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Showing posts with label latest gadgets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label latest gadgets. Show all posts

Mar 4, 2014

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets - March

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets

Smartphones To Be Used As Room Keys
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/01/smartphones-to-be-used-as-room-keys-in-starwood-hotels-new-pilot-program
New Pilot Program at Starwood Hotels will test out using guests' smartphones as their room keys. As long as you have your smartphone, your room key will be with you as well. Great idea since most if not all travelers are tethered to their phones.

Motorola’s Google Smartwatch Prototype
http://www.ibtimes.com/google-watch-leaks-online-motorola-nexus-gem-smartwatch-prototype-photos-released-1557959
Scrapped after sale of Motorola in favor of LG Electronics and the developments between these two companies.

The world’s first wireless smart in-ear headphones

The Dash in-ear headphones have 4GB of storage which translates to about 1,000 songs. With so much music saved right into your headphones, you do not even need to take your phone along for a run. It also has an accelerometer to keep track of your steps and distance during a workout, heart and temperature monitors, and more. Dash headphones are Bluetooth comparitible and can connect with most wireless gadgets. It comes with an app that lets you track your workout, measure your vitals, and keep track of your goals. It is currently in funding stage on Kickstarter, and looks likely to go mainstream.

Automotive Tech
Next few years will see quite a bit of new technologies within vehicles. Peugeot have brought a new hybrid combination, teaming up hydraulics with a conventional gasoline engine, powering the car partially by air.
Driverless cars are being experimented with by several different manufacturers, from Audi to GM. With latest sensors, the cars would be able to tell their own location based on multitude of factors as they are en route. The other trend is for electronic city vehicles that are more nimble and require less space and fueling.
More prevalent technology and the one that is now being build into more new models is connected vehicle infrastructure. Your car becomes a hub for your connection to music, entertainment, phone, texts, and social media. With Siri and WiFi as part of the navigation, automobile is the mobile hot spot of the future.

Helmets as a Pop-Up

When not in use it looks like a bulky neck piece scarf. Hoving bicycle helmet is a newest travel gadget that helps protect you in case of an accident while on a ride. It is made out of "ultra-strong nylon fabric that won’t rip when scraped against the ground. Hövding protects nearly all of the head, while leaving the field of vision open."
Scarfs are more and more a fashion statement not just in winter, but throughout the year and for multitude of folks. Hovding pop-out helmet makes for a great accessory as they come in many different colors. See their official page for options www.hovding.com. The shell of the helmet can be interchanged so you can match it to your outfit.

Camera that will not let you get lost



A new concept camera design is targeting travelers as its main audience. In an unfamiliar city, while you can snap away all of the great sights and monuments that you will see, this camera also will help guide you to your next stop or to your hotel. Travelling Companion Panorama, as it is called currently, has a unique design that is a mix between a see-through tablet and a current camera.

First Commercial Jetpack Set to Arrive this Year
http://interestingengineering.com/first-commercial-jetpack-set-to-arrive-this-year

Some gadgets that are the opposite - will be fading as the cool new ones proliferate:

Blackberry Smartphone - the company and its hardware line are on life support. They are out sold by all other large players in the market. Even there newest software is not helping them stay afloat

Did you know that the Apple iPod is now over 12 years old! iPod classic is a thing of the past and in gadget history as well as hall of fame.

Sound-off: What do you think? Let us know below

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Jan 14, 2014

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets - 1st of 2014

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets

World’s first mobile hydrogen fuel cell charger, Upp, unveiled
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/125060-world-s-first-mobile-hydrogen-fuel-cell-charger-upp-unveiled
It charges up your phone quickly and also lasts much longer than most other chargers without needing to recharge itself. It will be available at Brookstone

Sony Xperia Honami Z1: 100% Water-proof, 20.7-MP Camera
http://blog.laptopmag.com/ces-2014-highlights-day2?slide=7


And kicking it back to the year of "Saved by the Bell..."
The Zack Morris Phone is reincarnated by Binatone
http://www.wired.co.uk/reviews/mobile-phones/2013-12/binatone-brick
http://www.binatoneglobal.com/binatone-brick/




GPS are making themselves relevant:

Garmin - came out with new interactive Garmin Head-Up Display (HUD). Dashboard Mounted Windshield Projector displays projects driving information directly onto a vehicle’s windshield.

Magellan - has the new RoadMate GPS which now features built-in camera. Mounted inside the vehicle, the GPS would also act as a dashboard cam. In the event of sharp braking or sudden impact, the camera automatically captures video of the occurrence.

