Posted: 04 May 2009 01:35 PM PDT
I remember watching an episode of Mythbusters where they were discussing the possibility of hovering technology. Apparently, Adam and Jamie had grown up seeing the same ads on the back covers of comic books that promised an “Air Car”, and I remember these ones too.
The Mythbusters then challenged each other to a race with hovering vehicles that they built on their own. They were able to get them to hover, but getting any forward motion on them proved problematic.
It would appear that Australian company Entecho has figured out an application for hover technology. This fan-forced flying saucer could start a serious transportation revolution as the huge blades spin to give it lift, and the skirt around it gives it directional manipulation.
The hoverpod is capable of speeds of 120 km per hour, with a range of 3 km. I’m not certain what that means, but I believe that it can hover up to 1.5 meters off the ground. This hoverpod can hold about three passengers, and it is quite safe as no blades are exposed.
Sadly, this vehicle is still under development, and has been for the past several years. I hope it comes out soon. I mean, we may be nowhere near that futuristic age of flying cars any time soon, but I would imagine that hovering cars is a necessary step.
SourcePeter Potty Toddler Urinal actually flushes
Posted: 04 May 2009 12:30 PM PDT
Potty training any kid is never fun, but mothers have had to deal with all kinds of special tricks when it comes to boys. Unfortunately, no matter how much you try, boys do end up leaving a mess for the mom to clean up. Perhaps if your little one had a urinal like their Dad uses at a public bathroom, they’d be more likely to concentrate. This isn’t just a plastic urinal for the short ones, but it’s the first flushable version for your kids.
The Peter Potty will grow with the child, it adjusts up to 4 inches. So after a while you’ll have to switch them to a normal toilet. Hopefully you never have a male drunken guest though that decides if they crouch just right, they too can use it. The urinal has a refillable water reservoir, when you push the button, the urine goes into a small bucket. That bucket will hold several rounds for your child. You can purchase it for $39.99 from Amazon.
Source: GadgetGrid
Posted: 04 May 2009 12:26 PM PDT
I was on a beach the yesterday with my kids, and I really wasn’t prepared for a hot day. If anything, I felt stupid for giving the kids sweaters. While the kids were playing, the sun burned me up and I didn’t notice. Last night, I looked in the mirror to see some guy with a pink face looking back at me.
Perhaps I should have been wearing one of those wristbands that monitor harmful UVA and UVB rays. Or, I could take it a step further and get a UVSunSense band.
So what makes the UVSunSense different than those other sun-bands? Well, most of those sun bands don’t let you know when you need to reapply your sunscreen.
Here’s how it works in a nutshell. As you put on your sunscreen, you also put a dab of the lotion on the UVSunSense. The band will turn purple in the sunshine, but this color will not last. In fact, the user should take note of when it turns colorless, as it will be time to put on more sunscreen.
There are actually two ways that this bracelet can save your skin. On the side of this guy is a note saying: “Apply sunscreen to this side”. If the user cannot read this, it would be a good idea to quit their day at the beach. Now there’s something I wish I would have done yesterday.
Well, if you want to get down on this tech, feel free to purchase a 7-pack of UVSunSense from Amazon for just $5.87.
Envirobank Gives you Money for Recyclables
Posted: 04 May 2009 11:32 AM PDT
This next product is for those who are truly “greening their routine”. I myself usually take a trip to the recycling plant once per week. Sadly, this has nothing to do with my love for Mother Earth. It just so happens that I can save a lot of money on my garbage bill.
Envirobank has figured out a way that consumers can deposit their recyclables in a conveniently located machine, and give them a cash reward for their ecologically sound actions. These machines have been called “reverse vending machines” as users give aluminum cans to the machine, and it gives them money right back.
In addition to aluminum cans, these machines accept PET, HDPE, and PVC recyclable materials as well as brown, clear, and green glass. My sources say that some of these machines can hold up to 3,000 containers.
