Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Nov 9, 2011

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

T-Mobile ushers in the holidays with Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
Panasonic Toughpad FZ-A1 packs quite the rugged tablet
Kensington’s AbsolutePower Laptop, Phone, Tablet Charger
Vertex Headphones, with Mic, from iFrogz
Innergie mCube Slim 95 Compact 95W Universal Adapter
Metal Pro Powerball

T-Mobile ushers in the holidays with Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 09:00 AM PST

Mobile carrier T-Mobile has a spanking new 4G tablet in the pipeline to keep the tech savvy group happy this upcoming holiday shopping season – and their “weapon” of choice would be the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. Touted to be Samsung’s latest ultra-mobile 4G tablet, it will hopefully be able to live up to expectations by delivering a rich entertainment experience anywhere, and with a tagline like “America's Largest 4G Network”, you would hope that they are right on that account.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will be the latest model in Samsung’s portfolio of 7″, 9″ and 10″ 4G-enabled tablets, where your eyes will be greeted by a rather brilliant 7″ multitouch display. Hmmm, come to think of it, the number 7 seems to figure rather prominently – the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will also tip the scales at 0.77 lbs, making it one of the thinnest as well as lightest 7″ tablets in the market. I just wonder what Apple executives will make of it, assuming they churn out an iPad nano down the road.

Entertainment is the name of the game for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, where it will already ship with a range of pre-installed premium content, where among them will include the Samsung Media Hub that enables you to rent or purchase movies and purchase TV programs, while sharing that very same content on up to five compatible devices using just one account. There is also the presence of WildTangent that already comes pre-loaded, allowing customers to play premium games without forking out a cent. You will, of course, have the option to rent or purchase games as well.

What about system specifications? Well, Android 3.2 Honeycomb is definitely part of the deal, where it will be running on a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, carry 16GB of internal memory, and just in case that is not enough, a microSD memory card slot is there to further augment its storage capabilities. Another advantage that the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has over the iPad would be the ability to support Flash for a richer mobile web experience.

There is also a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera that has flash for photo purposes, capturing video as well in HD resolution and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls. Does this tablet interest you in any way?

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[ T-Mobile ushers in the holidays with Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-A1 packs quite the rugged tablet

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 08:23 AM PST

Panasonic did celebrate their fair share of rugged devices in the past in the form of notebooks which make up the Toughbook family, and it is nice to see them branch out into the rapidly growing and expanding tablet market. We’re talking about the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-A1 here, where this particular 10″ tablet is able to deliver portable computing goodness in a rugged design, with plans being pencilled in for a 7″ durable model also rolling out sometime in the second half of next year.

The 10″ Toughpad FZ-A1, on paper, does seem to be the ideal tablet for highly mobile outdoor workers who perform their vocation in challenging conditions like aviation, construction, field service and public safety. It is nice to know that Panasonic’s tablet range, including the Toughpad, will be supported by an eco-system that comprises of a wide range of work accessories that range from vehicle mounting to ergonomic hands-free holsters.

said Hiroaki Sakamoto, Managing Director, Panasonic Computer Products Europe, says,"Consumers have enjoyed tablet computing for a number of years now with almost no uptake in the workplace due to fundamental design limitations. Now users in business and industry can also benefit from the ease of use and portability of tablet computing. Toughpad takes all the Toughbook experience of rugged computing we have gained since 1996 and focuses it into tablets designed for the workplace.”

Just how rugged is the Toughpad FZ-A1? For starters, it will ship with a MIL-STD-810G rating for 120cm drops – that is pretty much from waist-level that tends to happen in the majority of drops, in addition to an IP65 ingress protection rating for resistance to dust and water. Apart from that, the Toughpad FZ-A1 has also been rated for use in extreme temperatures, working reliably in just about all situations.

Underneath the hood lies a dedicated, tamper-proof, security processor that will ensure the multi-purpose CPU core is free to perform other tasks. The security CPU core will make sure that your data remains safe and sound, handling software and data encryption, enhanced VPN, authentication, trusted boot and device management. Other hardware specifications include Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR connectivity, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi support, GPS and optional 3G mobile broadband. Sure, it won’t turn heads like an iPad 2, but it will do so when you drop it on concrete and pick it up without a second glance.

Press Release

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[ Panasonic Toughpad FZ-A1 packs quite the rugged tablet copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Kensington’s AbsolutePower Laptop, Phone, Tablet Charger

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 07:20 AM PST

This must be my day for reviewing chargers, as you can see two posts ago the mCube Slim 95. that one was 95 Watts of power, but the Kensington AbsolutePower Laptop, Phone, and Tablet Charger provides 100 Watts.

