Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Defiance is an MMO and a TV show
Microsoft Announces new Kinect Developments at E3 2011
Summary of WWDC 2011 announcements
TRAMP-It Jump Shoes
Bicycle Spoke LED Light
Natura helps save the environment even as you pee
Mad Catz has more Xbox 360 licensed audio headsets for gamers
The Cool Watch without a Face

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 03:41 PM PDT

One of the challenges of franchises these days is to create a storyline that exists on multilple media. Some of you might remember how the Enter the Matrix game ties the last two Matrix movies together, but what if there was a game that worked with it’s related TV show.

This is the concept behind Syfy’s Defiance, which is both a game by Trion Worlds that will also be a TV show. As players play the game, their actions actually change the way the show will progress. The game itself is both an MMO and an FPS, which are two game genres that don’t really mix well.

I’m not certain how well Defiance will play out, but I will say that I am relieved. After all, most MMO games are all about characters going through missions to earn personal points, but most of the world that they can freely explore is completely immutable. For example, if there was a giant rock in front of them, and the player had some dynamite, they could not put a crack in the rock unless the game allowed it. Today’s games, especailly MMOs, are pretty expansive, but they have limits.

However, to have a player’s actions affect the show might give a good feeling to the gamer when they watch the Defiance television show. I can just see a scene where the characters are explaining that “such and such battle was a complete victory”. Then one of the players watching will turn to his friends and say, “hey, we were in that battle”.

And so the players can feel more immersed in their vicarious existence, more involved in a community, and all make a difference together. I’m looking forward to seeing both the Defiance game and TV show, but I hope it isn’t the next Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future. Go ahead and enter a comment if you know what that is a reference to.

By the way, I am at E3 in LA for the next few days. Expect a lot of video game related posts.

Source

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Defiance is an MMO and a TV show copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Microsoft Announces new Kinect Developments at E3 2011

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 03:22 PM PDT

I just arrived in L.A. just hours ago to report on E3. While I was on the way to my hotel, I happen to read another attendee’s text. It read: Microsoft just announced the 3602.

Apparently, this was some sort of misunderstanding. Unless Microsoft is planning to announce a second version of the Xbox 360 later at E3, the press conference that they held today was primarily devoted to advancements with the Kinect. Apparently, there will be more games that are Kinect compatible, like Tiger Woods, Madden, FIFA, Mass Effect 3, and Ghost Recon Future Soldier, as well as all future Tom Clancy games will be Kinect-able. I have no idea if “Kinect-able” is an official term, but it ought to be.

The Kinect will be used in new ways, like we once discussed with Forza4. Forza 4 uses head movement, and a Tom Clancy game allows the player to customize weapons with hand gestures. Fable: The Journey allows the player to use magic via hand movement. What is really going to sweep geeks off their feet is Star Wars Kinect, with use of the Force and a lightsaber.

Kinect seems to be targeting those younger audiences with Disneyland Adventures as well as Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster. All this, and adding Live TV to Xbox. It’s hard to believe that E3 hasn’t even officially begun yet!

By the way, I believe that those who attended Microsoft’s Press Conference got a free Xbox. The same thing happened last year, and I missed that one too. Man, I need to get to E3 earlier!

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Microsoft Announces new Kinect Developments at E3 2011 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Summary of WWDC 2011 announcements

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 02:57 PM PDT

Well, we all knew that it would happen today, and Steve Jobs took the floor at WWDC 2011 to officially announce several things. One of them is not a new iPhone.

There was iCloud. If you weren’t paying attention last week, iCloud is a way for Apple users to wirelessly share music, e-mail, photos, calendars, as well as any other data between computers. The service also includes cloud backup, as well as a daily wireless backup of an iOS device. Hit the jump to find out what else was announced today.

Just to let you know, music can only be shared with other devices, but only if it is from iTunes. Apple is also providing a service known as “iTunes Match” which allows the user to store his or her entire collection, which includes music ripped from CDs, on Apple iCloud servers for about $24.99 a year.

