Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Hands on with the Wand + from Nyko
Hands on with the Eton Raptor, and I can’t stop talking about it
The Mini – Might get Someone to Use their Digital Picture Frame
New Insurance App Helps you Remember your Important Stuff
Gadget Thumbnails for 07-Apr-2011
Nikon D5100 digital SLR camera
Harman announces JBL Cinema 300 and Cinema 500 speaker systems
Big Brother Birdhouse
Rowbike lets you burn that fat off

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 05:11 PM PDT

I always enjoy trying out video game accessories from Nyko, and I finally got to try the upgrade for the Wand with the Wand Plus.

I remember being quite sarcastic about the Wand, as it looked quite similar to the Wiimote. I believe that the Wand Plus is a genuine upgrade as it has Full Motion Technology, which means that it is essentially 1:1 movement tracking that works with all the Wii Motion Plus games without that silly little dongle.

Other upgrades seem pretty ordinary like the enlarged 1 and 2 buttons, rubberized B trigger, and re-worked d-pad. It also has the Trans-port Technology, which makes it very compatible with accessories with pass through key buttons. The accessories include the Pistol Grip, which is a gun attachment for the controller.

I have heard that the Wand + works well for classic and horizontal game play, but I had a problem with the horizontal form factor when I was playing Mario Kart Wii. For some reason, hitting the B Button often did not work, or had a delayed reaction. If you have a Wand +, and have experienced the same symptom, please leave a comment.

The Wand + is about $39.99, which is about fifteen dollars more than the original Wand. You can purchase it here at the Nyko online store.

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Hands on with the Wand + from Nyko copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Hands on with the Eton Raptor, and I can’t stop talking about it

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 04:38 PM PDT

We have reported on Eton products several times before such as the Solarlink FR360 or our hands-on review with the Scorpion. I got a chance to see Eton at CES last January, and they announced the Raptor then.

I finally got a chance to try the Raptor out for myself, and it is just as versatile as Eton’s other products. This one doesn’t have a hand-crank for power, but a huge solar power panel. It can also get power from its 1800mAh rechargeable lithium ion battery via DC input (5V) or a mini-USB plug. (By the way, only the mini-USB plug is included.)

The Raptor is one of those devices that you want to have around in and emergency, and does pretty much almost anything. It has a digital radio tuner that does AM, FM, WB, and has the NOAA weather alert too. It also has 10 AM and 10 FM station presets. The digital display has a chronograph with alarm, altimeter, barometer, and compass.

It all comes in a package that can be in orange, green, and black. It has a clip for a belt loop and even a bottle opener! Okay, I am finished all of its features, and if you want to get it, feel free to go to the Eton Webstore for about $150.00.

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[ Hands on with the Eton Raptor, and I can’t stop talking about it copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The Mini – Might get Someone to Use their Digital Picture Frame

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:25 PM PDT

I don't even like to cover digital frames anymore, I mean, everyone has one, and everyone has given at least two as a gift. I know I have, and three birthdays later, my mother in law is still begging me to set hers up, it seems like the people that would actually enjoy using a digital frame, are the least likely to be able to set it up easily…

Luckily, digital photo frame manufacturer Isabella Products, has launched a new product, the Isabella Mini. This USB dongle makes regular digital frames and TVs wireless, and it's users will be able to receive emailed photos direct to their screens from their contacts. Photos can be sent to the Mini from a phone (email or MMS), Internet, PC or even from online galleries like Photobucket.

The Mini also offers real-time sharing as you can receive photos of important memories from anyone, anywhere in real time, by way of the Mini's 3G mobile broadband connection. So send out some invites to friends and family and allow them the opportunity to immediately begin sharing their photos right to Grandma's Mini.

The Mini is ultra portable too, so gran just has to plug it in to a friend's tv or a digital photo frame in order to bore them, I mean show them, pictures of her beautiful, wildly sucessful family.

