October Gadget News

RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook
This 7-inch tablet, known as PlayBook, has some features that the current iPad lacks like dual cameras for video conferencing and the ability to play Adobe Flash content. It runs a proprietary new QNX OS from a recent RIM acquisition that claims to be very robust and enterprise-friendly. It will be interesting to see how many developers sign on to create new -corporate- tablet apps.

Portable TV From Vizio
There are lots of reasons for people to own a small, battery-powered TV. It would be handy to watch TV anywhere you happen to be, like in bed or on a boat, for example. Since the digital transition rendered all the old analog-based portable TVs kaput, there have been a few manufacturers like Haier who have brought out ATSC (digital tuner) TVs. Vizio (yes, the maker of those inexpensive Vizio HDTVs) just joined the group with a 7-inch WVGA battery-powered TV that lists for $159.99. 9.

Ivi.tv Offers Cable Alternative but for How Long?
It sounds too good. For $4.95 a month you can stream TV from 25 different channels with a hardwire or wireless router high-speed Internet connection from the Seattle and the New York City markets. Wouldn’t it be fun to watch Eyewitness news from WABC, Channel 7 in New York City? The problem is WABC and just about everyone else associated with the programming is not thrilled about the idea and have been trying hard to get Ivi to -cease and desist.-

Latest Panny Micro Four Thirds
With no mirror to make the camera bulky and interchangeable lenses, we remain big fans of Micro Four Thirds cameras. The latest one from Panasonic, the Lumix GH2, even supports a 3D lens. It has some impressive specs like 3-inch touchscreen display, tap-to-focus, 1080p video, 14 megapixels and 5 fps burst mode. However, it costs as much as a decent DSLR at around $900.

Ninja Gadgets For The Real Ninja

It’s easy to understand why many people are fans of the ninja legend. Ninjas are perceived as powerful, highly capable warriors and their methods and practices are highly admired, particularly by martial arts fans. If you or someone you know is a ninja enthusiast, here are some suggestions on which self-defense products to buy either for real-life self-protection or simply as part of a personal collection:

Shuriken
The shuriken is probably the most popular ninja weapon. It’s familiar to many ninja enthusiasts because it appears frequently in popular media such as TV, films, books and comicbooks.

A shuriken is a throwing star made from steel. A true shuriken has sharp edges, meant to penetrate a target. Shurikens that are frequently sold by martial arts retailers usually have 4 points, although there are some that are designed with 8 points. Shurikens are sold in packs, usually containing 4, 6 or 12 pieces. The blades may either be sharpened or non-sharpened.

A sharp shuriken can cut or wound either the target or its user. As such, it pays to practice with these self-defense products first. There is a considerable amount of skill needed to ensure that they can be deployed safely by the user and hit the target at the same time.

Nunchakus
Nunchakus are quite a familiar sight in martial arts movies. The late Bruce Lee, for example, made them famous. A basic nunchaku is made of two pieces of wood rounded along its length and connected by a chain. One of wood pieces is held during an attack and the other is used to hit a target.

Used with enough force, a nunchaku can quickly disable an attacker in a very painful manner. It does require some skill to use, however, so it’s important for every ninja enthusiast to learn how to wield it. It’s a very effective self-defense product for use during close combat.

Katana or sai
These are bladed weapons and should be part of every ninja enthusiast’s collection of self-defense products. A katana is a sword, frequently seen in samurai movies. It’s a slim weapon with a sharp edge and point, perfect for either defense or attack.

A sai is generally shorter and usually comes in pairs. It’s composed of a slim, straight blade that gradually tapers at the tip, a handle and a handle protector. Both edges and the tip of the blade are sharp, which means that the sai can be used to slash or puncture a target. Because it’s made of steel, it’s also strong enough to be used to parry an attack.