Then there is the hype of iOS 5. Developers can get their new version today, and customers should be able to get a hold of it this fall. Scott Forstall, Apple’s senior vice president of iOS, discussed all the features including a new Notification Center and Newstand, a way of bringing magazine subscriptions in one place. Also included with iOS 5 is a new Reminders App to store multiple lists with dates for each event and categorizing reminders by location. Safari and Mail will each get new looks, and the Camera will have a shortcut on the lock screen in order to take a photo.

Also, Mac OS X Lion is coming in July for about $29.99. All in all, not a bad day for Apple. Stay tuned to hear what’s up with Microsoft.

Source

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Summary of WWDC 2011 announcements copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

TRAMP-It Jump Shoes

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 09:18 AM PDT

Want to literally put a spring in your step? That’s a snap to do, especially when you have the TRAMP-It Jump Shoes. This unique device will come in three different sizes, which are small, medium and large that will retail for £99.99, £109.99 and £119.99, respectively. They will give you unprecedented levels of speed and agility, letting you have more than just a simple spring in your steps. Made out of extremely strong material and yet is flexible, it will be worn under the sole, letting you jump further and bounce higher than you ever thought possible naturally.

Adults aren’t the only ones who will have fun with this strapped onto a pair of shoes, too bad Easter has passed, otherwise you can always play the role of being an Easter bunny, hopping to and fro to make sure that the rest of the kids in the neighborhood have gotten their chocolate candy.

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ TRAMP-It Jump Shoes copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Bicycle Spoke LED Light

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 09:03 AM PDT

While you love going around on a bicycle, it might not be the safest mode of transport – after all, your body will cover the bicycle in the event of an accident, and not the other way round if you are in a car yourself. Well, this gives it all the more reason to make sure you are very, very visible when going around on two wheels, especially when dusk falls. Enter the Bicycle Spoke LED Light, where it is a snap to install into your spokes so that your ride will get some form of lighting at the bottom.

Perfect for letting you be seen in low light conditions, the Bicycle Spoke LED Light will retail for $7.99, where you can choose from two different colors. These LED lights can be set to flashing mode or steady on mode, so it really depends on which situation you’re in – either way, just make sure it is on so that you won’t end up as a roadkill statistic!

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Bicycle Spoke LED Light copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Natura helps save the environment even as you pee

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:57 AM PDT

Guys, what do you normally do when you go to the loo to relieve yourself? Normally, most guys do one or the other – which is to look ahead or stare straight down, no one really turns to the left or right just to check out how your neighbor is doing, size-wise or otherwise. If you are the type who stares down, then have you noticed just how urinals have evolved? From the classic types that tend to have your pee splash back at you at the right angle and pressure, we then got urinals which could flush (phew, taking away the stench!) followed by waterless urinals that used biological agents to get rid of the smell and keep the area clean.

Well, water-less solutions are definitely the way to go forward when you think just how much abuse our earth has gone through to date, and the Natura concept is the perfect way to continue moving in the right direction. After all, the standard toilet uses up 15 times more drinking water each day than a regular human, which is why Natura intends to stop that thanks to designer Jose Genovés. This toilet is even more attractive by the fact that it can adapt to male urination in addition to female urination, & defecation, helping reduce water consumption by up to 60% if properly implemented!

Where male urination is concerned, Natura will offer a male urinal that is integrated fully into the toilet design. The urinal itself comprises of a reclining element which is located in the back part of the toilet, where it can be lowered toward the user using a simple "push to open" system. The urinal itself will dispose the urine with but a half liter of water, helping you save up to 30% of the water that is used by conventional toilets for the same purpose.

As for female urination, all urine is disposed through an additinal eco-siphon that will use up only a half liter of water. Natura will have a lower water level at the bottom of the bowl, helping keep paper out of the user’s sight.

If you have to lay a log, then Natura increases the water consumption from 4.5 liters to 6 so that any stored toilet paper can be flushed away, but it makes up for this apparent “wastage” by saving more on the urination process.

