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Episode 48: Weird Technology
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Looking for weirdness is the theme for this week's episode, where the Gurus of Cool find strange and odd products that are sometimes useful, sometimes not. The caustic commentators also talk about consumer-level editing software and bang out yet another fascinating Rapid Fire Roundup® of Cool Products.
Features by the Gurus of Cool
MiniBlaster for iPod nano
by Charlie White
Listening to the iPod is a solitary activity, and sometimes it can make you feel downright claustrophobic. What if there was a pair of high-fidelity stereo speakers attached to the nano, where both of them only added just a little more than an inch of thickness to the music player? That's exactly what the JLab MiniBlaster for iPod nano ($49.95) does, where you slide your nano into its top, connecting it to a 3.5mm stereo plug inside. While you hold it in the palm of your hand, now your nano can pump out enough sound to entertain a small crowd. ...Read More »
Sticky Yard Digital Measuring System
by Charlie White
Have you ever needed to measure something but parts of the object you were measuring were inaccessible? Here's where The Amazing Sticky Yard from Emerge Industries can help. It's a kit that includes two yardstick graphics, one with sticky backing and the other with a magnetic backing, which you attach onto the object you'd like to measure. Then you take a digital photo of that object, and open it in the Sticky Yard software. Here's the (semi) amazing part: with some limitations, it lets you digitally take multiple measurements of that object. We put it to the test. ...Read More »
Rapid-Fire Roundup® of Cool Products
Skinit
If you want to dress up your laptop, desktop, game system or cellphone, check out these vinyl skins from Skinit.com. Categories include everything from cartoon characters to funky paisley backgrounds. You can even upload your own image to make your device uniquely your own.
Tomy Q-Steer Remote Controlled Mini-Cars
The tiny Tomy Q-Steer Remote Controlled Mini-Cars are the smallest remote-control cars yet: they're less than an inch long. Choose from Toyota or Honda models, and even the remote is small -- about the size of book of matches. Available in September.
Flying Manta Ray Watercraft
This tow-behind craft has an impressive 11-foot wingspan that will actually allow the rider to take flight just like those denizens of the deep. This is one fun ride for your summer fun for only $500.
Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd
This digital camera has a special kind of autofocus that works by using face detection technology. It identifies up to 10 faces in the frame and automagically brings them into sharp focus. Add to that a 28-to-300mm 10x optical zoom, and you have a great new digital SLR.
Digital Cowboy Phone
If you love the look and style of the phones from the 30s and 40s, check out the Digital Cowboy DC-NCTel1. This isn’t your regular phone, but rather a USB VoIP phone that blends really old-school style with your high-tech computer setup.
Dart Coat Hooks
Hang your hat on what looks like a pub dart sticking in the wall, but no, it's a special hang-up hook that has special fittings that makes it stick into the wall. You can hang your coat, your hat, even your vanquished opponent by that dart, sticking out of the wall and hanging there. Ha ha.
Wireless iPod Speaker
Listen to your favorite podcast from up to 100 feet away with the wireless iPod Speaker. Using the same wireless frequency as your wireless phone, the base station sends your iPod music to the ball-shaped speaker. Leave the ipod in your office, but enjoy the music outside, in the bedroom, or by the pool. $249.
Dell XPS 700 PC
Look out everybody, the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor (also affectionately known as Conroe) is on its way, and Dell will release its XPS 700 PC to commemorate the occasion. It will be overclocked, stuffed with graphics cards, and loaded for bear. It'll be unleashed at the end of this month.
R/C Golf Ball
This golf ball has a small gyro inside, and with the flip of the remote switch, the ball will go rolling off in all directions. Great for a laugh at your next match, but you'll probably get you fired if you try to use it on your boss. $24.
Sony Vaio XL100 Media Center
Sony's about to ship its VAIO XL100 Media Center, a liquid-cooled-for-quietude home theater machine that has a wireless keyboard and remote, along with an HDMI output for HDTV goodness. Finally, a media center PC that will be quiet enough for your living room, yet powerful enough for 1080p video. Coming soon to a home theater near you.
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