I like Augmented Reality as much as the next guy, but sadly, I feel that it is really a special effect that gives only a temporary thrill. It would appear that Zappar, an augmented reality platform, has put this interesting feature on some place where it may not belong, on modern literary classics.

As you can see from the video, you can see this applied on Augmented Reality classics like Moby Dick and Lady Audley’s Secret. You will note that it brings some interesting animations from the cover to life, but shouldn’t we just read the books?

In other words, do we really need the first few lines of Moby Dick put in a whale shape? Does this really make the novel “come to life”?

Yeah, I’m not certain how necessary this is, and it is sadly backed by the big publisher of classic books: Penguin.

This is one of those times where I believe that technology really damages works of literature worse than a “modern telling” of a classic story in movie format.

Source

It would appear that iHome is up to their old tricks with the iP76. This one is pretty cool as it is a Color Changing Speaker Tower. I would imagine that it uses the same basic technology in the iP18, but on a larger scale. The color-changing feature certainly gives a cool mood feeling, but there is another bonus.

The iP76 is also about to sync with a Bluetooth compatible device, so if you can sync it, you can listen to it with Reson8 speakers that have made iHome famous.

Not only can it do these two features, but it is also a way to power up your iPhone and iPod when docked. Just to let you know, this stands at three feet high, so it will be a beautiful feature to your home like the rest of your furniture.

You should be able to purchase the iHome iP76 sometime in July for about $199.99.

Source

The moment I took it out of the box and pressed the “on” button, I could see the light very clearly, and it was very bright out today.

I’m not certain how the 1910 does it with only one AAA battery, but it has a hi-lumen output for some serious shine. All that, from something that is less than a half a foot in length, and it is quite durable.

You should be able to get more information about this on the Pelican site and get a quote as well.

The QF20 is for those who want to quickly download their videos to Facebook, Picasa, or YouTube wirelessly. Your videos will be in 1080p resolution, and, if you need it, it has a 20x zoom.

For those who want a more tough model of camcorder should look into the W300. It can handle a lot of drops and knocks, and it is waterproof up to 15 feet underwater and can handle a 6 foot drop.

The QF20 is available for a price of about $350, while the W300 is about $160.

Source

The Incantor is created by a Rhode Island company known as Movable Code, and it is made for playing a game where waving one’s wand will affect the game. It works with some haptic feedback, and I am guessing that different waves translate to different spells. And you thought that The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker for the GameCube was cool. (Actually, a lot of people say that this game was the worst in the series.)

In all honesty, this isn’t a game I would play in public. As much as I like Harry Potter, you won’t see me carrying around a wand. I don’t know if there are other styles of this wand, but it looks like a heavy metal accessory. I think this would creep out Voldermort.

Well, this is one of those Kickstarter projects, which means you have to pledge some money to get it, and they are looking for your funding.

Source

Having never rode a Segway before, I am told that it works by sort of leaning and thinking about going in the right direction. The UNI-CUB apparently works the same, but there is greater mobility as the user can even go sideways thanks to the omni-directional wheel.

You will notice that the UNI-CUB doesn’t take up as much space as a Segway, your hands are free, and you can put your feet on the floor. The top speed is about 4 km/hr, and the range is about 6 km.

You should see the UNI-CUB sometime in June, but I don’t have any word on the price.

Source

The Powerbreather straps on the swimmer’s face with some elastic material, and the air is inhaled through the back, with water being prevented from entering through the check valve. Air is then exhaled through the mouthpiece, and no stale air is ever inhaled, which can apparently “eliminate the fatigue effects associated with snorkel use”.

Yeah, I pretty much took that last part from my Source. I think this shows how little that I know about snorkeling. I personally like that you can swim without having to swivel your neck, which is a very cool way to live in the water.

Sadly, there is no word on price or availability, but as we head into summer, I could use something like this.

Source

However, let’s get more original. I can’t help but think of old episodes of the Inspector Gadget cartoon as I see this man use the “call me” sign to actually make a phone call.

There are two things about this Glove One that I like. First of all, the numbers are on the fingers themselves. Second, it is possible to print the plastic joints with a 3D printer so you can build your own Glove One. Third, it is just plain cool.

Now, here is what I don’t like: I can’t seem to find any place to actually buy a Glove One. Apparently, this is an “art project” designed by Bryan Cera. My Source says that “it is both the literalization of Sherry Turkle’s notion of technology as a phantom limb, in how we augment ourselves through an ambivalent reliance on it, as well as a celebration of the freedom we seek in our devices”.

Some people might respond “whatever” to that. I think this is really interesting.

Source 1 and Source 2

Case-Mate must be celebrating Earth Day too early or too late, as it is one of the most ecological things that I have ever seen. They are made of 100 percent recycled post-consumer PET bottles, and one recycled bottle equals one iPhone case.

As you can see, the cases come in a variety of colors like pink, orange, green, blue, black, and white. They will be sold for about $30 each, which has to be an upgrade from the soda and water bottle that it was before.

As much as I applaud this recycling program, I can’t help but notice that we will run out of iPhones before we recycle all the soda and water bottles.

Source

The tech is getting better, like the Pop Video pico projector for the iPhone. However, the Franhofer microprojectors are very different as the projection screen is touch sensitive on any surface.

How can it do this? This lens on the projector is apparently based on an insect’s compound eye, which has “a wafer of tiny LEDs that can twist and turn depending on position”.

With infrared beams, you can tap, swipe, and select items. Yes, just imagine sharing apps on your smartphone on the wall! Yeah, I’m loving this age we are living in, and this company will display this system this month. I would love to see it sometimes.

Source