stick

Gadgettes 86: The Body Episode

Fit yourself with your best hot breath voice and say it: Body. It's fun, if not a bit creepy. That sums up this week's episode pretty well, come to think of it. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 86

Robotic snake surgeon tinkers with your heart via your mouth http://dvice.com/archives/2008/04/robotic_snake_s.php

Power Shirt charges gadgets as you walk http://dvice.com/archives/2008/04/power_shirt_cha.php

Ergoskin: Underwear that makes you sit up straight http://dvice.com/archives/2008/04/ergoskin_underw.php

Remember Ring (Thanks, David!) http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/04/remember-ring-s.html… Read more

Photos: Stick figures in peril

While studying abroad in Europe several years ago, one of my favorite things to photograph were warning signs with stick figures. For some reason they're a lot more prominent outside of the United States, and in many cases, warnings of death, dismemberment, or other forms of bodily harm are made amusing when presented in the form of faceless figures. A Flickr group for such signs has been knocking about since 2004. It's accumulated nearly 14,000 shots, many of which are outlandish or otherwise far funnier than they should be given the intended warning.

'Slim Stick' is a fashionable way to stay fit

Pedometers are probably among the oldest digital fitness gadgets around, continually morphing into new forms for both man and beast. But we didn't think they'd have any potential as fashion items until we saw these latest models from Japan.

The "Slim Stick" seems fairly mundane so far as features are concerned, with the requisite tracking for calories burned, miles walked, and the like. Where it stands out, according to Gizmodiva, is a sleek design in silver, gold, or pink that resembles some kind of high-tech Pez dispenser. Function and appearance aside, this takes represents an important … Read more

The incredible folding chopsticks

In Singapore, a lot of us eat with chopsticks. Most of those you get these days are the low-quality disposable kind that leave strands of wood in your food and are way too thin for a good grip. If you feel strongly against using these horrible tree-killing utensils, the Brunton FlipSticks folding chopsticks could just be your thing.

The ends of the FlipSticks which pick up food are made of bamboo, just like regular chopsticks, but the rotating ends are stainless steel. They fold to half the normal length for storage and fit into a handy case for transport, as … Read more

MP3 player for the aspiring Jedi

Some might find it depressing that we, like others, immediately thought of a Lightsaber upon viewing this MP3 player. And they'd be right.

But the "Music Stick" may not owe its cylindrical design entirely to Star Wars, for it's just the latest in a growing line of tubular MP3 devices to have appeared both in concept and reality. This one may be among the most reasonably priced at about $27 to $42 for 1GB and 2GB versions, according to Tech Fresh, including an FM radio, voice recorder, e-book reader, and a small LCD. It even comes … Read more

Selling live recordings at shows

Pollstar magazine asks a good question: why aren't more artists recording their live concerts to CD and selling them at shows? I recall that the Pixies recorded most of the shows on their reunion tour in 2004, but I haven't seen many bands do it since.

Pollstar notes that some venues retain the rights to sell anything recorded there, while others charge artists a fee for the privilege of recording their own shows for resale later. (Fair enough--the venue has probably invested heavily in sound gear, or at the very least in acoustics, which may have an effect … Read more

Saitek's Cyborg Rumble game pad lets you flip the stick

Which layout do you prefer on your game pad? Do you like Sony-style, with the left analog stick low and symmetrical with the right analog stick? Or perhaps you prefer Microsoft-style, with the left analog stick high and level with the face buttons. Regardless of your preference, usually that choice is limited to the system you're on or which PC game pad you use.

Saitek has released the Cyborg P3600 Rumble Pad, the first PC game pad we've yet seen that lets you choose between the two layouts on a whim. Instead of a fixed layout, the Cyborg … Read more

My PSP's analog stick has fallen (off) and can't get up

Alas, this is what happens when you play with your PSP too long and too vigorously. After several hours and running my virtual doppelg?nger, Dave Carnasty (now ranked 35th in the world), around the court in Smashcourt Tennis 3, the analog stick on my PSP literally snapped off. We're not talking just the button--which is removable--but the whole post detached from the unit.

I've seen lots of reports online about PSP analog stick problems, but it always hurts to experience them firsthand. I put in a call to Sony's PSP PR team, asking whether Sony has … Read more

Take note! A virtual sticky notes roundup

Like their real-world counterpart, a quickly jotted digital sticky note placed prominently on the desktop can be just the reminder or inspirational message you need. And it won't bulk up the landfill when you trash it.

Software sticky notes are simply movable widgets that contain text, and even the simplest possess some font, color, and formatting customization. Most of the apps I looked at let you add alarms, sounds, and hot key shortcuts. The more advanced programs are surprisingly powerful, adding sophisticated synchronizing features and management platforms to track notes and reduce desktop clutter.

Not all the sticky notes products are free (NoteZilla) , and not all the paid products are good (StickyNote). Here are six popular studs and duds you should take note of.… Read more