and the fold-out keyboard pocket is quite clever, though it's a bit too small to carry my gaming keyboard of choice, the Razer Tarantula. Still, it's a rather nice gaming satchel, and as a bonus, it gives me the opportunity to use the word "satchel."
Cyber Snipa products can be bought through the company's online store, or at various retail and online channels. You won't find them at Best Buy or Gamestop, but Dell and Amazon both carry the Dog Tags, the LAN Bag, and other Cyber Snipa gadgets. The LAN Bag is available for the suggested retail price of $30, and the Dog Tags can be had for $40 to $150, depending on the size USB key you want.
(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.
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