Thursday, July 15, 2010

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets


Milo and Kate for the Xbox 360 Kinect

Posted: 14 Jul 2010 03:25 PM PDT

We covered the official announcement of the Kinect at E3, and I would imagine that game designers are going nuts to create new worlds of interactivity for Xbox 360 gamers.

Peter Molyneux, designer of famed video games franchises like Black and White and Fable has created a new game called Milo and Kate, which crosses into a very realistic realm of gaming.

In the game, the player gets to “mentor” a boy named Milo or a girl named Kate. The players can ask questions that will have the gaming characters respond back in a very artificial way (for now) and even “catch” virtual things that players throw at them. You can also pick up after them, and I believe there is an interesting conversation by Milo or Kate’s parents that the player overhears about a move of some kind.

Okay, this is getting into an area of gaming that I never thought we would have. By the way, the character of Milo and Kate isn’t just in the programming of the game. The mind of this virtual character is “cloud hosted”, so it “grows” with periodic updates from its host.

I suppose that Milo and Kate could prepare players for mentoring a real person, or maybe even parenting a child. Either way, I’m not even certain I can call it a game.

Source


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[ Milo and Kate for the Xbox 360 Kinect copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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The Boeing hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye

Posted: 14 Jul 2010 03:02 PM PDT

Just yesterday, when I was discussing the Taranis, I mentioned the Phantom Ray from Boeing. Here is another project that Boeing is working on known as the Phantom Eye.

This is a spy plane, but this recently unveiled unmanned aircraft has an interesting twist: it runs on hydrogen. That big round area in the middle is apparently filled with liquid hydrogen, that can somehow power the engine.

Now, some of you might worry that filling the Phantom Eye with hydrogen could create a mini-Hindenburg with a 150-foot wingspan. Especially if you are floating this thing over enemy territory, and they might just take some shots at it. However, this thing is over 65,000 feet in the air, and that is a little out of range of most firearms.

The plan is to have this thing stay up in the air for four days at 170 miles per hour at a range of 16,000 miles. I don’t see a camera on this guy yet, but I assume that the Phantom Eye is planned for reconnaissance photos. I wonder if it was filled with hydrogen gas, could it actually stay up in the air indefinitely like a balloon?

Well, I believe that the Phantom Eye is still in its experimental stage, but we’ll probably be hearing more about it.

Source


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[ The Boeing hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Leonar3Do for 3D artwork on your computer

Posted: 14 Jul 2010 02:37 PM PDT

I’m not certain if HDTV companies are just shoving this down our throats, but 3D apparently is supposed to be huge. If it isn’t now, then it will be soon. I suppose there will be great demand for those who need to sculpt virtual creations in 3D, and this is where Leonar3Do comes in.

Granted, I do not know how to pronounce it, but Leonar3Do allows the user to make a 3D object on their screen, view it in 3D, and all sorts of other features. The user will have to wear the special goggles, and use the “bird”, an air-suspended mouse. I have a video of it after the jump so you can see it in action.

According to the software developers Daniel Ratai and Zoltan Karpati: “it’s so user-friendly, an 8-year old can do it”. Okay, that isn’t a direct quote, but I was trying to imitate those Geico “Caveman” ads. I once dabbled in 3D graphics, and I found it pretty difficult. I’m sure I probably could have done better at it if I had the software and a faster computer.

As for this software, it works with Windows XP SP3, Windows Visa, and Windows 7. It is coming soon for Mac and Linux platforms, and will support 3D file formats like .obj, stl, .3ds, and others. The package is pretty expensive at $1,000.

Source


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[ Leonar3Do for 3D artwork on your computer copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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LaCie XtremKey USB Drive

Posted: 14 Jul 2010 01:36 PM PDT

I’ve never really had any data that was so incredibly important that it needed to withstand extreme conditions.  However, if you find yourself regularly transporting sensitive material that is irreplaceable you might want to pick up the Lacie XtremKey.  It can handle a whole lot more than just a little water.

This may not be the prettiest USB drive ever created, but it can deal with being dropped into water up to 333 feet deep.  It can also deal with temperatures as low as -58 and as high as 392 degrees Fahrenheit.  Should a 10-ton truck happen to run it over it’ll survive just fine.  It can also cope with normal situations like being dropped.  It has a Zamac shell that keeps it safe.  You can purchase it in sizes 8GB to 64GB.  The smallest is priced at $50 and will become available in August of this year.

