Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Sep 23, 2010

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Yes, this is a building with a cloud in it
Verbatim Clip-its USB Drive
Yubz Classic Tube Speaker
Red Bull’s Extreme Promotion includes a 21-foot Eyeball
Etch A Sketch® iPad Case
Trek Support Backpack
Gadget Thumbnails for 21-Sep-2010
Flip updates the UltraHD and MinoHD video cameras
Massage game for the Wii uses the Balance Board
Check out this Portable Coil Gun

Yes, this is a building with a cloud in it

Posted: 22 Sep 2010 05:42 PM PDT

What you are seeing here is not the result of a fog machine, but there is an actual cloud in this building.

This was an idea from architect Testuo Kondo, and he got a company called Transsolar to create the actual cloud within the building. The cloud is created with three layers of air pumped at different humidity levels and temperature points, and then used in machines in order to create this cloud that floats in the midst of all this space.

I have a video of it after the jump, but be warned, it is not in English. Not only does it take technology to make this cloud, but it requires tech to keep it in its position, which is “just about a meter above the head of the visitors”.

I noticed that the pillars and walls are made of stone. I am guessing that having a cloud in a building is an insurance nightmare. After all, putting a cloud in a building would definitely “weather” the interior. I can’t believe that I just said that.

Speaking of weather, is it possible to seed the cloud, so it rains? Man, that would be awesome to have an actual raincloud inside. Better yet, how about a thunderstorm?

Until then, I will settle for this fog effect.

Source

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Yes, this is a building with a cloud in it copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Verbatim Clip-its USB Drive

Posted: 22 Sep 2010 05:30 PM PDT

USB drives are pretty simple and seem to keep shrinking in size. That’s great for portability, but sometimes you just feel like you should get a little more bang for your buck. Well these Verbatim Clip-its add just enough extra that they could come in very handy. Instead of carrying your USB drive in a bag, you could clip it to something like a notebook you use regularly.

Plus, when you need to release information, you could clip these to some paperwork. All around these would be nice to have. That clip would make them easier to keep track of rather than the USB drives attached to straps or chains. These are supposed to become available in both 2GB and 4GB, but pricing and where they’ll be released is a little bit up in the air. These are listed on the UK site, but nothing on the US website.

Source: OhGizmo

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Verbatim Clip-its USB Drive copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Yubz Classic Tube Speaker

Posted: 22 Sep 2010 05:20 PM PDT

If you love all that looks old and just a little bit like it’s out of a science fiction movie, then the classic tube speaker is for you. I have come across one of these before, but this one has more color options to add to the mix. Instead of just selling black and silver, they have a bright cheerful pink version. It appears that even the lights inside of the tubes are pink.

These Classic Tube Speakers operate as a USB hub as well as playing music for the whole room to hear. To make things even better, the bulbs will glow and blink in time with the music you’re playing. These Yubz speakers are lightweight and offer a great way to make your desk look just a little bit different. Right now the price has not actually been announced on these, but hopefully that information will come along soon. I imagine it will since the press release states that it was originally intended to ship out in late September.

Source: ChipChick

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Yubz Classic Tube Speaker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Red Bull’s Extreme Promotion includes a 21-foot Eyeball

Posted: 22 Sep 2010 05:18 PM PDT

I thought you might want to see this interesting use of projection technology, even if you don’t like Red Bull.

Red Bull may have sponsored this stunt for extreme snowboarders and skiers, but the projection was designed by a Melbourne interactive group ENESS. You can watch the video of it after the jump, and see the nifty projections on the ramp as well as the 21-foot inflatable sphere in the middle.

In case you are wondering, the snowboards and skiers have an infrared camera tracking them. This explains how the eyeball is able to follow their jump as they go.

I think what is interesting is how the projectors can put images on the ramp that make it appear invisible and to have a frame. The confetti effect is also quite interesting.

Of course, the question remains: where else can we use this technology? That is a good question. I can’t think of any other promotions that would merit from tech like this. Not off the top of my head.

Wait, I got a sweet idea. Is there a way to make a projection onto a hot air balloon? It’s not a perfectly spherical surface, but just think at how big an eyeball you could put on there. Yeah, Red Bull’s Eye-in-the-sky is looking at you, kid!

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Red Bull’s Extreme Promotion includes a 21-foot Eyeball copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Etch A Sketch® iPad Case

Posted: 22 Sep 2010 05:08 PM PDT

You have to love a company that is willing to really branch out and create an official iPad case that resembles a very popular toy from years before. Sure, Etch A Sketch may not have the popularity it treasured as it did years before, but now all of the devoted kids are adults and it’s time to tap into that market. This official iPad case will allow for you to look cool, all the while making it possible for you to get access to all the necessary areas.

This even has rubber feet to help you prop up your iPad a little. The case will protect your iPad, but has windows to show off certain areas, including the Apple logo on the back, your ports and necessary buttons. Plus, it obviously leaves the front wide open, allowing for you to operate it without any trouble. You can go ahead and purchase these right now through Headcase. They’ll just cost you $39 a piece.

