Gadgets
Playing with cool gadgets in the ongoing search for the Coolest Gadget
Under Cabinet TV With DVD Player
With living spaces these days getting more and more expensive without increasing in size, it makes perfect sense to try and make the most out of your situation. Take a look at the offerings from Ikea and you’ll know what I mean - practical, space saving and easy on the eye. The Under Cabinet TV With DVD Player is surely a subscriber to that mantra.
Mounted under a cabinet in a kitchen or office, this compact media center lets you enjoy TV programs, DVD movies, music CDs, and AM/FM radio without creating countertop clutter. The 9″ diagonal screen flips down and can be swiveled 270 to achieve the preferred viewing angle; its 16:9 aspect ratio makes it ideal for watching movies. Its TFT active matrix LCD (the same as those used in flat panel televisions) produces sharp, detailed images with rich color in widescreen or standard 4:3 formats. It has a digital/analog television tuner, receives 135 cable channels, and it can be used as a stereo system, playing CDs as well as tuning in AM/FM radio stations. Plugs into AC and mounts easily with included hardware. Remote uses two AAA batteries (included) and has a magnet for attaching to a refrigerator.
Hammacher is currently making the Under Cabinet TV With DVD Player available for $299.95.
[ Under Cabinet TV With DVD Player copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Gift Ideas: The Coolest Gadgets Gift Guides.
Pedi Paws makes nail cutting a snap
Folks who own a dog or cat will know that not all animals from both species are obedient enough for you to handle various body parts of theirs without shifting uncomfortably or even biting/scratching you. Enter the Pedi Paws, a device that ought to make life a whole lot easier.
Pedi Paws gently and painlessly trims pet’s nails. The secret is the innovative rotary emery bands that gently remove thin layers of nail without the pain of traditional clippers. Protective cap catches the filings for easy cleanup. It’s fast, easy and saves on visits to the groomer! Precision high speed motor operates on two C batteries (not included), cordless, to use anywhere!
Why not make grooming time with your pet a whole lot easier with Pedi Paws? After all, surely $19.98 is not too high a price to ask for your beloved pet’s well being?
[ Pedi Paws makes nail cutting a snap copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Pressy idea: Educational Toys
Domo USB flash drive
Domo is back in the form of a USB flash drive, more than ready to terrorize desktops and notebooks everywhere.
The stop-motion animated face of Japan’s NHK Television, Domo is bringing his pop-iconhood overseas in the form of a series of Nicktoons shorts and the very first Domo Mimobot Series of Designer USB Flash Drives! The Domo USB Flash Drive comes preloaded with great Domo content, including the Mimobot SoundByte application, wallpapers, icons, and the original NHK spots featuring Domo himself!
Too bad $39.99 will net you just 1GB of storage space - that’s hardly enough these days. The Domo USB flash drive works with both Windows and Mac platforms, and is Ready Boost-ready.
[ Domo USB flash drive copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Gift Ideas: The Coolest Gadgets Gift Guides.
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Gallery of posts up to 09-06-2008
TIVO and DirecTV making an HD DVR. Yeah, you heard me right ?
The one thing stopping me from taking the HD leap, quite frankly, is that inability to record HD programming on a DVR. I?m sure that most people feel that way because TIVO and DirecTV have thumbed their nose at the entertainment industry and announced an HD TIVO which will be coming out sometime in second half of 2009. Yeah baby. Looks like Christmas next year is going to be an expensive one for Santa.
“We have had a very successful history with DIRECTV. Together we brought the TiVo experience to millions of DIRECTV customers and now we look forward to launching a next generation product that uses TiVo’s latest features to truly showcase DIRECTV’s broad selection of high-definition programming — all stitched together with the elegance of TiVo’s renowned user experience,” said Tom Rogers, TiVo’s CEO and president.
I?m guessing, that the only real way to make this happen is to DRM the hell out of the unit, so you can bet that TIVO to Go will either be disabled on HD units or may be going by the wayside altogether. Just speculation on my part, but will the MPAA and AMPAS just sit by and let digital HD be recorded and output on other devices without serious DRM or by demanding some sort of pound of digital flesh? They just don?t get it. But thankfully, TIVO and DirecTV are starting to.
