To address these growing demands for electric consumption, we will cover seventeen innovative gadgets that are not just useful and practical but have less impact on the environment with their use of sunlight as the main power source.

A touchscreen solar-powered phone called “Blue Earth” has been unveiled by Samsung Electronics. Slated to be released in the latter part of this year, this mobile phone is made from a recycled plastic called PCM, which is recycled from plastic water bottles. The phone is designed to symbolize a flat and well rounded shiny pebble. It is the first such phone to the market and charges up via the solar panel on the back of the phone, which is designed to generate enough power to make a call anytime.

Adding to those green credentials, both the handset and its charger are free from harmful substances such as Brominated Flame Retardants, Beryllium and Phthalate. Its phone features like Bluetooth settings, screen brightness, and backlight duration can be adjusted in an energy-saving mode called “Eco mode”. Other eco-friendly phone features include a built-in-pedometer which calculates how much CO2 emissions have been reduced by walking as opposed to taking the car. Detailed specifications and pricing information of this new mobile green advocate are due to be released prior to its market availability in the next few months.

Suntrica Solar Strap is a charging solution that gathers solar energy by the high-efficiency and flexible solar panel and store the energy into an internal lightweight battery, with a capacity of storing 3.7 Wh, for instant or later usage. It is a lightweight, flexible and wearable solar panel that can be integrated with any clothing designed for harsh outdoor use. When folded it only measures 144 x 97 x 25 mm and weighs only 60 grams.

It is capable of charging up any gadget that runs on 5V or less, such as your usual MP3 players, mobile phones, game consoles, GPS devices, digital camera and other personal gadgets. This gadget is a high-quality response to the mobile consumer electronics’ charging challenge in developing markets having limited access to electricity. For pricing information you may contact its manufacturer - Suntrica, the leader in flexible and high-efficiency solar charging solutions.

Planned to be released in the latter part of this year, the Chromasun air conditioner contains photovoltaic and solar thermal technology that harvest light and heat from the sun. Using a combination of mirrors, receivers and concentrators, the unit is able to offer better efficiency than of traditional solar cells. It uses less silicon than a conventional solar system with the same power rating because it uses Fresnel concentrated lens as part of the thermal system.

The solar air conditioner system generates electricity from the solar cells and it doesn’t require copious volumes of water or huge arrays of solar panels. With its promise that it will change the way you think about rooftop solar, this innovative gadget is out to deliver a good alternative to cool your hot evenings.

The solar lawn mower robot (RBZG001), designed for commercial and home use, with solar energy and network technology, is a truly innovative product available in the market today. It uses solar power to charge itself while its network technology has a stable and strong force to move, trim the grass and climb the slopes.

The mower features technology such as high intelligence of image identification, telenet video inspection, and automatic function of identifying route, avoiding obstacle, stopping sliding from slope, spraying scrapes while working or collecting scrapes at planned location. No pricing information is available as of the moment, but I’m sure it won’t be so cheap for frugal buyers.

Cost of maintaining a pool can’t be that expensive with the introduction of this innovative product. The Solar Breeze skimmer is a simple pool cleaning device that floats on the surface of the pool removing the light debris, such as dust, bugs, pollen and light leaf litter, before it sinks. Since it uses solar energy to power the cleaner, it doesn’t need to be plugged in or require you to keep feeding it batteries.

With a price tag of only $450, you can enjoy cleaning the pool with no extra cost and the skimmer can also be useful with dispense chemicals into the pool to save running your pool’s pump all day, saving you money on your energy bills.

Listening to your MP3 player while on your beach when suddenly it ran out of battery? Worry no more because someone has invented a solution that will enable us to use our gadget while enjoying the summer outdoors. And that is where Powerbrella comes to the picture.

Powerbrella contains solar panels on top of the umbrella which gathers solar energy to power up your gadget. With outlets at the bottom, you can easily charge your mobile phone, watch with your portable DVD player or enjoy the music with your speakers while chilling in the beach.

Designed by Hyun-Joong Kim and Kwang-Seok Jeong, innovative and slick sunglasses can now keep your MP3 player or other device fully charged. These “Self-Energy Converting Sunglasses” uses lenses which have dye solar cells that collect energy and making it able to power your small devices through the power jack at the back of the frame.