Mophie Space Pack expands your iPhone's storage, as well as its battery life
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/126347-mophie-space-pack-expands-your-iphone-s-storage-as-well-as-its-battery-life

Samsung dreams up where the next screen might appear
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2014/01/07/samsung-dreams-up-where-the-next-screen-might-appear/

5 Gadgets from CES 2014 that Will Change How We Travel

Sound-off: What gadgets are you looking forward to in 2014? 
Let us know below

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Oct 30, 2013

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets

Newest and Coolest Travel Gadgets

Audi’s New Future Technologies
http://www.gadgetsnu.com/audis-new-future-technologies/#&panel1-10

Fitbit Force, a smarter fitness tracking watch
http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/2/4794088/this-is-the-fitbit-force-a-smarter-fitness-tracking-watch


Samsung Announces GALAXY ROUND
http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/?p=28863
http://www.techwalls.com/samsung-galaxy-round-curved-smartphone-release/

Google Watch is happening soon
http://9to5google.com/2013/10/14/google-watch-is-happening-soon-heavy-into-kit-katgoogle-now-functionality/

Patent, Prototype Shows Nokia Working on Smartwatch
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/nokia-smartwatch-facet-patent,news-17738.html

Sound-off: Which of these gadgets are you most looking forward to? Let us know below

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Aug 7, 2013

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets

Newest and Coolest Travel Gadgets


Meteor by Kreyos SmartWatch
- waterproof - can use for 2-way calls even if you are in the water
- built for the fitness enthusiasts
- fitness activity monitors: losing weight, running, cycling
- comes with clip-on that goes on your cloth for monitoring your vitals
- built-in motion control via accelerometer
- pairs with iOS, Android, and Window devices
- can change music and other options with just a swipe of your hand

Samsung Galaxy Active - waterproof

One of the latest offerings from Samsung is the waterproof, dust proof Galaxy phone. You might have seen some of the ads (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjcG-BkyksM)that show the phone dropped in water as well as into the flour and it comes out OK. It is great for someone who forgets to take out their phone before jumping into the pool. Yes, I have done that and the phone did not make it out, but it was definitely a lesson learned. Galaxy Active has 8MP camera, and can control your TV, erase photo distractions with one touch, or preview files without touching the screen. Though this one is not great for quality photography as the camera has low resolution and while it is waterproof, it is not shatter-proof.

Sony's Xperia Z is also waterproof
Similar to Active, this phone is also dust and water proof. Unlike the Galaxy, it takes much better pictures. It has 13MP camera, high-dynamic-range (HDR) video recording, durable tempered glass, and can wirelessly share music and video on other devices. Both of the waterproof phones are highly designed for that purpose. The other features are not as robust. Xperia Z has short battery life, camera's shutter is a bit slow, and has an average overall performance

Sony Cyber-shot HX50
Its a small camera that can. It comes with a lot features that are usually found on larger cameras. And you can see all these here Cyber-shot Features. HX50 is more robust than a regular point-and-shoot though not quite a DSLR. It has a 30x optical zoom, optical image stabilisation, and direct access exposure control for manual adjustments. It fits more in between these two versions and its price is also in between. Sony DSC-HX50V

Google Brings Voice Calling Back to Gmail, Now Under Hangouts
http://mashable.com/2013/07/10/voice-calling-gmail-hangouts/

Flips headphones become speakers
Gadgets that can do more than one function are great for travel. It means you would need to take one less thing with you and yet still enjoy the functionality. Flips Headphones are just like that. They are a hybrid between headphones and speakers. It is an innovative and cool product. Flips provide great noise-canceling sound as headphones and ones transformed, can share that sound with others at great quality.

Nokia officially announces the Lumia 1020: 41MP camera
http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/11/nokia-lumia-1020

Hidden Radio

http://www.hiddenradiodesign.com/
It does not look like one, but hidden within this bulb is a compact radio. It is very portable with the size of 3.4" x 3.8" inches. Hidden can be a wireless speaker or FM radio. Lift the cap to turn it on, the further you lift the cap the louder it gets. Simple operations and simple-looking design. Available on amazon.com Hidden Radio

Sony reveals SmartWatch 2 with larger, higher-resolution screen
http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/accessories/smartwatch-2-sw2/

Cheaper, Sportier Google Glass Competitor Is Now Available For Pre-Order
http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2013-06/cheaper-sportier-google-glass-competitor-now-available-pre-order

Sound-off: What are some of the newest gadgets you can't wait to get your hands on? Let us know below

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May 22, 2013

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets

New Cool Travel Gadgets

Nowadays we rarely hit the road without at least some gadgets in tow. Smartphones, tablets, digital cameras and a slew of other devices have all made travel simpler. And there are many more interesting cool and helpful gadgets getting designed...

