Daily Digest Coolest Gadgets for 01/22/2013

The latest and coolest gadgets daily digest Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Jan 22, 2013 10:30 am | Alison Control Your Lumens via Phone with Philips Hue Philips, a global leader in lighting solutions, launched Hue at the end of last year which proves to give a whole new take on lighting automation. Usually when we think of home automation we envision complicated computer systems built into the wall. But in reality, with the growth of smartphones and tablets, wi-fi and home networking are enabling more remote control of everyday items. Philips Hue looks to provide personal lighting to meet your changing needs – wirelessly via your home network and smartphone/tablet. After the launch of Hue we received a set to evaluate. The light in our lives has never been the same. SETUP: The Hue system packaging elicits thoughts of color variety with a functioning color wheel, which doubles as easy set-up instructions on the inside of the box. Each set contains three LED bulbs and the controller/hub – the brains of the system – and run for $199.95. Additional bulbs are available at $59.95 each. Note that bulbs are standard Edison type ("screw-in", E26 or E27). Double check the sockets where you intend to use Hue as you may have to get a converter. Using the included hub power cord and network cable, hooking the controller to the home router was a piece of cake but yes, that does mean you need an available port on your router. Before you go further, download the necessary control app. We easily loaded it on both an iOS and Android device. Syncing with the hub was a simple push of a button. Another step you may want to take before getting started is the remote access. Log in on the Hue website to enable the feature. You still control lighting from your device, but remote access gives permission for you to adjust your Hue system from anywhere in the world. APP & FUNCTIONS: Scenes within the app Philips built in more than a dozen 'scenes' in the app, which migrate the bulbs to specific color combinations that prompt memories of environments. "Relax" and "concentration" give you what you expect. But others like "ski" (bright whites and blues) emulate the lighting you could encounter in those situations. Hundreds more scenes have been created by Hue users and are available on their website when logged into your account. A very creative app feature is the ability to produce and save scenes based on photos. Check your library to find a favorite moment. Hue will analyze the photo and bring out the colors in it. So if you are in a nightclub having a great time with friends take a photo and emulate that environment when you get home. Scenes were easy to call up and create. And setting an alarm for a scene to turn off or on was just as easy – whether on the network or away from home. For example, I found it helpful to have the office lights turn to bright orange about the time I was due to fall asleep on my keyboard. It made me get up and leave. And yes, we have managed to mess fellow CG staffers while away from our network. Believe it or not the toughest thing to do on the app was simply assigning a color to each bulb. Although we eventually figured it out, making all the lights red or yellow or color of our choice proved not quite as intuitive as using or creating scenes. Philips did think ahead on the technology and made Hue open platform. Anticipate developer details later this year which may lead to options like strobe or rotating colors. Imagine having rotating red and green during your Christmas party! LIGHT: The light exhibited from the LED bulbs was worthy of mention. Each gives off 600 lumens and uses about  7.5W. Conversely, the equivalent lumens in an incandescent would require approximately a 50W bulb. So you will save by simply using LED.  The color combinations are as endless as LEDs allow. And when turned off at the source the Hue bulbs return to white light which proved better than our bulb predecessors. Up to 50 Hue bulbs can be controlled per hub. CONCLUSION: Philips is not the first to get in the wireless-ly controlled bulb game. But with their expertise and resources they will certainly make the biggest splash. Do we need a $200 set of bulbs that change color? Perhaps not, but with the mounds of research showing how our moods and work is impacted based on our surroundings, there does exist plenty of reason. Plus, it is fun! If you enjoy mood lighting, travel (and want to deter mischief) or simply like to control your life through your phone/tablet pick up a Hue system via Philips, Apple, Amazon or other retailers. [ Control Your Lumens via Phone with Philips Hue copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 22, 2013 09:35 am | Alison A Different Sort of Foot Powered Skateboard Skateboards seem like such a practical method of travel, especially if you live by the beach or in an area with good pathways. Some of us uncoordinated people in the world weren't meant to travel by skateboard. Steering is all about finding your balance and being comfortable. Pushing off the ground for power should be easy. But klutzy people like me struggle. At long last. I think I found the perfect skateboard for those of us who struggle or for anyone wanting an easier skating experience or an eco-friendly method of motorized travel. Straight from a beach-side city in California comes the ZBoard.  