ION Audio Road Rocker

ION Audio has just introduced its latest piece of consumer electronics – an ultra-compact speaker system that targets iOS-powered devices, microphones, instruments and other miscellanous Bluetooth-powered music players. Known as the Road Rocker, it debuted at the recently concluded CES in Las Vegas, and is tiny enough to be carried around with you wherever you go, regardless of whether it is meant for a camping trip, tailgating, parties and most definitely road trips.

Just how does the Road Rocker work? Well, it has Bluetooth connectivity to thank, as it will stream music wirelessly thanks to Bluetooth – so basically most modern smartphones are compatible with it, in addition to a bevy of Bluetooth enabled devices such as tablets and portable media players. Do not sneer at its size, as this is one “pooch” that has quite a mean “bark” despite its size.

Despite being incredibly compact, it still packs in a high-quality full-range speaker, a 1/4-inch input for connecting microphones or instruments, and even comes with a bass port which will offer music an additional low-end thump. It does not matter whether you are using the ION Audio’s Road Rocker to make sure everyone at your party has a rocking good time, or to keep your guitar skills sharp through practice even when you are on vacation. Sporting a built-in rechargeable battery, the Road Rocker will be able to deliver up to eight hours of uninterrupted music.

Not only that, it will come with an 1/8-inch input and cable that will let non-Bluetooth enabled music players and devices hook up to it. The integrated cradle will make sure your iPad, iPhone or other device remains nice and secure on top of the Road Rocker even when you are having the time of your life with your favorite tracks, good friends, and great food. No idea on pricing though, but we do look forward to its general release to the market later this year.

Readmore → ION Audio Road Rocker

Wi-Fi Cufflinks

If you are a true blue geek at heart, and want to make sure that everyone around you knows just how much geekery you hold under that skin of yours, surely wearing a double layered bespoked shirt with a pair of cufflinks that resemble a key from the computer keyboard would send the message across discreetly, no? Well, you might want to take things a step further with the £194.99 Wi-Fi Cufflinks.

Yes sir, this is definitely no ordinary pair of cufflinks, and it is a far better idea than GPS-integrated underpants. Apart from carrying around a portable, built-in Wi-Fi hotspot capability, it also holds 2GB of internal memory, while making sure that your shirt’s cuffs are secured in its very own way! Fashioned in rhodium-plated base metal alongside a gleaming silver finish, each stylish oval has its own duty – the first cufflink stashes up to 2GB of data, while the other can be programmed to share any high-speed Wi-Fi internet connection.

Just make sure you download the accompanying software, plug the cufflink into your computer and you can obtain a wireless connection for your smartphone, tablet and other wireless devices. Definitely not something I would want to get wet, that’s for sure.

Readmore → Wi-Fi Cufflinks

Snap Cuts: Changing the way we communicate

I usually don’t report on apps on this blog, but every once in a while, I find something that could change everything.

Snap Cuts is that thing. Snap Cuts is a way of sending a video via MMS text to show how you feel. They have thousands that you can choose from and an easy editor for putting on together.

For example, if you want to show everyone what a bad day you are having, you can show some beginning text that reads: “this is the type of day that I am having”. Then you can show someone being slapped in the face with a shovel.

I don’t know if they have a clip like someone being hit in the face with a shovel, but they have thousands of others. In case you are wondering how the company can make money, it is because they own the rights to their clips. You can even buy products off of them, if you chose.

Snap Cuts is clearly prepared for a future where we speak in images and video clips rather than words or phrases. I think they are right on track, honestly, but I’m not certain what this says about society as a whole.

Readmore → Snap Cuts: Changing the way we communicate

GHOST keeps our waterways secure like a boss

Stealth technology is always fascinating to read about, and to be attacked by an “invisible” enemy is one of the greatest fears of any military. After all, this is the modern day water ninja – the GHOST marine platform that hails from New Hampshire’s Juliet Marine Systems (JMS). It does not have any special cloaking ability up to the par of the X-Men’s heavily modified SR-71 Blackbird, but what this particular watercraft does, and does well is this – it is invisible to enemy ships’ radar, effectively allowing it to trawl the country’s waterways while keeping threats away at bay.

Resembling the love child of a stealth jet fighter and an attack helicopter, this one was specially developed for possible use by the U.S. Navy. It is touted to be faster and more economical compared to current military vessels, and according to JMS, GHOST is the world’s first super-cavitating watercraft.

