Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Hands on with the DEXIM AV Dock Station with Remote Control
microsD card reader watch
Giant Lava Lamp
Jetman Yves Rossy does a loop
Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 for the iDevice range
Kaba Access Control delivers new self-powered electronic access control
Hands on with the Eton Scorpion
Joby’s GorillaPod adds video …
iRecord Music – and I’m not going to jail
Gadget Thumbnails for 09-Nov-2010

Hands on with the DEXIM AV Dock Station with Remote Control

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 04:38 PM PST

Some of us want to watch videos from our iPod/iPhone on our regular television, and the DEXIM AV Dock Station with Remote Control is one way of going about it.

I got a chance to try it out for myself, and I found it pretty easy to set up. Not being too technically-minded, I am assuming that if I can set it up, so can everyone else.

I connected it to my flatscreen TV, and then to the dock. The dock had to be plugged into the wall, and then it was time for putting in an iDevice with one of the nine inserts. In my case, it was my 2nd Generation iPod Touch. I managed to get some YouTube videos on my television with some clear resolution.

At first it didn’t work, and so I checked the instructions, and it required setting up my iPod as well as using the iDevice itself to access the videos. It eventually worked out really well, but I will have to say that the remote control only worked on adjusting the volume for the video. Perhaps later versions of iPods and iPhones can be more easily controlled with the remote. Otherwise, I don’t see a reason to include the remote.

If you are the type who is looking for some A/V connection with your iDevice, then this is an option. You can get it on the DEXIM website for $79.90.

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Hands on with the DEXIM AV Dock Station with Remote Control copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

microsD card reader watch

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 04:11 PM PST

Thinkgeek knows that microSD memory cards are in abundance these days, so it makes perfect sense to have a device that reads these little small-as-fingernails buggers anytime, anywhere. Not everyone carries a memory card reader with them, but most of us wear watches. Why not use your timepiece to read those microSD cards as well? Enter the microsD card reader watch from Thinkgeek, where it retails for a highly affordable $15.99, sporting a built-in microSD card reader while accompanied by a stainless steel bezel, back cover and buckle. Of course, the more reading you do on it, the faster your watch’s battery will deplete, but that’s just the way life is. Each purchase comes with a USB cable to hook it up to a computer for file transfer. At least it can still tell the time when microSD memory cards are no longer in vogue…

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[ microsD card reader watch copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Giant Lava Lamp

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 04:07 PM PST

Lava lamps are pretty fancy stuff, and they hardly seem to get old at all. Well, hopefully they will still be around a century from now when we’re all wearing TRON-like suits. If that’s the case, then “investing” in this £2400 Giant Lava Lamp might seem like a good idea – imagine the kind of money it might be able to fetch in the future! Made to order by Mathmos, inventors of the original, generation-defining Lava Lamp, they are definitely jaw-dropping and impressive – be prepared to have your guests walk into the room and be amazed. Standing up to a couple of meters tall and measuring 20cm in diameter, we would definitely recommend keeping running kids away from this lest they accidentally knock it over, spilling more than a couple thousand quid in the process. Mathmos will also coat it in any colour you fancy, which is the right thing to do considering you have forked out a king’s ransom for it. Giant Lava Lamps use a slightly different formulation to their smaller siblings, and must be filled on site. The liquid within is expected to last approximately 2000 hours, good thing refill packs are available. Just make sure you know where you want to plant this, since it cannot be moved once installed.

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Giant Lava Lamp copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Jetman Yves Rossy does a loop

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 04:05 PM PST

This man is Yves Rossy, otherwise known as JetMan or RocketMan, like the Elton John song.

A few years ago, Rossy created a personal flyer that enabled him to fly around, and he even did a flight across the English Channel.

His most recent stunt was a definite stunt, all right. In fact, it was something that aerial planes have been doing for years: a loop. He is the first to do a loop while wearing a jetpack, and there is a video of his feat after the jump.

Rossy, who is 51-years-old, performed this stunt by jumping off a hot-air balloon over Lake Geneva with his flyer, with two wings and four jet engines. He managed to perform the stunt by spreading his arms and flexing his legs, and got his speed up to 200 miles an hour. As planned, he used his parachute at the end.

