Long time no hear from Tokyo-based USB gadget maker Thanko. The company today announced foot switch pedals [JP] for use with Windows XP, 7 or Vista machines (I am aware this isn’t a world’s first, but the last Thanko post was too long ago). Just assign any key on your keyboard to one of the pedals, and you won’t need your fingers to press that key ever again.

Thanko says their new product, which you can buy as a single (weight: 104g) or triple version (weight: 538g), is ideal for people who need to type a lot, play games on their computer etc. Needless to say in case of a Thanko product, the pedals are USB-powered. And you can combine multiple pedals, as seen on the picture on top of this post.

The single version costs $30, while the triple version will set you back $55. If you’re really interested, I’d suggest asking Geek Stuff 4U if the import/export specialist can help you.

I’m not going to postulate what manner of web activities require a webcam that’s not embedded into a laptop’s screen or even tethered to a USB cable, but suffice to say this wireless webcam from Thanko comes with minimal restrictions. The 2.4GHz signal is apparently only capable of transmitting a 320×240 image @ 15fps, though it does have a decent wireless range of about 32 feet. Its battery is rechargeable via a miniUSB connection on the back of the camera, and on a single charge you can expect to get about 5 hours of use. Geek Stuff 4 U is selling it for ~$103, though it won’t actually be available until the end of April.

[ Thanko Wireless Webcam ] VIA [ 7Gadgets ]

Long time no hear from Tokyo-based crap gadget maker Thanko. About for weeks ago, the USB specialist released a mouse with a built-in speaker, only to follow up today with the Nikukyu Mouse [JP], a mouse that looks like a cat paw for some reason.

The 800dpi mouse is nothing special, but perhaps someone would like to combine it with Thanko’s USB-powered “Hot Cat Gloves”, their USB cat paw gloves (these are different ones) or the Thanko Catgirl earphones. I don’t know what it is with this company and cats.

If you really are interested in this kind of stuff, head over to Geek Stuff 4U where the Nikukyu Mouse is already available for potential buyers not living in Japan (price: $27).

Tokyo-based crap gadget maker Thanko continues to amaze. The company today announced [JP] a mouse with an integrated speaker, believe it or not (Thanko already gave us the “mid-air” mouse, the USB cooler mouse, a heated mouse, and a liquid mouse).

This new model is supposed to replace conventional speakers that take away so much valuable space on your desk, but I doubt this will happen. Thanko also throws in a mic so you can use the mouse/speaker for your Skype calls, too.

The 1000dpi/USB mouse is already listed on Thanko’s Japanese website and costs $20 (including the mic). Ask import/export specialist Geek Stuff 4 U if you live outside Japan and are interested in this thing for some reason.

Tokyo-based crazy USB gadget maker Thanko has done it again. The company today announced [JP] not one but two “Hot Lunch Bags”, special cases that are supposed to warm up lunch boxes you brought to the office from home via USB. Thanko offered a first version of the “Hot Lunch Bag” back in winter 2008.

The company claims the heater that’s built into the bags makes it possible to constantly keep your food warm at 60 degrees Celsius. Their first updated version of the device, dubbed Super Slim, is sized at 235×130×65mm and weighs 80g. Weighing 105g, the other model, “Compact”, is sized at 210×110×120mm.

Thanko already started selling the Hot Lunch Bags in their Japanese online shop (for $25 each). If you’re interested but don’t live in this country, I suggest contacting import/export specialist (and Thanko partner) Geek Stuff 4 U.

It looks like Tokyo-based acessory maker Thanko is trying to carve out a new niche for themselves, spy gadgets (apart from insane USB gadgets). The newest addition to their spy equipment lineup is the LED Spy Light HD [JP], an LED flashlight that records video in HD. Needless to say, the device lets you shoot photos, too.

To be more specific, the device has a built-in mini camera that lets you shoot video in 1,280×960 at 30fps and pictures in 1,600×1,200. And because it’s a flashlight, you can (supposedly) do that in the dark – just like a spy, as Thanko says. There’s no internal memory, but you can use SD/SDHC cards to store your material.

The device can also be used as a voice recorder, according to Thanko. All material can later be transferred to your PC (Windows XP, Vista and 7 only) via USB 2.0.

Geek Stuff 4 U is already listing the LED Spy Light HD for the international market (price: $106.01 plus shipping).

Here’s a sample video taken with the flashlight:

Via Akihabara News

For some reason, Tokyo-based USB accessory maker Thanko has rolled out a slew of spy gadgets in the past weeks and months. About four weeks ago, Thanko gave us a spy pen that shoots video in HD, and today we are getting the Motion Sensor Spy Pen [JP]. The device looks like a regular ballpen, but it detects people moving in its vicinity and starts recording them on video automatically.

Unfortunately Thanko doesn’t specify the range of the motion sensor but says the pen stops recording automatically once it stops detecting movement for 10 seconds. The pen shoots video in AVI format and 736×480 resolution at 30fps. Alternatively, it can take pictures (JPEGs) in 1,280×960.

The pen weighs 30g, has 4GB of internal memory and a battery life of about 70 minutes. Needless to say, you can transfer your video or photo files to your computer via USB (Windows XP / Vista / 7 and Mac OS are supported).

Thanko is already selling the Motion Sensor Spy Pen on its Japanese website (price: $70). Ask Thanko partner and import/export specialist Geek Stuff 4 U if they can get one and ship it outside Japan if you’re interested.

Here’s a sample video (taken with the spy pen):

Most of Tokyo-based Thanko’s USB accesories are utterly useless, but I don’t know what to think of their latest creation, a 80-port USB board [JP]. Yes, they put 80 USB ports on one board. You can’t transfer data over the ports but only charge your gadgets though, it’s not a USB hub.

The board is sized at 200×200×19mm and obviously needs to be plugged into a wall socket to work (100V). The picture below shows it with just 40 of the 80 ports used.

I don’t know who’d be interested in owning such a monster, but Geek Stuff 4 U is offering it to people living outside Japan for $208.68 plus shipping (it went on sale in Japan today).