Hasta La Gadget!

Is it me, or are retro designs starting to make their mark yet again in our lives? The farthing is one of the more popular ways to get around sometime in the previous century, but it sure as heck looked extremely weird. Fast forward to the 21st century, and we have Hammacher’s take on the farthing of yore – in the form of the $5,000 Folding Electric Mini-Farthing. I suppose when you take inflation into the picture over all these years, $5,000 is not too much to ask, but it is still a sizeable amount for the average person on the street to fork out for what some might deem to be an indulgence rather than a necessity.

The Folding Electric Mini-Farthing is a folding electric bicycle that was inspired by the large-wheeled penny farthing which was made popular in the late 19th century. It is touted to be the smallest folding electric bicycle of its kind in the world, considering how it measures a mere 43-liter in terms of volume, taking just 20 seconds or so to stow away for easy transport or storage. Capable of hitting a top speed of 14 mph, there is a 450-watt electric DC motor that helps drive the 20″ front wheel while its 8″ rear wheel delivers steering capability, as long as you do not tip the scales at more than 220 lbs. Other features include high-visibility LED lights, built-in brake and turn lights.

[ Folding Electric Mini-Farthing copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

You can say that a device like the iPhone has more than its fair share of accessories over the years, and this trend does not seem as though it is going to slow down anytime soon, let alone stop. Here we are with the Satechi X-Pointer mobile presenter and Stylus Touch Pen that was announced specially for the iPhone, with the former being controlled using the X-Presenter app that enables users to have the kind of unprecedented freedom, scrolling through through PowerPoint or Keynote presentation slides while ensuring the audience’s attention is directed thanks to the included red laser – like moth to a flame, you could say that.

For starters, the X-Presenter App will activate the X-Pointer’s red laser that in turn is attached to the iPhone via the smartphone’s 3.5mm jack. Not only that, the X-Presenter app is also capable of taking full control over the computer’s mouse using the app’s Mouse Mode function, turning this into an ideal all-in-one solution for business folks who are always on the go. It measures a mere 1.6 inches in length and tips the scales at just an ounce, making the X-Pointer extremely portable and mobile to be stashed away just about anywhere on your travels. Satechi is kind enough to include the Stylus Touch Pen that doubles up as a storage compartment for the X-Pointer laser whenever it is not in use, apart from being the precise touch-screen navigation tool, of course.

Apart from that, there is a rubber 3.5mm jack that you can affix the laser and pointer to the iPhone whenever the Stylus Touch Pen is not in use. Satechi has decided to make available the Satechi X-Pointer for $29.99, where you can download the X-Presenter app for free over at the Apple App Store. This is an introductory price, mind you, so we are not too sure just for how long the price point is going to remain.

Press Release
[ Satechi X-Pointer mobile presenter and Stylus Touch Pen for iPhone copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

If you are on a tight budget and have always had a mind to upgrade your TV or purchase a new one to replace the older model in your bedroom or living room, then the name Sceptre would definitely have crossed your mind. After all, isn’t this the kind of brand that most folks can resonate with, especially when it carries the values of delivering the best bang for your hard earned buck? Sceptre has proven itself in the past with quality LED and LCD HDTVs as well as computer monitors, and they are back again this time around with their latest 32” LCD HDTV which was specially designed to deliver superb image quality as well as long term energy savings, and it is better known as the Sceptre X328BV-FHD.

The new Sceptre X328BV-FHD comes in a trend setting jet black slim design, and is more than capable of handling brighter and more robust colors thanks to a wide range of features such as a 1920×1080 resolution, 60 Hz Refresh Rate, 5,000:1 contrast ratio, and 3D Comb Filter among others. The unit itself will also be equipped with all the necessary bells and whistles of more expensive units, where among them include 5.1 digital audio capabilities, multiple HDMI and a USB port for easy connectivity, with the option to mount it to a wall or to have it function as a computer monitor.

Since you are a cost conscious consumer, surely you would also be right on top of things where being environmentally friendly is concerned. The Sceptre X328BV-FHD is Energy Star V5.3 compliant, and is touted to use up just approximately $11 of energy each year, now how about that for savings in the long run? Not only that, it is said to have a rated lamp life of over 50,000 hours – and that is equivalent to over 5 years of continuous usage, which is far more TV than you should be watching in the first place anyways.

The best part of the Sceptre X328BV-FHD? It retails for a mere $499 a pop.

Press Release
[ Sceptre does it again with a new 32” LCD HDTV copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Now here is a “boomtastic” timepiece to wear around your wrist, where it merges the old school with the new. The $89.99 Boombox Metal Wristwatch comes with an LCD digital time display, allowing you to read the time at but a glance. Sure, it is not going to consume a whole lot of D batteries unlike boomboxes of old, and it will be unable to play back your favorite MP3s (although we do wish that there was an edition that could, but then again, it would mean a pretty big wristwatch to accommodate the larger battery), but at the very least it conveys a sense of style to those who come across your path.

Features of the Boombox Metal Wristwatch include a locking clasp, side push buttons, and a display that will shut itself off automatically after just three seconds in order to conserve battery life in the long run. I do not think that this is suitable for action at a corporate boardroom meeting, but it might be the ideal Christmas gift for your teen who is into all things retro. Surely he will be the envy of his friends, don’t you think so?

[ Boombox Metal Wristwatch copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Golfing widows, here is another device that you might just want to prevent your husband from knowing or reading about it – the $179.95 Distance Calculating Talking Golf Caddy. The name of it says it all – this is a palm-sized GPS unit which will be able to spill out words that inform you just how far you are away from the green so that you can draw from your venerable expertise and experience to select the right kind of club, and make that money shot. Of course, one would tend to think that if you already have the kind of experience that other golfers are envious of, then you would not need a talking electronic caddy, do you?

One of the main advantages of the Distance Calculating Talking Golf Caddy is this though – it is smart enough to recognize the kind of golf course you are on automatically, thanks to its rather venerable pre-loaded database of 35,000 courses worldwide. A single press of the button on the Distance Calculating Talking Golf Caddy will see it announce the exact distance you are to the front, back, or center of the green in a clear female voice, with an accuracy of within nine feet thereabouts. Not only that, you will be able to check out the data that is displayed on its monochrome LCD display, speaking in one of eight languages. Not only that, there is no need for any expensive subscription fees after purchase, where you can also download up to another 5,000 additional golf courses from the manufacturer’s web site.

[ Distance Calculating Talking Golf Caddy copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]