Gadgets Blog

This is just a quick reminder to any UK folk who haven’t yet entered our latest contest to win an excellent 42″ LF7700 LCD TV. The contest closes at 12.00PM GMT.

Full rules here and it should take you less than a minute to enter, good luck.

If you’re a camper looking for a better, more portable way to bring along a BBQ grill to that campout or to the beach without cooking over a live campfire, you may want to try this “Notebook” BBQ grill.

Built like a folding chair, but with a handle like a briefcase, this Notebook grill is made of study metal and comes with a built in grill rack. Grillers simply unfold it, fill it with charcoal or wood, and light her up. And the Notebook grill if far better than those cheap temporary models made out of bakers aluminum which can be tossed away afterwards, but are so fragile they bend out of shape - not to mention meat that sticks to the chicken wire style grill rack.

The Notebook Grill is a real grill that you can use over and over, and yet fold and put away in the back of the pickup truck.

Cost is about $50 US from GadgetShop

Hat Tip - Book of Joe

Not satisfied with giving their customers YouTube capability, Pure Digital - the makers of the Flip pocket video cameras, are updating their on board software to make it easier to upload videos by creating their own custom channels which thhey can then invite others to enjoy.

This is especially comforting to parents who want to share videos of their friends and family without letting anyone else viewing them sans permission (although, to be fair, YouTube and other video hosts do have privacy settings that also do just that).

When users upload video to their dedicated channels, an email goes out to a previously approved “white list” of email addresses advising them there’s an update to the channel with thumbnail previews included.

The software will also allow users to drag clips off the channel, edit them or update them and then drag them back. Lastly, in concert with the new Flip software comes an iPhone application which enables MacHeads to watch Flip Channel videos directly, as well as recording videos using their iPhone and uploading them directly to the channel.

Unfortunately, for the Mino and Ultra HD Cameras, the quality of video viewing won’t be true 720p, but the reality of HD on YouTube and other video hosts is that it isn’t really shown in true HD anyway.

Hat Tip - Crave

If you have a young girl in your family who notoriously despises the dark, this pretty lamp would be a great gift.  It’s not only cute to have sitting out, but versatile within its functions as well.  As long as she is into very flowery gifts, she’s sure to love the light.  It can sit out and glow, giving at least a little light in her room while she’s trying to go to sleep.  Then if for some reason she needs to go roaming the halls or go in search of a bathroom, it can also be switched so that it can be used as a flashlight.

The flower itself can be turned on by pushing on the flower.  That way it’s not running all day long when the light is no longer needed.  Then towards the base of the light is a separate switch for the flashlight itself.  In order to keep the light up and running it requires 3 AAA batteries.  It’d be nice if it had the option to be plugged in, so you wouldn’t go through quite so many batteries.  However, this way does keep things simple.  You can purchase the light for $8.99 from GizFever.

Source: NerdApproved

Not everyone wants a speaker to sit prettily and safely on their desk.  For those that are the active types, you might want something more durable.  Which is exactly what the creators of SkullyBoom are trying to do.  They wanted speakers that were portable, but in the event you wipe out on your skateboard, it’s not going to hurt the speakers.  Granted, you’ll need to get some kind of a durable case for your MP3 player too, but at least you know the speaker is safe.

SkullyBoom has a Lithium-ion battery that will run the speaker for up to 3-6 hours.  It has a primary loudspeaker, as well as a tweeter.  It’s also said to have surprising power, but then everyone likes to claim that their speaker is super powerful.  The main perk is that the speaker will stand up to the beatings it might receive while you’re out and about, goofing off with friends.  It’s not out just yet, the official release date is June of 2010 and it’ll cost $60 at that time.  However, if you pre-order now it’ll cost you $30 and you should be able to get it right around Christmas.  They’re looking for supporters so that they can mass produce these and keep them affordable.  So you could even put a small down payment on a speaker and they’ll give you a discount for later.

Source: Crunchgear

At Coolest Gadgets, we love to report on new ways to make energy from methods where energy goes to waste. About a year ago, it was the Revolution Door, a revolving door that is connected to a turbine, harnessing the energy for when people walk through the door.

Here is a another gem of an idea when it comes to energy conservation: a power-generating parking lot. It works with a series of plates that create a rocking motion when cars drive over them. The rocking motion can turn generators and thus make power.

How much power? It can make about 30 Kilowatts of energy per hour, to be exact. You may not think that isn’t enough, but it could be enough to power the store, including the registers.