Hat Tip ? The Big E by way of Broadcast Newsroom
[ TIVO and DirecTV making an HD DVR. Yeah, you heard me right ? copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Pressy idea: Educational Toys
European PS3 owners get DVR capability with no DRM
Following up on our post of July 21st about the Play TV add-on accessory for the PS3. It has now been leaked that Sony is adding a feature that will no doubt cause everyone PS3 owner in the US to salivate with desire. The DVR add-on with have no Digital Rights Management and will “export [recorded] videos to your PS3’s XMB menu as MPEG-4 video for free use on other devices.?
This is presumably to take advantage of the synergy with the PSP. But what a great idea - the Playstation 3 already the number 1 Blu-Ray DVD player in America, perhaps even the world. For Sony to put out a DVR component accessory which will not only expand the PS3 capability but also add synergy to the PSP and other media players is simply a stroke of genius. And it gets better.
According to Joystiq, the PlayTV unit comes with two high definition tuners allowing users to watch one channel while recording another - and enjoy it all in 1080p. 1080p folks. Full HiDefinition with no DRM. I?m sure lawyers at the MPAA are working overtime to draft legislation to prohibit the PlayTV from ever being sold here in the States. But thanks to Amazon.UK, will it be too long before they start popping up on eBay? You can bet I?ll be looking for them.
Hat Tip ? Joystiq
[ European PS3 owners get DVR capability with no DRM copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Pressy idea: Educational Toys
Best Buy to remove bloatware for a price
Some would call this a shakedown, charging $30 to remove all the bloatware that comes preinstalled on a computer. I call it a public service, even though it’s at a price.
But Best Buy is doing it, sensing a potential revenue stream from frustrated computer users who hate the endless plethora of demo software and AOL installations that are damn near impossible to remove without an MSCE degree. I mean, other than serious cheap skates and those who already own a copy of Vista, who won?t jump at the chance to add another $30 to the bill for a clean computer? I know I would if I bought computers in a brick and mortar anymore.
Best Buy isn?t the first company to offer such a service. Sony announced earlier in the year a premium charge to ship their Vaio laptops without what they termed as ?extra-ware.? And that?s a great thing. It means that computer manufacturers and retail companies are listening to their customers and giving them the choice of having a clean machine, even if it?s at an extra charge. But just consider it an upgraded model.
Now if we could only get them to sell PCs without Windows and OSX installe instead.
Hat Tip ? Gizmos for Geeks
[ Best Buy to remove bloatware for a price copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Gift Ideas: The Coolest Gadgets Gift Guides.
The USB Desk Lamp and Speaker
We have seen a few combination gadgets here on Coolest Gadgets. Like ones that include a light, microphone and webcam. Well this one doesn’t include quite that much technology, but it at least combines a couple to free up some workspace on your desk. If for some reason you don’t have iTunes running on your main computer, then the set of speakers attached to the lamp might come in handy to hook your iPod up to. Of course this is yet another fairly cheap USB product, so the speakers aren’t going to be stellar but they’ll at least get the job done.
The light itself is an LED lamp that has nine bright and shiny LEDs to make sure you can see the task at hand. This would also be nice if you tend to take your laptop to the living room and work on the coffee table to have a small easy to move lamp for task lighting as well as some music. It has all the usual on/off switches as well as volume control directly on it. It comes in both pink and green and is being sold on Gadget4all for $22.50.
Source: Ubergizmo
[ The USB Desk Lamp and Speaker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Pressy idea: Educational Toys
Another $50 Coolest Gadget Contest
It’s that time of week again, please vote for what you think is coolest and leave a comment for a chance to win a $50 Amazon voucher, winners will be announced on Tuesday.
Stash Reef Sandals
Unless you’re going to the beach with a larger group, you are going to run into a problem: you are in the water, while your stuff is not; how do you make sure it won’t get stolen? The Stash Reef Sandals offer the solution: they have a little “drawer” inside the sole where money, credit cards or keys can be stashed. And who ever heard of flip flop thieves?
The full post can be found on S2999.
Vacuum cleaning robot
Vacuuming must be one of the most boring chores on earth. But get one of these and you?ll never have to do it again.
The full post can be found on Decide What to Buy.
LayZ Inflatable Spa
The LayZ Inflatable Spa is the ultimate must-have luxury gadget. It can be positioned indoors or outdoors and is the perfect thing to pull out for your next party.The spa inflates within 10 minutes and just by plugging it in. The tub features 80 turbo-massage jets and comes in two sizes, a smaller 2-4 person version for those with limited tiled space in their house, and a roomier 6 person tub.
