gizmos vs gadgets: 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Touch Screen Heart Rate Watch

Published on Coolest Gadgets | shared via feedly

Marking your workout’s progress can be quite a chore, but then again, I supposed if you have the discipline to work out each day without having to drag yourself out of bed, keeping track of your health record should not be too hard to do. The $99.99 Touch Screen Heart Rate Watch might help you out here, where it enables easy monitoring of your heart rate in order to maintain and improve on your cardio intensity target.

Basically, the Touch Screen Heart Rate Watch delivers an accurate reading to you without the need to wear an uncomfortable chest strap, and neither do you need to fiddle around with a wide range of function buttons while ensuring your activity level remains at the same, high intensity pace. All you need to do is touch The Touch Screen Heart Rate Watch’s bezel, and within seconds, you will be able to see what your current heart rate is. The LCD display is a snap to read, and it also doubles up as a watch, calendar and stopwatch. Love exercising at dusk? Fret not, there is a light-up display to help you there. Since the New Year is tonight, why not make a resolution and sweat away those pounds in 2012, with the help of the Touch Screen Heart Rate Watch?

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[ Touch Screen Heart Rate Watch copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Windows Phone Marketplace passes 50,000 apps, starts to gain steam

Published on IntoMobile | shared via feedly

Windows Phone passed a very important milestone for the platform this week, as there are now 50,000 apps in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Though still far behind iOS and Android in terms of number of apps and market share of app downloads, Windows Phone is beginning to prove itself as a capable operating system in today’s complex smartphone market.

What’s very interesting is the short amount of time in which all these apps are being added to the Windows Phone Marketplace. Over 17,000 apps — roughly one-third of all Windows Phone apps — were added to the Marketplace in the last 90 days. On average, 265 new apps make it into the store each day and the most popular categories of apps on Windows Phone are entertainment, games, tools/productivity, and books/reference. Combined, they represent 57 percent of all Windows Phone apps.

The Windows Phone Marketplace is seeing tremendous growth in a relatively short amount of time, considering it’s been on the market for over a year now. Nowadays, a thriving app ecosystem is crucial to the success of a mobile platform, and I’d say the once desperate Microsoft is on its way to having a credible ecosystem in Windows Phone.

The “Windows Phone problem” has been a hot topic recently, with many concerned about the slow growth of the operating system even when reviews are generally quite positive. Is poor marketing to blame? Is Microsoft’s business strategy to blame? Carriers promote Android handsets as much as possible, so are they to blame? No one really has an answer yet, but with news of the speedy increase in Windows Phone apps lately and strong hardware from Nokia, maybe we’re jumping to conclusions too quickly.

What do you think?

[via All About Windows Phone]

Windows Phone Marketplace passes 50,000 apps, starts to gain steam originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-12-27T20:12:02Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

AmazonBasics bluetooth keyboard is highly portable for low price

Published on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog | shared via feedly

I am a big advocate of the iPad as a portable computer which can satisfy most of the needs of most computer users most of the time. Combine the iPad with a keyboard, and it becomes even easier to use. The only downside has been the cost. The Apple Wireless Keyboard sells for $69, and is pretty expensive for most people. However, before now, I didn't know of a less expensive alternative that I would recommend to people.

The AmazonBasics Bluetooth Keyboard for Apple iPad, iPhone changed that. It is a low-profile keyboard with solid key action. It is almost half the price (currently US$37.30, but I've seen it as low as $29.99), slightly narrower, and feels lighter (it uses two AAA batteries compared to the Apple keyboard's two AA batteries). It does not feel as "solid" as the Apple Keyboard.

The top row of function keys have several which are labeled for different features: Spotlight search, play/pause, forward/reverse, volume up/down/mute. One even serves as a "keyboard" button to use to toggle the on-screen keyboard, and there's a Delete key for those who aren't satisfied with Backspace. On the back, there is an on/off switch and a button to initiate pairing with new devices.

Speaking of devices, while the item description lists the iPad and iPhone, it will also work with the iPod touch. In fact, it should work with any Bluetooth-enabled device. The iOS-specific elements are (as far as I can tell), just the aforementioned labels on the function keys.

The only (potential) drawback is that the keyboard layout is slightly smaller and there are a few layout changes. Apple's Wireless Keyboard is the same configuration and size as a MacBook, which makes it easier to go back and forth between typing on a Mac and an iPad. Obviously this won't be an issue for everyone.

You don't need a keyboard for an iPad, but if you decide that you want one, the AmazonBasics Bluetooh Keyboard is light, thin and easy to slip into a bag. The power switch keeps if from activating in your bag, but most importantly, it feels good while typing. All of that for about half of what you'd pay for Apple's Bluetooth keyboard.

AmazonBasics bluetooth keyboard is highly portable for low price originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Fingerprint Recognizing Espresso Machine

Published on Coolest Gadgets | shared via feedly

Are you a coffee lover? Well, if you have answered in the affirmative, then here is something which you might just want to check out, especially if you happen to share the same house with others who have an equal (or more) love of caffeine as with you. After all, those living under the same roof as you might want to use your expensive Italian coffee machine, so it makes perfect sense for you to enhance your passion with the $3,200 Fingerprint Recognizing Espresso Machine, as you will learn in the paragraph below.

This is one unique espresso machine which is capable of scanning your fingertip so that it will know just how to churn out the kind of drink that you like. Made in Italy as well, it will make the correct kind of drink associated with the fingerprint scanned. This is a fully automatic machine that is capable of generating 15 bar of pressure and pre-infuses the coffee grinds with water so that it can extract rich, complex coffee with a thick crema. There is also an integrated ceramic burr grinder which sports eight coarseness settings, where it grinds coffee only for the drink being made so that freshness remains at an optimal level. It can stash up to half a dozen fingerprints and drink profiles in its database.

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[ Fingerprint Recognizing Espresso Machine copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Monday, December 26, 2011

How To Set Up Your Brand New iPad 2

Published on Gizmodo | shared via feedly

Well look at that. Someone truly loves you. Or they're trying to buy your love. Either way, a shiny new iPad 2 is currently siting in your lap. I think you just won [insert holiday of choice here]. More »

All the Apps Your New Phone or Tablet Needs Right Now

Published on Gizmodo | shared via feedly

Congratulations on your new iPhone/iPad/Android/Windows Phone! You must have a been a good boy or girl. In fact, you've been so good that you may as well treat yourself to some of the very best apps that'll make your shiny new gadget sing. More »

Sunday, December 25, 2011

The First iPad Stylus With an On-Screen Cursor

Published on Gizmodo | shared via feedly

Billed as an "active stylus" for the iPad, the iPen can be recognized by the tablet even when the tip hovers above the display. Allowing for improved stylus accuracy, but also facilitating an on-screen cursor. More »

gizmos vs gadgets

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Touch Screen Heart Rate Watch

Related Posts:

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Windows Phone Marketplace passes 50,000 apps, starts to gain steam

AmazonBasics bluetooth keyboard is highly portable for low price

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Fingerprint Recognizing Espresso Machine

Related Posts:

Monday, December 26, 2011

How To Set Up Your Brand New iPad 2

All the Apps Your New Phone or Tablet Needs Right Now

Sunday, December 25, 2011

The First iPad Stylus With an On-Screen Cursor

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