Thursday, February 18, 2010

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Sonim XP2 Spirit comes to Europe

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 06:36 PM PST



Mention Sonim and what comes to your mind? Chances are those who are more well versed in the world of cellphones would be able to relate that brand name to a handset which is well known for its ruggedness. Well, Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona, Spain, was the platform where Sonim decided to announce the availability of their brand new XP2 Spirit which will hit Europe. This rugged 3G-capable cellphone might be rugged, but at least it sports a pretty face to debunk myths that everything tough and rugged will need to compromise in terms of design. Being the latest handset in the Xtreme Performance series, the Sonim XP2 Spirit is also the company’s maiden 3G cellphone, so if you pick this up, who knows – it could be a valuable artifact a few generations down. Let us take a closer look at what the Sonim XP2 Spirit can offer right after the jump.

Among the key Features of the Sonim XP2 Spirit include :-

  • Stylish look and unique octagonal shape to better withstand drops
  • 3-megapixel camera with LED flash for higher quality pictures and video
  • A suite of Java applications and a multimedia player
  • 2″ high resolution display, protected by 1.5mm of scratch resistant Gorilla Glass
  • High quality magnesium core
  • Waterproof outer shell made from hardened rubber, fiberglass and nylon
  • GORE-TEX covered speaker for waterproofing

Targeting folks who work and play in extreme environments, this next generation Sonim XP2 cellphone offers the highest level of ruggedness and a fresh new look. It is good looking enough to be used outside of the workplace in more relaxed, social settings, and what we are more interested in would be the unconditional three year guarantee. That is something unheard of this day, and we are pretty impressed that Sonim is willing to put money where their mouth is, hopefully nobody would abuse the clause of this unconditional guarantee during their use of the XP2 Spirit. For the more technical folks, the XP2 Spirit is certified military standard MIL 810G, allowing it to shrug off thermal shock, extreme temperatures, transport shock, solar radiation and salt water. Expect it to hit Europe from next month onwards for a yet undisclosed price.

Press Release

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Sonim XP2 Spirit comes to Europe copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

PUMA phone finally unveiled

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 06:24 PM PST



PUMA and Sagem Wireless have come together in an unlikely alliance, offering what they call the PUMA phone which will arrive in selected markets come this April 2010. This unveiling was done at this year’s Mobile World Congress, where it is touted to be really different from all of the other handsets. At first glance, this looks like some sort of Neonode and HTC hybrid in terms of form factor, and on its back you find an eco-friendly feature that could very well catch on in future cellphone designs – a solar panel that allows you to juice up the PUMA phone everywhere you go as long as there is sufficient sunlight. Granted, this won’t be able to replace the power outlet, but it could provide just enough power for you to hold one more conversation during an emergency.

The PUMA phone is touted to be an active smartphone, where it comes with the following specifications :-

  • Integrated solar cell, with charge indicator
  • Touchscreen: 2.8″ thumbable screen with 240 x 320 QVGA resolution and TFT wide viewing angle
  • Camera: 3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash and 6x zoom
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Photo sharing capability
  • Video: VGA video call camera; full screen video playback, with video recording and streaming and progressive video download
  • Music: wide range of music formats with playlist support and FM radio
  • Localisation: GPS, compass, geotagging, routing and mapping
  • Sports: pedometer, GPS tracker and stopwatch
  • Internet: Open internet browsing, with WAP Push
  • Messaging: Mobile email client and mobile web mail notification; instant messaging; MMS and SMS
  • HSPA and W-CDMA/EDGE/GPRS/GSM connectivity
  • USB 2.0 support

You will be able to pick up the PUMA phone from mobile network operators across greater Europe and on PUMA online store from April 2010 onwards, while international markets will follow shortly thereafter. We did wish that the PUMA phone would be more rugged than it is, with waterproof capability being more than welcome assuming it is supposed to cater to those who lead an active lifestyle.

