Eight of Unique Gadgets of 2008

Have you seen a few most unique gadget of 2008? These companies have tried to be as unique as possible and have tried to provide a gadget which can be used in day to day life. These gadgets are unique not in just look but also in features and technology, thus making it useful.

Introduction

Sadly, some of these gadgets are not on the market, and it remains to be seen if they ever will be. If you’re not into uniqueness, you will still want to take a look at these gadgets. You will at least have to admire the ingenuity of their design. It’s amazing how a person with an active imagination can turn it into an idea, then into a prototype, and finally into a product.

When you see some of these products, you will probably think that no one will want to purchase them. But don’t be too sure of that. Didn't people scoff when Apple first came out with the Macintosh or when IBM produced its first system? True, these gadgets may look odd, but they just might stir up a revolution.

B-membrane Laptop/Desktop Hybrid

Do you want a laptop/desktop hybrid that looks like a mother ship? Then a B-membrane might interest you. It’s not out in the marketplace, yet. Rather, it’s in design form. The B-membrane is the brainchild of a Korean designer, Won-Seok Lee. The B-membrane is unique in that it does not have a monitor, but rather a cone-shaped design that sits on top of a circular disk, which makes the computer look like a mother ship.

The cone part beams your images onto the same surface that you would point an omni-directional projector. When you want to see the images on the surface, you just bend the cone part, which then becomes a projector. Then, you point it towards to the area where you want to view your images.

The B-membrane has other features, including an optical drive and keyboard. Both of these devices will appear when you need them to. The keyboard does not look like your typical keyboard. When you need access to the device, it’s on the disk. The keyboard blends in with the disk, in that it is round as well.

Since it is a touch keypad, you would just touch the buttons as you do on a microwave oven. When you don’t want to use the B-membrane, there’s another part you can use as an ambient light that shines on your surroundings. Since this system is in design mode, it will more than likely take years for it to come out on the market.

Syringe USB Drive

There are a variety of USB drive designs on the market, and this one is definitely unique. Introducing the Syringe USB drive. It weighs a pint, 72x25x18mm, and like a syringe, it has a transparent casing. The syringe USB drive uses 2.0 technology and its memory storage ranges from 128MB to 1GB memory.

The company that makes this USB drive is Wide Shine Technology Company, Ltd, which is based in Taiwan. Unlike the B-membrane, you can purchase the Syringe USB drive. You won’t find the Syringe USB drive in stores like Best Buy or Circuit City, but you can find it online. One of the places you can find this drive is at Prompeddler.com.

As a matter of fact, the online retailer sells it with higher memory storage, ranging from 256MB to 4GB memory. Geared towards the corporate world, you’ll have to purchase the Syringe USB drive in quantity. In fact, your purchase amount must be a minimum of $500.00.

USB Hub Monster

Don’t let this monster scare you or your children. But this six-legged USB monster is designed to give you more USB ports. As a result, you will be able to connect more USB devices, using the monster’s flexible branches. Another benefit to using this monster is that you don’t have to worry about seeing those ugly cables and cords.

Ed Lewis, of the Instructables web site, created this USB monster. In fact, you can make one for yourself. They will show you step-by-step how to create the monster. Some of the items you will need include a 7-port D-Link hub, seven one-foot USB extension cables, a 10 foot roll of armature wire, and black material to wrap up the monster.

Just follow the pictures to create the USB Hub Monster. You could have one just in time for Halloween!If you’re interested in knowing more about how Ed Lewis came up with the idea to create this USB monster, you can go to the makezine blog.

Rubik's Cube Mp3 Player

Are you looking for something different in an MP3 player? How about a Rubik's Cube Mp3 player ? You can put your brain to work. In order to operate the player, you must solve the puzzle. The creator of the players designed the Rubik's Cube MP3 player so that for each layer you solve, you will be able to perform a function, such as pause, forward, back, or play. The exhausting part about it is that if you want to switch off the player, you must finish the puzzle.

The MP3 player comes equipped with three headphone jacks. That way, you can share the music with your friends. On the other hand, if you don’t want to use the headphones, just use the switch at the top to change from headphones to speakers. You can also use the USB port, which pops up so that you will be able to download music.

If you’re into brain teaser games, the Rubik's Cube MP3 player will be a challenge. However, if brain teasers are not your passion, then this will not be of any interest to you. It can be time-consuming, and will you want to spend hours working on a puzzle, just to play a single track? The Rubik's Cube MP3 player was designed by Hee Yong. The product is still in concept mode, and there has been no word on its price or availability.

TuneStudio

If you have an iPod, and you’re seriously into music, consider getting TuneStudio . TuneStudio enables you to turn your iPod into a portable recording studio. The product comes with a four-channel audio mixer as well as a recorder for Apple’s fifth generation iPod. Belkin, known for making accessory products like surge protectors and external hard drives, asserts that TuneStudio is the first of its kind.

As previously stated, TuneStudio converts a 5GB iPod into a mobile recording studio. You can record your music directly to the iPod, at CD- level 16-bit quantistation as well as at 44KHz sampling rate. In order to keep recording levels within iPod’s sound spectrum, TuneStudio processes the stereo signal.

Each of these four channels can be set up to use a three-band equalizer, as well as level and pan controls. Don’t worry if you use a PC as opposed to a Mac. TuneStudio will work with both computer systems. It comes with a USB port that you can use to connect to either system.

Star Wars USB Hubs

All you Star Wars fans out there (and there are plenty of you) may want to spice up your computer equipment and consider getting the Star Wars USB hubs . These hubs come in the form of the movie’s famous characters, R2-D2 and Darth Vader. Both R2-D2 and Darth Vader consist of four full-speed USB ports that are located at the front. You will love the sound effects coming from these characters. It is also believed that R2-D2’s head moves and lights up every three minutes.

Cube-Works, a company based in Japan, created these USB hubs. Currently, you can only find these products in Japan.

The Mousecaster

What if you could use your mouse as a radio? Do you think that’s possible? Well, it is. You can listen to your favorite FM station on your computer. This device is called the Mousecaster, and all you have to do is plug it into your computer. It contains a built-in FM radio, while the mouse cord behaves like an antenna. There's no Internet required.

Smartec, a US and Israeli company, developed Mousecaster. It took two years to create this product. According to a company spokesman, the Mousecaster is not a new idea. Rather, it combines two existing technologies, the radio and mouse, and makes them work together. You can purchase the Mousecaster for about $35 in the US.

The Eluminix

Typing in the dark can sometimes be a pain in the neck, because you can't see what you're typing. Perhaps you’re a video editor, gamer, or a DJ. Your job requires you to type in low lighting. Then you should consider purchasing and using the Eluminix . The Eluminix is a luminescent keyboard that allows you type in the dark – not a bad idea!

Although Auravision, a US company, developed the keyboard, it was actually the US Army that developed the technology. American soldiers needed to be able to see what they were typing, whether it was night or day.

The Eluminix, which gets its power from the computer, uses electro-luminescence technology. It should be out on the market soon and retail for approximately $99.

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