Set up is so simple mom can do it alone, without 12 phone calls to you. Just plug it in and Mini is ready to receive photos from just about anywhere. No need to view photos from memory cards, when friends and family can email their photos directly to Grandma's Mini… you know, the one she's getting for THIS birthday.

The Mini will be available very soon on www.vizitme.com and will run about $99 bucks. Isabella also charges $79 a year for its VizitMe service, which will allow you to upload up to 1,450 photos a year and access AT&T's network. The monthly plan costs about $6 and lets you upload 100 photos a month.

Source: www.isabellaproducts.com

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ The Mini – Might get Someone to Use their Digital Picture Frame copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

New Insurance App Helps you Remember your Important Stuff

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 10:16 AM PDT

Today, our insurance company is coming out to inspect our home, they asked me on the phone yesterday about what the contents of the home should be insured for and, as I looked around I thought how much money IS all this garbage I've collected over the years worth? it hit me, this is a huge project… I've got a lot more money invested in "stuff" than I ever imagined…

Well, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners has got something that will certainly help, myHOME Scr.APP.book, a brand new iPhone application that lets its users quickly and easily photograph and capture images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers, and then store them electronically for safekeeping. The app organizes information room by room, and even creates back-up files for e-mail sharing. So as I look around my house and realize all the things I would never have remembered I even had, I have an easy way to make sure these possessions are documented and fully protected.

When choosing homeowners insurance, it's pretty common for folks to care more about the value of the home than about their possessions inside, in fact when disaster strikes, they get only about half of what their stuff was actually worth. I can see now, that it's important to recognize all the “stuff” in your home that warrants special protection. Insurable items do not only include luxury items like jewelry, art and electronics, but also fun purchases like *gasp* my husbands golfclubs and sports collectables. It would be a real shame if those disappeared.

So I guess I'm happy to keep my stuff, it would honestly be too much work to replace it, but I learned something else too… I really gotta dust more.

Get your free myHOME Scr.APP.book app for iPhone® users by visiting the iTunes App Store or searching ‘NAIC’ in the app store from your iPhone.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ New Insurance App Helps you Remember your Important Stuff copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Gadget Thumbnails for 07-Apr-2011

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:56 AM PDT

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Gadget Thumbnails for 07-Apr-2011 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Nikon D5100 digital SLR camera

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 06:30 AM PDT

Targeting a new digital camera? If a DSLR is your cup of tea, then Nikon might reel you in to their camp with the D5100 DSLR. This will be a new 16.2-megapixel shooter, as it will definitely come with a wide range of innovative features that will offer photographers the tools to go beyond creative constraints and let one take visual storytelling to another level – not to mention the ability to shoot HD movies as well, just like any other self-respecting DSLR camera ought to be able to do these days.

For starters, the Nikon D5100 will come with an impressive 3″ super sharp 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD screen, full HD (1080p) movie recording capability with full-time autofocus, as well as in-camera effects which you can apply right on the spot to photos and movies so that everyone else can follow your creative expression all the better.

With the D5100, it doesn’t matter if you’re a pro or not – regardless of your level, you can be confident of pulling off difficult shots as well thanks to the aforementioned swing-out style Vari-angle LCD display, giving you access to new angles that you would not have managed to pull of using a standard DSLR. This extremely sharp LCD display comes with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 921,000-dot resolution, where you can rotate it 180 degrees horizontally and vertically to boot.

If you love being in control, then the Nikon D5100 is one versatile puppy, coming with advanced camera features that will include full manual controls (P,S,A,M on the mode dial), letting one control the camera's aperture and shutter speeds in a jiffy. The moment you capture that Kodak moment, you will be able to take advantage of the flexible retouch menu which allows you to apply extra in-camera effects and editing options.

Sporting a wide ISO range of 100-6400 (which can be expanded to a staggering 25,600 ISO) ought to be a confidence booster for photographers as they attempt to shoot in outdoor and indoor low-light situations – heck, you can also use just your hands sans tripod in low noise conditions. Nikon's Active D-lighting feature will also do its part in keeping shadows and highlights consistent for even exposures.