Two models of ZBoard ,the Classic and the step-up Pro, provide weight sensing technology tied into a front and rear footpads to help you control your speed. As you step on the front (acceleration) or rear (braking) pad the board communicates your force to the on board computer and the electric motor speed adjusts accordingly. Want more speed? Press harder. Want to lightly brake? Lighter pressure should do. You can achieve max speeds of 15 or 17 MPH, depending on model. You can take on small to medium sized hills, and you can completely brake even on a steep hill. On a full 110V charge (220V available upon request) the Classic will take you 5 miles and the Pro – with its Lithium Iron Phosphate battery – will carry you 10 miles. Each battery is rated to 250 and 500+ cycles respectively and replacements will be available. With the regenerative braking and minimal power usage the ZBoard is carbon footprint equivalent of up to 1500 miles/gallon. Crazy.  Can you just push and ride? Sure, but expect to move slowly. ZBoards began shipping in October and are currently on a 10 week waiting list, which means you can get it just in time for Spring cruising. The Classic runs $649 and the Pro $949. So whether a skateboard expert or an uncoordinated person like moi, ZBoard provides a weight sensing alternative to standard skateboarding and an eco-friendly way to travel on those shorter jaunts. [ A Different Sort of Foot Powered Skateboard copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 22, 2013 05:30 am | Edwin Desk Pets announce BattleTank Desk Pets International Limited might sound familiar to some of us, as it is the manufacturer of interactive and action-packed micro-robotic toys and gadgets, where some of them include the CarBot, SkitterBot, and TrekBot among others. Well, the latest device from them would be known as the BattleTank, where it comes in the form of a palm-sized robotic tank which is said to be fully controllable regardless of whether you are using an iOS- or Android-powered device. Smartphones and tablets alike, as long as it runs on the right operating system, you can carry out your theoretical war games right there and then on the spot. The BattleTank will arrive equipped with a couple of navigation modes that enable the tank to roam freely or charge into action to race and battle in multi-player mode. Desk Pets is said to unveil the BattleTank alongside its other released toy lines as mentioned earlier at the Toy Fair 2013 in New York City sometime next month. For the moment though, we will take a closer look at what the BattleTank is able to do, as it comes equipped with a range of play modes, sounds and maneuvers to engage you. BattleTank sports a personality of its own, and in free-roaming mode, the BattleTank will take the helm, acting under its own direction and make quite a din with its engine-revving noises. If you want to (and most probably will, we humans absolutely love to be the captain of our own ship), you are also able to take control of the BattleTank in order to chase down an autonomous drone tank (which can be purchased separately of course), or to perform a re-enactment of your favorite tank battles with a friend. Each successive hit from your opponent will slow down your tank, but it is a good thing that there are no shrapnel to worry about, and when you're slower, it makes you more of a sitting duck than anything else, so if you can pull off a victory from there, it would certainly make even General Rommel, the Fox of the Desert, envious. Each BattleTank will retail for $24.99 a pop. [ Desk Pets announce BattleTank copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 22, 2013 05:00 am | Edwin Lenovo ThinkPad X131e Chromebook The traditional chalk and blackboard is still a staple in most of the classrooms around the world, although those living in emerging countries and more backwater areas might not even have a classroom with four walls to call their own, but will instead have to settle for a shack or even in an open air environment. Some of the private schools in tropical countries, on the other hand, have superb facilities and include air-conditioning all year round, now how about that? Well, for areas where learning online is starting to pick up, the notebook would be an essential tool for kids to bring to class, and with over 1,000 schools using Chromebooks these days, it opens up the door for teachers and students alike to take advantage of the web's vast educational resources. Having said that, Lenovo has just announced a Chromebook that will be based on their popular ThinkPad laptop range, and have dubbed it the Lenovo ThinkPad X131e Chromebook. Since all classrooms possess unique hardware and software needs, the Lenovo ThinkPad X131e Chromebook intends to deliver the hassle-free experience of Chrome OS alongside the ThinkPad's rugged design, where there will be specialized features such as a rubber bumper located