Loading, please wait...Playstaion Move
By Fresno
When you get right down to brass tacks, Sony's new motion-based video game controller is a WiiMote for the PS3. Of course, there are some differences. Rather than using a crappy IR blaster bar on top of your TV, the PS3 tracks your motion using one of their EyeToy cameras. The cam watches a light-up ball on the end of the controller, which chances color to make sure it won't blend into the background of the room you're in. The result is a much more accurate controller on a system where all of the games don't involve waggling your remote around like crazy to make some stupid bunny hop across the screen. It'll be available before the end of this year, with a price rumored to be around $100. Frankly, we're good with a normal controller, but we'll be happy to give it a shot.
NetSecure Technologies Smart Swipe
By Fresno
Despite what your conspiracy-loving aunt may think, shopping on-line is actually pretty safe. But, that doesn't mean you shouldn't take the necessary steps to keep your credit card info out of the hands of the 13-year old hackers dead-set on spending your hard-earned funds on Yu-Gi-Oh cards. The Smart Swipe plugs into your computer via USB and has on-board cryptographic software to shield your data from the outside world. When you want to buy something, you simply swipe your card just like you would at the regular store. Not only does it protect your data, but it prevents you from having to actaully type in all of your info. It's the perfect mix of laziness and protection. $89.
Thrustmaster Freestyle for Nintendo Wii
By Fresno
If you're sick of waving you Wii controller around, you might want to consider sticking it inside this skate/snowboard accessory. It's made from genuine maple, much like a real skateboard and can stand up to some serious punishment. Because it's shaped like a real board, you can bust serious tricks on it, even if the console is turned off and you just want to practice your shredding without, you know, having to go outside. It'll work with any skateboard or snowboard game, but we don't suggest trying to play <em>Mario</em> with it unless you want to die even more times than usual. It costs $30, which is cheaper than a real skateboard and doesn't come with all of the doctor bills involved with breaking your wrists and smashing your head into a curb.
God of War III
By Fresno
Normally, we reserve our video game posts for big, crazy collector's sets that come with all kinds of neat, but ultimately useless crap like limited edition statues that come in unecessarily complicated tins. But, when it comes to the God of War series, no pomp and circumstance is needed. The bald demon-basher is back for the final chapter in one of the most brutal and, frankly, awesome series of video games ever pressed to plastic. The move to the mighty PS3 means it got serious upgrades in both the graphics and gameplay departments, but the bloody, nudity-laden spirit of the franchise still remains thankfully intact. If you have a PS3, you should probably have this in your collection. $60.
If you work in an office with a graphic designer, chances are he or she has the swankiest desk layout in the whole cubicle farm. From our experience, the same usually goes for their houses. The RGB light is built with design nerds in mind, representing the basic elements of the visible light spectrum. It's very clearly European, which further adds to the impressiveness factor it'll add to your crib, which is currently being lit by one of those light bulbs in an orange cage that are meant to go under a car hood. There's no pricing currently available, but you can bet it's going to set you back a lot of Euros if you can actually get one. But hey, if you want to trick people into thinking you're sophisticated, you're going to have to pay the price.
Thodio A-Box
By Fresno
We used to know this guy who had a computer built into one of these retro ammo boxes. He smelled like cat pee and his fingers were always orange even when he wasn't eating Cheetos. Despite the stigma he left attached to ammo-box electronics, this stylized iPod dock is still pretty cool. The box is a real, weapons-grade ammo box with plenty of vibration dampening inside to keep things sounding good. Indicator lights let you know how much juice is left in the internal battery and lights behind the heaviest version let you know when you're pushing the kevlar speakers just a little too loud.
Setcan Shocknife SK-2
By Fresno
Despite its terrifying appearance and brutal name, the Shocknife SK-2 is actually meant to keep you from getting killed. Rather than cutting you, the blade edge delivers a jolt of electricity to the skin. On its highest setting, it can bring up to 7,500 volts and less than one milliamp of butt-cheek clenching pain. The amount of shock is adjustable and is activated by a button on the grip. It uses a standard 9-volt battery, which is good because, unlike a rechargeable battery, it'll never leave you without enough juice to shock stab someone. It's not powerful enough to incapacitate someone, but it sure is enough to scare the hell out of a would-be attacker should the situation ever come up.
Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day on DVD
By Fresno
It's hard to think of a movie more polarizing than the Boondock Saints. People either really love it for its ultra-violent plot and quirky, ethnic charm or hate it, mostly because director Troy Duffy seems like kind of a dick. Chances are, whatever your feelings were about the first one will be amplified when it comes to part two. The tongue-in-cheek tone and ample amounts of flying bullets remain unchanged. Since it only got limited release, you might not have gotten a chance to see it in the theater, but DVD will be just fine. So, throw on one of those big, beige sweaters people wear in Ireland and plunk yourself in front of the old violence tube.
Paraben's Porn Detection Stick
By Fresno
It looks like a thumb drive, but this sneaky little gadget is oh-so-much more. Upon plugging it into any PC, it will run a program to hunt down any pornographic images (videos are safe from its wandering eye) using several clever, but evil techniques. First it looks through all of your images and checks them against known porn terms, then it actually looks at the image files for excesses of flesh-tones. It's a great tool if you're trying to hunt down those nude photos of your buddy's girlfriend that he refuses to share with you. There are probably other uses, but we can't really think of any right now. The $99 price tag makes it for serious stalkers only.
MusicSkins x [adult swim]
By Fresno![MusicSkins x [adult swim]](http://cdn2.maxim.com/stuff/files/2010/03/08/musicskins-x-adult-swim/stuff_as_musicskins_200.jpg)
There's an old first-generation video iPod kicking around the office that's held together by tape. It's easy to identify from the other iPods in the office, but not in a good way. It would probably look at lot better with one of these new [adult swim] skins from MusicSkins. They're printed on high-grade 3M material and are available to fit a shocking array of different gadgets. The graphics come from some of the bets [as] shows, including Metalocalypse, Robot Chicken and Aqua Teen. They're easy to remove if you want to swap it out or just get rid of it and won't leave a sticky mess on the back of your player. Now if only they made one that would keep an old 5G ipod from falling in half when you take the tape off of it. $15.
The Olympics are over and you're sad, we know, but we'll all just have to find solace in the huge pile of amazing college basketball games that are on TV in March. If you need a roundball fix on the move, Flo TV has got your back. Once you have picked your player type--it works with in-car TVs, portable TVs and even cell phones--you can immediately start streaming TV channels in real-time. They're not watered down, airline versions of the channels, but real, cable-like content served up without the cable. You don't even need to stick a satellite dish to your phone. We have a Personal TV and some service to get you started to give away. You're welcome in advance.
Technocel: PowerPak XT
By Fresno
A gadget with a dead battery is about as good putter at the driving range, but that's not an issue when you have a reliable back-up system in-place. The PowerPak has a 1600mAh battery that can give you up to 4.5-hours of extra alk time on just about any cell phone you bought in this century. It comes with a variety of different tips that are compatible with just about any phone you can throw at it. The XT costs $49.99, but you can step up to the Duo mode, which carries at 2500mAh battery and has two USB slots for hot dual-charging action for an extra 10-spot.
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