Keychain -- Engadget

keychain posts

Navin miniHomer keychain GPS will lead you to your car, won't help find your keys

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 2nd 2009 at 2:44PM

Still have a bit more room on that keychain ring next to your DAP, photo frame, Atari controller and, um, keys? Then you might want to keep an eye out for Navin's new miniHomer GPS compass, which won't give you actual turn-by-turn directions, but will at least point you towards up to five different locations of your choosing (including your car's spot in the parking lot). To ensure the device keeps on ticking during particularly arduous trips away from your car, the miniHomer is also waterproof to IPX7 standards, and it promises a "low power consumption," although Navin doesn't seem to be making any firm promises about battery life just yet (it's recharged via USB). It also isn't saying anything about a price, but it looks like this one should be out sometime in November.

[Via SlashGear]

Cowon teases keychain-esque iAudio E2 DAP

by Darren Murph posted Jul 31st 2009 at 8:21AM

Typically, it's iriver who does the teasing, but you won't catch us griping about Cowon pulling a similar trick with its elusive new iAudio E2. The image above is all we have to go on for the moment, which shows a digital audio player that's capable of doubling as both a USB storage device (maybe) and a keyring (definitely). Make of those funky icons what you will, but as we learned with Lost, you're probably just wasting your time reading betwixt the lines.

[Via DAP Review]

Cellphone jammer crammed into key fob, ends texting / talking while driving

by Darren Murph posted Dec 12th 2008 at 9:27AM

Face it, kids. You missed the best time to be a teenager by around five or so years. As it stands now, technology is cutting into that adolescent fun, with device like Ford's MyKey and this one here ensuring that you're actually safe behind the wheel. In all seriousness, the terribly named Key2SafeDriving is a fine concept (at least in the parent's eye), as it fuses a cellphone jammer (of sorts) into a key fob in order to put the kibosh on freeway conversations. Essentially, the signal blocking kicks into action anytime the "key" portion is flicked out, connecting to a handset via Bluetooth or RFID and forcing it into "driving mode." No actual jamming, per se, is going on; it's more like a manual override of the ringer. Anyone who phones / texts you while you're safely driving will receive an automated response informing them of such, though we are told that handsfree devices can be utilized. Researchers at the University of Utah are hoping to see it on the market within six months via a private company "at a cost of less than $50 per key plus a yet-undetermined monthly service fee."

[Via Gadgets-Weblog]

Bandai's Peri Peri keychain lets you rip open shipping envelopes continually

by Darren Murph posted Oct 12th 2008 at 10:03PM

Look, you don't have to explain to us how weird this thing is. Trust us, we fully understand. But as gadget editors, we have a certain love for receiving surprise packages and ripping 'em open as quickly as possible to discover what goodies reside within. Bandai's so-very-Japanese Peri Peri keychain is apt to appeal to the unboxers among us, as it recreates the unmistakable feeling of tearing open a rushed FedEx envelope. If there's a downside, it's that there's no new wares to be found after each opening, but on the other hand, at least there's no big dent on your credit card each time you "open" something new. Expect this gem to hit your keyring for just under $10 next month. Bonus video hosted up after the break.

[Via BoingBoing]

Continue reading Bandai's Peri Peri keychain lets you rip open shipping envelopes continually

Digital Foci reveals 1.5 and 2.8-inch OLED Pocket Albums

by Darren Murph posted Jan 5th 2008 at 7:21AM

Not even a week after rolling out a trio of new digital photo frames, Digital Foci is hitting back with a duo of new ones -- 'cept, these won't exactly do much good on your countertop. Rather, the 1.5- and 2.8-inch OLED Pocket Albums feel much more at home in your pocket / purse, and the former even comes with a keychain attachment. The 1.5-incher sports a 128 x 128 resolution display, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and 32MB of internal memory, while the 2.8-inch iteration (shown after the jump) packs a 320 x 240 resolution screen, 10,000:1 contrast ratio and a currently undisclosed amount of storage. As expected, the pair runs on a rechargeable battery and can be juiced up via an AC outlet or a spare USB port. If you're overwhelmed by the cuteness, fret not -- you've got until April to convince yourself that they aren't worth the $49.95 / $99.95 asking prices.