Now, super-cavitating is a pretty bombastic word to begin with, but fret not – there is always an explanation over here at Coolest Gadgets. Supercavitation basically involves an object surrounding by a bubble of gas, enabling it to pass through bodies of water in a near friction-less environment. Where GHOST is concerned, a couple of submerged buoyant tubular foils will get the job done. No idea on how the process works in detail, but logic dictates that the foils were specially designed in a manner that when GHOST’s gas turbines thrust it forward, water will be deflected outward at the front of each foil, hence the “envelope” which closes right behind it.

JMS has high hopes for GHOST, stating that it “is a combination aircraft/boat that has been designed to fly through an artificial underwater gaseous environment that creates 900 times less hull friction than water.” No idea on whether that means 900 times less friction is created by GHOST, or is it a target that the company intends to achieve in the long run. A total of three crew can fit into the GHOST at once, and its main purpose is to patrol the perimeter of naval fleets. As for its weapons payload, it purportedly carries “thousands of pounds of weapons, including Mark 48 torpedoes” in an internal weapons bay.

Readmore → GHOST keeps our waterways secure like a boss

Thermaltake Level 10 M Mouse

Because a standard gaming mouse from Razer is just too mainstream in terms of looks, which is why Thermaltake has commissioned DesignworksUSA to come up with this particular conceptual design for an innovative gaming mouse that seems to hail from the distant future, despite being ever ready to be cradled by a curved palm, wreaking havoc on your opponents with razor sharp precision and smoothness you will not believe until you give it a go.

This partnership between BMW Group subsidiary DesignworksUSA and Thermaltake is certainly 10 levels up from the ordinary (which could be one of the reasons for its unique name), and we are pleased to hear that the Level 10 M Mouse will actually hit the gaming market sometime this spring – although pricing details have yet to be confirmed, I am quite sure it is not going to be cheap at all, considering the amount of investment poured in for such a future forward design. Definitely high end stuff that might break your monthly gaming budget.

The Level 10 M Mouse will sit down prettily beside the Level 10 GT computer case, as that is the main source of its design inspiration. Touted to be ergonomic, it is really a sight to behold, just make sure your gaming skills are up to par so that you will not end up as the equivalent of a snotty nosed kid who just got his driver’s license and is taking dad’s Ferrari out for a spin for the first time. Sporting a hollowed out body, the Level 10 M Mouse can have its height adjusted alongside its angles, where all you need to do is turn a screw on the top side of the mouse to kick start the adjustment process until your palm and fingers settle on a sweet spot. Not only that, the perforated palm surface ensures there is a passive airflow to help players born with naturally sweaty palms stay dry.

Readmore → Thermaltake Level 10 M Mouse

Laugh & Learn Baby iPhone Case

Would you trust your spanking new iPhone with the most recent addition in your home that the stork brought in? Most people would most probably get a fake, child-safe toy phone, but if you are willing to take the risk, just get the $19.99 Laugh & Learn Baby iPhone Case. Not only does it protects your iPhone or iPod from disaster, it will also allow your little one to play learning games and develop their thinking skills in the process. Even better is the fact that the Home button remains blocked at all times, so that baby will be unable to make any accidental calls.

This Fisher Price iPhone case will ensure your iPhone remains securely locked within, ensuring it is safe from dribbles, drips, drools, and teething. With just two ways to dock your device, it will remain safely encased within. Fisher Price also ensures you have something to start off with by offering free learning apps in the App Store. Heck, if you want to take the risk of running these apps without protecting your iPhone in the Laugh & Learn Baby iPhone Case, then you can still go ahead.

Readmore → Laugh & Learn Baby iPhone Case

Stationary Epicycle

 

 

Shed those pounds that have strangely made an appearance around your waist after the recent festive season of feasting without having to leave the comfort of your home – and this also means rain or shine, you can still get your daily dose of exercise in, not to mention doing so while you watch your favorite sitcom on TV at the same time. The Stationary Epicycle will not come cheap though at $12,000 a pop, and it might actually be more worth your while trading that amount for say, 10 years of membership at a reputable gym? For those who have the cash to spare, the Stationary Epicycle is self-describing – it will not go anywhere when you hop on it and start working those muscles, but rather relies on an epicyclic transmission and magnetic resistance to provide intensive spinning workouts.

Inspired by 19th-century monowheels, the Stationary Epicycle boasts dual-satellite transmission that can turn a single pedal revolution into four flywheel rotations, which means someone spinning at 100 rpms causes the flywheel to spin at 400 rpms. As the flywheel engages the cycle’s 36″ diameter copper ring, half a dozen magnets which are installed around the ring’s enclosure will work in tandem to generate a magnetic field in order to deliver up to 12 levels of resistance that are controlled by a touchscreen display. Definitely a calorie burner, this – and also a wallet bustin’ purchase for most.

Readmore → Stationary Epicycle