Fun GadGet Blogging: Adidas Adizero f50 football boot is smarter than you think it is

Coolest Gadgets

Adidas Adizero f50 football boot is smarter than you think it is

October 2, 2011 at 8:00 PM

We have smart TVs, smart fridges, smartphones, and now in the world of athletics, smart boots. Football boots to be specific, as adidas, the sponsor of some of the more illustrious names in world football like Lionel Messi, has rolled out the miCoach-powered adizero f50 intelligent football boot. The 2011 model will deliver smart technology to the field of play, where it transforms the boot into the the supreme digital training tool. How does it do that? Well, you are able to track and upload performance data such as speed, maximum speed, number of sprints, distance, distance at high intensity levels and time, where all these details will be able to be analyzed by a computer software.

Data transfer is done wirelessly where it is made possible thanks to the f50′s cavity in the outsole unit that holds the revolutionary miCoach SPEED_CELL as well as enough on-board memory to stash away all the important performance data for future analysis. I wonder how this is going to affect the average man-on-the-street, but athletes who compete at the highest level will probably have far more use for it than your weekly football team.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Adidas Adizero f50 football boot is smarter than you think it is copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Razer offers Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon Collector's Edition product line

October 1, 2011 at 8:30 PM

Hmmm, I would have thought that with summer blockbusters well behind us now, no one would want to continue flogging the Transformers movie franchise with tie-in products. Apparently I’m wrong, or someone over at Razer must have gotten their calendars all mixed up. Razer has teamed up with Hasbro to commemorate the release of the third instalment of the Transformers movie on DVD and Blu-ray releases by offering a collector’s edition peripheral line.

Folks who have been eyeing a mouse from Razer all this while but never really got to it might be pleased to know that the Razer DeathAdder mouse will now come in four special versions that feature Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, and Shockwave, where all four legends are crafted and transmuted to deliver unparalleled gaming performance with a Transformers slant.

What’s the whole point of a mouse if there is no proper surface for it to glide across? This is where Razer’s got your back as well, with the dual-sided Razer Vespula mouse mat that features one side representing the Autobots alongside a speed-enhancing surface, while flipping it over will reveal a control-enhancing surface that showcases your favored allegiance. After all, don’t the Decepticons love to control the situation?

You will be able to pick up the special edition Razer DeathAdder: Transformers: Dark of the Moon Collector's Edition Gaming Mouse for $59.99 or €59.99 if you happen to live across the pond. Of course, the hardware specifications will remain the same as that of the stock DeathAdder mouse, including a 3500dpi 3.5G infrared sensor, 1000Hz Ultrapolling with 1ms response time, 5 Hyperesponse buttons, and On-the-Fly sensitivity adjustments. Bear in mind that if you are a southpaw like me, clearly we are discriminated against since Razer’s special edition DeathAdder mouse is clearly meant for right handers only. Sniff!

The Razer Vespula is not going to be that cheap either, retailing for $34.99 Stateside and €34.99 in Europe.

Press Release

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Razer offers Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon Collector's Edition product line copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Tug-Preventing Dog Trainer

October 1, 2011 at 8:00 PM

Most dogs don’t take to a leash too kindly the first time you slip it onto them – the secret is to let them know that you’re the pack leader, and they’re supposed to follow a step behind you whenever the both of you take a walk. Any tugging or pulling is a no-no, but what happens when you think that you’ve exhausted all avenues, including those pronged collars that might seem a tad painful to some, and nothing has worked so far?

Perhaps this $39.95 Tug-Preventing Dog Trainer might be able to help. This ultrasonic device is meant to help you train your four legged friend walk without tugging your arm off, especially if it is a large and active breed. You will attach the Tug-Preventing Dog Trainer between the leash and collar, and whenever Fido decides to tug, the built-in speaker will emit a harmless ultrasonic tone which irritates your furball without being audible to you. That’ll teach him to walk in step!

The more the dog tugs, the louder the ultrasonic tone becomes, and you can adjust it up to four volume levels. Nice to know that this tone will be directed to the leashed pet so that others in the vicinity will not be disturbed, and it is powered by a couple of AAA batteries.

I’m not sure if this is waterproof though, so you might want to remember removing this from the collar before you let Fido off for a swim.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Tug-Preventing Dog Trainer copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

iKurv iPod/iPhone dock from Speakal

September 30, 2011 at 11:30 PM

It is difficult to review the iKurv from Speakal without comparing it to the PURE Contour iPod/iPhone dock that I reviewed the other day.

The iKurv certainly has the most odd of shapes. The arch with the speakers on each side can create 20 watts of great sound, and the sight of the blue light makes it look very beautiful.

In addition to the iPod/iPhone, you can connect your TV, Gaming Console, or MP3 to it as well. I will have to say that when I put my iPhone in the dock, the sound was very loud, and that was at the lowest level. I used the included 3.5mm headphone jack and plugged in my Droid X phone, and I found the sound was quite lower. I guess it is truly optimized for the iPod/iPhone.

I was not surprised that it comes with a wireless remote. Not only does it control the play/pause and other track related to audio, but the user can adjust the ambient light as well.