Press Release

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ PUMA phone finally unveiled copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Current Regulating Fuel Efficiency Booster

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 05:56 PM PST

It looks like the price of black gold is going up yet again, although it isn’t that near the dizzy heights that we experienced a couple of years ago when we paid more than four bucks per gallon in certain places. If you can’t afford a hybrid vehicle to maximize your fuel usage, how about considering the Current Regulating Fuel Efficiency Booster?

It would be interesting to see what the Return On Investment (ROI) for the $79.95 Current Regulating Fuel Efficiency Booster would be. If it works as advertised, do you think energy companies would go all out to block the sales of such a devices?

This is the device that improves a car’s fuel efficiency by up to 18%. An independent automotive testing service showed the unit increased an automobile’s average fuel efficiency from 23.8 to 28.1 miles per gallon in two weeks. The device simply plugs into a car’s DC outlet and stabilizes the electrical current flowing to the electrical control unit (ECU)–the computer that controls the engine’s fuel injection and ignition systems–to improve gas mileage. The device mitigates electrical interference from the stereo, lights, air conditioning, and more that can negatively affect the ECU’s ability to optimize fuel injection and fuel efficiency. Includes an adapter with two DC outlets that accommodate the fuel efficiency booster and another device. For use with automobiles that are at least two years old and have 12 or 24-volt systems; not for use with hybrid cars.

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool :)
[ Current Regulating Fuel Efficiency Booster copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Cloth Calculator

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 05:52 PM PST



Are you one who shares the same love for counting as the Count in Sesame Street? Chances are your job will involve plenty of number crunching, either that or you are one who clearly keeps the score on the number of mistakes and wrongs that your other half has done to you over the years. Well, here’s a Cloth Calculator that has a two-fold function – not only does it allow you to arrive at a final figure for whatever calculations you’re doing at the moment, it is also wrapped in a lovely cloth which can be used to wipe off some breadcrumbs from the edge of your mouth after a particularly delicious tea time scone. The Wakaru Sheet Calculator from Tenyu can be folded when not in use, achieving a perfect balance of modern design, cultural aesthetic and simplistic pragmatics.

Source: RGS

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Cloth Calculator copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Robotector Action Figure iPhone Case

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 03:14 PM PST

Well you’ve gotten yourself an iPhone and now you have the tricky business of picking out a case that’s just as awesome as your iPhone.  Thankfully Nugo Designs has just the solution out there for you.  It’s not just your average silicone case that protects your iPhone or iPod Touch from scratches.  It actually morphs your iPhone into an action figure.  What more could you ask for in a case?!

Usually the only way a case stands out is by being able to protect your iPhone from harsh conditions.  Which really isn’t actually necessary if you’re not a great outdoors man or anything.  Sure this Robotector won’t waterproof it or prevent it from being damaged when you drop it off of a cliff.  It’s still awesome though, because now your iPod Touch has arms, legs and even a face.  These are currently being featured at the Toy Fair, but I haven’t seen any info on pricing.

Source: ChipChick

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Robotector Action Figure iPhone Case copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Leech Plug Unplugs Itself

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 03:01 PM PST

If you’re worried about power being consumed while your A/C adapters are plugged in, this Leech Plug is one solution.  A normal adapter will suck up a little power even when your portable electronics are not being charged.  This plug will actually unplug itself once the device has received a full charge, which would take care of that problem.

The plug was designed by Conor Klein.  It actually looks absolutely boring and doesn’t appear to be even remotely revolutionary.  When in fact it’s very unique.  It mimics the actions of an actual leech.  A leech will take its fill and then drop off and that’s exactly how this device works.  Right now it’s still a concept design, so it’s not something that can be purchased.

Source: Technabob

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Leech Plug Unplugs Itself copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Doodle Track Cars let you draw your own track

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 02:44 PM PST

Imagine a toy car that is programmed to follow whatever line that you put in front of it. Just think about how easy it would be to set up a track. No more clicking tracks together, and making sure they line up right. Just put a whiteboard flat on the floor.