The power-generating glasses are composed of a “cheap organic dye that uses nano technology to provide cheap but high energy efficiency.” With the lens turning the sunlight rays into electrical energy, makes your reliable eyewear on dual purpose – not just protecting your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun but can also keep you use your personal gadget at the same time.

With modern warfare properly utilizing technology, new gadgets have been formulated for surveillance and espionage, as information played a big role in securing victory in the battle. And one of them is known as COM-BAT. It is a six-inch robotic spy plane modeled after a bat would gather data from sights, sounds, and smells in urban combat zones and transmit information back to a soldier in real time.

With its small size, limited battery power is not a problem as its uses solar, wind and vibration energies to recharge its battery. With its low-power miniaturized radar and a very sensitive navigation system, it can always find its way at night. The Solar spy craft is also designed to function as sharply and as astutely as the real creature itself.

Inventor Knut Karlsen has recently came up with his approach of portable power and this result to the introduction of SunCat, a battery which is capable of charging itself when exposed to sunlight. SunCat C-cells are wrapped in flexible photovoltaic panels and it will slowly recharge when left in the sun.

Integrating 1.8V flexible photovoltaic cells with 1.5NiMH rechargeable batteries with a conductive silver pen and a few flat wires slowly charges the battery and it can be left attached indefinitely without overcharging. These rechargeable batteries eliminate charges completely by integrating solar cells within the battery.

Maintain connectivity with your PDA or mobile devices with this portable solar charger designed by TechieFriends. It encases an 1800mAh battery pack which can be recharged either through a USB port on your computer, wall outlet, your car’s cigarette lighter or simply the sun. With its light weight of 3.28 oz and dimensions of 2.16 inches in width and 4.13 inches in height, you can easily carry this device wherever you go.

It also includes multiple connectors for different devices such as cell phone, iPhone, iPod, PSP, DS Lite or virtually any other electronic device you can think of. This cool gadget enables you to leave all your bulky cables and chargers at home as it universally does the job of them all.

Created and designed by Vivien Muller, a Photosynthesis solar tree is a lego-like little bonsai tree which consists of 54 mini photovoltaic panels as its leaves. With the solar energy soaking up the juice of the tree, you can easily charge any of your personal gadgets by attaching the adapters tucked beneath the nice little tray of the tree. This object is made of several modules fitted together by a 3.5 jack connector.

You can rotate each part individually and produce an endless number of different shapes. With its aesthetic and innovative design it provides alternative source of energy in powering up your latest tool and being decorative at the same time. Maybe in the future we can expect planting rows of life-sized of these solar tree chargers in urban settings to power street lamps and such.

Q-Sound headphones is one gadget that definitely makes the most of days when the sun is beating down on your head. Its silicon solar cells are placed directly on the user’s crown, making it efficiently absorb valuable rays for powers. It also incorporates Bluetooth technology which allows the user to sync their Bluetooth enabled device, such as digital media player or mobile phone, for some wireless sound action. Not only the user can listen to the music but he or she can also take phone calls. A 3.5 mm jack is also included so the user can use a wired connection if Bluetooth is not available.

Designed by Shepeleff Stepehen, this gadget can provide the user with 2.67 hours of running time with one hour exposure to sunlight and it can hold a forty hour charge with its two removable NiMH batteries. With its futuristic design, Q-Sound headphones not only ensure that music enjoyment is energy-efficient, but also projection of detached cool won’t be compromised.

The introduction of netbook in the computer market gave the computer geeks the luxury of mobility and a solar-powered netbook would be a great bonus. A European technology iUnika perfected the technology and developed a solar-powered netbook known as GYY. Because it is an eco-friendly gadget, it’s not much powerful but it still has a decent specs. It sports 128 MB RAM, 64 GB SSD drive, 400 MHz speed and Linux operating system.

This 8-inch netbook, with a whooping 800 x 400 resolution, and weighing only 700 grams really embodies what mobility is about. No need to carry portable chargers, as it can be charged through sunlight saving a lot of cost of electricity! It is initially available in the European market for a cheap price of 160 Euros (or roughly $200).

