Remote Controlled Transforming Robot Car reminds you of the Transformers

by - on August 31st, 2013

transforming-robot-carDon’t you love the dear little children who, armed with nothing but their imagination, are able to make up something from nothing and play with it? The idea of a transforming robot is definitely an interesting idea, where it can shift its shape from a vehicle to that of a humanoid form factor â€" and this effect has been brought alive via The Transformers cartoon, followed by the full length movies from Michael Bay that raked in plenty of money for the franchise. How about something that is inspired by the Transformers, and that would be the $69.95 Remote Controlled Transforming Robot Car?

Sure, it lacks a formal name that makes it easier to call or refer to, but at least you do not have to fork out a bomb for it. This remote-controlled sports car of unknown make (obviously Chevrolet did not have a say in the design) is capable of transforming into a robot which will impress its audience even further as it launches suction cup darts from a rotary cannon. At a single touch of a button, the hood and front tires will elevate 10″ off of the ground, which further exposes the cannon that has been integrated into the undercarriage. You can opt to fire up to 5 suction cup darts in rapid succession, in addition to turning the robot back into its automotive form, while racing the car forward and backward, execute hairpin turns, and perform 360º spins. The remote control itself comes with a trio of different channels, so that you can have up to three cars to engage in battle. It is highly advisable to prepare a bunch of rechargeable batteries at home since this bad boy consumes 8 AA batteries to get going.

Digital Storm unveils the HydroLux desktop cooling solution

by - on August 30th, 2013

HydroLuxFor those of us out there who love to pimp out our respective desktop computers to maximize their performance, it will more often than not involve overclocking. Needless to say, overclocking is a highly technical skill, and if you like to push the proverbial envelope always, then surely you would need to figure out just how you would keep that processor cool while working beyond its intended limits. A great cooling solution would come in handy, but just which particular one should you settle for? Digital Storm thinks that they might have a solution in the form of the HydroLux desktop cooling solution.

The HydroLux has been described to be a complete desktop cooling solution which will combine liquid as well as airflow cooling with fully customizable control software. This will not be a cooling solution that you can get anywhere, but rather, it will be available exclusively on Digital Storm desktops, where HydroLux will be able to monitor and automatically adjust the temperature fluctuations in real-time, now how about that for taking a leap in the realm of PC cooling?

The HydroLux will boast of a proprietary Control Center software which will deliver enthusiasts complete control of the cooling system and chassis. This would also include detailed temperature graphs, thermal linked LED lighting as well as automated airflow optimization. A simple click of your mouse button will see the HydroLux transform chassis LED lighting into a powerful tool that will be able to monitor system temperatures. Whenever internal system and fluid temperatures rise, HydroLux will give you a visual representation of the fluctuations by fading LED lighting from a cool blue to a warm red. Enthusiasts too, will be able to get a visual indication of when they have pushed their system to new heights, as the chassis lighting will switch to red every time a maximum temperature recording is exceeded.

Press Release

iRobot launches the Braava floor mopping robot

by - on August 29th, 2013

braava-irobotI guess you can say that technology has certainly made our lives a whole lot easier over the years. Imagine if you had to iron your clothes the old fashioned way, it would have taken you a whole lot longer to go through a pile of shirts than with today’s steam irons with Teflon-coated undersides that make them glide over your clothes as though you were an ice skater performing an Olympic routine. The vacuum cleaner is another home appliance that has definitely gotten a whole lot smarter, and iRobot has been at the forefront for quite some time now. Their latest device is known as the iRobot Braava Floor Mopping Robot which will arrive in Braava 320 and Braava 380t models.

The iRobot Braava has been specially designed to systematically and efficiently dry or damp mop the entire floor â€" taking just a single pass to do so. It is capable of automatically dry- and damp-mop hard floors via a couple of cleaning modes, ensuring that dirt as well as the numerous colonies of dust bunnies will remain under control at all times. Braava makes use of disposable or reusable cleaning cloths which can be attached and removed in a jiffy. In fact, using the Braava is a cinch â€" all you need to do is to push a button, and the Braava will start to perform a mop up operation on your behalf, and once it is done, it will not just lay at the last spot but rather, return to where it began.

You need not worry about the iRobot Braava creating a din whenever it works â€" it will function in a whisper quiet manner, featuring a soft-touch bumper as well as quiet motors, so that it will clean up without disrupting your daily activity or sleep. The Braava 380t is slightly different since it includes expanded features such as the Pro-Clean System which will dispense liquid throughout the cleaning cycle, a fast charging battery, and a Turbo Charge Cradle Accessory that automatically juices up the robot in just a couple of hours. The asking price for the Braava starts at $199 a pop.

Company Page

Logitech G602 Wireless Gaming Mouse has unprecedented battery life

by - on August 29th, 2013

logitech-g602-gaming-mouseNo two gaming mice are alike â€" ask any gamer, and they will tell you that. Some gamers prefer something simple, especially when you have bound all your keys to different weapons, that all you need to do with your mouse would be to fire your primary weapon, a secondary weapon, and to move with unparalleled precision. Well, some other gamers like something a little bit â€" nay, a whole lot more complicated, and the more bells and whistles, the better. I suppose the Logitech G602 wireless gaming mouse would be the ideal gaming peripheral in this case as it is also a “marathon runner” in a sense where it boasts over eight times the battery life compared to other wireless gaming mice. We are talking about a serious 250 hours of non-stop gaming action here, all without having to compromise its gaming grade sensor or connection performance.

Needless to say, the Logitech G602 is the most recent mouse in the Logitech G lineup, where it will also set up a new standard in wireless gaming. There will no no cords to worry about, and that means clutter and interference free gaming sessions without any lag whatsoever. The Logitech G602 will boast of two modes, namely Performance and Endurance. When in Performance mode, the Logitech G602 will deliver up to 250 hours of non-stop battery life even when in full gaming mode, but in Endurance mode, you get over 1,400 hours of use as it would then kick in its non-gaming mode.

To make sure that you get the best gaming experience possible, the Logitech G602 will also feature an exclusive Delta Zero sensor technology that delivers high-accuracy cursor control. Not only that, there is also an ultra durable build with primary mechanical switches which have been rated to a 20 million-click lifespan. Other than that, there are also eleven programmable controls so that you can master your favorite games easily by assigning the actions you use most to the buttons you want, all thanks to the Logitech Gaming Software. The asking price for the Logitech G602? $79.99 a pop.

Product Page

Valta adds some virtual automation to your home

by - on July 16th, 2013

Have you ever been out and about, and realized that you left the lights, or maybe even something a little dangerous like an iron, on? If there’s no one else home, and you’re more than a few minutes from home, you’re going to be stuck waiting until later to take care of it. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just pull out your phone, and with a few taps, turn of whatever you need? Well, you can.

A group of people from Toronto, Canada have designed the next generation of home automation, dubbed the Valta. This system is actually broken up into four parts. First, you’ve got the smart sockets. You’ll plug these into your wall, and plug your electronics into them. Next is the v-hub base station, which talks to each of the sockets and transmits the data to the Valta cloud servers. The other two pieces are the smartphone and web apps, which are used to control the sockets.

Now Valta does more than allows you to remotely turn on and off the devices attached to it. It will actually monitor the power consumption of these devices, and let you know when they’re not actually being used, so that you can shut them off. You’ll also be able to track how much energy is being wasted by idle devices. You will even be able to tell it to turn off certain devices when you leave the house, and when it detects that your phone is no longer in range, it will cut power to those devices.