Source: ForeverGeek

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Etch A Sketch® iPad Case copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Trek Support Backpack

Posted: 22 Sep 2010 04:50 PM PDT

This is the Trek Support backpack. It is designed to hold a lot of electrical devices, and charge them as well.

The Trek Support backpack is made to charge any device via USB such as cell phones, cameras, MP3 players, and laptops. All that is required is to plug it into the wall.

This device is good for when you have some downtime in between flights, and you’re waiting at some place with an outlet. Just plug in the extension cord, and you’ll get that juice you will need.

The Trek can even charge them as you go, like the Energysport for the bike that we reported on yesterday. Of course, the backpack isn’t powered by kinetic energy, as the rechargeable battery has to be fully charged for juice-on-the-go.

In case you are wondering, this backpack is “checkpoint friendly”. Not only that, it has mesh pockets for specific gadgets, and it can also hold a 15-inch laptop. It even has a rack to hold all these gadgets while they are charging.

I kind of like the aesthetic of this backpack. If characters in Tron were to wear backpacks, then they would probably look like this. This is a Quirky product, and the pre-order price is about $130, and the eventual final price would be $150.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Trek Support Backpack copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Gadget Thumbnails for 21-Sep-2010

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 10:01 PM PDT

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Gadget Thumbnails for 21-Sep-2010 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Flip updates the UltraHD and MinoHD video cameras

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 07:01 PM PDT

Since Photokina, the world’s leading trade fair for digital photography and creative imaging, is in full swing now, I have hearing about new cameras right and left. Cisco Systems is no exception as they have updated the UltraHD and MinoHD camera series.

The UltraHD 1 Hour has about 4GB of storage, which is good for one hour worth of video. It has a resolution of 1,280 x 720 (30fps) and format of H.264 (MP4). The LCD screen is 2 inches with a resolution of 320 x 240. It has a mini-HDMI out, and runs on AA-size batteries. It is available in white, magenta, blue, or personalized color for $149.99.

As for the UltraHD 2 Hour, it has 8GB of storage for double the time of the UltraHD 1 Hour. All the other specs of the 2 Hour are the same as the 1 Hour, except the 2 Hour has a Flip Port/Micro-HDMI out as well as a removable rechargeable battery or AAA-size batteries. It is available in black, white, or personalized for about $199.99.

Specs for the UltraHD are also similar to the new MinoHD cameras. The MinoHD 1 Hour has 4GB for 1 hour of video. The exception is that it has 1,280 x 720 resolution (60fps) with image stabilization, and has a non-removable rechargeable battery good for 1.5 hours. It comes in silver or personalized color for $179.99.

As for the MinoHD 2 Hour, it has 8GB and the same specs as the MinoHD 1 Hour. It is in black or personalized for about $229.99.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Flip updates the UltraHD and MinoHD video cameras copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Massage game for the Wii uses the Balance Board

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 06:37 PM PDT

Things are looking quite good if you want to have a virtual girlfriend. You can take them for a romantic getaway at Atami, and you can do some interesting exercises together.

This next development was seen at the Tokyo Game Show, and it is a Wii-enabled LovePress virtual massage system. This game allows the users to select a particular type of girlfriend, and then give her a massage via the Wii Balance Board.

There is a video of it after the jump that I would assume shows the game’s creators. I say “assume” because the video is not in English. I do know from my source that the creators are at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology.

The video is sort of funny to watch because it shows one guy getting a little too friendly with a Wii Balance board. It isn’t NSFW, but just to let you know, the game is programmed to say phrases like “No, I believe you are gentle” or “Stop! Where are you touching”.

I’m pretty sure that the creators of this game know this, but the material of a WiiFit board is slightly harder than the flesh of a woman. I wonder if they plan on doing something to make the massage more realistic. On second thought, I don’t want to know.

Source

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Massage game for the Wii uses the Balance Board copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Check out this Portable Coil Gun

Posted: 21 Sep 2010 06:05 PM PDT

See this weapon? It looks like it was plucked from the set of Aliens, doesn’t it?

This is actually a coil gun. It case you don’t know what that is, a coil gun is a projectile weapon that uses a powered electromagnet rather than a powder magazine to shoot a bullet. These electromagnetic coils are essentially a solenoid, a strong magnetic field to pull a projectile to the center of a coil, and the promptly to another coil. By the time the bullet leaves the gun, it will be traveling at a very fast speed.

I have a video of it after the jump to show what this coil gun is made of, as well as some footage of it shooting a few objects.

What makes this coil gun unique is that it is portable. Well, it looks pretty heavy, but still portable. Most coil guns are bigger, and require a cord. As you can see in the video, it is powered by a long 12V Nickel-metal battery.

Apparently, the builder has been on this project for two years, and I love what he has come up with. Hopefully, his next project will be a weapon that can shoot something like a controlled burst of lightning, like in The Matrix. As far as I know, he’s not planning to make something like that, but this is just a suggestion on my part because I think a lightning gun would be very cool.

Source