So, what are we looking at, a future where every store is powered by a parking lot generator? Considering how many cars go over supermarket parking lots every day, this looks to be a welcome change.

It also looks like we are entering an age where we harness all the power we can, from any place we can. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone figures out a way of using the power of my typing hands to power my laptop. Feel free to lieave a comment if you have any other energy-making ideas.

Source

Okay, let’s get the product description out of the way so I can make geeky Star Trek jokes. I don’t think that I really need to go into detail about the specs of Star Trek PEZ dispensers in the form of Kirk, Spock, Sulu, Uhura, plus the Enterprise, and it doesn’t take a genius to see that they contain Flash Drives (2GB to be exact).

Great, I got that out of the way. On with the jokes after the jump.

Kirk: Spock, I…can’t…get…the…candy…in the dispenser.

Spock: It would appear the logical thing to do is pull on the cranium until the space for the candy is revealed, and then insert the sugary treats then.

Bones: Dang it, Jim, I’m a doctor, not a candyman!

Scotty: Captain, I cannot work miracles! I can’t hold the head open and put in the candy at the same time!

Chekov: Captain, a sugar high has claimed the life of Ensign Wictor!

Sulu: I don’t know what you are all talking about, I have my candy in already. Delicious.

Uhura: I’m not really into the Candy. I’ve got to keep my girlish figure. I’m making more use of the 2GB drive. Stop staring at my mini-skirt.

Feel free to come up with more jokes yourself. I believe that these candy holders/flash drives are available for $25 each if you need the inspiration.

Source

I have an idea for a remake of Psycho, in case Universal wants to do it again. In the infamous shower scene, Norman Bates, dressed as his mother, dramatically sneaks into the bathroom, where Marion Crane is bathing. He then quickly draws back the shower curtain and as he goes to stab her… “Oh man, this is the anti-stab knife! Wait right here, I’ll be right back.”

Yes, someone actually invented an anti-stab knife. I realize that concept sounds as ridiculous as an anti-killing gun, but the blunt upper protrusion prevents someone from a fatal wound. Apparently that pointy part on the front is capable of only getting caught on clothing, and it can only pierce flesh just a little.

The knife’s designer has admitted that no knife is stab proof, so you could kill someone with this if you tried hard enough. The purpose of the anti-stab knife is to prevent a fatality through a crime of passion. So if a couple is having a spat while one of them is chopping up veggies for dinner, rest assured that no one will be killed if tempers flare.

Apparently, stabbing crime is big in the UK. It’s like gun crime in the States, but ironically smaller. So if the proliferation of anti-stab knives could reduce stabbing fatalities, more power to it. Think of it as a trigger lock for a knife.

Source

If you’re constantly unplugging USB cords, just to stop power being sent to it, you might want to check out this little hub with switches.  This would be an ideal item for anyone with a lot of novelty USB products.  While you need to concentrate, you could shut off your string of USB lights or some random dancing animal.  All the while never having to unplug it, so there will be no need to search for the end of the USB cord later when you want the item turned back on.

This Buffalo hub has a total of 4 different ports for all of your USB gadgets.  It also comes in a total of four different colors.  In addition to being able to be powered by the always obvious USB, there is an AC adapter, so you can also plug it into the wall.  It comes with four 1.5m USB cables.  It’s not a US product though, Buffalo will be releasing it into Japan as of mid-October.  When that happens the hub will be sold for 3,885 yen or about $39.

Source: SlipperyBrick

We know that we use watches to tell the time, but how many of us don’t have a decent cellphone to help keep track of our appointments as well as to-do list? For the rare few who fall into that category, here’s the VibraLite 8 vibrating watch to help you get started.

The Vibralite 8 Vibrating Watch has a large display, 8 alarm settings and Auto Reset Countdown Timer option that gives extensive combinations of variable and interval reminders. Eight Alarm Settings for preset reminders. Auto Reset Option Countdown Timer may be set for seconds, minutes, and hours for interval reminders…Use for reminders such as medication, medical conditions, meetings, timing presentations, tests, parking, and appointments.

Not too sure whether forking out $149.95 for this is well worth the price or not. What do you think?