Saving energy doesn’t come cheap, unfortunately. If you pledge to the Kickstarter campaign, you can get the v-hub and three sockets for $139. You can get more sockets by pledging $40 for each additional one.

Perfect Polly want a Cracker? Didn’t Think So…

by Julie - on August 28th, 2013

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I love having a pet, as far as I’m concerned the positives far outweigh the negatives. Sure, having a pet requires some work and expense, then there’s boarding your pet when your on vacation, vet bills, walks in the rain… but all the love and loyalty is almost always worth it. But what about those of us with lifestyles (or apartments) that simply don’t allow a pet?

Welcome, Perfect Polly… the ultimate in pet perfection. Perfect Polly is a genuine simulated parakeet, made of high quality plastic, with breathtaking parakeet-like markings, Perfect Polly will react to your presence by moving her head, flicking her tail feathers and singing you a beautiful tune that only a genuine plastic parrot could. Lifelike enough to annoy even the most discriminating cat, and consuming nothing other than batteries, Perfect Polly never needs water, or her newspapers changed.

Able to stay home alone for months at a time, Perfect Polly will never disappoint your kids by dropping dead, or require them to learn any kind of responsibility for the care of a living thing, fun to take to parties or outdoors, where an authentic Parakeet might be inclined to run for the hills, Perfect Polly will stay right by your side, entertaining you and your friends for… well, as long as the batteries (or your friends) hold out.

Perfect Polly comes with a natural looking perch, or alternatively, you can keep her in a cage, or simply allow her to sit right on your finger. Be advised however, if you’re walking around with a tweeting plastic parrot on your finger I cannot be held responsible for damages to your reputation, or any implied perception of your sanity. If Perfect Polly is the pet for you, you can have one for under 15 bucks from amazon.com. I’m gonna hold out for the automated Perfect Husband … the next logical step don’t you think?

Land Sailor is an oxymoron of sorts

by - on June 22nd, 2013

Most of us would think that anything with a sail belongs on a body of water, such as a lake, river, and where it is most at home, at sea. Of course, if you were to stretch your imagination a little bit more, the world of science fiction has seen some pretty weird spaceship designs, like Count Dooku’s solar sailer that we saw at the end of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. How about a vehicle that has a sail, and yet runs around on land? This is what the $899.95 Land Sailor is all about, being a three-wheeled craft which will harness the wind’s power for speeds of up to 25 mph.

With the Land Sailor, rank amateurs are able to sail effortlessly on land, as long as those areas are open, flat surfaces, and one does not even need any prior sailing experience to get going. You might think that setting up the Land Sailor is a chore, but it can be easily broken down into a quartet of 4′ long bags which will then fit into a car’s trunk easily, and hence, assembling it is just as quick and painless. The 35 1/2′ sq. sail is made of Dacron, which is the very same material that is used by nautical vessels, where it will need to slip over the mast, being attached to the boom for a speedy set up. A trio of corrosion-resistant wheels alongside nylon rims and stainless steel bearings would allow your feet to steer the craft by guiding the 12″ front wheel, so that your hands will be able to manage the sail and operate the hand brake.

Kodak announces full line of KODAK PIXPRO branded digital cameras

by - on August 27th, 2013

kodak-pixproKodak, a name that is of renown and respect among photographers for more than a century, is still hanging around without any sign of them clocking out from the photography scene anytime soon. In fact, it seems as though they have found themselves a second wind with the new Kodak Pixpro range’s announcement that will deliver some of the the most advanced long-zoom technology as well as easy to use features even for the beginner, ensuring that you will be able to preserve the memories of today for the generations of tomorrow. Of course, Kodak also understands that times are rather difficult economically for certain segments, which is why their range of digital cameras are not going to break the bank.

The Kodak Pixpro Astro Zoom Camera would be focused on the popular and expanding bridge camera category, where it will target a wide range of photo enthusiasts who want something that is more robust compared to your standard point and shoot model. The Astro Zoom will deliver cutting-edge technology with 25x to 52x optical zoom, boasting of 24mm wide-angle lenses and a bunch of manual settings and features that allows you to customize camera settings and explore the art of photography without missing a beat.

The new Kodak Pixpro Astro Zoom Camera line will have the spotlight centered solely on the flagship AZ521 model, where it delivers a powerful 52x optical zoom for less than $300, where it will be accompanied by a 24mm wide-angle lens; 1080p HD Video; 3.0″ 460K LCD; optical image stabilization (OIS) and rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The other Astro Zoom models on offer would deliver a range of affordable price points, where among them include the AZ251 (25x), AZ361 (36x), AZ362 (36x CMOS), AZ501 (50x) and AZ522 (52x CMOS with Electronic View Finder), and the prices will range anywhere from $179.99 to $349.99. If you have the shutterbug bug itching and gnawing at you, would you consider what Kodak has on offer?

Press Release

Duracell’s SnapBattery – Gets You All Charged Up!

by Julie - on June 13th, 2013

It’s gotten to a point where I need to marvel at just how attached to our phones we have become. I am old enough to remember a time when not only did we not have cell phones… our phones were attached to a cord, and most homes only had one. Now I live with a kind of low level anxiety about how much battery life I have left on my phone, and have collected several gadgets to guard against ever being phone-less, due to a dead battery.

It seems the more our phones can do… the less time they can actually do it, before the battery goes dead, so backup charging is an absolute must. Please welcome Duracell’s Snap Battery, designed to get your iPhone 5 up and running quickly and easily, the SnapBattery allows you to simply snap on a Duracell-grade battery that more than doubles your iPhone 5′s battery life, while allowing you the option to easily add and remove the battery (and the extra bulk) as often as you need, snap on when you need it, off when you don’t.

The SnapBattery can easily be recharged via USB, or even be juiced up by being placed on one of Duracell’s Powermats thereby gaining a convenient wireless charge. It even appears that these wireless charging stations are a growing trend in malls, coffee shops and entertainment venues everywhere.

Duracell offers the SnapBattery in a ‘PowerSnap kit’ bundle for $99.99, or you can buy it together with a wireless Travelmat for $199.99 or buy them separately for $59.99 (Snap battery) and $129.99 (Travel mat). Duracell Powermat’s new lineup for iPhone 5 is now available at Duracellpowermat.com.

Best Heated Towel Warmer makes your bathroom more posh

by - on August 25th, 2013

heated-towel-warmerWe have seen some towel warmers in the past, but did any of them carry the superlative adjective of “best”? Nay, definitely not! Don’t you just love it when you arrive at your holiday destination after an extremely long flight which has a few connecting routes, in addition to another long journey from the airport to the hotel, and you are served with a refreshing hot towel to freshen your face? You can now do that from the comfort of your home, making you forget about the woes at the office thanks to the $99.95 Best Heated Towel Warmer. Not only that, if you are a naturally hospitable person, surely your guest(s) would appreciate such a gesture when they arrive at your doorstep.

Why was this towel warmer rated as the “best”? Well, it picked up this accolade because it left towels the warmest and produced the most consistent heat from the outer to the inner edges of two rolled towels. Taking a mere 10 minutes, the Best Heated Towel Warmer will heat towels to a cozy 97° F, while other models in comparison required over double the amount of time to arrive at a similar temperature. Not only that, lesser warmers were guilty of leaving cold pockets toward the interior of the towel rolls. The Best Heated Towel Warmer is compact and lightweight, where it has enough space to stash a couple of 40″ x 70″ towels, and would also come in handy to warm bathrobes, clothing and blankets. There are red and green lights to indicate when heating is in progress or complete; and paranoid androids out there need not fear â€" the inclusion of an automatic shut-off function would ensure your safety.

