Remember how lame the Nintendo PowerGlove was? Well, it looked cool, but it was pretty useless when it came to actual video game usage. If there were only a device that was equally cool as it was functional, the gaming would would be rocked pretty hard.

With that in mind, behold the new line of TRON controllers!

As a tie-in to the upcoming Disney film, the studio is releasing a series of gadgets that will make you feel like you’re Flynn himself, all while sitting on your couch in your living room. The controllers will be available for all Next-Gen systems, and each run for about $50.

Not a console gamer, but still want to enjoy the TRON awesomeness? For PC users, there will also be a TRON blue gaming keyboard and mouse from Razer. Topping it all off, Monster is releasing a pair of TRON headphones for $350, earbuds for $99, and a light-disc shaped iPod dock for $250.

Check out some of the cool new gadgets after the jump. All of the items are expect to have a fall release, so needless to say, the tail end of 2010 will be pretty heavy with all things TRON. Thanks to Gizmodo for the heads up.

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Beginning today, retail juggernaut Wal-Mart is slashing the price of Apple’s 16GB 3GS iPhone to just $97 with a standard two-year contract. The new lower price will save consumers just over $100 off the normal $199 price-point.

Apple is widely expected to launch a brand-new iPhone model next month, and this new lower price-point could indicate they are working with retailers to clear out any remaining inventory of the soon-to-be-outdated model. Interestingly, other retailers have not yet followed suit. The 16GB 3GS is still priced for $199 on Apple’s Web site and that of its partners, including electronics retailer Best Buy.

Apple has reportedly sold 8.3 million iPhones during last quarter, more than twice the amount sold during the same period in 2009. A recent furor erupted when an Apple engineer reportedly left Apple’s newest iPhone model in a local bar near the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters. Popular gadget site, Gizmodo managed to acquire the iPhone, running dozens of pictures and performing a full tear-down and review of the upcoming model’s features.

According to Gizmodo’s extensive coverage on the subject, some of the new iPhone features may include a front-facing video chat camera, improved regular back-camera with a larger lens and flash, a micro-SIM instead of standard SIM, an improved display that seems to run at 960×640 resolution,  a secondary mic for noise cancellation, along with numerous other minor refinements and enhancements.

Wal-Mart is selling both white and black 16GB models and they are only available for sale in-store, not online.

Sure, the iPad is a great device and has a really amazing screen. In fact, the screen is so good its a pleasure to watch streaming movie and TV content via apps like the one from Netflix. But what if you want to watch said content on your giant plasma screen at home so others can enjoy it too?

Well, you’re in luck because as of this week, the Netflix app has been updated to version 1.0.2 which now allows you to connect a TV and stream movie and TV content from your iPad for viewing. This is accomplished using Apple’s Dock Connector to VGA adapter for the iPad and an audio cable.

Before you get too excited, one caveat: The video output won’t be as good as what you would normally see on your TV. In fact, in some testing the video does not fill the screen and looks about as good as standard def content on an HD.

Still, it does give you an option you didn’t have before. Of course, to take advantage of this new feature you also have to purchase Apple’s $29.00 adaptor and some audio cable. So even though the Neflix app is free, the iPad and accessories aren’t. Welcome to the revolution.

As you probably know, especially if you’re a regular reader of this site, Apple recently released a tablet computer called the iPad. The device, a touch screen wonder that’s sold over a million units since its introduction, is an amazing piece of technology. But given that, what is it exactly?

Well, if you’re someone who’s asked that question, Apple’s now got you covered with a new commercial. The “What is iPad” spot debuted today and tries to answer that question by emphasizing the iPad’s usability, huge and diverse selection of applications, multimedia capabilities, web-related features and what Apple really does best, the iPad’s intuitive user interface.

Of course, the commercial also shows the iPad being put through its paces by a number of cool people, which only serves to make the device look even sexier and more “magical.” Oddly, even with all those people using the iPad, nary a fingerprint can be seen on its glossy screen. Maybe Apple should share the “magic” of that little iPad secret with the rest of us?

Check out the new commercial after the jump. The iPad is available now.

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One of the greatest and perhaps most under-appreciated feature of stand-alone GPS devices from Garmin and TomTom is the ability to download and use custom voices. Who doesn’t want the A-Team‘s Mister T shouting as you drive, “I pity the fool who doesn’t turn right in point two miles?”

I don’t want to live in a world where such things aren’t possible. TomTom specifically, has brought some great voices to market over the past few years. Homer Simpson as an example. KITT from Knight Rider for another. Even David Hasselhoff has his own voice pack for GPS devices. And yet, something’s been conspicuously absent: Star Wars!

