Golf Launchpad USB Golf Simulator for PC

If your greatest golfing triumph is thwacking the green to bits, check out the Golf Launchpad for practicing that swing at home or in your cubicle without making a fool of yourself in public. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is another naff USB flummery. Like the USB Turntable, the Golf Launchpad is seriously priced at US$380. Used together with your laptop, this USB golf simulator hooks into the bundled Tiger Woods PGA Tour from EA Sports, letting golfers play on some of the world's best courses with their own clubs. There's even a swing analyzer, and the tethered ball is real enough to withstand the violent impact of clubheads. Once you progress past annoying your colleagues with shouting "fore" from your cubicle, you can remove the tethered ball on the Launchpad and tee off to the range to sharpen your game. Unfortunately, where the Launchpad goes, your laptop goes, too. Grin and bear if your notebook weighs as much as that golf bag.

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Via Uncrate

Price: US$381.50
Availability: More info at firebox.com
Device: Golf game
Basic specs: Golf Launchpad unit with 2.4m USB cable, netting and support struts, tethered real golf ball on precision pivot, tethered tee, custom developed turf (spare turf included), free EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf Windows Edition, clubs or drivers should have a reflective surface to work with the Launchpad, plug-and-play

Dopod goes slim on PDA-phones

The Taiwanese handheld maker recently refreshed its PDA-phone range with four slim and rather distinct offerings. The C800, with its slide-out QWERTY keypad and slim 17mm chassis, is targeted at mobile professionals who want a handy device for easy messaging and emails, while the HSDPA-enabled D810 is positioned to appeal to those seeking fast 3G and 3.5G connectivity options on the 838 Pro, sans keypad.

For those into mobile entertainment, Dopod recommends the M700, the company's first music-centric PDA-phone with OMA DRM protection and audio booster. The P800W sports a similar footprint as the M700, but comes with an onboard GPS receiver and photo navigation utilities. All four PDA-phones are slated to hit the stores before the end of November.

Click here for the full coverage of Dopod's new mobiles.

iPod shuffle: Apple's tiniest doesn't inspire confidence

The next generation iPod shuffle finally gets reviewed. But it failed to impress. Audible background noise? That's so uncharacteristic of the iPod legacy. Better take a leaf out of Sony's new noise-canceling wonder to silence the critics. Though we would have to be the first to admit it's the sleekest MP3 player in its price range.

Read more gizmos here

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PlugKing

Not all million-dollar ideas come to you when you're on the loo fantasizing about the next Post-It Note or Digg.com. For local boy Ng Yi Han, lying horizontal on his bed scanning his room for potential new products appeared to have provided the vital spark. The result, an idea meant for a school module project, led to PlugKing. So maybe it sounds more like an R(A) title, but it's a nifty idea borrowing from those distant childhood days of Lego set building. All this requires is to plug one desired multi-plug after another, as shown here, and voila, you get one highly versatile modular power socket. Ng sees a PlugKing that can dock your iPod, another acting as a USB charger... with the potential seemingly limitless. His brainwave is pending a patent now, but if you're quick, you can catch a demo of the modular power plug at this week's Global Entrepolis @ Singapore 2006 show. Electric.

See some uses here and here

Price: N.A.
Availability: CopperRED, Singapore
Device: Modular power socket
Basic specs: N.A.

Power wherever you go

Who still uses AA-sized batteries these days? But, hey, you never know, You wouldn't want to be caught in a situation where your cells run out of juice.

GP Batteries recently launched a new line of power chargers for its rechargeable AA batteries. We like the PowerBank V800C best for its unique design reminiscent of those external storage devices. You know what's sweet? It takes only 15 minutes to fully charge two pieces of Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries.

If you're not a sucker for all things pretty, there's the PowerBank H650C and H500 with a charging time of 1 and 2 hours, respectively. Each of these chargers is bundled with four pieces of GP 2700 NiMH and currently available at Carrefour, Challenger, Harvey Norman and Homefix The D.I.Y. Store in Singapore.

The V800C costs S$74.90 (US$49.28), while the H650C and H500 will set you back by S$69.90 (US$45.99) and S$49.90 (US$32.83), respectively.

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