Brando
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USB missile launcher adopts webcam for geeky wars over MSN
We thought Brando had finally reached the pinnacle of jokey USB armaments with its recent wireless missile launcher -- the third such product in this evolving line -- but apparently there is demand out there for a remotely-operated version capable of waging war over the internet. Filling this strange market gap will be the USB MSN Missile Launcher, which tacks a webcam onto the standard version and allows your buddies on the Microsoft network to randomly shoot at you throughout the day. Again, we're not sure who buys a weapon whose main purpose is to attack its owner, so the $49 device may not be the huge hit its predecessors were when it 'launches' on the 18th.
Brando offers up 2.4-inch digital photo frame, isn't joking
Generally speaking, we've seen digital photo frames get additional features, boosts in screen size and increases in resolution, but Brando is taking innovation in the opposite direction with its "portable" iteration. After triple checking to make sure this wasn't some sort of sick holiday prank, it looks as if the firm actually is offering up a 2.4-inch frame that touts a 320 x 240 resolution panel, comes with your choice of transparent or heart-shaped frames and gets its juice from a built-in Li-ion / USB port. Heck, you'll even get 16MB of internal storage space -- enough for 32 photos! If you're absolutely sure the novelty won't wear off after 7.3 minutes of use, feel free to cough up $45 and bring one home.
USB missile launcher goes wireless
Never content with leaving their gimmicky products as is, the perfectionists over at Brando are prepping yet a third iteration of the wildly-popular USB missile launcher, with the new model featuring an upgrade to wireless control. Cubicle commandos now have over a 15-foot range from their workstations to wage this geekiest form of warfare, thanks to a two-part system that connects transmitter and launcher with a proprietary RF signal. If you happen to work in the type of environment that condones this sort of silly behavior, or just want to go out with a bang, the set can be yours for $45 starting on the 20th.
Flying Santa sans reindeer
You'd be sporting the very same expression of horror if your jolly ass was strapped to a Brando remote controlled helicopter. The rechargeable unit features a "super wide" IR remote and spare tail prop for $25. Rudolph's wrath: free.
iMONO 4-port USB hub rocks individual on / off switches
These days, it takes some serious differentiating to set your 4-port USB hub apart from the rest, but iMONO's latest actually doesn't do a half bad job at standing out. This alternative arrives in a trio of colors, sports 5 LEDs, weighs 30-grams and offers up four individual on / off switches in order to power up / down each socket separately. Sure, not everyone would find such a feature immediately useful, but why would you want to waste energy on that USB seat cooler when those G-Gloves are what's necessary to keep you from slipping into hypothermia? Grab yours now for $18 -- we're sure you'll figure out some clever use for it.
USB Moody Ball apes Ambient Orb, soothes your soul
Connectland's USB Moody Ball may look awfully soothing, yet awfully familiar at first glance. If so, you're probably conjuring up memories of the Ambient Orb, which this device no doubt takes more than a few design cues from. Nevertheless, this USB-powered soul soother automatically changes hues to ease your mind, is constructed from "bump-resistant" materials and weighs in at 179-grams. Best of all, this one's just $20, but convincing your boss to leave the office lights dim just so your Moody Ball can have a greater effect will be the real challenge.
Five-port USB hub does SATA and eSATA, too
Brando, e-tailer of products that you didn't even know existed -- and some that probably shouldn't -- has just released a new USB hub capable of handling SATA and eSATA drives to boot. That's right, along with hooking up five USB peripherals of your choice, you can also use the combo hub as a quick and easy way to swap out external hard drives without dealing with enclosures, RAID controllers, and the like -- at the expense of transfer speeds, of course. Available immediately, the mutant hub is going for a mere $33, or $43 if you want Old Man Brando to bundle in a power cord, too.
USB aroma humidifier keeps your cube fragrant, co-workers irritated
We're not entirely convinced you want your computer spewing moisture into the air, let alone "fragrance oils," but sometimes you gotta bring the tacky, and it's at that moment Brando will be there with the USB humidifier. Featuring ultrasonic vapor action and a high-tech blue LED, this .67-ounce humidifier probably won't have any effect on the surrounding air unless you add in those optional aroma oils, but let's face it -- you can probably dampen your pipes and makes things smell a good deal better by just taking a shower, Sparky.
The USB blender will blend
Are you that guy in our comments always asking the now wearisome question, "Will it blend?" Yeah? Good, this is for you. The Brando USB blender, $25 and an earful of 70's game show jingles as punishment for your deeds. Oh, and because you're that guy you should heed Brando's warning: do not eat the balls. Good advice for any occasion, really.[Via Pocket-lint]
Brando brings iriver's S7 "choat" DAP to the States at last
It's all suddenly so clear. We've never been able to find true satisfaction in a domestic DAP due to the dearth of choat-based interfaces. Scroll wheels and touch screens are all well and good, but where's the magic? Well our problem has finally been solved by Brando, who is importing the iriver S7 -- which showed up in Korea about a year ago -- to the States as the "USB Chocolate MP3 Player." There's 2GB of memory, MP3 and WMA playback, 4 LEDs and a $40 pricetag, but none of that really matters in light of the fact that there's a chicken-goat hybrid gracing the volume up button, while a peeing dog shushes the DAP. We've finally found true love.
