Gadgets Blog

If you missed Best Buy’s ad in the Sunday paper, now might be a good time to dig through your old newspaper pile and get it. No, Best Buy didn’t pay me to say that, but I can guarantee there is something more in that Sunday Best Buy ad than just their latest deal.

Yes, it appears that Best Buy is fully embracing the 3D vibe in the air today as last Sunday’s ad is capable of being viewed in 3D. Just so we are on the same page, you do not even need any special glasses.

You will need a personal computer with a webcam. Just turn on your webcam, allow Best Buy access to it, and “slowly move the weekly ad toward the camera until it is recognized”. How will you know that it is recognized? Just watch your webcam display and wait for something neat to happen, because it will.

You might notice that when you turn the ad, the 3D image will also turn in realtime. How is this possible? With our old friend, Augmented Reality.

Yes, we have covered it before with baseball cards and Avatar action figures, so why not use it as an effective means of retail advertising? I think the better question is: “why not use it again?”

If you want a chance to see this work for yourself, just go to bestbuyin3d.com.

Source

Love fishing but seem to be lacking the X-factor that allows you to land the right catch every single time? Perhaps the Radio-Controlled Feed Boat might be able to help you out, coupled with a sonar sensor, tipper for 4.4 lbs of bait, an underwater LED light and a range of up to 948 feet.

This Radio-Controlled Feed Boat will bring your bait and floaters to places that can’t even be reached with the best casting technique. Up to 300m (984ft) from your location. The one-hand control is easy to operate and will take the agile electric boat to the exact spot where the fish are â€" tracked by the built-in sonar sensor. The 5.3 x 5.4cm (2″ x 2 1⁄10″) display on the remote-control will show you where to find the fish and at which depth the shoal is moving (up to 30m /98ft in 2m/6ft5” units). In addition it will indicate the water temperature (0-40°C) and the absolute water depth as well as all boat movements and activities. The tipper discharges up to 2kg (4.4 lbs) of bait at the touch of a button. Along with your hook bait, too, if you wish.

The Radio-Controlled Feed Boat will be equipped with a couple of powerful jet motors from the 540 Series that are located within the hull, allowing you to navigate safely through severely overgrown waters, making short work of algae and twining plants. Powered by a quartet of AAA batteries that last up to 3 hours, the Radio-Controlled Feed Boat can be yours for £435.

If your workplace allows you to bring your pooch with you, then you might want to consider the $178 P@W device. It is in essence, a pet back-pack, laptop computer carrier and foldable pet crate merged into a single contraption, letting you tote your precious four-legged friend around in safety with your laptop in tow without keeping both your hands occupied. We just wonder what happens if your pooch has put on a fair number of pounds over the years, otherwise your back might suffer and curse you for it when coupled with a heavy laptop inside.

Product Page via Likecool

LG Electronics does not only make great flat panel HDTVs for the living room, they have now entered into another arena, where the HealthView series of HDTVs were specially developed to cater to patient rooms, especially for Long-Term Care facilities. This new line of HDTVs ought to offer a sense of home-away-from-home with sleek flat-screen displays, crisper, clearer imaging and enhanced patient controls. No idea on what type of shows you will get while you’re bed ridden at the hospital, but I would personally prefer a good book, some snacks at the side and my trusty Nintendo DS Lite instead to keep me entertained while my maladies heal.

This new HealthView series will come in 26″ and 32″ screen sizes, going by their model numbers 26LH210C and 32LH210C, respectively. There is no need to fight over the remote as it features Bed 1/Bed 2 controllability on a simplified remote control. letting more than one LG HDTV function in the same room without having to suffer from conflicting remote control signals. In addition, this allows patients to control their own set without accidentally adjusting the settings of a similar TV elsewhere.

Another interesting aspect would be the enhanced entertainment options and controls made available to residents of Long-Term Care facilities, where the HealthView series will feature Speaker Out control for easy adjustment of external speaker volume. Apart from that, it is also equipped with a USB 2.0 Media Host for easy viewing of photos, videos and other similar file formats. You will be able to show images from various sources (notebooks, MP3 players, etc) on the set itself thanks to LG’s Auto-Sensing Remote Jack Pack (RJP). Clear Voice II technology is a 12-level voice control which allows adjustments to be made to the voice frequency for clearer sound, enabling patients to hear what characters are saying as though they were listening through a pillow speaker.

