Why would Apple use a different material for these keys?  (My wired Apple Keyboard does the exact same thing.)  Does anyone know why there is this difference?

The unusual keys:

• J
• F
• Cap Lock
• Fn
• Control
• Alt / Option
• Enter / Return
• arrow keys

Click here to view the embedded video.

• The Flashlight: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10709
• The Keyboard: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC184LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA1Mg&mco=MTMzNzg5MDM

If you’re still here, however, you’re probably interested in the specs of this gadget:

• Cree MC-E LED with lifespan of 50,000 hours
• 2 modes with 8 types of output:
• 4 types of primary output :Turbo (630 Lumens, 1 Hour) -> Low (13 Lumens, 130 Hours) -> Mid (93 Lumens, 11 Hours) -> High (277, 4.5 Hours)
• 4 types of strobe mode: Strobe -> Slow flash -> SOS – > Fast flash
• Digitally regulated output – maintains constant brightness
• Uses eight 1.5V AA batteries, can works on 4 batteries in emergency
• 208mm (L) x39.4mm (D)
• Made of T6 aircraft-grade aluminum
• Premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish
• 284-gram weight (excluding batteries)
• Waterproof to IPX-8 Standard
• Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating
• Push-button tailcap switch
• Anti-roll, slip-resistant body design
• Included accessories: shoulder strap, two spare o-rings and rubber switch boot

Fenix TK40

Buy it here: Amazon.com

More Info: Fenixlight.con

I will be the first to admit that this clock is ugly.  The only thing that saves this clock is the well executed LED display.  It is unclear between the photos on DealExtreme.com whether this clock is orange or red, but I have seen videos and photos of both.

One word of caution:  This clock does not run on 110v.  This poses two distinct problems.  The first one is that you will need to find a power converter for it.  Not a big deal but it is a pain.  Second, if it derives its clock from the mains line, it will be expecting a 50Hz reference and in the US, it will be getting a 60Hz reference instead.  I don’t know if it uses the mains line for reference or has its own internal oscillator.

From DealExtreme:

Dimensions: 11.42 in x 3.86 in x 1.34 in
Weight: 29.45 oz

Click here to view the embedded video.

Buy it here: DealExtreme.com

As best as I can tell, I believe this is just a concept clock.  The claim to fame is that the clock has enough decimal points in the seconds position to count in the millionths of a second.  I doubt the internal oscellator is that accurate – but I don’t think I would be able to notice if it was off by a little bit.

Video and gallery after the jump

Click here to view the embedded video.

via Gadget4all.com

Does anyone know more about this click?  I can’t tell if I love the design or if I hate it.  The photo above doesn’t look very flattering but the angle view in the gallery blow looks kind of neat.  At $60, it is overpriced for what it is but it may be a neat addition to some collections.

The once concern that I have has to do with all of the non-used pixels.  For example, there are dots in the middle of letters, above the hours / minutes separater that will never illuminate.  Do those elements look any different?

Gallery and description after the jump

From the website:

Product Specifications:

$59.00 – http://www.gadget4all.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00480

Entropy 1 – September 2008 – $1150.00

Entropy 2 – January 2009 – $1400.00

via http://www.arttec.net/

Take a look at these two light sculptures from Guy Marsden. I first discovered his work while looking for unique nixie clocks.  In the last few months, he has created two cool light sculptures – Entropy 1 and Entropy 2.  Check out the video of them in action after the jump.  All photos and videos are copyright Guy Marsden.

Videos after the jump

Entropy 1

This wall mounted artwork contains 180 LEDs in a grid behind diffused white acrylic.  It is framed in black aluminum.  When the red button is pressed on the box below, the whole color field turns red.  The color then changes to green, then blue and on through other colors.  Each LED changes at a slightly different rate such that they all fall out of phase and “entropy increases”.  It reaches saturation within about 2 minutes.  At this point the whole field is constantly changing color, but it is so subtle that you don’t realize it at first.  Then you are drawn in to watch the color shifts close up.  It is hypnotic.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Entropy 2

This wall mounted artwork contains 300 LEDs in a grid mounted behind diffused white acrylic.  It is framed in matte black acrylic.

When first powered light begins by scrolling down from the top, filling the frame with first red, then other bands of raw color.  The color bands degrade and de-cohere as they progress down over time.  After a minute or so the color entropy reaches a relatively homogenous effect and the sequence begins again as solid color bands wash downwards over the jumbled color field.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sources:

1. http://www.arttec.net/
2. http://www.arttec.net/art/Entropy_2/index.html
3. http://www.arttec.net/art/Entropy_1/index.html

The Nixie Tube Digital Wristwatch!

By Jeff Thomas / Resonant Instruments LLC

http://www.amug.org/~jthomas/watch.html

This is the really little brother of the NixiChron clock.  The fact that he managed to fit all of the components in to such a small packagaing – and fit four vacuum tubes in it is amazing.  They require about 180vdc to power…your average AA battery puts out just 1.5 for comparison.

The Nixie Watch

By Cathode Corner – $395

http://www.cathodecorner.com/nixiewatch/index.html

This watch was inspired by the one above.  It uses an entirely different design – tubes and power supply.  It looks a little more like a watch than the above one but uses only two display tubes.

Negative

by Tokyo Flash – ¥16,900 / $170

http://www.tokyoflash.com/en/watches/tokyoflash/negative/

If you want to show your geeky side with pride, this is the watch for you!  This is the first of the mass produced watches on this list.  Tokyo Flash makes some amazing watches.  They focus on innovative ways of displaying the time to make reading it unintuitive.  If this watch isn’t for you, check out some of the other ones they offer.

Bling binary LED watch

By Todd Bailey – $?

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/05/concept_bling_binary_led.html

This watch is for the DIY crowd and would probably appeal to the BOFH-type personality.  You know, the guy who wants you to know that he is better at technology, computers, and anything else that uses electricity than you do.  This watch isn’t for the casual enthusiast – no only do you have to build it, but it tells the time in bianary.  Reading it takes a bit of practice but can become second nature to the true aplha-nerds

Synchronar 2100

By Roger Riehl – $?

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?p=1366081

This was an amazing device.  It was the first mass produced LED wristwatch and was designed never to need adjustment.

From http://www.soluhr.com/sync.htm

Independent inventor Roger Riehl designed the most advanced wrist timepiece devised up to that time. His goal was to built an extremely accurate timepiece that required no service, could withstand great variation of temperature, was shockproof, was waterproof to great depths, was visible in any lighting conditions, and had multiple functions. In short, his goal seemed to be to build the ultimate wristwatch that would simultaneously overcome all of the traditional challenges to the wristwatch.