Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Hasbro does Monopoly with electric tower with Monopoly Live
LEGO City Torches lights up your world with larger-than-life minifigs
Djubi offers an alternative game to electronics
Chinese Amusement Park to have sub-parks devoted to Starcraft and WoW
GoPro HD Helmet Hero Cam – after all, life is an adventure
mophie does juice pack air for Verizon iPhone 4
O’Hare Airport has Video Ads on their Bathroom Mirrors
iControlPad – Clamp Your Smartfone into Gaming Submission
Gadget Thumbnails for 08-Feb-2011
Superhero Axon is one bright guy
Starbucks has interactive touchscreens in front of their stores, for some reason
Shaving Helmet turns a head bald, quickly

Hasbro does Monopoly with electric tower with Monopoly Live

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 04:40 PM PST

Monopoly is one of those games that will never die, and I’m not certain whether it is improved by these “Special Editions”. Practically every franchise from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings has a version of it, whether it makes sense or not.

I have seen my share of electronic and video game editions of the classic game, and this particular “update” requires both the board and this electric tower. The tower accomplishes many of the necessary operations to playing monopoly, as it calculates rent, announces player turns, and keeps track of how much money every player has.

It even rolls some non-existent dice! That’s right, no dice is required. Apparently, the board gets scanned with infrared light and a camera detects the game pieces. The user initiates a roll by covering his or her game piece. I’m not certain if there is too much technology for this game.

Of course, you realize the danger of putting all of the game’s information on one electronic database. If the battery should go out, or if it gets unplugged, then how do the players truly know how much one has? Then again, I will have to admit that in the real world, much of my payments are tracked online. I always wondered what would happen if some pulse blast or catastrophe eradicated all financial records.

Okay, there’s no reason to contemplate this end-of-the-world scenario when I’m just reporting about Hasbro’s update for Monopoly. This new version of Monopoly Live costs $50.

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Hasbro does Monopoly with electric tower with Monopoly Live copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

LEGO City Torches lights up your world with larger-than-life minifigs

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 04:38 PM PST

When is a minifig not a minifig any more where LEGO is concerned? When it is larger than what it is supposed to be? We leave the philosophers to argue about that, but for the moment, we’re pleased as punch to bring you the LEGO City Torches which are available for pre-order at £14.99 a pop, bringing an alternative touch to your home decoration without breaking the bank.

Available in policeman, fireman and construction worker flavors, these torches are extremely original, standing tall at 19cm while being able to light up your world as they put their best foot forward – after all, the torch itself is built into the bottom left leg of each minifig. It is also interesting to note that each of the professions that the minifig comes in will need a torch sooner or later in the line of their work, now how about it?

To activate the LED light at the bottom, all you need to do is press the logo on their chest and you’re good to go – as long as there are batteries left inside, of course.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ LEGO City Torches lights up your world with larger-than-life minifigs copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Djubi offers an alternative game to electronics

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 04:33 PM PST

These days, when you ask your kids to entertain themselves, most of them will think of using either a video game console (portable or otherwise), smartphone or the computer. How about a good old fashioned run about in the garden that makes them sweat in places other than their palms?

That’s what the £17.99 Djubi intends to do, overhauling the age-old game of throw and catch. After all, with a jazzy new name like this, how else are you going to say no? You can place a pre-order with Firebox, and that ought to secure you a couple of space-age looking racquets that will function as both launchers and catchers.

The elastic strap of the Djubi (or ball, depending on how you want to call it) will hook over a strategically-placed notch on the raquet. Pull it back and watch it fly to an astounding 100ft. Once the Djubi takes to the air, it is your opponent's job to catch it safely in the net of their raquet, followed by a return action towards you. Just don’t send it flying into your neighbor’s windows, all right?

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Djubi offers an alternative game to electronics copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Chinese Amusement Park to have sub-parks devoted to Starcraft and WoW

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 04:22 PM PST

What you are seeing here are plans for a park known as Joyland World, and these are some of the sub-parks. You know how Disneyland has Tomorrowland and Adventureland? Well, Joyland World has Universe of Starcraft and Terrain of Warcraft.

In case you are wondering, Blizzard Entertainment, actual makers of the games that these sub-parks are obviously emulating, are not officially endorsing these attractions. I can’t imagine why. Then again, I’m not certain how big Blizzard is in China. Also, how many American players are going to fly to China to see these amusement parks?

If you want my opinion, the gaming company probably fears that these parks will face budget cutbacks and will absolutely suck, and doesn’t want any official name attachment whatsoever. I’m sure there are a lot of Disney attractions that aren’t endorsed by the creators that inspired them. I always wondered how Walt Disney would feel about Star Tours.

Still, I will have to admit that the sketches look quite cool. I would personally like to visit them, and I don’t play either of those games, nor do I intend to visit China anytime soon.

