Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

The Lilypad? – Solar Charging iPad Case, and much much more…
ZIKMU Parrot by Starck
the Cassette Tape Player and Converter – for Your Computer
Pyramid 4 Person Game Timer
Sony α57 DSLR is ready take over the α55
Neato Robotics XV-21 automatic vacuum cleaner

The Lilypad? – Solar Charging iPad Case, and much much more…

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 07:29 AM PDT

I have certainly been enjoying my iPad, it makes the wait at the doctors office more pleasant, I use it to check movie times or to send a quick e-mail. I guess about the only thing that would make it perfect is if you didn’t have to be a slave to an electrical outlet. (and maybe Flash) I don’t know how many times I’ve been right in the middle of something and get the dreaded “dismiss” low battery message. Rats!

Well, this nifty little outdoor and indoor light powered, self charging, battery backup case provides around 12 to 13 days of iPad use, all without the need for a pesky plug in. The device boasts a laundry list of awesome features including a built in HDMI adaptor allowing you to view iPad content on your TV or, with the use of an HDMI capable projector. The protective case also contains movie and keyboarding stands, both made out of stainless steel and built to last. More impressive features after the jump.

The case integrates a special USB-out, that will allow you to charge another USB powered device, like a camera or a Smartphone and finally, a whistle locator feature that lets you beckon your ipad to reveal itself with, of course, a whistle.

I’d love to tell you the name of this case extraordinaire, but its not going to be the Lilypadfor long, as the folks over at Apple have politely requested a change. The new name should be announced soon, along with the availability of the actual product. The website tells us that we should be hearing some news this month. Visit lilypadcase.com to see video or to sign up for updates. No definite word on price, best guess? at least $165.

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[ The Lilypad? – Solar Charging iPad Case, and much much more… copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

ZIKMU Parrot by Starck

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 06:30 AM PDT

Designer Philippe Starck has come up with some awesome designs of devices and hardware in the past, and I am quite sure that his career is far from over. After all, designing is in his blood, and this time around, he has come up with the £999.99 ZIKMU Parrot. Turning his crosshairs towards the home audio segment, the ZIKMU Parrot would definitely not be out of place in any home, as Starck successfully managed to blend his keen eye for style alongside ZIKMU's high-tech substance, merging form and function in a single apparatus that comprises of two freestanding speakers which are capable of handling regular radio broadcasts with aplomb in addition to classical music as it was meant to be heard.

Needless to say, the ZIKMU Parrot is forced to keep up with the times thanks to an integrated iPod/iPhone dock, but it is no longer an altar mainly for Apple devices, as it will also sport Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, in addition to an RCA cable for different analogue inputs. This is one versatile speaker set which would definitely be perfect as the centerpiece of your home entertainment system.

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[ ZIKMU Parrot by Starck copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

the Cassette Tape Player and Converter – for Your Computer

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 06:19 AM PDT

I decided to go through the boxes in my basement, which usually ends up leading to some pretty interesting discoveries. On this day in particular I came across a box filled with my old cassette tapes, I was excited to browse through the titles, remembering my past, feeling young again… until my daughter showed up and asked me what the heck ”cassettes” were, rotten kid.

Well, the guys over at Sharper Image remember what cassettes are, and they introduce us to a device that gets your favorite memories off the reel and onto your computer into MP3 format where it belongs! This nifty little tape converter will allow you to transfer and format all your dusty old cassette tapes so you can listen to them on your computer, or even burn them to CD.

Not only can you transfer your old music collection to your computer, iTunes or disc, you can listen to the Cassette Tape Converter as a handheld USB tape player directly through your stereo, headphones or other speaker system. So go ahead and load the files onto your portable music player, or record them onto a CD and listen in your car. Just make sure you tell your kids that cassettes are all the rage, and will probably replace CDs some day, you know they deserve it.

The Cassette Player and Converter is completely portable, operates on two AA batteries, connects to your computer via USB and is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows XP and Vista. The Cassette Player and Converter is available at sharperimage.com for under 50 bucks.

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[ the Cassette Tape Player and Converter – for Your Computer copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Pyramid 4 Person Game Timer

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 06:00 AM PDT

Board games do help a family to come together, but sometimes, there might be tiffs that break out simply because one person stepped on the other person’s tail. Of course, there is another rather shady area to be aware of – timekeeping, which led to some board game designers include a timer with the boxed set. Well, the $24.99 Pyramid 4 Person Game Timer is a digital representation of keeping the time, and for up to four people, too! All you need to do is select a color, and when your color face is up, the time will start counting down automatically. This will definitely make board games a whole lot more fun and fast paced, as there is always someone in the group who takes what feels like forever to decide whether to move to the left or to the right.

