Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

The DXG-5B1V 1080p Underwater Camcorder
Rubik’s Cube Speaker
Archos tablets offer the best of both worlds
Archos 35 Smart Home Phone
Archos 35 Home Connect web radio
South Park Kyle Talking Bobble Head
miScroll yet another tablet to join the crowd
Kobo eReader Touch Edition now available at Borders
Aimi Eguchi looks real on screen, but she’s CG
The Amenbo five-finger mouse

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 02:49 PM PDT

Now that summertime is in swing where I live, I figure I am going to be going to the pool a lot with my kids. Since my wife is going to want to get it all on video, I am going to need a camera that can deal with the water.

Fortunately, DXG has the 5B1V, a HD camcorder that can go up to 10 feet deep in the water. It is rated at IPX8 grade, so it can take some immersion and some splashes.

According to the official website, it takes still pictures up to 12 Megapixels, but the box says about 16 Megapixels. At least the box and site are both consistent in saying that it shoots video at 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps.

So how does it achieve its power of waterproofing? The compartment that holds the battery and SD card locks with waterproofing capacity. The same is true about the HDMI port and mini USB port. I’m guessing that you want to make certain that these things are locked before you take it to the pool, beach, shower, or whatever wet environment that you are filming.

If you are looking for this type of action, then you should be able to get on the DXG site and lay down $169.99 for the DXG-5B1V.

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[ The DXG-5B1V 1080p Underwater Camcorder copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Rubik’s Cube Speaker

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 10:07 AM PDT

Ever toyed around with the Rubik’s Cube when you were a whole lot younger? Surely without this thing called the Internet, most folks would have given up solving this particularly interesting puzzle. Of course, there will be others out there who would remove the stickers on the Rubik’s Cube and paste them elsewhere to show that they have ‘completed’ this puzzle. Well, kudos to them for creative thinking!

Back to the Rubik’s Cube Speaker – this little device has a bark that is worse than its bite, playing nice with all sound sources that rely on a 3.5mm headset jack. Since it can be juiced up via USB, that means there is no need for any batteries that eventually end up in the land fill somewhere. The Rubik’s Cube Speaker can be yours at an extremely cute $29.99.

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[ Rubik’s Cube Speaker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Archos tablets offer the best of both worlds

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 10:02 AM PDT

French-based Archos has just announced their latest entries in the ever growing tablet market, where they intend to merge both speed and storage in the latest range of its tablets, carrying along with them an OMAP 4 processor with an ARM Cortex dual-core 1.5GHz A9 processor, in addition to Seagate's 250GB hard drive to get you started right out of the box. There will be several screen sizes to choose from, where among them would be the 8" Archos 80 G9 and 10" Archos 101 G9.

Both models will run on the latest Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system so that you can enjoy the latest version the moment you unwrap the packaging with your excited, bare hands. This sure as heck beats waiting for a new update to arrive Over The Air (OTA), as that might just take months after a device’s release to see that happen. Don’t believe us? Ask those who use Android-powered Sony Ericsson handsets…

The Archos G9 tablets will sihp with Google's full suite of mobile applications and Android Market, instantly opening up the doorway for you to enjoy more than 200,000 applications including games, books, social media and news. The latest version of Honeycomb that is thrown into the mix will also see G9 tablets deliver a full web experience alongside Adobe Flash support for on-the-go web browsing, communication and applications.

Want to remain connected to the Internet? That’s a snap with its built-in 3G connectivity, doing away with the need for you to choose between a Wi-Fi and 3G model. Interestingly enough, the Archos G9 tablets too can decode 1080p H264 High Profile videos, which is superior to most of the other standard tablets in the market that lack even the processing firepower to play 720p videos smoothly.

Archos knows that times are hard as well, which is why they are offering an 8″ tablet from $279 and the 10.1″ model will start from $349 onwards.

Press Release

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[ Archos tablets offer the best of both worlds copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Archos 35 Smart Home Phone

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 09:39 AM PDT

Just about everyone and their dog owns a smartphone these days – OK, so I jest, our four legged furry friends don’t need no phone to keep in touch with you, but you ought to have at least brushed shoulders with Messrs. iOS and Android before, haven’t you? Well, it seems that the smartphone might get a complementary device in the form of the Archos 35 Smart Home Phone, where it will hook up via Wi-Fi while delivering awesome sound quality no matter where you are.