If you are interested in the iKurv, you can get it on the Speakal web site for an introductory price of $79.99, but it is only available in Black. You should also click here for more information.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ iKurv iPod/iPhone dock from Speakal copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Eton Mobius for the iPhone 4

September 30, 2011 at 11:15 PM

Eton has a lot of solar-powered products such as emergency gadgets like the Raptor and the Scorpion. Their most recent product, the Mobius, takes a page from the Mophie Juice Pack playbook as it is a portable charger specifically designed for the iPhone 4.

The Juice Pack is a battery that doubles as an iPhone case, and the Mobius is essentially the same thing, but solar-powered. According to the official Press Release, one hour of sun on the solar cells is sufficient enough for 25 minutes of talk time, 20 minutes of internet use, 35 minutes of video playback, and two hours of audio playback.

In addition the 1800 mAh rechargeable lithium ion battery pack, this extra battery power will be held until the user needs it. All it takes is a flip of a switch, and some extra juice gets squeezed to an iPhone 4. The unit also has a micro USB port which can also charge the unit with the included micro-USB cable, and it will even sync with iTunes.

I am not certain how durable the solar cells are, and I don’t want to drop it to find out. The rest of the case is hard yet light metal, and the unit weighs about 3.4 ounces.

You should be able to get the Eton Mobius for the iPhone 4 on Amazon now for $82.34.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Eton Mobius for the iPhone 4 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

G-Form Extreme Sleeve for the iPad

September 30, 2011 at 11:00 PM

We have reported on G-Form’s products before with the Extreme Portfolio and Extreme Edge. I recently got a chance to try out the Extreme Sleeve.

The first thing I have to tell you about the Extreme Sleeve is that it is soft. I know that it looks like hard plastic in the image to the left, but it actually is G-Form’s Reactive Protection Technology (RPT) which is a composite blend of PORON XRD material and other trade secrets. The end result is a substance that feels like a sponge without holes, and it “changes its molecular structure on impact”.

If you watch the video after the jump, you can see a twelve-pound bowling ball get dropped on an Extreme Sleeved iPad. You can also see how a hard-shell case stands with the same impact. You can probably guess how it ends.

This type of zipped-up protection is also resistant against water, like when you have to walk your iPad home in the rain. You can purchase the Extreme Sleeve for the iPad for about $59.95 on the official G-Form site, and it appears to only be available in colors of yellow and black.

This black and yellow really creates an X-men aesthetic, and the big X on the front and back marks the reminder. In fact, when I first showed my wife the Extreme Sleeve, she thought it was a folded-up superhero uniform with faux muscles. I am totally serious.

Extreme Demo: Can your iPad survive a 12-pound bowling ball? from G-Form on Vimeo.

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ G-Form Extreme Sleeve for the iPad copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Ferrari F1 Wheel Add-On brings racing action closer to home than ever before

September 30, 2011 at 9:30 PM

The world’s fastest sport is also one of the most expensive – it basically isn’t cost effective to drive a Formula 1 car, but then again, it is through Formula 1 that we get many technologies that you see in passenger cars these days such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) as well as paddle shifts. Sure, fans of the motorsport will probably have their idols whom they want to emulate, and one of the ways to sit in your very own Formula 1 car would be through a computer or console game.

What used to rely on console controllers or a keyboard to navigate your vehicle has evolved greatly, where a steering wheel add-on is definitely favored over the traditional gaming setup for that added dose of realism. After all, you don’t drive an actual car with the keyboard, right? Not only that, a steering wheel peripheral also makes the game far more immersive. Having said that, Thrustmaster has come up with the Ferrari F1 Wheel Add-On that is a removable racing wheel and a life-size replica of the Ferrari 150° Italia racing wheel.

Specially designed to attach to the T500 RS wheel base, it is capable of delivering both power and precision that has made this racing wheel such a unique experience. With the Thrustmaster Quick Release attachment system, it allows you to quickly attach the wheel face to the T500 RS base in a matter of seconds, letting all RS Series wheel base owners to invest in the myriad of wheels available for them to best enjoy the optimal experience and level of realism in all types of races.

This particular Ferrari F1 Wheel Add-On will come with a scratch-brushed reinforced metal facing that ensures optimum solidity and inertia, and not only that, the scratch-brushed metal F1 Push & Pull sequential shifters are also attached directly to the wheel to emulate what F1 tradition is all about, sporting rubber-textured grips for maximum control.

There is also a bunch of built-in equipment ranging from rotary knobs to switches and action buttons, letting you perform precision adjustments according to your own racing style as well as the different conditions on the track. Expect to bring home the Ferrari F1 Wheel Add-On from early next month onwards at $199.99 a pop.

Press Release

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Ferrari F1 Wheel Add-On brings racing action closer to home than ever before copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Zipbuds enter into second generation goodness

September 30, 2011 at 9:00 PM

Many of us enjoy our music on the go thanks to the sheer number of devices these days that offer MP3 playback (in addition to other audio file formats, of course), and this has directly caused the peripherals market to grow by leaps and bounds – especially when you take the number of headphones or earbuds that are in the market at the moment. Unless you do not want to take the wireless route, chances are pretty good that the pair of headphones or earbuds you use will end up in a tangled mess if not properly taken care of.

