Hasta La Gadget!

Is a light bulb a light bulb, and is it capable of anything more? The correct answer would be a resounding “Yes!”. After all, just like how we have seen last year when Philips introduced their Hue LED lighting home system that can be controlled by a compatible smartphone and tablet device, so too, has there been advances made in the world of light bulbs. Take for instance, BlueBulb‘s Bluetooth Bulb, which is an LED light bulb which allows you to control and color-customize it via a Bluetooth connection as well as help from an iOS app.

This BlueBulb will be able to fit into any standard lamp socket, and it should not take too long to set up the free app on your iOS-powered device before you get that crazed Emperor Palpatine look on your face, screaming, “Power! Unlimited power!!!” as you use your iOS device to control the way the BlueBulb Bluetooth bulb works in your home. Apparently, you are able to change its colors using the bar, with the choice of up to a million different colors, now how about that?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Trongs Help Keep Your Fingers Clean While Eating Messy Foods, DirecTV Launching Voice Search Feature To iOS, Android App This Summer,

Sure, its happened to me more than once. I lost my house keys, left them in the wrong car, or forgot to give them to my mother who was stopping over to feed the dog. It’s a simple thing, and I should have just taken the time to have extra keys made, or hidden one under the doormat, but in this day and age I’m not sure anyone does that anymore.

Well, First Watch Security is bringing you a nifty home entry alternative, forget your keys and garage door openers, why not use your Smartphone? Working with a smartphone that employs Bluetooth 4.0 and utilizing a 128 bit encryption, The First Watch Security Smart Deadbolt or SecuRemote lets you access your doors or garage with your phone.

Any users you authorize can operate the Smart Deadbolts or garage doors via the SecuRemote app simply by tapping the unlock or lock icons on a Smartphone.  Not only can you decide who gets access to your home, but when. This application works with your existing garage door opener and requires only the simple addition of an access control device. Whereas the Smart Deadbolt works with all standard door preparations, is installed with only a screwdriver, and it can run for up to two years on four AA batteries.

Okay, I guess I could like this. SecuRemote for your garage is available now, for only around 149 bucks, the Smart Deadbolt is making its way around the home show circuit and should be available soon. Check out firstwatchsecurity.com for updates, pricing, and more information. So now I suppose, I have to keep track of my phone and worry about someone hacking their way into my house? Does Bluetooth enabled home entry delight or terrify you? … Let us know.
[ Forget your Keys? Use Your Smartphone! copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Today you’ll be able to purchase your very own MOGA Pro controller for full-action excellence for your smartphone and the video games you play therein. This controller uses your smartphone as its main display, acting as a set of physical controls for the games you play regularly with on-screen tapping and swiping. With this controller you’ll be able to fit a wide variety of smartphones and larger smart handheld devices.

The original MOGA Pocket Controller was revealed and release last October – back in 2012. Here in 2013 we’re seeing this massive follow-up hit stores like Best Buy, Target, and GameStop like a whirlwind. You’ll be working with dual analog sticks – clickable, the both of them – as well as full-sized console-style grips and four action buttons.

You also get two shoulder buttons, a “classic directional pad”, and two shoulder triggers. This machine works with integrated rechargeable batteries that you power up with a USB charging cord included in the package and you’ll be able to work with this device with tablets as well. This device works standard with smartphone devices of many sizes and comes with a tablet stand as well.

You’ll be working with full support for the original MOGA Mobile Gaming System and will be wirelessly connecting with your Android device via Bluetooth. Have a peek at previous coverage of this device in our original MOGA Pro Controller announcement and stay tuned through our handy MOGA search – mobile gaming on the rise!

MOGA Pro Controller hits stores today is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

I first saw the Sphero robotic ball about 2 years ago at CES, but I never really got a chance to play with one hands-on until now. When I first saw it in action, all I wanted to say was “Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.” This little orb is packed with cool technology that lets you use it as a remote-control vehicle, a game controller, and tech toy/plaything.

Made by Orbotix, the Sphero itself is a durable polycarbonate-shelled orb which fits nicely in the palm of your hand. This is no accident, since this makes it work perfectly as a controller or plaything itself when it’s not rolling around on the floor. Inside of the ball are its brains, wireless circuit, motion sensors, motors, a small rechargeable battery and multicolor LEDs.