Source: TechChee


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[ LaCie XtremKey USB Drive copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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GE WattStation EV Charger works fast

Posted: 14 Jul 2010 01:03 PM PDT

These attractive little gadgets look a little mysterious.  They don’t appear to be anything more than a charging dock or a colorful toothbrush sanitizer.  With all of that color it never occurred to me that these were actually meant  to take care of your electric car.  Not only do these have good looks, but they can charge much faster than the standard stations out there right now.

These GE WattStations are capable of charging a car in 4 to 8 hours.  That’s a whole lot faster than the usual 12 to 18 hours that the usual stations provide.  It can handle level 2 charging, that’s 240V.  The specialized home version of the gadget is supposed to become available later in the year.  Then it’s supposed to hit globally next year and you’ll find them on the city streets.

Source: Ubergizmo


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[ GE WattStation EV Charger works fast copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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MamaRoo Bouncer helps nurture baby geeks

Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:41 AM PDT

Think Geek has long been known for their quirky and very geeky items, but they’re line just for kids seems to just keep getting better and better.  Now you can make your baby look like a galactic superhero in training.  Of course they won’t be able to appreciate that so much until they’re older, but it has a whole lot of other features to keep the baby happy.

The bouncer has 5 different movements to keep your baby soothed.  Those movements include car ride, kangaroo, tree swing and more.  Those little plush balls are decorated in the style of Van Gogh, Monet and Seurat.  There’s a ball dedicated to each artist.  On one side the ball is black and white for young babies, then when they get older you can flip it to the color side.  There are also built-in nature sounds and a hookup for your MP3 player.  In addition to that there’s an LCD display, an AC adapter and fabric that’s easy to remove and machine washable.  You can purchase it for $199.99 through Think Geek.

Source: OhGizmo


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[ MamaRoo Bouncer helps nurture baby geeks copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Evil Fortune Cookies

Posted: 14 Jul 2010 09:30 AM PDT

Not sure I’d class these as a gadget but they’re sold at Think Geek and surely good for a laugh, “Cookie Misfortune Evil Fortune Cookies”.

See, Cookie Misfortune Evil Fortune Cookies look just like the real thing because, well, they are the real thing. However each of the 10 cookies contains a mean, evil, funny, or depressing fortune. The wrappers are blank, encouraging you to prank friends, family, coworkers, strangers, anyone! Cookie Misfortune Evil Fortune Cookies also make great gifts to encourage creative anarchy in others. Like syphilis, but funnier and more tasty, Cookie Misfortune Evil Fortune Cookies are the gift that keeps on giving.

You can buy your own Evil Fortune Cookies from Think Geek for $9.99.


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[ Evil Fortune Cookies copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Gadget Thumbnails for 13-Jul-2010

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 10:01 PM PDT

Dell Inspiron Mini netbook gets special MLB editions

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 06:42 PM PDT

Dell’s range of Inspiron Mini netbooks are definitely worth a look, as they offer decent performance at a sweet price point. Well, this time around, Dell decided to spruce up its Inspiron Mini range by offering a version that sports the All MLB Teams, courtesy of die hard fan artwork from the Dell Design Studio. Of course, sports fans might just want to add another netbook to their range of gizmos and gadgets already especially when it comes to the world of die hard sports fans where spending money on merchandise does not really warrant a rational mind.

For the traveling baseball fan, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 could very well be the perfect travel companion device, as it offers on the go access for checking stats, watching online gamecasts, managing a fantasy team, or even catching a broadcast game on it if you decide to fork out more money for an integrated digital TV tuner. Since there are 95 different MLB team designs, we’re pretty sure you won’t have a problem finding an Inspiron Mini 10 just for you. Of course, even if you are not a sports or baseball fan, you can always purchase one for your dad, brother or other family member.

This isn’t the first time that Dell unveiled a Major League Baseball collection as they already did it last fall, although that came with custom artwork which featured all 30 MLB teams. This time round, the special lid designs that are available on Dell's popular Mini and Studio laptops, will also range from more subtle team logos in one corner to loud and proud full-cover extravaganzas. This spring, Dell even have a trio of special edition designs recognizing the 2009 World Champion New York Yankees. You can make your purchase online by an experience which is similar to touring an art gallery, where you are able to interactively view and select from hundreds of designs, artists, colors and patterns in order to come up with a Dell that reflects exactly who you are. All images are permanently imprinted into the laptop lid, making the design extremely durable.

