Who’d have thought one of the awesomest things we’d see this week would be a zipper. But that’s not all! Join us for a tour of the cave beneath Central Park, at look at Windows 8.1, an explanation of the iPhone 5s acceleromter problems and more.
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Having trouble trying to update to Windows 8.1 RT right now? That’s because Microsoft had to temporarily pull it thanks to an installation "situation." It should be back soon.
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Do you love spending time in the kitchen, slicing and dicing your way to a wonderful lunch or dinner for the whole family? If you have answered in the affirmative, then I am quite sure that you know how important having the right tools are, and a sharp knife is a chef’s best friend. Here is the $59.99 Samurai Sword Kitchen Knife Set which would make you wonder whether samurais of yore actually did not need to carry a kitchen knife with them, as their weapons of choice could chop off heads and stab through sinew and bone, as well as dice some garlic and ginger on the side while they’re preparing some ramen.
Talk about introducing some feudal Japanese culture into your kitchen, as the Samurai Sword Kitchen Knife Set comprises of a quartet of knives – namely paring, utility, bread, and chef’s knife. It is the ideal tool for fans of samurai movies or ninjas, although I am quite sure that there is a distinct difference between the two for purists. Not only that, you need not tote these around in your waistband, as they would arrive in a convenient display stand. The blades of these kitchen knives are made out of tempered stainless steel, while the saya (scabbards) are aluminum, with wood being the material of choice for the presentation stand.
[ Samurai Sword Kitchen Knife Set lets you be a kitchen warrior copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Americans tend to talk a lot about the Space Race and how we made it to the Moon and we were first and no one else was second because we are the best. It’s put into context by the fact that the Soviet satellite Sputnik was the first in space, but by the time we get around to discussing the moon landings no one mentions why. And this enormous, absolutely insane rocket is the reason.
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When Google first announced Project Loon, its plan to cover the world in a blanket of Wi-Fi using internet balloons
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Sono, a noise-cancelling device that attaches to your window, has been shortlisted as a top-20 finalist for the 2013 James Dyson Awards. Similar in concept to noise-cancelling headphones, the device detects ambient sounds and actively emits a counter-signal to replace the noise with projected silence or even with another simulated sound like the chirping of […]
The guys at Wicked Lasers recently sent me a couple of their top-of-the-line lasers to test out, including the recently announced programmable EVO laser and the insanely powerful Arctic Spyder III.
I’ll start out with the newfangled EVO laser, which has the unique capability of being controlled programmatically. Out of the box, the EVO works similarly to other bright green laser pointers, but screw on the Smartport and you can control the intensity of the beam electronically. The EVO I tested came with only the Smartport, which connects to devices via an 3.5mm audio cable, but there’s an optional Bluetooth module ($39.95) which lets you control the laser wirelessly as well.
Once the Smartport is connected to the laser, you can plug it into your smartphone’s audio port and run the EVO iOS or Android app. In its current state, the app lets you turn the laser on and off, adjust its intensity, make it strobe or pulse, and also comes with a couple of extra fun things like a morse code and microphone activated mode (which for some reason I couldn’t get to work on my iPhone.) One other note: I was unable to get the laser to activate as a standalone device while the Smartport was attached.
Despite only needing two AA batteries, the EVO I tested has a continuously variable output which kicks in around 20mW, and has a maximum output of 100mw. This is plenty bright for optical experimentation, but it’s not quite powerful enough to burn things. The EVO review unit came with the optional lens kit, which lets you create a variety of patterns with the beam as well. The add-on lenses definitely aren’t needed for science experiments, but they’re fun and could prove useful for photography, Halloween light shows and for impromptu raves.
The EVO’s programmability is definitely its most compelling feature, and I could see the potential to gang multiple EVOs together for use in multimedia and interactive art exhibits, as well as long-exposure photography.
I think it could be neat to do something with motion or gesture inputs to control EVOs. For those who want to go beyond the EVO smartphone app, Wicked Lasers offers documentation for building your own iOS, Android or OS X applications, as well as an optional firmware programming kit which lets you delve into the internals of the laser itself.
Now, on to the Arctic Spyder III. What can I say about this laser other than the fact that it’s the most powerful handheld laser I’ve ever had the opportunity to use. The model I had in hand is the beastly 2000mW (2 Watt) version, and it’s insanely bright. Now this isn’t some little laser pointer you carry around on your keychain. Measuring in at 10 inches-long and weighing about a pound, it’s more like a lightsaber – not that that’s a bad thing. It’s powered by a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, which lets you use the laser for between 30 and 180 minutes depending on the laser’s power setting.
