Hasta La Gadget!

Wireless charging has been an idea that was thrown around by many quarters for some time already, although it has not really caught on. Smartphones are the primary devices that support wireless charging capability, and for obvious reasons, too. After all, a smartphone is a device that we more or less tend to use up its supply of power each day, and will need to find a power outlet to plug in the charger and juice it up, and tablets come a close second. Well, wireless charging capability on select smartphones has been introduced in the past, but South Korean consumer electronics giant LG has decided to spruce things up a bit with wireless charging by introducing the LG WCP-300, and has attached the title of the “world’s smallest wireless charger” to it at the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, where it measures a mere 6.9cm in diameter.

At that particular size, is it no wonder that the WCP-300 deserves its “title”? Specially designed to carry portability in mind, the LG WCP-300 might be small, but it sure as heck carries plenty of bite. Do not be fooled by its relatively diminutive size, as the charging area on the LG WCP-300 is actually 1.7 times wider compared to LG’s previous generation wireless charger. This new LG WCP-300 will also play nice with a standard 5-pin micro-USB charger, helping deliver the highest level of charging performance as well as user convenience.

Just how does the LG WCP-300 work? For starters, it will make use of electromagnetic induction technology, and will obviously have Qi certification thanks to the Wireless Power Consortium. Electromagnetic induction helps produce a magnetic field which will in turn, generate an electric current that juices up your device’s batteries when placed on the charging pad. As long as your device supports the Qi standard, it is good to go.

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[ LG WCP-300 is smallest wireless charger in the world copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Dedicated GPS navigation devices have been around for quite some time already, although there is the very real and present danger of such a niche market to go out of vogue with the plethora of devices these days (smartphones and tablets, especially) that already come with their fair share of built-in GPS navigation capability, hence doing away with the need for a dedicated GPS device. Still, companies like TomTom and Magellan are still around, and the latter has decided to expand the worldwide availability of their Magellan Switch Series of crossover GPS watches across the pond, specially targeting athletes who run, bike, swim or participate in a wide range of outdoor activities. The Magellan Switch and Switch Up watches will be made available from this month onwards from select retailers and via Magellan’s European distribution network.

In order to offer more support for their European users, Magellan has decided to expand its Magellan Active website (active.magellangps.com) by throwing in more languages such as French, Spanish, German, Italian and Dutch, and of course, the mainstay, English. Magellan Active makes it a snap for multisport athletes who want to record their performance data on Magellan’s Switch Series, as it is easy to upload and track data online using intuitive charts, maps and metrics, all from a single location.

The Magellan Switch Series of crossover GPS watches will include some more innovative features including an ‘Activity Pacer’ which will tell runners should they be on target with their goal, while offering specific targets in order to attain the desired result. There is the Switch GPS watch which was specially designed for runners, and remains as a powerful fitness training device that has been packed with innovative features which will include nine customizable sport profiles, easy-to-read high resolution display, eight hours of battery life, a high sensitivity GPS receiver, 50 meter water resistance, and compatibility with ANT+ sensors.

The Magellan Switch Series will be available as of now from Magellan’s European distribution partners serving UK, France, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux.

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[ Magellan GPS watches arrive in Europe copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

So, you happen to own an iPad and cannot live without it wherever you go. Thing is, no matter how strong you are, your hands might end up rather tired even after a while from holding up an iPad to watch movie after movie. This is where iPad holders come in handy, but there are already so many in the market, will this latest addition offer something different? Well, Hammacher’s $99.95 Any Surface Magnetic iPad Mount intends to do so, where this unique iPad holder will be able to mount to any vertical or horizontal surface.

Thanks to the holder’s powerful, 60-lb.-rated magnet, it is capable of attaching itself to just about any ferrous metal surface (a refrigerator would be a good example) and it will be accompanied by a couple of attachments, one with suction cups and the other with screws and wall anchors, just in case you want a permanent iPad holder on a surface or wall made up of glass, wood, or drywall. The iPad will clip into the holder’s metal arms, and you need not have to purchase a separate special case for it, enabling you to rotate the tablet computer 360° or tilt it up to 70° for optimal positioning. Compatible with the iPad 2 and 3, both attachments arrive in 16-gauge solid steel for strong adherence with the iPad holder’s magnet.

[ Any Surface Magnetic iPad Mount copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

When you think of the Man of Steel, what comes into your mind? I am not referring to you wearing your spandex underwear on the outside to work, but rather, his more, er, super qualities. We do know that his major weakness is kryptonite,and he also recharges himself with solar energy. Well, your smartphone, too, never need be at the mercy of a drained battery ever again with some help from our solar system’s star, the sun. The iSolar Backup Battery Charger comes in handy, arriving in the form of a sun-powered bamboo battery which will be able to bring new life to your dead device’s power stores, delivering additional hours of use.

It is said that a simple 3-hour charge will be able to bring up a depleted device to 40% of its power, now how about that? Each purchase will also be able to be charged via the included USB adapter, letting you power it up if the sun decides to hide behind rain clouds and thunderstorms. Definitely one of the cooler gadgets to own, don’t you think so? It also adds some green street cred to your resume.

[ iSolar Backup Battery Charger copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I know that with the advent of smartphones and tablets, not many people bother to buy a watch anymore to tell the time. Most of the time, the devices that we use, as well as computers that we sit in front of, will have a clock program built-in so that you know whether it is time to punch out and head home, or to take a break for lunch. Having said that, the luxury watch market is not affected by this phenomenon, but ordinary watches? It will take far more than just a pretty face to capture the attention of potential buyers. Watches need to offer more than just to tell the time, which is why the £24.99 Eu Watch does make plenty of sense, coming in a variety of colors such as black, blue, Funky Black/Red Face, Funky Blue/Red Face and purple.

The Eu Watches were inspired by the building blocks of our childhood (and adulthood too, some say), where this oddly euro-centrically named EU Watches will feature a beautiful, blocky design that arrives in different and bold color combinations. Apart from sporting all the digital bells and whistles that one might expect from a modern-day digital watch, they are also highly durable and will not cause your biceps to bulge when you wear it. This unisex timepiece will come with functions such as Day/Date, an alarm, a stopwatch and of course, the all important backlight.

[ EU Watches help you tell the time in style copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]