The Voltaic Generator is the first solar bag powerful enough, which is able to harvest solar power to charge a laptop with less than a day’s worth of sun rays. It features high efficiency solar panels that are able to generate up to 15 watts of power, enough to juice up the entire Voltaic battery within 5 hours.

The generator bag includes common adaptors for easily connecting laptops, mobile phones and other handheld devices. It also provides USB and car charger outlets for alternative power connection. The bag’s fabric is made from recycled PET (or soda bottles), making it not just tough and water resistant but a total eco-friendly product.

The Solar Underground Pest Deterrent is definitely an avid gardener and environment-friendly one dream product. This cost-efficient device won’t harm the environment in any way since it comes with a built-in solar panel. Made of waterproof anodized aluminum spikes, it emits sonic vibrations every 30 seconds that irritate burrowing pests, including moles, voles and gophers, and compel them to disperse.

With 4 sq. inch solar panel, it charges an integrated battery during the day even in low light and overcast conditions enabling the device to operate both day and night. It only needs three hours of full sunlight conditions to fully charge the battery which can operate for up to eight hours. This device is not only eco-friendly but also saves you a lot of garden-worries because you never know what kind of underground pests you’re going to run into.

Designed for users who need lightweight and portable power for laptop, mobile and satellite phones, GPS units and other handheld device, Powerfilm Foldable Solar Blanket can handle almost any charging need. Chargers can be combined with standard Powerfilm accessories for even more applications. Because of its thin flexible solar panels, the foldaway solar charger is very lightweight and compact yet extremely powerful. It is designed to be UV and weather resistant to handle diverse environment.

Powerfilm Solar Blanket is not just your ordinary portable solar charger. It operates at 15.4 V and powers up to 60 Watts making it a perfect companion for the world class mountaineers on their trek to Mount Everest. With their behind the scenes <a href=”http://macenstein.com/default/archives/3737″>video</a>  they showed how the portable solar charger keeps their MacBook Pro powered up in the absence of electricity.

Solar MP4 is not just an ordinary mobile media device which plays MP3, WMV and MP4 files but it also does what every child-at-heart is yearning – portable gaming. This powerful emulator can let you play from three classic Nintendo system - NES/Famicom, Gameboy and Gameboy Color titles, as long as the ROMs are placed in an SD card. You can forget spending a lot on batteries because it has solar panels which charge the handheld with sunlight exposure to play up to 4 hours from a complete charge.

It features 3.5 color display and 2GB built-in memory with an SD slot for expandable storage. Aside from its gaming capability, this handheld beast can also store E-books (which it can read aloud to you), voice recorder and a built-in LED flashlight. And the best part is – it has USB port which can be used to share the power, collected from solar charging, to other handheld device. For only $120, this portable total media device is perfect for a Nintendo-loving outdoors man.

We are giving away an iPhone 3G S every month for the next three months. A random winner will be chosen once a month. The winners will be announced on our website, and on @HottestGadgets on Twitter.

Here at TheHottestGadgets.com, we really appreciate all the support we’ve had from our millions of viewers. So we decided it would be good to give some thanks back to all the people who love what we do.

We know how much you gadget lovers love the new iPhone, so we’re giving away free iPhone 3G S gift cards, which you can use to get your own brand new iPhone 3G S.

You can enter to win for free, all you have to is follow the three easy steps below.

1. Subscribe to our RSS feeds. (or Subscribe via email using the link at the top right of this page)
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3. Click here to send out a tweet that has @HottestGadgets included in it.

The first winner will be announced July 30th, 2009. Stay tuned to our blog, or our twitter page to find out if you are a winner.

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• No purchase is necessary to enter (It is free). Simply follow the 3 steps above.

For the full details, check out our official rules page for more info. Good luck!

1. Minority Report Style Gesture Based Computers

This one has been mentioned several times before, and there are plenty of videos showcasing the different advancements in touch/gesture-based computing. All you have to do is Google “minority report computer interface” and you’ll get many hits, including a TED conference video demonstrating different applications for the technology. Find out more here from PopSci.

2. Magnetically Tethered Flying Vehicles


Yes. Just yes. According to Gizmodo, researchers at Cornell have been playing with superconductors and permanent magnets. They’re looking to use this to keep spacecraft tethered together without touching just like the pod racers in Star Wars. Fast forward a few years though, and we’ve got ourselves magnetically tethered advanced spacecraft.

