Hasta La Gadget!

When it comes to two of the more successful space operas around, Star Trek and Star Wars have their set of fans, although the former does have more material to fall back upon since it has movies as well as a back catalogue of TV shows to fall upon, while Star Wars folklore consists of just half a dozen movies, some computer games and a number of novels. I am not going to take sides as to which is the better franchise, as each of them has their own merit, but one thing’s for sure – both of them are cash cows which have yet to be fully milked. Case in point, the £39.95 Star Trek Webcam, allowing you to communicate with aliens. Wait a minute, I meant, your friends, right in front of your computer.

Voice control for computers are not quite on the same level as that of the USS Enterprise just yet, so you will still have to do your fair share of button clicking and typing, but to have the USS Enterprise webcam hover above your computer screen is definitely a statement of intent, and it tells the rest of the world just which sci-fi series you prefer. The USS Enterprise Starship webcam is a plug and play USB device, and comes with an adjustable flex so that you can set it up easily, while the engine nacelles light up when plugged in with the deflector dish holding the focusable camera for that touch of realism.

[ Star Trek Webcam copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I am quite sure that many of us already own plenty of USB flash drives – not through purchasing them at a shop or something, but because we have attended enough press conferences, conventions and events for exhibitors to hand these out like candy on Halloween. The thing is, we tend to forget just what we store on all of these USB flash drives, and after a while accumulating them takes up space that all we want to do is throw them away. Which leads us to another problem – disposing of USB flash drives in an environmentally friendly manner is rather difficult, which is what led to some folks to think of the Intellipaper USB flash drive.

Basically, the Intellipaper USB flash drive is extremely tiny – far smaller than the stock USB flash drive you see at conventions, and it has another good point about it – since it is as thin as a sheet of card stock, it is also foldable. The good news does not stop there though, as you are able to mail it cheaply as part of a postcard, now how about that? After all, since majority of the drive consists mostly of paper, they can also be binned into the recycling segment instead of being thrown out away like any other regular trash.

The Intellipaper USB flash drive is now an Indiegogo project, where they are aiming to raise up at least $300,000 in order to secure enough funds to deliver its eponymous USB flash drive to the masses. According to company spokesperson Mark Baker, the company has ambition that these tiny drives will be the next Post-it note, and the total cost of it would not be more than that of a rewriteable CD – which means it would be under a dollar each. How does that sound to you for your regular USB flash drive? It would catch fire all too easily though, I’m afraid.

Source
[ Intellipaper USB flash drive goes green copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Have you used a presenter tool before? You know, you stand up in front of the group to pitch your proposal or give your explanation. PowerPoint is queued up and someone hands you that remote looking thing. Your finger grazes the top and BAM! You are suddenly at the last page of your presentation. Then you have to walk to the computer, exit out of presenter mode, start it again. Sort of gets you out of the mood to give your pitch.

Logitech has a perfect portable solution to combine the needs of mousing with presenting. The Logitech Cube, $69.99 at Amazon.com, combines style with functionality. Designed as a travel mouse, it is easy to throw in the computer bag. Built into the button free mouse are left and right clicks plus scroll capability. No more ‘click click click’ of the wheel. Scrolling becomes more like smartphone swiping. Flip the device over to advance slides in presenter mode. The Cube has a power switch built in and uses Logitech’s Unifying® receiver meaning it is small in the USB port and can be synced with other compatible devices. Heads up that there is no laser pointer on the unit though. So it may not be exactly what you need for presenting. But from a portability perspective and with Logitech’s reputation in accessories rest assured you will get a product that performs.

[ Mouse and Presenter in Your Palm copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I know that it is elections fever over here in the US, but if there was a vote opened up for the cutest and most adorable USB hub as well as USB flash drives in the market, chances are I would put my money on the USB Toaster Hub and Drives. You will be able to choose from four different USB flash drive designs of 4GB each – Butta, Crisp, Ry Ry and Tato at £12.99 a pop, while the USB Toaster Hub itself will retail for £17.99.

Heck, the USB Toaster Hub comes with an SD memory card slot to boot for expansion purposes, allowing you to transfer files about and to manage your data right on the spot. Nice to know that the individual USB ‘toasts’ come with their very own character and color, not forgetting to mention different facial expressions. It would be interesting to see how one is going to remember the kind of information stashed away on Tato, Butta, Ry Ry and Crisp. Too bad this is a USB 2.0 product, so it is not exactly future forward, but it will do for the majority of us out there.

[ USB Toaster Hub and Drives copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Love all things to do with the old and new, merged together under the guise of “steampunk”? If you have answered in the affirmative, then you would be pleased to hear that Thinkgeek has made available the $29.99 8GB Steampunk Thumb Drive to the masses. This is definitely a device that looks old school, and yet it delivers modern day storage. Made out of heavy copper-plated metal for that added touch of durability, this is not water resistant, so don’t go soaking it in a tub of water along with the rest of your laundry. At least it comes in a copper-plated metal tin that is wrapped in an old-looking box for that added touch of authenticity and realism.

Each of the Steampunk Thumb Drives will offer up to 8GB of storage space – not an iota more or less. Even better is, since it is covered in copper-plated metal, it ought to be able to jive nicely into just about any other Steampunk costume in your closet. There is even a metal tin which it comes in for storage purposes, and the key ring itself is removable for that added touch of portability. Come to think of it, this does seem to shape up to be a pretty decent Christmas tree ornament, no?

[ 8GB Steampunk Thumb Drive copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]