Home phones are a dying breed due to people not really seeing the need for them, but the Archos 35 Smart Home Phone might just change their minds, although we do not think that it is influential enough to turn the tide against public opinion that owning a home phone is not cool. If you’ve always wished that your home phone would be somewhat similar to a smartphone and its functionalities, then you won’t go wrong with the Archos 35 Smart Home Phone.

Merging the best of a DECT phone and a smartphone, the Archos 35 will play nice with just about any ADSL box or phone line, relying on standard DECT protocols to let you share your contacts with your Android smartphone, alongside other bridging details such as MP3 ringtones, a caller photo display, access to thousands of Android apps, web surfing, emails and video calling.

Boasting a sleek and stylish design, the Archos 35 Smart Home Phone will be something that you won’t mind leaving on the coffee table but instead, can’t wait to show it off to your mates. With a charging dock that is separate from its wireless receiver, you need not bother yourself to clutter up the home with a humongous dock right next to the phone line.

With the video calling application, you are able to make a from and to a PC or Android smartphone, while a couple more usage options for the built-in front facing webcam would be baby monitoring and video surveillance capabilities. The Archos 35 Smart Home Phone will cost you $159 a pop.

Press Release

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[ Archos 35 Smart Home Phone copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Archos 35 Home Connect web radio

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 09:29 AM PDT

Internet radio is not exactly the newest idea on the block, but there are times where a particular make or model does stand out from the rest of the crowd, and French-based Archos is one of them at the moment – rolling out the Archos 35 Home Connect web radio. What makes the Archos 35 Home Connect so special? Well, this is touted to be the perfect music box, in addition to being the best portable Android device that will stream radio and music anytime, anywhere you are around the home. It is a snap to tote around, where it relies on Wi-Fi connectivity to get the job done.

Touted to arrive later this September, the Archos 35 Home Connect web radio ought to set you back by around $149. What are some of the better web radio recommendations from you?

Press Release

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[ Archos 35 Home Connect web radio copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

South Park Kyle Talking Bobble Head

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 05:36 AM PDT

Kyle Broflovski is one of the more memorable cartoon figures to date, alongside his bunch of merry friends over at the cartoon South Park that is full of vulgarities and yet keeps up with the times. He does seem to have a higher moral standard compared to the rest, not to mention being more patient around Eric Cartman. Well, if you think that you are as level headed as Kyle, you can always check out the South Park Kyle Talking Bobble Head that is going for $11.99, where he will have some handy phrases to light up your day such as "Sick, dude… I'm not kissing a girl! It's just wrong, that's all!".

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ South Park Kyle Talking Bobble Head copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

miScroll yet another tablet to join the crowd

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 04:34 AM PDT

When it comes to the world of tablets, it cannot be denied that the iPad wins hands down compared to the myriad of competitors out there. You hardly see lines forming to pick up the Motorola XOOM, and neither did everyone become super excited concerning the BlackBerry PlayBook (and for good reason, too – that model had some spiffy looking hardware, but when it comes to the software bit, it does tend to disappoint for the moment). Well, there is another tablet that has just entered the fray, looking to target the under 25s market.

Storage Options is the company behind the miScroll tablet, where it is touted to be the world's first personalized tablet for the age group mentioned (under 25s). It will retail for £119.95 a pop, and is actually the 4th addition to the Scroll family, making it the only tablet in the world that will sport a replaceable high capacity battery – perfect whenever you are on a long journey without any power outlet in sight, although the iPad’s battery life can be said to be more than just average in its defense.

Other hardware specifications of the miScroll include 4GB of internal memory, the ability to change its covers with many colors to choose from, distinctive designs to help you stand out from the rest of the crowd, a 1GHz ARM11 processor that is powered by the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system (although we would have liked to see Android 3.0 Honeycomb instead) alongside a built-in camera that allows you to capture your favorite photos without missing a beat.

Tipping the scales at a mere 370 grams, it will function as an excellent portable multimedia hub courtesy of a built-in mini HDMI port for Full HD output (1080p), alongside a mini USB port to make sure you can connect other peripherals including a keyboard or perhaps a powerful sound system. At least you can pick up replacement batteries and covers if the former starts to die off, where you can purchase those for £19.99 while covers go for £14.99 a pop. Any takers so far?