3. Universal Translator


Obviously this won’t translate alien languages, but it will translate almost any language in the world on the fly, back and forth. We have our handy Mr. Ray Kurweil, futurist, inventor extraordinaire to thank for this. Check out his universal translator.

4. Heat Rays/Ray Guns


H.G. Wells was the originator of this concept over 100 years ago in his novel War of the Worlds. Since then, heat rays have been a staple of Sci-Fi films and TV shows. No longer is it science fiction, however, since the military has been testing its own heat ray. They claim the rays do no permanent damage, but make you feel as if your skin is burning. Check out this other ray gun the military has in production and is supposedly testing in Iraq. Image via Daylife.

5. Ion Thrusters

These guys have been the propellers for every spaceship since who knows when. And we can only dream until we’re able to hit warp speed. Until then, check out NASA’s Deep Space 1, which was launched over 10 years ago in 1998 which uses ion thrusters to propel itself to speeds upwards of 88,000 mph. This spacecraft uses a cathode to fire high-energy electrons into a propellant, converting atoms into positively-charged ions by kicking off electrons.

6. Video Phone Watch

How many times have we seen James Bond talking to his wrist? Now you can do it too. Enter the LG GD910 3G Watch Phone. They introduced this one at CES 2009. You can check out a video review of it over here, and check out plenty of photos here.

7. Invisibility Cloak

For all you Harry Potter fans, this one’s for you. It’s been several years that Japanese scientists at the University of Tokyo have been working on a real-life invisibility cloak. Their results have been promising. Even more so, scientists at Duke University made claims about 5 months ago that “within six months it’s certainly viable” to have a working model and cloak visible light. Check out this article for more info. Also, National Geographic posted a great article late last year.

8. The Iron Man Suit

Who wouldn’t give anything for a suit that gives you superhuman strength, supersonic flight capabilities, the smartest AI visor ever, and most of all, style? The Iron Man suit is still many moons away, but this is a step in the right direction. Inventor Steve Jacobsen and his company Sarcos, are working on an exoskeleton that makes it possible for humans to lift hundreds of pounds without even trying. The suit is still in the rough, and it looks more like something that Sigourney Weaver would wear (it also only runs for 40 minutes on batteries), but who knows… maybe in 15 years?

9. Force Fields


Coming soon to a military near you, force fields. This one is up there along with hover crafts and warp speeds. Supposedly, the US along with many countries around the world, are pumping plenty of cash in R&D for plasma shields. The theory goes that plasma, which is gas with all its particles ionized, thickens at high temperatures. Not sure it if could stop much of anything yet. It’s still in development and it could take years more to come to fruition, but it’s closer than many other fantasy techs (ie time travel).

10. Killbots

Not in the Terminator style sense we tend to think of, but a South Korean conglomerate announced the Intelligent Surveillance and Guard Robot. It looks a bit more like a gatling gun with legs, and it’s stationary, but it can identify humans, trees, and vehicles 2.5 miles away. Each one costs about $200,000. Watch the robot in action.

In this article, we will cover fifteen LED hacks that are jaw-dropping, eye-catching and overall awesome. I have decided to group the list based on their use, from trivial and entertainment use to medical uses and architectural purposes.

Imagine strolling down a street, and 25 meters above you is a giant LED screen display… with dragons and marine animals floating! This massive display located at The Place shopping center at the heart of Beijing, China was placed before the Olympics of 2008. Considered as the largest LED screen in Asia, it has dimensions of 250 meters in length and 30 meters in width. The sky screen plays majestic shows like seascapes, a dolphin show, among others. Note that the biggest LED display belongs to the display screen at Fremont St., in Las Vegas which is made of 12.5 million LEDs and has a length of 460 meters.

Yes, there are a lot of shirts and pants and other wearable materials out there which make awesome use of LED. Take, for instance, the Iron Man Arc Reactor. But for the usefulness of this next one, I think it should count in my top choices. When she was a Ph.D student at the University of Colorado, Leah Buechley has created an electronic clothing, the signal jacket for cyclists. As you can see from the image above, this is simply ingenious and the usefulness of this goes overboard. The LEDs are powered and programmed by a sewable computer chip which was designed by Leah, herself. For those of you interested in making one, click on the link above for instructions.

