The Das keyboard: A keyboard only a touch-typist could love

Keith Shaw’s Cool Tools Alert

* LATEST COOL TOOLS VIDEO: The Das keyboard

Keith and Kyle have a typing race on special Das Keyboards that only a touch typist could love: Black keys and no labeling.

http://www.networkworld.com/video/010206ct-das.html?tab=cool_tools

* LATEST COOL TOOLS COLUMN: What was hot at CES 2006

Last week’s annual Consumer Electronics Show produced a slew of new products and technologies that will cause gadget fans to reach for their wallets in the coming year. The industry remains red hot: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is predicting $135.4 billion in sales of consumer electronics products in 2006, an 8% increase from last year.

http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2006/010906cooltools.html?nl

* THE PAST SEVEN DAYS ON THE COOL TOOLS BLOG:

ZyXEL launches new phoneline, powerline networking gear

ZyXEL Communications Inc. today announced two new home networking products – the PL-100 HomePlug device (pictured) and the PEC-200 Home PNA3.0 system. The company says the PL-100 has data rates up to 85Mbps and the PEC-200 can transfer data at speeds up to 125Mbps.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=cooltools

Verizon launches V Cast Music

If you’re jonesing for the ability to download songs directly to your cell phone, Verizon Wireless has an answer for you.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=cooltools

A place for all your stuff

Buffalo Technology today launched its LinkStation Home Server series, two network-attached storage devices that conform to the Digital Living Network Alliance guidelines. The two devices, available at the end of January, will come in 300GB and 400GB capacities, and will cost $399 and $549 respectively.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=cooltools

Buffalo shrinks network media player

Buffalo Technology today announced the LinkTheater Mini, a network media player that lets users view digital multimedia content (music, video, photos) from any PC or network storage device and on any device that conforms to the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) guidelines.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=cooltools

Palm, Verizon launch Treo 700w

Palm and Verizon Wireless today announced availability of the Palm Treo 700w, the first Treo smart phone that works on Verizon’s BroadbandAccess (EV-DO) wireless network as well as the first Treo device to run the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system. The 700w goes on sale tomorrow (Jan. 5) for $399.99 (after $100 rebate and two-year agreement with a voice plan of $39.99 or higher).

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=cooltools

Showing off UltraWideband

This year might be the year that ultrawideband products take off in the market, at least for home network applications.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=cooltools

Handheld Entertainment announces Wi-Fi portable media player

Handheld Entertainment this week announced its WiFi ZVUE (Model 500) portable media player, which includes 802.11a/b/g wireless connectivity. Samples of the device are expected in February, the company says. The device is expected to ship in Q2 2006 and will cost under $300, Handheld Entertainment added.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=cooltools

Belkin USB hub utilizes UWB

One of the first consumer products to utilize ultrawideband (UWB) wireless technologies comes from Belkin, which today

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/4052

CES: The most wonderful time …

Sure, you may think Christmas is the happiest time of the year, but for gadget guys like me the most wonderful time of the year is about two weeks later, when the Consumer Electronics Show rolls into Las Vegas for a few days of electronic stimulation (and no, I’m not talking about the adult entertainment trade show that also happens this week).

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=cooltools