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!
Shure Introduces E500PTH Sound-Isolating Earphones
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Misc. Tech, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
Shure has finally released their E500PTH sound-isolating earphones. These earphones actually consist of 3 speakers in each ear. Both ergonomically designed and lightweight, the triple Hi-Definition Drivers, one tweeter and two woofers, claim richer highs and lows with sound isolating sleeves that block over 90% of ambient noise.
The included Push-To-Hear control activates a VoicePort microphone that lets you carry on your conversation without removal. Two cables, 9” and 3’, allow the E500PTH to be utilized both at home and beyond. With a price of $499.00, it might be a good idea to test them at your local retailers or try the online demo on Shure’s site. An accessories kit with 1/4” adapter, level attenuator, and carrying case is also available.
These earphones were actually road-tested by professional musicians. What better test could there be than allowing aurally-challenged heavy metal performers to try them?
Read More 
| Shure E500PTH Product Page
If you live in an area with long winters and tend to hibernate, or if you spend most of your time in the basement with your ‘puter, you might suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Symptoms include depression, low energy, irritabilty, carb cravings (!), low concentration ability, insomnia, even social withdrawal and reduced libido.
The Litebook may be the answer to your problem. It uses bright light therapy which involves regular (usually daily) exposure to an artificial light source at an accepted therapeutic intensity (> 2,500 lux). Exposure duration and distance from the source are set within certain limits.
Specifications:
- Size: 6” x 5” x 1” (15cm x 12.5cm x 2.5cm)
- Weight: 8oz. (225g)
- Impact-resistant ABS plastic injection-molded case
- Operates on AC (110-240v) and DC power with optional Adapter
- Low power consumption
- No UV Radiation
- UL certified
- Power adapter cord length 6’ (180cm)
The Litebook will become available this October at a MSRP of £199.00 (~$375.00). A battery recharger is also available for £235.00 (~$442.00). Occasional mild side-effects may occur, including headaches, a ‘stinging’ sensation in the eyes, and nausea, but we think that beats a 20-bags-of-Cheetos-a-day habit.
Read More | Litebook Product Page
Advertisement
HydraCoach Interactive Water Bottle
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,
“The HydraCoach Thinks While You Drink.” Such is the claim of Sportline, the makers of the HydraCoach “interactive” water bottle. It tracks your fluid consumption and calculates your “personal hydration needs.” We didn’t even know we possessed such needs. We just assume that when we get thirsty, we drink water.
Other Product Capabilities:
- Paces an individual to ensure hydration goals are met.
- Monitors and motivates an individual to stay properly hydrated.
“With the launch of the world’s first ‘intelligent’ water bottle, we intend to revolutionize the water bottle and hydration industry,” said Brian Anderson, president of Sportline. “The benefits of proper hydration are sought after by athletes, fitness and outdoor enthusiasts, people trying to lose weight, the elderly, individuals on medication, and everyone who is generally health conscious.”
The HydraCoach goes on sale in December with a MSRP of $29.99. That’s big bucks for a bottle of water. We are thinking of substituting tequila to see how it calculates those personal hydration needs.
Read More | Hydracoach Product Page
Latest Gear Live Videos
Winebot, Pass The Wine and Cheese
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys,
NEC and Mie University have teamed up in Japan to create the 2-foot Winebot, a cute little bugger that can not only discern good wine from bad, it can also name the brand and suggest a cheese.
“There are all kinds of robots out there doing many different things,” said Hideo Shimazu, director of the NEC System Technology Research Laboratory and a joint-leader of the robot project. “But we decided to focus on wine because that seemed like a real challenge.”
Speaking in an underage voice, the robot names the brand and adds a comment to its taste. It can also be programmed to recognize wine that its owner prefers. Because of its ability to analyze the chemical composition of wine or food placed next to it, it could caution its owner about such health-related factors as fat or salt content.
Winebot doesn’t come cheap. “Buying one of these would cost about as much as a new car,” Shimazu said. “We’d like to bring that down to 100,000 yen ($1,000) or less for the tasting sensor if we were to put it on the market.”
