Micro Innovations's bamboo lineup might just save the world... from generic computer peripherals

Our Panda-like obsession with bamboo is really paying off of late, what with the hundreds of bamboo ASUS laptops scattered around the Engadget HQ, the few dozen cubicles we've built out of Dell Studio Hybrid sleeves, and now this complete line of bamboo peripherals from Micro Innovations. Sure, they're ugly and a little low on tech -- the speakers, card reader, webcam, USB hub, keyboard and mouse couldn't be any more generic in specifications -- and as far as we can tell there's nothing particularly "green" about the typical-seeming internals, but apparently the (undisclosed) pricing is right. Most of this stuff should be available through your electronics retailer of choice in April or May.

Engadget's recession antidote: win a Razer Lycosa Mirror!

So you might be getting familiar with this by now, but if not, here's the deal: every day we're hearing heartbreaking tales of staggering economic woes -- job loss, cutbacks -- you name it. Engadget's trying to counter-attack a little bit of that hurting by handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a Razer Lycosa gaming keyboard on offer. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting!
Special thanks to Razer for providing the gear!
The rules:

• Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be good too.
  
  
• You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
  
• If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
  
  
• Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  
  
• Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one Razer Lycosa keyboard. Approximate value is $80.
  
  
• Entries can be submitted until Monday, February 9th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
  
• Full rules can be found here.

OpenFrame and O2 caught canoodling in the wild

Our good friend Mr. BlurryCam managed to steady his (or her) hands a bit and snap a few shots of a working OpenFrame, complete with an on-screen widget indicating the multimedia phone's apparently found itself a home with European carrier O2. Additionally, it looks like traded in last season's iPhone duds for something in a more BlackBerry motif. Our anonymous tipster tells us we should expect to see it hit retail sometime near the end of February. Want more? Check out another shot of OpenPeak's touchscreen darling after the break.

The making of Logitech's G-series peripherals

design Partners, the company responsible for Logitech's G-series, has released a series of images offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the suite of wild gaming peripherals came to be. Interested to see the design process? Check out the galleries below -- we're particularly taken with the image showing a designer hand-crafting the G13's wrist rest.
Galleries

G35 Surround Sound Headset	G13 Gameboard
G19 Keyboard	G9x mouse

• Razer offers up Mamba wireless gaming mouse, Carcharias headset

Grippity back-typing keyboard hands-on

We've seen the Grippity back-typing keyboard move from mere prototype to working, production model, so our interest was definitely piqued when we heard that the developer would be at CES with his one-of-a-kind QWERTY board. Well, he came by with the Grippity, and we got some finger-time with it. The keyboard's certainly not an immediately comfortable or intuitive typing experience by any means, but it's got a real charm to it. The designer also kindly did a demo for us, and even he -- the creator of the device -- wasn't exactly what we'd call lightning fast on it, but see for yourself in the video (and gallery!) after the break.
P.S.- Yes, that's the inside of the Engadget double-wide trailer in the video -- we promise we'll have some more pictures as soon as all the real CES news dies down!

Logitech's Harmony 1100 remote is more touchscreen, less buttons

Logitech's last Harmony launch was of the subtle and sneaky variety, but there's nothing at all quiet about this one. The big, bold and brash Harmony 1100 is showing itself here in Las Vegas, and the primary selling point is the customizable, 3.5-inch QVGA full-color touchscreen. Rather than getting your buttons all gummed up with pizza grease, you can now smear a nice, innocent panel as you attempt to alter volume and change channels. As expected, the unit packs a rechargeable battery and RF capabilities, and the guided online setup should make programming a lesson in simplicity. Can't wait to get your own? Tough luck, 'cause this one's not shipping to the US and Europe until next month for $499.99.

USB Wireless Keypad is perfect for number-crunching on-the-go

Brando's new usb Wireless Keypad is probably just what you're looking for, if you're looking for a wireless keypad, of course. It's got the standard keypad keys, 13 hotkeys, and a totally sweet built-in trackball. It's no Optimus Aux, or anything, but we imagine this pad will be best put to use whilst counting huge piles of coins (or any hard currency) in a public library or adding up intense columns of figures on the subway. 3,700 coppers and it's yours.

• Clip-on mouse from Logitech - stop the juggling

Programming Enhanced Keyboards

The big advantage of an enhanced keyboard is that each key can reproduce any sequence of alphanumeric characters and functions on a standard keyboard. This of course means that the user has the ability to program each key with its sequence of characters. Most users are not sophisticated computer programmers. As a result there are several features that are desirable when programming the enhanced keyboard.

