Ultra Cool Gadgets

The Lightsphere Universal flash diffuser from Gary Fong delivers amazing light from your on-camera flash. You no longer need bulky flash brackets or umbrellas to enjoy incredibly soft, studio-quality lighting! If you’ve used the original Lightsphere or Lightsphere-II, you’ll find the Lightsphere Universal creates the same great soft portrait light that you love NOW with the addition of an innovative, patent-pending mount that is GUARANTEED to stay on! Simple and compact, yet incredibly effective, the Lightsphere Universal is sureto be one of the “must have” accessories in your gear bag. It will transform theway you use your on-camera flash. The Lightsphere Universal accepts existing Lightsphere accessory domes the AmberDome and the ChromeDome - for even greater functionality. The Lightsphere Universal is available in two models - CLOUD and CLEAR. Both deliver incredibly flattering light. The CLOUD model is slightly softer and warmer perfect for close-up portraits. The CLEAR model gives you flattering light at a greater working distance

Customer feedback:

1. The Gary Fong Lightsphere Cloud Universal System is great. You are able to use it on any flash. With several different cameras, I do not have to mess around with a light diffuser for each camera. I love this product. It really takes the “blunt” light away and illuminates wonderfully.
If you are looking for something that can be packed away in a tight space, this is not the product. It is hard plastic. I run the strap of my camera bag though it and store the dome in the bag. Easy to get to and you will always know you have it with your camera. I love this and would recommend it to anyone looking for a superior diffuser.

2. First the “bad” news. The price seems a bit high considering it is basically a piece of plastic. That is the only reason I’ve given it four stars rather than five. Now the good news; it does exactly what Gary Fong says it will do. The DVD that comes with it, while being a commercial for other Gary Fong products also does an excellent job of explaining how to use it. The quality of light is excellent. The removable top cap allows bouncing off ceilings as well.
I’ve used it for both portraits and macro photography and the results are superb. For portrait work exclusively I would recommend the clear Lightsphere. Highly recommended.

The Two-Way Bounce is a pocket size Bounce Card that gives you the advantage of bouncing without the need of a ceiling. The unit is small enough to fit into a shirt pocket and yet delivers a big punch of light. The package also includes a mini Panel that provides a kicker light for fill lighting use. All units, except UNI, are custom mounted with adapter provided and require No Velcro. Adapters can be reversed for shoot thru panel lighting as well.

Customer feedback:

Beware the one you’ll receive is not the one in the picture. That aside it does attach with heavy duty tape not Velcro. Some may come with tape some with Velcro I don’t know, mine came with tape. I have taken practice shots with it in the house and the shots look great. As for the quality its not the strongest thing in the world but for 20 (13.95 + shipping) bucks can you complain for a two in one that comes with two different bounces, one large one small. The bounce is so lite weight that I doubt it will ever break off and if the attachment does fall off just super glue it back on.

Product Details:
- Kit includes: DC Car Charger Adapter cable and a AC Wall Charger Adapter cable
- Advanced internal circuitry prevents device from power surges; overcharging and short-circuiting
- High current output current ( 1000mA ) for faster charging; full lifetime warranty
- TipExchange Technology protects investment providing means to upgrade charger tips at lower cost (Tips Included)
- Charging adapter works with both foreign and domestic outlets (100-240 Volts AC)

Dont miss a beat with our Essential Power Bundle Kit. Adaptable for any conditions a nomad might face; the Essential Power Bundle Kit allows you to charge your mobile device in half the time with our rapid wall charger and rapid car charger.

Customer feedback:

1. My dog chewed my original kindal power adapater… amazon said it would take a “long time” to get it back in stock. i bought this and it works great. i also got it in a few days after i ordered it.

2. I recommend Gomadic chargers. Using this charger I have found it charges faster. Gomadic also offers a lifetime warranty, you don’t find that anymore!

o you’re catching up on a little work at your favorite outdoor café, enjoying the scents of summer. Like the mouthwatering aroma of freshly-grilled burgers. The bracing scent of newly-cut grass. But your nose twitches as the smoky odor of overheating electronics reaches it. Then your trusty laptop locks up, leaving you thoroughly in the lurch. You see, heat is your laptop’s most dangerous enemy. And our notebook cooler is the answer.

