Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Dec 25, 2010

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Razor Dirt Rocket MX 350
iPhone Video Projector
Salvation Army makes their Kettles credit-card accessible
Here’s a Solar-powered Rainbow Machine
Guide robot from Japan’s Tsukuba University
Gadget Thumbnails for 23-Dec-2010

Posted: 24 Dec 2010 03:58 PM PST

Have more than 300 quid to spend this Christmas but do not know where to redirect that fund? Well, what if we told you that £329.95 will be able to net you some dirt bike action in the form of the Razor Dirt Rocket MX 350? This off-road ride will be the perfect introduction for those who are not afraid of the dirt, where it is a scaled down, electric powered dirt bike which offers a fun way for younger riders to live out their off-road fantasies. Boasting a high torque motor, large, knobby tires, and capable of hitting speeds up to 14 miles per hour, you know that no pathetic dirt hill is going to stop you in your tracks. Too bad there is only a blue color to choose from, otherwise those who have a softer side to them might want pink as well. As long as you don’t weigh more than 65kg, the Razor Dirt Rocket MX 350 is good to go for you.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Razor Dirt Rocket MX 350 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

iPhone Video Projector

Posted: 24 Dec 2010 03:53 PM PST

The iPhone does play some pretty good quality videos, and sometimes when you have something precious that you want to share with the rest of your friends, the iPhone’s screen might be just too small. What if you had something that could blow up that display to a whole lot bigger for everyone to have a decent look? That’s where the iPhone Video Projector comes in, where this LED-illuminated projection system will deliver 557 x 234 resolution with its 4:3 native aspect ratio. Of course, this means it won’t be as sharp as the iPhone 4’s Retina Display in terms of resolution, but at least it can be projected onto a screen or wall that is up to 110″ diagonally from as close as 20″ or up to a whopping 18′ away. Audio can be played through an integrated sound system, although we would not expect too much from its two 3-watt titanium drivers that have been integrated with the on-board dual 7-watt amplifiers. The 15-watt LED comes with a 30,000-hour lifespan and provides a brilliant 800 lumens for clear, bright pictures and videos – brighter than most other portable projectors. At $299.95, it would make for a nifty living room device.

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ iPhone Video Projector copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Salvation Army makes their Kettles credit-card accessible

Posted: 24 Dec 2010 02:59 PM PST

I’m sure that most of you have seen the bell-ringing Salvation Army guys in front of retail shops this holiday. You might want to look closer as their traditional red kettles have received a technological upgrade.

In fact, you may have noticed that credit-card reader on the kettles last year. They ran an initial trial last year in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Colorado Springs. Now, they have these wireless debit/credit card terminals in 300 locations in 120 different cities.

My Source says that since their introduction, the average donation of giving is about $15 when before it was two or three dollars in cash and coins.

In case you are curious, those wireless terminals are safe, as no personal information such as credit card numbers is ever stored on these machines themselves. Best of all, for those that want to claim their charitable donation for this year’s taxes, printable receipts are available right there.

I don’t remember seeing these wireless terminals on the Salvation Army kettles that I saw this year, but I have really only seen one or two, and I didn’t look close enough.

I suppose that soon, perhaps even next year, these wireless terminals will be on all of the red kettles. This could result in a lot more giving.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Salvation Army makes their Kettles credit-card accessible copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Here’s a Solar-powered Rainbow Machine

Posted: 24 Dec 2010 02:26 PM PST

We once reported on a Solar Powered Rainbow Maker before, but this particular rainbow maker is not related, and quite bigger.

Michael Jones McKean is currently working on an artificial rainbow machine, which uses reclaimed rainwater and sunlight to create rainbow effect that you see here in this picture.

Apparently, it uses some jet pumps and create fountain nozzles to spritz some water in the air, and then the sunlight shines through to create the rainbow effect as first witnessed by Noah himself.

Okay, it is time for me to get all philosophical. I realize that we live in an age where technology can often substitute for something else that nature can give, and it’s getting so it is hard to let nature be nature.

This usually is an issue raised when we discuss cloning a human being, but what about cloning the rainbow? I mean, there isn’t any reason to clone a rainbow except to prove that we can, and it seems like we have.

I mean, Kermit the Frog sung about “The Rainbow Connection” for a reason. There is something awe-inspiring about a rainbow, and it is an unexpected blessing when it shows up. In other words, I’m not certain whether it should be controlled.

Well, if you want to see the artificial rainbow created, it will be at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, Nebraska in June.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Here’s a Solar-powered Rainbow Machine copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Guide robot from Japan’s Tsukuba University

Posted: 24 Dec 2010 02:04 PM PST

I saw this particular robot the other day, and I’m not certain why I didn’t report on it. After all, I see a lot of robots here on my watch, and this one stood out on me.

This is the Talk-Torque Guide Robot developed by researchers at Japan’s Tsukuba University. According to my Source, the “robot’s primary function is to interact with people via non-verbal communication and overall body language”.

You can watch a video of it after the jump to see it in action, and that is all that you will see. For some reason, there is no sound, but you can almost read the body language.

I believe that the plan is to have Talk-Torque working as a local museum docent, so I’m guessing that it will have to learn to talk sometime.

You know what this reminds me of? Those aliens in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones that actually built a whole bunch of clones. From my extensive research (I looked it up on a search engine) they were called Kaminoans. In fact, I almost think that this robot was designed to look just like them.

I’m looking forward to seeing these robot tour guides at museums in the future.