Hasta La Gadget!

Have you heard of Outdoor Technology before? No? Well, neither have we, but perhaps for folks like me who live like a frog beneath a coconut shell (that’s a proverb from one South East Asian country, meaning a person who does not know what’s going on around), it is time to read up more about Outdoor Technology. They are the ones behind cutting-edge, stylish accessories such as the retro inspired DJ Slims wireless headphones, and they are certainly not a company who loves resting on their laurels. No sir, they have started to kick off full production of the new Turtle Shell Bluetooth speaker after achieving their funding goal on Kickstarter.

From the outside, the Turtle Shell Bluetooth speaker certainly lives up to its namesake, coming in an edgy style as well as capable of delivering Hi-Fi sound regardless of where you are, being the ideal portable, fully-equipped Bluetooth speaker. Since it is highly portable, what is the point of making it fragile? Good thing Outdoor Technologies did otherwise, coming up with a uniquely rugged design that has been shaped after a turtle shell (something Shredder might want to destroy in a fit of rage), boasting an array of color offerings that allows one to express one’s style.

The Turtle Shell Bluetooth speaker sports easy-to-use integrated controls that allow you to enjoy quick access to control tracks, volume and calls directly with a simple touch of a button. It was designed in order to fit your active lifestyle, where there are also accessories which are sold separately, conforming to its IP5X dust and waterproof standard. Your ears will be treated to crisp deep bass and hi-fi sound, and the rechargeable lithium-ion battery is capable of lasting up to 10 hours. Not only that, Outdoor Technologies also threw in a built-in microphone so that it ends up as a decent looking speakerphone, making the $149.95 asking price a rather decent one. Of course, if you were a contributor on Kickstarter earlier on, you would have “purchased” this at a far lower price.

Press Release
[ Turtle Shell Bluetooth speaker good to go copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I really enjoy the possibility that digital entertainment services may slowly but surely be reducing our need to rely on cable television. Every time I get my cable bill I cant believe how much I’m paying just to watch TV, and yet every month I write the check. Over the past year we have managed to lower the bill by dropping some premium channels in favor or services like Netflix, but that too carries a price, in the form of a subscription fee. I prefer a “pay for what I watch” option.

Well, Toys R Us is throwing their hat in the ring of digital entertainment options with their recently announced Toys R Us Movies, providing families instant access to over 4000 movies and TV shows that kids love. This new service provides an extensive library of premium digital content for both streaming and download and since the service is equipped with specialized parental controls, we get to choose the most appropriate content for our families viewing.

Starting this week, users will be able to stream content to any PC, Mac, and any Adobe Flash enabled devices and rest assured that the service will be made available to additional web-enabled devices in the coming months. Toys R Us also plans to expand to Blue Ray players and tablets, and to offer HD services in the near future. Watch for the dedicated iOS and android releases later this fall.

Movies will start at $2.99 for a 24-hour rental and $5.99 for a digital download. Family TV options  start at around $0.99, at toyrusmovies.com and keep on the lookout for the new  Toys”R”Us Movie gift cards which will be available later this fall in Toys”R”Us retail stores, just in time for the holidays.
[ Toys R Us – Takes a Share of the Movie Market copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

If you are an audiophile who absolutely loves all original tracks just the way the recording artist wants you to listen to, then you will definitely fall in love with the Sony Extra Bass range of headphones which were just announced recently. These will come in headband-type and in ear bud versions, where it will merge Sony’s expertise in superior audio engineering, comfort, and style, without sacrificing on performance, delivering an enhanced acoustic design to boot. It is said that the range of sub harmonics is deeper than the more traditional line, making it more than the ideal pair for today’s music.

Andrew Sivori, vice president of the Personal Audio Division at Sony Electronics, said, “Sony’s sound engineers are committed to providing an unprecedented level of audio performance. Our new Extra Bass lineup of headphones delivers solid low frequency response, enhancing the signature of today’s music styles.”