Finally, this deficiency has been resolved with TomTom’s first officially-licensed Star Wars voice download. First up? Vader. For $12.95 you can download the Darth Vader voice to your TomTom device and begin geeking out every time you get in your car. Some of Vader’s helpful lines for the directionally-challenged include:

“Depart. Your destiny lies with me. Obi Wan knew this to be true.”

“Turn around when possible. I find your lack of faith disturbing. Then, take the third left. Sense your way.”

“Left turn ahead. Then, go around the roundabout. The circle is now complete. Sith exit.”

Awesome. TomTom plans to release additional Star Wars-themed voice packs in the near future. C3P0, Yoda and Han Solo are coming soon and will probably be priced similarly. Hit the official TomTom Star Wars portal for some great free content for your GPS including Star Wars-themed start up screens, sounds and car icons.

In the meantime, check out a great video of Darth Vader recording some instructions after the jump. You won’t want to miss this!

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In a surprise announcement Friday, popular 3D desktop software firm, Bump Top revealed it had been acquired by Google. 3 years ago, the company founder, Anand Agarawala discussed their innovative interface at the 2007 TED Conference.

Built for Macs as well as Windows PC’s, Bump Top re-imagines the computer desktop as a three-dimensional desk-like space filled with icons and images piled up on the surface and pinned to the virtual walls. Agarawala at the time, famously described his interface as designed to “(move away from the) same old crap.”

With Google acquiring Bump Top, the speculation begins as to how the company may integrate this 3D environment into their existing product line. The Android mobile OS is a natural fit, initially launching on smartphones, but eventually making its way into the inevitable Android-powered tablets that are on the near horizon. The Bump Top multi-touch interface would allow Google to better compete with Apple whose multi-touch on the iPhone, iPod and recently released iPad are the industry benchmark.

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Steve Job’s now legendary feud with Adobe over its flash product notwithstanding, streaming video is indeed coming to the new Apple iPad. In the run-up to the iPad’s release date, the tech media has been abuzz over the device’s lack of flash support.

With approximately 75% of the web’s streaming video running on the flash platform, how in the world would iPad owners be able to consume this content with their new devices? And furthermore, wouldn’t this so-called Achilles’ heel of the iPad allow competing tablet devices running flavors of Windows and Chrome to position them as superior, at least in this one regard?

As it turns out, it’s not even going to be an issue, as a new batch of streaming apps have won Apple approval for the App Store and will be coming out to coincide with the iPad launch — as evidenced by their listings at AppShopper.

The official Netflix app for the iPad is perhaps the most notable of this bunch. While the app is free for iPad owners, it will work in conjunction with a user’s unlimited Netflix membership and allow users to stream TV shows and movies from the service’s extensive catalog of instantly-available titles.

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Over at the terrific Boy Genius Report, they’ve got the reported details on the upcoming update to the Motorola DROID. This update will bring the DROID to Android Software version 2.1.

Sadly, as exciting as that is for DROID owners, the rollout details are somewhat underwhelming, especially if you’re not a fan of waiting. Check ‘em out:

• At noon EDT on 3/18, 1,000 users will receive notification of the update
• At 11:59 PM EDT on 3/18, 9,000 more users will receive the update notification
• After the first 10,000 users receive the update on 3/18, there will be a 24-hour period when no additional upgrades will be delivered
• On Day 3 (3/20), 200,000 users will receive the update notification at 11:59 PM EDT
• This schedule will continue each day thereafter until the update has been delivered to all users
• And here are a few conditions needed for the update to be applied:
• An OTA download requires 40% or more power availability
• If the device is not connected to an external power source or 20% or more power if it is connected to an external source
• If roaming, the customer will not receive the update

So it seems those of you getting the update the “legit” way will have some time to wait. Those of you who can’t wait that long and will acquire the update by other means, well, you’re wait won’t be as long. Happy updating.

In the wake of the recent release of the Motorola Droid and HTC’s Droid Eris, smartphones featuring Google’s Android software are some of the biggest sellers in the market right now. So it comes as no surprise to geeks and Google fanatics alike that this week, Google officially unveiled its very own Android-powered smartphone:  the Google Nexus.

The device, the first smartphone completely designed by Google and manufactured by HTC, features Android 2.1 software and a host of other interesting features such as a 1Ghz processor, Google’s latest map software, an 800 x 480 display, a 5 MP camera with LED flash, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and pretty much any other thing you might want in a smartphone. For the full specs, check out this page. Of course, it is powered by Google’s Android software which also gives you access to thousands of useful applications to enhance your Nexus.

Initially, the Nexus will be released for T-Mobile or unlocked in the US but will also come to Verizon and Vodaphone later this year in the Spring. To order, head on over to Google’s very own order page and get one for yourself.