Swivl turns you into a master iPhone filmmaker

by - on July 13th, 2013

The iPhone’s camera throughout the smartphone’s several generations has long been quite the high end model among its rivals, but it is encouraging to see that both Windows Phone 8 and Android camps have finally caught up â€" and even surpassed the iPhone’s photo taking capabilities, leveling the playing field somewhat in this aspect. Having said that, you cannot deny the fact that there are plenty of iPhone users out there who are also fans of the device, and some folks even figured out that their iPhone cameras are good enough for capturing beautiful moments. Why not bring your homegrown filmmaking talent to the next level with the £179.99 Swivl? The Swivl basically turns you into a one-man film crew.

It will allow you to capture all those precious memories for posterity in a professional looking manner, regardless of whether you are shooting some action sports, a family member making a presentation, or even the neighborhood blockbuster film, the Swivl will still get the job done as it automatically follows your every move. It is fully automated and makes use of motion-sensitive tracking technology, delivering full 360º horizontal-rotation and +10º/-20º vertical movement. It works its magic by tracking the ‘Marker’, which so happens to be a small lightweight sensor which you clip onto clothing or hold in your hand, letting the Swivl base unit to home in on your exact position. This means whenever you move, Swivl will move with you (or your subject, depending on where the Marker is clipped). The Swivl Marker also has another function â€" to be a iOS Digital Microphone so that your productions are always filled with crystal clear audio.

Envelope X-ray Spray – Better than a Superpower?

by Julie - on May 15th, 2013

I have grown up a lot in the last several years. I’ve become much more secure and trusting. I mean, I would never be caught dead steaming open a personal letter clearly addressed to my husband, even if it was obviously written by a woman and smelled faintly of perfume. I can’t imagine anyone ever stooping so low…

Because now we have Envelope X-ray Spray! Now, steaming open sealed envelopes is a thing of the past, because Envelope X-ray Spray turns ordinary paper translucent, thus allowing you to get some idea as to whats lurking inside, ruling out any unseemly activities you might be concerned about, or conversely, you can amaze your family and friends with your tremendous psychic abilities.

Your new environmentally-friendly can of x-ray vision doesn’t leave the envelope permanently see-through, the effect last’s for only 30 seconds or so, and then, like magic, the envelope returns to its original state leaving absolutely no indication of the completely insecure, I mean totally ingenious, person you have now become.

So whether you’re simply taking your magic act on the road, or perhaps have a spouse of questionable morals, or maybe you’re simply one of those less than angelic kids that like to have a vague idea of what kind of letters are being sent home from school (before your parents do), Envelope X-ray Spray may be for you. Each can treats several hundred square inches and you can get yours at amazon.com for under 15 bucks… just don’t get it on your clothes, I’m not responsible for what happens then.

Razer Orbweaver Elite Mechanical Gaming Keypad

by - on April 14th, 2013

When it comes to gaming peripherals, there is one name that would surely inspire confidence right from the get go, and that would be Razer. Here we are with the $129.99 Razer Orbweaver Elite Mechanical Gaming Keypad which will definitely help up the ante whenever you game. After all, if you still lose to your opponents after having the Razer Orbweaver Elite Mechanical Gaming Keypad in your hands, then surely there is no other explanation for your inability to break into the professional gamer fold (and hence, do keep your day job) other than the fact that you lack the relevant “gaming mind”, since the tools at your disposal are already at the very pinnacle of innovation.

What kind of goodies can one expect from the Razer Orbweaver Elite Mechanical Gaming Keypad? For starters, how does 20 fully programmable buttons sound to you? In addition, it is further augmented by an 8-way thumbpad, where that is accompanied by adjustable hand, thumb, and palm-rest modules. The main selling point of the Razer Orbweaver Elite Mechanical Gaming Keypad would be its technology that delivers a distinctive tactile feedback in the form of a light pronounced tap and click to your fingertips. Individual keys are accompanied by an optimized actuation force of 50g in addition to a reduced actuation distance of 2mm, allowing you to unleash commands and attacks without batting an eyelid, as your adversaries start to wonder since when did you have such blisteringly fast reflexes? With other features such as unlimited macro lengths, a backlit keypad for total control under dark conditions, and unlimited customizable profiles via Razer Synapse 2.0, you’ve surely got a winner here.

DO-RA can measure background radiation

by - on August 19th, 2013

doraIt does seem as though the headphone jack on your smartphone is not there to just hold a pair of headphones â€" as there seems to be more and more companies and small start ups coming up with extension hardware to plug into said headphone jack, introducing a slew of capabilities in one way or another. This particular extension that is known as DO-RA happens to be a personal dosimeter-radiometer that is capable of measuring background radiation. Of course, the average man on the street would most probably not need this particular attachment, but considering how the quantified self/health tracking trend looks promising, who knows, there might just be enough to kick off this potential market for those who want to know just much background radiation they bask in every single day?

DO-RA’s creators were spot on in saying that Japan will be a key target market whenever it enters production. Apart from that, there are two other major targets â€" namely the US as well as Europe, although I do wonder whether Russia would be the top purchaser in Europe. It is tipped that DO-RA devices will be shipped at a rate of approximately 1 million each year into these three markets, and we do expect to see the DO-RA device enter into commercial production later this autumn.

Intersoft Eurasia is the Russian startup behind DO-RA, and they claim to have picked up 1,300 pre-orders for the device already over the course of the past few months, all without having to perform any kind of high profile or dedicated advertising. Most of the pre-orders were made by male iPhone and iPad owners, which goes to show just which demographic would fall for such a device. Expect the DO-RA device to retail for approximately $150, which happens to be a whole lot more affordable than rival portable dosimeters that tend to cost anywhere from $250 to $400. Would you pick up one of these puppies for yourself?

Source

Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus announced

by - on August 20th, 2013

wacom-intuos-stylusWacom is a name that most of us are familiar with, especially digital artists who use a digital tablet to get their sketches and artwork done. Having said that, Wacom has just rolled out a spanking new pressure-sensitive digital pen for sketching, drawing and painting on an iPad, calling it the Intuos Creative Stylus. It is supposedly designed in a way so that it can inspire creativity at any time, anywhere thanks to a realistic pen-on-paper feel as well as an intelligent design which lets you rest your palm naturally on the iPad each time you make use of compatible creative apps.

Touted to offer “the best drawing experience” on an iPad, the Intuos Creative Stylus would enable an ad agency creative to perform a quick concept drawing on the train, or perhaps allow the art student to sketch out an idea right before class (all of those last minute work tend to be the most inspired as I have found out for myself over the years). Since iPads have grown in stature over the years to develop ideas and concept experimentation, the Intuos Creative Stylus would definitely be able to step in and fill a gap in the marketplace. It will play nice seamlessly with the iPad in addition to a bunch of creative apps, allowing it to deliver an authentic experience each time the bolt of inspiration strikes.

Of course, it would make perfect sense to have the Intuos Creative Stylus play nice with Wacom’s very own digital notebook app known as Bamboo Paper. This new version is now available and has been optimized for the Creative Stylus, delivering a bunch of new tools which would enable one to be even more expressive and creative. Sporting advanced technology and a pressure sensitivity of 2048 pressure levels, it can react even to light strokes, all the while being smart enough to reject unintentional touches when used with compatible creative apps. Specially designed for the iPad 3, 4 and Mini, it will also play nice with apps like Autodesk SketchBook Pro for iPad, ArtRage (by Ambient Design), Bamboo Paper, ProCreate (by Savage Interactive) and Psykopaint. The Intuos Creative Stylus is powered by a single AAAA battery, it will retail for $99 a pop from this October onwards.