around the top cover for added protection, stronger corners, reinforced hinges and hinge brackets, and a high definition (HD) LED anti-glare screen. All of the above mentioned seems to make the Lenovo ThinkPad X131e Chromebook well armed to handle the everyday rigors of a classroom, and thanks to a battery that Lenovo claims is able to last up to 6.5 hours courtesy of its latest-generation Intel processor, the ThinkPad Chromebook ought to have more than enough underneath its hood to handle even the most active students and teachers. The new Lenovo ThinkPad X131e Chromebook will hit the US for a mere $429 each from February 26th onwards, and schools are then able to add management and support from Google for a one-time cost of $30 per Chromebook. Press Release [ Lenovo ThinkPad X131e Chromebook copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 22, 2013 04:30 am | Edwin Hot Tub Boat You know you've got it made when you live in a lovely mansion with perhaps a pool out in front, have a couple of supercars in the garage alongside a luxury sedan or two to get around, a beautiful model wife and three kids – oh yeah, and perhaps, a dog. Of course, life gets better when you realize you earn more money than you could ever spend in this lifetime and the next, not to mention having a yacht by a marina somewhere. Well, perhaps not everyone is able to attain such living standards, but for those who have more or less made it in life and want for nothing, you could check out the $42,000 Hot Tub Boat as your next gift to yourself. The Hot Tub Boat is an electric boat with a hot tub that has been built into its deck. Engineered and built in Seattle by a marine carpenter who specializes custom house boats, this puppy comes with a Vinylester hull that is topped with a slatted deck handcrafted from African teak. The hot tub measures 8′ x 4′ x 24″, and will remain on the boat’s center of buoyancy, so that it delivers exceptional stability. It will draft at only 20″, never mind when it is filled with its maximum load of 2,100 lbs. of water and half a dozen adult bathers. There will also be a waterproof stereo system which will playback music from your MP3 player via a couple of flush-mounted 50-watt speakers which pop-up from the deck. A quartet of ice chests are there to offer ample chilling capability for your preferred libation, and there are also additional storage compartments at the fore and aft. There is a cheaper option though – the HotTug that we talked about before Christmas, but that seems to be more “Forever Alone” than anything else. [ Hot Tub Boat copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 22, 2013 04:00 am | Edwin Swivel Tub Seat You know, not everyone has a bathtub at home, and it is always better to use a shower instead of a bathtub if you have a heart for the environment. After all, spending a short time in the shower stall uses up a whole lot less water than preparing a bath, and it is a whole lot easier to clean and wash up a shower stall compared to scrubbing the bathtub. Having said that, it is not a crime to own a bathtub, and sometimes, it comes in handy when you want to bathe dirty children or wash your dog. However, finding the optimal seating position then might prove to be rather tricky, so it is a good thing that we have stumbled upon the $89.98 Swivel Tub Seat. You could say that the Swivel Tub Seat is one of the safest methods of getting in and out of a bathtub, far decreasing the risk of you slipping and falling all over the place. The multi-function swivel tub seat will allow you fast access without the need for assistance, where this sturdy seat swivels side to side or locks in place, and there is also a support rail thrown in for stability, while a textured no-slip surface ensures that you remain steady. It will mount securely to the tub lip with a pair of hidden brackets, making it the ideal seat for bathrooms with limited space between the sink and tub. [ Swivel Tub Seat copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More In This Issue Control Your Lumens via Phone with Philips Hue A Different Sort of Foot Powered Skateboard Desk Pets announce BattleTank Lenovo ThinkPad X131e Chromebook Hot Tub Boat Swivel Tub Seat Recent Stories DIY Endangered Species Gadgets Lexani Motorcars' customized Toyota Sequoia is the bomb Flexibility = Versatility in this Stand Future courts could feature this cool looking LED floor

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Daily Digest Coolest Gadgets for 01/21/2013