LED cubes are a dime too many but they are nonetheless interesting and an awesome use of LEDs for trivial and entertainment purposes. LED cubes can be as small as the basic 4×4x4 (pertains to the number of LEDs) or could be more extravagant like that of the Cubatron UV with a 100×100x100 matrix or a total of 1,000,000 LEDs. Surely, this is an expensive project to make. The Cubatron UV has its roots down to the first Cubatron, which is now proudly in display at the ultra chic W Hotel in Dallas. The Cubatron (8×8x8 feet) used to be the world’s largest 3-dimensional full color light sculpture, a title which now belongs to the Big Round Cubatron (40 feet in diameter, ten feet in height). The latter made its debut at Burning Man in 2006 and has since been shown at different festivals, events and places. Led cube are perfectly characterized with these words, “a word of art at rest, a hypnotic experience once the micro-controller takes charge.”

It’s a big-brand viral video but the fact still remains that this is one of the most awesome use of LEDs. For this viral campaign, Samsung got the help of The Viral Factory in London. It was directed by James Rouse and a group of sheep dog trainers named Baa-Studs. What did they do? The makers strapped thousands of LED lights to hundreds of sheep and took to the hills of Wales to create amazing displays such as a giant game of pong, Mona Lisa and fireworks. You really have to see the video, aptly titled, “Extreme LED Sheep,” which has ben viewed millions of times on youtube.

Scholarly articles have been written documenting the use of LED as artificial light for plant growth and NASA is at the helm of this technology. It has been found out that by utilizing LEDs, one can only use the light spectrum required for photosynthesis. Through this use of specific spectrum, no light is wasted. Moreover, since LEDs are directional, this ensures that the full 100% of the light can be pointed exactly where needed, eliminating the need for reflective materials to direct light. NASA has actually funded more research on this technology for use on space plant growth as LEDs emit less heat, which will prevent the plants from drying out. A new study from USDA Plant Physiologists also reported that they can now grow lettuce with deeper color, which means more antioxidants, through ultraviolet LEDs.

The Chicago Crown Fountain is a public art installation made up of two glass brick towers. It was designed by Jaume Plensa, a Catalan artist, and are said to cost around $17 million - a very high cost which really payed off with how awesome these displays are! The two towers face each other and stand at 50 feet tall. LEDs are used for the massive screens wherein photos and videos of Chicago residents are randomly being played, apart from the usual landscapes. These glass towers also serve as fountains, aside from the cascading water coming from the top, the displays each have a nozzle where water spouts. These towers where unveiled on July 2004 and have since been a popular landmark for Chicagoans to relax and for tourists to marvel.

Here’s a possible alternative to Botox: LEDs. A published research from Germany, led by Amdrei Sommer and Dan Zhu of the Institute of Micro and Nanomaterial, at the University of Ulm in Germany, reports that the high intensity visible light from LEDs resulted in “rejuvenated skin, reduced wrinkle levels, juvenile complexion and lasting resilience” when applied daily through a course of several weeks. As light penetrates through skin, it has the ability to cause change in the sub-surface tissue. The visible light from the LEDs help in skin rejuvenation and reducing facial wrinkles by changing the molecular structure of a water layer on elactin - a protein that provides elasticity in the skin, blood vessel, the heart and other body parts. The researches even end their conclusion with “we are justified in believing that our approach can be easily converted to deep body rejuvenation programs.” That is something to look forward to.

In Times Square, New York, at exactly 11:59 PM of New Year’s Eve, all eyes are on the world-reknowned New Year’s Eve Ball, as it begins it decent. This marks the countdown for the celebration of the New Year. In 2008, the co-organizers, Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment has unveiled the “New” New Year’s Eve Ball. It is a 12 foot geodesic sphere, which is double the size of the previous Waterford Crystals Ball, weighs 11,875 pounds, made of 2,668 Waterford Crystals and lighted by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs. This ball just got even better, brighter (a palette of 16 million colors and billions of patterns!), and of course, greener. It was such a sight to behold.

