Hasta La Gadget!

While we live in an age where technology is ever-changing, many people are being left in the dust. Computers are bought without much insight as to what’s in them, and people are hoping that sales representatives are steering them in the right direction. Everyone is taught from the top down, and is expected to figure things out on their own. There are plenty of books, classes, and programs that can walk you through what makes everything tick, but they’re not really fun, and are usually targeted to a specific age bracket.

It almost seems funny that the current generation of children know how to work technology better than their parents, but the big difference is that it wasn’t accessible to everyone when we were young. If you want to actually learn about computers, then Kano is an excellent first step. Rather than teaching you about how they work, this is a kit that will have you building one. It comes with an 8GB SD card, a DIY speaker, keyboard, custom case, Raspberry Pi Model B, HDMI and Mini USB cables, a smart power plug, and WiFi power-up.

Of course, there are manuals, but everything is presented in a way similar to storytelling. Once you get everything booted up, you’ll be able to learn about coding, and modify simple games. One full kit will cost you $99, or you can toss in $199, and get a kit for a child somewhere in the world. Seeing that this idea was prompted by a 7-year-old boy who wanted building a computer to be as easy and fun as LEGOs, I’d say this can be a great learning tool for anyone.

Available for crowdfunding through Kickstarter, found via Technabob
[ Kano is all-ages computer and coding kit copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

When it comes to storage space for your notebook, you are more or less spoilt for choice these days. Those who want something that is thin and light will settle for an Ultrabook, which would mean a very high probability of it carrying a Solid State Drive (SSD) within, although there are some budget oriented Ultrabook models in the market which will feature a hybrid SSD and hard drive configuration.Well, one of the players that do have an impressive array of storage solutions for those who are always demanding the best performance possible at the lowest price point would be Toshiba, and this time around, they have unveiled the new Toshiba Q Series Pro PC Internal Solid State Drive.

This is a new high performance drive upgrade for PCs that will offer consumers with a reliable and convenient way for them to increase productivity and also deliver safe storage for all personal data. It is ideal for folks who are looking at the opportunity to boost their PC storage performance to the next level without breaking the bank, of course, and also to enjoy faster boot-up and operation for the PC.

Maciek Brzeski, vice president of product marketing and development of branded storage products, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division, shared, “Toshiba’s comprehensive ecosystem of devices positions the company at an advantage when understanding consumer needs for storage. The Q Series Pro PC Internal Solid State Drive offers industry-proven caliber and authenticity with leading performance, speeds and capabilities.”

The new Toshiba Q Series Pro PC Internal SSD is said to be ideal for avid gamers, graphics professionals, and basically multi-taskers who want to provide a boost for their PC performance to a best in class level. In fact, it consumes less power than a standard hard drive, and users will be able to enjoy more time to work and play on their laptop without having to worry too much about locating the next power outlet. It measures just 7mm slim and is backed by a 3-year limited warranty. You will be able to choose from 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities that will retail for $159.99, $309.99 and $739.99, respectively.

Company Page
[ Toshiba rolls out a new SSD for consumers copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

When it comes to a highly affordable notebook that you can bring around without hurting your back, at the same time to have it do all the basic computing stuff that you need such as checking up your email, to post photos on Facebook, as well as to update your blog, then the Acer C720 Chromebook might be just the thing for you. With this particular Acer C720 Chromebook, one is able to enjoy fast and responsive performance, not to mention up to 8.5 hours of long battery life thanks to the inclusion of an Intel processor that is based on the new Haswell micro-architecture.

The Acer C720 Chromebook would sport a new design which is 30% thinner than before, while your eyes will definitely appreciate the anti-glare 11.6″ ComfyView display at 1,366 x 768 resolution which is said to reduce reflection in order to deliver a better visual experience for the end user. Not only that, when you want to get cracking right there and then, you do not need to worry about stuff like long boot up times, since the Acer C720 Chromebook boasts of a boot time that is less than 7 seconds.