Press Release

NEC Display Solutions of America is back with a brand new projector, although this time round they won’t be offering one that will target home theater systems. Instead, the latest addition to the family would be the NEC NP4100 professional installation projector, and by its name itself you can tell that it is able to handle even the most demanding integration projects. This powerful NP Installation Series model will cater to those who want to have a projector work in large venues, boasting exceptionally bright light output that is more than capable of handling huge areas despite of high ambient light.

The NEC NP4100 comes with a high level of brightness rated at 6,200 ANSI lumens, which is more than enough when it comes to larger than average screen sizes as well as rooms with minimal lighting control including auditoriums, training and network centers. This high level of brightness results in enhanced clarity when projected onto the screen, and it will go some way in helping audience viewing be less strained, especially for those who are suffering from less than perfect eyesight.

Some of the features available on the NP4100 include :-

• 1024 x 768 native resolution
• 2100:1 contrast ratio
• 6200 ANSI lumen brightness
• Power consumption of 315W with single lamp, 580W with dual lamp in ECO Mode
• BrilliantColor - increases system brightness and color saturation while optimizing color gain across the full color gamut
• AutoSense - automatically syncs with any computer signal and features one-touch image optimization
• DynamicBlack - improves the black level of video for further detail in dark scenes
• 4- and 6-segment color wheels for maximum brightness and appropriate color reproduction
• DVI-D with HDCP, RCA, s-video, component, 15-pin and BNC connectivity
• Integrated RJ45 connection, which enables quick and easy LAN connection
• Remote diagnostics - enables the administrator to monitor and make adjustments to the projector via the network from a remote location
• Variety of bayonet-style lenses for greater flexibility

Expect to pick up the NEC NP4100 sometime this August for $5,499. All purchases will come with a standard three-year parts and labor warranty.

Press Release

Ink cartridges get tossed in the trash plenty, so one Etsy seller decided to reuse those and turn them into a new form of technology.  These small lamps might not be bright enough to read by, but if you are going to spend the money for novelty lights, you might as well pick up ones that are recycled.  That way it’s a little more eco-friendly.  You won’t have to worry about safety concerns either, since the Etsy seller put all of the lamps through extensive testing to make sure that they are completely safe.

The lamps come in several different color choices, such as yellow, light magneta, matte black, light cyan and cyan.  You can also get an ink cartridge chandelier that has all of the different colors within it.  The chandelier will of course put off quite a bit more light than the individual cartridges would.  You can also purchase the LED bulb that works with the cartridges, directly from the seller.  The lamps do all come with a 6 watt bulb though.  The cartridges will all cost you $35 a piece and the chandelier will cost you $200.

Source: CraziestGadgets

If you’re looking to hide your USB drive, this is one way to do it while still leaving it out in the open.  Although it’s not going to fool anyone into believing it’s a working light bulb, no one would guess without looking closely that it’s actually a flash drive.  Of course looking closely you can start to see the top of the drive, since the bulb is completely clear.  You won’t have to worry about losing it either since it easily attaches to your keychain.

The end of the bulb screws over top of the drive, to keep it well protected and secure.  They don’t say what the bulb itself is made out of, but I would hope that it’s a durable plastic since it is going to dangle along with your keys.  The drive can be purchased in three different sizes, 2GB, 4GB and finally 8GB.  None of which are too horribly priced either.  The smallest is $19, the 4GB is $22 and the largest is $32 from Brando.

Source: Geekalerts

I had a chance to try out the SimCraft Racing simulator at CES, and I thought that it was a trip. However, just picture how cool it would have been if I had been sitting in a Formula 1 car!

I mean, if you can’t afford to drive a real car on a track, then maybe you can have the car! Okay, I’ll admit that was pretty sarcastic, but at least the car has real tires, racing seat and harness, steering wheel, and pedal system.

The car is mounted on a pneumatically powered motion platform that is similar to the ones used in Flight Simulator training. It has a nineteen inch monitor for viewing the road, which sort of pales in comparison with Simcraft’s wrap-around triple display.

The F1Showcar Motion Simulator will set you back $44,900. Yeah, this definitely a toy for those who clearly have money to burn, which does not include myself. I also don’t have the space in my place for something like this, either. Then again, it doesn’t seem right to buy a Formula1 car and just mount it on a platform.

Still, I think I can see why it was done. How else are you going to get the feeling of driving without using a real car? It reminds me of a video game in Japan called Initial D where the player was in an actual sports car to engage in The Fast and the Furious type races. I wrote about that here if you want more information.

