Hasta La Gadget!

Some of us might say that a particular file is toast once we accidentally pressed Shift and Delete keys on the keyboard, but you might want to think of making a backup of all your important files onto a USB flash drive beforehand. Now, since many of us already tote a fair number of USB flash drives as part of our collection, why not make matters more interesting by using a USB hub at home or in the office? You might as well make a stylish statement in the process with the USB Toaster Hub and Thumbdrives from ThinkGeek. The USB Toaster Hub is one thing, and you can choose other thumb-drives that come in the shape of a toast. The toaster and toasts are sold separately, retailing anywhere from $24.99 to $27.99 depending on what you are looking for.

I guess it would be travesty not to collect all four “slices” of “toast”, especially when you consider how cute the whole setup would be if you were to piece them together. Not only that, ThinkGeek knows that the modern day road warrior is also one who carries a slew of other gizmos as well, which is where the SD memory card slot on this puppy comes in handy.

[ USB Toaster Hub and Thumbdrives copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Its obvious that things are becoming more chaotic these days. People are working harder, sleeping less, and pushing themselves to the limit. Ask your average guy on the street if they feel stressed out, and the answer is almost always a resounding yes. Stress certainly takes its toll on a body, almost all studies confirm that continuous stress is simply not good for us, and for some people the damage is irreparable, we have to find a way to manage our minds where we really can handle it all.

Check out the HeartMath emWave2 Portable Training Device by using information collected via pulse sensors and translating that data into simple line graphs on your computer, the Portable Training Device can teach you the steps you need to relax, and put yourself in the proper state of mind, completely assisting you in achieving the right balance for improved communications, sleep, health, or generalized clarity.

The device itself works around the idea that you can mentally control your heart rate, and yes, it really can be done. For those of you familiar with the idea of biofeedback it seems to be based on a very similar concept, learning what relaxed actually is… and then learning how to be able to achieve that state consistently, and when you need to.

Learning to change your emotional reactions doesn’t seem like an easy task, but the emWave2 Portable training device may just give us the edge we all need. The emWave2 is sold in a portable version, desktop version or bundled with programs designed to enhance specific aspects or your life, like meditation and prayer or even stopping emotional eating. WIth prices starting around 229 bucks, the emWave2 Portable Training Device is available at amazon.com

[ HeartMath emWave2 Portable Training Device – Transform Yourself copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I had to put my camera in the shop again. Who would have thought I’d have so many problems with a high end Nikon? Stupid problems really… the latest was the USB connection that I use to download thousands of pictures on a weekly basis became loose and failed to maintain the connection with my computer. The guy at the shop said I should never use the USB and that I should get a card reader. Really? That’s disappointing.

In my search for a card reader, I found this neat little item, and while it’s not very new, I somehow had never heard of it. (Don’t ask me how that happened.) Check out a Sandisk SD card that is hinged, and folds down, revealing a USB adaptor, what a great idea! Now I can eliminate the USB cord all together and simply pop the card out of the camera and offload my pics right to my PC.

The Sandisk Ultra II is a relatively standard memory card that’s quite ample in its performance, featuring 15MB/sec Read/Write speeds and useful for almost any kind of photography. The Sandisk Ultra is also capable of some pretty solid transfer times between the card and your PC. The only downside I can find to this nifty little card is that 4 GB’s is the largest card they make, but with such easy data transfers, all without the pesky cords and wires, and with an under 25 dollar price tag for the 4 GB I guess I’ll just get a few of them. Available for your transferring pleasure at amazon.com. Did you guys already know about these? It’s okay, you can tell me.

[ SD card with Built in USB – Simple Genius copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I wish I was born back in the day, when doctors made house calls, and came out to make you feel better at all hours of the day or night. I mean, who wants to get dressed and run out to the doctors office when you’re sick as a dog? I can honestly say that once or twice in my life I have actually been “too sick” to go to the doctor.

Well here’s something that has been quite a few science fiction movies in the making, the Transportable Exam Station, or TES. This highly portable unit is built into a rolling weather resistant case and allows a doctor to carry out a comprehensive health assessment, from anywhere in the world using a tablet PC, examination cameras, a real time digital stethoscope and a USB otoscope. A USB otoscope? Who knew?

Manned by a mobile technician the Doctor and patient can communicate via PC, the TES not only allows more common general health examinations, but aids in triage and trauma care, dermatology exams, or almost anything else that might require the services of doctor, without the doctor actually being there.

Sometimes there are accident and emergency situations where waiting to get to a doctor costs the precious time needed to save a life, but now I can also imagine a future with a whole new breed of medical practitioners, where the doctors hang out at home, and a staff of mobile technicians (maybe nursing staff?) make dozens of house calls that doc’s could now diagnose and treat via the internet. Is this bringing medicine to those who don’t have it, or could this kind of technology someday, cheapen the standard of care?

Check out globalmed.com for more information on all their amazing mobile medical technologies, then let us know if you would feel comfortable being diagnosed via PC, I’m relatively okay with it… as long as theres a limited amount of blood… for heavy blood loss or breathing difficulties I prefer my doctor on-site.

[ Transportable Exam Station – Bringing the Doctor to You copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

If your desktop computer or notebook has at least one USB 3.0 port, then you might want to start making the most out of it. I am talking about getting a device which is compatible with the USB 3.0 port itself, and most of the time, something in this vein would come in the form of a portable storage solution. Enter G-Technology with their new range of USB 3.0 storage solutions that are said to be able to deliver speeds which are 10 times faster compared to USB 2.0, and half a dozen times faster than FireWire 800. Basically, this would translate to (in theory, anyways) that you can transfer a couple of full-length movies from a G-Technology USB 3.0 drive to a computer in a matter of minutes.

Let us take a closer look at what the G-Technology Mobile Family is able to offer – starting off with the G-DRIVE slim that is perfect for just about any notebook user. As its name suggests, the G-DRIVE Slim comes in an ultra-slim form factor that does not skimp on style either, boasting a high-performance USB 3.0 interface as well as a thin design. It has a lightweight aluminum chassis that offers up to 500GB of storage space, and does not need any external AC power supply. Expect the 500GB G-DRIVE slim to retail for $109.99.

As for the
G-DRIVE mobile and G-DRIVE mobile USB 3.0, they will feature versatile USB 3.0, FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 interfaces, although the mobile version carries USB 3.0 only. Regardless, both models will come in 1TB, 750GB and 500GB flavors, and are bus powered, retailing for $189.99 and $159.99 for the 1TB model, with the more expensive one being the version with FireWire support.

Those who want something that takes up less space can settle for the G-DRIVE mini, where it boasts a 2.5″ 7,200 RPM hard drive alongside an all-aluminum enclosure that ensures your precious data inside remains protected from knocks and bumps, and it can be USB 3.0 or FireWire bus-powered. You can pick it up in 750GB and 500GB capacities for $169.99 and $159.99, respectively.

Any takers?

Press Release

[ G-Technology has a bunch of new USB 3.0 storage solutions copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]