The full post can be found on Gaj-It.
Lensbaby 2.0 and 3G
The Lensbaby 2.0 and 3G are selective focus SLR lenses, which have a flexible “lens barrel” to give you that smooth out of focus effect in portions of your images. Basically, you bend, push and pull the lens to move the “Sweet Spot” where you want it and blur the remaining areas of the image. The Lensbaby 2.0 and 3G are designed to work with a number of cameras, including Canon, Sony and Nikon digital SLRs.
The full post can be found on Photography Bay.
Storefront Rocket Ride
This is the classic rocket ride encountered in front of supermarketsduring the 1960s, recalling a time when a single nickel and imaginationwas the only requirement a child needed. An authentic unit refurbishedto its original state, including the details of its tapered nose cone,bulbous body, and symbols suggestive of space travel.
The full post can be found on Random Good Stuff.
Krysalid’42 Trimaran Offers $600,000 Sail
Featuring a foldable structure that can be unfolded within two minutes; it proposes to offer more room on the bulky (42 foot) bridgedeck tavern to accommodate 6-8 people .
The full post can be found on Elite Choice.
Carry Your Music with You Everywhere You Go with Reppo II
Jonas Saraanen understands that you may be feeling nostalgive about the love-and-peace era but still need you feet firmly on the ground. The Reppo II includes integrated speakers and high quality digital amplifiers in a backpack that you can carry on your back anywhere you want.
The full post can be found on GadgetsBlog.org.
Thanks to all the sites for their submissions now over to you guys for voting (don’t forget to leave a comment with your reason for a chance to win a $50 Amazon voucher) :
What is this weeks coolest gadget?
Stash Reef Sandals
Vacuum cleaning robot
LayZ Inflatable Spa
Lensbaby 2.0 and 3G
Storefront Rocket Ride
Krysalid’42 Trimaran
Reppo II
View Results
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If you write for a gadget themed blog and wish to be included in next weeks contest check out the CGOTW instructions page.
[ Another $50 Coolest Gadget Contest copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Pressy idea: Educational Toys
Schlage LiNK Starter Kit
I realize that most people have their garage door openers conveniently clipped to their visor, but I don?t see why we can?t just open our doors with a cellular phone or other MID (Mobile Internet Device).
This is one of the uses for the Schlage LiNK, a system of locks and deadbolts that can be unlocked using a cellular phone or Internet connection. All a user needs to do is enter in a 4-digit access code on their device, and wireless Z-Wave technology unlocks and opens the pre-programmed doors.
These access codes can be changed for specific days or times of the day, and it will automatically send the user emails or text messages whenever the codes are used. That way, if someone managed to bypass your access code, you will be informed of it.
Of course, the chances of anyone getting by your personal PIN number are pretty slim as the Schlage locks have the Secure Socket Layer, a security system used by most banks.
If you are the type that wants this type of security connected to your wireless device, you should be able to purchase the Schlage LiNK Starter Kit for about $299. You should know that the cost doesn?t stop there, as there is a $12.99 monthly fee.
Source
[ Schlage LiNK Starter Kit copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
Lightmate gives you something to snuggle with
Some of you may remember when we reported on the 2D Girlfriend, also known as the INBED, a projector that affixes to the ceiling and projects an image of a sleeping body in your bed. Of course, some of you might want an artificial sleeping partner that is a bit more three-dimensional, and that?s why the LightMate was invented.
The LightMate is basically a large pillow with a few warming lamps which are presumably there for the user to feel that he or she is snuggling with a warm body.
Judging from the comments that were posted on the INBED article, there will no doubt be comments on this article saying that the LightMate is ?creepy?. My only response to that is this: if you are actively pretending that some inanimate object is a sleeping partner, then yes, that is creepy. However, I know a lot of people who sleep with a body pillow, and nobody thinks that is disturbing, but a simple channeling of our snuggling instinct.
Unfortunately, what designer Francesca Lanzavecchia was attempting with the LightMate was that she wanted to create ?soft anthropomorphic pillows?. For those of you who don?t know what anthropomorphic means, it is ?the attribution of human form, human characteristics, or human behavior to nonhuman things?.