I am assuming that some recycler eventually comes by and picks up all the drop-offs, replenishes the money slot, and the recyclables will already be cleaned and crushed. I believe that in order to receive the payments for the recycled trash, the user needs to watch a video via an LCD screen on the machine itself.
This new system of reverse vending machines has already been deployed in Australia, but only on a trial basis. Personally, I think a system like this could easily change the world, and maybe even save the Earth in the process.
SourceThe Coby MP3 Player with 1GB Flash Memory and Speaker System
Posted: 04 May 2009 11:25 AM PDT
Keeping music going can sometimes be a pricey task. If you pick up an iPod, even the smallest of them, the Shuffle, it’s still expensive. Then if you want portable speakers you have even more money coming out of pocket. If you aren’t that worried about having the absolute best sound quality out there, it is possible to bargain hunt. Likely this is one of the cheapest deals you’ll find to help with your music fix.
It offers a 1GB flash memory combined with a stereo speaker system. It’ll play MP3 and WMA music files. Although 1GB isn’t much, there are likely those out there that really don’t need something with a lot of storage. Plus the smaller drives are better for taking around with you to the gym or other places when you need extreme portability. It doesn’t come with a set of earbuds, but at least you’ll have a set of speakers. The speakers can hook up to anything with a 3.5mm stereo plug. You can purchase this set for the extremely affordable price of $14.09 from Amazon.
Source: ChipChick
Rocky The Monster Speakers for the young at heart
Posted: 04 May 2009 10:17 AM PDT
If you’re buying speakers for a kid or just a kid at heart, this would be a fun one to have around. It’s not really a great portable speaker to carry everywhere, but it’d be nice to sit at home. It’s especially good for the younger crowd since this monster has a mohawk packed full of color changing LED lights. It’d even be great to keep a toddler giggling since he sways side to side along with the music. Giving your music a much more interesting twist.
The Rocky The Monster Speaker will work for any MP3 player you can hook up to a 3.5mm jack. You can plug it up to the wall for power or pop 4 AA batteries into it for portable power. The AC adapter is not included, but oddly the 4 AA batteries are included. Since it does so much, I’d think the batteries would die quickly, so it’d probably be better to pick up the adapter. You can purchase Rocky from Gadgetz 4 All for £24.95 or about $37.
Source: NerdApprovedThrustmaster offers new accessories for Nintendo DSi
Posted: 04 May 2009 06:30 AM PDT
Thrustmaster is more often a name synonymous with joysticks for computers for those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, but they’re still around to this day without really releasing anything groundbreaking to date - which is rather surprising, actually. Well, as long as they’re around, it is interesting to note their new releases for the gaming world. This time round, they’ve delved into the arena of portable gaming machines, with the recently released Nintendo DSi being their target. Thrustmaster has revealed a couple of intelligent charging solutions that are well-suited to the multiple applications offered by this highly innovative, yet power-consuming handheld console.
The Nintendo DSi isn’t a large handheld console by any means, and if you’ve played both the DS and the PSP, you’ll know what I mean. The former might even be a wee bit too small for those with large hands, and many people have already complained about experiencing cramps after prolonged hours of gaming. Well, Thrustmaster has something for the lazy with the T-Standee Charger, a multi-position docking station that boasts a streamlined and elegant design which allows the DSi to be charged while being able to play without having to expend additional energy in holding it.
Of course, as one knows, the Nintendo DSi isn’t only a gaming machine as it can be used to surf the Internet, mix music and even view photos and videos with the right kind of software. We would say this comes in handy when you’re lazing around in your bed and want something else to prop the DSi up at your convenience. In addition, the rotating mechanism is perfect for users to adjust the console’s angle in all directions. This amount of flexibility paves the way for optimum comfort, regardless of whether you’re in the midst of a horizontally or vertically aligned game at that point in time.
