Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

BookBook for iPad
Previewing Full Page Portable Scanner
AT&T prices its Samsung Galaxy Tab at last
LG Vortex ready for action from Verizon Wireless
Meet Holographic Pop Sensation Hatsune Miku!
Hands on with the DYMO LabelManager 260P
Iron Man 2 Helmet from Hasbro
Cuisinart Soup Maker – Coming soon to a table in the USA.
Apisphere Geomate Jr. – The simplest way to get right to the fun
Gadget Thumbnails for 14-Nov-2010

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 04:15 PM PST

So you own an iPad and use it primarily as an ebook reader. Well, if that is the case, why not make the most of it by purchasing a relevant accessory? We’re talking about the BookBook for iPad, where it will come in Classic Black and Vibrant Red color schemes, retailing for a rather hefty £69.99 a pop, but wait till you hear what 70 quid can deliver. Basically, the BookBook for iPad will offer protection for your iPad in a stylish manner, where it is disguised as a vintage leather bound hardback book. Not only that, when the situation calls for it, it can also double up as a fully adjustable stand, making this one of the classier iPad cases to date instead of those standard rubbery rubbish which we see flood the market these days. Handmade in genuine soft-touch leather with a padded interior and dual zips, it is capable of delivering serious impact/crush protection. Go on now, read your ebooks in style.

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ BookBook for iPad copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Previewing Full Page Portable Scanner

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 04:13 PM PST

Portable scanners are nothing new, but what about one that not only accepts full-page documents and photographs, it also provides a preview of images thanks to its built-in 2.4-inch color LCD display? This is perfect as it lets you have an idea of what you’ve scanned before saving it to the digital format. An Hammacher Schlemmer exclusive, the Previewing Full Page Portable Scanner is specially built for optimal portability, where it will take up just a foot of space regardless of where you use it unlike its flatbed scanner counterparts which require dedicated counter space. Capable of accepting face-down up to full 8 1/2″ x 11″ documents and photographs (and as small as 3″ x 5″), you can scan them at up to 300 dpi resolution, where the LCD will display previews in 480 x 234 pixel resolution glory. All documents and photographs are quickly converted into an individual, high-quality JPEG digital picture file which will then be saved onto a preferred memory card. It will play nice with SD and MMC memory card formats, and a mini USB cable is used to transfer all saved pics to your computer. At $169.95 a pop, it does sound like the perfect tool for the frequently traveling businessperson.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Previewing Full Page Portable Scanner copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

AT&T prices its Samsung Galaxy Tab at last

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The tablet market is certainly heating up, and AT&T will be carrying the Samsung Galaxy Tab as well (not to mention most of the other major carriers Stateside), where they have slated November 21st to be the launch date – making it arrive more than a month before Christmas, perhaps in anticipation of a mad rush for this during the Christmas season? You will have to dig relatively deep though, as the Galaxy Tab is no impulse purchase at a $649.99 price point.

Of course, what good is the Galaxy Tab if you do not have a corresponding data plan to go along with it? Good thing AT&T has a couple of plans up their sleeves for you to mull over – a $14.99 pay-as-you-go plan for 30 days with up to 250MB of usage and a $25 pay-as-you-go plan for 30 days with up to 2GB of usage. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out which one is more worth your buck, and don’t worry about overage fees since all you need to do is purchase another pay-as-you go plan if you reached your data limit before 30 days are up.

Not only that, other perks of getting the Galaxy Tab from AT&T would be being their subscriber, you can also access AT&T's entire national Wi-Fi network without forking out a single cent more. Subscribers can activate their service plan directly on the Galaxy Tab, and you need not deal with pesky phone calls or store visits should you need to access data within the allocated US footprint.

These data plans do not require a long-term contract, which is a good thing since all you need to worry about is for that month’s access. On the bright side, you can also choose to change plans or purchase more data without paying any penalty – now how about that? AT&T is also courteous enough to notify you with a text and email when your 30-day plan is close to expiring or when you are close to depleting the amount of data available in the plan.