Continue reading Digital Foci reveals 1.5 and 2.8-inch OLED Pocket Albums

Keyport availability announced, priced outrageously

by Darren Murph posted Oct 30th 2007 at 9:34AM

Those actually looking forward to snapping up the oh-so-capable Keyport keyholder can commence celebrating, as the firm has just announced that sales have begun and that the first batch will ship out worldwide next month. Interestingly, it looks like you'll have to inquire yourself if seeking more details about general pricing and specifications, but we are told that a Limited Edition Keyport Slide will soon be available to those select individuals on the "reserve list" for a staggering $295. And that's not even including the $75 shipping fee for those outside of America (saywha?) plus applicable duties / taxes. We'll be sticking with the oval, thanks.

Digital Foci stuffs a digiframe into a keychain

by Darren Murph posted Oct 10th 2007 at 3:02AM

Nah, this isn't the first pocket-friendly digiframe we've seen, but for those who prefer keychains over wallets, it's not a half bad option. Digital Foci's Pocket Album features a 1.5-inch 128 x 128 resolution color screen, nine hours of battery life, manual / automatic scroll modes and OS X / Windows compatibility. Furthermore, users can recharge the unit with a simple USB cable, and there's even a built-in clock if you happen to forget your wristwatch. Unfortunately, there's only 8MB of internal storage, but then again, what did you expect for just $39.95?

[Via Gearlog]

Freedom Input's Bluetooth GPS receiver hangs on your keychain

by Darren Murph posted May 31st 2007 at 10:34AM

It's not like the Bluetooth GPS receiver market really needed another combatant, but for those who prefer carrying as much as of their life as possible on a key ring, this one's for you. Coming in at a minuscule 1.54- x 1.3- x 0.79-inches in size, this SiRF Star III-equipped device can connect simultaneously to up to 20 satellite channels, operate for ten hours on a single charge, sports a tracking sensitivity of 159 dBm, supports an external antenna, and purportedly plays nice with your BT-enabled device from up to ten meters away thanks to Bluetooth 2.0. Charging is handled by the included cigarette adapter or USB charger, and while we wouldn't be keen on losing a $99.99 receiver right along with our keys, this should prove quite convenient if you're the organized type.

[Via NaviGadget]

Illuminator's first product: the Bevy iPod Shuffle case

by Darren Murph posted May 8th 2007 at 8:47AM

Sure, we've seen an iPod Shuffle go mano a mano with a knife-wielding owner, but the first product from Morphie's Illuminator project takes on bumps, drops, and bottle tops with the best of 'em. The aptly-titled Bevy wears a number of hats, the most obvious of which is a dashing 2G Shuffle protective case, but other built-in functions include acting as a key ring, earbud wrap, and bottle opener for when times are desperate. The Illuminator project was unveiled at this year's Macworld, and while hundreds of entries found their way in, this is the first of three winning designs chosen to be produced and sold to the public. The Bevy is currently available for pre-ordering in green, pink, blue, orange, and silver for $15.

Philips and Swarovski offer up crystal-clad USB drives

by Darren Murph posted Apr 13th 2007 at 1:37AM

It's not like we haven't seen ritzy USB drives before, but we can't say we expected the relatively conservative Philips to join forces with a top name in the glitz industry and kick out a couple of very superfluous devices. Partnering with Swarovski, the duo is loosing the Active Crystals collection of 1GB USB drives (and sparklin' headphones, too) onto the fashion-conscience set, and aside from sporting a variety of crystal-clad exteriors, they're pretty vanilla everywhere else. Of course, we can't imagine these straying too far from the velvet bag you'll surely tote it around in, and using this out in the mad, mad world probably isn't advisable, but you can still make the lady friend in your life joyous by handing her one of these yet-not-priced luxuries come August.