Press Release

NOOK Simple Touch GlowLight gets an even lower price

by - on August 19th, 2013

nook-simple-touchDo you happen to own an e-book reader? For those of you out there who are keen on getting ready way before the intended date, and want to prepare for the school or university year ahead, then check this out â€" Barnes & Noble has just announced that the NOOK Simple Touch GlowLight would receive a price cut, making this ideal e-book reader more accessible to the masses with a price point of just $99. Yes sir, don’t you think that at that particular price point, it would be more appealing to the masses?

At just $99 a pop, it is available at the nearly 700 Barnes & Noble retail stores nationwide as well as online if shopping via a digital platform is your cup of tea. The NOOK Simple Touch GlowLight is said to be the most versatile reader ever created, and it so happens to be the first designed to address E Ink customers’ number-one request â€" that is, the ability to read in the dark in bed without having to disturb the other person sharing your bed. Thanks to Barnes & Noble’s innovative lighting technology, the GlowLight is able to shine uniformly across the display, where it can be adjusted with just a touch, letting you control the amount of light that illuminates the device, regardless of whether you are in pitch black darkness or are in a dimly lit room.

Not only that, the NOOK Simple Touch GlowLight tips the scales at under 7 ounces, making it the lightest NOOK to date. Boasting an ergonomic back as well as soft-touch design, it is extremely comfortable to hold with just a single hand, making it ideal for those thrillers that can be difficult to put down, not to mention being extremely easy to bring around. Apart from that, it also comes with a revolutionary built-in screen protector that delivers paper-like reading with no glare, even when you are under bright sunlight. Any takers?

Press Release

Razer Goliathus gaming mouse mat

by - on August 18th, 2013

goliathusWhen it comes to your gaming performance on the computer, there are three essentials which any serious gamer worth his or her salt will need to consider, and I am speaking for peripherals here instead of the slew of high performance parts required in your liquid cooled machine. A gaming keyboard that will allow your fingers to reach those keys in double quick time, ensuring that these keys do not jam up at the most crucial moment, a gaming mouse which will be able to keep up with your crazy fast reflexes, and of course, a gaming mouse mat to ensure that your gaming mouse achieves its maximum performance capability â€" limited only by your skill. If you already own all of that and are unable to make any headway in your game, then perhaps it is time to reconsider this potential “career path” and concentrate on your day job instead. Still, for those who are still searching for the “perfect” gaming mouse mat, here is the Razer Goliathus gaming mouse mat for you to consider.

The Razer Goliathus gaming mouse mat has just received a redesign recently, where the latest gaming surface will be able to further distinguish itself from other gaming mouse mats, where it will not only maintain the beloved speed-enhancing and control-precise features found in its predecessor, it will also be able to offer a maximum level of performance so that serious gamers who make the cut might be able to use this as the launch pad to gaming stardom. Thanks to a dense, anti-fraying, long-lasting stitched frame, the surface will remain sharp for consistent tournament performance all the time.

There is the “Control Edition” of the Goliathus that will boast of a heavy weave with micro-textures on the surface, delivering just the right amount of friction so that your gaming mouse will work at its most efficient. Available in small, medium, large and extended sizes, it will retail for $14.99, $19.99, $24.99 and $34.99, respectively.

Press Release

DefenderPad laptop shield

by - on August 18th, 2013

defenderpadBefore I start off this particular story, let me run a quick poll by you. How many of you out there actually use your laptop in the way where it was named, that is, on your lap itself? Unless you do a whole lot of commuting and absolutely need to bust out that laptop all the time to get your work done (you busy bee, you!), I would wager that for the rest of us who do our work on our laptops, we would more often than not be sitting comfortably at our desks in the office, or perhaps working at a local Starbucks â€" which would still mean that your laptop remains on your desk and not your lap. Well, for the smaller crowd who seems to work with their laptops on their respective laps all the time, have you ever wondered about how the heat and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) will affect your health adversely, if ever? Paranoid androids might want to check out the DefenderPad laptop shield then if they have answered in the affirmative earlier.

Icaro Innovations’ DefenderPad laptop shield is capable of performing a “Bella” (quick reference to Twilight here), that is, being a “shield” that will block both electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and heat. Since students are about to head back to school soon, the DefenderPad laptop shield is now 15% more affordable for students. It delivers its very own brand of protective technology, and when merged with its slim and stylish design, it would be an ideal replacement for lap desks, lap trays and laptop cooling pads â€" all the while ensuring that the particular student remains protected from any kind of DNA damage, skin burns and rashes, and of course on a more serious note, reproductive issues later in life.

Proudly made in the USA, the DefenderPad has been proven to block just about all harmful radiation as confirmed by independent FCC certified lab tests, where you can pick it up for $89.99 a pop before discount in black, blue and pink shades.

Press Release

CO2ube cuts down on your car’s CO2 emissions

by - on July 29th, 2013

In this day and age, more and more people are paying attention to the effect we’re having on the environment. Gone are the days where were believed that pollution wasn’t a big deal. Instead, many people are putting a great deal of effort into using alternative fuels, and finding ways to cut back on their carbon emissions. Unfortunately, while we all wish that we could do more, we can’t all afford to drive hybrid cars, or ride bikes everywhere. But what if there was a way to cut down on the amount of CO2 that our cars are putting into the air?

The CO2ube is a new gadget that hopes to cut down on the amount of pollution the average car gives off. It might seem crazy that a small gadget could cut down on the emissions from your car. (The ATMOS anyone?) However, this one isn’t promising to just magically make it disappear, or anything. Instead, it’s supposed to use a combination of algae and sodium hydroxide to filter out the CO2 as it exits the muffler.

While this sounds like a great idea, it’s going to be a hard sell for consumers. The device is only going to set you back $45 right now ($60+ after the Kickstarter campaign is over), which doesn’t seem too bad. However, you’re going to need to replace it every 8-10 weeks. While people might want to feel better about saving the environment, most aren’t going to want to shell out that much money every couple months, when they’re not going to see a return on their investment.

Source: Technabob

F.R.E.D. Flashing Roadside Emergency Disk

by - on June 29th, 2013

There is a saying that goes something along the lines of “you can never smell an accident coming”, which is pretty apt a description. After all, how many of us are able to foretell an accident (I am referring to normal folk, unlike those with some extra-sensory perception or possess the gift of clairvoyance)? Since it is better to be safe than sorry, all drivers should always take the extra precaution of ensuring that their vehicles are equipped with the basic tools like some jumper cables just in case the battery dies, or a tire replacement kit for those flat tire moments. The thing is, whenever you decide to pull over and see what is wrong with your car, you would do well to ensure other motorists are able to see you. This is where the $14.99 F.R.E.D. Flashing Roadside Emergency Disk will be able to help.

The F.R.E.D. Flashing Roadside Emergency Disk boasts of lateral illumination that delivers great visibility, and the light itself can be seen at up to 1 mile away, now how about that? There is also a magnetic back that attaches itself to metal surfaces, and with a single push of the button (which is all too tempting), it will rotate through the entire gamut of the light’s functions. Not only that, the F.R.E.D. Flashing Roadside Emergency Disk is here to stay as it can float on water, and is capable of withstanding up to 10,000 lb of weight. It is powered by a trio of AAA batteries that should keep it going for up to 38 hours, so make sure you have spares in tow always.

