The iHome iPod Docks get a Barbie theme

 
Instead of coming out with tons of fancy new models to add to their iHome collection, iHome is just adding a new finish for their old players.  This one to make their various iPod docks appeal to a much younger crowd.  Also a much younger very female bunch.  The ones that still love those tiny plastic Barbie shoes and find Ken’s bright white smile to be absolutely dreamy.  Thankfully they come in a range of sizes and prices to appeal to any parent’s budget.

Having more than one Barbie themed iHome iPod dock to choose from should make things a lot easier.  Although hopefully the girl you’re buying one for won’t grow out of her love of Barbie too fast.  The first choice is the small Barbie iHome Portable Stereo Speaker System that’ll only cost you $19.99.  Then is the Barbie Portable Water Resistant Stereo Sport Case that is priced at $39.99.  The middle sized dock is the Barbie iHome Dual Alarm Clock, set at $49.99.  That last of the bunch is the Barbie iHome Portable Stereo Speaker System for $79.99  all of which can be found through Toys R’ Us.  The nice thing with these is that you could easily read reviews on the original iHome versions of them to find out if these are going to be the right fit.

i.Tech Dynamic unveils SolarCharger 906

 
With more and more people taking up the green initiative, there is hope for the next generation just yet. After all, the idea of driving around in an electric car is appealing, with the engine being super quiet while knowing that you’ve done your bit not to enlarge the hole in the ozone layer by too much. Solar power is another aspect that more companies are looking into right now, but the conversion efficiency isn’t exactly up to snuff. i.Tech Dynamic aims to change things a little bit in the world of gadgets with its SolarCharger 906. Yes, you’ve guessed it – the SolarCharger 906 will rely on the sun’s rays to keep its internal batteries going and juiced up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plug it into a power outlet when you need some rapid charging instead of waiting for a favorable weather report.

The SolarCharger 906 is a highly portable unit which enables consumers who are always on-the-go the opportunity to charge a variety of their devices including cellphones, PDAs and other handheld mobile devices. Measuring roughly the size of a deck of cards, the SolarCharger 90 is tiny enough to fit into your purse, tote, briefcase or glove compartment, and has a variety of tips to work with just about any device imaginable in the market today. It will have a a highly efficient solar conversion thanks to the incorporation of a high-performance monocrystalline solar panel and special solar chipset. When fully charged, this device can juice up one or more USB devices, as long as the target device’s charge capacity and current charge level are not too much. Apart from that, its internal battery is able to hold its charge for up to a year. In addition, it only needs to be juiced up to 40% of its total capacity to provide a cellphone with enough juice to last for an emergency call.
Since this is a solar-powered charger, it can withstand temperatures of up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit just in case you decide to leave this baking in a car. You can pick up the SolarCharger 906 for $59.99 from Amazon.

Brinell External Hard Drive comes packed full of style

 
My external hard drive is much like others, it’s plastic and not very interesting.  However, I have had no problems with it, so I see no need to replace it.  Yet I’m still a little envious of those that have managed to get their hands on an external hard drive that actually looks good.  Well this Brinell is another one of those drives that’ll leave many green with envy.

The wood grain look isn’t anything over the top, after all, it’s not like it’s covered in bright shiny crystals.  Instead it goes for an understated sophisticated look, but it’s just enough to give itself an edge over the usual plain plastic models.  Not only will it be available in the exotic wood shown here, but stainless steel, nappa leather and carbon as well.  Having that many choices should keep just about anyone satisfied.  The capacities come in a range of sizes that top out at 500GB.  Depending on the size they’ll be sold for anywhere from $284 on up to $344.  It’ll also come with a 1 year warranty.

Hands on Review of the Powermat. Verdict: Hands off my Powermat!

