Updated BlackBerry Tour (renamed “Essex”) to get WiFi and optical trackpad?

For now, take your rumor folder and gently place this one in there to foster and grow. If you thought the BlackBerry Tour was hot stuff now, wait until early 2010 when a lightly updated model is supposed to appear. Along with a new name, “Essex”, this new 9630 will get WiFi much like the updated Storm 2 as well as that optical trackpad that is surprising many good ‘ol physical button lovers everywhere. For now, this is all rumor without any pictures or internal leaked documents to back it up. Though, with the recent adoption of WiFi on the Storm 2 and the optical trackpad already on the 8520 and coming on the 9020, it only makes sense for these features to get passed on. Excited?

Source: IntoMobile, CrackBerry Forums

Old and New: NES Catridge Hard Drives

Whether or not you’re a packrat or simply love old games and the memories they bring back, being able to use old game consoles or accessories for new projects brings a sort of accomplishment or pride in knowing you’re getting a second use out of an object that was destined for the trash heap. The gadget in question is that of old NES catridges by adding in a bit of new school internal storage.

If you are the type that needs several external hard drives and requires that they be small and portable, external drives constructed out of old NES catridges seems like a pretty reasonable idea. If you have the catridges laying around, that’s one less thing you have to spend money on. Not to mention, how insanely cool it will be to whip out classics such as Super Mario Brothers, Zelda, and other golden oldie favorites only to reveal their hidden innards give them a fresh lease on life.

Ranging in sizes that come in: 250 GB, 320 GB, 400 GB, 500 GB, and 750 GB, any and everyone should be able to find a size that suits them just perfectly.

If these little new age wonders have caught your fancy, stopping by 8BitMemory’s Etsy shop will lead you on the path to retro goodness. Such cool combinations of old and new will set you back more than your average external however with the entry level 250 GB option ringing in at $119.99.

• ** For a limited time, all orders of the 250 GB option will be upgraded to the 320 GB option for free! Hurry before the offer runs out!

Of course, if the cost is a little much for you or you simply want to get your own hands dirty, you can always take up this little venture on your own.

8BitMemory’s Etsy Shop: NES Catridge Portable Hard Drives

Source: Geeky-Gadgets, Technabob

Scare children by giving your desk a more hellish appearance…

Building on the Halloween festivities that were presented in the previous post, if you have a desk in need of a little customization or a more homie feeling, adding something unique and head turning definitely adds to the overall appeal of a house. Are you a sick and twisted sort of individual or likes all things death? If so, awesome (get help). If not and you just like unique gadgets, the USB Skull Speakers should fulfil your decorating needs.

With a nice graphic representation of a bloody skull combined with 2.5 W output means your desk can make sweet sweet music and look eerily sinister all at the same time. Such design and sophistication are impecable at giving the kiddies a nice little nightmare or two. The only set back is that audio wise, these are probably crap. But the $47 you’ll pony up for the dual speakers of death are more than likely for the way out their design. You hooked?

[Product Page]

TechChee

Dress up your iPhone for Halloween

I know that talking about customes, ghost, and gouls is a tad early on my part as Halloween is still a good two months away, but in the name of gadgetry and geekiness, I press on. If you have felt bad for your naked or undressed iPhone for the last couple of Halloween’s, a new case that resembles a creature a little less than holy will surely do the trick.

Introducing the Demon iPhone case: available in blue, yellow, white, green, and purple plus sporting a creepy demonic face on the back side with equally creepy hands should give your trusty iPhone the added evil look you’ve been looking for.

While some will make fun of you for dressing up a phone, you can always turn around and point the finger of shame right back at them as they walk their bumble bee look-a-like poodle down the street. $14.99 and it’s yours.

Source: Slippery Brick, Chip Chick

lolz :) while driving = :0 — Up to 15 years jailtime

Talking on the phone and the measures people have gone to to limit it’s use are a necessity in today’s digital age. Texting has of late replaced many individual’s need to talk. If you’re the type that prefers text based comunication to actual talking, you know how much time texting can consume. While many states and even the federal government is pushing legislation that bans texting while driving and imposes minor fines, committing said act in Utah could land you in the slammer for quite some time.