1. All alphanumeric characters should be programmed as the character itself.
2. There should be and easy way to enter foreign characters with accent marks.
3. Function keys should be easy to represent.
4. Combining Ctrl and Alt keys with any alphanumeric or function key needs to be simple.
5. The start and end of a command needs to be easy and clear.
6. There should be a program available to simplify the programming of the keyboard.
7. Downloading the program into the keyboard needs to be easy and intuitive.

?Let's look at each of these features in turn.The first two features work in conjunction and are self explanatory. Keep it simple sweetie.When programming a function keys they need to be intuitive. Two examples are <ctrl>for the control key, <tab>for the tab key. This makes creating a control function as simple as typing <ctrl>E or <alt>F7. </alt></ctrl></tab></ctrl>Some function keys on a keyboard remain in effect until they are struck a second time to toggle them off. One example is the Caps Lock. The same command that toggles Caps Lock on should toggle it off.To aid in quickly entering the key sequences a word processor especially written to enter the command needs to be available. The program needs to create a function by simply pressing the key. For example to enter the function F5 press the F5 key.Finally, no matter how simple the programming of the keyboard is the program needs to be downloaded into the keyboard. A simple to use program needs to be included with the keyboard for downloading. It also needs to check for coding errors.

Philip Kidder has worked with computers for over 35 years. He has worked in government as a programmer, in computer sales and as programmer and consultant to both business and individuals.

• Overlays For Enhanced Keyboards

Overlays For Enhanced Keyboards

For all its versatility an enhanced keyboard is not worth much if the people who use it day to day cannot easily understand what happens when the keys are pressed. Therefore, an enhanced keyboard needs to include a method of creating an overlay to tell the user what each key will do when pressed.Some features when creating an overlay included:

• Ability to use words and short phrases.
• Color coding the keys and their backgrounds.
• Easy to change the overlay.
• Use an existing popular program to create the overlay.
• Have program templates available for programs.
• Protection of the overlay from dirt, grease and use.

Labeling a key with a word or short phrase makes the purpose of the key clear to the user. Use of jargon peculiar to the industry also adds clarity to the keys use.Grouping keys by similar function makes finding a particular key easier. When the keys are color coded by similar function the eye will quickly go to the correct area. Add the ability to color the background and locating keys becomes almost a no brainer. How quickly will a user find the abort key when the key is red on a yellow background?As requirements change key functions maybe redefined and changes to the overlay maybe required. Using an existing program such as Excel, Word or a desktop publisher to create overlays greatly simplifies overlay creation. The overlay creator does not need to install and learn a new program. Redesigning old overlays is quicker since the creator has not forgotten skills particular to a dedicated overlay program.Templates for the most popular programs are great. Having the location of the keys, size of the overlay and margins reduces setup time for whichever program is used to create an overlay.An overlay becomes worthless if it becomes unreadable because of dirt and grease or wears through because of repeated use. The enhanced keyboard needs to have a way of protecting the overlay. One way is to have a protective clear plastic sheet that the overlay fits under. This allow for the use standard paper for the overlay.Creating an attractive and easy to follow overlay greatly increase ease of use of an enhanced keyboard. It is the final touch that makes an enhanced keyboard a valuable addition to any program.

Philip Kidder has worked with computers for over 35 years. He has worked in government as a programmer, in computer sales and as programmer and consultant to both business and individuals.

• Video: Z-Nano Mouse is world's smallest and most absurd

DIY external iPhone keyboards get a tad more practical

That 360 Chatpad hack we saw back in November was certainly an impressive enough proof of concept, but if you want to get a bit more typing done with a bit less cluttter, you'll no doubt be quite a bit more impressed with this latest mod by the very same Ralf Ackermann. This setup uses a Robotech Bluetooth module that's placed in a modified battery sleeve and connected to an unlocked iphone (or iPod Touch) which, in turn, communicates with the keyboard using the Bluetooth SPP profile (a VNC server and a few other tricks also come into the picture). Of course, that's still a long ways from an officially supported solution, but if you're looking to give it a go, Ralf is promising to dish out the necessary schematics and source code soon.

• RemoteDroid app turns your G1 into a wireless keyboard and mouse

RemoteDroid app turns your G1 into a wireless keyboard and mouse

It's already been done on the iPhone, and it looks like G1 users can now use their handset of choice to control their computer as well. Given the G1's preponderance of input options, this new so-called RemoteDroid app is also quite a bit more capable, with it letting you take advantange of the G1's keypad, and use either the trackball or the touchscreen as a mouse (with a pair of onscreen mouse buttons provided for good measure). Head on past the break for a demo video, and hit up the link below to grab the app for yourself.