Thursday, April 28, 2011

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets


QTvan is the World’s Smallest Caravan

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 04:22 PM PDT

Some of you might remember that we just covered the McCar, a car that has a scooter in back. Imagine a scooter that drags something that is the equivalent of the space of a car.

This is the QTvan, and it is designed specifically for scooter users. You can see how it attaches behind to be dragged behind this guy, and I suppose that one could use this for some serious short trips. It has a range of only 30 miles, and can go only six miles per hour.

It really has a lot of interesting features inside like a 19-inch flat-screen television, radio, alarm clock book shelves, and a full sized single bed. It also has a “tea-service”, but I’m not certain what that means. However, it comes with a kettle.

What I don’t know is what powers these nifty features. I am assuming that an extension cord will have to get involved with this, and something has to power that scooter as well.

This might be a terrific way for a blogger like to travel the nation, but I will have to admit that its limited range is an issue. I also have to bring up the security of the QTvan, as it looks like anyone could get in and swipe the TV.

Source


Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ QTvan is the World’s Smallest Caravan copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Cool Leaf Mirror Keyboard is now a reality

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 04:01 PM PDT

About a year ago, we covered some concept products known as Cool Leaf, a keyboard with a mirrored surface. Generally, I don’t have much confidence in concept technology, but it is refreshing to see that Japanese company Minebea actually is going to sell the Cool Leaf keyboard.

The Mirrored keyboard is possible as the reflective surface is essentially one big capacitive touch panel. Though you may not hear any clickity-click of the keys, it has haptic feedback to give you a little vibration when you hit the keys.

One of the best parts is the easy clean option. All the user has to do is give it a good wipe, and it is clean. No more dust getting caught in between the keys anymore!

Now for the price. The Cool Leaf is about $318, and will be on sale in Japan for about $318. The Minebea Cool Leaf keyboard is only available in a Japanese variant and only works with a Windows computer, but it will be released with an English, German, French, and Italian layout later in the summer.

I am wondering if the Φ-Calculators and Φ-Remotes will be available soon. Those are calculators and TV remote controls that have that same mirrored surface. Perhaps this reflective look could be a new standard of accessories.

Source


Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Cool Leaf Mirror Keyboard is now a reality copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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The last typewriter company is no more, as is the typewriter

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 03:42 PM PDT

An India-based typewriter manufacturing company known as Godrej and Boyce has just closed its doors, which means that no typewriters will ever be on the market again.

The company states that since the early 2000′s and upwards, computers dominated the market. All the other manufacturers of office typewriters ceased, but Godrej and Boyce continued to make ten to twelve thousand of these typewriting machines until 2009. Now, it is down to 200 typewriters in its stock.

It is hard to believe that this is the end of the typewriter, but we shouldn’t really be surprised. The only reason we kept them around is to fill in official documents. However, these documents are now on computers, and it is just easier to fill in the documents on a computer and print out both. Especially now when most documents are available online.

I suppose that it is time to salute our old friend. Granted, I won’t miss its terrible ability to correct errors, but its invention did lead to advancements like the word processor.

It’s hard to believe that I learned to type on an old fashioned typewriter, but most of it was on a computer. It kind of makes me feel old. My children have never had to use a typewriter, and, if they ever get a chance to use one, they will probably approach it like I would approach the telegraph.

Source


Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ The last typewriter company is no more, as is the typewriter copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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5″ Angry Birds Plush with Sound

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 06:00 AM PDT



Now this is one cash cow – or should I say, cash bird, that needs to be milked for all it is worth while still possible? I’m talking about the Angry Birds franchise, where you will now be able to carry those pesky avian friends in the comfort of your bosom while letting out their signature sound – sans the creaking of the catapult, of course.

The 5″ Angry Birds Plush with Sound can be triggered simply by tapping its forehead, and you can choose from birds or pigs – subject to availability, of course. These are soft and hand-washable plushes, and are actually officially licensed Rovio (Angry Birds) products. At $9.99 a pop, they aren’t exactly cheap nor expensive, but you might just want to hurl it at your mate or friend during one of those more boring moments at home.

Just imagine the audio chaos that occurs when you decide to go all out with a pillow fight using these!


Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ 5″ Angry Birds Plush with Sound copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Military Mosquito Countermeasure

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 05:30 AM PDT

Getting bitten by bugs, especially those blood sucking mosquitoes, isn’t anyone’s idea of fun when camping in the great outdoors, don’t you think so? We too, subscribe to a similar idea, which is why we tend to look out for gizmos such as the Military Mosquito Countermeasure. The name itself is pretty much self-explanatory – after all, if it is good enough for military personnel who are abroad, surely it is good enough for those of us back home, right?

Proven to be up to 98% effective in repelling mosquitoes in field tests that were conducted by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, this neat little gizmo will rely on d-cis/trans allethrin, a synthetic version of a naturally occurring insecticide that is commonly found in chrysanthemum. Perfect for those who spend plenty of time outdoors be it gardening, camping, or other forms of recreation, this countermeasure will slide into an included pouch that is equipped with belt loops and a sturdy clip, making it a snap to tote around.

A 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ mat that is saturated with repellent will be slid into a metal grill, where a butane-fueled heater vaporizes the repellent to create a 15′ x 15′ zone that is virtually unbearable for mosquitoes and other biting insects. Each $34.95 purchase comes with a sole butane cartridge and a trio of ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent mats, where the former lasts up to a dozen hours, while the latter lasts 1/3 of that.


Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Military Mosquito Countermeasure copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Gadget Thumbnails for 26-Apr-2011

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 10:01 PM PDT

Star Wars Chop Sabers

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 05:00 AM PDT

Forget about the power of the fork, you have the Force to help you pick up those slippery noodles from a bowl and shove them into your mouth – strand by strand, thanks to the Star Wars Chop Sabers. Of course, you can always choose to align yourself to the Light Side or the Dark Side, it doesn’t matter – after all, money is neutral, and as long as you decide to part with £9.99, Firebox is willing to let you have your pair of saber chopsticks of your choice.

You can choose from Darth Maul, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker models, where they can be pre-ordered for a May 9th release. Perfect for holding that geek party while ordering Chinese food from a nearby takeaway. Bear in mind that these are officially licensed products from Lucasfilm and hail from Japan, so you might even want to bring these over to your favorite Japanese restaurant the next time you head out to eat.


Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Star Wars Chop Sabers copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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The Only Inflatable Dog Shower

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 04:30 AM PDT

Dogs aren’t self-cleaning like cats, although they tend to lick at their wounds until the sore starts to fester – so make sure your four legged buddy remains nice and clean at all times by sending Fido to a bath, or doing it yourself. Unfortunately for those of us living in apartments, it isn’t so conducive to bath a dog in the apartment itself, never mind if you have a large breed like a labrador. What can you do then?

How about The Only Inflatable Dog Shower? This is touted to be the only dog shower of its kind that will inflates in just five minutes, making it a snap to set up, where it can also folds to a mere 24″ x 14″ for unobtrusive storage once you’re done. The unit itself comes with a handheld showerhead which will emits water at 7 different levels, ranging from a gentle, soothing mist to a vigorous stream which is capable of penetrating even the thickest coats so that pet hair can be removed in addition to dead skin cells.

The showerhead sports a 52″-long hose that lets you wash a dog’s paws, underbody, and other hard-to-reach areas in a jiffy, while 32 sprayers along the inside of the shower will deliver additional cleaning. With 21″-high walls, it will keep the water inside the shower while letting you access Fido without any obstruction. Made out of puncture resistant PVC and nylon, each $119.95 purchase will come with an electric air pump.


Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ The Only Inflatable Dog Shower copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Origin PC offers overclocked processors in EON17-S gaming laptop

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 08:25 PM PDT



Gamers are an extremely discerning lot, and some of them can be more picky than the rest. It doesn’t matter if their gaming skills aren’t exactly up to par with the rest of your clan mates, but as long as you have the best hardware on the market, then that alone is enough for bragging rights. This has led to hardware companies churning out some rather souped up machines that tend to force you to part with your hard earned cash, but it won’t do nuts to improve your gaming skills.

So what if you can eke another 3 more frames per second in Crysis 2? That will not change anything, and your eyes probably will not notice any of the changes, either. Still, that has not stopped Origin PC from announcing the availability of overclocked processors in the EON17-S gaming laptop, which we will cover in greater detail in the extended post.

