iPhone sleep clock will track your

Ever wonder how many hours of good zzzzz's you're really getting a night? Now there's a way to track that information, with the non-invasive Renew SleepClock, which uses a combination of an iPhone app and wireless device. While it may be one more thing to put on your nightstand, the Renew SleepClock doesn't require the use of any extra equipment like wrist watches or headbands. The sensor in the device tracks your breathing rate and movement, measuring how long you spend in deep, light or even no sleep. It sends the info to the app, which displays it on the iPhone screen. You use the app to keep a record of your sleep patterns; what you do with the information is up to you, of course, but if you're a Tylenol PM taker or familiar with Ambien, you may find this kind of record-keeping really useful. And, it includes a speaker with FM radio that you can use (as well as your own music) to help you go to sleep; once you are, the audio automatically fades (it's part of the device's "auto sleep detection"). You can also customize alarm wake-up options from your iPod music, the radio or "gentle wake-up sounds" from Renew SleepClock, which also works with the iPad, as well as the third- and fourth-generation iPod Touch.

iShower speaker likes it wet

One of the last emails I read before falling asleep on Thursday night — alright, it was technically already Friday morning — included a press release which informed me that iDevices, the creator of the iGrill, was introducing something called the iShower. iThink iCried aLittle.

Don't get me wrong, I can get past the cringe-worthy names, the awkward product image included with the press release — were those tiles added using Photoshop? — and even the note pointing out that there's an "optional anti-fog shower mirror" involved. 

The only thing that really bothers me is that the whole concept of bringing speakers into the shower didn't disappear at the same time as the late-night infomercials for brightly-colored radios which match your favorite shampoo bottles.

Ah well. In case you don't particularly agree with my sentiments — or just plain really need a backing track for your one-man (or one-woman) bathroom concerts — here's what you should know about the iShower: It's water-resistant, offers a 200-foot Bluetooth range, can remember up to five Bluetooth pairings, should work for up to 15 hours if you feed it three AA batteries, and can be easily installed in your shower or other "aqua-centric environment" (with "no tools needed").

Oh, and it's worth noting that — despite the lower-case "i" in its name — the iShower supports both iOS and Android devices.

The gadget will set you back a hundred bucks and can be ordered through the iShower website or select retailers.

Nikon D4 DSLR camera makes the pros drool

If you're wondering why there are strange puddles everywhere this morning, it's because photographers around the world have been drooling over news about the Nikon D4. Yes, you read that right — Nikon has finally officially announced its new flagship pro-level DSLR camera, the long-awaited successor to the D3. 

Inside the D4's magnesium alloy body, there's a 16.1MP FX format CMOS sensor, a 91,000 pixel 3D Matrix Metering system, support for an ISO range from 100-12,800 (expandable from 50-204,800), the ability to shoot 10 fps with full AF/AE (or 11 fps with AF locked), a place for CF or XQD memory cards, and everything it needs to spit out full 1080p video.

The camera is everything the D3 was — and then some. It will become available in February and carry a $6,000 pricetag.

Now all those numbers and specs are fine and dandy, but how good is Nikon's newest darling? Well, let's consider what the professionals think so far.

he was particularly (and continously) impressed with the file detail, forgiveness in the shadows, responsiveness, "intuitively good exposure and autofocus," video quality, clarity of the LCD, and more. (Oh, and he liked the camera's ability to keep working after being dropped as well. Whoops.)

It's worth pointing out that McNally promises to share more stills, videos, and behind-the-scenes looks from his early adventures with the D4 — so it might be a good idea to keep your eyes on his siteas well.