Tile – Tells You Where it’s At

by Julie - on August 15th, 2013

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I recently told you guys about iTrail, a nifty little electronic that lets you know what your kids, (or pets) are up to. I feel pretty prepared to keep tabs on them. What I have not mastered is the ability to keep track of my keys, phone and wallet! If I had a dollar for every time I had to yell to my family “has anyone seen my….?” I’d be a very rich woman indeed.

Well, here comes an iOS gizmo named Tile to my rescue, a very small electronic tag with a self contained speaker that will easily let you hear it when you are in proximity. (So no more trying to locate your phone by calling it, only to find that the battery is dead.) The associated Tile app, saves the last place your items were, and you can even watch yourself get closer or further away during your hunt, helping you to easily zero in on your target.

Set up is simple, you just grab your Tile out of the box, and press the “e”, then go to the Tile app and add the Tile by holding it up to your iPhone. Tiles can be hung from an item, like a keychain,  it can be dropped into a purse or wallet, or it can be stuck to things like a phone or laptop. You can use up to 10 Tiles on any account, and you can access the account from other phones (I wondered about how it would work if I lost the phone that I use to view the tracking info) the range is only about 150 feet, but The interesting concept of this tracking device is that the signal can be picked up by anyones nearby Tile, so the range could become limitless, assuming enough people get on board.

The Tiles are pretty expensive and they only last about a year, but the developers vow to make replacements less expensive as time goes on, and lets face it I really only need 3. Hey! Has anyone seen my wallet? Pre-order now for under 20 bucks at thetileapp.com

Undercover Mouse – Catch Me if you Can!

by Julie - on June 26th, 2013

I don’t like to involve myself in choosing dog or cat person sides. I happen to love almost all animals, and I do have a cat. Cats are definitely more independent , and unlike a dog they seem to spend a lot of time doing nothing at all. I like to try and find some things that might get old Max up and off the sofa.

Well, check out Undercover Mouse, an ingenious little faux mouse under a cloth that mimics the real deal. Undercover Mouse moves pretty quickly and his movements are actually random, he slows down and speeds up and he can even reverse direction just out of your kitty’s view, under his durable nylon cover. The movements look like they would peak any cats interest, and in my house they did.

Undercover Mouse was more than enough to get Max moving, and for almost an hour he pounced and swatted in an attempt to capture the elusive critter, even trying to pull a few “look at me, I’m walking away” moves, only to turn and pounce right back on the mouse.

Undercover Mouse uses AA batteries and be forewarned, they do get used up rather quickly so rechargeable ones may be your best bet, and depending on the “hunting” style of your cat it may not be as durable as I would like, but for around 30 bucks it made for some comedic entertainment, for the cat, and for any spectators who happened to be around! Undercover Mouse is available from amazon.com. Here, kitty kitty…

Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 announced with 10 new exclusive designs

by - on April 30th, 2013

When it comes to the world of digital cameras, most folks would think of Canon and Nikon where commercial class DSLRs and compact digital cameras are concerned, although as of late, the likes of Samsung and Sony, too, have made their mark in the DSLR market, with Olympus and Panasonic preferring to remain on the side of Micro Four Thirds shooters. Well, Panasonic of Japan’s latest release in the world of digital cameras come in the form of the Lumix DMC-XS1, which will arrive in 10 new exclusive designs for the fashion conscious.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 is a digital shooter that will combine high picture quality and a host of creative options, all crammed into Panasonic’s slimmest body yet, in order to deliver a fun and artistic time of photography. Individual extraordinary design patterns made available for the Lumix DMC-XS1 would make it a whole lot more desirable for trend-conscious consumers. As for the new design patterns, they will be based on the following six concepts, Pop Art â€" cheerful design with colorful graphics, Gift Wrapping â€" designed in the motif of beautiful gift wrapping, Floral Nature â€" designed in the motif of plants and flowers, Digital â€" urban design with digital typography, Texture â€" high fashion design with faux texture and Japanese Traditional â€" design with Japanese traditional Kanji characters.

Of course, there is no point in making sure that there is all style and no substance, which is why the Lumix DMC-XS1 incorporates a 24mm wide-angle 5x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 24 mm to 120 mm on a 35mm camera) for versatile image composition, a range of built-in special effects, 720p HD video recording capability, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Exposure and Face Detection. All 10 new designs are already readily available if you are interested in picking one up.

Press Release

Razer Goliathus soft mouse mat back with a vengeance

by - on August 15th, 2013

razer-goliathusWhen it comes to gamers, you know for sure that they place an extremely high level of importance on the kind of hardware which grace their gaming rigs. Most of the time, nothing but the very best will do â€" at least according to their income at that point in time, and most gamers do tend to be loyal to a certain brand of hardware, rarely making a departure for reasons best known to them. Perhaps this is a case where familiarity does not breed contempt, no? Having said that, Razer has been a well known name in the world of gaming accessories and peripherals for a fair number of years already, and they continue to fly their flag high with the latest version of the Razer Goliathus. It is somewhat like the Incredible Hulk, being meaner and greener, although the Hulk is far from slick.

The latest update of the iconic soft mouse mat family now sports brand new artwork thanks to a redesign. You will find that the new gaming surface will further distinguish itself from other gaming mouse mats through the maintenance of its speed-enhancing and control-precise features, ensuring that gamers will be able to enjoy maximum performance at all times so that users can no longer blame the mouse pad for being the cause of their defeat in future matches. Apart from that, this new version boasts of a dense, anti-fraying, long-lasting stitched frame that ensures the surface will remain sharp consistently.

This “Control Edition” of the Goliathus will boast of a heavy weave with micro-textures on the surface, delivering just the right amount of friction where your gaming mouse’s movements are concerned, and FPS fans would relish at the thought of pixel-precise targeting. There is also an anti-slip rubber base to make sure during those intense gaming sessions, it remains well in place. You can choose from small, medium, large and extended sizes for $14.99, $19.99, $24.99 and $34.99, respectively.

Product Page via Press Release

KEEO ensures your keys will never get lost again

by - on August 15th, 2013

keeoWhile some of us are extremely meticulous with our belongings, which means we have never lost anything in our lives before â€" even down to the smallest detail, including keys and wayward buttons that are being transported to the tailor so that it can be reunited with whichever blouse or shirt that it was detached from. Well, not everyone is like that â€" and I am quite sure that you have experienced moments before that involved walking to the car only to realize that your car keys are back home, requiring you to make that trek back just to look for a particular bunch of keys. KEEO intends to ensure that something like this will never happen again, as it will rely on Bluetooth connectivity in tandem with a smartphone app so that your small items will always be located easily. The KEEO is 100% made in Germany, a country that is synonymous with superb precision engineering, so hopefully the KEEO will be able to live up to such a reputation.

Right now, the KEEO has yet to enter production because it is in the process of collecting enough funds from the masses, and should this crowdfunding project actually manage to achieve its financial target, then do expect the KEEO to begin shipping from January next year onwards. Just a little bit of background information, the KEEO’s crowdfunding campaign kicked off on July 23rd last month, and the moment it hits 1,500 orders, production will commence.

I guess when you have the integrated Bluetooth chip around, it is more or less impossible to lose your KEEO device, simply because the KEEO and your smartphone will alert you whenever the two are separated. Hmmm, I guess these would be devices that are meant to be together for life, just like any sweet marriage. Not only that, a Plug ‘N’ Screw system would make it a snap to hook up your keys to KEEO without the need for any modification, while the One Button Control would let the correct key pop out with a single push of the button.