Somehow, cables tend to mysteriously get all tangled when you leave them alone – making me wonder whether secretly, they’re alive and plotting to take over the world when we are caught unawares. Well, Zipbuds certainly knows how irritating that can be, which is why the second generation of Zipbuds will come with premium 11mm drivers, a lighter zipper pull as well as redesigned aluminum ear buds, giving you an enhanced overall listening experience without looking like a dork.

It doesn’t matter if you just want to look good while wearing a pair of zipbuds, or if you’re a true blue music lover or game a whole lot – the G2 Zipbuds will still be able to deliver without missing a beat (pun not intended). Sporting 11mm drivers that are larger than the 8mm drivers on the first generation, the discerning pair of ears ought to be able to enjoy a more balanced, crisper noise projection alongside sound quality that rivals the highest-end brands on the market.

It is also 20% lighter than its predecessor, paving the way for a more comfortable experience with less pull on the ear buds. Not only that, redesigned aluminum ear bud casings on the G2 Zipbuds are also more form-fitting, where it will remain in the user’s ears no matter how active you are.

I absolutely love the “vertebrae” zipper design that features feather-light flexibility. You will be able to choose from a bevy of color combinations such as black & black, pink & black, blue & black, pink & white, and blue & white, where each $39.99 purchase comes with sweat resistant Sport Ear Clips.

Press Release

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Zipbuds enter into second generation goodness copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Twitch Automated Cat Toy

September 30, 2011 at 8:30 PM

I am a firm believer in the theory that dogs need to be taken for a walk daily in order to burn off their excess energy so that behaviorial problems can be minimized or eliminated – but when it comes to cats, it seems that those felines do not know their place. They think that they’re the master of the place, traipsing in and out as they please without a care or concern in the world on how you’re feeling at that particular moment. And yet, some of us continue to play subservient to this species, so if you fall under that category, you might want to check out the $19.99 Twitch Automated Cat Toy.

This cat toy intends to help keep your little feline friend occupied whenever you’re away, where this programmable toy will provide some form of entertainment for your cat. It can be attached to most surfaces without any issues thanks to the suction cup, and will sport regulars such as the ball, feather, & bell toy that swings around in order to invite an attack.

Put it in “Away” mode and it will beep and perform a 10-minute play session at the time of your choice throughout the day. Just make sure there is enough food in the bowl and a clean set of litter before you pack your bags and leave!

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ Twitch Automated Cat Toy copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

PGA Tour Indoor & Outdoor Putting Mat

September 30, 2011 at 8:00 PM

Golf widows, the next time your husband feels the itch to head for the green after forgetting his promise of bringing you out that day for some time together, it is time you put your high heels down. Make sure he has at least £28.99 left on his credit card so that he is able to “buy” this for himself – with you making the purchase, of course. We’re talking about the PGA Tour Indoor & Outdoor Putting Mat to make sure he gets his putting fix in the comfort of his home – only after he brings you out as promised for your couple’s day. Let him know he can get all the exercise from carrying your shopping bags and scouring through all 5 levels of the mall with you to look for that perfect pair of shoes.

The PGA Tour Indoor & Outdoor Putting Mat comes with nearly 2 meters of green, letting anyone who uses it enjoy plenty of room in order to practice your long and short shorts. The ramp that leads to the hole will be ideal for developing your stroke firmness, and throw in a couple of hazards if you feel like you’re up for a challenge. There is a miniature target flag and simulated grass to make it as real an experience as possible, including a bunker and water hazard.

Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool

[ PGA Tour Indoor & Outdoor Putting Mat copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

PURE Contour is one fine iPod/iPhone dock

September 29, 2011 at 11:30 PM

After years of seeing PURE products at CES and electronics shows, I finally got one to try out with the Contour. The PURE Contour is an iPod/iPhone dock, but it is quite extraordinary.

I’m not certain if its rounded shape has anything to do with its high quality sound, but it has full range 3.5 inch speakers and dual bass ports for 36W RMS of sound that really shook the floor. It has an iPod dock that is retractable, as well as an FM radio.

The Contour can also connect via Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection so you can hook up to Internet radio stations and podcasts. It also allows for streaming music directly from a PC or Mac. Also included are composite, component and S-Video out for connection to the television.

The remote for the Contour allows the user full control over this iPhone/iPod dock, but there are also touch-sensitive controls on the unit itself. Other features include some alarms and timers, 40 FM presets, unlimited internet favorites, and a Stereo headphone socket. Another feature is that it is powered by the Lounge service to register your radio, organize your favorites, and even listen online.

All of this does cost, but I would have to say that the Pure Contour is one of the finest iPod/iPhone docks that I have listened to. I am not certain when it will be available, and the lowest price that I can find for it was on Amazon for about $310.00. You can find out more information on the official site.