Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: Nov 16, 2011

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

Pico-Projector phone, to use or not to use?
Nyko’s Power Grip for the 3DS
Moosejaw’s catalog and X-ray App bares…some
AT&T customers to get new 4G LTE tablet
Kyocera DuraCore is tough as nails
Portal Bookends won’t help you read any faster

Pico-Projector phone, to use or not to use?

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 07:30 AM PST

I always try and keep my eye out for the latest in mobile technology. Considering that we communicate through email and texting, technologies that we didn’t even really conceive two decades ago, I can’t help but wonder how we will communicate by the year 2031.

How about cell phones with pico-projectors? They already exist, so why not make it so you can communicate via projected screen?

This comes in handy for when you need to swap photos or drag other files from one place to the next. Of course, you will need the recipient’s permission. Check out the video after the jump for more information.

This is currently a research project from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, and I think we see how impractical it is now as it adds much weight to a smartphone. However, even if we could shrink the pico-projector tech so it can fit inside a normal phone, I wonder how practical it really is. I find that I do most of my phone calls with a Bluetooth headset because I don’t want to have to hold something to my ear anymore.

Personally, I see a future where all our phones are nothing more than the size and shape of Bluetooth headsets. Perhaps we can fit this pico-projector technology in there. Now all you need is a blank wall or floor.

Source

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Pico-Projector phone, to use or not to use? copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Nyko’s Power Grip for the 3DS

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 07:15 AM PST

In addition to trying out the Zoom for the Kinect, the Nyko company was also kind enough to supply yours truly with the Power Grip for the 3DS. All mobile devices have a need for power, which is why companies keep making external batteries for them.

After all, everybody has a story about how the battery on their mobile device died at an important time. The Power Grip is for those who love the Nintendo 3DS, and it is designed to extend the battery by 300 percent.

One of the biggest problems with external batteries is that they tend to create too much volume on the mobile device itself. In the case of the Power Grip, it adds some ergonomics. I don’t know if your 3DS case will fit with it.

Another advantage is that it clips easily to the back of the 3DS, with no need to remove the internal battery or the back cover. All that is required is to recharge through the standard 3DS AC Adapter.

Perhaps you are looking for one of these cases for the 3DS for like a long road trip, cross country flight, or just want to play extended games at home. Whatever the reason, you should be able to get the Nyko Power Grip on the Nyko web site for a price of $29.99.

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Nyko’s Power Grip for the 3DS copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Moosejaw’s catalog and X-ray App bares…some

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PST

I have been excited about augmented reality since I first saw it at CES three years ago, but I did not think of this use. Moosejaw’s new catalog has a feature that allows the user to look at the models in their underwear with a smartphone app.

I tried this out, just to see if it would work, and it does. By the way, I told my wife that I was doing this. All that is required is to download the free app from Apple’s App Store and the Android Market. The catalog is available in print form, or it can be viewed online on the MooseJaw website.

I have to admit that I never heard of Moosejaw before, but they apparently make some quality winter clothing. I am guessing that this X-ray catalog is really going to get them more publicity.

Does anyone know if Moosejaw is the first one to try something like this with augmented reality? Just to let you know, the X-ray pictures from the Moosejaw catalog are lingerie only, but it would be very easy to create more revealing shots.

I totally can see this being one of those things that parents’ groups try to boycott. Get ready for some controversial headlines!

Source

Moosejaw X-Ray App from Gary Wohlfeill on Vimeo.

Conference Calendar – The global conference and expo finder.
[ Moosejaw’s catalog and X-ray App bares…some copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

AT&T customers to get new 4G LTE tablet

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 05:30 AM PST

I clearly remember when 3G connectivity was first introduced back home, and the jump in speed over EDGE proved to be mesmerizing – and that was when smartphones really started to explode across the scene, although those were pre-iPhone days. Surfing on a small 2″ display on your handset is not exactly fun, but hey, with 3G connection, I am not complaining. Fast forward some years later, and here we are with 4G LTE networks being introduced left and right across the globe – with Ma Bell leading the way in the US by offering the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 in all AT&T stores, regardless of whether it is online or through a brick-and-mortar route.

This Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 will be no ordinary model, since it is the second 4G LTE-enabled tablet from AT&T for their customers. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is no pushover at all, and might be the perfect ultra-thin tablet for Android fans who want an optimized Honeycomb experience without having to tote around something that they find to be too large to carry.

Just to get a refresher in what the Galaxy Tab 8.9 brings to the table, well, it will be powered by Android 3.2 Honeycomb alongside optimized services from Google, AT&T and Samsung to help you get started right out of the box. The 8.9″ display comes with 1,280 x 800 resolution, while a dual-core 1.5GHz processor ought to be fast enough to perform all the multi-tasking that you want to get done, not to mention tabbed browsing with the ability to support HTML5 and Adobe Flash Player, although the latter is now moot as Adobe has decided to kill off mobile Flash.

Apart from that, AT&T spruces up the deal by offering a free Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket or Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone for free if you decide to bring home the Galaxy Tab 8.9, although the free smartphone will need to be attached to a new two year agreement.

Press Release

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ AT&T customers to get new 4G LTE tablet copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Kyocera DuraCore is tough as nails

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 05:00 AM PST

Not everyone is very careful with their stuff, and even though you are an extremely careful person, you too, would be able to experience an accident from time to time – a knock here, a drop there, an unexpected scratch. Of course, when you purchase a new smartphone, you would most probably bring home with it a protective case. Still, protective cases do not really do their job that well – or rather, they have their fair share of limitations, which is why rugged phones do have a place in the market simply because there is this percentage of folks with butterfingers no matter how cautious they are. It just happens…

Sprint’s latest offering for the butterfingered crowd comes in the form of the Kyocera DuraCore, where this handset will come in a clamshell form factor, wrapped in a rugged exterior of course. The Kyocera DuraCore will take advantage of the Sprint Direct Connect feature so that both single and group users are able to solve a particular problem using instant communication. With a durable exterior and a non-slip Dura-Grip surface, you can be sure that it will be perfect at construction sites, security beats, and delivery routes.

Specially designed to meet the Military Standard 810G for dust, shock and vibration, here is further explanation about Sprint Direct Connect. Those subscribed to it will be able to enjoy instant, one-to-one push-to-talk communication throughout the country, making it perfect for quick conversations with families, friends, and co-workers. Direct Connect also forms the core push-to-talk feature which was designed for interoperability across Sprint and Nextel network platforms.

Connectivity options include Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, although I am not quite sure why Kyocera decided to go ahead with a 2.5mm headphone jack which is clearly far less popular compared to what the 3.5mm headphone jack would have delivered. Other hardware specifications include a 2″ QVGA TFT at 240 x 320 pixels, a secondary display and a microSD memory card slot. Anyone want to bring this home?

Press Release

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Kyocera DuraCore is tough as nails copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Portal Bookends won’t help you read any faster

Posted: 15 Nov 2011 04:30 AM PST

Sometimes, don’t you wish you had the power of opening portals at different points in and around your home? It would surely make shifting furniture a whole lot easier, especially when it comes to lugging that huge bed up the stairs carefully to make sure none of the paint around gets scraped off. Well, you can somewhat relive those moments in Portal with the $24.99 Portal Bookends that are made up of shiny and durable aluminum, sporting a subject who goes in as well as out of a portal.

These bookends feature a test subject at Aperture Science, where the left side indicates the test subject going through an orange portal, while the right side has the other half of the test subject making his way out of the blue portal. A non-slip rubber padding located at the bottom will make sure these bookends stay in place at all times, unless your collection of tomes is super heavy, leaning to one side in a lopsided manner. This is an officially licensed Portal collectible, so gaming fans might want to check it out.