For frequent travelers, there is this thing called international passes which provide data coverage in more than 100 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Depending on which continent you’re heading to, plans start at $24.99.

Press Release

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ AT&T prices its Samsung Galaxy Tab at last copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

LG Vortex ready for action from Verizon Wireless

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:52 PM PST

Verizon Wireless is one of the major carriers in the US, and one of their latest handsets would be the LG Vortex, where it will be made available to the masses in both online as well as brick-and-mortar stores from November 18th onwards. Since different phones cater to different people, the LG Vortex will specifically target first time smartphone users who want to kick off with the Android operating system. This makes me wonder, for those who want to make the plunge to the world of smartphones, why not go straight for the best instead of dipping your toes per se, where clearly a mid-range smartphone will surely be outperformed by a mile compared to a high-end model. In this sense, the iPhone is the best model to follow since the only difference between Apple’s offerings would be storage space. But I digress – more on the LG Vortex in the extended post.

Coming in a sleek design, the LG Vortex will offer consumers with an easy-to-use access to a range of applications which intend to make life a whole lot more simple, while ensuring customers remain at the center of their social universe. You can choose from black and violet shades, and with Android 2.2 Froyo running in the background as the operating system of choice, you need not worry about having the latest Android OS inside, as you will also benefit from a slew of other Google Mobile Services within such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Voice and access to Android Market to download applications and games.

Interestingly enough, there is also Bing Search and Bing Maps preloaded inside just in case you think or feel that Google’s offerings are not up to snuff. Interesting take, eh? The 3.2-inch touchscreen display with tactile feedback offers fast and accurate touch vibration response, while Wi-Fi connectivity ensures you do not have to rely on a 3G connection all the time, despite it benig 3G Mobile HotSpot capable as well. Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity is also thrown into the mix, coupled with a virtual QWERTY keyboard that has Swype technology installed alongside for speedy typing. Nice to see a microSDHC memory card slot thrown in for good measure.

The LG Vortex can be yours for $79.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement, so it really is your call – but the entry price is definitely less than half of that of what most high-end Android smartphones would cost.

Press Release

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ LG Vortex ready for action from Verizon Wireless copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Meet Holographic Pop Sensation Hatsune Miku!

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:45 PM PST

In case you ever wondered if diva pop stars are “for real”, this one certainly isn’t. At least, not in the sense that Britney Spears and Beyonce are real.

No, Hatsune Miku is a hologram. She (or should I say it) is created by Japan’s Crypton Future Media, and she is essentially a 3D avatar come to life for the stage. You can watch the video after the jump.

In all honesty, I didn’t think we had technology like this now. I don’t see anyone trying to touch Hatsune Miku, and having their hand pass through them.

You know what this reminds me of? Jem. Yes, that eighties toy that was also a cartoon. If I remember her backstory correctly, the reason why she was truly outrageous, was because she was a hologram.

Actually, Jem was sort of a holographic cover for Jerrica Benton, which was her alter go. Yes, she had a computer named Synergy that could make a hologram of anything. In fact, her backup band was named the Holograms.

Can you ever believe that a cartoon with such a crazy premise? However, the video below shows a bunch of people screaming at a hologram. So which is weirder? Life or art?

Source

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Meet Holographic Pop Sensation Hatsune Miku! copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Hands on with the DYMO LabelManager 260P

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:16 PM PST

I’ve had a chance to try out the DYMO LabelManager 360D, and I just got finished trying out the LabelManager 260P, which is sort of a one-handed version of the 360D.

The 260P uses DYMO D1 labels in 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ widths, and is capable of two lines of text. It is also a Portable and Rechargeable Label Maker, and has a battery that can be recharged at the wall via cord.

The user can choose from 3 fonts and six text styles, and can highlight the text with 8 box styles or underlining. You can also save 9 labels in case you need to use the same text again.