[Via ShinyShiny]

A keychain for pictures that drives with you ...

by Christopher Grant posted Jan 7th 2007 at 3:10PM

If your wallet is bulging with dozens of pictures of your pets (or kids, whatever you want to call 'em), leaving an impression in your back pocket and an unnatural curve in your spine, you should probably consider Matsunichi's Photoblitz PV110 digital photo keychain. Capable of storing 56 images for display on its 1.1" OLED screen, the unit connects and charges through USB2. Our best idea? Store a picture of your car to help would-be thieves steal your wheels.

US Modular shoves a pen and flashlight into its Handy Drive

by Darren Murph posted Dec 21st 2006 at 4:41AM

We've seen some fairly multifaceted flash drives in our day, but US Modular's Handy Drive gets bonus points for including two things that actually are, well, handy. Aside from looking like your run-of-the-mill jump drive with a keyring on it, this unit sports a built-in flashlight and ink pen for those times when carrying around a Bic / Maglite combo just isn't feasible. With capacities ranging from 128MB all the way up to 4GB, this could be the perfect gift for that "tool guy" who already owns the entire Craftsman collection, and prices start at just $19.99.

[Via Macworld]

Atari controller "keychains" -- with games

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 5th 2006 at 5:10PM

While its merits as a keychain are questionable (not to mention potentially painful), these officially-licensed Atari game-on-a-controller units from Basic Fun should prove to be geek catnip for anyone who remembers the good old days when game consoles were wood-paneled and had switches for black-and-white or color. The familiar 2600 joystick model is available in two variations, one with Asteroids and Millipede and one with Centipede and Yar's Revenge, while the paddle gives you Pong along with Breakout and Warlords -- although if the reviews are any indication you shouldn't expect completely faithful versions of the games. Each unit will set you back about $15, which includes the six foot RCA cable for connecting it to a TV (yeah, you gotta remember to tote that along with your keychain), but not the three AA batteries required to power it.

Read - Design Kitten Review
Read - Basic Fun

[Via Uber-Review]

PlusID by Privaris does biometric security on a fob

by Stan Horaczek posted Jun 28th 2006 at 10:28AM

If you, or your employees, are getting sick of carrying an ever-growing array of passwords and keycards, Privaris is hoping they have a solution for you. The plusID system uses biometrics to read your fingerprint -- not your face, brain or heart -- with fobs that communicate via RFID with many existing security systems, such as HID, Indala and Kantech. The plusID75, which begins shipping in August, is USB and Bluetooth compatible, uses a "tamper-resistant secure processor" that stores data right on the device rather than in a centralized database and will go about 1,000 uses before needing a recharge. A lower-end model, the plusID60, also appears to be available on the product page, lacking in the Bluetooth and one-time password implementation, presumably so it'll take up less budget space. Of course we'll still have our reservations about transmitting sensitive data with these, at least until we've heard some reviews -- or the CIA starts using them to get into their underground labs, or better yet, their guns.

V-Phone: Vonage gets in the game

by Thomas Ricker posted Jun 27th 2006 at 8:44AM

If you've been hankerin' for some Vonage-flavored VoIP-on-a-stick then listen up friend, because that sweet, cheap, SIP goodness is on the way. Announced by Vonage's very own Jeffrey Citron while on-stage at the TechEffect Convergence 2.0 show, this little red USB keychain can be plugged into any Internet connected PC for Vonage customers to make calls on the go. More details are expected this week but from the looks of that pic, we'll guess the device will feature an integrated mic and good ol' standard 3.5-mm jack for some hot headset-on-stick action. Yeah, not exactly a first, or even a distant second in this game but let's stay tuned anyway to see how Vonage plans to ~~lead~~ follow this Internet phone revolution.