LED Throwies were started by Graffiti Research Lab fellows James Powderly and Evan Roth. They are basically made of a small LED attached to a coin battery and a rare earth magnet by use of epoxy or electrical tape. Some modifications may include designs such as using Velcro instead of magnet; adding an on/off switch; use of flashing LEDs or “blinkies”. Moreover, other creators and DIY guys have made alterations, for instance, “floaties” make use of styrofoam as a floatation device; “sinkies” on the other hand are meant to sink; “flyies” are used as payloads in using helium balloons; while another one are throwies placed inside a balloon or ice cubes with water, frozen overnight. LED throwies are generally used as creative graffiti and light displays but have since been used in various methods.

Turning our focus away form the trivial and entertaining, we take a look at the use of LED in science, specifically in medical cure research such as cancers and other diseases. Dr. Harry T. Whelan, MD, a Professor of Neurology from the Medical College of Wisconsin, is borrowing the broad spectrum LED technology from NASA to help with cancer treatments and therapies. In his research, he has used LEDs for a popular cancer treatment called photo-dynamic therapy or PDT. It has been found out that through the use of LEDs, patients who have undergone it had only mild or no dermatitis compared to patients who have been treated by the usual laser method had some degree of skin radiation. Less radiation dermatitis means that the doctors and therapists may speed up the treatment process for cancer patients. LEDs are also being used in brain surgery such as LED probes with 144 very tiny pinhead-size diodes which serves as a light source during surgery. Moreover, Dr. Whelan is looking into using LEDs for healing burn victims or those with musculo-skeletal injuries. A leading company, Polymetronics, also claims that a red light LED bandage can help with outpatient skin cancer treatment.

What’s more awesome that ice castles? Ice castles lit by thousands and thousands of LEDs! Harbin Ice and Snow World orchestrates the magnificence its annual show through the use of colorful LEDs lighting the various ice sculptures. One of four of its kind in the whole world (Japan’s Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada’s Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway’s Ski Festival), the Harbin Ice and Snow World covers several parks for the ice sculptures–including the world’s largest snow Santa Claus, castles copied from real world towering wonders, churches, mosques, and a lot more! For 2009, it took 8,000 workers and 32 million gallons of water to make all the blocks! And because this year, they decided to use LEDs, the towers and sculptures are even more majestic at night. Let the picture speak for themselves. Jaw dropping.

The Olympics 2008 show of China easily trumps most, if not all, of the past Olympic shows. Architectural wonders are the buildings such as The Bird’s Nest and The Water Cube have been build for the Olympic celebrations. And LEDs played a big role in making the celebrations as marvelous as they were. The Bird’s Nest was installed with LEDs while The Water Cube was lit by 500,000 LEDs. However, it was the opening and closing ceremonies which count as the most unforgettable and mesmerizing. Remember that gigantic scroll? It made use of 44,000 colorful LED beads, 600 millimeter apart, in its dimension of 147 meters by 22 meters. LEDs were widely utilized throughout the show, from the performers’ costumes to the massive LED lit globe and the Olympic rings, complete with fairies floating.

There are a lot of peripherals wisely using LEDs out there in the market. But when it comes to keyboards, the Optimus Maximus, from its very name, is the king of them all. Coming from the well-respected Art. Lebedev Studio design company in Russia, the Optimus Maximus works by assigning functions to its keys. Its has a full customizable layout and is a perfect companion for design, video editing, gaming. The keys also dynamically change based on user interaction (press shift key and all appropriate keys will change to upper case). For a history tidbit, the first LCD keyboard was developed in Germany during the mid 1980s and was sold until 1999. I personally am hoping to see full-on LED trackpads.

Jonas Samson is a true creative genius in my book. He has acknowledged the under utilization of organic light emitting diodes or OLEDs to create something other than flexible computer or TV screens, not that such use is not awesome in itself. Jonas Samson is the proud maker of the light-emitting wallpaper, which looks like a plain wallpaper - it has a two-dimensional surface instead of a 3D object. It is the perfect combination of graphic design, textile, and technology. What makes this more awesome than it is? You can easily turn on the part of the graphic/wallpaper you want to light up! In Jonas’ website he writes: “As long as the wallpaper is turned ‘off’, it is indistinguishable as a source of light. Instead, it is just what it appears to be: wallpaper.”

