Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Aug 4, 2011

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

The OutRun AR Project
Shadowhawk UAV, one tiny copter that could come after you
Bedphones ready to lull you to sleep
Griffin IntelliCase for the iPad 2 announced
Verbatim unleashes Ergo Mouse
Talking Bender Figure
USB Pedometer lets you take step towards better fitness

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 11:41 AM PDT

Some of you might remember playing a game back in the eighties known as Out Run. Imagine playing the same game, but instead of an arcade, you are on a moving vehicle?

This is the Out Run project, by Garnet Hertz. It uses an electric golf cart that allows players to navigate their way around real-life courses using arcade controls.

It uses some customized software that can automatically look in front of a car and then reproduce the route on the game cabin’s screen. It even does it in 8-bit form! You can check it out in a video after the jump.

So basically, we are looking at one of those sit down driving racing games, only someone is actually racing! I believe that it is possible to race on a real track, but it had better be clear of pedestrians.

In case you think that this has been developed just for fun, you would be wrong. Apparently, the developers are finding that this tech can be used for making game-based therapies for disabled users, such as augmented reality based wheelchairs.

Is it possible that we could recreate this type of technology for other video games? For example, could we make a drive-able Pac-man game designed for real mazes?

Source

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[ The OutRun AR Project copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Shadowhawk UAV, one tiny copter that could come after you

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 11:11 AM PDT

What you are seeing here is no toy helicopter, but the Shadowhawk UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicle).

This helicopter is about 49 pounds, and you probably want to watch the video after the jump to see it in action. According to my Source, the Shadowhawk is already being used to track pirates off the Horn of Africa. Apparently, it is also used to enforce law on U.S. streets.

It also comes with the option of turbine or piston engines, thermal cameras, range fingers, and laser pointers. For those who want some weapons, it is also possible to install 37 mm or 40 mm grenade launchers, 12 gauge shotgun rounds, or even taser batons.

Seriously, this thing is a miniature flying arsenal! You can watch on the video and see that it can travel at speeds of 50 miles an hour. You can also see what looks like a guy being tailed by one. I’m surprised he doesn’t try to throw a rock at the Shadowhawk UAV.

Man, I never want to be in a position where I have these things chasing after me! This would be like those spiders from Minority Report, but these Shadowhawks can fly. They can also bring me down with some grenades, live rounds, and possibly tasing me.

Source

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[ Shadowhawk UAV, one tiny copter that could come after you copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Bedphones ready to lull you to sleep

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 10:19 AM PDT

What you are seeing here aren’t headphones, they’re bedphones. Check the sides for the “bp” logo if you don’t believe me.

As you might have guessed, these bedphones are made for those people who just have to listen to music before they drift off to slumberland. Of course, it is somewhat difficult to sleep with a pair of headphones on. The bedphones, created by Eric Dubs, have “ear-hook style buds that are extremely thin and held in place by a length of moldable memory wire”.

In addition to these features, it also comes with an app that appears to only be available on the Android platform. According to the Android Market description, it comes with a “Smart Mode” that can shut the music automatically when you fall asleep. I honestly don’t know how it does this, but it probably has to do with the accelerometer detecting movement.

Also on the Android application is a “Timer Mode” which gradually counts down music volume down to zero as the timer runs down. Then there is the “Basic Mode” that turns the entire phone screen into a giant play/pause button.

You should be able to get the Bedphones here link for about $30.

Source

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Bedphones ready to lull you to sleep copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Griffin IntelliCase for the iPad 2 announced

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 09:59 AM PDT

Griffin has just announced the IntelliCase for the iPad 2, which will definitely add a whole new dimension to the protection of your precious new tablet when it comes to protection. After all, dropping your shiny iPad 2 against the hard concrete floor is something that is a surefire heartbreaker, even more so when the display cracks up. Well, the IntelliCase for the iPad 2 is slightly different as it is not only a folio stand, but also sports an automatic wake-up closure.

Yes sir, the IntelliCase from Griffin is proud to be what some dub “a perfect marriage” – merging protective polycarbonate to ensure the back of your iPad 2 is well protected, while flexible thermoplastic polyurethane is used in front which helps offer protection to your multi-touch display. Magnets are cleverly placed right in the cover itself in order to trigger sleep sensors that are located inside the iPad 2, letting the device wake up automatically whenever the case is opened, and sending it back to dreamland when the case is closed.