We figure that if you can afford the wine and cheese, you can afford the Winebot.
Read More | USA Today
Miuro iPod Dock
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video, Toys, Wireless / WiFi,
There are all kinds of toys for your iPod, but this one wins an originality prize in our book. Japanese company ZMP (in collaboration with Kenwood) today announced its new iPod dock, Miuro. Clip your iPod onto the top of Miuro and let the musical fun begin. This 9 pound, 14” wide bot can be programmed to literally follow you around the house or just let it do its pre-programmed “wild thang”. It can also stream music from your PC wirelessly.
Miuro is available in 4 colors and will become available in the U.S. later this year. Sold separately are various options such as a camera and sensors to keep it from running into your cat. At the hefty price of $930, you really have to love your iPod to buy it a pet like this.
Read More | The Raw Feed via Miuro Product Page
JCB Diesel-Powered Car shatters Land Speed Record
Posted by Yuan Zhao Categories: Misc. Tech, Transportation,
A car - though it looks more like a wingless plane - built by JCB Dieselmax has shattered the previous diesel engine land speed record of 236 mph (380km/h). The vehicle definitely did it’s thing, reaching an average speed of 328.767 mph (529 km/h) during two runs in Utah, USA. The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile confirmed the tests on Tuesday, and an attempt to surpass the new record will be made on Wednesday.
Read More | BBC News
Dualjack Offers Wireless 2.4GHz Wireless Extension
Posted by Nino Marchetti Categories: Misc. Tech, Wireless / WiFi,
RTX America is out today with a telephone line extender which reportedly offers wireless support for voice, fax and data throughout the home. The new Dualjack is priced at $89.99 and should be available now.
The RTX Dualjack functions through use of wireless 2.4GHz technology. One plugs a phone line into the base station, followed by plugging that base station into an electric socket. A companion Dualjack unit is plugged into a wall socket in other part of the home, followed by plugging a telephone line into it from a device such as a fax machine or Tivo. Up to four extension units can be supported.
Read More | RTX Dualjack Product Info
Segway today introduced their next generation of Personal Transporters via the introduction of the $4,995 on-street i2 and $5,495 off-road x2. The i2 is available now, while the x2 will be out next month.
The Segway i2 and x2, said their maker, offer a new riding technology called LeanSteer, which reportedly allows the rider to control all aspects of movement via the direction he moves his body. The design of the new Segways as well as its software differentiate between the rider’s steering and changes in the terrain, keeping the rider in a “stable and comfortable position” at all times.
Also new with the Segaway design is a new wireless “InfoKey” which turns the people mover device on as well as setting the riding speed (which tops at 12.5mph); displaying the speedometer, odometer, trip computer, and battery gauge; and acting as a security system to alert an owner when someone is trying to steal the Segway.
Read More | Segway Product Info
Oregon Scientific is out with a nifty looking weather station designed by “the world renown Stefano Giovannoni”. The Giovannoni Weather Station is priced at $150.
The Giovannoni Weather Station offers its owners a graphical weather forecast with self setting atomic clock and alarm. Other features on this stylish weather station include indoors and five channels outdoor temperature and humidity, a rotary dial for navigation, support for five languages and display of the day and month. It uses 4 AA batteries for its power source.
Read More | Oregon Scientific Giovannoni Weather Station Info via I4U News
‘Nanodog’ to Sniff Out Bombs at Airports
Posted by Dave White Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
Just when you thought you were caught up on airport security comes a report out of the U.K. of a sniffing dog so small you can’t see him with your own eyes. Actually, it’s not a dog at all. It’s more like a gadget. Okay, it’s a nano sensor that is being developed by a team of scientists at the University of Wales. They’re just calling it a “nanodog” because of what it does: It “sniffs” for explosives at a level that a live dog can’t match, one part per trillion. That renders useless even the most clever bomb-hiding methods and devices.
Read More | icWales via Engadget
