Peripherals

We're not sure if Alienware's decision to offer Phantom Entertainment's Lapboard gives the home theater PC input mash-up any credibility, but it definitely means that Phantom Entertainment, nee Infinium Labs, has remarkable staying power.

In brief, way back in 2004, Phantom Entertainment/Infinium Labs announced a Phantom Console designed to bring PC gaming to the living room by pairing it with an online delivery service. Infinium even got so far as to lure former Xbox co-creator Kevin Bachus into its ranks as CEO. Then reports surfaced questioning the legitimacy of the company. The console never materialized, Bachus quit, … Read more

There's a lot of bad Halloween gadgetry out there. Really bad. But this one actually looks halfway decent, as this kind of stuff goes, maybe because it's designed by a Swiss company. (We didn't know Halloween was big in Switzerland.) Unlike most schlock associated with the holiday, this ghost mouse might be something you'd want to keep using after Oct. 31. Is Halloween over yet?

(Photo: Pat Says Now)

Ergonomic products often look like they were designed for some type of life form that hasn't quite evolved yet. And ergonomic mouse designs are often the most extreme examples. (What kind of hand are they supposed to fit, anyway?)

So we were surprised that Microsoft, of all companies, has come out with a mouse that actually looks as if it was designed for humans. Moreover, this "Natural" version of its wireless laser 6000 series appears to address some of the criticisms of its other models, which were deemed uncomfortable for everyday use. We're not sure if … Read more

It sounds like a recipe for fashion disaster: leopard skin print and Swarovski crystals. Yet the two manage to coexist, harmoniously or otherwise, on this wireless USB mouse from Saks. And if you're looking to accessorize, the store recommends the "Shuga Buds" Swarovski earbuds in gold. Oh, and don't forget the the matching fridge.

(Photo: Saks Fifth Avenue)

Who would've thought that a USB storage device could be a fashion accessory? After all, it wasn't all that long ago that people didn't even know what a USB port was for.

Just today, BIOS reported that Sony--the ultimate slave to fashion--was introducing a sleek new 8GB drive with a retractable connector as part of is "Micro Vault" line. At the same time, blogs were writing of a 4GB drive in orange and black with a "push and pop design" from PQI.

Both probably work fine and will look respectable when you unsheathe … Read more

I'm a New Yorker, and some might say that tech activity in my home city pales in comparison with that of the Bay Area, Seattle or Boston. But that wasn't the case for me today, as I had the opportunity to hop the subway to Grand Central Terminal, walk a few blocks past the historic New York Public Library to a meeting suite in the Bryant Park Hotel, and...play with some sweet new video game equipment.

This was all part of a media tour offered by Philips, to offer us privileged members of the press a chance … Read more

You can call us Luddites (we've been called a lot worse), but we often find beauty in simplicity. Case in point: the MP3 player knob, as seen on Red Ferret.

As the iPod and other players are increasingly woven into the fabric of our lives, something like this could actually be useful. Attached to your iPod-enabled clothes or bags by Velcro or magnet, the knob could preclude unnecessary fumbling in cramped quarters. Of course, if you want more than volume control, you can always go the full remote route.

(Photo: Plusminus Design)

Cities keep promising to blanket us all with free Wi-Fi networks, but we're not holding our breath. At the same time, though, we're way too cheap to pay $10 just to read our e-mail while we have a soy latte at Starbucks.

So given our frugal nature, we're conflicted over whether it's worth shelling out $70 for a wireless detector like the DigiWifi from ThinkGeek. On one hand, that's only seven T-Mobile day passes at Starbucks; on the other--well, it's $70.

This particular device does claim to be a step above other Wi-Fi detectors, … Read more

Being of the 24-hour room-service ilk, we don't exactly find that building a solar iPod charger is our idea of a good time. Especially when you can already buy products like this. But hey, that's just us.

The rugged DIY individuals out there might be interested in taking a shot at this homemade charger posted on Yosemite Outside, which includes a solar panel that can be affixed to a backpack. We have no doubt that it works, but the duct tape probably won't win any design awards.

(Photo: Yosemite Outside)