This is the Doodle Track Car, a new toy that probably was shown off at the Toy Fair in New York. I’m not certain whether it made its debut there, but there have been scads of new toy worth reporting about since the Toy Fair started.

Anyway, the Doodle Track car allows the user to draw his or her own track, or make it easy by going to the Doodle Track Car website and printing out a track. You might go through a stack of pages, but it would be worth it to tape them all together and watch the Doodle Car go!

You can also print out sections of a track and place them all together and see what you can do. The results could be pretty fun.

Believe it or not, Doodle Track Cars are only $14.99 each. The Sharpie markers and printer paper that you will want with them are sold separately.

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Doodle Track Cars let you draw your own track copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Oxyfit Portable Oxygen Backpack

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 02:26 PM PST

What you see here isn’t the YFit, but the photo has cropped off the word “Oxyfit”. Oxyfit is a backpack with your own personal oxygen supply.

You might be wondering why you would need your own personal oxygen supply. I mean, is the air that polluted? Well, pollution isn’t the only reason why you would need oxygen.

According to the Oxyfit product description, an increase of oxygen lets you “run farther, work longer, and even lose weight”. It sounds like the boasts of an energy drink, but here is the science: the increased supply speeds up the body’s “metabolic engine, burning more calories and stimulating fat loss”. Also, it can produce “nootropic (brain stimulating) and anti-aging effects through increased moisturizing of the skin”.

Apparently, athletes have been using this type of therapy to improve their game for years, not to mention those who frequent oxygen bars. I guess I’ve never felt a need to pay for oxygen any more than I would pay for water. Of course, the bottled water industry is pretty big, and I have paid my share to them over the years.

I don’t think I could pay $2,681 (with $49 shipping) for an Oxyfit. It comes with an oxygen tube, aspirator, battery pack, and tote bag or backpack. This weighs about 3.5 pounds and comes with a lithium battery that can last 90 minutes per charge.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Oxyfit Portable Oxygen Backpack copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Flyfire Swarming Display: Top Secret MIT Project?

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 02:03 PM PST

I’ve always thought about how cool it would be if bees could swarm into shapes, like they do on cartoons. Think of that one school of fish in Finding Nemo. With the bees example, I would imagine it would be a cross between the nano-swarm in Michael Crichton’s Prey or the smoky monster from Lost.

Apparently, some people are working to create a swarming display over at MIT’s SENSEable City Laboratory. This program, dubbed Flyfire, uses a lot of micro helicopters with multicolored and controllable LEDs. As they come together, they can form a 3-D display.

Normally, this is the point where I explain that there is a video of this product after the jump, but the video from my source went offline shortly after they posted about FlyFire. Is this technology meant to be some sort of top-secret project that somehow got leaked? You might want to check my Source to see if the video has re-posted.

If it hasn’t, I can see why. All these tiny micro copters working together could do some serious damage in nano-swarm form. However, this doesn’t sound like something that is designed to be weapon, but something to make a display.

Man, can you imagine these micro copters en masse to produce an object that is, for lack of a better word, a flying statue? This could easily replace those balloons at Macys.

Of course, you would need a truckload of this microcopters, plus some program to make them work in sync. But who cares about the problems? It’s a nifty concept, isn’t it?

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Flyfire Swarming Display: Top Secret MIT Project? copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Ryobi Tek4 AllPlay Job Site Music Player

Posted: 17 Feb 2010 01:44 PM PST

Listening to music while working construction or doing any other type of manual labor is extremely common.  What’s also common in that area of work is having radios that die off much sooner than they usually would from getting too much dust in it and being dropped repeatedly.  Finding a durable music player isn’t exactly easy.  Thankfully Ryobi is making an attempt to create an MP3 player that can handle tough environments.  That also makes it ideal for those that enjoy camping and hiking.