There are five different modes in the Pyramid 4 Person Game Timer, where it will not only provide you with a turn time limit, there is also the ability to add your leftover time to your next turn, and entire game time limit, and a timer that will know just how long you are taking for the entire length of the game, in addition to a turn counter. Someone is going to start charting graphs of their board game experience soon, I believe.

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[ Pyramid 4 Person Game Timer copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Sony α57 DSLR is ready take over the α55

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 05:30 AM PDT

Sony certainly knows how to branch out in terms of product variety, and one of the niches that they have tried out in recent memory (instead of spearheading it) would be the digital camera market, and I must say that their DSLRs are decent offerings, although you still find most wedding photographers stick to Nikon or Canon for their work. Well, this has certainly not stopped Sony from rolling out newer models in due time, and this time around, we have the Sony α57 that will be the latest addition of their popular line of A-mount cameras which employ Translucent Mirror Technology.

Just what does the innovative Translucent Mirror design offer? For starters, it is capable of directing incoming light to the CMOS image sensor and the AF sensor, both at the same time, so that full-time continuous AF during both still and video shooting will be able to happen. Not only that, users are also able to frame, focus and preview shots in real-time thanks to the high-resolution Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder. This delivers a wide viewing angle and 100% field of view for the end user, so that photographers know that what they see on the screen is exactly what they will capture.

The Sony α57 is said to be the natural successor to Sony’s α55 camera, where it is specially positioned to target a wide audience of DSLR users. It is capable of shooting still images at up to 12 frames per second, record your video memories in full HD video at 60p, 60i or 24p frame rates, and also boasts of a wide range of creative modes that include Auto Portrait Framing, a world’s first technology.

How about shooting portraits? Well, novice photographers are able to see the quality of their work increase, thanks to the new Auto Portrait Framing, which is a world’s first technology as mentioned earlier. The Sony α57 will rely on face detection and the compositional ‘rule of thirds,’ making sure it knows just where your subject’s position is, trimming the scene in order to create a tightly framed, professional-looking picture – regardless of whether it is in portrait or landscape orientation without sacrificing the original image. It will save both sets of photos so that you can make a comparison after a hard day’s work, letting you refine your portrait skills after that.

Expect the new α57 interchangeable lens camera to hit worldwide markets this April with an 18-55mm kit zoom lens for $800, and if you just want to pick up the body only, it will cost you approximately $700.

Press Release

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[ Sony α57 DSLR is ready take over the α55 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Neato Robotics XV-21 automatic vacuum cleaner

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 05:00 AM PDT

Owning a pet is definitely fun, the amount of joy that it offers can sometimes be said to be incomparable. Our pets do not judge us, and are always ready and willing to lend a listening ear. They can wait for you the entire day, and even after years of forgetting about them, they still wag their tail vigorously or come over and rub themselves all over you when you drop by after your long absence. Well, maintaining them does require a fair amount of effort though, and if there is one issue with furry pets, it is that they tend to shed – some more than others.

Vacuuming your home is definitely a must, as spending hours with a lint roller is no fun as I can testify to that. Well, Neato Robotics, a Silicon Valley company that pioneers new technologies and products, has come up with the Neato XV-21, which is a new automatic vacuum cleaner that was specially designed for pet owners as well as allergy sufferers. It is capable of functioning across all floor types, and boasts of a new bristled brush that will help improve the pick-up of pet hair, dander and fibers, so that the vacuum cleaner will ultimately run more quietly compared to its predecessors.

The introduction of a new filter that can be cleaned is definitely a boon, not to mention that the entire device was specially designed for long-term use, delivering increased airflow and suction power so that the Neato XV-21 will be able to pick up and retain over three times the fine dust particles of the company's standard filter. Even better news is this, if you are already in possession of a Neato Robotics model, the new brush and filter will also work just fine.

If you are interested, you are able to pick up the Neato XV-21 is available in Misty White with purple highlights, and I would recommend sticking to cleaning your home regularly and daily. Hopefully the algorithm controlling it is smart enough for you to be able to invite folks over to your pad without feeling ashamed, as though the entire place is not fit for anyone except you. The Neato Robotics XV-21 automatic vacuum cleaner will retail for $429 at the end of next month onwards.

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[ Neato Robotics XV-21 automatic vacuum cleaner copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]