In this case, it applies to act of pretending a pillow is a sleeping mate. Of course, this is what designer Lanzavecchia was trying to do by creating ?a mate to hug or a huge companion you can lay on?. Okay, that?s a little creepy, and I think I?m going to quit now.
Source
[ Lightmate gives you something to snuggle with copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
Pixel drink coasters allow you to customize each one
Coasters are usually the farthest thing from gadgetry you can get, however, these coasters feature a pixelated quality that no geek could pass up. It comes in one big book that includes fifty sheets, so you can decide to have an overly long coaster if it suits you. You can also break off the average one square. Once you have chosen your length, you can then pop out the individual squares to customize your coaster. You could of course go for the classic Space Invaders or you could just pop out a few random squares to give the coaster a little more character.
The squares are all completely random as far as their color shades go, so no two will look exactly alike. They’re also made of a resilient paper fiber that is supposed to be able to last through condensation from your drink as well as the occasional clumsiness that results in a spill of your morning coffee. The coasters come in two different colors, blue and a pretty pink. Sadly these are coming from a Taiwan retailer, so this isn’t going to be available for those of us in the States or in the UK just yet. It is being sold for 260 Taiwan dollars or about $8.
Source: Technabob
[ Pixel drink coasters allow you to customize each one copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
Jetboil Personal Cooking System
Where are you going to get a hot cuppa joe if you’re out in the wilderness, roughing it out? Well, instead of going through the frustrations and motions of starting a fire in the middle of nowhere, the Jetboil Personal Cooking System is here to save the day.
The Jetboil Personal Cooking System (PCS) has sparked a revolution in outdoor cooking. Capable of boiling two cups in two minutes at 75-80% efficiency, the PCS is twice as fast and uses half as much fuel as conventional stoves. The PCS boils up to 50 cups (12 liters) of water from only one isobutane/propane micro-canister. Such outstanding performance results from the FluxRing heat exchanger, which captures and focuses the burner?s heat instead of the heat being lost to the ambient air. Well suited to quickly heating water, the Jetboil can be used to make hot beverages, noodles, pasta, dehydrated hiking meals, soups and, of course, a nice cup of coffee (using the optional Coffee Press accessory).
Well, this is neat especially for those who love adventuring in the great outdoors, and starting a fire can be quite a hassle. It also makes for the perfect device if you want instant hot water (although there is the initial 2 minute wait), allowing to brew your own coffee almost instantaneously.
[ Jetboil Personal Cooking System copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Gift Ideas: The Coolest Gadgets Gift Guides.
Children?s TV And Video Game Manager
I know that life these days are much more comfortable compared to our parents’ and grandparents’ time, and our choice for entertainment is greatly expanded compared to non-electrical means of yore. Kids and teens alike love video games at the moment, and this is one industry that shows no signs of slowing down - yet. How do you make sure your children don’t overdose on video games and TV shows? Simple - with the Children’s TV And Video Game Manager.
This device consistently imposes limits on TV, video game, or computer usage, helping your child learn how to effectively budget time. The device to be monitored plugs into the time manager’s locking outlet. You can create accounts for up to six users, each with its own daily or weekly time allotment, PIN, and “block out” times, where the device can’t be used–for example, from 3:00 p.m. to 5 p.m., to ensure time is set aside for schoolwork. When a user’s time allotment is exhausted, the device sounds a warning so that equipment can be powered off normally. You can also temporarily override the system to add or subtract time from a user’s account, and display usage reports to gain an understanding of your family’s time management aptitude. Settings are accessed easily from the unit’s touchpad.
The Children’s TV And Video Game Manager retails for $79.95.
[ Children’s TV And Video Game Manager copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Gift Ideas: The Coolest Gadgets Gift Guides.
Powerline Stereo Audio System
Arkados and IOGEAR have collaborated to bring a multi-room home audio system - the Powerline Stereo Audio System, to the masses. This model is able to hook up to an iPod directly (other compatible audio sources will do as well), creating whole-house music in an instant.
The Powerline Stereo Audio System uses existing electrical lines within the home to stream music to any room, creating a full-house multimedia network without the need for expensive audio cable installation. Arkados’ HomePlug powerline technology and its Direct-to-Speaker software provide reliable connectivity and the highest quality digital sound from the audio source to the speakers for the system.
It will retail for $379.95 - pretty pricey if you ask me.
Press Release
[ Powerline Stereo Audio System copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.