Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Samsung has new DualView cameras for the masses
HP’s webOS 2.0 ready to rock and roll this year
Prototype UAV glider can land on wires
3D Version of Disney’s Haunted House ride coming, courtesy of Guillermo Del Toro
Driverless vehicles to go from Italy to China
Money to burn? This tub will take care of that
Taylor 550 Pound Projection Scale
Modified Egg Timer takes panoramas effortlessly
Gadget Thumbnails for 22-Jul-2010
Two people can live in this yellow submarine
Computer graphics go holographic, thanks to new technology
Turn invisible on video with this green suit

Samsung has new DualView cameras for the masses

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 04:55 PM PDT

Samsung Electronics made quite a splash with its DualView cameras some time ago, and has recently expanded its family of DualView devices with another two models – we’re talking about the 14.2-megapixel ST600 and ST100. Both models aim to continue where the successful TL225 and TL220 left off, delivering a stylish design, a full-range of smart and easy-to-use features, as well as Samsung's now famous and revolutionary dual LCD technology. The ST600 and ST100 will be the new flagship models for the DualView camera family, where both of them have received an upgrade to the front LCD displays that can be activated using a mere tap. Its LCD display size has also increased to 1.8″ compared to its predecessor’s 1.5″ display.

The Samsung ST600 will come in a purple shade, while the ST100 will be pink in color as seen above. Both of them will come encased in a slim and sleek compact frame complete with a metallic finish that will definitely help you stand out from the crowd. You will find a high-quality Schneider KREUZNACH lens on both models, where it supports Optical and Digital Image Stabilization which will help you snap blur-free images under most conditions. The ST600 will sport a powerful 27mm wide-angle focal length with a 5x optical zoom, while the ST100 boasts the virtue of being the first Samsung DualView digital camera that will come with an internal, 5x optical zoom which helps keep the design chic and small with a 35mm focal-length.

Apart from that, the new ST600 and ST100 will come with Samsung's Smart Auto (Still & Movie) scene recognition technology, letting you take out the guesswork when it comes to snapping a great looking photo or video. Smart Auto (Still & Movie) will analyze key elements of the composition, ranging from color to brightness, motion and subject, while picking out the appropriate scene mode which will produce the best results. A self-portrait mode and couples mode also comes in handy, where the latter requires two faces tilted toward each other before it snaps a photo. Both models will hit the market this September, with the ST600 and ST100 retailing for $329.99 and $349.99, respectively.

Press Release

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Samsung has new DualView cameras for the masses copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

HP’s webOS 2.0 ready to rock and roll this year

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 04:38 PM PDT

HP’s recent acquisition of Palm and all of its intellectual property has resulted in many people wondering just what are they going to do with the company as well as its jewels, where the webOS is chief among them. Well, word has finally come out that HP will be positioning its Palm webOS 2.0 as a direct competitor to both the iPhone, iPad and Android devices, which would mean relegating its Windows 7 Slate PC offerings to a business tablet niche. According to HP, they are working to modify its consumer offerings to help it be similar to Apple in some ways, where they intend to market premium hardware which will not come up short in terms of software, which is where the webOS software platform comes in.

You might wonder though, will this move somehow affect HP’s rather close relationship with Microsoft, considering HP is the world’s largest Windows PC vendor? It would be interesting to see how the future unfolds though – after all, earlier this year, HP demonstrated its Slate PC that is powered by Windows 7, a move which was seen by many to be a preemptive strike on Apple’s planned tablet device although the HP Slate didn’t manage to make it out of the stable doors even after the Apple iPad was shipped, selling millions in the process. This was followed by picking Palm up for slightly over a billion dollars, which might point towards new HP smartphones being powered solely by the webOS platform only, and will not rely on Windows Phone 7.

HP has now officially announced that it will do exactly that, just like how Dell will not use Windows Phone 7 but rely on Android as the OS of choice instead (without ruling out the possibility of building its own mobile platform from scratch). HP will still build a Windows 7 “Slate 500″, but it will only target enterprise customers so regular Joes like you and I probably won’t see much of it in the streets.

Source: Apple Insider

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ HP’s webOS 2.0 ready to rock and roll this year copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Prototype UAV glider can land on wires

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 03:25 PM PDT

Some of you might remember the Zephyr, a solar-powered UAV that can charge itself with the power of the sun. Some researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are working on a plane that can charge in a very unconventional method.

This would be a smaller plane, and possibly not hold a passenger. This autonomous glider would have the ability to land on a wire, just like a bird. Not only that, it could tap into the electrical wire and use the power to charge the plane’s batteries.

