Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Jul 29, 2011

Friday, July 29, 2011

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Slip ‘N Slide Hockey Rink
SK Telecom’s Smart Cart
Insect-like robot can literally walk on water
Hypnocube Animated LED Cube
Aqua Phone Case
Sharkoon X-Tactic SR gaming headset ships this August 16th
TOYin3D lets you view stereoscopic 3D content on smartphones

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 11:06 AM PDT

Summer is on where I am at, and it is a hot one. I recently got one of those Slip ‘N Slides for my daughter, but I wish I would have purchased this one.

I’m not certain how this Water Soaked Knee Hockey Rink compares to real hockey, and I think it would be better to compare this toy to Air Hockey.

This toy that you see in the picture here uses water from 30 tiny nozzles around it, and it makes the surface super slick. I like the over-sized puck, as it looks like a soft frisbee.

It certainly looks like a lot of fun, but one thing I have discovered about these slip and slides is that the ground is usually never too soft. In other words, watch out for the falls.

I would imagine that kids could break out into a fight with these particular sticks. I suppose that the penalty box will have to be off the “ice”. I wonder if parents will have to be referee here.

If you want to get this, you should be able to get it at the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog for about $49.95. You should probably get in on this deal before summer gets to fall.

Source

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Slip ‘N Slide Hockey Rink copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

SK Telecom’s Smart Cart

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 10:34 AM PDT

Some of you might remember when we reported on the virtual grocery store at train stations, and here is another advancement in grocery shopping technology with SK Telecom’s “Smart Cart”.

The “Smart Cart” has a tablet that can sync with your smartphone, and it knows where you are in the store. Yes, the cart has an app that syncs up with the store’s Wi-Fi network for “real indoor positioning”.

As customers walk through the aisles, the tablet will display deals. For example, if you’re going through the cookie aisle, you might see a quick virtual coupon show up for Oreos or Fig Newtons. It will also inform you of updates on new products as well.

So far, the SK Telecom “Smart Cart” program is a pilot program in Shanghai’s Lotus Supermarkets. I suppose that if it is successful, it will be adopted by others.

So is this what we’re looking at? A future where every shopping cart has a tablet? If they can fit together like regular shopping carts, I don’t see why not.

However, if every cart is going to have a tablet PC on it, that represents a big investment, as tablet PCs are expensive. Perhaps it would be easier to create a tablet mount for each cart, and the customer can bring in their own cart to sync with the app.

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ SK Telecom’s Smart Cart copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Insect-like robot can literally walk on water

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 10:02 AM PDT

I’m sure most of you know about insects like the water strider that have water-repellant legs to allow them to walk on the water’s surface . It is nice to see that technology has imitated mother nature yet again as scientists in China have created a microbot that walks on water.

The robot is slightly larger than most water-striding insects as it is six inches long. It is also about 400 times heavier than a water strider, and it uses 10 water-repellent wire legs and 2 oar like legs to skim across water.

I think that it is pretty amazing that the researchers from the Harbin Institute of Technology’s School of Chemical Engineering and Technology have managed to replicate this process. It took a lot of studying in the water striders’ natural habitat, and it was time well spent.

So what can you do with something like this? Perhaps you can build a giant nautical vehicle that people can ride. Actually, that doesn’t appear to be the plan, but something like this can help scientists with water quality surveillance, water pollution monitoring, and stuff like that. Is it just me, or am I the only one who wants to ride a water-walking jet ski? Yeah, I like to imagine what to do with technology.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Insect-like robot can literally walk on water copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Hypnocube Animated LED Cube

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 06:30 AM PDT

Sometimes, you just sit right there in front of your computer monitor when there are tons of work piling up right behind you. You are two months behind your mortgage payment, your wife just got laid off, and the car needs an overhaul – quickly. All that stress might result in you stare into space like a zombie, leading to a performance downgrade by your superior for being ‘idle’ at work.

Why not get something to stare at for real in the form of the Hypnocube Animated LED Cube? That way, the eagle-eyed boss might just keep his eyes on this cube instead of your non-performance issues and zoned out moments as well. This cube comprises of flashing LED lights inside – all 64 of them, showing off a light show that will certainly mesmerize. Heck, at $99.99 a pop, it might just stop more people in their tracks than a $1,000 handbag.

The animated light show is said to run for over 30 minutes without repeating itself once – try watching it and be mesmerized, losing count in the process. Each purchase comes with a power adapter, so when there is a blackout in the area, you would do best to stick to physical tasks around the office since there’s nothing to look at then.