Source

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Natura helps save the environment even as you pee copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Mad Catz has more Xbox 360 licensed audio headsets for gamers

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:40 AM PDT

When it comes to gaming, you surely place a premium on expensive peripherals if you feel that you want to remain at the top of your game always – after all, let’s just say that if your mouse is slightly faster thanks to its wired connection that has gold-plated USB connectors, it is worth every penny since it might mean the difference between life or death in that particular fragfest. Mad Catz has long been a name associated with quality gaming peripherals, and they have just worked to release a new exclusive range of co-branded, licensed audio headsets for the Xbox 360.

These headsets will be co-branded under the TRITTON and Xbox 360 brands, where it will comprise of a couple of wireless headsets and a wired headset. After all, gaming audio is a vital cog in Mad Catz’s business, and is touted to be a key growth driver in the immediate future. Expect these new headsets to ship in time for the holiday season this year, where we will look at them in greater detail in the extended post.

TRITTON Warhead 7.1 Dolby Wireless Surround Headset for Xbox 360
This model is touted to be the first truly wireless Dolby 7.1 surround sound headset for the Xbox 360 in the world, so don’t expect to be tethered to your Xbox 360 in any way, letting you play in the laziest of postures that you are accustomed to while gaining the ability to hear every single footstep made by your opponent.

Truly Wireless – Utilizes Xbox 360's secure Wireless Xbox Live voice communications (no cable to the controller)
5.8Ghz Wireless Technology – Clear surround sound without interference from
wireless devices (range 33ft/10m)
Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound – Expands native stereo and 5.1 game and movie audio to immersive 7.1 surround sound
50mm Neodymium Drivers – Precision tuned and balanced speakers
Two Hot-Swappable Rechargeable Battery Packs – Change batteries on the fly for endless gaming
Selective Voice Monitoring (SVM) – Allows the gamer to enable or disable the ability to hear their own voice
Audio Control – Independent voice and game volume controls with mic and game mute
Built-in EQ – Gamer can choose from pre-defined equalizer settings for movies and games
Designed for Extended Play – Padded adjustable headband and plush around-the-ear earcups
Everything Needed to Connect to Any Xbox 360 – Supports both analog and digital audio connections and includes Digital Audio Adapter (for use with HDMI installations)

TRITTON Devastator Wireless Stereo Headset
As for the TRITTON Devastator Wireless Stereo Headset, this is also a wireless model that will offer Selective Voice Monitoring (SVM), delivering clear, balanced stereo sound, analog input, where it will be juiced by a couple of AA alkaline batteries.

Last but not least, the TRITTON Detonator Stereo Headset for Xbox 360 won’t have any wireless capability but that doesn’t mean it is any less in terms of performance, and since it is wired, that means it will play nice with other compatible devices such as portable media players and handsets. Features of the TRITTON Detonator Stereo Headset include :-

Wired Stereo Headset provides clear, stereo sound
Selective Voice Monitoring (SVM) – Allows the gamer to enable or disable the ability to hear their own voice
50mm Neodymium Drivers – Precision tuned and balanced speakers
Audio Control – Independent voice and game mute and volume through wired in-line remote
MP3 Player and Phones Support – 3.5mm jack supports both media playback and voice communications
Designed for Extended Play – Padded adjustable headband and plush around-the-ear earcups
Everything Needed to Connect to Any Xbox 360 – Supports analog audio connections and includes Analog Audio Adapter (for use with HDMI installations)

Press Release

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[ Mad Catz has more Xbox 360 licensed audio headsets for gamers copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The Cool Watch without a Face

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 07:58 AM PDT

I am something of a watch geek, this latest one looks pretty cool, the faceless watch.

This is the watch that tells time with liquid crystal displays built into the band. Blending seamlessly into the watch’s stainless steel links, the four disguised LCDs are only detected when they illuminate to form red digital numbers at the press of a button. The top row displays the hour and the lower row the minute; the press of a button switches the view to month and day.

You can buy the faceless watch from Hammacher for $129.95.

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ The Cool Watch without a Face copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Tuesday, June 7, 2011