hex

Nine things the iWatch (or any other smartwatch) needs

I've lived with a smartwatch, in one form or another, for several periods over the past few years. Recently, with the Martian Passport. Further back, with the iPod Nano and a Hex wristband. Before that, a SPOT watch.

I love the idea of a smartwatch. Certainly, so does the media as of late. Bloomberg reports and iWatch rumors galore, plus various wearable watch-type items at January's CES, have started to give this territory the sense of a category.

Between the Martian and the Nano watch, I loved aspects of each -- and also found them both lacking. There'… Read more

Razer Naga Hex gaming mouse targets Diablo III gamers

LAS VEGAS--Razer seems to have mastered the art of launching its input devices in time with the release of anticipated PC games.

Its new gaming mouse, the Naga Hex, is ostensibly designed for all action RPGs. Its six thumb-side buttons looks perfect for mapping to the litany of commands common to the genre. Given the assumed first-quarter release of Diablo III, it seems clear that Razer has that particular game in mind. Razer also mentions the Naga Hex as a fit for the MOBA genre (multiplayer online battle arena), which includes competitive multiplayer games like Riot Games' popular League of … Read more

MorpHex robot transforms from ball into creepy crawler

In the world of robots, there are those that fall into the cute category, and those that just make your skin crawl.

The MorpHex robot is more of the creepy variety; well, creepy but cool, that is. Designed by Norwegian engineer Kare Halvorsen (aka Zenta), the MorpHex looks to be a big translucent ball, but it's actually a hexapod that can sprout legs and scamper away or chase you, depending on whether it's used for good or evil. … Read more

Hexbug larva robot makes our skin crawl

You know what the world needs? More bugs.

It's not enough that they already outnumber us 100 million to one. Toy company Hexbug has decided to make little robot larvae, which could hatch into the hottest stocking stuffer this holiday season.

Now, I know I'm not being completely irrational when I say I find these plastic larvae creepy. I can see how they could be the perfect gift for tech-savvy kids with an interest in robotics.

But come on, bugs? Who likes bugs (other than entomologists and those creepy people who buy dead bugs in frames)?… Read more

Why my new digital watch is an iPod Nano

OK, I'm ready for the backlash. I'm wearing an iPod Nano on my wrist as a watch. I already own an iPhone. And an iPad. What's wrong with me?

Would you believe me if I said that I'd have done the same thing if there was any watch that could do what this one does? Would you believe me if I said I didn't do this for the iPod?

Let me explain.

I've always been a fan of digital watches and funky watch design, especially tech watches (I even defended them on TV). I'm a watch geek. I wore a retro Casio watch. I just got a cool Diesel one. A long time ago, I tried the Fossil Palm-powered watch, the Fossil Wrist PDA. I still have it in my desk drawer. Microsoft Spot watch? Check.

The iPod Nano-as-watch is a proud successor of that line, a gadget that I believe will stand the test of time for its novelty. Apple may not make a true iWatch, and the iPod's long-term destiny may not inevitably be on my wrist, but for now it's the most innovative use of iPod technology since, well, the first iPod. … Read more

HexDefense for Android

HexDefense by Gotow Creative Studios is an intense arcade-style tower defense game for Android that brings subtle but effective innovations to the genre. HexDefense differentiates itself from others like Retro Defense, Guns'n'Glory, and Robo Defense by using hexagonal tiles and status-inducing panels. This gives players strategic freedom to create more innovative paths of destruction when tackling enemy waves, but introduces new challenges as well.

Gameplay Build towers by sliding one of four tower icons to a tile, or tap an existing structure to upgrade its attributes. HexDefense's hexagonal grid provides strategic options and flexibility by adding diagonal … Read more

New iPod Nano watch band is too cool for school

Yes, the iPod Nano is minuscule enough to be turned into a watch, you just need a custom band to encase your sixth-gen Nano to wear it on your wrist and be the coolest dude--or dudette--around.

The Hex isn't the first Nano watch band we've seen, but it is the slickest and it comes in nine different colors for $24.99. As the company's cartoon infographic says, you just pop it in the case, and presto, it's a watch! What also nice is that it provides some protection for your Nano and has some integrated control … Read more

Get on the Paddy wagon

Text editors are by their very nature simple programs; they're made to handle text--often code--that does not require formatting or embellishment. Paddy takes the simplicity of the text editor format and adds a few useful features, many of which specifically have coders in mind.

The program's interface is plain and looks like most other programs of this type: a large, empty text field, and a handful of menus across the top. This isn't Notepad, though; there are some pretty interesting features in those menus. In addition to changing fonts, users can change the color of both the … Read more

Programmable multiple-precision hex calculator

There's no longer a need to purchase that handheld calculator that's bigger and heavier than your cellphone and always gets lost in your backpack or purse. This nifty app can handle all your big-number calculations, and you don't have to worry about its battery running low in the middle of a tricky operation.

Hpmbcalc launches a rather cheesy, plain interface--a largely white pane with brightly colored buttons, with its different colors associated with numbers and types of functions. Despite the low design aesthetics, the app proved to offer powerful capabilities in our tests.

We liked the ease … Read more

'Hexed,' not cursed

This free iPhone app is the first issue of Boom! Studios' comic book "Hexed" reformatted for your iPhone. Instead of looking at a full comic book page, you advance from panel to panel by sliding your finger across the screen. Reading the story is surprisingly clear and clean, and although it may seem counter-intuitive, there should be no concerns about eyestrain from squinting.

When you tap the comic, a small and nearly invisible "I" appears in the bottom right corner. This information button wasn't as responsive as we would've liked, but eventually it will … Read more