I will have to say that the only improvement I would make is the keyboard. It is not a QWERTY, and so all the keys are in alphabetical order. The number keys are these thin jobs that hover above the letters, and the punctuation and special symbols are two buttons that often require the arrow keys to find what you need. I actually would have preferred a model with smaller buttons, QWERTY keyboard, and individual symbol keys.

However, I think everyone needs a labelmaker every once in a while, and this one is very portable and practical. You should be able to get the DYMO LabelManager 260P for a price of $65.99 on the company website.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Hands on with the DYMO LabelManager 260P copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Iron Man 2 Helmet from Hasbro

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 02:05 PM PST

Since the holidays are coming, there are a lot of kids who will want toys from last summer’s big blockbuster, Iron Man 2.

Fortunately, Hasbro has Iron Man toys in droves, and if your young kids don’t want an Arc-reactor for their heart, they can have this Iron Man 2 helmet for their head.

The Iron Man 2 helmet comes with a flip-up face, so you can raise it up and say: “The truth is…I am Iron Man”. Of course, if you want an automated voice to say that, you can have that too. There are three buttons on the side that say some pretty random things. Sometimes it sounds like Iron Man, and sometimes it sounds like Jarvis, the computer from Iron Man. Neither of these voices are from the movies.

In case you are wondering if this bug-eyed Iron Man mask is made just for kids, then I would have to say the answer is no. I was able to wear this, and it covered my face down to my chin. The only problem that I had as an adult wearer of this mask was the back part of this helmet never really fit in the back just right every time. I could only get two of the three tabs to fit right.

All Iron Fans should be able to get the Iron Man 2 Helmet off the Hasbro site for $34.99.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Iron Man 2 Helmet from Hasbro copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Cuisinart Soup Maker – Coming soon to a table in the USA.

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 08:47 AM PST

I LOVE soup, its like the perfect food. The problem is, I'm guilty of eating a bunch of canned soups, which with all the salt and fat in them it kind of negates just how wonderful soup can really be for you.

I was reading about the Cuisinart Soup Maker which has been available in the UK for a little over a year now, this nifty countertop device is an all in one appliance allowing you to make fresh, hot soup right on your counter, in all of about 20 minutes.

Already a favorite with cooks in the UK, this soup maker has quite a following, with consumer blogs, a Facebook page and a plethora of recipe sharing sites.

The Soup Maker is actually a blender, with an integrated heater that has three different settings allowing you to saute, boil, heat and simmer fresh ingredients right inside the carafe. When your soup is done, the Cuisinart Soup Maker’s powerful 1000W motor blends the hot soup mixture to the desired consistency and keeps it hot for you. The Cuisinart Soup Maker will also make dips and sauce, smoothies and it crushes ice too.

I have reliable word from Cuisinart that it will be available here in the US sometime next year, I'll let you know when it gets here, no word yet on price. Available from Amazon.co.uk via cuisinart.co.uk/

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Cuisinart Soup Maker – Coming soon to a table in the USA. copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Apisphere Geomate Jr. – The simplest way to get right to the fun

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 07:46 AM PST

First, for the people who don't know (and I was among you only minutes ago) Geocaching is a relatively new, worldwide, high tech game of hide and seek. Using a handheld global positioning device, players attempt to locate hidden treasures almost anywhere. Sounds like fun huh?

Enter Apisphere Geomate Jr. the quickest, easiest, and dare I say least expensive way to enter the world of geocaching.

Apisphere Geomate Jr. has only one button, that's right, one. That being said, even I can do this. Turn it on and it communicates with satellites that give you directions, in the form of distance, height and direction, to the closest geocache. It also lets you know the terrain, difficulty level AND the size of the geocache you are searching for. It has ability to save your start point, so you can easily find your way back to where you started.

The neatest thing about the Geomate Jr is that it comes pre-loaded with about 250,000 geocache locations all over the United States and with the optional update cable you can download any locations that have been added since you bought yours.

If it’s any indication, my daughter watched me write this, and suggested we immediately go plunk down our $69.99, since anyone who reads this is going to want one, has anyone seen my purse?

Source: Apisphere