This is one of those times where I am going to eat my words on former report. A while ago, I said that Yves Rossy’s motives “are nothing but pure publicity”. I take back what I said about that, because I really appreciate what Rossy is doing for jetpack technology. I see now that what he is doing is to improve the science of human flight, and if he gets fame, then he deserves it. After all, it is he that is undertaking most of the risk.

Rossy’s next planned flight is to do go into the Grand Canyon. I can’t wait to see the video footage of that.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Jetman Yves Rossy does a loop copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 for the iDevice range

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 04:01 PM PST

Bang & Olufsen is a name that has long been associated with superior audio quality, and if you can afford their stuff, then it is rather safe to say that you are flush with cash to spare on big boys’ toys. The latest device from Banh & Olufsen to hit the market would be the BeoSound 8, where this unique docking station will cater for the latest range of iDevices, including the iPod touch, iPad and iPhone.

This will be the first product of such of its kind from Bang & Olufsen’s stables, where the BeoSound 8 defies industry standards as it features a distinct two dimensional design, bold form, and a superior sound quality thanks to its custom-made conical speakers and high-performance amplifiers. Not only that, it will be directly compatible with the iPad, so you need not have to grapple with stuff like additional wires and adapters, resulting in a clean, minimalist design that pleases the eye.

BeoSound 8's light and characteristic design results in it being highly flexible for use, and works great as a music system in the main room as well as kitchen. Of course, no one is stopping you from using it on the patio or even at the summerhouse, as the BeoSound 8 can be placed on a wall bracket or any flat surface without sacrificing on premium quality sound. Apart from that, BeoSound 8 sports a manual room adaptation switch with 3 positions (i.e. mounted on the wall, placed in a corner or freestanding on a flat surface), letting you place it on any of those three places you choose without compromising the sound performance.

With its sealed speaker cabinets, conical shaped speaker units, and custom made digital amplifiers, you will be able to experience an impressive sonic range from lower bass tones (38 Hz) – this is rather uncommon in smaller docking stations, and going all the way to higher frequencies (24,000 Hz).

The BeoSound 8 delivers one-step operation and an intuitive functionality, letting you dock the device on the top of BeoSound 8 or hook it up using the AUX line-in or USB ports. BeoSound 8 will use the iPod, iPhone or iPad to control it from the BeoSound 8 bridge, thanks to a dedicated remote control that ships with the product. Of course, it won’t stop you from controlling it with one of Bang & Olufsen's intelligent remote controls either.Expect to fork out $999 for this puppy if you want one.

Press Release

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 for the iDevice range copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Kaba Access Control delivers new self-powered electronic access control

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 03:51 PM PST

Staying secure has always been big – can’t you tell from the past from all those medieval castles that have way too many ramparts and lookout points to make sure it can spot the enemy from far away to make provisions for defence before they arrive? Well, the same idea can be said to have trickled down to ordinary folk like you and I – just take a look at your front door. Do you have a peephole? All right, now how many locks must you get through before you open the door to your home?

Got the idea already? Good, because we are going to introduce a new way of keeping your home secure. Kaba Access Control has offered a new form of self-powered electronic access control known as the E-Plex 2000 Series with PowerStar technology, where it will charge the lock with each turn of the lever, hence doing away with the need to purchase or replace batteries – ever. This neat little number will also work sans any wiring to or through the door, adding to another level of security for the paranoid, and also giving those with evil intentions a surprise whenever they try to find a way through.

To operate the E-Plex 2000 with PowerStar, all you need to do is simply turn the lever to power-up the electronics, followed by entering the correct valid access code. Of course, we do wonder whether sharper thieves out there would patiently wait for you to return home, spy on the access code keyed in and give it a go when you’re not around. Once you have keyed in the right code, all you need to do is turn the lever, and voila! You’re king of your castle again after a particularly long day at the office.