If these parks work in China, I think they need to build some serious hotel/casinos with these sub-park themes in Las Vegas. It would be a good day for them if they opened on the same week as CES.

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Chinese Amusement Park to have sub-parks devoted to Starcraft and WoW copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

GoPro HD Helmet Hero Cam – after all, life is an adventure

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 04:15 PM PST

They say that life is an adventure, after all, this roller coaster ride does have its fair share of ups, downs and plateaus. What are you supposed to do with those moments then? Why not record it down in a digital format for posterity’s sake? After all, storage space has surely gotten extremely cheap these days, so it makes digital archiving of your memories a snap.

For those who lead a particularly active lifestyle by wrestling with bears or swimming with the sharks, you might as well make sure you immortalize every moment that you’re alive with the GoPro HD Helmet Hero Cam. Of course, this $299.99 purchase is also good for capturing less adrenaline rushing moments like skateboarding downhill, parasailing, or bungee jumping among others. More on the GoPro HD Helmet Hero Cam in the extended post.

GoPro's HD Helmet Hero is touted to be the world's highest performance wearable 1080p HD video and still photo camera. It delivers professional quality 1080p/960p/720p HD resolutions record at 30 and 60 frames per second (60 fps in 720p). A single charge ought to be enough to record up to 2.5 hours of non-stop action, and just in case you’re wondering how much space its footage takes, a 32GB SDHC memory card can store up to 9 hours.

HD video isn’t all it does, as this digital action sports helmet cam is also adept at shooting 5-megapixel stills at 2/5/10/30 or 60 second intervals. All you need to do is press the shutter button once and you’re good to go. A headlamp style head strap makes it easy to share the Hero with your friends in a jiffy, while a lace-through strap-mount caters for vented helmets, with a couple of curved and two flat adhesive mounts for attaching to gear, vehicles or whatever else moves you. The question now is, how hardcore are you willing to get to maximize the GoPro HD Helmet Hero Cam?

Product Page

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ GoPro HD Helmet Hero Cam – after all, life is an adventure copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

mophie does juice pack air for Verizon iPhone 4

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 04:08 PM PST

If you’re an iPhone 4 owner, chances are you know what I’m talking about – whenever you need your handset to deliver that extra bit of juice, it seems to falter simply because you spent too much time playing Angry Birds whenever you’re free, hence sapping up all the power reserves required to make that all important business call to clinch that multi-million dollar contract.

What are you supposed to do then, tote a charger with you wherever you go? While that isn’t such a bad idea after all, here is a solution from mophie that does make life easier – we’re talking about the juice pack air. What makes this version special is, it will play nice with the Verizon iPhone 4 – yes, the long awaited CDMA version of one of the hottest selling phones to date.

This light-weight and ultra-thin external rechargeable battery case is extremely famous for more or less doubling the battery life of the iPhone 4 on a single charge. Apart from that, it boasts a fresh design and first-class components, with a pedigree that cannot be questioned after being honored at CES 2011 with an Innovations Design and Engineering Award in the portable power category.

If you’re interested to bring this puppy home, then you can always place a pre-order that will set you back by $79.95. The dual compatible juice pack air is tipped to ship when Monday, February 28, rolls around. Apart from the Verizon iPhone 4, it will play nice with the AT&T iPhone 4 as well, and February adopters will get theirs in soft-touch black with a brushed silver band, while those who want to opt for soft-touch red and glossy white will have to wait until later next month.

With a 4 Light LED Battery Status Indicator, you can be sure that checking out just how much juice you have left is a snap, taking but a glance to do so.

Press Release

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ mophie does juice pack air for Verizon iPhone 4 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

O’Hare Airport has Video Ads on their Bathroom Mirrors

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 03:58 PM PST

I once heard that the average person is hit with (insert big number here) advertisements per day. I suppose that it was only a matter of time before ads came to the bathroom, and at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, they are on the mirrors.

A company named Clear Channel Communications is working with a technology designer named Mirrus to put ads in a place that usually doesn’t have ads. These ads will only work if there is a person in front of them, and I imagine that they can somehow work as a mirror in that capacity.

My Source does not say whether these ads will have sound. It would be really annoying if one mirror was doing audio for one ad, and the other was playing different audio for another ad. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if two videos with ads playing simultaneously is too much.

Clearly, we living in an era where advertising is getting overused. I’m not looking forward to days where every wall in a public place is nothing but a digital quilt of advertisements. I suppose the biggest patches will belong to the biggest companies that shell out the most cash for the spots.

Will there be ads in the stalls next? As it were, I really don’t need to see the Geico Gecko while I’m trying to do my business. Seriously, I don’t.

