Gadgets

There are some really good apps for Windows 8 now, but they are still the exception, rather than the rule. Happily, Adobe has launched Photoshop Express to help up the numbers of useful programmes for Windows 8 and RT users. The app, which is free with...

For the most part, we're all happy if we can get Internet that's fast enough to stream some HD video. But faster is always better, and a new, world-record setting network developed in Germany is so blazing fast you wouldn't know what to do with it. It can deliver 10 HD films in a second.Read more...

Lasers, bubbles, edge-tracking, and Daft Punk are all pretty awesome in their own separate ways, but put together, they can put one one hell of a useless, random, but awesome show. Read more...

With much of its information obscured it's hard to say what Google has planned for this new device revealed by its FCC filing, but the model number at least indicates someone has a sense of humor. Called an "H840 device" and rocking the model number H2G2-42 (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - 42, the ultimate answer to the question of life, the universe and everything) it has WiFi of the 802.11 b/g/n varieties, but that's all we know for sure. The natural question is whether this is a proper revamp of / follow up to the failed Nexus Q project, particularly with its appearance coming so closely after the unveiling of its Google Play Music All Access subscription. Of course, Google has no shortage of mysterious device projects in store, we're hopeful this one will reveal all of its secrets soon. Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Google Comments Source: TabletGuide.nl, FCC

Full of delightful details, 'The Birth of a Jedi' by Rob Burden measures 128x88 inches. (Credit: Kickstarter) Do you still have your original "Star Wars" action figures? Mine are tucked away in storage, but looking at Rob Burden's artwork makes me want to dig them out. The San Francisco artist is so obsessed with his old "Star Wars" figures that he does 10-foot-tall oil paintings of them, like "The Birth of a Jedi," above. The works don't portray the characters from the series, but the actual action figures themselves. Now he's taking his passion to new heights on Kickstarter with a $24,000 campaign to produce two enormous 10x14-foot "Star Wars" canvases. The two paintings will depict dozens of "Star Wars" action figures and toys. A character will be the central subject of one, while the other will have a vehicle like the AT-AT Walker or a creature as the focus. Burden wants enthusiasts to vote for which toys are included in the paintings; you can vote on his Facebook page. Related stories ... [Read more]Related Links:

Since Father’s Day is around the corner (all right, so it is sometime in June, but it never hurts to be prepared in advance) and you are sick and tired of thinking of the perfect gift as dad already has numerous ties, shoes, vests, cufflinks, belts, and leather wallets. Is there nothing out of the ordinary that you can give dad to bring a smile to his face? A luxury watch might be a good idea, but it is not unique. Enter the $2,700 Self Balancing Electric Unicycle, where you might have visions of grandeur of Tony Stark’s briefcase suit, as this is a briefcase-sized electric unicycle which allows one to be perfectly balanced at all times thanks to the help of gyroscopic sensors. The Self Balancing Electric Unicycle is suited for both urban commuting as well as suburban recreation, where all you need to do is just to stand on its two folding feet pads. The integrated gyroscopic sensors will be able to detect a rider’s subtle feet movements, all the while taking into consideration a shoulder-slung backpack or bag for its center-of-mass calculations. All you need to do is grip the handlebar and lean forward, resulting in a steady acceleration without jolting, and if you want to slow down or stop, just lean backward. Turning is a snap, where you control it with side-to-side balance and turn around with subtle leaning. The unicycle will be powered by a 500-watt electric motor that can propel a 160-lb. rider up to 13 mph for two hours, and it will take a three-hour charge to juice up its integrated lithium ion rechargeable battery. It certainly seems like a dream ride to have, and I do wonder about the requirements to ride this in public. Urban commuters would definitely find this to be a boon, especially when your destination is just a few blocks down the road. [ Self Balancing Electric Unicycle copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Polaroid might be little more than a licensing brand these days, giving it's name over to products it thinks "fit" with the image, but its new action camera seems like a solid idea that's priced well to compete with other, similar action cameras. Producing...

An interesting week in reviews again with cars, headphones and the mighty Popcorn Hour A-400. There was a time when the Popcorn Hour was the must-have gadget for the home cinema aficionado with a lot of video stored on computers, but these days, things...

Alex James, Brit band Blur's eminent bassist and famed cheese maker, was recently tasked with creating a film to help launch the 2013 Virgin Media Shorts short film competition using just his wits and a Nikon D5200 mid-range DSLR. The result was A Slice...

Stitcher just announced a new car mode for its iPhone app, bringing a simplified interface that works in both portrait and landscape positions. Accessible by tapping the Stitcher logo at the top of the screen, car mode offers a pared-down version of the app's standard UI, with bigger buttons and only the essential audio controls. It's nowhere near as flashy as Stitcher's BMW integration, mind you, but the point is to keep your eyes on the road and off your iPhone's screen. The app gets a few other updates this time around: a front page with top headlines, one-tap access to shows and podcasts you're searching for and improved playback when you're picking up in the middle of a show. Head to the source link below to give the app a spin, and drive safely! Filed under: Software, Mobile Comments Source: Stitcher Blog, Stitcher Radio (iTunes)