Hasta La Gadget!

Popcorn rocks. I love sitting down to a fresh bowl and chowing down. In fact I think we should start a campaign to make popcorn a more common, everyday snack.  Making popcorn is certainly not the most convenient thing in the world however. And then there is the hassle of getting your fingers dirty while you eat it. That shouldn’t stop us though.

Popcorn, Indiana – ironically based in New Jersey – carries a variety of snack items including popcorn, kettlecorn and something called popcorn chips. In their words they are “wildly fanatical about healthier, whole grain snacking” and apparently also very creative. This chow company created a prototype of a device that will change the way we eat popcorn. Meet the Popinator, a voice-activated popcorn launching machine. Designed with binaural microphones, all you do is simply say “pop” when you want a kernel. The unit tracks your location aims right at you, raises the catapult and launches a piece of popcorn to you. The Popinator launches up to 15 feet away, and closes up once done. And you choose the popcorn to load into the unit. Check the video below for a full view of the concept.

With a device like the Popinator, a revolution may occur in the art of eating popcorn and automatic snack devices – a perfect quest for a company called Popcorn, Indiana.

[ Just Say “Pop” for Popcorn copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Now here is a rather novel idea that might just make you wish that things in the kitchen are a bit more modernized and digital, something like those kitchens that you see in science fiction movies which depict a far off future. Everything would be computerized by then, there would be no need for human waiters and cooks, and robots would do a perfectly fine job in serving customers. While we are not quite there yet in terms of technology, how about something a little bit closer to home and yet has a whiff of an optimistic future – the $59.95 Talking Measuring Cup.

The Talking Measuring Cup will be able to verbally announce the volume of wet or dry ingredients, doing away for the need to make an estimate by eye. Whenever you set it in its base, the cup will be able to state just the right amount that has been poured inside, and if you were looking out for a sexy and deep male voice, you would be sorely disappointed since a clear female voice would perform the readings. For instance, 1 1/4 cups is spoken as “one and one-fourth cups”, and you are able to take advantage of the tare function by adding multiple ingredients without emptying the cup.

Sporting a three-cup capacity cup that is made out of unbreakable frosted plastic, it will be accompanied by a removable flip-up lid, and is microwave and dishwasher safe so that it is a snap to use and clean up afterwards. Powered by a couple of AAA batteries, the Talking Measuring Cup makes for the perfect Christmas present for any foodie who loves to cook.

[ Talking Measuring Cup copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Some of us require complete silence before we retire for the night, so much so that even a pin drop can be heard. As for others, we do need to have some sort of background noise that could prove comforting, such as creaking of the wooden floor, the slow turning fan that emits that squeaky sound with each revolution of its blades on the ceiling, the sound of crickets and their all night symphony, or simply your favorite recording artist belting out his/her/their hit tunes over a speaker. If you fall under the last mentioned category, then Time4sleep’s effort with the Sound Bed certainly sounds like a winner in our books. We shall take a closer look at what the Sound Bed is able to offer to sleepers who want some background music as they grab some shuteye.

Time4sleep’s new and innovative bed frame will not only make sure you get a peaceful night’s sleep, but it also doubles up as a private sound system to boot. Called the Sound Bed, it will merge modern design alongside technology in order to deliver an original and comfortable music centre. This particular idea can be said to be inspired by the rise in the demand for TV beds, so Time4sleep figured out that there is probably a market for music lovers.

The Sound Bed range will come in Single, Double and King Size form factors, and it works great whether you are an adult or a little kid. Each Sound Bed comes finished in stone white bonded leather, ensuring that this particularly neutral color is able to be compatible with all kinds of décor and tastes.

Jonathan Warren, Time4sleep owner said “This bed frame allows anyone to have their own private music station. Adaptable for any MP3 player, including iPods, iPhones and iPads – the Sound Bed makes it easy to just plug in and play!”

All the relevant controls and speakers themselves are located on a control panel on the side of the headboard, where it comprises of 2 speakers and a sub-woofer (which is located at the bottom if the headboard) for that added thump of bass.

Product Page

[ Sound Bed helps you doze off with your favorite music copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

“There’s an app for that” seems to be a pretty popular mantra, but here we are with what could be testament to that particular bit of “truth” – the Wahoo Fitness KICKR Power Trainer. Touted to be the first iPhone-powered bike trainer in the world, the Wahoo Fitness KICKR Power Trainer was recently introduced to the rest of the world at the end of last month in Eurobike 2012. Just how does the Wahoo Fitness KICKR work? For starters, this iPhone connected bike trainer intends to modernize stationary training through the integration of top cycling Apps while delivering full resistance control, and all of these come from the iPhone itself.

Already an industry leader in iPhone powered cycling, running and fitness, Wahoo Fitness has lifted the veil on the Wahoo Fitness KICKR Power Trainer that enables cyclists and triathletes to set resistance, accurately measure power and complete App based workouts, finding yet another use for their iPhone. It will be out in the US later this November, which means it would make for the perfect Christmas present when Santa makes his rounds later this December.

The clever use of Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ technology will allow the KICKR Power Trainer to hook up to the iPhone, where you can increase or decrease resistance when pedaling, structure interval workouts or even simulate real world bike courses. All resistance adjustments made are instant, and your glutes as well as muscles on different parts of your legs will surely be worked out, should I say, in a “merciless” manner.

Chip Hawkins, CEO of Wahoo Fitness, said, “Cyclist and triathletes will be blown away by the feel of the KICKR. We spent a ton of time engineering the feel, fine tuning it for the most realistic ride we’ve ever experienced on an indoor bike trainer. With the wheel off design there is no need for calibration; the power is consistent and accurate every single time. The electronic resistance is driven by your iPhone or tablet, during a ride you can go from hammering up a 15% grade to coasting downhill, instantaneously”.

Product Page

[ Wahoo Fitness KICKR Power Trainer copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

When kids start to grow up with the rest of their siblings, they tend to get territorial with their personal space. It makes perfect sense after all, as we are all trying to figure out just who we are, and sometimes, we do need the breathing room to get that bit done. Some boys might be a bit more adventurous and create “traps” in their rooms so that whoever goes around snooping without prior permission will get caught, red-handed. With the $39.95 Stay Out Of My Room Alarm, it is a wrist cuff which warns of a room invasion.

A couple of 2.5” in diameter motion sensors are placed in a secret, non-obvious place to detect whether there is someone in the vicinity who is not supposed to be there, sending the alert signal to you as you wear the wrist cuff. It works within a 100 feet radius, so if you are out of the house and jogging around the neighborhood, then too bad. The wrist cuff boasts of two separate displays which will correspond to each sensor, flashing red when either or both are triggered by remote movement, in addition to a choice between having the alarm sound or being completely silent. Make sure you have rechargeable AAA batteries handy always!

[ Stay Out Of My Room Alarm copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]