crystal

A new alternative search engine that caught my eye this morning is SearchCrystal, a very experimental-looking tool that combines multiple search engines in a rich visual design. Each search engine gets its own color code, and results that show up in a large circle. When an item is listed on more than one search engine, it's given its own geometric shape showing which engines picked it up, along with lines that link up identical results. The goal is to give you a visualized results page that lets you compare a few engines at a time without having to scroll down one large list.

The results are split up into five different areas--one for each search engine. These engines vary by what you're searching for, be it photos, videos, news, or blog postings. In the case of blogs, SearchCrystal will pull results from Sphere, Bloglines, Google Blog search, Technorati, and BlogPulse. There's also a mode to just view Wikipedia articles. Each string shows the top 10 results in order, with the ones closer to the middle of the sphere being more important. The end result makes it look similar to a dartboard.

The one real hurdle with SearchCrystal is that it's slow. Most searches took about ten seconds a pop, with the longest taking just over 20 seconds. This is just simply too long for a casual search. Likewise, it has a learning curve--you're probably going to stare at the swarm of results the first time you try it out before knowing what you're supposed to do. While not difficult to pick up, I can see someone like my mom not knowing where to start.

As usual, there's a Facebook app for SearchCrystal. You can also e-mail it, or embed it in a blog or site with the query of your choice, which I've done after the break.

Related: Five weird ways to see search: Quintura, Clusty, and more

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You've got a Wii, and you like it. A lot. And you want to show your affection by giving it a new wardrobe.

First, you might want to consider getting out more. Second, you have a lot of options, ranging from various colors to a full chrome job. But if you want something that's practical and pretty, there's the "Wii Crystal Cooler" from ever-prolific Brando. Not only does this console stand give off a blue LED light show, but Techie Diva says it also cools the box with a high-velocity fan. And your beloved Wii … Read more

It's can't compare with the "Happy Kids" Webcam in our opinion, but Brando's "USB Crystal Clip Cam" definitely seems versatile with its 180-degree rotation. Plus, the wide clip would make it pretty easy to position along the edges of any LCD monitor or laptop screen, and the camera has built-in LEDs to illuminate your night-vision chatting, though that's still more than we want to know. It won't be winning any awards for aesthetics, nor will its specs produce the best-quality photography, but at $18.50, it's hard to complain.

Seeing yesterday's $10,000 phone reminded us (unfortunately) of the leopard-spotted diamond Krzr from the same designer, as well as a perfectly matching mouse from Saks. It then occurred to us: These fancy designers aren't the only ones who can come up with audaciously ugly phones and mice.

Textually.org, for example, notes that Amosu.com will "customize your cell phone with diamonds, gold or white gold or make one unique piece according to your specification." And for your bejeweled mouse, Gadget Candy suggests U.K.-based The Crystal Chick, which will create "Brit-born babies&… Read more

As amazing as it seems, the Swarovski is capable of putting its crystal-studded name on products that aren't totally disgusting. Even though its latest USB key is still a bit garish, the glass house co-produced some subtly designed earphones as part of its newly released "Active Crystals" products. (Perhaps it's the influence of Philips, which is co-branding the line.)

The four new sets--"Space," "Icon," "Amazone" and "Mirage"--come in polished silver and four crystal cuts, including navette and baguette. (Tiffany, eat your heart out.) Gadget Candy approves: &… Read more

It's been nearly a week (gasp) since our last post on a Swarovski-encrusted item, and we don't want to be as irresponsible as we were with our recent lapse in pink products. Crave collegue Caroline McCarthy was quick to scold us for the latter transgression.

So to fulfill our bling-laden obligation, we offer the "Active Crystals" line of fashion USB keys from Philips. Gadget Candy says there are four models: "Heart Ware, Heart Beat, Lock In and Lock Out"--the first two designed as pendants, the last two as keychain attachments. Each stores a … Read more

We're seriously beginning to question the sanity of the people at Japan's SolidAlliance. (And that says a lot, coming from us.) It's one thing to make devices using fake gold, rubber duckies and UFO detectors. But a crystal ball for a mouse?

The "Choikawadeco Mouse," which Akihabara News translates to mean "a little bit cute," is one of several new bling-infected mice just released--and, in our opinion, the most over the top. On the other hand, if you're into doing DDR on your mouse pad, this disco-ball wannabe could be just the … Read more

It seems strangely appropriate that an item named the "Bling Player" would be found on a site called Shiny Shiny. Or maybe it's just redundant. Either way, we're suckers for all that glitters so here it is.

The self-proclaimed "iced-out" player from MediaReady tries to live up to its moniker with a skull-and-crossbones design encrusted with crystals (how original). But like the Average Joe who tries to compensate for his shortcomings with expensive clothes, the $200 Bling is rather ordinary inside with 2GB of memory, an FM tuner and voice recorder to go along … Read more

It's apparently not enough for Swarovski to ruin good taste. According to Red Ferret, it wants to play a part in trashing vinyl records as well.

Swarovski has taken its crystal-making juggernaut to this self-running record player, aptly named the "Vinyl Killer," complete with its own needle, speaker and amplifier. But even though its VW bus design would seem perfect for playing your old LPs, we wouldn't recommend using it on your Stones collection. (Get it? Stones?)

Besides, if you're willing to shell out $487 for this thing, you might want to keep it on … Read more