Keeping the batteries on all of those gadgets fully charged can be a real challenge, especially when traveling through remote locations. Fortunately, there have been some excellent advances in solar charging, which have made gathering energy from the sun a more viable way to power our devices while on the go

sCharger Solar Charger
Solar technology is the buzz phrase in most recent new gadgets announcements. From Superman movies, and brand new one coming out next month, we know that my favorite alien gets his power and recharges from the Sun. Now your smartphone can do that too. sCharger Solar Charger can charge smartphone, iPod, eReaders, and many other devices.

Sherpa 50 Solar Recharging Kit from Goal Zero http://www.goalzero.com/sherpa50.html

The solar grid that comes as part of the kit, collects the sun's energy to charge Sherpa 50, the inverter that you actually use to charge. It takes about 5 hours for a full charge. Then charge your laptop or smartphone. It takes only 2 hours to charge the computer. It can also be charged from a wall outlet for a faster charge or away from sunlight.

Chargepak NT600C -(6000mAh)
    


Nectar Mobile Power
Most chargers, even "wireless," need to be plugged into an outlet. Nectar is a “plug-less” charger, getting its power from Power Cartridges, called “pods,” rather than traditional wall outlets. Per company's website, an individual power cartridge can power or recharge travel size gadgets for several weeks. Rather than a traditional lithium ion battery, Nectar uses a proprietary Silicon Power Cell technology



Smart Watch
People don’t wear watches anymore. I did a post some time ago on the topic of wearing a watch and that I dont do that anymore. New Cool Gadget Find of Today: Wrist watches making a comeback?. I also wrote that I might wear a watch that had more function. Well fast forward to today and companies that are at forefront of innovation are developing smart watches  that can do a lot more than just tell time. Or even tell you who is calling. Smart watches are still very much in their nascent stage. But guess what? Wearing a watch might just be making a come back.
Samsung has confirmed that it is working on its own watch. Meanwhile, Apple reportedly has more than 100 people working on a curved-glass iWatch that runs iOS and Google is said to be working on its own high-tech timepiece. With these smarter watches you can:
- Glance at info to save time
- find out which calls are worth picking up (or ignoring), which messages are worth responding to, which tweets are worth re-tweeting and more. No more having to constantly unlock your phone for no good reason.
- track your steps with a pedometer, track calories and also your heart rate
- use the Bluetooth 4.0 standard, which employs low-energy technology specifically designed for smart devices. Which can actually save your phones battery
- with your phone in your pocket, dictate a message or social update to your wrist, see who won last night's game and get the 5-day weather forecast.
- quickly check your inbox without whipping out your 5-inch phablet. A smart watch would let you do that quickly and more discreetly.

Stash Waterproof Pocket Shorts
Go swimming without having to worry about:
1. leaving your cell phone, keys and wallet on the beach without supervisions
2. having your phone or wallet get wet and for your battery and dollar bills go for a dip
These shorts are currently in the concept stage and are crowdsourcing funding through Kickstarter here


FitBit Flex Wristband
Fitbit Flex Wireless Wristband that tracks your activity and sleep patterns and syncs with a smartphone app to show you how active you are and your overall lifestyle. The band syncs with an Android (Samsung Galaxy S III or Note II) device or iPhone via Bluetooth, latest comes with 4.0 synchronization, and uploads the data to a smartphone app as well as to your online profile. FitBit Flex can measure how many steps you have taken, calories burned and quality and amount of sleep. The band is water-resistant, so it can be worn throughout your travels.

Audio-Technica Debuts $99 SonicSport Headphones
Designed for fitness buffs, the headphones sport an active-fit earphone design that features a flexible pivot ensuring a comfortable in-ear fit. SonicSports will also allow ambient noise to filter through so wearer’s can be aware of the surrounding environment. Instead of an over-head headband, the SonicSport’s band wraps around the back of the wearer’s head for a more secure, comfortable fit. There’s also a cord-mounted remote with controls for volume and music playback functions.


Pocket-Friendly Canon PowerShot N
Small point-and-shoot, measuring 3.1 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches, camera that can upload photos and videos to the Web or a social network with the press of a button. PowerShot N has built-in Wi-Fi. On its back is a 2.8-inch LCD that tilts up 90 degrees, and the front has a wide angle lens with an 8X optical zoom. Which is pretty good for a camera of that size. The higher the optical zoom the better photos would look if zoomed in on. Read more about optical zoom here Buying a Digital Camera for Travel.