The other accessory from Thrustmaster is the first personal charger for DSi and DS Lite which has been integrated straight into the console’s wrist strap, known as the T-Strap Charger. The T-Strap Charger looks like a standard wrist strap complete with a safety slider, albeit with the addition of a clever charging case. The case can be divided into 2, revealing a couple of charging connectors where one of them is hooked up to the console while the other connects to a powered USB port.
The T-Standee Charger and T-Strap Charger will retail for $12.99 and $7.99, respectively, with the former hitting retail stores this June while the latter will be out in mid-May.
Source: EngadgetBlueAnt Q1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset now available
Posted: 04 May 2009 06:00 AM PDT
The BlueAnt Q1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset was first launched at CTIA Wireless 2009 earlier this year, although it won’t be made available to the public till Q1 - and nice to know that that day has finally arrived, where we are able to enjoy what is touted to be “the world’s most advanced voice controlled Bluetooth headset.” The BlueAnt Q1 will be available via Sprint’s online stores and telesales channels across the US from this week onwards, where Sprint will have a headstart in terms of sales (theoretically anyways) since they will be able to sell the Q1 exclusively for 30 days followed by additional availability at other national retailers. Hopefully the current bleak economic climate won’t put a damper on sales figures of the Q1.
Some of the more unique features found on the BlueAnt Q1 include a voice control system, where one will enjoy an authentic hands-free experience through the use of “Simply Connect” voice control technology. Customers won’t have to go through the motions of reading up on a thick user manual before getting started - all they need to do is hook up the headset in their ear, listening to the verbal cues and instructions to get the pairing and set up procedures all done in a jiffy. In addition, the BlueAnt Q1 relies on advanced voice recognition software which allows you to speak instructions straight to it. For example, just say, “answer” or “ignore” if you want to pick up or reject a call, respectively. I wonder whether non-native English speakers will have some leeway given to them by the voice recognition software and not be too rigid.
Other features include dual microphones, Voice Isolation Technology, echo cancellation and wind noise protection for the clearest conversations possible. It will retail for $129 a pop, and it would be interesting to see a shootout between this and the Aliph Jawbone PRIME.
Press ReleasePosted: 04 May 2009 05:30 AM PDT
We all know that the Nintendo Wii is privy to a bunch of peripherals that are actually nothing more than pieces of plastic which are supposed to augment the playing experience, but most of them (golf and tennis attachments) actually end up posing as a bigger risk when it comes to breaking things around in your home as you make that swing. Still, the official Resident Evil (The Umbrella Chronicles) Shot Blaster is now out although it won’t make your aim better in the game. The Shot Blaster comes with an integrated has cord management system, a Trigger Pull activated B Button, one and two hand shooting modes and quick reload among others. We wonder just how much better will your experience be with this $30 peripheral.
Source: Newlaunches
Posted: 04 May 2009 05:00 AM PDT
Do you spend a whole lot of time in front of the computer, typing away? Us writers at Coolest Gadgets sure do, hacking away at our keyboards while big boss Al cracks his whip. Hopefully he’ll get us the Hand Fitness Trainer as an interim bonus as this weird-looking gizmo supposedly slows “the progression of osteoarthritis and mitigate the effects of repetitive-motion injuries in the hands.”
The device slips on like a glove and has elastic bands that strap to each fingertip, providing resistance as you open your hand. By flexing your hand in the opposite direction of its typical motion, the trainer strengthens the extensor muscles in your hands, wrists, and elbows, helping to reduce the painful symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and tendonitis. Ideal for people whose careers or hobbies require manual dexterity, the device strengthens underused muscles and increases flexibility of overworked muscles in the palm, resulting in improved muscle balance and joint stability. The resistance can be adjusted individually for each finger and a normal exercise routine consists of 1-3 sets of 10-20 repetitions, every other day. One size fits most.
The Hand Fitness Trainer retails for $39.95 a pop - has anyone out there tried it yet, and what are the results?