A law making it’s way through Utah government would treat texting while driving the same as drunk driving. That is, if you crash or cause phsysical/bodily/property damage or harm while texting, you could be facing up to 15 years in the iron jungle. By far the most severe punishment so far. I can’t say I don’t agree as texting while trying to navigate a 4000+ lb. vehicle at any speed is like russian roulette.

Of course, some minor issues that are standing in the way include how to actually “prove” a victim was texting. While law enforcement could certainly try to seize phone records while those victims can simultaneous claim they weren’t texting means a whole can of worms is emerging. Even further still, people could claim they were simplydialing a number to call someone. (So far, no law or government has differentiated between the two activities). And the cherry on top of this moutain of red tape is that current privacy laws can hinder the seizer of the needed phone records needed to truly prove of texting at a certain time. Certainly some of these issues need to be worked out. But how quickly can the various governments involved work together to find a common solution?

Are you glad change is coming?

**Extra:In order to fully grasp the consequences of texting while driving, the NYT has posted a rather insightful mini-game that may just open your eyes to the dangers of said activity.

• Check out the Texting-while-driving game here

Source: NYT, ImageSource

Grado comes inside with the GR8

To any new or seasoned audiophile, the name Grado is more than likely a familiar friend. Highly regarded for their pure, open, and airy reproduction of music means many have made the higher end headsets their own. In the age of mobility and always on the go lifestyles, ear buds have caught on. Many high end manufacturers such as Ultimate Ears, Shure, Sennheiser, as well as many others can now look forward to a new competitor in the marketplace: Grado. While Grado has neglected this particular niche of the market, they are finally answering many individuals’ pleas and coming out swinging with the GR8.

As far as looks go, you won’t be impressed nor will you gush over any chique design elements. But these are headphones people. Headphones should have only one priority — sounding as best as possible for the money. The single armature Grados aim to please with features such as 20Hz-20,000Hz frequency response, 118db/1mw sensitivity, 120ohm impedance, 20mW power output, and 51″ long cable. Several different sizes and styles of ear tips are of couse included ensuring you get the best possible seal. Is the $300 asking price worth it?

[Product Page]

Source: Engadget

Sometimes….a TV can be too big.

While techies, videophiles, and sports nuts will always go for the biggest, most crisp, and brightest TV, the first stipulation, the size can cause problems.  Basically I’m saying that sometimes, a TV can be too big.  *Gasps!*.  Don’t believe me?  Just ask Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones whom set out with a grand vision.  The vision was to have the largest flat screen TV in the world smack dead center in his stadium.  What Jerry wants, Jerry gets.  There’s only one problem: the TV is so big that footballs have been bouncing off of the TV left and right since it was added.  It may seem funny at first, but after a while it can get to be annoying.  It’s so bad that NFL commissioners and other important NFL figures and to rewrite the rules a tad bit. 

The additions include:

If a ball in play strikes a video board, guide wire, sky cam or any other object, the ball will be dead immediately, and the down will be replayed at the previous spot.

“If there is not an on-field ruling that the ball struck an object, the replay assistant is empowered to initiate a booth review, including if the event occurs prior to the two-minute warning. If, prior to the two-minute warning, no booth review is initiated by the replay assistant, a coach’s challenge is permitted under the customary procedures for such a challenge.

While it’s nice and all that they’re rewriting the rules to make room for this new monstrous addition to the field, the fact that countless numbers of plays are going to be replayed when they didn’t have to. I can already picture in my head the anger fans will have when a crucial game was interrupted because this big ass TV got in the way. I love the new TV, don’t get me wrong. But are the new consequences and resulting problems worth it? Will more stadiums follow suit with TV’s just as big or bigger? What’s your call? Too big?

Source: LA Times