Features:
- Protect your valuable investment and reduce heat-related instability
- USB-powered cooler with pass-through connector included
- Draw power from any USB port without losing use of the USB port
- Low power consumption
- No batteries or power adapter needed
- 2 Double ball-bearing fans for reliability
- Quieter than a whisper, only 25.9 dB(A)

Technical Details:
Protect your valuable investment and reduce heat-related instability
USB-powered cooler with pass-through connector included
Draw power from any USB port without losing use of the USB port
No batteries or power adapter needed
AQ3 Antec Quality three-year warranty

Customer feedback:

1. PROS
+ The plastic body and metal top are well designed for a solid feel
+ The nice aluminum top spreads head very well and is durable
+ The USB cable is pass through with an extra USB port to connect other devices
+ The cable length is nice and short
+ There is a small compartment to tuck away the cable after use
+ The fans run VERY quietly at either high or low speeds
+ The rubber feet are solid and provide nice stability and grip
+ It now has surface holes for optional rubber pegs for more space to improve air-flow
+ After using mine for well over a year, I can vouch for the durability
+ The 3 year warrantee that comes with the product gives you some comfort in the case the product does fail

CONS
- The fans and outer holes gather dust over time; just clean it with compressed air
- The USB power cord and base connector could be more durable, so handle with care
- The unit looks like air flows through the entire top, but it only flows through the 2 fans positioned in the center; It’s more visible on the Antec Notebook Cooler (Pearl) version than the black and silver one
- The blue LED light may be too bright for some people, but it can easily be covered with electrical tape
- The cable may be too short for those without left side USB ports; purchase a USB extender cable
- The item frequently goes out of stock and has price changes
- The list price of $50 seems unreasonable

2. The cooler sits under my 43 cm (large monitor) Macintosh Powerbook. The Powerbook is often on for 8 to 10 hours a day and keeps everything very cool. The cooler powers from the left-hand USB port. The pass-through USB plug enables the USB port to be used by a printer and other peripherals. There are two fan speed settings, high and low. I only run on the low setting. A good, solid, cost-effective choice.

This high-quality, 3-section tripod, suitable for both cameras and camcorders, features a channel lock and a two-way pan and and tilt head. It extends to a maximum and height of 65 inches and can fold up as small as 25 inches. A free case is included with the tripod. Comes with a one year warranty.

Technical Details

* Model # TR-64N
* Features a 3 section channel lock
* 2 way fluid pan & tilt head
* Max height: 65 inches
* Folds to 25 inches

Customer feedback:

1. This is a great tripod for the money. It holds a small camcorder and also has several bells and whistles for the price: built in carry handle, comes with a carry bag, has a hook so you can hang weights to also keep the tripod steady, pretty solid on adjusting legs and also panning and tilting.

2. I received this item quickly, which always puts me in a good mood. The tripod is perfect for what I do with my camera and camcorder- but I am no means a professional. Either way, for $25 this thing does it’s job and I’m very pleased with my purchase. It has all kinds of handy little additions that I didn’t expect (it’s my first tripod)- like the level, different adjustments and a quick-release for the camera. Very cool.

The trademark weapon of the COG military, the Lancer is a fully automatic assault rifle that’s perfect for short-to-mid-range combat. It’s chainsaw bayonet is a powerful melee weapon that takes out most enemies in a single blow. New uses for the Lancer continue to emerge, with recent reports of “chainsaw duels,” which combine the chainsaw attack with traditional sword fighting. It can also be used to cut a path through overgrown areas.

Product Features

* Trigger Activates Motorized “Chainsaw” Sound and Vibration Feature
* Side Handle Folds In & Out and Slides Back & Forth
* Removable Clip
* Created from the actual 3D data used in the Gears of War 2 videogame
* Powered by 3 “C” Batteries (not included)

Charge your iPod when it’s not connected to a computer with this USB adapter and a dock connector to USB cable. Use this compact, convenient USB-based adapter to charge your iPod at home, on the road, or whenever your iPod is not connected to a computer. Simply plug the adapter into a wall outlet and connect to your iPod for recharging. Its universal design means that it works around the world, with the help of Apple World Travel Adapter Kit (sold separately).

Technical Details

* Compatibility: iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G; iPod 3G, 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod shuffle 1G, 2G; iPhone; iPod touch
* Convenient USB-based adapter to charge your iPod whenever your iPod is not connected to a computer
* Simply plug the adapter into a wall outlet and connect to your iPod for recharging
* Universal design means that it works around the world (with optional Apple World Travel Adapter Kit)
* Retractable plug

Customer feedback:

1. First of all, the price is justified by the fact that you get another USB cord with it. At first I thought ‘hey, what do I need another USB cord for?’…Well, it does come in handy because I just keep one of them hooked to my computer all the time and I take the other one with me for convenient, away from computer, charging. That way the one is always where I need it when I want to download more music and the other one is always ready for charging away from my computer. I got a full charge in less than 2 hours with the adapter. I love the fold-away plug and it comes in a nice, tidy box that you can just keep the plug and the usb cord in so that everything is together and easy to find, or to pack in your travel bag.