The latest and coolest gadgets daily digest Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Jan 21, 2013 10:15 am | Alison DIY Endangered Species Gadgets   Being eco-friendly with our technology can only do good for the planet and it makes you feel good. As gadget people we should take some responsibility to dispose of things properly. You figure if every gadget lover on the planet had even one less item to go into the 'dead electronic stuff' dump every year that we could start chipping away at the massive amounts of electronic waste in the world. A very creative Italian designer decided to see if we can't take more action to eliminate electronic waste, still get the features we need and remind us of our fragile world at the same time. The Eco DIY Collection from Eduardo Alessi presents 5 different gadget must haves in a unique and Earth-friendly format. Simply put, you receive your products as flat, 2D cardboard. Follow the instructions to fold it into shape, insert electronics (if included with your animal) and you are set. Five animals/devices make up the collection: elephant speakers, a giraffe lamp, a deer clock, rhino pen holder and owl magnifier bookmark. Electronics used in the units are energy efficient and do not use batteries. Prices range from $9.90 to $33.50 and are available through area+. If you want a simple, practical device that will help you be kind to Mother Earth check out Eduardo's collection. [ DIY Endangered Species Gadgets copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 21, 2013 09:24 am | Edwin Lexani Motorcars' customized Toyota Sequoia is the bomb There are rides, and then there are rides. I would certainly lump this highly customized Toyota Sequoia under the latter, thanks to the effort of the folks over at Lexani Motorcars. In a nutshell, they have managed to customize a Toyota Sequoia by padding it with its fair share of armor just in case you happen to be in a tight spot, but just in case that is not enough for a rogue country's dictator, the Toyota Sequoia has also been kitted out with bling, where you will find exclusive creature comforts such as wine coolers and huge leather seats that would certainly make any rock star feel at home inside. This luxurious SUV does seem to target folks who want the best of both worlds – security as well as entertainment and being treated like a king. One thing's for sure, this is an armored car that certainly goes against the grain, as it is very different from the conventional notion of a huge limousine, just like the one the U.S. President rides around in. Good to know that this is one low key armored vehicle that will not drag any attention to you, not at least until you stop and a bevy of gorgeous ladies step out from it with you, and photographers get a glimpse on the amount of fun one can have inside. Sporting composite armor that delivers a very high degree of protection without weighing it down a whole lot, the standard 2013 Toyota Sequoia has managed to be modified to where it is thanks to the assistance from professional car armorers. The clever implementation of Kevlar, ceramic composites, ballistic steel and laminated armor glass will allow it to withstand penetration by 7.62 x 51 mm M80 NATO Ball ammunition, while the floor clears the height for blast protection to meet STANAG 4569 Level 1 certification, letting it stand blasts and shrapnel that are equivalent to two hand grenades wired together and detonated simultaneously. Both fuel tank and battery are also armor plated. Source [ Lexani Motorcars' customized Toyota Sequoia is the bomb copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 21, 2013 09:15 am | Alison Flexibility = Versatility in this Stand Tablet users everywhere have unique methods to display their devices. Some people invest in super fancy and pretty stands. Some use a more simplistic stand. Others (author included) use pillows, cookbook stands or just about anything to prop up a tablet when reading, watching video, typing, Skyping. It is a wonder I haven't trashed my pad more than I have with slipping and sliding that inevitably occurs. 1.0 Innovations offer a solution that just might do the trick for many pad users. XFLEX Tablet Stand, $99.95, is appropriately named as it gives flexibility in both how you use the device and the actual range of motion. XFLEX consists of a weighted base with two magnetic attachment points for a flexible arm to attach. The arm contains a power locking suction cup to keep the tablet secure. Collectively these pieces offer a number of different applications for using your iPad, Kindle, Galaxy or just about any tablet. Prop it up on the bed to watch a movie or read. Keep track of stats while watching the game on TV by inserting the base into the couch cushion. Display it nicely on a desk or countertop. Wedge it into the pocket of a car seat to provide in-car video. Heck, prop it on your golf bag to shoot video of your swing! The options are really as limited as your creativity. As a bonus, this guy can also attach to hard backed cases, it is TSA approved and can easily be broken down if you take it on the road. Sounds to me like a surefire way to help prevent a tablet mishap. [ Flexibility = Versatility in this Stand copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 21, 2013 05:00 am | Edwin Future courts could feature this cool looking LED floor There is just something about the world of Tron that captures the imagination, what with bright glowing lights drawing orderly lines from one point to another, with action packed scenes as well as feelings of love thrown into the mix for a truly epic science fiction flick. The thing is, will the fictional world of Tron cross over to the real world? Some think so, and when you take a look at the floor of the basketball court above, you will know why. There