Boasting the second generation Intel Sandy Bridge platform alongside the range of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M graphics cards, these laptops are touted to be the most powerful among the Origin PC range. Boasting of updated B3 stepping motherboards as well as the ability to be overclocked, not to mention having Turbo Boost technology that lets Origin engineers successfully increase the speed and power of the processor without impacting system stability or longevity.

EON17-S laptops that can be overclocked are fully covered by Origin’s unsurpassed warranty, which will comprise of free part replacements, free shipping, and free lifetime support. To get a better idea on what the EON17-S offers right out of the box, here are some of the features and specifications :-

  • 17.3″ Full HD Widescreen, LED Backlit, 16.9, 1920 x 1080 (1080p)
  • Customizable ORIGIN top cover
  • 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 Processors
  • Overclocking up to 4.5GHz with Turbo Boost on Core i7 Extreme Edition processors
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M 1.5GB or GTX485M 2GB
  • FOUR Memory Slots for up to 32GB Dual Channel DDR3 1333Mhz or 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz
  • Bluray burner & reader, Hybrid and SSD drive with RAID options
  • Full size keyboard with numeric pad
  • HDMI Out; Optical Digital Out, up to 7.1 HD Audio with THX TruStudio support
  • Built-In 802.11n & Bluetooth Support
  • Bluetooth 3.0 & Wireless Video options
  • Built-In TVtuner support
  • Built-in USB 3.0 & E-SATA ports
  • (W)16.22″ x (D)10.87″ x (H)1.65″ – 1.79"
  • 8.6 lbs with the battery

Press Release


Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Origin PC offers overclocked processors in EON17-S gaming laptop copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Calibur11 Vault case system

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 08:00 PM PDT

When it comes to the world of video games, there are those who do not really bother with the kind of systems that they have – as in, the case can come in any color, it does not matter as long as it can play their latest and favorite titles. As for the rest of the folks out there, they might prefer something which is more solid – helping them stand out from the rest of the crowd especially when it comes to video game parties as you tote your console over to your friend’s place.

Calibur11 knows this, which is why it decided to expand on that particular market with the Vault case system. The Vault case system comprises of a high-quality and customizable case range that will arrive this coming May 10th on major online retailers such as Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, GameStop.com and Walmart.com, and depending on your needs, these stylish cases can be customized by color and accessory, and will ensure complete protection over the slim version of the Xbox 360 console.

Of course, we do wonder what will happen to those who rock to Sony PS3s and Nintendo Wiis? They will just have to wait or sit this one out anyways, so there’s that. In the mean time, let us see what Calibur11 offers with the Vault’s launch. For starters, Calibur11 will offer a free, personalized nameplate that is worth $17.95 to everyone who places an order by May 10th.

According to Coy Christmas, CEO of Calibur11, "With unmatched protection and complete customization, our Vault product line offers a tremendous value to Xbox 360 owners. Our engineering team spent months developing the most efficient, performance-enhancing design so that the Base Vault not only protects your investment but optimizes air flow for better performance."

What will you get right out of the box? We are looking at better stability thanks to an industrial grade foot chassis, and the Base Vaults will arrive in an array of popular colors where individual ones can be customized via a range of accessories, including controller and headphone holders. Not only that, you can also opt for personalized nameplates if you happen to want to give it as a gift, and there are 10 background templates to choose from, where each of them can be customized with a tagline in the font and color of your choice.

Calibur11's Base Vaults will retail for $59.95 a pop, and if you decide on customized nameplates, those will cost $17.95.


Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Calibur11 Vault case system copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Verizon Wireless announces HTC DROID Incredible 2

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 07:40 PM PDT



Another day, another smartphone is being prepared to hit the market. Of course, HTC has become quite the tour de force to be reckoned with where smartphones are concerned, delivering stunning hardware with their vaunted HTC Sense user interface skin to make it the best Android experience out there to date – even Samsung’s TouchWiz cannot come close. Well, there are also Windows Phone 7 handsets from HTC, but that is a different story for another day. For now, we will concentrate on Verizon Wireless and its announcement for the HTC DROID Incredible 2.

This will be a handset that will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless, where you will be able to pick it up in a couple of days’ time in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com – of course, do expect the standard $199.99 price tag for a high end handset, while agreeing to a new two-year customer agreement as well.

