The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos

A Whiteboard on any Surface

Interactive whiteboards (IWBs) inspire passionate opinions among educators. Now, a product launched by Epson offers a new wrinkle. The Brightlink 450Wi Ultra-Short Throw Projector turns almost any surface into an IWB. Offering a larger, more flexible working area than dedicated IWBs at a cheaper price, the Brightlink delivers WXGA (wide-screen) resolution, and is USB plug and play via PC or Mac. It can be permanently mounted as close as 2.8 inches from the wall. Due out in spring 2010 for under $2,000.

It’s Coming: LEGO Universe

The highly anticipated video game from the LEGO franchise was previewed at CES last month. LEGO Universe, the first MMOG (massively multiplayer online game) based on the classic brick activity, will launch on the PC in the second half of 2010. In the game, designed with input from the LEGO community, player-built characters do serious battle, but in a family-friendly way. There’s no blood—defeated enemies simply break apart. 

A Gallery of Vintage Ads

Pop-swilling babies, dictaphones, and a pack of Old Golds. Man, those were the days. The Web site Vintage Ad Browser features a searchable collection of 100,000 print advertisements, dating from the 1800s to 2000. Arranged by subject, images also link to the original source and most are copyrighted. Old ads are fascinating, revealing the stereotypes and cultural norms of their day. Of particular interest: the cigarette pitch featuring a librarian wearing only a book, and glasses, of course. 

BlackBerry Presenter

Deliver a presentation from your smartphone, sans laptop, with the BlackBerry Presenter. The new device from RIM (Research in Motion) plugs into a projector or monitor, then lets users display a PowerPoint wirelessly from their BlackBerrys. You can also loop your presentation and display one slide while referencing another on your device. Not compatible with the BlackBerry Curve 8300 or Pearl Flip series. Requires a VGA orS-Video cable. $199.

A Bookish App

Readers have a new app for getting their bookish fix. Created by social site LibraryThing, Local Books is a free tool for locating bookstores, libraries, and book-related happenings near you. Venues and events are searchable and can be sorted by distance, name or type, and you can also tag your favorites. Add your library or event to the LibraryThing Local list and detail your venue page with a photograph, Web address, and Twitter handle. 

Pogoplug, for Accessing Your Files Anywhere

Cute little Pogoplug connects with your local drive so you can access your files over the Internet. Introduced last year, Pogoplug now accommodates four external hard drives via USB and supports media streaming to gaming consoles Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Simply connect Pogoplug to your router, attach any external hard drive, register your unique code on the product site, and you’re all set. The device also works with your iPhone; there’s an Android client, too. $129.