More info available over at Storage Options.

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ miScroll yet another tablet to join the crowd copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Kobo eReader Touch Edition now available at Borders

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 03:34 AM PDT

Looking for a new e-book reader to usher in a new revolution at home so that you need not purchase new Billy bookcases from Ikea? Why, getting an e-book reader is the easy part, but choosing the correct one does take more effort than usual. After all, there are quite a few players out there in the market, so to pick up the Kobo eReader Touch Edition from the crowd could be one of the more astute decisions that you have taken so far.

The Kobo eReader Touch Edition is touted to be the perfect choice for consumers who want a book-like reading experience wherever they are, not to mention being on the receiving end of the very best features available without breaking the bank. Borders.com is now taking in orders for the Kobo eReader Touch Edition, alongside other select Borders stores to boot. Retailing for a mere $129.99 (making it $10 more affordable than the next leading device), the new Kobo eReader Touch will make you feel as though you were turning the pages of a real book – although we would advise against staining the corder of the Kobo with your saliva as some are wont to do before turning a page.

You are able to tote around up to 30,000 books thanks to its expandable memory, while a beautiful new design with a signature quilted back makes sure you can enjoy your reading in ultimate comfort. There is also the intuitive one-touch display which makes navigation, reading and shopping a snap, and you don’t even need a rocket science degree to figure it out in the first place.

With black, white, lilac and blue colors to choose from, it is also touted to be the only international device on the market, with German, Spanish and French versions in the works. Readers will soon be able to enjoy a localized user experience, local content, and recommendations. Other hardware specifications include a no-glare 6″ touchscreen display, courtesy of the latest-generation Pearl eInk display, Reading Life for a more social experience, Wi-Fi connectivity to download the latest books sans wires, and access to the Kobo bookstore

Source: Press release

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[ Kobo eReader Touch Edition now available at Borders copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Aimi Eguchi looks real on screen, but she’s CG

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 11:48 PM PDT

This is Aimi Eguchi, and she is the newest member of AKB48, a Japanese pop group. I have never heard of them, but they recently did a candy commercial, where they introduced Aimi into their ranks.

She certainly gained a quick fanbase, but as it turns out, she is really too good to be true. She is nothing more than an amalgam of the other members of the band.

Seriously, this 150 gigabyte creation is just a CG patchwork creation combining the nose, eyes, mouth, hair, and other facial features of all the members of AKB48. Apparently, there are 61 members in this girl band.

Yes, just imagine if someone took that number of Mrs. Potato Heads, then pick and choose the best features and put them on a new potato. In all honesty, I think this new computer generated lady would have fooled me.

I suppose that I am having flashbacks to the movie S1M0NE, where Al Pacino creates a computer generated actress who becomes a worldwide phenomenon. Considering that the film was written by Andrew Niccol, this makes him two for three for technological prophecies that have come true.

The other movie that Niccol has written was The Truman Show, and we really didn’t listen to its warning about reality TV. I hope that we heed the warnings of one of his other films: Gattaca.

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Aimi Eguchi looks real on screen, but she’s CG copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The Amenbo five-finger mouse

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 10:58 PM PDT

I suppose that “the five fingered mouse” is the best description of this device. It certainly is the most dramatic.

So let’s just say hello to the Amenbo, a five-finger input device developed by the Double Research and Development Company. As you can see, there five little mice affixed to a palm-resting device by five wire ribbons.

You can watch a demonstration after the jump to see how it works, and I can definitely see how it can greatly benefit the world of computer graphics. If you have ever worked in three-dimensional space before, then you know that the regular mouse is not enough with its two-dimensional functionality.

The company suggests that the Amenbo has other uses, like games. They even compare it to the Kinect, but the Amenbo can detect pressure. I honestly imagined an interface with two Amenbos (I am assuming that is plural of this), as a new type of typewriter.

That would certainly make it “a new bland of welfare equipment”. If you don’t know what I am talking about, then you should see the poster behind the device on the video. That phrase makes no sense to me, and I can’t help but wonder if some translation program didn’t do it’s job. Perhaps “a new kind of interface” would be a better slogan.