Brando's Palm Phone Jammer kills GSM calls dead
We've seen all manners of jammers before, including one or two that shut down cellphone calls, but now even Brando's joining the fun with its diminutive Portable Palm Phone Jammer. Yep, the same company known for cranking out obscure USB-related peripherals and objects that heat and / or cool most anything you need is now giving you the opportunity to scramble GSM 850-, 900-, 1,800- and 1,900MHz cellphone calls "within a 30-foot radius." Granted, these aren't exactly legal in America, but for those looking for a little revelry elsewhere, you can pick one up as we speak for $166.[Via The Raw Feed]
Brando's illuminated, flexible keyboard ain't too pretty
We'll admit, we can't recall seeing a rollable silicon keyboard that deserved to be called gorgeous, but Brando's iteration isn't even close. 'Course, those enamored with glowing lights and plastic-y gizmos may not find much room to grumble, but all aesthetics aside, this thing is reportedly "strong, silent and indestructible." Moreover, the $27 device is said to be dustproof and water-resistant, can be connected via USB or PS/2 and comes in white, pink, blue and green.
2-in-1 Light Gun brings more ruckus, more convenience
Brando's latest accessory beats Nintendo to the punch, copying the official Zapper's submachine-gun design and allowing users to detach the nunchuck handle from its pistol shell. The 2-in-1 Combined Light Gun is a bit expensive at $18.00, and it doesn't come bundled with anything like Link's Crossbow Training, but it's still a pretty slick idea. Bring your complaints about gun-shaped controllers past the post break for more watermarked photos of the plastic pistol.
Mushroom LED lamp appeals to gamers for some reason
You may see similarities to a certain famous item in a well-known video game series when you look at these LED touch lamps, but those similarities are coincidence only. Brando, a company that sells video game accessories, among other gadgets, is stocking these lamps only because they enjoy the whimsical design and the convenient method of operation (you just push on the top.) Not because they perceive any relation to video game iconography, no sir.We felt compelled to post these lamps on Wii Fanboy because we enjoy their aesthetic, and we get the feeling that others who take part in our hobby may have similar tastes. We're sorry to post content that in no way relates to video games. Perhaps you can get one of these lamps and pretend that you're playing Wii in some kind of magical forest or something.[Via Siliconera]
Brando offers up feature-packed MP4 Watch II
Though we've definitely seen a few "MP4 watches" in our day, none of them do it up quite like Brando's MP4 Watch II. This (admittedly unattractive) timepiece plays nice with MP3 / WMA / MP4 formats and includes an FM tuner, voice recorder, photo viewer, "eBook reader," a 1.8-inch 160 x 128 resolution display, five preset equalizer modes, USB 2.0 connectivity, and yes, even a built-in speaker if you're not down with headphones. Of course, we aren't responsible for your social life grinding to a halt if caught wearing this whilst out on the town, but those who aren't concerned with image can snag the 2GB flavor for $92 or double their capacity for $26 more.
Brando's WeDock springs your Wiimotes out of storage
Any old shoebox will undoubtedly hold a couple of your Wiimote / nunchuck combos, but c'mon, where's the fun in that? Enter Brando's Wii WeDock, which comes in your choice of black or white and holds two sets of Wiimotes and nunchucks. The (most) geekish aspect, however, is the "springboard" design that springs your controllers out of hibernation by simply pressing down on them, which is honestly only likely to impress the full-fledged geeks in the crowd. Of course, we're pretty certain you're one of those, but if so, $19 ain't too much to pay to satisfy the urge.[Thanks, Lawrence]
Brando offers his and hers USB gift sets
Peripheral purveyor Brando already seems to have a USB gadget for everyone, but it now looks to be trying to make your shopping even easier, offering his and hers USB "gift sets" featuring a bundle of questionably useful products. Filling out the gift set for men is USB vacuum cleaner, a USB desk lamp, a USB cup warmer and a USB "Mood Light Pen Holder," the latter of which also gives you an extra four USB ports. The set for the ladies, on the other hand, will give you the same Mood Light Pen Holder and vacuum cleaner (in pink this time), along with a USB fan and a USB lighted mirror. Take your pick for $30 apiece.Read - Brando USB Gift Set For Men Read - Brando USB Gift Set For Ladies
Brando intros beefed up USB can cooler / warmer
Brando's previous attempt at cranking out a sufficient USB drink chiller / warmer was certainly commendable, but the excessive amount of exposure to the air left us desiring a more effective solution. Not one to disappoint, the company has indeed unveiled a new edition, complete with a wraparound design that totally submerges your canned beverage in a world of heat (or cold). This USB-powered gizmo even sports an in-line toggle switch to determine the temperature, and for just $32, how can you not consider this a road warrior must-have? More pics after the jump.
Wii Fishing Pole: so close to too far
Continuing on its mission to totally eliminate imagination from the gaming experience, inveterate Wiiccessory maker Brando is now hawking a fishing pole guaranteed to increase the destructive potential of the Wii remote. Featuring an actual string with a chintzy plastic fish on the end, the pole collapses for easy storage -- which is good, because you'll be storing this thing for good about ten seconds after you realize that you just spent $19 to look like a complete fool.
Brando offers USB "virtual friends"
While we consider many of our gadgets to be "virtual friends," the good folks at Brando have now taken the notion one step further, offering so-called USB Virtual Friends for those whose desks are a little lonely. Available in "Virtual Girlfriend" or "Virtual Boyfriend" varieties, the plasticized buddies each pack infrared motion sensors, and come equipped with 100 preprogrammed sayings, along with a "personality editor" to ensure the two of you get along. For that added touch of realism, you can also slide a picture of your choice into the frame in the USB friends' head. If that's the companionship you've been looking for, you can snag either friend now for $17, or get the pair for $30.
