Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Dec 24, 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Hands on with two Kensington Laptop Locking Devices
The Crayola Crayon Maker
Kackel Dackel is the crappy toy for this holiday (double meaning here)
iPad Car Headrest Cradle
TEAC Aurb handles all your audio needs
GEAR4 announces UnityRemote
Rollei to offer 3D digital camera
Gadget Thumbnails for 22-Dec-2010

Hands on with two Kensington Laptop Locking Devices

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 04:30 PM PST

If you are like me, then you are worried about your laptop getting stolen. Fortunately, I live in a small town, and I usually can usually leave my laptop at the table of a coffee shop while I’m in the bathroom with minimal worry.

Kensington has recently allowed me to review two of their products that bring some laptop locking insurance. The first is the ClickSafe Keyed Twin Laptop Lock (top left). This kit includes this tiny knob thing that installs into the external casing of the laptop. You can then run the included chain to it and have something like a bike lock for your laptop.

The second product is the Laptop Locking Station (bottom left), and this is made for those places where a laptop is a more permanent feature. This is designed to be screwed into the table, and the two prongs can fit around the screen under lock and key.

As I mentioned before, I feel more secure using the ClickSafe in a public place. I might even risk using it at a coffee shop in Las Vegas if I’m feeling daring and on-the-go at the same time.

You should be able to purchase the ClickSafe here at the Kensington site for $69.99, and the Laptop Locking Station here for $79.99.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Hands on with two Kensington Laptop Locking Devices copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The Crayola Crayon Maker

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 03:57 PM PST

I remember walking into the room while my wife was watching 19 Kids and Counting or some other reality show that features a large family. I’m pretty certain it wasn’t Jon and Kate Plus 8!

Anyway, it was a usual episode about the things that happen in any household, like when the grandparents come over for a visit. They were having a blast playing with this Crayola Crayon Maker. Even though it is billed as a toy, it is downright useful for parents.

The Crayon Maker deals with a problem every parent has. As much as I love to see the virgin perfection of a new box of crayons, I know that eventually there will be a pile of label-less stubs thrown in a box later. The Crayon Maker is able to take all that wax and recycle it.

It should be noted that on the aforementioned episode of the big family reality show, there was an ad for the product during one of the commercials. Talk about a shameless and unnecessary plug.

I’m surprised that this toy is pretty cheap at $19.95. I’m guessing there would have to be some sort of oven there to melt down the wax and stuff. This looks like it would be a pretty messy toy, and perhaps parental supervision might be good for the first few times your kids play with it.

Source

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ The Crayola Crayon Maker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Kackel Dackel is the crappy toy for this holiday (double meaning here)

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 03:36 PM PST

This toy is made for those parents who can’t get their kid to clean up after their dog. Yes, Kackel Dackel makes a game out of it.

I’m not certain of the rules of this game, but you can see in the attached video after the jump how some kids stuff clay into a Dachshund’s mouth only to have it clump out like a Play-Doh toy. I’m not certain what the object is, but it comes with some appropriate shovels.

Just to let you know, the video is in German, and it is pretty funny. I have no idea what Kackel Dackel tranlsates to, but if you know, please feel free to leave a comment.

You know what is really strange? I can totally see kids wanting this crappy gift. Just like Donnie Darko always regretted not getting Hungry Hungry Hippos, some kid is going to have a terrible Christmas because they didn’t receive a Kackel Dackel.

This toy reminds me of a Hasbro creation in the early eighties known as My Puppy Puddles. I still remember the jingle: “My Puppy Puddles, yes he loves to drink his water. My Puppy Puddles only puddles when he oughta.” Yes, it was a toy where a plastic puppy dog urinates. There was no game out of it.

Anyway, Kackel Dackel can be purchased on Amazon for about $46.

Source

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Kackel Dackel is the crappy toy for this holiday (double meaning here) copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

iPad Car Headrest Cradle

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 12:45 PM PST

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, but what happens when the cradle doesn’t hold a baby, but an iPad instead? That’s what you get with the iPad Car Headrest Cradle, and from the name itself, you can tell that this cradle will actually nestle your iPad lovingly from the back of a car’s headrest, making it suitable for movie watching and useful for keeping those backseat drivers quiet. Boasting a mounting frame that will clamp firmly to both headrest posts, the rubber lining makes sure that it will not mar the metal’s finish – perfect for those who have just purchased a new ride. The aluminum stand with a quartet of raised corners will cradle your iPad without obstructing any of its controls, while the frame’s ball joint allows for 360º rotation for vertical or horizontal viewing. To make sure everything stays in place, locking pins will secure the joint into place at the preferred angle and aspect. At $59.95, this might just be one of the better in-car accessories that you will have ever purchased, if only to keep the little ones entertained with your iPad on a long road trip.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ iPad Car Headrest Cradle copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