It has 2 GB of internal memory, which means it’ll store up to 500 songs.  When it’s received a full charge it’ll run continuously for 72 hours.  It’s water, dust and impact resistant, so you are still going to have to be a little careful around water.  To keep it from dropping too often there’s a built-in strong spring loaded clip that can hang onto your belt.  There’s also an armband.  You can purchase one for $69.97 through Home Depot.

Source: OhGizmo

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Ryobi Tek4 AllPlay Job Site Music Player copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Gadget Thumbnails for 16-Feb-2010

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 09:01 PM PST

Siemens Zeolith dishwasher saves energy

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 09:25 PM PST

Take a look at this dishwasher. It certainly is better looking than any dishwasher that I have seen in any house, as it has a beautiful transparent aesthetic quality about it. Yet there is more to this dishwasher than just its looks. In fact, if the Siemens Zeolith dishwasher was the ugliest in the world, I would still want it.

The Zeolith has a design that allows it to recycle the energy of humidity left over from the wash cycle, and it does it with zeolites. What are zeolites? Special moisture absorbing materials that can release stored up heat, not to mention absorbing moisture from the air inside the machine.

So after they absorb the moisture of the air, the three pounds of zeolites in the Zeolith can release that heat into the wash water, which will result in a faster load cycle. All in all, this saves energy, which is very much needed. Because if there is one thing that dishwashers are good at, and shouldn't be good at, it is raising power bills.

The Seimens Zeolith is "widely available in Europe", but I don't think that there is any place to purchase it in the United States. For some reason, my source does not have a price.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Siemens Zeolith dishwasher saves energy copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Augmented Reality Tattoos

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 09:03 PM PST

If there was one company that makes augmented reality, I would buy stock in it. After all, I've seen augmented reality in just about everything from mirrors to video goggles.

I suppose it was just a matter of time before people starting putting augmented reality tattoos on their flesh, and this Beunos Aries-based software producer has done it through a company known as ThinkAnApp.

These tattoos seem rather basic, as they are just a typical QR code. However, once placed in front of a specially-equipped camera, a design comes forth that the most gifted ink artist could not do. As you can see, this man has a dragon that can literally flap its wings and fly around. I believe that I have a video of this after the jump.

As I recall, don't people get tattoos like birds on their arm, and make them fly by flexing, or something? Sorry, I'm not really into the whole "tat" scene. I only bring this up because these augmented reality tattoos have the whole tattoo flexing thing beat.

I mean, when Hollywood runs out of ideas fifty years from now, they can remake Memento with tattoos that can show why Leonard Shelby can't make new memories.

Source

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Augmented Reality Tattoos copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Spokeless bike made by Yale students, in one semester

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 08:34 PM PST

Remember that latest Star Trek movie, where James T. Kirk goes to register for the Starfleet academy on a motorcycle? In all honesty, I thought that there wouldn't be motorcycles in the twenty-third century, but the film did everything it could to make futuristic. In fact, if you look close enough, you will see that the wheels have no spokes!

How is that possible? Probably with the same dilithium crystal technology that makes warp drives work, probably. However, some Yale mechanical engineering class tried to use real technology to put spokeless wheels on a bicycle.

As you can see, the chain is not attached to a gear that is in the center of the back wheel, but rather to another wheel that can spin the back wheel. Just in case you are wondering why both wheels are not spokeless, then you should know that the group just ran out of time. I mean, they only had one semester, and if I know how students work, they probably spent ten weeks planning it out, and two weeks building the final model.

Of course, I could be wrong. Who am I to judge? It's not like I've ever tried to build a spokeless cycle of any kind. Which begs the question, why build a spokeless cycle? Are spokes dangerous? Do they slow a bike down?

By the way, this isn't it as far as a spokeless bike is concerned. The design frame is made to possibly do an electric motor, and maybe even "some sort of gyro balanced storage basket".

Source

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool :)
[ Spokeless bike made by Yale students, in one semester copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Posted by Mohammad khuram shahzad at Thursday, February 18, 2010  

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