Hasta La Gadget!

Unless you hid under a rock last week you know that Amazon unveiled the next generations of the Kindle Fire. The Kindle has become a necessity in many lives and, despite the popularity of tablets, continues to sell at a rapid pace. And the addition of the color screen, web browsing Fire a year ago gave Amazon an entirely different market and truly made Samsung and Apple stop and pay attention. Kindle made some smart moves with the new family of Kindle Fire that will continue to keep consumers and competitors on their toes.

Amazon announced 3 new versions of the Kindle Fire HD, in 2 sizes to suit a variety of preferences. The most visible difference (if the name did not give it away) is the HD resolution. All 3 also include faster processer, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, reduced glare, better viewing angle and enhanced audio– a good move considering the video uses – plus a front facing camera for video calls. The dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi means faster download speeds, over 40% faster than iPad 3 or Google Nexus, according to Amazon. Being a Kindle Fire owner I can attest to the gen 1 speed. I’m curious to see how much better it can get.

The 7” Fire HD includes a 1280×800 screen and ships this week at $199 for 16 GB and $249 for 32GB.  If 7” isn’t enough consider the Kindle Fire HD 8.9” or 4G version. In addition to the upgrades listed above these big versions offer 1920×1200 resolution and HDMI out for moving the movies or TV to a bigger screen. The 8.9”, $299, and the 4G version, $499 (32GB) and $599 (64GB) through AT&T, ship in late November.

So is Fire HD the solution? With enhanced picture quality and sound, streaming of the Prime Instant videos will be an improvement on what was already a favorite feature. Processor speed will theoretically assist in navigating around the device – somewhat laborious on the gen 1. Early reports from press who tested units say that the lag is still there unfortunately. So we will see what consumers say when they hit the market. The other big consideration is how will the units compete with the Google Nexus 7, iPad and anticipated mini iPad. As a reading device or video streaming unit, I say very well. As a daily browsing and tablet device, we shall see.

[ Kindle Fire Goes HD and Big copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

As our tablets become a bigger part of life we find ourselves using them everywhere. The desk, the kitchen counter, in bed, in the back yard, in the car. The list goes on and on. And a constant struggle exists with where the heck to set the thing. Doing the “balance the tablet on the stomach with legs bent to keep it upright while avoiding movement to prevent falling to the floor” game really takes away from any relaxation or productivity you attempt. And sure, there are plenty of stands that exist for specific reasons. But with our growing use of iPads, Kindles, Galaxy Tabs and the like, drawing the line on purchasing a stand for every use seems inevitable.

Meet the tablet stand for just about any function. The LapDawg O-Stand, $79 at Amazon, is a universal tablet stand designed to fit a variety of needs. The four bendable legs enable you to twist, kink or flex your stand – and therefore your tablet – into the perfect position. Put the legs upright, maneuver them around or even create a ‘claw’ to grab onto something. The legs are removable if needed and the neck is bendable for viewing adjustment too. If you have used any of the Joby Gorilla products then you understand the concept. The O-Stand is compatible with all iPad versions, Android tablets, Kindle, Sony eReader, Nook and Kobo.

Imagine the uses! How about a comfortable stand for that tablet while in bed? Or affix it to the headrest in the car so the kids can watch movies. Keep it simple and prop your pad up next to your computer. Take your pick. The O-Stand can handle it.

[ Tablet Stand for All Uses copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Have you jumped aboard the e-book revolution? If you have answered in the affirmative, then you might want to check out the Sony Reader PRS-T2 e-book reader, which is the latest e-book reader device from the Japanese consumer electronics giant. Just what does the Sony Reader PRS-T2 offer right out of the box? Well, we are looking at additional features which allows it to manage content, delivering easy wireless access to public libraries as well as enhancing touch screen capability for a more immersive reading experience.

Basically, the Sony Reader PRS-T2 will not bog you down or cramp your traveling style, especially when it comes in a light and thin 6″ e-book reader form factor, sporting an enhanced, intuitive touch screen display that has been specially optimized for long-term reading while offering what Sony deems as “the most natural, immersive reading experience.” You will be able to select from white, red or matte black colors, where the new social features will be presented in a simplified and intuitively designed home screen.

As with all other e-book readers, one main area of concern would be the display quality – how does the Sony Reader PRS-T2 stack up? For starters, we are looking at a glare-free, E-Ink Pearl V220 touch screen display which has been specially enhanced for optimal long-term reading, sporting an intuitive touch, more paper-like page turns, in addition to improved continuous page turns and a smoother zoom in and out. Not only that, you get an improved default book layout so that it is easier to organize and look for your digital books.

A couple of English language and four translation dictionaries have been thrown into the mix as well, and with Wi-Fi connectivity turned off, Sony claims the Sony Reader PRS-T2 delivers up to two months of battery life. Storage space stands at 2GB, and all it takes is a single swipe of your finger to turn a page, while pinching your fingers will zoom in and out.

You can pick up the Sony Reader PRS-T2 for $129, while you can add on to that by picking up additional accessories such as a Cover and a Cover with light, where those will retail for approximately $35 and $50, respectively.

Press Release

[ Sony Reader PRS-T2 e-book reader copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Get the students in your life, ready for the hours of studying with these gizmos:

Study All Night

There’s nothing like having to stay up all night and cram for a test – while your light sensitive roommate sleeps. Make it a non-issue with this 3 pack of clip on LED book lights from GE. They can clip to a paperback, hardback or an e-reader. You’ll get 10,000 hours of use out of each light, plenty of time to get you through school. And the great part is the 3-pack is only $19.18 at Amazon.

Give Eyes a Break

Every hard studying student needs a break. Whether staring at notes or a computer screen the strain on eyes can take its toll. What a better way to take a break than with an eye massage witht he Breo Breeze ISee 180-Hi-Tech Digital Eye & Temple Massager. This must have device uses principles of acupuncture to apply heat and vibration and gently massage and improve oxygen supply and circulation. It even has a built in MP3 player to keep your chill tunes on while relaxing. Breo has a full line of products including more expensive options, but at $34.99 on Amazon the ISee 180 is perfect for students.

Get the Edge with Lightwedge:

Make reading the fine print a cinch with this pocket sized magnifier. A powerful LED ensures that you can see what you magnify as well. Lightwedge is available in 10 colors and at just $8.97 on Amazon it is a must for students young and old.

[ Study Aids copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

As its name suggests, the Ematic eGlide 4 tablet is powered by the Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The tablet features a 1GHz processor with a 512MB RAM, a 4GB of internal memory with a 5GB of cloud storage, a microSD memory card slot for storage expansion and a built-in voice recorder. The Ematic eGlide 4 is priced at $79.99 each. [GoodReader]