are LEDs located under the glass surface of this high tech floor which will be able to be programmed accordingly, changing to depict the lines for any other kinds of court so that it can cater to different sports as and when the need arises. Of course, it goes without saying that this unique LED-enabled floor will also be able to show off the current score via scoreboards and earn more money through the display of giant ads for all and sundry to see. Known as the GlassFloor, it might eventually be equipped with the right kind of sensors in order for it to show just when balls or players are out of bounds, making the life of the referee a whole lot easier, and sports writers would have less things to write about as controversial decisions will no longer be part and parcel of sport. Germany’s ASB Systembau is the company behind the unique ASB GlassFloor, where it will boast a frame of aluminum that supports a glass floor, and it can also be programmed to show off the right kind of lines for a wide range of sports such as basketball, handball, volleyball, or basically, anything else that you want to play. Ceramic dots are located on the glass which will help recreate the feel of a wooden surface, and there will be special etchings to help diffuse the LED light and prevent glare from bothering multi-million dollar athletes. Show us a Lightcycle already! Source [ Future courts could feature this cool looking LED floor copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 21, 2013 04:30 am | Edwin Lumio a Kickstarter project worth looking into For some of us, we would love nothing better than to unwind with a good book in hand after a particularly gruelling day at work, and this would mean three things: you would need a very comfortable sofa or chair to read your book, have some cookies and milk on the side, and of course, own a decent lamp or lighting source so that your eyes need not end up more strained than they already are after a long day at the office, staring at the monitor for hours on end. Chances are most nooks and crannies of your home already have a lamp, but how about getting a lamp that is designed in a less traditional manner? Why not pick up the Lumio, a Kickstarter project that comes in the form of a book and also functions as a light source? It is made to function just like a book as well, where all you need to do is turn the cover, and the light within will turn on. It is powered by LEDs, and a full charge can last it up to 8 hours on the go, making it ideal to bring with you wherever you go. Thanks to its flexible nature, it can be styled a number of ways, ranging from a table lamp to a ceiling pendant and an accent light among others. Kickstarter Page [ Lumio a Kickstarter project worth looking into copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More Jan 21, 2013 04:00 am | Edwin The Complete Scale And Foot Inflammation Monitor All right, we have seen our fair share of scales over here at Coolest Gadgets in the past, but how many of them are capable of dishing out more information other than that of your weight, and perhaps some of the more complex ones can tell just how much water your body retains? Well, with the $129.95 Complete Scale And Foot Inflammation Monitor, you know that your bathroom will never be the same again. Not only will you know just how many pounds you have put on over the course of the holiday season when you threw caution to the wind where your diet is concerned, the Complete Scale And Foot Inflammation Monitor is a digital scale which can also measure your body mass index while going the extra mile by detecting foot inflammation, which is an indication of diabetic neuropathy. This is made possible thanks to the implementation of patented temperature sensors that are located on the surface of the scale which will measure the temperature variation between the feet, helping one monitor foot inflammation. A trio of quarter-sized buttons on the surface of the scale will let users input their age, sex, and height through the simple pressing of the buttons with one's toes, meaning one no longer needs to bend over uncomfortably and stress your back. The scale will show off readings for weight, BMI, and foot temperature variance in seconds on the easy-to-read 4″ LCD display, while it stores up to 14 readings for four different people. As long as you do not weigh more than 450lbs, the Complete Scale And Foot Inflammation Monitor is more than happy to serve you. [ The Complete Scale And Foot Inflammation Monitor copyright by Coolest Gadgets ] Read More In This Issue DIY Endangered Species Gadgets Lexani Motorcars' customized Toyota Sequoia is the bomb Flexibility = Versatility in this Stand Future courts could feature this cool looking LED floor Lumio a Kickstarter project worth looking into The Complete Scale And Foot Inflammation Monitor Recent Stories Caffe Porcellana Stovetop Espresso Maker Snappgrip achieves success in Kickstarter campaign Classic Corby Trouser Press Samsung brings Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update to Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 tablets

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