Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets |
- Pictionaire: The desk of the future
- Augmented Reality short film might be an accurate representation of the future, but I hope not.
- Tomy Ene Pocket RC runs on juice and soda
- Wireblooms manage cables while sitting pretty
- Eureka Enviro Steamer chemical-free sanitizes floors
- Apple announces iPad
- T.E.N.S. Electrical Nerve Stimulator
- Tengu Black now available
- Shrub Sculptor
- Rideit from IturanUSA
- Gadget Thumbnails for 26-Jan-2010
- Fujifilm FinePix S2500HD megazoom camera
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS7 digital camera
- Fujifilm FinePix JX530 digital camera
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TS2 is one tough cookie
- VTech offers new 2010 models without breaking the bank
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZR3 announced
- Motz Wooden FM Radio
Pictionaire: The desk of the future Posted: 27 Jan 2010 03:19 PM PST Now that the iPad has been formally announced, let’s take it a step further with this iDesk. Actually, the technology that you see in this picture is called the Pictionaire, and it is under development by Microsoft Research and the University of California, Berkeley. As you can see from the attached video after the jump, this 4 x 6 foot table has a camera mounted above it, much like the futuristic hexagonal-type board game that we reported on yesterday. The user has the power to place a physical object on the Pictionaire, and, with a little drag-and-drop gesture, he or she will have a digital copy of that item. The original physical object can be moved, and the digital copy can be traced onto a whiteboard or a sketchpad. The user also has the option of putting a wireless keyboard on the table, and the table can become a display. From what it looks like in the video, the user can type in a keyword and get the image that he or she is looking for, maybe from the objects that were on the Pictionaire before. It reminds of a desk I saw in The Island. Some of you might not remember this film, because it was an intelligent Michael Bay film that didn’t involve giant robots beating each other up. I believe that the villain in The Island had a desk with projections, and he even had Ewan McGregor draw on it with a virtual stylus. You know that desks like this will be in offices of the future, unless the companies can afford a Surface. Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy. [ Pictionaire: The desk of the future copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Augmented Reality short film might be an accurate representation of the future, but I hope not. Posted: 27 Jan 2010 02:50 PM PST The image that you see here is from a short film called “Augmented (hyper) Reality: Domestic Robocop”. It is a short film by Keiichi Matsuda, a Masters student at the Bartlett School of Architecture in the United Kingdom. I think he deserves top marks for his effort to show us what the future could be like. I believe that I have praised augmented reality on this blog before, I even called it the “Coolest Gadget Ever” at CES 2009. I’ve since seen many variations of it, which were mostly entertainment, save for the X-ray vision app for drivers. However, I have now seen the dark side of augmented reality, and it will hopefully never be our future. You can watch the video of it after the jump. You will notice that the viewer is bombarded by corporate logos, that must be waved away in order to become virtual posters on the wall. The user then was able to pull up a window with a tea recipe, and the goggles, or whatever interface he was wearing, knew exactly where the ingredients were. My source compares this concept kitchen to something out of Alice and Wonderland, but in all honesty, I would compare it to the dark cyberpunk worlds of early-nineties science fiction, like the works of William Gibson. Just imagine being bombarded with corporate ads as we go through our day. I mean, do we really want our augmented reality programs giving us an inventory of our refrigerator? In all honesty, I feel that perhaps this is the end result of augmented reality: a dumbed-down society where our interfaces are constantly telling us what to do next. Okay, I don’t want to end this article on a negative note and claim that our humanity will be conquered by our technology. However, I think there is a limit to how much augmented reality should be used in a person’s daily life, and the main character of this short film is overdosing.
Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news. [ Augmented Reality short film might be an accurate representation of the future, but I hope not. copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Tomy Ene Pocket RC runs on juice and soda Posted: 27 Jan 2010 02:21 PM PST The biggest problem with RC toys is that they run on batteries, and those batteries have to be replaced or charged every once in a while. Sure, there are longer-lasting batteries, but what if an RC car used something else? I’m talking about the same thing that keeps kids and adults going, like juice and soda. Inside the Tomy Ene pocket RC car is a “bio-battery” that can generate energy from the sugars in the aforementioned drinks. This battery, developed by Sony, has a cell that can output 50 mW worth of power, but I’m not certain how much run time that is. In other words, how many miles does it get to the gallon? My source doesn’t have an accurate fuel consumption number for this, but it does say that the Tomy Ene pocket RC runs better on Coke products and grape juice. Of course, you have to ask yourself whether it would be cheaper and simpler to use a traditional or recharging battery in the Tony Ene rather than juice. I mean, do you really want to pay more on your grocery bill because your child just has to keep his RC car running? And if it’s grape juice, that stuff can really stain. Do you really want your son or daughter to be pouring it into a toy car? Eventually, it is going to spill. Just some questions that I thought I would bring up. Hopefully the designers will have some answers to them, as this juice-for-juice RC car is still in the development stage. Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool [ Tomy Ene Pocket RC runs on juice and soda copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Wireblooms manage cables while sitting pretty Posted: 27 Jan 2010 02:12 PM PST Cords are a common nuisance within everyday lives. Sure, they’re unattractive, and often get tangled up in ways we never imagined possible. However, they give us all of those modern conveniences we know and love, so it’s an evil that we deal with. We usually attempt to hide them away to make it easier to ignore their existence. Instead of doing that you could feature them with these Wireblooms. The Wireblooms don’t just dangle from the cord or wrap around them. Instead they have a spot to hold the cord and then can be screwed into the wall. Therefore these are not only pretty, but they’re useful as far as cable management goes. When you purchase one of these kits you’ll receive a pretty little bird and three green leaves. Unfortunately, there is no pricing information. You’ll have to contact Monkey Business if you’d like further details on purchasing the item. Source: ForeverGeek Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist. [ Wireblooms manage cables while sitting pretty copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Eureka Enviro Steamer chemical-free sanitizes floors Posted: 27 Jan 2010 01:27 PM PST I’ve never made the switch to steamers, but I’ve heard several people swear by them. For those of you that do like the idea of switching to a steamer, this one will clean your hard surface floors and is even capable of sanitizing the countertops (the handle is removable). All of that is without using a single chemical, which is a major benefit to anyone that’s trying to minimize the chemicals used in the their home. The square shape is meant to reach all of those tight corners. Unfortunately it is a corded design, which is something that most people aren’t used to dealing with when they’re cleaning those hard surfaces. It’s no worse than using a vacuum cleaner though. It comes with two of the magic clothes and has an easy release for when you need to change them out. You can purchase the steamer for $69.99. Source: GadgetGrid Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist. [ Eureka Enviro Steamer chemical-free sanitizes floors copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Posted: 27 Jan 2010 11:19 AM PST
It is interesting to note that the iTunes store has been built right into the iPad itself to get you started on the right footing – that is, to repurchase all those applications and games that you already own on your iPod touch/iPhone. Initial impressions of the iPad is highly favorable (then again, would you have expected anything different?), as many people at the iPad’s unveiling oooh-ed and aaah-ed over the iPad’s smooth scrolling. You can also unlock the device in the same manner as the iPhone, which is sliding your finger across horizontally. There is a built-in accelerometer that will be able to tell just how the iPad is oriented at that point in time, allowing you to virtually hold the iPad in any way you like it for the display to follow likewise. No idea on pricing at press time, but apart from the 1GHz Apple A4 processor that we mentioned earlier, we have other details about its hardware specifications which will include a range of 16GB to 64GB internal flash memory (no word on whether than can be expanded through the use of a memory card or not), coupled with a 9.7″ IPS display that boasts full capacitative multitouch capability. Accompanying those would be an integrated accelerometer and compass, a speaker, microphone, 30-pin connector and a battery that – hold on to your seats, boys and girls, can last for up to 10 hours for continuous video playback (phenomenal at that screen size) alongside a 1 month standby time! That’s pretty amazing if you ask us. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and Wi-Fi 802.11n, all crammed into a device that tips the scales at a mere 1.5 lbs while measuring an impossibly thin 0.5″. I wish Christmas came early this year. All in all, the iPad looks set to be a hit for Apple – if the price is right as it has all the back-end sorted out with right software support and great looking hardware. Could this be the messiah of gadget-dom? Image courtesy of Gdgt. Updates: The iPad will come in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 3G versions, where the former will feature $499 (16GB), $599 (32GB) and $699 (64GB) price points. As for the Wi-Fi + 3G version, it will retail for $629 (16GB), $729 (32GB) and $829 (64GB). Worldwide availability for the Wi-Fi model is set to arrive in 60 days’ time. As for 3G connectivity, this will be a contract-less device, where you can hook up to AT&T’s network for $15 (250GB) and $30 (unlimited) each month. Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist. [ Apple announces iPad copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
T.E.N.S. Electrical Nerve Stimulator Posted: 27 Jan 2010 05:30 AM PST
Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews. [ T.E.N.S. Electrical Nerve Stimulator copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Posted: 27 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST We’ve looked at the Tengu in the past, where the white version has been available for quite some time already, but this time round the manufacturers of this lip-syncing USB desktop toy makes a splash by coming in a polar opposite color – we’re talking about cool black here, with bright LEDs on his face responding to just about any sound, moving his lips even as you type away on your computer.