Product Page via TRFJ

Check out this unique piece of furniture that ought to get your pulses moving if you’re currently looking for a new computer desk - this model not only props up your notebook and helps you obtain a good posture while working, it will also help keep your notebook cool thanks to the integration of a dual fan system and lifting tray, allowing you to work comfortably without getting that heated feeling down your pants (in a bad way, of course). The right hand side comes with a flat area that can double up as a mousepad or a place to write down notes on a piece of paper, showing the world that southpaws are left out of the equation yet again. This unique piece of furniture can be stowed away easiy with its legs folded up for flat use.

Source: Craziest Gadgets

Samsung is back with yet another handset, and the Korean cellular giant ain’t letting up on the competition with the Samsung Jet. This is touted to be one of the latest in mobile handset innovation, and was unveiled at a series of global launch events in London, Dubai and Singapore. Just what is the Samsung Jet, anyways? Well, this cellphone will be equipped with virtually all the benefits of both advanced features found in most modern day smartphones, and will be accompanied by an easy-to-use user interface that is available in conventional handsets.

What sets the Samsung Jet apart from the rest? Well, it can be considered to be a pioneer in terms of display technology as well as performance speed, where the 3.1″ WVGA AMOLED display is touted to offer just about the most vivid and colorful full touchscreen mobile experience ever, not to mention the availability of 16 million colors dancing across the display simultaneously. Sounds pretty good in theory but seriously, just how much color do you think one would like to pack into a 3.1″ display, let alone our eyes that won’t really be able to tell the difference in such a tiny footprint? Still, if bragging rights are what you’re after, then you won’t go wrong with the Samsung Jet.

It will be powered by the latest TouchWiz 2.0 user interface from Samsung, and while we’re sure it is an improvement over its predecessor by offering “an unrivalled user experience”, chances are it won’t be able to hold up to Apple’s iPhone OS 3.0. Still, we’re not here to do a review and the Samsung Jet will boast iconic new features including motion UI, smart unlock and a customizable widget screen to get you going. The Dolfin Internet browser (someone point them to a spelling checker, quick!) is said to be specially designed to work with just about any website, targeting the use of social networking sites especially. Other features include a 5-megapixel camera, built-in GPS, DNSe and SRS Sound Effect technology, 2GB internal memory, as well as EDGE/GPRS Class 12 (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) HSDPA 3.6Mbps (900, 2100 MHz) connectivity.

Press Release

You might not have heard about GN Netcom so far, but it is actually one of the world leaders in innovative headset solutions, so it is little wonder that the company has released its most intuitive headset to date - the Jabra BT2080. I remember many years ago when Bluetooth headsets were just starting to proliferate the cellphone world and anyone who owned a handset with Bluetooth connectivity could count on it on being one of the latest and greatest handsets, and when compared to today, Bluetooth connectivity is more or less a must in our society. Well, the Jabra BT2080 offers a way for you to communicate with others in a hands-free manner while looking stylish, so check out the details right after the jump.

Specially designed for just about anyone to use, regardless of whether you’re new to the world of cellphones or experienced users, the Jabra BT2080 will be part of the “Easy Series” headset category and will be the first of the lot to offer Jabra’s new proprietary StatusDisplay LED indicators. What does this display do? Well, it was created by Jabra’s own research and development team where multi-colored lights will be used to show the headset’s battery level (we suspect the usual green, yellow and red color scheme will be used here) alongside the important detail - Bluetooth connection status at that point in time.

This stylish Bluetooth headset will also come with intuitively placed buttons, where the answer/end button is located on the front of the headset while the dedicated on/off button is placed in the back. As with most other headsets, volume control is located on the side that makes it easily accessible at the touch of a finger, making sure that users won’t fumble with the controls whnever they are caught by surprise due to a call. The entire Jabra BT2080 tips the scales at less than 3 ounces, where it will come in a sophisticaed matte black finish complete with an attractive silver button, resulting in a contemporary and stylish headset. In addition, there is the smaller ear interface and improved Jabra Eargel that makes sure the headset fits comfortably to a T. Not only that, the BT2080 is also the first among all Jabra headsets to come with Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity. Amazingly enough, the Jabra BT2080 is priced at an extremely affordable $39.99.

Press Release

Warning UK - Only

For the past week on our UK site, we’ve been running a competition where one reader can win a LG LF7700 42″ LCD TV.

ALL clues have now been published and you have until mid-day (GMT) Wednesday to email your entry to us. The contest is really really easy and if you’re in the UK I’d strongly recommend you giving it a shot. You can find out more here.

Good luck everyone.