Once again, some new concept device has shown up that is so simple in its design, I can’t help but wonder why it is still a concept. Case in point, this Hi-Fi cellphone.

The Hi-Fi Cellphone is clearly meant to meet the consumer’s need of listening to audio files from their cellular phone. As you can see from the photo, all that users must do is insert the cellular phone into the appropriate place, and the end result is literally music to their ears.

What you can’t see is that these headphones, without the cellular phone attachment, are able to fold up and fit in a slot in a laptop, or even the user’s pocket.

You may notice that there is no microphone on the headphones, so you might not be able to take phone calls. However, I am old enough to remember days that wearing padded headphones meant that you were so into your music so much and you didn’t want to take phone calls. (Insert “the more things change” comment here.)

So far, this Hi-Fi Cellphone is still concept, and is just one winner in LG’s Design of the Future contest. Personally, I think the designer of the Hi-Fi Cellphone is going in the right direction. In other words, let’s see some more practical concept tech get made!

Source

In case you needed more proof that this 3D fad isn’t dying anytime soon, then you should know that there will be a 3D channel coming to the UK sometime next year.

BSkyB is the company responsible for trying to institute would could be the norm of television in the future. Apparently, the company is doing very well with its Sky+ HD box, a device which makes the 3D broadcasting possible.

Customers who want to watch the 3D channel will have to purchase a “3D ready” television, and yes, they will have to wear special goggles. Right now, a typical “3D ready” TV by Hyundai costs quite a bit. However, costs have been known to go down with user demands.

Of course, the price of the 3D ready TV sets isn’t the only question I have for BSkyB’s 3D channel. I am guessing that this 3D station plans to have 3D content 24/7, which means that all of the exclusive footage must be filmed with special cameras. I can’t help but wonder what type of shows they would have.

I would highly suggest that BSkyB carry content with 3D animation. You might notice that many CG movies like Up and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs are being released in 3D, and I believe it is because CG animation is easy to shift into 3D mode. There are a few computer animated shows on television now (mostly for kids), and if these were turned 3D, then you’d really have a hard time prying your kid away from the TV.

Source

I’ve probably mentioned several times before that I have a lot of appreciation for weather stations as well as combination gadgets that simplify your life.  Well this mirror might be a great gadget to have around for those of you guys out there that like to shave in the shower.  It’d be nice if not only did this have the mirror, but a radio built into it as well.  Instead though, they opted to put a weather station within your shower.  While you’re shaving, you’ll know exactly what it’s like outside.

Personally, a weather station being in the shower wouldn’t quite work for me.  That is since I always pick out my clothing for the day before I even get in the shower.  However, if you do that afterward then this would work out nicely.  It tells you the time, date, temperature, humidity and the daily forecast based on barometric pressure.  It also has a spot to hold your shaving cream and two different razors.  To hold it up it uses suction cups and requires 2 AA batteries as well as 2 AAA batteries.  You can purchase it for $49.98 from Taylor Gifts.

Source: SlipperyBrick

Despite technological advancements in the world of video games and consoles, there are times when some of us just want to sit back, relax and enjoy titles of yore. ThinkGeek fills up this need with their latest release, the Retro Mini X Handheld NES System. As you can tell by its product name, this device will be able to handle your entire library of NES games - just make sure that you have original (and still working) cartridges to begin with. If those do not work, do try out the classic blow-into-the-connector method, otherwise just pick up some titles off eBay and other online auction sites. Back to the Retro Mini X Handheld NES System - this mini game system will hook up to a TV and comes with a wireless Zapper replica to boot! Unfortunately, you cannot use the Zapper with the integrated LCD display, as it will only function whenever the system is hooked up to a TV. Not only that, another limitation is, the Zapper will play nice only with a CRT TV, so folks running on LCDs and plasmas might want to think twice before picking up this $49.99 classic gaming tool.

Ladies, if you’re thinking of your next gadget purchase, might we suggest the Gemologist’s Diamond Authenticity Tester to you? After all, which woman doesn’t like it when they receive a diamond ring, earring or necklace from their beloved? If your man’s salary doesn’t seem to add up despite him showering you will all these glitzy presents, you’d best be aware as to whether these tokens of “love” are authentic or not, and the Gemologist’s Diamond Authenticity Tester would be just the right thing to have.