Somehow I don’t think this will work for jumbo jet liners. However, you have to admire how much modern-day scientists are struggling to keep up with something of nature.
Apparently, this experimental glider will have to have some sort of wings like a bird in order to do these cool landings.

The researchers hope that their technology could help search and rescue teams as this UAV could land on a branch of a tree.

I don’t know how well planes with actual wings will work, especially with the large planes that we have now. A 747 with flapping wings sounds like Flintstones technology. I think they used to do air-trips by flying on giant pterodactyls.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Prototype UAV glider can land on wires copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

3D Version of Disney’s Haunted House ride coming, courtesy of Guillermo Del Toro

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 02:41 PM PDT

It would appear that Star Tours isn’t the only ride in Disneyland that is getting an update. The Haunted House ride is also getting a makeover, and it will be from Guillermo Del Toro.

I’m sure most of you will recognize the name as a director of some great films like Pan’s Labyrinth, and yes, the Hellboy series. He also recently stepped down as the director for the upcoming adaptation of The Hobbit which may see the light of day sometime.

The Haunted House ride is going to be made over in 3D. I am assuming that this will be a lot like the recent Harry Potter ride that opened this summer. I think I went on a ride in EPCOT center that used 3D goggles as you rode around on an amusement park car, and one could only hope that the updated Haunted House ride will be more interesting.

I remember going on the Haunted House ride about twenty years ago, and thought that some things on it looked dated even back then. I heard that it had an update in 2007, and so it seems a little early to have another makeover. Man, the kids must have really gotten used to the effects to demand an update only a few years later.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ 3D Version of Disney’s Haunted House ride coming, courtesy of Guillermo Del Toro copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Driverless vehicles to go from Italy to China

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 02:15 PM PDT

Imagine a long drive that starts from Parma, Italy and ends in China. Now imagine this drive happening without drivers.

This is exactly the project that is planned to take place. This proposed trip wouldn’t be about sending a Knight Rider type car to make the trip all by its lonesome, but with four vans. One van will be in front, with the two robot vans in the middle, followed by a normally driven van in case of maintenance issues.

The plan is to see how these vehicles will react to stimuli. I am assuming that he is referring to traffic signals, pedestrians, and other highway hazards. Yes, that is very dangerous, and these robot vans are not going to be completely driverless. There will be people behind the wheel that will take over at the push of a button if it looks like there will be trouble.

As project leader Alberto Broggi says:

What we are trying to do is stress our systems and see if they can work in a real environment, with real weather, real traffic and crazy people who cross the road in front of you and a vehicle that cuts you off.

I look forward to hearing about this particular trip. I also can’t wait to hear about the first time we will send a lone driverless vehicle on the road. I wonder if that is the next step, should this trip prove successful.

Source

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Driverless vehicles to go from Italy to China copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Money to burn? This tub will take care of that

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 01:07 PM PDT

If you really just wanted to get rid of a whole lot of cash fast well then you’ve found the proper method. Of course after you’ve spent all of that dough and are worried about paying for other things, you can lay in your brand new tub and relax away all of those worries. As long as you can pay to keep that hot water coming in, you’ll be just fine. With all the features this tub includes you could spend a whole lot of time making your skin nice and pruney.

This tub features an integral splash protected TV system, with a splash protected remote control. If that weren’t enough it has a marine grade DVD/CD player with four 100W speakers. Under the water it has a high-gloss acrylic and chrome finished body. In addition to that are six access doors, 25 hydro-air jets, 12 jumbo jets, 12 medium jets, 8 small rotational star jets and 4 ozone jets. To keep those jets running properly it has 9 therapy modes and over 50 different therapy combinations. You can even choose a scent that includes everything from lavender to eucalyptus to watermelon. It also has LED lights and a waterfall spout. Right now there’s not a ton of word on the price, but you can expect to be forced to offer up not only your first but your second born child as well to get your hands on one.

Source: BornRich

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Money to burn? This tub will take care of that copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Taylor 550 Pound Projection Scale

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 12:50 PM PDT

If you have a hard time staring down to figure out those foreboding numbers that pop up on your scale, you could go a little higher tech with that infamous bathroom accessory. Instead of getting one that forces you to stare down, you could pick up this one that projects the numbers onto the wall in bright red letters. It’s designed for those that are extremely overweight, but if you just enjoy seeing normal items printed on the wall instead then this will do the trick.