GPS Reinvented
In one of my recent posts I mentioned that the maps on our smartphones, while good to have, are quite limited. And while GPS was thought to be going out of style, are actually still an essential travel gadget. Garmin proves this even more with its newest GPS, Garmin nĂĽvi 52LM GPS Travel Assistant.
It does all of the basics that GPS these days offer. Plus this new device has a
Garmin Real Directions guide that displays easy-to-see landmarks, buildings and traffic lights, rather than street names. Similar to the type of directions a person would give you. It also has Active Lane Guidance with voice prompts to keep you from swerving, a live-action model with brightly colored arrows that indicate the proper lane needed for your next turn, and photoReal and Bird’s Eye Junction Views to navigate confidently through interchanges. All new Garmins come with Lifetime Free Map update.

The World’s Best Underwater Headphones?
http://damncoolgadgets.com/the-worlds-best-underwater-headphones/








Did You Know?:
Technology and fashion collide at Textiles Nanotechnology Laboratory. Researchers are working on creating clothing made with conductive cotton that can charge an iPhone via solar panels.

5 Crazy Ways We’re Going To Be Communicating In The Future

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Jan 23, 2013

New Cool Up-and-Coming Travel Gadgets


Charge It Up

Virtual Charging
Charging pads are making a come back after a rough start with upgrade in technology. They are easier to use and are now much more efficient. The charging pads utilize inductive charging, which requires a charger and your gadget to be touching to get the juice across. Though if Apple has a say in it, these will be outdated soon enough. It recently applied for wireless-charging patent, technology that would even remove the one wire left over that powers up the charging pads.

Cool and Green

Collapsible solar light

This light is powered by the power of the sun. One full charge can last for 6-12 hours depending on usage.
Makes it a great gadget to have around during emergencies and power outages.
Also since it has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and weighs only 3.8 ounces making great on trips as well.
As yo can see from the picture, the light collapses to a flat compact and easily transportable packet.
It is durable, waterproof, and reliable in extreme weather conditions. The 10 LED lights inside can brighten a space of up to 15 square feet, producing six to 12 hours of light after being charged in direct or indirect sunlight for four to six hours.

Fit Everything

Fitbug Orb
The Orb looks like a watch, though instead of the clock face there is button-shaped step tracker. It can function as both as a clip on to carry around or as a wristband. Orb tracks activity and sleep, including steps taken, calories burned, distance covered, walking pace, and sleep efficiency. You can also log food eaten and track your progress on the website fitbug.com


Fitbit Flex:

The newest version Fitbit for 2013 is the Bluetooth wristbands. It monitors your activity throughout the day. And as a bracelet, it is more likely to stick around with you since you dont have to remember to clip it on as you go about your tasks. Fitbit Flex syncs to Android phones as well as iPhones and iPads through Bluetooth and website. The sensors send data to your devices, giving you a readout of distance traveled, calories burned, number of active minutes and hours slept. It can also provide information on quality of sleep.
Flex also has a built-in wake alarm and is water resistant, great feature for the road.

Basis fitness watch:

This fitness tracker looks a lot more like a watch. It has a rubber wristband and clock face that displays  readouts for your heart rate, activity, sleep and your goals. Like the other fitness trackers, Basis also has a site with dashboard for tracking all the activity and sleep patterns. Though, unlike other devices on the market, Basis does all this for you automatically without having to change the modes.

New Audio Tech

Audio-Technica SonicSport Headphones
SonicSport in-ear series of headphones are designed for fitness and workouts. They have a headband cord that wraps around the back of the head to keep it in place and fit comfortably. The new active-fit earphone design has a flexible pivot that provides comfortable in-ear positioning, and directs the sound toward the ear canal for maximum bass impact. The SonicSport headphone have angled housing that moves the cords behind your neck and out of your way. The design also allows awareness of outside sounds. Making it great for biking and hiking.


Sony Wireless Speakers
These newest egg shaped speakers by Sony have 360 Circle Sound technology. Which means that they distribute sound all around them and not just front and/or back as might other jukeboxes. These speakers measure 2.7 inches in height and only 2.5 inches in width. Making them quite compact and light (4.6oz) for travel. They also have pretty good battery life, which is rated at about 4 hours. Wireless speakers connect to any device, that has it, via Bluetooth.

JBL Charge
This "little" audio powerhouse packs some juice. JBL Charge speaker comes with a high-capacity, 6000mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery that can provide more than 12 hours of playback time on a single charge. And it has amplifier power of 2 x 5-watts, which provide full-range sound. Not only does it sound good and lasts long, this gadget can also charge up your other mobile devices. It has a built-in battery and USB port to connect your gadget. Similar to Sony speakers, the Charge connects to any device via Bluetooth. It will be available in April of this year.

What are some of the newest gadgets you can't wait to get your hands on? Let us know below

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Travel Gadgets