With their current goal of reaching 10Mbps wireless connection, researchers at Boston University’s Smart lighting Engineering Research Center gained a $18.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Their aim is to replace the current use of wireless routers with lighting access points through LEDs. Wouldn’t it to over the top awesome to just turn on the lights and be able to receive and access wireless signal? This means lower power consumption, convenience, better security because it relies on visible light and greater transmission speeds (no electromagnetic interference). This technology is certainly not yet available to the market, but the ease of changing your light bulbs with LEDs is certainly a good reason to wait for it.

A majority of the most popular concepts involve future computing and communication technologies.  From cell phones to mobile computers with amazingly intelligent, creative, and portable technology.  But there are also many great designs that have functionality and practicality outside of computing and communications.  Even though functionality and practicality drive many designs, entertainment value and the idea of the product being just plain fun sometimes takes over.

This list, which is part 1 of this series, shows just a glimpse into some of those amazingly creative concept gadgets.

1. The Nokia Morph

With the cell phone market saturated with different styles, colors, and functionality truly original concepts are a pleasant change from the standard.  The Nokia Morph is one of those concepts.  It takes advantage of nanoscale technologies to create a mobile device made with flexible and transparent materials that are extremely strong.  The flexibility allows it to change shape and can serve different functions depending on the configuration.  The nanotechnology can be self-cleaning, improving the lifespan of the device in several ways.  It also incorporates surfaces that naturally repel water, dirt, and fingerprints.

The Morph could also take advantage of solar power converted from the surface of the device allowing for smaller batteries that quickly recharge with a longer lifespan.  One other new capability is the ability to sense the environment.  For example, analyzing air pollution, or telling you if the produce that you are about to eat should be cleaned before consumption.  It will be interesting to see if a concept such as this will come to market and if it happens any time soon (in concept years, that is).

2. The Sony Portable Fuel Cell Charger

I constantly have the problem of my gadgets running low on power or dying at times when I don’t have a charger or plug-in.  I use them quite frequently and it would be nice to have a fuel cell to replace the old and over used plug-in charger.  I hate to be tethered to a wall if I need to use them and honestly they rarely leave my side, to some sad, to others necessity.  This is where Sony’s concept portable fuel cell comes in.

Sony’s concept is a portable fuel cell that can be attached to a key ring.  The fuel cell powers and/or recharges devices using standard USB ports.  It contains a replaceable methanol fuel cell with a backup rechargable lithium-ion battery, providing charges when the fuel cell cannot be immediately replaced.  I think that the market for such a gadget would be huge considering the sheer number of portable devices in play.

3. Braille E-Book

Often behind in terms of affordable, mainstream technology.  The handicapped often have to spend more money than others to get somewhat comparible or equal technology.  Visually impaired people have to read braille books which leaves them out of the conversion of physical text to digital.

The concept for the Braille E-Book was designed by Seon-Keun Park, Byung-Min Woo, Sun-Hye Woo, & Jin-Sun Park.  This e-book, waiting for venture capital, uses technology called EAP (electroactive polymers) to alter the surface, recreating each page in braille as the page is turned.  The problem with physical braille books is that the translation consideribly thickens the book itself.  A braille e-book could be a saving grace.  If the Braille E-Book was made available and caught on like the Amazon Kindle or Sony Reader there is the possiblility that translation costs for a braille book would fall as demand increases with the ease of access and convenience of use of the Braille E-Book.

4. Tribons Wearable Computer

Mentors are a wonderful thing for anyone.  Imagine a digital one for your child providing for their curiosity and need to learn new things.  The Tribons wearable computer concept gives a kid emotional support while increasing their knowledge and skills.  In addition, adding to the wearers experience not available in their actual life.

The Tribons would be worn as a head piece and controlled by a 3D user interface, projecting the informational material.  It would also have a built in safety feature that lets parents track their children.  With an add-on module parents can also monitor the childs health.

5. Elio - Linear Scale Watch

The Elio Linear Scale watch is a sleek and modern remake of the traditional dial-faced watch.  The Elio uses ‘progress bars’ to display the time, similar to a download status bar. The way the watch displays the time you can visualize “the time spent and the time remaining.”

6. Link - Urban Modular Scooter System

Scooters offer an affordable and eco-friendly mode of transportation.  The concept for the Link Urban Modular Scooter System was developed with Sydney, Australia in mind.  Sydney plans to make the city more pedestrian centered by reducing the number of cars on the road.