Expect the Nikon D5100 DSLR to arrive in the US from the middle of this month onwards, where it will retail for $799.95 for the body only, and $899.95 for the body and lens outfit which comprises of the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens.

Press Release

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[ Nikon D5100 digital SLR camera copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Harman announces JBL Cinema 300 and Cinema 500 speaker systems

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Looking for a new speaker system for your home? That’s where the JBL Cinema 300 and Cinema 500 speaker systems intend to fit the bill, using the expertise of JBL engineers to make it possible for movie soundtracks being brought to life right in the comfort of your living room. Both of these speaker systems are among the smallest and most stylish that Harman has ever produced, offering a complete 5.1 home theater package that delivers a lot of clarity.

Not only do the Cinema 300 and 500 systems look good on the outside, they were also specially designed with signature JBL Weave aesthetic styling in mind. You can bet your bottom dollar that all components in each package were engineered and designed to work as an entire system, delivering optimal performance to your ears. A quartet of identical satellites are voice-matched to the center for consistent sound from speaker to speaker. Not only that, these systems employ a couple of PolyPlas cones in the center channel.

The Cinema series will come with a 150-watt powered subwoofer coupled with a fast-moving 8-inch (200mm) woofer. It isn’t the same as that of conventional front-firing drivers, the subwoofer will definitely interact with the floor instead of nearby walls, resulting in you experiencing what true entertainment is all about regardless of the movie you’re watching. Of course, it would make more sense if you start looking more at your DVD or Blu-ray movie collection to get the most explosive aural experience possible.

The JBL Cinema 300 system can be yours for $499, and if you want the JBL Cinema 500 system, it will cost you another $200 on top of that. Right now, what kind of home theater systems are you using, and do you think it is time for an upgrade? Surely getting either one is worth the investment since you need not change it too often like a video game console.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Harman announces JBL Cinema 300 and Cinema 500 speaker systems copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Big Brother Birdhouse

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 05:30 AM PDT

Love your feathered friends, but you do not want to go through the hassle of building a birdhouse from ground up (or do not know how to)? Good thing there is always a prepaid package, and the Big Brother Birdhouse could fit the bill perfectly. Retailing for £49.99, getting the Big Brother Birdhouse will also let you install it in your home without feeling corny – since those who are busybodies would notice a security camera instead.

Hopefully the birds outside won’t be equally fooled by the exterior that looks like a CCTV camera, and will turn it into their own love nest in due time. Of course, we would expect you to install your own CCTV camera system in addition to this if you’re a paranoid android.

Made out of wood and stainless steel, just make sure you have the heart to place this in a shaded area to avoid over heating the birdhouse. DIY knowledge would come highly recommended of course.

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Big Brother Birdhouse copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Rowbike lets you burn that fat off

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 05:00 AM PDT

The best time to start exercising is always now, so if you think that taking the old school route of swimming or jogging isn’t attractive enough for you (even with an iPod attached to your ears), then you might want to consider picking up the Rowbike.

This is one exercise apparatus which is touted to merge the full-body workout of rowing with the exhilarating ride of a recumbent bicycle. You’d be interested to know who invented the Rowbike – it is the brainchild of Scott Olson, the creator of Rollerblade inline skates, where this two-wheeler will be propelled by rowing with its handlebar, helping transmit power to a chain-driven rear wheel.

Since the Rowbike will see to it that all your major muscle groups will get their fair due of sweat alongside cardio conditioning, it offers double the workout in half the time. It also lets you exercise amidst ever-changing scenery and terrain outdoors so that your workouts will remain challenging and fresh. There is a thumb-operated gearshift that has been mounted to the handlebar.

It might cost you $1,400, but at least that is the equivalent of a year’s worth of gym membership so you might as well make it count.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Rowbike lets you burn that fat off copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]