The spherical robot is capable of traversing a variety of surfaces, including hardwood floors, tile, grass, concrete and low-pile carpet (it has a hard time on thicker carpets). It’s even waterproof, so you can drive it around in the bathtub or in a puddle. To juice up the Sphero, simply set it in its inductive charging cradle, and it’ll go for up to an hour on a single charge.

You control the Sphero using either iOS or Android apps, which range from the main Sphero R/C controller app to games, interactive toys, augmented reality and macro programming apps. The library of Sphero apps continues to grow too, since there’s a full Sphero API and SDK available for developers to make their own applications. Many of the current apps are free, while the few that cost money sell for $1.99 or less.

Playing with Sphero is a blast, and it’s stupid-simple to use. Simply pair it with your Bluetooth device, load up an app of your choice, orient the Sphero properly and start playing. It’ll operate at distances up to about 50 feet from your device. Setting the Sphero’s orientation is simple. Just place the ball on the ground and use two fingers to maneuver its secondary blue “tail” LED to point towards you. If you should pick up and move the Sphero, you can do this again in a jiffy.

The main Sphero app is a great place to start, as it lets you drive the Sphero and play with its colors with ease. You can choose from a touch-based or motion-based control scheme, as well as several pre-set macros for things like circles, Figure 8′s and a flashing light show.

The Sphero app can also capture stills or video of your escapades and save them to your device.

And if you log into the Sphero ecosystem, you can record fun achievements, track stats and compete with others for Sphero supremacy.

I tried out just about every Sphero app I could find on the iTunes App Store, and here are my personal favorites: 1) ColorGrab – a frustrating, but fun multiplayer game in which players must quickly pick up the Sphero when its flashing in a specified color; 2) Draw & Drive – which lets you simply draw a path for your Sphero to follow; 3) Etch-o-Matic – this turns your Sphero into the controller for an Etch-a-Sketch inspired drawing pad; and 4) Sharky – an augmented reality app which turns your Sphero into a funny looking beaver that you flick virtual cupcakes at. It’s completely silly, but a fun tech demo.

The hacker in me got the most joy out of the MacroLab app, which lets you create complex programming sequences for the Sphero, adjusting all of its available parameters. These include movement, rotation, light color, speed, and basic programming constructs like delays and loops. The only thing I wish is that you could take your saved macros and load them into the main Sphero application for playback. Apparently, the Android version can even control multiple Spheros at the same time.

If you and your friends have more than one Sphero, they can be independently controlled for races, running obstacle courses, or even for playing Sphero miniature golf (which can also be played solo).

All in all, I really have had a good time playing with the Sphero, and I can only imagine that kids and geeks of all ages would get a kick out of having one. It’s also great for tormenting your pets. The fact that it’s programmable and has a software development community means that even if you get bored with it for a little while, there will be more apps coming down the pike to give it new life. And if you’re a real tinkerer, you can even make your own apps.

Sphero sells for $129.99(USD) over on the Sphero website, and is also available from a number of retailers both online and offline.

Disclosure: Orbotix provided the Sphero for review in this article. However, all reviews are the unbiased views of our editorial staff, and we will only recommend products or services we have used personally, and believe will be good for our readers.

If you’re in the market for a set of portable Bluetooth speakers that you can clip onto your bag or belt buckle and take with you on the go, the Urchin might be a Bluetooth speaker worth checking out. Designed to be rugged and waterproof, the Urchin, as you can see above, can be attached to a variety of things, such as your belt buckle for instance. It has also been designed to be water resistant and shock resistant, suggesting that these speakers are probably for those who want to listen to music during camping trips or trips to the beach where water might come into contact with the speaker. Heck, it even comes with a suction cup mount that you can attach to your bathroom wall if you’re in the need for audio entertainment during your bath. Available in a variety of colors and with a built-in microphone, the Urchin Bluetooth speaker will set you back $149.99 and is available via the Boom Movement Shop.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Ubergizmo Giveaway: Monster White Tuxedo Headphones, White Tuxedo Monster DNA Headphones Debut At 2013 MTV Movie Awards,