Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It’s free!
Ever been in a movie theater and have that extremely childish person in the back with that laser? The movie begins to be ruined by his childish pointing out of private parts on the actors. This could be you. Why not do it in style with colors never seen in movie theaters before? Laserglow.com presents the Aries Series Professional Portable Laser. Starting at just $389 you can have your very own green, yellow or red laser. For only $789 (sale price) you can get the Aries-150, which can be seen up to 8 miles away. Go get your point on.
Read More 
| Laserglow.com via Gizmodo
At some point in time, everyone has been locked out of their home at least once. It’s a frustrating feeling as you stand there pondering what part of your domicile to break (window, door?) to gain admittance. To avoid this kind of scenario, Tychi Systems presents the BioKnob. The BioKnob works on the principle of biometrics in that it uses your fingerprint for verification. The BioKnob will allow up to 100 users to be programmed for entry and uses a rechargeable battery that lasts for approximately 1000 openings. When battery power gets low (less than 50 entries left), the knob will alert the user who can then plug an AC adapter into it for charging. Additional features include the support of temporary users, choice of two colors, and adaptibility to practically any standard door. Sounds like a great product as long as Tychi Systems has taken steps to counteract the Play-Doh problem wherein biometric devices could be fooled 90% of the time with a fake, Play-Doh finger. No word yet on pricing or availability.
Read More | Tychi Systems via Gizmag
Advertisement
Balloon Powered Cellular Service
Posted by John Goulden Categories: Smartphones, Misc. Tech, Wireless / WiFi,
If you live in the middle of nowhere (North Dakota in this case), and have little to no signal for your cellular service, then Extend America and Space Data Corporation may have the answer to your needs - balloons. Of course we’re not talking the type of balloons that get tied up into colorful little animals at birthday parties, but large, 6 foot diameter balloons that will reach up to 20 miles into the atmosphere as they carry their radio transponders. As the balloons go up, and the atmospheric pressure goes down, the hydrogen-filled balloons will expand to around 30 feet in diameter. As many as nine balloons will be aloft at once with some on their way up as others are descending. Once the balloon leaves the state the radio package will jettison, and via it’s built-in parachute, will float gently to the ground where a radio signal will alert searchers to it’s location. Extend America CEO Ed Schafer admits the idea sounds crazy (why yes it does) but says “...it works in the lab”. Gee, that’s encouraging.
Read More | Yahoo News via Phone Scoop
Latest Gear Live Videos
So there you are, trying to decide what to get for your loved one this Valentine’s Day, and the thought hits you that a flower with your picture on it would be just swell. Now, how do you go about accomplishing this feat? Enter our beloved Asian brethren to save the day. The aptly named “Flower Printer,” allows you to print a graphic image of your choice on a flower. Yes, apparently a real, live flower. The details are sketchy, but for a mere $1250 you too can
impress the person you hold dearest with a personalized flower just for them.
Read More | Compact Impact via Gearlog
Destination Floor Guidance System to End Crowded Elevators
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Misc. Tech, Software,
We’ve all been there at some point in our lives. Usually it happens when you need it the most - a job interview, doctor’s appointment, a date, etc. Crowded elevators suck royally. Destination Floor Guidance System is trying to end our crowded, slow elevator woes by intelligently grouping people together. People going to the same floors will likely be in same elevator due to smart kiosks located where the passengers board. The elevators will better serve the building after some time, since the kiosks use historical data to their advantage by strategically stationing elevators near certain floors at their peak times. The elevator is already in use at the Metropolitan Park West Tower in downtown Seattle and is planned to debut in New York at the new New York Times Building next. While this is a real innovation in helping high-traffic buildings, I hope that we start shooting into pressurized tunnels in the near future.
Read More | The Enquirer via Gizmodo
Thank goodness for acronyms…SWORDS, short for “Special Weapons Observation Remote Direct-Action System” are robots able to carry a large variety of weaponry (M-16, M-2, M-240, etc.) into battle. The robots are based on the EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) Talon platform, also made by Foster-Miller, of which 250 are currently deployed in the field. Because of the similarities between the two platforms, they can share parts
and more easily plot the takeover of the world
which makes battlefield repair a less onerous task. Although they bear a resemblance to a chopped down Johnny-5, the Talons are not capable of autonomous action, and are remote controlled from a safe distance. Therefore there’s no fear of Skynet-controlled robots running rampant against their human creators…yet.
Read More | Foster-Miller via Gizmag
This is a conversation starter on the green. A solar powered golf bag that allows you to charge your favorite devices on it.
...it comes with charging points for over 250 cellphones, Smartphones and PDAs.
I’d end up taking a Powerbook, find an Internet connection, log the weather conditions, and figure out the best way to improve my handicap. Then I’d realize that I’m more of a geek than a golfer. Sigh.
Read More | Soldius via Gizmodo
File this under “what in the heck?!”. A Japanese company has developed what is essentially an endoscope for home use called the Earscope GXL. The device is designed to allow you to see inside your ears as you clean them. Ignoring what we’ve heard all our lives about never sticking anything inside our ears, the Earscope will provide you a larger-than-life view of your eardrum seconds before you pierce it. Other uses for the Earscope abound and we’ll just leave those up to your imagination. Videos of the Earscope in action can be had for your viewing
disgust
pleasure
amusement on Coden’s website.
Sometimes the best ideas are the most simple ones. Thumbthing allows you to hold you book open with one finger - guess which. The best part is that it also leads a double life as a bookmark - something I find myself always looking for. For a measly $2.95 you can own this genius piece of molded plastic. I recommend using this only for paperback novels. We used it with our encyclopedia and got a killer carpal tunnel cramp. Ouch.
Read More | ABC Stuff via Cool Hunting
MII Flashcam Tactical Flashlight
Posted by John Goulden Categories: Cameras, Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
Apparently nothing is sacred anymore. Take the humble flashlight for example. A ubiquitous device, the flashlight as we know it has its origins in 1896. Along the way it has received various upgrades - LED technology and magnetic induction come to mind. However, the core idea of a simple object that spits out light on demand, has remained the same - until now. Enter the MII Flashcam - an 85,000 candlepower LED flashlight that adds the ability to record audio/video as well as take digital still shots. For covert operations it has a ring of infrared LED’s to light up your subject, and all video can be viewed on it’s 1.5” TFT-LCD. For storing your audio and video the Flashcam has 1GB of integrated memory which will allow for up to 2 hours of footage. Seeing as how the Flashcam is being marketed toward the law enforcement industry, it comes as no surprise that the light is shock resistant (handy when the need arises for incapacitating a fugitive). If you can afford it ($2,500) the MII Flashcam can be yours, but don’t expect to be allowed the privilege to record audio unless you’re a member of law enforcement. Video functionality on the other hand is seemingly “a-ok” regardless of who the purchaser is.
Read More | MII Flashcam via Ubergizmo