TEAC Aurb handles all your audio needs

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 12:30 PM PST

Once in a while, a device comes along that touts to handle all of a particular need. Well, we have the TEAC Aurb this time around which not only plays nice with your iPhone and iPod (being a dock and all), it also doubles up as a CD player (just in case you have those Michael Jackson classics on a collection of CDs) and an FM radio, for moments when you’ve absolutely run out of downloaded tunes to listen to. At £249.99, the TEAC Aurb isn’t cheap, but let us gloss over what it has to offer before coming to a conclusion, right? Compatible with ALL iPod/iPhone models available, it boasts some pretty good audio quality, featuring a retractable iPod/iPhone dock, a top-mounted CD player and auxiliary/USB inputs for you to play back MP3 and WMA files from memory cards and CDs amongst others. It ain’t no shy flower, belting out 100 watts of power through its dual 32mm tweeters and 89mm woofers. Not only that, it looks absolutely gorgeous, so having it in any living room is a must this Christmas.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ TEAC Aurb handles all your audio needs copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

GEAR4 announces UnityRemote

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 12:13 PM PST

Mention the name GEAR4 and chances are you will definitely have heard of it before, where this UK-based iPod and iPhone audio brand and case manufacturer has brought a bunch of its memorable creations to the world before, placing a strong emphasis on design. Well, they have just announced the availability of the UnityRemote in the US, which is available via Amazon (where else) – basically, the UnityRemote will be able to turn iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a universal remote control. Sounds like the perfect Christmas present to receive this year if you happen to own any of the aforementioned iDevices, considering how pervasive the couch potato culture is worldwide these days. On a side note, do you remember the good old days when the TV had only a few channels, and yet you found yourself glued to a particular channel for much longer than you can remember? Today’s so much different, where kids go through a few hundred channels and complain that there is no thing to watch…

Meant to make controlling multi-media devices a snap, the universal UnityRemote from GEAR4 will allow users to control basically everything – and when they claim everything, they really mean it, from TVs to Hi-Fis, Blu-Ray players to digital TV boxes – basically any device that comes with an infrared receiver will do, all from a central gizmo. Since folks are already so comfortable and familiar with their iDevices, isn’t it a whole lot more convenient for them to use it as a remote as well? Of course, this would mean another program that will compete for your iDevice battery’s attention, so you might want to look into an extended battery especially for you iPhone owners out there.

The UnityRemote works with two parts, where a downloaded app (for free, yo!) from the Apple App Store will jive with a tiny device which can be placed anywhere in the room. Receiving a Bluetooth signal from the Apple device, it will then send an infrared command in 360 degrees through five infrared transmitters to the device to be controlled. The UnityRemote will play nice with the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch 2G, iPod touch 3G and iPad, where Amazon is stocking it for $99 a pop.

Press Release

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ GEAR4 announces UnityRemote copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Rollei to offer 3D digital camera

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 11:50 AM PST

Do you love how stereoscopic 3D technology has changed the way the consumer electronics scene worked this year? Perhaps you’re sick of listening to arguments on which 3D viewing technology is best, and just want to get on with your life, but one thing’s for sure – 3D is here to say, and it isn’t going to go away anytime soon. Rollei too, wants to have a say in the world of stereoscopic 3D, and they are certainly not pulling any stops with their latest digital camera, the Power Flex 3D. Of course, that will be accompanied by a digital picture frame as well that does 3D, bringing a complete feast for your eyes. Rollei’s new 3-D devices are equipped with the special Parallax barrier display technology, which allows you to view 3D images and videos without the need to wear a dorky looking pair of glasses – now how about that?

The new Rollei Power Flex 3D will allow you to produce your own piece of video art, where a couple of simultaneously operating CMOS image sensors will capture 3D images with a maximum resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. As for videos, those can be captured for all eternity in brilliant HD quality (not full HD though, so that means you will just have to settle for 720p) that is recorded at 30 frames per second. As for the 2.8-inch LCD display, it boasts a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, letting the images appear in a manner where each of the two viewer’s eyes will see a slightly different image that will then be automatically assembled into a 3D image.

As for the Rollei 7-inch digital picture frame design, it will display 3D images with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels – not exactly the highest count out there in the market, but at least it is a start. Each purchase will ship with the Blaze Video Magic 3.0 software that will help 2D images transform into 3D images using but a few mouse clicks on the computer. The frame itself comes with a black decorative pattern, making it stand out from the crowd no matter where you place it. The Rollei Design and Power Line 3D Flex 3D will hit the market from the end of next month onwards at €299.95 each, making us wonder whether we will see this puppy at CES 2011 or not.

Press Release

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Rollei to offer 3D digital camera copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]