Product Page

Knock Knock? iDoor Cam lets You Know Who’s There

by Julie - on August 14th, 2013

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I’m a very private person. I never answer my door unless I knew you were coming. I figure it this way, it just takes a phone call to let me know you want to stop by, and if you’re my friend you know I’m simply not one of those folks you can just drop in on because you were “in the neighborhood”. That being said, I’m still curious about whose out there knocking, and I always feel a little weird peeping through my own drapes.

Well, peep no more! Check out the iDoor Cam, made just for your iOS, the iDoor not only lets you see who it is waiting out there for you, but you can hear them, and even talk to them via your iOS device, and never even have to move out of your favorite chair. iDoor replaces your current door bell, connects to your WiFi and will alert your device when someone “rings your bell” then you decide to answer, or just keep doing what you’re doing. The best part? An associated app allows you to answer your door on the fly… so you’ll even know when packages arrive or your Girl Scout Cookies are in.

With the iDoor, you never have to miss out seeing someone you wanted to catch up with, but you can avoid the vacuum cleaner salesman and the pesky neighbor who always wants to borrow something. Made in America and weather proof, iDoor Cam is WiFi enabled and encrypted and allows screen shots, or recordings of your door activity and the patented motion, infared, webcam and cellular technology broadcast directly to your mobile devices, day or night. Watch the movie, then pre-order the iDoor Cam at indigogo.com for well under 150 bucks, and watch for Android coming soon.

Air conditioned dog house

by - on August 11th, 2013

ac-doghouseSome of us call our four legged friends “furkids”, and treat them as though they are more than a pet, being members of the same family and all. Now, this is definitely not wrong at all, but it does go a bit overboard when you hear of pet owners taking their dogs to restaurants and ordering gourmet meals, while they are also treated to a spa afterwards â€" just like a human. Wait a minute, more than a human actually â€" how many of us can actually afford to go for weekly spa treatments as we slog away in the rat race? For those of us who happen to live in countries or areas that would see the mercury level rise by significant levels during the summer or heat wave, you would know that your dog runs the risk of suffering from heat stroke. Well, why not get them an air conditioned dog house? This is what MRT Corp. of Japan has developed, allowing your furkid to relax in the coolness of an air conditioned dog house despite the sweltering heat outside.

This unique dog house will rely on Peltier elements to deliver both cooling as well as warming functions. MRT Corp. has placed an aluminum (Al) plate, which boasts of a high thermal conductivity, right on the floor of the house, where it is connected to Peltier elements on the plate. It is said that within the dog house during the time of cooling, the temperature of the floor will be approximately 10-15°C lower than the room temperature. At the time of warming, it will be 15-20°C higher than the room temperature, making it the ideal dog house to own in countries that go through a hot summer and a bitterly cold winter.

It would definitely be cheaper than turning on your house’s air conditioner, since in Japan, the electricity cost of the dog house is approximately $0.015 per hour, with a product life of at least 18,000. The air conditioned dog house would cost around $507 after conversion.

Source

Have a pill text your doctor from within

by - on August 12th, 2013

bandaid-smartYou might think that you are smart and know how to take care of your health, but in a surprising statistic that was shown off by folks over at the World Health Organisation (WHO), it seems that approximately 50% of us fail to take medicines correctly, and slightly more than 50% of drugs have been prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately. That certainly does not sound too good, don’t you think so? After all, inappropriate sales or prescription of drugs could result in horrifying consequences for patients, and it will also cost healthcare providers millions every single year. Perhaps this is where technology is able to step in and help, and a tablet which is smart enough to text or tweet you when it enters your stomach might be the solution.

This definitely sounds as though it remains within the realm of science fiction, but far from it â€" Proteus could prove to be the next medical breakthrough that humanity is going to fall in love with and celebrate. Named after the microscopic vessel which ventured within the human body in the cult 1960s movie Fantastic Voyage, the Proteus happens to be an ingestible sensor, and the key to it working is the fact that it can be embedded in a tablet, functioning in pretty much the same way as that of a potato battery.

Your stomach acid happens to be the ionic fluid required to create enough voltage so that the sensor will come into life, which in turn, communicates with a small plaster-shaped patch that is worn by the patient, and this particular patch is capable of tracking vital signs, movement and sleep. As for the patch itself, it will be able to send whatever data it received to an app that resides on the cloud, and this information can be accessed from a smartphone, tablet or PC, being set to send an alert to family, caregivers or healthcare professionals so that folks around the patient can rest easy, knowing that the pills have been swallowed. The more paranoid folks might think of it as a way for the government to keep track of you…

Source

Tiger develops fast boiling kettle

by - on August 11th, 2013

electric-kettleWhen it comes to having your afternoon tea, or mixing your favorite hot beverage, getting enough hot water to do the job well (especially when there are unexpected guests who drop by unannounced) can be quite tricky. Sure, some of us do have those fancy electric hot pots â€" which hold a couple of liters of water at best, keeping them warm all the time, but surely that would end up being a fire hazard for those paranoid androids out there, especially when you are not at home for long stretches of time. How about boiling water with a kettle on your stove? Now that’s the way to get things done, but since we live in an instant culture that wants instant results, Tiger Corp. decided to come up with a steam-less electric kettle which will also boast of the industry’s fastest speed (approximately 45 seconds) when it comes to boiling a cup of water (about 140mL). Now, is that fast, or is that fast?

This particular kettle would be the latest model of Tiger’s “Electric Kettle Wakuko”, and it does not emit a single bit of steam to the outside of the kettle. Known as “PCH-G” if model numbers are your cup of tea, this particular kettle will be released at the beginning of September, and thanks to an extremely short boiling time, the overall amount of power consumption is also reduced along the way. How is this made possible?

Well, the boiling time (which can be counter from turning on the switch to the automatic stop of the boiling) could be reduced through the use of Tiger’s “print heater,” which comes with a new structure, and it will lower the amount of time required to detect a boiling state. A similar amount of power required for boiling a cup of water is around 22% smaller, if one were to compare it with the company’s previous product (PCH-A, which was manufactured in 2012), thanks to the reduction of the boiling time and detection time. This sure sounds like something all modern homes should come with.

Source

MYO Armband – Control with the Snap of a Finger

by Julie - on August 9th, 2013

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I’m a huge fan of Sci-Fi, all the futuristic gizmos and gadgets get me dreaming about what life could be like one day. I’m especially drawn to movies with all that nifty gesture controlled tech stuff. (think Minority Report and Iron Man) I was pretty excited about Microsoft’s Kinect, but it wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned 10 years ago and I’m still waiting to be impressed. My time may have come… 

Check out the MYO Armband, making the science fiction of your dreams a reality, this device is the real deal in gesture driven computer control. The MYO Armband is worn on your forearm and works by picking up electrical activities in your muscles (the ones that work your fingers and wrist) as they make gestures, translating that movement into computer commands.How cool is that?

The most outstanding difference between the MYO Armband and Kinect or Leap motion controller is that instead of waving and jumping around with exaggerated movements in order to be picked up, the MYO Armband can also detect very fine movements, like that of a surgeon, and even the simplest and most subtle finger movement can be read just as easily as a sweeping hand gesture.