There is another big difference between the aforementioned two products. The mCube is good for charging two devices, while the AbsolutePower can do three.

One of them would be your laptop, and the AbsolutePower comes with “smart tips” that are compatible with laptops from Acer, ASUS, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Smasung, Sony, and Toshiba. There are also two built-in USB ports.

I found that only one of the USB ports is good enough for my smartphone when I tried it out for myself. You see, one of these USB ports is really just a micro USB port, but it includes a micro USB-to-USB port adapter. I found that attaching my smartphone to that adapter didn’t charge it, but the other USB port did. I have seen a lot of USB chargers that, for some reason, don’t work on smartphones. The important thing is that they are good for other gadgets like Bluetooth headsets.

So if you are the type who is in constant need of charging three things, you might want to get your hands on this one. You want it? Just go to the Kensington site and lay down $119.99.

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[ Kensington’s AbsolutePower Laptop, Phone, Tablet Charger copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Vertex Headphones, with Mic, from iFrogz

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 07:05 AM PST

I have tried out headphones from iFrogz, such as the Mogul and the Ear Pollution CS40. The Vertex, named from a principle in physics when particles collide, is one of their newest.

Like the two aforementioned models from iFrogz, the Vertex has some cushioned ear cushions, which I believe is a company exclusive feature. It feels like a pillow on each ear, so it is quite comfortable. The sound is good with full-spectrum 40 mm speaker drivers, and it is also good ergonomically.

The Vertex also reminds me of the SuperBeam Headset SB-405 that I reviewed last week. The reason why is because there is an in-line microphone, but there is only one of them. Also, it isn’t on the earcups themselves, but on the wire.

I am guessing that both the SuperBeam SB-405 and the Vertex are setting a standard in headsets that require them to come with a microphone. I guess more and more people are using their headphones with their smartphones, and have to constantly put their music on pause in order to take phone calls. It just makes sense, really.

You should be able to get the Vertex with Mic on the iFrogz website for about $49.99, in colors of Iron along with Black with Red.

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[ Vertex Headphones, with Mic, from iFrogz copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Innergie mCube Slim 95 Compact 95W Universal Adapter

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PST

As someone who has had their computer cord replaced twice, I know the price of having to purchase a new one (it will usually run $100). Since it is always good to have another cord around for your laptop, I recommend using the mCubeSlim95.

The mCube Slim 95 is a compact 95 W Universal Adapter that is not just for laptops, but netbooks and other portable devices. The user can even charge two devices at once, as it comes with a USB port on it along with a way to charge a laptop.

It comes with nine tips for 15 brands of 95 watt laptops. It took me a while to find mine, but I hooked it up and was getting power quite quickly. The mCube Slim 95 is compatible with an Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP/Compaq, IBM Lenovo, LG, MSI, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba.

I am going to keep the mCube Slim 95 around in case my laptop cord fails me yet again. However, I will not leave it around unattended. The thing gets pretty hot while it is doing its thing, but I have seen this effect on other devices and their chargers.

You should be able to pick up the mCube Slim 95 Compact 95W Universal Adapter on the Innergie site for about $99.99.

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[ Innergie mCube Slim 95 Compact 95W Universal Adapter copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Metal Pro Powerball

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PST

Have you ever had a go with a Powerball before? If you answered in the negative, then you might want to challenge yourself to a totally new experience – while seasoned veterans too, are able to check out this precision-engineered piece of gizmo that weighs nearly double that of its neon family member. Not only is it addictive like the original, it is also equally as fun – not to mention being more appealing to fitness freaks since it is even better when it comes to building strength as well as muscle tone in areas such as your wrists, arms, and shoulders.

The £69.99 Metal Pro Powerball works this way – you first set the inner section spinning, where rhythmic circular hand and wrist movements are required to maintain the rotation as well as make it faster at a steady pace. The increased centrifugal force will add more and more “obstacles” for you to keep the Powerball spinning at the faster speeds. As for the Accura V2.0 digital counter that has been integrated, it will show your high score on a LCD display at the end of each session – which will definitely be a reminder for you to beat it over time, not to mention anyone else who sees it.

Geeks can also check out the Metal Pro Powerball as it has been touted to be the perfect instrument that will gently rehabilitate lower forearm and wrist joints which are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injury RSI, arthritis or previous breakage, now how about that?