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Microsoft’s Blue LED & The Evolution Of Mice

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a big innovation in computer mice, but Microsoft claims that their new Blue Track mouse will change the game by using LED lights for control. With a wider-angle lens, it promises more accuracy than infared laser or optical mice.

The Blue Track popped up recently on Germany’s Amazon website and is set to roll out on September 9th. But will laser and touchpad devotees be quick to make the switch? We decided to take a look back at the major innovations throughout the history of the mouse to put things in perspective.

See how far the cursor has come…

Jetman Prepares Flight Over The English Channel

Photo: AP

It’s been a slow-as-shit process waiting for flying cars to hit the market or a way for humans to take off in jet packs. Now with ludicrous gas prices keeping people grounded, something’s got to give. And the winner is…the jetpack!

As of November 2006, Switzerland’s own man without fear, Yves Rossy (a.k.a. FusionMan) became the first person to take flight with the use of a personal jetpack. He flew 36 km over his homeland by way of a fixed wing and its four engines as part of a test run. The former military pilot will take another giant leap on September 24th, when he’ll fly across the English Channel. Before you catch National Geographic’s live coverage of this historical event here, watch this video of FusionMan flying high…

Fiber Optic LED Glove Puts Light At Your Fingertips

It’s a shame what happened to glowsticks. What was once a useful hand-held lighting device has since been ruined by generations of raver douchebags who twirl them like batons. Luckily, it looks like flashlight technology might be taking another step forward with this Fiber Optic Glove concept.

Created by Slovenian designer Tilen Sepic for DesignBoom’s Bright LED competition, the power of the gloves starts at the wrist, where a battery pack and LED light source are hidden. Vein-like fiber optic wires then bring the light up the hand to the index finger and thumb. With the touch of a button, your palm will glow a bright white light, or emit a beam from the finger tip. Tron Guy would be proud. See more images of the concept below…

5 Rumored Apple Products We Wish Were Real

This past weekend, tech journalist Kevin Rose leaked a photo (above) of what he says will be the next generation of the iPod Nano. He also said that iTunes 8.0 will bring a number of significant changes and updates. What those changes and updates are, no one knows, but supposedly they’re coming.

This kind of rumor mongering ain’t new. In the world of Apple fandom, rumors are discussed and dissected on message boards like they read it on Steve Job’s Twitter feed. But more often than not, those rumors are just improbable hearsay. Check out a few products we wish would have come to fruition…

Fire Flower Extinguisher Keeps Kitchens Safe

In the world of Super Mario Bros, flowers have traditionally been the source of deadly fire balls. But now in the real world—or at least in Japan—a new kind of flower has the ability to stop fires.

The disposable Fire Flower is the less-conspicuous answer to those clunky red tanks. When a grease fire erupts on your stove, simply place the flower in the flame, and its petals will release a chemical film that will kill the blaze. Plus, it has a magnetic stem to tack on to a nearby refrigerator for easy access. Pick up a two pack for $39 or watch a demo video below.

KueIt DJ Program Gets A Spin

These days, when you go to clubs, deejays (or the poor excuses for them) are normally carrying less weight. With all respect to vinyl culture, lugging records has become a form of self-torture now that Serato and Traktor pioneered the revolution of mp3 DJs. But in case you’re the type to use samples when putting the stamp on your mix, KueIt a new program that launched yesterday replaces the need to use hardware like an MPC.

What 9th Wonder’s Achilles heel Fruity Loops, and Reason did for digital producers, KueIt does for laptop deejays. Once installed, the user uploads the samples to a desired set of keys which are displayed on the screen in conjunction with any of the previously mentioned dj programs you use. The toggling between programs has no effect on your mixes, or the quality of the music. Check out a demo of the software featuring a testimonial by Fat Man Scoop.

Can Jerry Seinfeld Save Microsoft’s Ad Campaign?

With as much money Microsoft stacks from running businesses to Xbox 360, their advertisements should equate that success, right? Wrong. They haven’t been able to crack the “cool” market because Apple holds it down with straight-forward, minimally-styled clips. But when Steve Jobs recently took another shot at Bill Gates‘ Windows Vista operating system, the software mogul tapped Jerry Seinfeld to clap back.

We’re not sure if the $300-million dollar campaign will actually work, simply because Jerry’s been catching bricks since Seinfeld went off the air. The handful of other ads he did for the geriatric crowd (American Express, Hewlett Packard), and last year’s Bee Movie are, well, straight up B’s. So we figured we could jog Microsoft’s memory (zing!) by compiling five (2 of which ended up being banned) of their greatest hits for a little inspiration.

Yamaha Turns Cell Phones Into Musical Instruments

Sure, playing MP3s with your iPhone is dope, but the sound equipment gurus at Yamaha may have one-upped Steve Jobs and Co. with the Au Design Project, a collaboration with Japanese phone company KDDI.

The two brands have been working on producing a set of phones and PDAs that also mimic the trumpet, harmonica, piano, and drums (inspired by Nintendo’s Wiimote), as well as a scratching feature for DJs. The project, which was unveiled this month in Harajuku at the KDDI Designing Studio, is still in development. Watch videos of the cell phone jam session below.

Skateboard Sail Harnesses The Power Of Wind

We’ve always been fan of simple, D.I.Y. thinking, so we have to give it up to David Guillot, who created a hand-held land sail that can be used to propel your skate or snowboard.

While David is selling them for $59.99 each, he also posted a guide about how you can create your own using materials like duct tape, plastic tarp and some fiberglass poles. MacGyver would be proud. Watch a video of the sail below.

Sensacell Floor Lights Up Like ‘Billie Jean’

The Spanish basketball team might have made a fool out of themselves in the Olympics, but their home country is still looking out for the international community by hosting the 2008 World Expo, which runs all summer long in Zaragoza.

One of the installations that’s turning heads in the eco-friendly exhibit is an LED floor created by designer Sensacell, which spans 250 square feet using 1,000 illuminating panels. Just like the famous street in Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” video, the pressure sensitive floor glows with every step. The more foot-traffic that comes through, the brighter the panels get. See a video below.