Right now, MYO is working as a substitute for existing controllers for some games and devices like Sphero and a remote controlled helicopter drone. It can turn up the volume for you, control some gaming weapons, but thats just the baby steps, developers are looking to release an open source API soon, allowing millions of developers to come up with uses for MYO in conjunction with iPhone and iPad. This technology is going somewhere. Keep an eye on it, and if you want to be part of the fun, you can pre-order your MYO Armband from thalmic.com for under 150 bucks, or at least go check out the video…

LG G2 announced

by - on August 8th, 2013

lg-g2There are plenty of names in the smartphone world to choose from when you are in the market looking for a new handset that is said to make your life a whole lot easier and more convenient. Of course, if you were to go through the likes of iOS, then there really isn’t much choice for you in the first place, with the current generation iPhone serving its purpose. On the Android front, however, things are rather different, with many different companies rolling out their respective flagship models over the years, and right now, LG’s most recent candidate to fly their flag high would be the LG G2.

The LG G2 happens to be the first smartphone that will be under LG’s new “G” Series for premium devices, and it has certainly taken its design in a new direction where Android-powered smartphones are concerned, having introduced a paradigm shift as all of its buttons are located on the rear of the handset itself. This would mean it is the first smartphone that has no side buttons whatsoever, and coming up with the unique Rear Key concept was an interesting journey which involved studies that pointed this out â€" the larger the phone became, the more difficult it was to properly access the side keys. Simply shifting the main buttons to the back of the handset offered additional control, as the back of a smartphone is where one’s index fingers are naturally located.

Features of the LG G2 include a 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor that will be accompanied by a quad Krait CPU, a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display at 1080 x 1920 resolution and a whopping 423 ppi pixel density, a choice of either 16GB or 32GB of internal memory, depending on your budget, 2GB RAM, two cameras â€" one 13-megapixel shooter with optical image stabilization at the back, and a front-facing 2.1-megapixel camera, a 3,000mAh capacity battery, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean right out of the box. Too bad there are only black and white colors to choose from!

Press Release

SurfSound-PLAY waterproof speaker from Pyle Audio

by - on August 8th, 2013

surfsoundHow is your summer so far, for those of you who happen to live in the northern hemisphere, anyways? Is it all fun in the sunshine, and what kind of trips have you embarked upon with your family and friends, or heck, even done some solo adventuring? Well, other than good food on your travels, it is obvious that having the right kind of music can also help put you into the mood â€" as music is food for the soul. The thing is, not all consumer electronics devices were created equal, and that includes speakers and smartphones, which is why Pyle Audio has embarked on something which is slightly different â€" the SurfSound-PLAY waterproof speaker which we will describe in greater detail right after the jump.

Pyle Audio made their name as a manufacturer of outdoor recreational sports gear and home, car and pro audio equipment, which is why the SurfSound-PLAY waterproof speaker delivers something out of the ordinary. It happens to be a lightweight, user-friendly speaker case which is capable of delivering the full functionality of connected devices without batting an eyelid. Imagine taking your iPod, an old school MP3 player, or even a modern day smartphone and transforming it into a portable waterproof audio device. That would certainly lift your spirits when you are getting a nice, balanced tan on the beach, and want something other than the awful techno music which is being filtered over by the hotel’s speakers. Why not share your eclectic musical taste with the other guests instead?

Apart from playing back music alone, the SurfSound-PLAY case is also full well capable of handling video playback as well as answer calls, all for $68.99 a pop in white, black or blue colors if you are interested. Just how tough is it? Well, it has been specially engineered to be IPX-7 waterproof (up to 3.3ft) and dustproof, while an innovative plug-and-play interface allows you to play music on land or in water, with a clear plastic screen protector that comes with UV surface treatment, without sacrificing on the touchscreen capabilities of your device.

Press Release

3D Play-Doh Printer – Modeling Magic?

by Julie - on April 1st, 2013

We all remember Play-Doh, and the nifty little plastic Play-Doh fun factories that let you extrude spaghetti-like worms or star shaped snakes. I could sit for hours and play, reveling in the smell, the texture. My mom never allowed me to mix the colors though, (because I would ruin the dough) somehow this seriously stifled my creativity well into in adulthood, but thats another story, probably better told in another venue.

However, our friends over at ThinkGeek are stepping up the old fun factory experience and bringing us the 3D Play-Doh printer, forget about manually squeezing out a fake ice cream cone, you and your tablet or Smartphone can now dream up just about anything, and have it appear in full color (sorry mom) right before your eyes. Sounds cool, doesn’t it?

To use the Play-Doh 3D Printer you need only to insert three cans of your favorite color, load up the free app on your tablet of choice, and get your creative juices flowing. Once you are able to make the 3D model within the application, it seems pretty simple to create the solid 3D piece! Some may say a device like this would also stifle creativity, I say get your CAD skills in order and have at it!

Sure the printer is a toy, and your creations wont be nearly as sturdy as the stuff you make on a 3D printer that works with plastics, but hey… doesn’t this sound like a great idea? It really does, doesn’t it? Check out more info on the ThinkGeek website and tell me that you wouldn’t want one. Someday my friends…. someday.

Moto X Phone – Okay Google Now!

by Julie - on August 5th, 2013

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I love my iPhone. Not because I’m an Apple fan-girl, but because I just happen to love technology. I have PC’s and a Mac, and I show no loyalty to one brand or another. I just like whatever it is thats new, cutting edge or just different. I don’t like to involve myself in the politics of it all, and I don’t pay much attention to where the tech comes from, I just like to have a little bit of all of it… and I think I just found my new phone.

Check out the Moto X, Google’s newest “American-made” offering to the smartphone arena, the Moto X promises to be your constant companion, utilizing a permanent listening mode, you need only utter the words “Okay, Google now.” in order to awaken your phone and enquire about the weather, get directions, or call your mother, all without ever touching the phone.

Google’s Moto X is not only pushing the limits of “touch-free” communications, but is exploring the ease and convenience of motion controls as well. Sensors integrated into the phone and linked to the 10 megapixel camera, allow you to quickly initialize it by two vigorous flicks of the wrist, and you can snap away at the action by simply touching any part of the screen.

Did I mention that you’ll be able to select from 18 color options for the back coupled with a black or white front, and seven trim choices. You can also upgrade  memory, put a message on the back of the phone, pick the wallpaper and preconfigure your phone to go with your Google account? Yup. Is this all new? revolutionary? Life altering? I don’t know, but it sure sounds like a cool gadget to me, so I want one. If you do too, check out motorola.com for more info, or to register for updates.

Zensorium unveils Tinké

by - on August 4th, 2013

tinkeNow here is a device with a name that I would personally say does not fall within the “normal” boundaries of naming conventions, where Zensorium has called it the Tinké. It does have a fairytale ring to it, does it not? Well, the Tinké will now come with an integrated Lightning connector for iOS devices, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for iOS device owners. Wait a minute, I have yet to describe just what the heck the Tinké is, right? All apologies â€" the Tinké would target those who are concerned about their health, where it relies on optical sensing technologies in order to capture blood volume changes as well as quantifying your fitness and relaxation levels into indexes to make it a snap to compare.

Zensorium hopes that these indexes will be compared liberally and trend alongside one another so that you will be able to better understand your fitness progression from your iOS device. For starters, there is the Vita Index, which is a fitness score that has been created by piecing together data which was collected from heart rate, blood oxygen level and respiratory rate. As for the Zen Index, the name itself gives the game away â€" it is a quantified score for your state of relaxation which relies on heart rate variability as a basis.

After all, it makes perfect sense for one to remain aware of one’s fitness level, even though there are moments in your life that you do not remain engaged in physical activity. Tinké is used only when you are at rest so that it can measure, monitor and trend your heart rate, respiration rate and blood oxygen level. Apart from that, Tinké’s Zen measurement would also let you breathe better and measure your level of relaxation at the end of a 60-second practice, now how about that? The Zensorium Tinké comes in a unique and stylish form factor, and it is tipped to arrive later this October for a yet unreleased price point.