This device instantly verifies the authenticity of a diamond and detects the presence of moissanite and cubic zirconia, the two most common diamond simulants. The handheld unit uses thermal and electrical conductivity testing–the same verification methods used by gemologists–to determine if a stone is a natural diamond or a counterfeit. The device exposes stones to thermal and electrical currents and their ability to conduct these currents reveals the true identity of the stone (genuine diamonds are only thermally conductive; cubic zirconia is neither thermally nor electrically conductive; moissanite conducts both heat and electricity). Simply place the tip of the device on the stone in question and LEDs illuminate instantly on the handle to show the composition of the stone. Simply rubbing the probe tip on copy or printer paper prior to each use will clean the sensor and ensure optimal results.

Powered by a trio of AAA batteries, this $299.95 device comes with a travel pouch. Guess using this is somewhat a Pandora’s Box - you might end up breaking up with him because of his lies when it comes to insisting those are real jewelry instead of fakes until you shove the results right in his face.

Mention Kodak, and chances are you’ll probably think about film and cameras. Well, the company is back with a bunch of new products that will definitely tickle your fancy, so let’s take a quick look at all of them before you decide whether to redirect some of your monthly resources to purchase one of these, eh? First off we have the Kodak Zi8 pocket video camera that will bring full high definition video recording within reach of the masses, while the EasyShare digital camera market will be expanded by the introduction of the Z950 and M381. As for digital photo frames, Kodak ensures it has that ground covered with the S730 and D830, while the Kodak Theatre HD player rounds off the list of recent product announcements.

First off is the Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera that offers integrated electronic image stabilization for vibrant and sharper full HD videos, a generous 2.5″ color LCD display, a swing-out USB arm for fast uploading, sharing and charging, a 5-megapixel 16:9 widescreen image sensor, an external microphone jack and easy uploading of snapped photos and videos to Facebook and YouTube.

Up next is the EasyShare Z950 digital camera that boasts a 10X image stabilized SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON optical zoom lens, a 12-megapixel sensor, Kodak’s Smart Capture feature and a fast click-to-capture speed of less than 0.3 seconds. The smaller EasyShare M381 digital camera, however, also comes with a 12-megapixel sensor with a 5X optical zoom lens and an advanced feature set which comprises of HD still image capture, easy uploading to Facebook, YouTube or Kodak Gallery, face detection of up to 5 faces and blue reduction technology.

The EasyShare S730 digital frame comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, allowing one to use this as a portable digital photo album without being restrained by the length of its power cord. It comes with a new Picture Finder feature that makes it easier to locate images you want to share with others on the spot. As for the D830, this new Décor Series will come in a choice of hundreds of traditional picture frames for those who want to maintain a visible link between old and new technology. Last but not least is the Theatre HD player that comes with YouTube support, Net video access and discovery collage views, giving you superior all round control of your photo collection.

The Kodak Zi8 pocket video camera, EasyShare Z950, EasyShare M381, S730, D830 and Kodak Theatre HD player will retail for $179.95, $279.99, $179.99, $139, $139 and $199.99, respectively.

Press Release

Samsung has recently unveiled their latest LCD HDTV to the world, and in the flagship model, no less. The all new 8500 Series of HDTVs will bring together superb picture quality without sacrificing style, where the thinness of Samsung’s older LED HDTVs alongside all the latest networking and interactive features are still retained in order to keep TV connoisseurs happy. Samsung has also thrown in the Medi@2.0 suite for a higher level of immersion when it comes to viewing movies and shows on the 8500 Series. More on this line right after the jump, especially if you’re looking to upgrade your current flat screen TV.

Samsung managed to turn a corner with innovative use of white LEDs as a backlight source, enabling the 8500 Series to be able to achieve a stunning 7,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for extreme detail and image depth. The inclusion of its Wide Color Enhancer Pro makes sure that colors remain consistently vibrant, while Samsung’s Ultra Clear Panel strives to offer improved image clarity and brightness regardless of a room’s ambient lighting. All of that does not mean that Samsung has forgotten about Mother Nature, and the 8500 Series is compliant with the latest Energy Star v3.0 ratings, while boasting an optimized energy savings mode which adjusts the backlight and picture quality, without having to sacrifice the overall viewing experience. Not only that, its “Natural” mode optimizes picture settings to model the brightness advantage of LCD displays and the cinema-like richness of plasma displays with any content.

