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Filed under: PeripheralsIt’s not the first USB peripheral we’ve seen that’ll keep watch on how fast you type, but this new USB Speedometer is certainly the most imposing, and apparently a bit more capable than most. Namely, unlike others which simply track keystrokes, this one keep track of both your words-per-minute and the total number of words you type in a day, although you’ll need to install some software to take for that.

Namely, unlike others which simply track keystrokes, this one keep track of both your words-per-minute and the total number of words you type in a day, although you’ll need to install some software to take for that. If those are details you just have to have at all times, you’ll be able to get your hands on one of these next month for about $40. [Via Technabob] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments.

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Filed under: Gamingdigg_url = ‘http://digg. com/nintendo/Wii_FreeLoader_gives_you_region_free_gaming_without_the_mods’; This one has been in the works for a while, but it looks like you can finally pick up your very own region-free enabler for the Wii for $19. 99. Wii FreeLoader allows you to play any GameCube or Wii game from any region on your Wii. You just stick the FreeLoader disc into the console, let it spin up, eject the disc and stick in your title of choice — like Super Smash Bros.

Brawl, for instance, or some cooking-related title. Since there’s no hardware modding required, this one theoretically won’t void your warranty, but who’s to say how Nintendo will treat you if you somehow break your Wii with it, and there’s always the fear that Nintendo will hit your Wii with a mandatory software update that breaks FreeLoader, so proceed with caution.

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Filed under: GPSWe’ve already seen GPS used to trackelderly patients, but some student researchers now look to be taking the idea one step further, with them outfitting some nursing center patients’ walkers with a GPS system that helps guide them around. While the exact technical details are a bit unclear, the system apparently uses GPS when the patients are out and about, and relies on a WiFi-based system to direct ‘em around inside the nursing center itself.

As a student project, however, it’s still quite a ways from gaining any widespread use, although it has apparently been at use at the one nursing center their testing it at for several months already. Let’s just hope folks don’t take to relying on it too much — we all know where that can lead. [Thanks, Jack] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment There are a ton of DVRs with media server / streamer features out there, but the new Media Giant from Conceptronic manages to distinguish itself by being one of the more flexible units we’ve seen, at least on paper. The 1TB DVR features UPnP setup with DLNA support, a built-in analog tuner, a Twonky server, component, composite and firewire inputs, HDMI and component out, digital audio out, an optional PowerLine networking adapter, and a laundry list of supported .

The 1TB DVR features UPnP setup with DLNA support, a built-in analog tuner, a Twonky server, component, composite and firewire inputs, HDMI and component out, digital audio out, an optional PowerLine networking adapter, and a laundry list of supported codecs, including DivX, XviD, WMV9, SVCD and VOB. Not a bad little box — but we won’t know about pricing or availability until it gets officially official at CeBit next week.

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Filed under: Peripherals Turns out HP has been selling its Deskjet series of printers for 20 years now, with 240 million customers around the world and untold billions spent on overpriced ink cartridges. The HP Deskjet continues to outsell all other inkjet printers on the market, and HP shows no sign of slowing down — or letting up on those profit margins.

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Filed under: LaptopsIt’s already extended Penryn updates to its Precision M6300 laptop and a couple of Inspirons, but Dell’s unsurprisingly not done yet, and it’s now doled out similar upgrades to its Precision M2300 and M4300 models. Those are each now available with Penryn processors ranging from 2. 1GHz to 2. 6GHz, and for the same price as the earlier Merom processors, although Dell warns that opting for Penryn on the M2300 may delay your ship date.

Otherwise, you can load ‘em up with a max 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB SSD drives, but you’ll have to make do with an NVIDIA Quadro FX 360M for graphics. If that’s not too much of a compromise, you can customize your system right now by hitting up the appropriate link below. Read - Dell Precision M2300Read - Dell Precision M4300[Via Electronista] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV While calling it the holy grail of 3D may be a stretch, there’s no denying that the technology has been largely held back and (rightfully) seen as a gimmick due to the whole “unsightly glasses” requirement. Granted, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of 3D being experienced sans goggles, but the newfangled agreement between Magnetic and NEC could deliver just that to a display near you very soon.

No word on when this stuff will be coming to everyday users, but don’t be shocked to see marketers coming up with new ways to grab your attention (and frighten the young) with this in the near future.  Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment Earlier this week, we posted up a poll to find out just how many of you were planning on utilizing those $40 government-issued vouchers just as soon as they arrived in your mailbox. Now, however, we’re seeing the first reports of early appliers receiving their pair of coupons in all of their credit card-sized glory.

Now, however, we’re seeing the first reports of early appliers receiving their pair of coupons in all of their credit card-sized glory. Nothing too special here — just a couple of wallet-friendly cards good for $40 off (most) DTV converter boxes out there. But being the geeks that we are, we’re strangely satisfied with seeing images proving that these are actually real.

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Filed under: Storage Don’t worry, you’re not losing it — yet, anyway. Corsair has indeed already launched a 16GB (and 32GB, for that matter) Voyager flash drive, but its forthcoming Voyager GT promises access speeds “up to four times faster” than standard USB 2. 0 drives. Furthermore, this one comes housed in a water and shock resistant all-rubber casing, and could be entirely more appealing if that keyring slot were expanded to open bottles.

0 drives. Furthermore, this one comes housed in a water and shock resistant all-rubber casing, and could be entirely more appealing if that keyring slot were expanded to open bottles. Nevertheless, Corsair’s hoping that you’ll find enough to love to drop $169. 99 after it debuts at CeBIT in just a few days.  Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments.

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Filed under: Features, Laptopsdigg_url = ‘http://digg. com/apple/MacBook_Pro_Penryn_tests_little_more_speed_a_lot_less_heat’; Sure, more speed is great, but on OS X most bumps don’t have an appreciable effect on everyday work (unless all you’re doing is video encoding). We were more interested in what Intel’s Penryn processors can do for the MBP’s heat envelope, so we maxed out both CPU cores in this brand new machine at let ‘em crank for a half an hour.

5GHz)Peak: 176° F, fans about 3400 RPMAverage: 173° F, fans about 2500 RPM (much quieter)Enclosure (bottom): warm to the touchEnclosure (top): warm to fairly hot to the touch The usual Xbench tests are after the break. Continue reading Apple MacBook Pro Penryn tests: a little more speed, a lot less heat Permalink | Email this | Comments.

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