Since there are no batteries at all to contend with, the E-Plex 2000 Series with PowerStar technology will be the “greener” choice compared to all the other electronic options in the market. And with the lack of external wiring, installation is a snap, being a whole lot more reliable. You can enroll up to 100 user codes at any given time, where the lock will also come with other programmable features such as passage, lockout, tamper shutdown, and service codes.

Press Release

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Kaba Access Control delivers new self-powered electronic access control copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Hands on with the Eton Scorpion

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 03:32 PM PST

I’ve reported on Eton’s products before, such as the Solarlink FR360. We’ve also covered the Scorpion, and I got to try it hands-on.

The Scorpion is one of those gadgets that you would think would be “seen on TV”, because it comes in a small package, and it can do big things.

After all, it has an AM/FM radio, NOAA Weather band, a built-in LED flashlight, not to mention a bottle opener. Best of all, no batteries are required. The Scorpion has a a large solar panel for harnessing the power of the sun, as well as a hand-crank.

It also has a USB port for charging USB powered phones. I tried plugging my iPod Touch into it, and I couldn’t see much change on the battery indicator, even after several cranks. According to the instructions, the port is for USB-powered mobile phones, so it may not work on iPods.

In spite of that, I found that the Scorpion is probably one thing you want to have around in an emergency situation, such as a zombie attack like on The Walking Dead. The main character could strap it to its belt with the attached clip, and it is IPX-4 splash proof from all angles.

In short, you should probably keep the Scorpion in your emergency tool drawer, so head on over to the official site and lay down $50 for it.

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Hands on with the Eton Scorpion copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Joby’s GorillaPod adds video …

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 01:30 PM PST

Joby's GorillaPod Video is an ideal accessory to the pocket camcorder.

Joby’s Gorillapod line can turn just about anything into a camera platform. But up until recently, it hasn’t given much other than static ability to camcorders. Now, Joby has the Gorillapod Video, and let me tell you, it’s the icing on the cake.

I had a chance to test out the Gorillapod Video, and essentially, the foundation isn’t any different. Users still have those three legs with over two dozen leg joints that bend and rotate 360°. This gives it the ability to wrap around like about anything and turn it into a camera platform. The legs also come with strong, heavy duty magnetic feet which can adhere the Gorillapod to a metal surface.

But above the legs, the Gorillapod Video really comes into it’s own. In addition to the stock quick release lock ring, the Gorillapod Video has a machined steel ball joint which allows for 360 degree panning, as well as a metal handle that allows for 135 degree panning and tilting. So now, the Gorillapod has three dimensions and gives pocket video fans and YouTubers more sophisticated options for shooting video and making it steady.

The Gorillapod Video can work with just about any pocket camcorder, and with the right adapter case, even an iPhone can be screwed onto it. It’s a tad over 7″ long, so it can fit inside a small camera case, fanny pack or purse for those on the go, weighs less than 3 ounces, and sells for just under $30.

If you travel a lot or just plain on the go, the Gorillapod Video is an ideal accessory to add to your pocket camcorder.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Joby’s GorillaPod adds video … copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

iRecord Music – and I’m not going to jail

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 05:37 AM PST

Gone are the days where you could fill up your iPod with huge amounts of free content found, however illegally, on websites like the old Napster or Limewire.

Fast forward to the future, where you need to look over your shoulder if you are not paying the exorbitant fees required to load up your handheld devices. I for one don't need the stress of "sharing" my files with the unknown masses, or wondering when my computer will crash from doing the naughty song stealing I shouldn't have been doing in the first place.

Well, now there is another option, iRecord Music, brought to you by the same people who brought you the iPad compatible, iRecord Pro. iRecord Music is the only multifunction USB device that can directly record to an iPhone 4 and other iPhones, all iPods including iPod touch and other portable media players with a touch of a button. No computer or complicated software required.

The iRecord Music can also record from CD players, internet radio, cassette players, TV and even computers. It will allow you to digitize your old collections or grab new content from almost anywhere. The iRecord Music will also function as a live recorder using its built in microphone or as a basic MP3 player. And for $79.95 it all but pays for itself.

How cool is that?

Source: irecord.com