Awesome Tech

Pentax’s Optio W90 sports a rugged body with the specs to match: waterproof (20 ft), shockproof (4 ft), cold proof (14°F), 12.1 MP sensor, 2.7″ LCD, 720p video, and 5x optical zoom.

It seems like a regular (if pricey) slider case, but the Universal Remote Case converts your iPhone into a full-featured IR remote thanks to a built-in IR transmitter and free app.

Berkeley student Roland Saekow’s BearExtender n3 is a 700 mW Wi-fi radio that increases the range of any Apple laptop or desktop’s signal by 2x-4x by replacing its Airport card.

It’s a Cideko rebrand, but MSI’s Air gives us hope that the 80 key mini-keyboard will get a wider release; the 7 oz. peripheral doubles as an air mouse thanks to built-in 3D motion sensors.

Not to be outdone by the TL500’s fast glass, Samsung’s TL350 records 1080p videos and snaps 10 MP pictures simultaneously; it also features a 1,000 fps 138×78 pixel movie mode.

It’s not as tangible as MIT’s Flyfire project, but Julia Yu Tsao’s Curious Displays is just as viscerally amazing with 1/2″ blocks that operate independently yet cohesively form a UI.

Samsung’s 10 MP TL500 offers surprisingly fast glass for a compact camera with an f/1.8 24mm ultra-wide angle 3x zoom lens; also: a RAW shooting and a 3″ multi-angle AMOLED display.

With a capacity of 60 4″x6″ photos, this SD Photo Album is a bit lightweight compared to its digital equivalents but makes up for it with a supersized form factor; available April 2010.

Give your middle finger a rest with the Drivemocion LED Car Sign; it displays 16 decidedly non-middle-fingery verbal and facial expressions while mounted to your rear window.

If your eyes don’t glaze over at the mention of T1 lines or Cisco routers, the Universal Network Cable is for you: a rotatable collar lets you choose between five patch cable standards.

MIT’s Flyfire forms 2D/3D shapes on the “fly”; each pixel is actually a micro helicopter that synchronizes its motion with fellow self-organizing helis to form a swarm of smart pixels.

Joby’s camera tripods get even clingier with Gorillapod Magnetic; it keeps the line’s flexible 360 degree arms but also adds three magnetic feet; it’ll hold cameras up to 11.5 ounces.

It keeps the G-Lens, body, and 3″LCD, but Sony’s Cyber-shot H55 is a budget version of the HX5V; it replaces the CMOS sensor with a 14.1 MP CCD and 1080p with 720p video recording.

Noteput lets you literally play with your music; the interactive table uses a camera that tracks the position of marked notes, which are then outputted via MIDI to sound software.

Sturdy and stylish, Sony’s 10.2 MP DSC-TX5 is the world’s slimmest rugged compact; dustproof, waterproof, coldproof, and shock resistant, it boasts a 3″ touchscreen that works underwater.

It’s designed for athletes, but the Puma Phone also pleases gadget-hounds with a built-in solar panel, dual still and video cameras, HSPA connectivity, and 2.8″ touchscreen.

Yes, EMSL’s Drink Making Unit is made with breast pumps, but it’s all in the name of affordable DIY; it’s able to make three-part drinks and display data via an 8×8 RGB LED matrix.

If you liked Sports Illustrated’s tablet magazine concept, you’ll be happy to know that Wired, our favorite geeky magazine, also plans to go tablet; note that this is an Adobe AIR app.

Sony’s dash is on our radar with a 7″ touchscreen, 1500 apps, and chumby widgets, but the bedside tablet is an entertainment center, too: it now streams Netflix TV shows and movies.

A downsized version of the drool-worthy HD2, HTC’s HD mini weighs in with a 3.2″ 320×480 touchscreen, WinMo 6.5.3 w/Sense UI, 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, 600 MHz CPU, and 5 MP camera.

Looking like a cross between Unicron and the Tokamak, this LEGO CubeStormer puts humans to shame and humanity on notice: it can solve a Rubik’s cube in only 12 seconds.

Sure, the iPad Basic (aka the Notepod+) is a pad of paper, but it features zero bezel, infinite battery life, and doubles as a mousepad; in other words, GUI-sketching heaven for app devs.

Compared to the Desire, HTC’s Legend is a no-go with no 3G, but its aluminum body is a head-turner; it also sports Android 2.1, a 600 MHz CPU, optical trackpad, and 3.2″ AMOLED screen.