Press Release

GoCuff smartphone fitness case

by - on August 4th, 2013

gocuffWhen it comes to cases for your smartphone, you know for sure that these are dime a dozen out there in the market. The thing is, how do you get a smartphone case that stands out from the rest of the crowd? The GoCuff could very well fit the bill perfectly â€" it is the first iPhone and Android fitness case of its kind that offers you complete and unhindered access to your phone with but a simple glance or touch. In a nutshell, the GoCuff is the new and improved sport cuff that will empower you to quickly and easily engage with your smartphone without missing a beat. It will be different from all of the other traditional armbands that you would come across, where placement at your wrist and its touch-sensitive screen would pave the way for a more natural method of accessing it when using fitness apps, GPS navigation, answering a call or even checking out the most recent text message.

Touted to be anatomically and ergonomically engineered for majority of us humans out there, it would not restrict your movement at all, since it allows for a full range of motion at the wrist, ranging from running all the way to pushups. Apart from that, it will also let you access your phone’s capability and data regardless of the activity that you are involved in via a PVC touch-sensitive screen. It does not matter if you are jiving with the iPhone, a handset from Samsung or HTC â€" they will all play nice with the GoCuff.

Should it actually gain enough financial backing from the masses, it will arrive in a trio of sizes â€" namely small, medium and large. Not only that, it will play nice with Strava, MapMyFitness and Nike+, while you can preview GoPro video and photo instantly using the appropriate app. The GoCuff will also be able to track elevation gain and GPS while you ski or snowboard, while doing away with the need for supplemental GPS on a motorcycle to boot. Should its Kickstarter goal be met, the production timeline for overseas markets would occur sometime in mid-Sept to mid-Oct 2013, and Kickstarter backers would ideally be able to receive their respective GoCuffs in early November.

Kickstarter Page

Ringtool is small, but mighty

by - on July 8th, 2013

When you’re a tech junkie like me, you always find yourself in a situation where you’re tinkering with a gadget, opening up a computer, or a multitude of other things that require the use of a tool. Unfortunately this means making sure that you have, at the very least, a couple of screwdrivers handy at all times. Now unless a tool belt is your fashion accessory of choice, you’ll have to get creative with how you store them.

So how do you best fit 11 tools in your pocket, while still leaving room for things like car keys, and such. Obviously, a multi-tool is the only way you’re going to accomplish this. But with so many on the market, how do you choose the right one? With its minimalistic design and low price, the people behind the Ringtool think that their tool will be the only one you’ll need in your pocket.

This tiny tool measures just 2 inches at its widest point, and weighs less just one ounce. But despite its size, it manages to pack in 11 different functions. This includes Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, several hex drivers, spoke wrenches, and a bottle opener. Most of the tools stick out from around a circle, so they can be used by turning your hand much in the same way you use a key in a lock. The best part is that it’s made from one solid piece of stainless steel, which means it should be extra durable.

You can pre-order yours now by backing the Kickstarter campaign, which has already surpassed its goal. $25 will be all you need to put down to ensure that you get a Ringtool of your very own when they ship sometime in December.

Source: Gizmag

Adhere Tech – Message in a Pill Bottle!

by Julie - on May 20th, 2013

Sure, I’m at the age where I need to take a pill or two, and I hate it. I’m also not that great at remembering, luckily missing a dose here and there probably wont kill me, but my dad takes some meds that he simply cant miss. I worry, because he forgets too… and even if I could remember everything for him, I don’t have time to be pestering him everyday. How can we all remember to take our medications on time?

Check out a new wireless pill bottle by Adhere Tech, designed specifically to help improve your medication adherence. This cool container can actually measure the exact number of pills in the bottle, and then, via cellular radio technology, send that info to the cloud. Imagine it… no more “did I take my pill today?” you’ll know for sure. The Wireless Pill Bottle will also call you, or send a text reminding you to take your medication.

Working with both pills and liquids, these new devices can also send adherence data, so there will be no question in your doctors mind as to whether or not you are complying with his wishes. This increased adherence could lead to reductions in extra procedures and treatments as well as hospital re-admissions.

In the next few months, AdhereTech will be beginning a trial with The Walter Reed Army Medical Center to test out these new wireless bottles in type 2 diabetes patients.  Other than the folks in the trial, we can’t have the bottles yet, but the company has secured funding, and is actively seeking additional investors. If you had a chance to use a wireless pill bottle, would you? To find out more, or to watch for availability, please visit adheretech.com

Olloclip Telephoto Lens – Makes you an iPhone Photographer!

by Julie - on August 1st, 2013

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It’s no secret how much I love to take pictures. I just got back from a weeklong vacation, and I’m sure that I mad everyone crazy with all the photography. Funny thing is, while I had my entire arsenal of picture taking equipment with me, most of the fun shots were captured with my iPhone. It’s true, I left the Nikon behind on many occasions, not wanting to lug the sucker around. That being said, some of the shots I got could have been better… much better.

Check out the brand new Olloclip Telephoto + CPL, a nifty, quick connecting lens for your iPhone or iPod Touch that gets you twice as close to the action, and fits in the palm of your hand! Perhaps conditions require you to reduce or remove glare, or maybe you’d like the blue of the ocean to really stand out. You simply need to switch sides, and the circular polarizing lens will have what you need.

Forget about missing the shot, or wishing you could have just a tiny bit more creative control, the new Olloclip Telephoto actually allows you to set depth of field, and tinker with subject focus and, this highly portable accessory can also be used with the separately purchased 3 in 1 lens that includes fisheye, macro, and wide angle options.

Sure, there are times when only a professional camera will capture the images you desire, but for fun family pics with a minimum of fuss, Olloclip can give you the extra oomph you need for spectacular pictures and still leave your hands free to get in on the fun. You can pre-order the new Olloclip Telephoto at olloclip.com or get 3 in 1 lenses for under 70 bucks at amazon.com. Say Cheese!

Razer Naga MMO gaming mouse gets a refresh

by - on July 31st, 2013

razer-naga-2014Just what do you do when you happen to be at the pinnacle of your game? Why, you improve of course â€" remaining at the same place would just ensure that your competitors will catch up with you and eventually take over the coveted top spot that you used to occupy. Well, the Razer Naga MMO gaming mouse has been pretty much the best gaming mouse for the MMO genre to date, and also the best selling one, too, but even the best needs a kick in the butt once in a while, and that is exactly what Razer has done by offering the Razer Naga MMO gaming mouse 2014 edition.

This all new Razer Naga will boast of enhanced ergonomics, a re-designed mechanical thumb grid as well as a revolutionary in-game MMO configurator which should be able to make sure that your MMO gaming experience will never be the same again. For starters, its iconic 12-button thumb grid will now come outfitted with mechanical switches for increased tactility, speed and actuation assurance. Each of the buttons on the thumb grid will stand out in a more pronounced way than before, making it possible to blind-find them so that gamers can execute commands in a jiffy. Apart from that, its ergonomic form factor has also been updated, delivering a broader shape so that your hand will feel more comfortable holding it.

Both the fourth and fifth finger rests will now come with a gentler down-slope in order to promote better grip while reducing fatigue over an extended period of play. Not only that, Razer’s latest Naga will also boast of a tilt-click scroll wheel which can click in and out as well as left and right, giving gamers even more buttons than before at their disposal. This is definitely a nice bump from the 2009 predecessor, and if you are interested in upping your game, then the asking price of $79.99 for this puppy should not deter you, right?

Press Release