Of course, if you want something whackier there are the Tengu All Stars collection to choose from, comprising of Rotten, Stardust and Woodstock characters which retail for £24.95 each, while the all new black Tengu is going for £19.95. This is one desktop toy worth having, even though it doesn’t stir your coffee cup or keep your drinks warm. Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist. [ Tengu Black now available copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Posted: 27 Jan 2010 04:30 AM PST This is only for those who do not live in apartments, as the Shrub Sculptor aims to make short work (or at least ease your burden) when it comes to keeping those shrubs around your home nice and neat.
We are alerted to the fact that a five-hour charge is requried for a mere 35 minutes of cutting, which is pretty much the principle of diminishing returns at its very best. Still, $99.95 for a device that helps ease your household chores does sound like a decent option to have at home. Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist. [ Shrub Sculptor copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Posted: 27 Jan 2010 04:00 AM PST
There is still no word on pricing details, but we hope to see Rideit revolutionize the motorcycle industry. It might not survive a head-on collision with a car or a tree though, so always err on the side of caution just to be safe when riding! Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder. [ Rideit from IturanUSA copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Gadget Thumbnails for 26-Jan-2010 Posted: 26 Jan 2010 09:01 PM PST Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news. [ Gadget Thumbnails for 26-Jan-2010 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Fujifilm FinePix S2500HD megazoom camera Posted: 26 Jan 2010 07:28 PM PST
It might look rather compact, but don’t let its size fool you as the Fujifilm FinePix S2500HD comes with an impressive 18x optical zoom covering a versatile 28-504 mm (equivalent to a 35mm camera) range from wide-angle to ultra telephoto. Regardless of whether you are going to shoot landscapes, interiors, large group shots, distant sports or wildlife action, the Fujifilm S2500HD is more than ready to handle the aforementioned situations with aplomb. The inclusion of Dual Image Stabilization mode with a mechanically stabilized CCD sensor with high ISO sensitivities provides anti-blur protection, so you can suffer from shaky hands without worrying about the picture coming out wrong. Apart from that, the Fujifilm FinePix S2500HD is also equipped with Face Detection which is full well capable of identifying and prioritizing up to 10 faces in a single frame, where it will go about adjusting the focus and exposure accordingly to ensure that sharpness and clarity of human subjects in the picture is captured, without paying any regard to the background. Automatic red-eye removal will instantly check each detected face for red-eye, followed by a correction automatically. We hope to get more details on this megazoom camera soon, especially the price! Source: Let’s Go Digital Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news. [ Fujifilm FinePix S2500HD megazoom camera copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS7 digital camera Posted: 26 Jan 2010 07:18 PM PST
To make things more interesting, the LUMIX ZS7 is also proud to hold the title of being the smallest photo/video hybrid superzoom digital camera in the world at point of publishing, being full well capable of recording video in High Definition (HD) video thanks to its recording capability in AVCHD Lite. The inclusion of a dedicated video record button alongside a manual shooting mode spices things up quite a bit, which would mean a learning curve of sorts for beginners, while seasoned shutterbugs who want to make the jump to DSLR might want to check out the DMC-ZS7 before taking the plunge to get a better idea on how manual controls work. Other features found on the Panasonic LUMIX ZS7 include Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus), a shutter release time lag as short as approximately 0.006 seconds, a short startup time of approximately 1.1 second, an automatically adjusting internal clock to the local time, Intelligent Resolution capability that has been incorporated into its Venus Engine HD. Hmmm, with its GPS chipset turned on, we hope that the battery is able to hold out for marathon shoots (340 shots or so on a full charge), but just in case do carry a spare battery with you always as well as a portable charger. No idea on pricing, but the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS7 digital camera ought to hit the market pretty soon. Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist. [ Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS7 digital camera copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Fujifilm FinePix JX530 digital camera Posted: 26 Jan 2010 07:09 PM PST
Features of the Fujifilm FinePix JX530 digital camera include a 2.7″ LCD display, while the inclusion of an Intelligent scene mode makes it much easier for newbies to get started as they don’t have to fiddle with manual controls in order to get the best possible shots, as this scene mode can cover 17 scenes and is able to detect the scene automatically. Your job is pretty simple then – just frame the shot and let the camera choose the right setting, and you’re good to go. Other features include Face Detection technology (capable of detecting up to 8 faces) with auto red-eye removal while Smile Shutter will help enhance the quality of the portrait. With the 28mm wide angle 5x Fujinon lens, this allows you to experience a versatile zoom range that makes it ideal for a range of subjects. You will be able to record video in 720p High Definition video, while Blink Detection and Smile Shutter ensures your portrait shots will look a whole lot better compared to lesser or older digital cameras. No idea on pricing of this though, so hopefully more details will arrive in due time. Source: Let’s Go Digital Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews. [ Fujifilm FinePix JX530 digital camera copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TS2 is one tough cookie Posted: 26 Jan 2010 06:45 PM PST