Right now, those who are interested in picking up the Acer C720 Chromebook will be able to place a pre-order over at Amazon.com and BestBuy.com for $249.99 a pop, where it will arrive with 4GB of RAM. This third generation Chromebook will continue from where the hugely popular Acer C710 Chromebook left off, integrating Google’s Chrome operating system. Other hardware specifications of the Acer C720 Chromebook include Wi-Fi connectivity, up to 100GB of free Google Drive storage for the first two years after making your purchase, the ability to access files offline, as well as a Kensington lock that gives you peace of mind as you secure it to a classroom table or mobile cart. Local storage space on the Acer C720 Chromebook stands at a 16GB SSD.

Press Release
[ Acer C720 Chromebook delivers affordable computing on the move copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Everyone loves statistics, especially the superlatives, and hence it is no wonder that each year’s edition of the Guinness Book of World Records have done exceptionally well for itself. After all, we as humans seem somehow obsessed about stuff like the largest and the fastest, and new records which are set are always celebrated as another notch in the realm of human achievement. It is no different then, for Mushkin, an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance and mission-critical computer products, have just announced yet another feather in their cap – the official availability of the fastest USB flash drive in the world, which happens to be known as the Ventura Ultra.

Originally shown off at CES 2013 earlier this year, the Ventura Ultra happens to be a USB 3.0 flash drive that carries a whopping 240GB of storage space, making it the fastest in the world of its kind. This particular flash drive would obviously boast of extremely fast data transfer rates of up to 380 MB/s read and 325 MB/s write (theoretically speaking, considering these are well within the limits of the USB 3.0 standard, but in real life one might experience something different). Not only that, it comes with a rugged aluminum casing to deliver additional durability and resistance. Just a reminder for the masses, the USB 3.0 standard is up to 10 times faster compared to USB 2.0, and best of all is, it happens to be backwards compatible with legacy USB ports and devices.

Best of all is, the Mushkin Ventura Ultra is a dying breed, being one of the few USB flash drives in the world that does offer USB Attached SCSI Protocol support, so that it paves the way for command queuing so that it can maximize the transfer rate potential. Each purchase will arrive with a 2-year warranty when it becomes available worldwide this coming October 7th.

Product Page
[ Mushkin at the forefront with Ventura Ultra USB, the world’s fastest flash drive copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Western Digital, a company that has long been known for its storage solutions – portable or otherwise, and has introduced their new My Cloud range of personal cloud solutions. Just what will the My Cloud from Western Digital be able to deliver? It is best described to be a complete solution for users to help them organize, centralize and secure the digital content from all of their computers and mobile devices, with the ability to access those files regardless of the device that you are using, from just about anywhere in the world. All you need to do is hook up a My Cloud personal cloud drive to the Internet, and you will be able to gain the anywhere, any-device access which you would enjoy from the public cloud. Not only that, there is also the added advantage of not having to fork out monthly fees or having to give up control of your personal data.

With personal cloud storage growing steadily to be the new standard, it would enable users to ensure that both media and files will remain safe and sound at home on your own physical drive, not to mention having the added advantage of being able to access such information via the Internet using any PC or Mac computer, or if you prefer, on tablets and smartphones through the use of mobile apps.

With the My Cloud drive, one is able to share files, stream media and access content from just about anywhere without the need for any monthly fees, not to mention having the peace of mind since you know that your personal cloud resides in your own home – and hence, how physically secure it is, depends on whether Fido is there to complement your home security system or not. Not only that, getting your personal cloud up and running takes just minutes thanks to WD’s rich web-based user interface.

My Cloud will arrive in 2 TB, 3 TB, and 4 TB capacities, and you also have the option of hooking up a compatible USB 3.0 hard drive directly to the USB expansion port on the My Cloud drive, letting you gain an instant increase in storage capacity. Prices range from $149.99 for the 2 TB model all the way to $249.99 for the 4 TB model.

Press Release
[ Western Digital My Cloud offers consumers their personal cloud space copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]