 
We covered that Powermat at CES last January, and I finally got a chance to try it out. It is a neat product, but there is a few things you should know about it.
I’m sure this is obvious, but the user has to buy Powermat adapters for whatever device that you have. That’s for the true wireless charging for your iPhone or BlackBerry or whatnot.
The Powermat comes with Powermat Powercube that has seven adapters including 2 DS Lites, one micro USB, one Sony, one Samsung, one LG, and one Apple for iPods. It also has a place for tip storage, a box that is about the same size of the Powercube. In all honesty, I wish they would have included another Powercube, as there already is a holder for the tips that is made of stiff paper.
The neatest thing about the Powermat is when you put the Powermat adapter on the Powermat itself, you literally hear a mechanical whirring sound. The Powermat has three magnetic places for mobile devices, and a light that comes on when it is locked in place and charging.
The Powermat can be purchased for about $99.99. Adapters for mobile devices as well as other Powercubes can be purchased for about $29.99. The wireless Powermat Receiver Dock for the iPod and iPhone is about $39.99.

GE’s handheld ultrasound scanner

 
I’m sure you have figured this out by now, but that device to the left is not a phone, but an ultrasound. Considering the last time I saw an ultrasound, it had a whole room devoted to it, but this one is the size of a Blackberry.
GE is the pioneer of this new mobile device called the Vscan. It is designed for doctors who are making house calls. Instead of bringing the patient to the hospital or doctor’s office, the device can come to the mother. I’ll bet that they have to use that really cold creamy stuff that is the bane of pregnant mothers everywhere.
GE has just unveiled this device at the Web 2.0 summit, and they estimate that its cost will be about $250,000. That is not enough for every expectant father to own one of these, but at least low enough so a hospital could have at least one handy.
Personally, I like the idea of every expectant father owning an ultrasound device. I heard Tom Cruise purchased a Sonogram machine when he was about to have baby Suri, and I think every new dad should watch with expectation the birth of their children. Perhaps the technology will improve and the ultrasound will be an iPhone app in a few years.

Leap Frog’s Didj

 
For those who have kids that have outgrown the Leapster and the Leapster2 might want to look into the Didj. This portable gaming system is designed for children ages 6 to 10, and has many cartridges (sold separately) that are both educational and entertaining, generally based on popular tween trends like High School Musical 3 and Hannah Montana.
Like the Leapster2, it is designed to be connected to the computer via USB for more interactivity. For example, kids can go online and trade the points they have earned for modifications in their game worlds. In fact, there was times that it demanded connectivity.
The Didj takes the connectivity further by allowing kids and parents to shape the learning online. So if a kid is having a hard time with certain times tables or certain spelling words, then he or she can have quizzes arranged for this. In short, it is customized learning coupled with entertainment where a child needs it the most.
Kids can also go online to create their own Didji characters in the online Didjerator. Think of it as a like the Mii channel on the Nintendo Wii. The Didj is available in many different colors, and requires 4 AA batteries. You should be able to pick it up at the Leap Frog website for about $69.99.

Hands on with the Leap Frog Leapster2

 
I had a chance to try out the Leap Frog Leapster a while ago, and I finally got a chance to try out the Leapster2.
Those who might not be familiar with the Leapster should know it is a handheld gaming system with an educational focus, designed for kids ages 4-8. It would appear that very little has changed as far as the layout of the Leapster2 in comparison to the original Leapster.
What makes the Leapster2 different from the original is the ability to plug it in to the computer via USB. From there, a kid can download games, preview titles, and access the online rewards and bonus games that they have earned playing the cartridge games.
Another feature that is different that its predecessor is that it has space for an SD card. You can save programs like drawings or pictures to the cards, and thus print them out or view later, but the slot is in a very awkward place. The SD card slot is actually behind the battery pack, and removing the card after you are done is somewhat difficult.
In short, the online and slot feature is the only difference between the Leapster2 and the original. Oddly enough, Leapster2 games can actually be played on the original Leapster, and vice versa. This is very odd, because most new versions of gaming systems might play old versions of the games, but very rarely does the newest version of games play on older systems. It would be like Playstation3 games playing on the PS2.
You should be able to purchase the Leapster2 from the Leap Frog site for a price of about $59.99.