Gadgets

Since December 2021, I’ve never had to think about charging my Logitech wireless gaming mouse. It charges just by sitting atop this pricey mousepad. No alignment necessary. And now, that pricey mousepad is the best price it’s ever been: $87 at Amazon. That’s still cash, but seriously: I’ve never looked back.

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I have a hard time believing this OneGx2 could be comfortable to hold, but major kudos if OneXPlayer can figure it out! I’m currently toying with a similar GPD machine that hides its joysticks beneath little covers, but a split keyboard and sticks beneath a full keyboard is something else.

Ahead of Pac-Man’s 45th anniversary next year, Casio is launching a collection of four retro digital watches featuring the yellow dot chaser. The standouts include a yellow calculator watch with an inverted screen and a model that’s expected to have Bluetooth connectivity and step tracking. Pricing isn’t known, but availability is expected in December — at least in Japan.

Following its collaboration with Neon Genesis Evangelion last year, Casetify has announced a new anime collection featuring Gundam-themed cases and accessories. The standout is this $155 RX-78-2 Gundam head case for the AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2 that’s more expensive than what the latest version of the earbuds are currently selling for during Black Friday promotions.

Through a new listing on the company’s US site, Casio has revealed that its 50th anniversary ring watch isn’t going to be exclusive to Japan. You can’t preorder it yet, but the site says the finger-worn watch, which has functions like a stopwatch and flashing alarms, is expected to be available in the US in December for $120.

Pixeldarts features a screen that can detect where its electronic suction cup darts stick for automatic scoring, but it also allows other games to be played, including one with paint splashes that’s reminiscent of Splatoon. It can be preordered through Kickstarter for $220, while full pricing is expected to be closer to $399, with shipping expected in June 2025.

Motorola is opening up its AI beta program to the public. Starting today, anyone with a 2024 Motorola Razr, Razr Plus, or the Edge 50 Ultra can opt into the open beta and test out three new features: recording transcripts and summaries, a Pixel Screenshots-esque recall feature, and summaries of recent notifications. Maybe my “flip phone as an AI wearable” concept has legs after all.

Home Energy Reports will be coming to the Ecobee app next month. The company says the feature should help users better understand how their HVAC system works and, hopefully, save more energy.

It will show detailed reports on your system’s energy use right in the app, help identify potential issues with the system, and compare energy consumption with others in your area for some healthy competition.

CRKD has announced a new version of its compact NEO S controller with an attachment that adds five fret buttons for playing Fortnite Festival and other rhythm games. The accessory was designed by some of the people who created Guitar Hero and DJ Hero’s peripherals, and the controller is available for preorder now for $59.99 with shipping expected to start as early as November 29th.

I’ve been testing out wireless microphones from Rode, DJI, Shure, Sennheiser, and others over the past few years — and they’re improving! Recently, both DJI and Rode released compact versions of their microphones, so I put them head-to-head in this video.

Following a buildable Mona Lisa, Lego has tackled another da Vinci creation with a 493-piece replica of the renaissance polymath’s flying machine. It still can’t actually fly, but a system of strings, hinges, and pulleys makes its fabric covered wings flap when you pull a trigger. It will be available starting on January 1, 2025, for $49.99, and will include a da Vinci minifigure.

A pulsing light show isn’t a feature high on anyone’s projector wish list, but that didn’t stop TCL from including one on its new A1. Just 360 ISO lumens of brightness limits the 1080P projector’s use to dark rooms or nighttime showings, but for $499.99 it doubles as a 16W Bluetooth speaker with RGB lights that sync to your beats.

The $15 SoundSlide solves a problem that few would consider an actual problem. It replaces a computer’s volume buttons with a customizable touch-sensitive slider that can be operated using finger swipes. For those who miss volume wheels, it might be worth the upgrade. For everyone else, sacrificing a USB-C port for the SoundSlide might be too big an of an ask.