The LUMIX TS2 will come with an airtight body that offers protection against water immersion, dust and sand, thanks to its rubber padding and reinforced glass alongside carbon within. Not only that, the LUMIX TS2’s cover panel for the LCD has also experienced a thickening of sorts by up to a factor of 1.3x compared to its predecessor, enabling it to withstand increased pressure underwater. Being shockproof, it comes encased with shock-resistant material and features a folded optics design that protects its lens when dropped during operation. A supplementary damper has also been introduced to offer further protection for the lens unit, while all components have been tested in extreme temperatures before being sent to the marketplace. Shooting-wise, the LUMIX TS2 does not disappoint with Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus) that allows for a super-fast response time, a shutter release time lag as short as approximately 0.005 seconds, Intelligent Resolution technology that helps enhance individual pixels which experience degradation upon zooming in, a 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO ELMAR lens which extends to a 4.6x optical zoom, a 2.7″, 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD with a wide-viewing angle that offers high visibility during recording and playback. No word on pricing just yet, but we do know it will come in silver, blue, orange and yellow colors. Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist. [ Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TS2 is one tough cookie copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
VTech offers new 2010 models without breaking the bank Posted: 26 Jan 2010 06:36 PM PST
As for the VTech CS6319 and CS6329, both models offer clear, interference-free sound quality while enabling users to operate multiple handsets simultaneously, which among them includes transferring and conferencing calls between handsets. You will have the luxury of choice here, being able to choose from multiple handset bundles, with each of the VTech CS phones being expandable with up to five handsets using a single phone jack. Should you need to expand your operations at the office, additional handsets can be just about placed anywhere in the home or office so that there is no need to experience the classic room-to-room dash to answer a ringing phone. Other interesting features include a large, easy-to-read backlit LCD display, a handset speakerphone and a glossy crystal keypad with green backlighting. It will hit the market this spring, retailing for under the $60 mark alongside the option to choose whether it comes with or without digital answering systems. Longevity might be an issue here, and all of VTech’s 2010 DECT cordless phones will boast a 7-day, 7-hour battery performance. Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy. [ VTech offers new 2010 models without breaking the bank copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZR3 announced Posted: 26 Jan 2010 06:31 PM PST
It is interesting to note that the aforementioned 8x optical zoom on the LUMIX DMC-ZR3 is not found on many conventional point-and-shoot cameras, and even then how many of those measure all of 1″ thin? With Intelligent Resolution built in, this component of Intelligent Auto mode will help maintain optimal picture quality by capturing higher quality signal processing, relying on the detection of three areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation to examine them by individual pixels so that any degradation created during the digital zoom process or in high-sensitivity shooting can be enhanced for a superior end result. The reliance on the AVCHD Lite HD video format also helps double the recording time in HD quality when compared to the conventional Motion JPEG format, while Dolby Digital Stereo Creator helps you preserve high-quality audio for posterity. Other features include a super-fast AF (Auto Focus) speed of 0.26 second (wide-end)/0.31 second (tele-end), a 2.7″ Intelligent LCD display, a high-speed start-up of just 1.1 second, an SD/SDHC Memory Card slot and the ability to play nice with next-generation SDXC Memory Cards as well. No word on pricing, but we do know that the Panasonic LUMIX ZR3 will come in silver, black, red and blue colors. Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist. [ Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZR3 announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] | ||||||||||||
Posted: 26 Jan 2010 03:15 PM PST For some unknown reason we all tend to get overly excited when normal everyday devices are made tiny. I have no idea why, but they’re just cooler when they’re miniature. This wooden FM radio even has an itty bitty antenna attached to it to pick up your favorite stations. Not only does it happen to be small, it also fulfills that need to own gadgets that are made out of wood. It can be used alone as an FM radio or you can hook it up to an iPod and use it as a portable speaker. This 1.45" wide by 1" high by 0.75" radio can be charged fully by hooking it up to your USB port. If just one of these isn’t enough you can pick up a stereo-to-mono splitter cable and use two. Currently these are retailing through the Korean Early Shop. They’ll cost you 39,800 won or about $34. Source: Technabob Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool [ Motz Wooden FM Radio copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] |
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