The 8500 Series will carry an ultra-quick 2ms panel response time, coupled with Samsung’s up-to-date version of its Auto Motion Plus frame interpolation technology which brings true 240Hz refresh rate to the living room, helping improve playback of fast-paced content by a significant amount. Users are able to adjust levels of judder and motion blur reduction by going beyond the three standard Auto Motion Plus presets for superior picture control. As for Samsung’s Medi@2.0 suite, this enables users to access content from an expanded range of sources including Internet@TV - Content Service, web-based content from Yahoo! (Flickr, Video, News, Weather, and Finance), USA Today (Sports), Twitter, YouTube, and others. You can pick up the 8500 Series from 46″ and 55″ models for $3,599.99 and $4,499.99, respectively.

Press Release

Although it’d be nice to be able to just go off and get a massage on a regular basis, it just doesn’t usually seem to work out.  Be it due to a busy schedule or just not enough cash flow to be able to afford it.  Which is why at home massagers can be found in just about any possible form you could think up.  Some are extravagant and nowhere near affordable, others are smaller and won’t break the bank.  Thankfully this eye massager is one of the cheaper ones out there.

After staring at a computer screen all day or even flipping through a text book for hours on end, your eyes just get a little on the sore side.  Instead of just ignoring it and pushing through, you could take a quick break and pull out this Eyezone Eye Massager.  It straps to your head and uses vibrating foam pads.  It claims to relieve not only sore eyes, but migraines, sinus problems and helps prevent age related loss of sight.  You can purchase this for £14.95 or about $25 from Gizoo.

Source: Gizmodiva

Everyone has their methods to keep the household in line and under control.  Some are a little more over the top than others, but if it works then that’s alright.  This method is probably better suited for those that just love to micro manage every detail of their family’s lives, as well as those that prefer to have a gadget to do even the tiniest tasks.  This electronic device will let you know of daily tasks that recur as well as new ones for that particular day.

The Jenda Voice Calendar will mount to your refrigerator door with heavy magnets, which are thankfully provided.  Of course, if you really aren’t fond of listening to a recording of your own voice, you’re probably not going to be all that fond of this gadget.  In order to work it, you just select the month, then the day and hold to record.  It has a flashing button marked “today” when there is something that you need to know about that particular day.  For recurring events, you just have to record once, you can also create an audio ‘to do list’.  It runs on 3 AAA batteries and can be purchased for $39.95.

Source: RGS

I swear I’ve seen far more pig shaped audio accessories than I could have ever imagined I would.  I even think pigs are kind of cute and I still think this is getting a little ridiculous.  Although the other set of pig speakers I’ve seen have kind of gone towards the silly end of things.  Whereas these new pigs go for a slightly chic piggy look.  These are the high class pigs, clearly.  So if you have a thing for pretty clean pigs that play your music, then this is the gadget for you.

Of course that’s provided you’re living in Japan too, otherwise you might have issues getting your hands on one of these.  The ceramic pigs come from Japan’s I.D.E.A where there are several different color choices to choose from.  You can pick between black, white, pretty pink and a very shiny gold.  The skinny tail that comes out of the rear of the pig is the connector for your MP3 player.  You can purchase one for Â¥4,725 or about $50.

Source: Technabob

I’m not too sure about you, but am I the only one who wonders whether the Twilight Turtle will induce nightmares in your kid instead of having it put your little one to dreamland faster? After all, the skin on this turtle seems to be more shriveled up than having soaked one’s fingers and toes in the bathtub for a whole day, and it could give a very bad first impression to little ones about how turtles look.

The turtle emits a warm ambient glow from his shell, casting eight night sky constellations on to the walls of your child’s bedroom. This soothing night light, with 3 relaxing colours, not only helps your children sleep, but you can teach them 8 of the most recognisable constellations while reading them their favorite bedtime story. Besides making the Twilight Turtle look gorgeous in the dark, the three colours of the nightlight apparently have a practical use: the autumnal glow of amber radiates warmth, good cheer and peace; blue is supposed to calm the mind and the senses - it’s one of the most natural colours in the world (just think about how many blue things you see every day: the sky, the sea, that jumper your aunty knitted you for Christmas). It encourages relaxation and promotes a good night’s sleep; green is the colour of life - it too can be found everywhere in nature and is said to have healing and rejuvenating properties. So not only do you get a soft plush turtle with a star emitting shell, it’s also a great relaxation aid for your child.

If you’re adamant on bringing this Twilight Turtle home, it can be yours for £29.99.