Press Release


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[ Dell Inspiron Mini netbook gets special MLB editions copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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PDP unveils new Special Edition AFTERGLOW Prismatic series for gamers

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 06:16 PM PDT



PDP, otherwise known as Performance Designed Products, is currently an industry leader when you think about the design and manufacturing of products for all major video game platforms. Well, PDP has recently announced that they have a lovely surprise for hardcore gamers when Q4 of this year rolls around, where they will follow up on their highly successful AFTERGLOW line of illuminated video game controllers by introducing the Special Edition AFTERGLOW Prismatic series. True to tradition, the AFTERGLOW Prismatic line will be able to cater to the entire range of today's video game consoles, where among them include the PlayStation 3 from Sony, the Xbox 360 from Microsoft, as well as an extra special dual pack for the Nintendo Wii. This will definitely help gamers who want to have a twist to their gaming peripherals stand out from the rest of the crowd, where it will also function as talking fodder just in case your gaming skills are not up to scratch.

So what is it exactly that the AFTERGLOW Prismatic controllers offer? Well, they offer a similar design as the original AFTERGLOW controllers, although you will have a special new feature which will be kept under wraps at least until the Penny Arcade Expo occurs, where it will be held in Seattle, WA from September 3 through 5.

According to Gerry Block, Senior Product Manager at the California-based gaming manufacturer, "E3 2010 was an amazing show for PDP. The critical reception of our Tron, Epic Mickey, Kinect, PlayStation MOVE, and NERF product lines was spectacular, but we made a choice to keep the AFTERGLOW Prismatic line in reserve. When we give our fans the first look at the Prismatic controllers during PAX Prime in September, gamers are going to be blown away once again."

When you pick up any PDP product, you can be assured of the highest level of quality and comfort, although we won’t rule out the classic PlayStation thumb forming if you happen to spend more time gaming compared to the rest of the activities throughout the day. We guess there is now a shifting trend that moves toward beautiful looking controllers as well as gaming peripherals, since everyone loves aesthetically pleasing peripherals, eh?

Press Release


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[ PDP unveils new Special Edition AFTERGLOW Prismatic series for gamers copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Android-powered Pandigital Novel hacked

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 06:02 PM PDT



E-book readers are all the rage these days, and it is interesting to note that more and more folks in developed countries who have a good reading habit are making the jump to digital books. After all, having a single device that can tote around hundreds and hundreds of tomes without weighing you down is always a boon, especially if you tend to do a whole lot of traveling. Of course, having an e-book reader might be considered to be a luxury for some, but it might just be the device for you if you want a gadget that gives you back much more than you can ever imagine, as we know (the right) books open up the mind when read and digested. There are many e-book readers around at the omment, but at $179 a pop, the Pandigital Novel is not the most affordable one in the market although it is one of the cheapest general purpose Android tablets available in the US. Of course, it is rather strange that the company did not market the Pandigital Novel in that manner.

As mentioned earlier, the Pandigital Novel is powered by Google’s Android operating system, where it includes a 7″ color touchscreen display to keep up with the times. Of course, you will need to have the smarts and technical ability to be able to bypass the custom software interface that is found on the Pandigital Novel, but once you have done so, you are able to install third party apps, where among them include the Amazon Kindle app, Aldiko, or other eBook apps. Not only that, the Pandigital Novel can be an entry level portable media player with its ability to handle games and other media, although don’t expect its relatively slow processor to be able to keep things running nice and smooth.

Needless to say, it isn’t all a bed of roses, since currently there is no way for one to access the Google Android Market, so if you happen to want to have the latest apps running on your Pandigital Novel, you will need to download the APK installer files by yourself for each app that you want to install. Of course, a few hacks will also need to be applied if things were to be up and running without any hiccups. Heck, you can even have Google Calendar, Contacts, Maps, Voice, and Gmail apps running on the Novel as well if that’s your cup of tea.

Source: Liliputing


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[ Android-powered Pandigital Novel hacked copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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