Boasting the newly developed Advanced Direct Vibe Structure, the MDR-XB800, MDR-XB600 and MDR-XB400 headphones will deliver additional bass reproduced with high-fidelity, making it sound appealing to music lovers who are looking for an impressive listening experience.

The MDR-XB800 and MDR-XB600 headphones were specially designed for long-term wearing comfort with soft head cushions, while seamless pressure-relieving ear cushions ensure that your ears remain nice and comfortable after long hours of listening, in addition to having a supportive, wrap-around feel. The presence of an effective acoustic seal paves the way for a high level of sound isolation, which further reinforces the headphones’ powerful sub-bass reproduction.

Boasting grooved serrations on the surface, the cords on the Extra Bass headphones come in an innovative design which does away with friction between cable surfaces and reduces the source of frustrating tangles. Thanks to their special folding design, you can be sure of hassle-free portability wherever you go. Some of the headphones will come with hybrid silicone rubber ear buds in various sizes so that your ears will always be able to enjoy a secure and tailored fit.

The MDR-XB800, MDR-XB600, MDR-XB400 and MDR-XB60EX headphones will arrive in Sony Stores and can also be ordered online, and the MDR-XB800 will cost $149.99; while the MDR-XB600 retails for $99.99; and the MDR-XB400 goes for $59.99 with the MDR-XB60EX retailing for $99.99 a pair.

Press Release
[ Sony Extra Bass headphone series announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I think, therefore I am. Well, how about “iRiff, therefore iRock!”? All right, lame jokes aside, if you think that you can carry a decent tune on your own and are currently looking out for the next big break in life as a budding musician, then you might be interested in checking out the £99.99 All Star Guitar. This unique musical axe (that supports a digital format, of course) will allow you to expand the horizons of your iPad, turning yourself into the axe god that you never thought you had in you (although you did dream of becoming one, of course).

With the All Star Guitar, all you need to do is dock your iPad into the padded compartment of this full-scale guitar-shaped controller, boot up the All Star Guitar app and you are good to go. You are able to strum the virtual strings in order to play chords of your favorite song, or just to pluck them in an individual manner. With 14 rows of illuminating fretboard buttons, you are able to play thousands of songs in a jiffy simply by following the LEDs. It does seem to feel as though this is going to be more of a game than a pure musical instrument now, right? Oh yeah, you can also kiss goodbye to blisters with the All Star Guitar – isn’t this like the next best thing since sliced bread? What are you waiting for?

[ All Star Guitar copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Face it, business or student travel really becomes an art form. Staying organized is key. Road warriors have favorite hotel chains, airlines, car rental agencies. We can travel for 3 days in a bag most consider an overnighter. We essentially take our office on the road with sizeable space for laptop, tablet, phone, chargers, books and paperwork. And traveling with all of that is no small task. You can always tell the road warriors at airport security, they perfectly orchestrate their actions to get through efficiently. And waiting for their flight, they are typically sucked up next to a power plug loading up the laptop before the flight.

In the attempt to fit into the road warrior’s orchestra, Powerbag™ offers their top-of-the-line Business Class Pack. As a former road warrior (up to 40 weeks a year) I can attest to the need for 1) electronic charge, 2) space and 3) functionality while on the road. And the Business Class Pack offers all 3. Included is a 6000mAh Lithium Polymer battery with USB connector, enough to charge an iPhone 4 times. Built-in mini and micro USB connectors and standard Apple connector cover most devices. But an open USB port gives you an option for additional cables. To recharge the pack simply plug the wall adaptor into the water resistant DC port. So regardless of where you are, you can charge up your life. The Business Class Pack also offers a protected tablet-like space in addition to ample storage for files or even clothes. Powerbag also thought about the laptop, with a FlyFlat space for a 15” unit – so it laysflat on the x-ray belt and keeps security hassles to a minimum,

Business Class Pack, $179 at mypowerbag.com, will cost a bit more, but for the true road warrior the investment pays off quickly with the convenience and practicality to make the trip as smooth as possible.
[ Attention Travelers! copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]