Weird, Wild Stuff Debuts at Cebit

To some visitors, the most unusual product on offer at the annual Cebit mega-exhibition may have been the bratwurst served with curry sauce available at several stands. But the exhibition halls at the Deutsche Messe fairgrounds in Hanover, Germany, also featured an array of quirky and unusual gadgets.

Prepared for Anything

Among the more unusual on offer this year was Swissbit AG's USB Swiss Army Knife. Swissbit has taken Victorinox AG's Swiss Army Knife, already famous for packing just about any tool imaginable into a distinctive red-sided pocket knife, and added a USB flash memory drive.

Set to hit stores worldwide in April, the USB Swiss Army Knife will be available with either 64MB or 128MB of memory, priced starting from $73 and $88, respectively.

The extended version of the USB Swiss Army Knife packs a red LED, a ballpoint pen, a knife, a file with a screwdriver tip, and a pair of scissors. For users who travel frequently and don't want to risk having the data stored in the knife confiscated by airport security, Swissbit is also offering a travel-safe version that includes a red LED and a ballpoint pen.

Data To Go

For those who need to carry around more data, Asustek Computer displayed a prototype Wi-Fi-equipped hard-drive case. Users just add their own hard drive.

The WL-HDD hard-drive case holds a 2.5-inch hard-disk drive and supports the Ultra DMA/100 interface. The hard drive can be accessed wirelessly using its integrated, dual-mode 802.11b/g interface, which offers a maximum bandwidth of 54 megabits per second. If no wireless connection is available, the case also has two 10/100 Ethernet ports.

The WL-HDD has a Web-based management interface that allows users to control access to the disk drive. Files can be shared freely or limited to users with a password. Users can also limit access to alter files by permitting only read-access to the files on the disk.

The WL-HDD will be available worldwide in May and priced at around $150.

Look Ma, One Hand

For computer users who like to keep one hand free while working, FrogPad of Houston plans soon to ship a Bluetooth version of its one-handed FrogPad keyboard. The FrogPad measures 12.7 centimeters by 7.6 centimeters and will be available in PC and Macintosh versions, the company said.

Unlike foldable keyboards designed for PDAs, the Bluetooth FrogPad can be used when a user is walking around, holding the keyboard in one hand and using the other to type. The keyboard's rechargeable battery lasts for up to one month and is recharged by connecting the keyboard to a PC with a USB cable, the company said.

The FrogPad isn't for everyone, though. The keyboard is designed for right-handed users, but the company said it has plans to introduce a left-handed version in the future. In the meantime, left-handed users can use the right-handed version, the company said.

The FrogPad will be available at the end of this month and is priced at $200.

Take Note

If a one-handed keyboard is more than you can handle, Ace CAD Enterprise of Hsintien, Taiwan, introduced a digital notepad. The DigiMemo A501 allows users to capture and store information written down on an ordinary A5 sheet of paper. The information can be stored in the device's internal 8MB of flash memory, which has a capacity equivalent to 40 sheets of A5 paper, or on a Compact Flash card.

The DigiMemo A501 consists of a digital notepad and an electronic ink pen. Users fix a sheet of paper to the digital pad and write using the pen. The electronic pen, like an ordinary pen, writes on paper but also digitally records information that is written down.

The A501 runs on four AAA batteries and weighs 1.21 pounds. The pen requires a single SR319 battery, which can last up to one year, the company said. Pricing and availability were not disclosed.