2. Pros:
-The best out there. Works excellent. We use it for all our Ipods including the shuffles. Fast charging,
-Includes an extra USB cable for your Ipod.
-Compact & Tiny. The dimension (6″H x 5″W) shown is for the packaging, the adapter is actually just a couple of inches square.
-Retractable prongs makes it easy for storage or slip it into your pocket
-Made by Apple. Best match for your Ipods.
-So cute and pretty. Even the packaging (We tend hold on the boxes too long before throwing them away because they look so nice)

Command the skies with the king of flight simulator controls, the Flight Sim Yoke USB. This one of a kind yoke offers features that will allow you to fly with the realism you’ve come to expect from CH Products. The Flight Sim Yoke USB provides 5 axes of control including, pitch, roll, throttle lever, propeller lever, and mixture lever. It also features 20 button functions, including 2-way gear switch, 2-way flaps switch, 8-way hat switch, two 2-way rocker switches, and 4 push buttons. Pilots around the world applaud the comfortably placed prop, throttle and mixture levers. It’s the closest thing you’ll get to sitting in your own cockpit.

Technical Details

* Designed for use with flight simulator games
* 5 axis of control including, pitch, roll, throttle lever, propeller lever, and mixture lever
* 20 button functions including, 2-way gear switch, 2-way flaps switch, 8-way hat switch, two 2-way rocker switches, and 4 push buttons
* 7 foot cable: easy setup
* Compatible with Windows 98, 2000, XP, Me, iMac, or Mac (with USB port)

Customer feedback:

1. I used the CH Products Flight Sim Yoke with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 A Century of Flight. Flight Simulator immediately recognized the yoke at startup and already had all the buttons mapped. I changed them to my preferences using the setup panel in FS. On my first flight I noticed that the elevator was really jumping around. It wouldn’t stay where I put it! I really thought the yoke was broken. Then a very distant memory began to emerge from my checkered past. I recalled that I still had my old Gameport joystick plugged in…problem solved. These USB devices do not work with Gameport devices.
The yoke felt very much like the Cessna’s that I fly (C172R), albeit a bit lighter weight. The resistance was a little surprising, very stiff, which is good for cross country flying. It took a little getting used to the button locations, especially the hat switch, but after a few hours it falls right into my grasp.

2. This yoke is the only choice in this price range except for the similar and slightly cheaper LE version that comes with one throttle lever instead of three. I agree that it is a little bit overpriced and plasticky but you’d end up paying ten times more for a more realistic product.

I just bought it anticipating the release of MS Flight Simulator 2004 and I can’t wait to fly some civilian aircraft with it in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I’ve successfully flown tons of He-111 bomber missions in IL-2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles and the yoke has worked great there and added tons of realism. It’s a bit mushy though and it’s too bad it does not have a dead-on center. I had to correct my straight flight path almost constantly.
I was glad I didn’t have to touch the software CD that came with. I just plugged it in, Windows XP recognized it immediately, and I assigned functions to the buttons and axis inside the game with no problems.

The Saitek PZ35 Pro Flight Rudder Pedals are the latest addition to the company’s line of market-leading flight simulation products. Pro Flight Rudder Pedals are solidly constructed and feature three axis pedals which maximize flight simulator realism by enabling foot control of the rudder function. Paired with a Saitek X52 Flight Stick and Throttle, the Pro Flight Rudder Pedals provide the additional sensitivity and control accuracy for an almost real flight sim experience.

The Pro Flight Rudder Pedals also include the following features:

* Self-centering pedals with adjustable damping
* Adjustable foot rests to fit all sizes, with non-slip materials
* Fully adjustable rudder control to suit the gamer’s preferences
* Tension adjustment to vary resistance to suit flying style
* Advanced SST Programming
* Toe brakes

Customer feedback:

1. I’m using MSFS 2004 and have had no problem with these pedals. The action is very similar to real airplanes. I did have some brake problems at first but once I changed settings in MSFS 2004 all was fine. My computer is against a wall so I put a wide board (piece of shelf material) on the floor against the wall and the rudders in front of that. So I can push as hard on the rudder pedals as I want.
2. I bought these off a gamer who bought them then didn’t want them. I’ve flown FS for ten years and finally got around to pedals. Learning to steer with your feet is very difficult at first and hard to get set in your head. Also the pedals seem to be overly twitchy in the game but I haven’t experimented with the sensitivities much yet. Frankly, a twist axis rudder control on a stick is infinitely easier than fooling with these things but the pedals are more realistic. So far they are totally unsuable with the Piper but seem to operate okay on the other aircraft. It’s up to you.

amera Armor is a line of rugged, custom fit SLR digital camera cases engineered to provide maximum protection from impact and abrasion while allowing full access to all features of the camera. The four-part system includes Body Armor, Lens Armor, LCD Shield, and Lens Cap Leash. We love our cameras as much as you do. That’s why we designed Camera Armor - the only choice for full time protection. Each model is engineered to provide maximum protection while allowing full access to all controls, compartments, and ports.

Technical Details

* No zippers-proven dry-bag technology works every time
* Roll three times-dirt, dust, sand and water stay out
* Impact protection-padded inner box keeps your gear safe
* Quck access to your gear-don’t miss a shot