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Ask Engadget: Forget the man bag, how about a gadget purse?
It's Ask Engadget time once again: you provide the questions (send 'em in to ask at engadget dawt com), you provide the answers (in the comments), and we provide the drinks! Well, actually, not really -- we're just here to watch. Yesterday we were looking at camcorders with Clancy, and now we've got Lisa looking for a gadget friendly purse to carry her gadget stash with style:"I've been trying to find a good solution to carry all of my gadgets around, keep them safe, and keep them organized for years. I'm not talking about a laptop case here -- I'm looking for a purse. I'm looking for a bag that looks at least halfway decent and can handle my iPod, PDA, Nintendo DS, cell phone, eReader, and digital camera (and anything else that I "need" to have with me at any given time), and ideally give me relatively quick access to all of them. Oh, and I'd really like to not have to pay much more than $100 for it. Am I asking for too much? You guys covered a man-bag for a question similar to mine, but I'm really looking for a more feminine option."We did indeed talk about man bags a couple of years ago, and while we'd love to hear your more recent favorites on that topic as well, let's help out the ladies in the audience in need of some gadget transport that doesn't involve a fashion dive.
Bubble Gear's multimedia handbag gets an LCD
If you just so happen to receive a boombox with a seven-inch display built right in, it's only fair to return the favor, so Bubble Gear is looking out the manly gift buyers out there with its LCD-equipped Multi-Media bag. Aside from sporting a presumably fashionable leather motif, it also manages to rock a seven-inch LCD on the outward side, which should most certainly grab even more attention (negative or otherwise) than the scrolling LED belt-buckles. Clearly aimed at the tech savvy (or attention-deprived) ladies in the house, it also throws in a rechargeable Li-ion battery, two headphone sets, a thoughtfully-included car charger, wireless remote, and measure 13- x 10- x 4-inches. The screen itself is used for "scrolling through pictures or watching DVDs," but we're not quite clear on just how this wonderful media actually gets connected to the said screen. Still, it's always the thought that counts (right?), but this idea will run you $399.95 and require "two to four weeks" to be handcrafted and shipped out.[Via ShinyShiny]
AddOn Spotlight: TBag
When I compared EngBags and Advanced Bags Plus a while back, a commenter named Purity commended TBag to me in the comments. Well, Purity, I'm glad you did, because ever since I installed TBag, I haven't looked back. It's now one of my all-time favorite WoW mods, right next to ClearFont and TheoryCraft. Its features include: Customizable sorted inventory frame Customizable sorted bank frame Text-based searching of all your characters' banks and inventories Includes the bag bar in the inventory window, so you can easily swap bags without having to figure out how to restore the default bag bar that you nuked weeks ago because it takes up way too much space and you hardly ever use it Really, what more could you want in an inventory mod? It's compact, it sorts very well, it seems stable. Go get it!Download TBag at CursePreviously on the SpotlightDon't know how to use AddOns? Fear not!
iPod-compatible Pet Carrier
Did the Lifepop Stereo Pet Carrier really "steal the spotlight" at the Oscars? Unless you believe those wacky PR dudes (and who would?), probably not but it's a pretty cool iPod-compatible accessory. You can use it to carry around your pooch as he or she rocks out to your music, or whimpers in abject misery while listening to your Barry Manilow collection. It's basically a soft padded bad with built-in speakers and a mini-plug you can hook into your iPod. There's a fully zippered ventilated top so Fido will be able to breathe while groovin'. You might want to put away a few bucks to pay the pet therapist if there's a serious mismatch between your musical tastes and your dog's.
G-Tech kicks out Bluetooth-enabled iPod backpack
Similar to another company we're familiar with, G-Tech has hit it big by slapping iPod-compatibility onto an otherwise drab offering, and now the company has upped the ante by tossing in Bluetooth. Unveiled at CES, the self-proclaimed Next-Generation Messenger Bags with Bluetooth feature the same Eleksen ElekTex smart fabric controls right on the strap, but these controls now control the track / volume functions of your dock-connecting iPod as well as the volume / mute of your phone. The Bluetooth functionality simply allows users to easily mute their iPod to take an incoming call, and the built-in speaker can also pump out the jams (rather meekly, we assume) with any audio device that connects via a 3.5-millimeter cable. There's no word on price or availability, but if you're really dead set on owning an iPod-controlling pack, might we suggest one that doesn't look like an early '90s experiment gone awry?[Via Textually]
Cardboard bag protects your laptop in recycled style
Here at Engadget, we do have a certain love for the aesthetic appeal of gadgets -- when we do things we like to do them with style, and we appreciate it when others do too. So, in that vein we present to you what might just possibly be the first cardboard laptop case ever (except for those folks who tote their machines in pizza boxes). It was shown at London's recent [re]Design exhibition, and claims to be made from 100 percent recycled materials, so we're assuming that the leather strap counts as recycled cow. Still, as someone pointed out in Inhabitat's comments, it's unclear what happens if you use this case in the rain.[Via Inhabitat]
WTB: Bag space
In WoW, as with real life, I'm a bit of a hoarder. Give me space and I will fill it with things that might be useful, or perhaps were useful (you never know when you'll need them again). After one or two ill-advised disenchantments, I've started keeping non-replaceable gear around in my bank, and as a druid I have multiple sets of equipment anyway.Of course, I'm also an enchanter and engineer, so I have to store materials and equipment for those professions -- not to mention a vast number of quest items that are collecting dust waiting for me to finish the quest. Non-combat pets, items useful in certain instances, items useful for PvP, Darkmoon Faire tickets... my bank just isn't big enough to hold it all.There are a couple of solutions. Firstly, I can try culling the trash and actually getting rid of some of my quest items, disenchanting equipment I haven't used in weeks, and choosing which of my non-combat pets is my favourite. Secondly, as I have multiple characters (including a bank-only character), I can send the majority of my non-soulbound items to an alt, who can hold on to them or return them in the mail for easier access. I always lose track of who has which items; I used to use the BankItems mod, but I haven't found one that tracks mailboxes yet.The final option is, of course, to get more bagspace. Not easy when all your bags are 16-slotters already; I've recently finished the grind for an Argent Dawn Supply Bag, and I'm also hoping I'll come across an Onyxia Hide Backpack or Panther Hide Sack at some point. The materials for Bottomless Bag are offputting, though -- twelve mooncloth for two bag slots? I think I'll have to manage.