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Hypnocube Animated LED Cube copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Aqua Phone Case

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT

If you are that busy and need to answer your phone even when you participate in watersports or go swimming, then you would wish that some engineer out there actually managed to discover a way to mechanize fish’s gills and incorporate it into the smartphone – but until then, you will need to be happy with the £19.99 Aqua Phone Case. This is a form-fitting waterproof case that will ensure not a drop of water will seep inside to harm your smartphone in any way.

Water is not the only ‘enemy’ that the Aqua Phone Case will prevent from getting into your smartphone’s pants, er, case, as it also provides protection against sand, dust and snow. With a touch-sensitive skin, you can be sure that your touchscreen display will still work, meaning you can play Angry Birds when you go scuba diving the next time around. Perfect for amateur underwater photographers or videographers, don’t you think so?

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Aqua Phone Case copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Sharkoon X-Tactic SR gaming headset ships this August 16th

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 05:30 AM PDT

Gamers can be quite a fussy bunch, especially those who are at the top of the hierarchy. They want nothing less than the best hardware to go along with their skills, and that comes across as no surprise since it is human nature to feel that way. Well, if you are interested in gaming headsets and currently pondering just which model suits your ears (and favorite game) best, perhaps you would do well to consider what the Sharkoon X-Tactic SR gaming headset offers on the table.

CompuExpert has just announced the Sharkoon X-Tactic SR that will ship this coming August 16th in North America as an Amazon.com exclusive. Sharkoon has already picked up accolades in the past for their specially designed gaming headsets, so the Sharkoon X-Tactic SR gaming headset is going to be another potential feather in its cap down the road. Touted to deliver the ultimate in multi-directional audio performance for maximum immersion and combat advantage, the X-Tactic SR is not going to weigh down your ears, letting you play in comfort for hours on end.

To put it in a nutshell, you will be able to hear explosions, commands as well as other kinds of audio quality that the game’s developer intended you to experience it thanks to the Sound Control Unit (SCU) alongside the new 3D Sound Expander. The X-Tactic SR will boast of Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Pro Logic II and Dolby Headphone support, resulting in entirely new sound dimensions which enables you to hear enemies approach from just about any direction – letting you respond in advance before they know it. Not only that, you can connect to a second headset with the 3.5mm jack, letting up to enjoy excellent surround sound simultaneously.

The Sharkoon X-Tactic SR gaming headset will be compatible with the PS3, Xbox 360, PC or tablets – basically any other device that has a 3.5mm jack, and has an in-line volume controller that allows you to configure your personal sound. A cushioned headband, individually adjustable, padded cups and a flexible, detachable microphone rounds off the list of features. Since it runs off USB power, you need not worry about toting an additional charger or batteries.

Expect Amazon to carry the Sharkoon X-Tactic SR for $139.99.

Product Page

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[ Sharkoon X-Tactic SR gaming headset ships this August 16th copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

TOYin3D lets you view stereoscopic 3D content on smartphones

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 05:00 AM PDT

Do you know that glasses-free 3D displays are now available on the smartphone scene, thanks to LG and HTC? Guess they took a look at the Nintendo 3DS, and realized that something like this might just be worth a shot. Well, for those who have the green-eyed monster bite them because their friends picked up a Nintendo 3DS, perhaps you might want to consider an alternative? The TOYin3D is a device that basically allows your eyeballs to enjoy stereoscopic 3D content on any compatible smartphone without any frills.

You do not even need to install any kind of special software onto your smartphone in order to view 3D content directly in a simple, accessible manner. Heck, not only are your smartphones going to get infused with this new viewing experience, even portable media players like the iPod touch or portable game consoles like the Sony PSP will also be able to deliver an experience of personal 3D cinema.

To make things even more special, the TOYin3D is extremely light, making it nigh portable as it folds in a jiffy. Being 100% customizable and inexpensive, I am quite sure your curiosity is so stoked that you might beg, borrow or steal even if you’re down to your last dollar (as with the US government) just to see what the buzz concerning the TOYin3D is all about.

To put it in a nutshell, TOYin3D is capable of creating an illusion of depth to envelop you in a realistic 3D environment without suffering from any color loss, making full use of your mobile device’s video and audio functions. Basically, the TOYin3D will put to rest the problem of quality and depth loss in 3D displays using red and blue glasses. Not only that, you can also view online 3D content over a variety of TOYin3D channels – just set the YouTube D channel to “parallel view” and you are good to go. Anyone given it a go already, and are you stoked with such an alternative?

Product Page

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ TOYin3D lets you view stereoscopic 3D content on smartphones copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]