The Spyder III blasts out a bright blue beam that’s capable of easily dispatching dark colored objects (paper, plastic, balloons) in seconds. In the brightest model, it’s also bright enough to be seen from an astounding 34 miles away – though I didn’t really get to test that measurement.
If you opt for the 1 Watt model, the maximum beam distance at .25 lux is just under 29 miles, and the 1.4 Watt model can hit 24 miles. So with good reason, you never should point these things anywhere near airplanes. It also goes without saying that you MUST wear the included eye protection when using this laser. It’s dangerously intense.
In my unscientific tests, the Spyder III was able to completely illuminate a darkened room – in the low power mode. In full power mode, it’s brighter than I can describe in words – especially at its tip.
Its beam is completely visible without fog, doing a good job illuminating dust particles in the air all on its own. It’s also great for shooting long-exposure photos. Here’s a pic I snapped using the Arctic to light up my pinball machine.
And if you’re interested in lighting stuff on fire, this thing will definitely do the trick. Dark paper, balloons, matches, wood and even cigarettes are no trouble for the Spyder III. It’s a bit of a challenge to ignite white paper since it’s so reflective and there’s a bit of beam divergence, but with patience – and a steady hand or tripod, it will eventually burn through.
In conclusion, if you’re in the market for a serious handheld laser, Wicked Lasers has definitely got you covered. The EVO is a really compelling idea, with the ability to to program and control its beam with your smartphone or other application, while the Arctic Spyder III is just downright impressive for its sheer power and brightness. In addition, both lasers are fully legal to own, and include a safety switch which makes them much less likely to cause harm if the fall into the wrong hands.
The EVO sells for $169.95(USD) in a 75mW+ version, while the 100mW+ version goes for $199.95. Add another $39.95 for the expanded lens kit. The Arctic Spyder III starts at $299.95 for the 1W+ version, $399.95 for the 1.4W+, and $599.95 for the 2W+ model. The Artic’s expanded lens kit goes for $49.95, and for $79.95 you can grab the Phosforce attachment, which transforms the Arctic into a crazy bright 500 lumen flashlight.
Google has done an admirable job of demystifying Project Loon (that ambitious broadband-via-atmospheric-balloon initiative), but its latest video takes it a step further: tearing apart one of its blimp-tracking antennas and explaining how it works. Every unit houses a radio, what Google is calling …
In an effort to expand the understanding the public has of the developer program NVIDIA has in GameWorks, this week they’ve taken the stage with showings of a couple of new (or otherwise newly branded) technologies called FLEX and Flame Works. With FLEX, you’re working with a newly collected set of unified GPU PhysX – […]
Here's the "gold iPhone" Kardashian was so proud of last December.
(Credit: Kim Kardashian/Twitter )
Apple employees are often accused of excessive reverence for the brand and even for themselves.
They are said to distort reality, as if it is one more element to be merely designed and presented.
But news reaches me that there might be an inner core of magical, revolutionary realism that permeates the walls of Cupertino.
For, as The New York Times’ Nick Bilton tweeted on Friday, the gold iPhone 5S, from its very inception, had an extremely down-to-earth nickname at home.
No, it’s wasn’t known as “The Fifth Wonder of the Telephonic World.” Nor was it referred to as “The Glittering Prize,” “The Golden Child,” or “Goldfingerprint ID.”
Instead, all through the design process it was apparently referred to as “the Kardashian Phone.”
I feel sure that America’s great icon of discernment will rush out a press release, a YouTube video, and perhaps a whole episode of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” to celebrate Apple’s elevation of its gadget to her level of stardom.
Some, though, will wonder whether Apple employees felt a certain snootiness with respect to this step toward the nightclub VIP section.
It’s been theorized that the gold iPhone 5S was primarily targeted … [Read more]
Related Links:
Apple’s first Gold iPhone 5S TV ad (No Kardashian in sight)
NYPD to iPhone owners: Hurry up and download iOS 7
‘You want gold iPhone? I get you gold iPhone,’ says Conan’s Raffi
What the latest iPhones tell us about the next iPads
How Samsung cranked out the Galaxy Gear: The inside story
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This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