Puma puts a PSP 'round your butt
Sony and Puma have teamed up to bring you some new PSP gear. While these accessories may match your Puma wardrobe, the luxury will come at a hefty price. The above bag costs a whopping 7140 yen, which is more than the cost of 3 Greatest Hits titles in the US. Ouch. But if you have the cash to get a Signature Edition PSP or a PlayStation 3, I think Sony's betting you'll have the cash to afford these accessories too. I mean, this is living, right?More pictures from PSP Gadgetz after the cut.
Winning Eleven bundle includes carrying case as well
With the delay and super-snazzy bundle, Winning Eleven DS has been quite the topic lately. Well, another incentive to pick up the game has just been revealed in the equally-snazzy DS Lite carrying bag. While the special edition DS has seen equal parts criticism and acclaim, we're certain this bag will help bring some of the bundle's critics over to the other side (or at least help line some pockets through ebay).[Via Go Nintendo]
Incase hints at new Ripstop Backpack
Incase has posted a couple of teaser shots in their gallery of a new bag on the way, the Ripstop Backpack. Available in July from Apple, this bag looks to be a full-sized backpack that can carry more than just an Apple portable, a magazine and a pack of gum (I kid - I'm a big fan of Incase's stuff). I have also heard they have a new, fully-featured site coming later this summer which should help to settle the Incase + Apple conspiracy theories.Pricing and specs of the Ripstop Backpack are still to be announced.
A quick glance at MacBook sleeve cases
Now that laptop case manufacturers have had a few weeks to react to the new MacBook, they've started to release an array of sleeves that fit perfectly around the MacBook's refined curves. There's something for everyone here, whether you want a sleeve with a little more padding than usual, a sleeve that makes a colorful statement or one that keeps your nether regions nice and cool. Read on for the round-up.
The Ladybag remembers your stuff with RFID
We carry handhelds so we don't forget what we've got to do, but what happens when we forget our handheld? Six students from Canada's Simon Fraser University don't have an answer, but they have developed the latest in purse technology to help prevent the aforementioned situation from occuring to the ladies. The Ladybag's function is fairly simple: an RFID scanner in the bottom of the bag will display a LED-lit icon of whatever it is you didn't remember to embagify. (It'll also display emoticons of how your bag thinks you're feeling, depending on how you're holding and handling it.) Of course, if you're like us and frequently forget your bag when out and about, you'd do best to skip the Ladybag (or Manbag, as it were) and make like us: find a keeper.[Via The Raw Feed]
Home grown boombox bag
Who needs an iPod Hi Fi? Not Shannon Okey. In her book knitgrrl, she shows off a great "boombox" bag she made. The front pocket holds an iPod, which in turn connects to "...a set of cheap Radio Shack speakers" on the bag's interior. I think this is pretty nice (and a heck of a lot lighter than the Hi Fi, I would imagine). Well done, Shannnon![Via Make:Blog]
Chic laptop bags for that new MacBook Pro
When it comes to toting around that new MacBook Pro, you want nothing but the best to hug and snuggle your new baby computer. For MacBook Pros (and 15" PowerBooks) I am going to have to point the ladies to alex grant bags. My favorite bag is the understated Skye in gunmetal gray (pictured here). The larger alex grant bags come with coordinating laptop sleeves (kind of like mini briefcases with handles) that fit inside. I love the styling on these bags and the carrying handles look long-commute-friendly, I just wish they came in a few more color choices. All of the agb collection is on sale until March 1st. In a past post I've rounded up some of my favorite iBook sleeves, some of which may also be appropriate for 12" PowerBooks. With this combination, you can put a smaller laptop in a larger bag. Incidentally, I rock a 10" Fujitsu subcompact (running FreeBSD 6), so I ended up modding an existing subcompact sleeve to my liking. Ladies, and guys with ladies in their lives, feel free to comment on your favorite sleeve/bag combo for your mac laptop in the comments.