I’m heading to Orlando in March for CTIA, and if my flight stops over in Chicago, I’ll have to see if these mirror ads are in place.

Source

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ O’Hare Airport has Video Ads on their Bathroom Mirrors copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

iControlPad – Clamp Your Smartfone into Gaming Submission

Posted: 09 Feb 2011 08:03 AM PST

Wouldn't it be swell if you could have some real controls while playing with your smartphone? It just so happens…

Welcome iControlPad, a neat little gaming pad that "clamps" onto your iPhone or just about any Smartphone. The iControlPad uses Bluetooth to communicate with your mobile phone, so it really can be used with almost any late model Smartphone – or even your PC!

The iControlPad adds all the gaming features that make for successful play, like a D-Pad, analog nubs, 6 face buttons and two rear buttons and an internal 1500maH battery that can charge your phone via USB while playing.

The iControlPad has exchangeable clamps to make it fit most Smartphones out there. Just select the proper clamps and you’re ready to play.

iControlPad Ltd wants you to know that the iControlpad is a fully functional and properly tested controller, but as an early adopter you may have limited choices in the games and software that it can be used with. iControlPad encourages you to ask your favorite developers to support it.

If you happen to be an Android or iPhone developer who is interested in adding iControlPad support to your app, contact iControlPad Ltd as they have developer units available.

Available now, but buy it quick, they're not making that many. $74.99 at www.icontrolpad.com

Source: www.icontrolpad.com

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ iControlPad – Clamp Your Smartfone into Gaming Submission copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Gadget Thumbnails for 08-Feb-2011

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 09:01 PM PST

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

Superhero Axon is one bright guy

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 10:48 PM PST

So, what is this?

Sorry. Usually I don’t start my postings this way, but I just don’t see the safety of wearing a suit with a bunch of wires attached to it like this.

Well, you can see a video here of how cool it is after the jump.

Anyway, this was designed by students from the Technical University Eindhoven, and apparently this electronic outfit is the uniform of a superhero named Axon. As far as I know, Axon has no super-powers in real life except the 260 and 52 reed switches.

Well, I suppose that Axon could use a movie, a better movie than the YouTube video here. I mean, his powers are supernatural, but there doesn’t seem to be any more backstory on that but he does “stop evil”. Is there some translation here that I am missing?

Yeah, I think we need a bit more special effects before Axon becomes the next summer blockbuster, like Green Lantern. That film is coming this summer, and I believe that his glowing costume Ryan Reynolds is sporting is just a CG creation.

Until then, Axon looks like he could be an extra for Tron. Just an extra, mind you. There’s no way Tron would look at Axon and call him anything but a sissy.

Source

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Superhero Axon is one bright guy copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Starbucks has interactive touchscreens in front of their stores, for some reason

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 10:17 PM PST

This is a shot of a front from a Starbucks in either Toronto and Vancouver. For some reason, Starbucks has decided to put some interactive screens on the front of their coffee shops in these cities.

I’m not certain why, but I’m sure that it is related to selling over-priced coffee. Anyway, there is a video after the jump which shows the set-up, which involves a vinyl screen, projector, and gesture controls.

I can’t really see what to do with these touchscreen displays except do some sort of silly game where you mix up some tea.

I see some sort of future where every store has one of these. I would imagine that it would attract a lot of customers, wouldn’t it? Of course, you would probably have problems with loiterers. Not to mention the weird electronic aesthetic it would turn the streets into. If you think Tokyo and Times Square are gaudy, just picture every shop with one of these!

Is there any way that these touchscreens could be made so that they could take orders? Then, you can order up your coffee, play on the touchscreen like an iPhone game, and then have some alert tell you its ready. All you have to do then is walk in and pay for it.

Starbucks Interactive Storefront from The Media Merchants on Vimeo.

Source

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Starbucks has interactive touchscreens in front of their stores, for some reason copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Shaving Helmet turns a head bald, quickly

Posted: 08 Feb 2011 09:35 PM PST

When I saw this picture of the shaving helmet, I couldn’t help but think of the beginning of Full Metal Jacket which showed the several men getting their head shaved for the army.

All I could think of was how easy it would be for multiple head shavings with this shaving helmet. It can actually turn a head with some hair into a cue ball in about 20 seconds, without cutting the cranium.

This shaving helmet has four blades mounted on Teflon-coated aluminum rails that can slide up and down. The head gets a bath of shaving cream before the harvest of hair begins. You should be able to see this in action in a video after the jump.

I don’t know what’s going to happen to someone who has long and big eighties hair and you put the shaving helmet on. Will it actually take out the hair, and where will the hair go? Imagine if you take off your shaving helmet and all the hair just falls off.

I think that what we have is sort of a proof of concept, but I don’t see any word on my Source on who intends to market this. I’m sure the military is interested in this if they are.