The HTC DROID Incredible 2 will continue where its predecessor, the popular HTC DROID Incredible left off – you will not get Android 2.3 Gingerbread right out of the box though, but you will at least have Android 2.2 Froyo to play around with, a crisp 4″ super LCD display, a next-generation 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 3G Mobile Hotspot connectivity that lets you hook up to five different Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

Sporting the now vaunted HTC Sense experience, the HTC DROID Incredible 2 will not fall short in any way when it comes to advanced personalization options, where you will also be able to enjoy consolidated email capability and unique camera effects and filters. With a sleek design that comes in an all-black body (hello, fingerprints!), the DROID Incredible 2 merges both functionality and speed into one stylish package. This will be a global handset, and among the other features include :-

  • 8.0-megapixel main camera with dual LED flash
  • 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
  • 720p HD video capture plus DLNA to share multimedia content with a compatible TV
  • Adobe Flash Player
  • SRS WOWHD surround sound
  • Automatic face detection for more accurate pictures
  • Integrated noise-cancellation technology

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Verizon Wireless announces HTC DROID Incredible 2 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Tout.com – Share the Moment

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 07:39 PM PDT

First there was Twitter for instantly gratifying text-based communication, but now there is Tout… delivering the same instant gratification, only this time, via video, So let's call it "instant visual communication." The ability to update your Facebook friends and Twitter followers with short video status updates that can be captured with your smartphone.

Each "Tout" is a short smartphone video of around 15 seconds or less, and provides a new, streamlined way to connect, communicate, update status and engage with friends and followers. Seeing is believing… and a whole lot more fun than reading.

“Some moments in life just can’t be reflected in text.  Tout delivers “life as it happens” in full-motion color and sound, as opposed to ‘life as it’s written in 140 characters or less,’” explains Tout founder and CEO Michael Downing.  ”Not everybody has witty and well-crafted writing skills to express themselves in blogs or Tweets, but we all have unique visual perspective and, these perspectives will be the basis of a new form of conversation and storytelling moving forward.”

The Tout application is already available for free download at the iPhone App store, and once downloaded enables users to point, shoot and share short, real-time “video status updates” with friends.  At the Tout website, users can follow family, friends and people with shared interests and also get real-time updates as they “Tout” moments from their lives. This is either going to be really fun, or really, really scary. Let’s face it, there are just some things you will never be able to “un-see.”

 


Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Tout.com – Share the Moment copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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DON-8r robot raises money for charities

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 07:32 PM PDT



Who would have thought that a simple robot could actually be used for raising money for charities? Then again, that is not so strange. After all, we have seen skeptical looks dropping on normal folks who go from table to table in public places, wearing a badge that endorses where they came from, which organization they are representing in order to collect money from the public. Many of us have felt cheated in the past after giving our money away, only to read of a particular money-collecting scam in the papers a few days later. With the DON-8r, this coin powered robot might be more appealing to have us part with our money.

After all, charities do need to reinvent themselves in order to look for new methods of raising funds while making sure their profile is enhanced, which is why the Dundee Science Centre has apparently hit the proverbial jackpot, thanks to this an innovative idea which will not only attract attention but hopefully in the process, cash as well.

DON-8r (pronounced ‘donator’) will be a tiny, fund-raising robot which is capable of traveling through public spaces including shopping centres, relying upon the public’s generosity in the form of coin donations so that it can continue moving. To put it mildly, each drop of a coin will not only power DON-8r but also goes directly towards supporting a chosen charity.

The brain behind this idea? Product designer Tim Pryde, and a fully working DON-8r has already been wowing shoppers in Dundee, Scotland, as it goes about raising both money and awareness for Dundee Science Centre.

Tim Pryde is a 21 year old final year student at the University of Dundee, and this is what he has to say about his project, "I developed DON-8r as a device to get people more personally involved with raising funds for charities. I was inspired by the increasingly negative attitude that many people have towards on-the-street charity workers. Rather than approaching them and supporting their charity, people will often go out of their way to avoid them. DON-8r is my response to this, an engaging and approachable robot that raises money for charities through encouraging playful and empathetic support from strangers and
passers-by. DON-8r navigates obstacles as it moves about on a random path for a set length of time. It then waves its flag, calls for assistance and pulses with light until it receives another donation from another passer-by. Always polite, DON-8r thanks the generosity and repeats its journey."


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[ DON-8r robot raises money for charities copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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