Surely this offers far more protection compared to the Smart Covers that Apple rolled out with the iPad 2? That is what Mark Rowan, President of Griffin Technology, thinks as well, "Consumers were eager for a case that protected the back of the iPad 2 but also took advantage of the interactive feature that the magnetic sensors enable. The IntelliCase for iPad 2 offers users just that, protection for the back while incorporating a cover that automatically wakes your iPad when it's opened."

The flexible cover will not only protect the iPad 2′s precious display, it can also be folded in two positions. When upright, the workstand seems to be perfect if you’re going to indulge yourself in watching your favorite video or reading a downloaded book, while you can always lay it down after that at a perfect incline so that your wrists won’t hurt at all whenever you are about to type that really long email.

With a micro-textured surface, even sweaty palms are able to easily grip and protect your iPad, both within and without. Too bad the IntelliCase comes in only one color – black, where it will burn a $59.99 hole in your pocket.

Press Release

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Griffin IntelliCase for the iPad 2 announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Verbatim unleashes Ergo Mouse

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 09:45 AM PDT

Verbatim is more often than not a name which we associate with flash memory as well as portable storage (remember floppies back in the day?), but here we see them branching out into peripherals such as a mouse – specifically speaking, the Ergo Mouse. Verbatim’s Ergo Mouse will take the wireless route to keep up with the times, making sure you do not end up with a tangled mess at the end of the day.

This is an ergonomic mouse that seems to cater only to right handers as you can see from the image above, so southpaws will have to look elsewhere – or just pester the folks over at Verbatim to roll out a left-handed version! Featuring a convenient thumb support (for your right hand, of course), it offers what Verbatim calls to be “the ultimate comfortable computing experience.” The Ergo Mouse has an ultra-smooth, rubberized grip and scroll wheel that were specially developed with comfort in mind, making you control your computer easily without batting an eyelid.

Apart from that, this ergonomically designed mouse will work via the 2.4GHz wireless frequency for lag-free cursor movement. Gamers would do well to give this a miss though – especially hardcore ones, since it won’t be able to hold any macros at all, and there aren’t any weights for you to insert or remove to suit your gaming needs. This is purely a workstation mouse, to put it in a nutshell.

The Ergo Mouse will ship with a nano receiver that works great by remaining plugged into your notebook via USB at all times, so you need not worry about it snapping off on your travels or anything like that. Available in blue, red and black colors, it will be powered by a couple of AAA batteries which surprisingly comes with each $29.99 purchase. Normally, hardware manufacturers don’t throw in batteries as you would need to get those yourself. Good job, Verbatim.

Company Page

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Verbatim unleashes Ergo Mouse copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Talking Bender Figure

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 09:31 AM PDT

Futurama fans, it is time to sit up and take notice of the Talking Bender Figure! Standing tall (or short, depending on your point of view) at 9″, this is a full fledged talking Bender figure from the Futurama cartoon series. He will definitely rattle off your favorite, what shall we call it, Benderisms in order to inject some humor into the situation, especially when it gets particularly tense around the water cooler.

Bender’s ribcage compartment can also be opened up for you to stash away some of the more secretive items, or stuff that you do not want your colleagues to find out about. The Talking Bender Figure will retail for $24.99 a pop, and all it takes to get him talking would be to press a button, and he’ll rattle away digitally. A desktop companion with an attitude – we definitely could do with one of these at the office.

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Talking Bender Figure copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

USB Pedometer lets you take step towards better fitness

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 09:27 AM PDT

Love being fit? Surely you would do well to walk more each day, and just to know how many steps you are supposed to take, it is highly recommended to get a pedometer to help you out. The £24.99 USB Pedometer that you see here is a step in the right direction, so to speak, counting each and every step that you take so that you can clock up those miles and make sure your physician remains up-to-date with your physical activities.

Hang the USB Pedometer around your neck, or opt to pop it in the pocket – it doesn’t matter. This device is still able to accurately measure the distance you have walked, in addition to the amount of calories burned so that you can consider wolfing down another Big Mac. Apart from that, at least you know how to gradually increase your physical activity each day to meet your fitness goals. All collected data can be transferred over to a PC by plugging this device via USB.

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[ USB Pedometer lets you take step towards better fitness copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]