The scale goes clear up to 550lbs to accommodate those with more serious weight problems. The projector is also meant to help anyone with poor eyesight in addition to those that just have a hard time reading the numbers due to physical constraints. In order to keep it running it requires 3 AA batteries, which thankfully are included. You can purchase the scale with a 5 year warranty for $79.99 through Amazon.

Source: TechFresh

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Taylor 550 Pound Projection Scale copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Modified Egg Timer takes panoramas effortlessly

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 11:06 AM PDT

This is probably the strangest looking camera accessory out there, but I swear it is actually a legitimate accessory. It looks like something someone rigged up in their basement, but as long as it works it really doesn’t matter. This strange little egg allows for you to record a full 360 degree view all with your very own camera. It won’t have any unsteady movements either thanks to the tripod that’s necessary to make this egg work properly.

Just set up the Camalapse in between your camera and the tripod. Then you twist the egg around just like you would an egg timer. It can take 360 degree footage over the course of an hour. The stand is a little touchy about which cameras it can operate with, since it relies upon the camera to be completely balanced in order to function properly. Those that think that their camera will do just fine can purchase it for $24.99 through Camarush.

Source: Crunchgear

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Modified Egg Timer takes panoramas effortlessly copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Gadget Thumbnails for 22-Jul-2010

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 10:01 PM PDT

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Gadget Thumbnails for 22-Jul-2010 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Two people can live in this yellow submarine

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 10:18 PM PDT

We have reported on a lot of personal submarines here at Coolest Gadgets like the Marion Hyper-sub powerboat, the Nautilus VAS Luxury submersible, even Richard Branson’s underwater plane, the Nymph.

This is another personal submarine, and it is yellow. Unfortunately, it is not big enough so we all can live in it, as it only seats two people with upright seating.

It is good for going 1,000 feet under the water, and the life support is good for six hours. It also features a 120 volt and 24 volt battery bank, two 3 horsepower main thrusters, two 3 horsepower vertical thrusters, four external halogen lamps, VHF communication radio, GPS, as well as a climate controlled sphere. I’m not certain what that means, but I’m guessing you can make it very warm or very cool in there.

I don’t know how far you could go with this guy from the shore, but man, I would love to see it for myself. Anyone know if you need a license to drive one of these things? I wonder how many mini subs are out there under the water anyway.

After all, they only cost a low price of…two million dollars? Well, I knew that this type of hobby wouldn’t be cheap.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Two people can live in this yellow submarine copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Computer graphics go holographic, thanks to new technology

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 09:47 PM PDT

What you are seeing here is a hologram, but unlike most holograms, it is not based on a real three dimensional object. What you see there was made in a computer.

This is some new technology being developed at Kansai University in Osaka, and it could easily be the next wave for holograms. Granted, the CG images have to have a resolution of up to 128K x 64K. I have been told that that number is extremely high, as it takes a computer with 100GB of memory three days to process all that data.

I have included a video of it after the jump so you can see what it looks like. You will notice that the images are only in red for now, so it resembles a Virtual Boy. They are working on making them with different colors.

You realize what this means. Think of your favorite Pixar, PDI, or other cool CG movie fully rendered in 3D. Granted, it would be in monochromatic red if done now, and it would take years before you would have it, but the idea of the first holographic film excites me. Considering all these 2D films that have been made into 3D, just imagine how cool a CG movie would be in true holographic 3D.

This technology will be on display at the upcoming SIGGRAPH 2010, which is in Los Angeles starting Sunday.

Source

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Computer graphics go holographic, thanks to new technology copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Turn invisible on video with this green suit

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 07:05 PM PDT

Apparently, someone spilled lemonade on the Blue Man Group and created this green man group that you see here.

Actually, this is the Video Green Full Cover Suit, and it is designed to be used with a Chroma Key video effect so that you disappear. It’s how they do the invisible man trick that you see in movies.

So if you have an idea to do some invisible man effect for your next YouTube post, this is probably needed for the special effect. That, and a good green screen.

I have never used one of these, but I’m sure that you have seen several movies with this green suit in action. I believe that Andy Serkis had to wear one of these when he played Gollum for the Lord of the Rings movies, but I remember that his was blue for the motion capture. I also remember watching a making of Cats and Dogs feature that showed that at least three guys in green suits were on hand for the special effects. So when you see scenes where cats and dogs are flying through the air, then it may just be a few guys in the green suits holding it up.

Well, you can get this green suit for about $225, and they are available in the aforementioned blue. They also come in two sizes, but my Source does not say what sizes they are.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Turn invisible on video with this green suit copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Saturday, July 24, 2010