A modular system can be retrofitted using present Streetscape Smart Poles, which light poles that combine power and telecommunications.  The system would have a charging hub for the scooters that are rentable from hub to hub.  The zero emissions scooters provide excellent on-demand, eco-friendly transportation perfectly suited for shorter-distance city commutes.

7. Zoybar

For the musicians who like customization or want more personalization than the standard assortment of pre-built stringed instruments, the Zoybar fills the need.  The Zoybar is an instrument platform that allows for expansion and modification to the players taste, allowing for different controllers and effects.  Each configuration makes for different instrument each time.

8. Trou Hologram Mobile Phone

Although the technology for the projection of 3D holograms in open space as seen in Star Wars and Vanilla Sky is physically impossible…at the moment.  The Trou Hologram Mobile Phone provides a glimpse into what may be if the technology emerges.  With this concept a physical screen isn’t used.  Instead a 3D image would be projected by very small projectors which are run along the inner surface of the area where a physical screen would normally be located.  Imagine a 3D map of the city streets that you are walking or driving, or a hologram of the person that you are talking to.  That is the reality that this concept wishes upon the mobile phone market in which there “will be no war amongst manufacturers with regards to display…”

9. Light Lighting Map

This concept serves two functions.  ‘Light’ is a simple map with some more complex features.  The features come alive in the dark when the map can light itself up, making it readable with zero ambient light, or be rolled into a flashlight.  This would be a light-weight alternative for a flashlight for the outdoorsman, with whom the weight of their packs makes much difference, while giving a simple way to read a map in the darkness when needed.

The ‘Light’ concept uses a paper-thin battery, sandwiched between two sheets of paper, with multiple LEDs that turn on when the paper is rolled and two electrodes on the reverse side of the paper are touched together making the map a flashlight.  While most gadgets seem to come to market combining features not always in-sync or unnecessarily, this concept gadget makes sense for those that wish to light up a map, which obviously needs light in the darkness, and use the same map as a flashlight.  Thus allieviating the need for two seperate items that would instead work harmoniously as one.

10. D-Roll Laptop

The D-Roll laptop takes portability to a level beyond netbooks, with a futuristic aesthetic and built-in carrying portability.  The laptop is constructed in a tube shape.  The screen and keyboard roll-up and are stored in the tube.  When in full functionality mode the tube is the main componenent of the laptop which houses all of the computing power.  There is no need to set up in full functionality mode when you only need a quick check of your email.  The tube has a smaller built-in screen perfect for reading and sending emails when the full functionality of a laptop isn’t required.  The strap on the D-Roll not only acts as a carrying strap but also, a lock and USB hub.  This concept looks exciting for those of us that want a unique look with extreme portability and full functionality.

11. Swatch Infinity

The Swatch Infinity concept watch goes in the opposite direction of the Elio Linear Scale concept.  Where the Elio stays single function the Swatch Infinity encompasses four functions.  In addition to being a watch the Swatch Infinity contains an MP3 player, a video recorder/player, and a photo album feature.  The watch uses a magnetic clasp and the sleek, smooth black body detaches to be recharged.

12. Solar Powered Bonsai Tree

This bonsai isn’t typical.  You don’t have to prune, shape, or water it.  You don’t work for it, it works for you.  The solar powered bonsai incorporates solar panels as the leaves of the tree, converting sunlight into electricity for your power hungry gadgets.  This eco-friendly concept, devised by Vivian Muller, charges your electronic gadgets by plugging them into a universal or USB plug.

13. KRE8

Most love music, some more than others.  To the point that, even if they aren’t professionals, they have to create their own.  Creativity doesn’t always come at the most convenient times.  That is what designer Jose Tomas DeLuna’s concept remedies.  The KRE8 has three modes (Instrument Mode, Mix Mode, and Record Mode) that respond to gesture movements through sensors and accelerometers.  The KRE8 utilizes a touch screen alleviating the need for traditional knobs, sliders, and switches.

The output produced is a MIDI signal that you can broadcast publicly or privately through 3G networks.  The concept also includes the option of storing the mix on the wireless network allowing others to access it when they arrive at the location that the mix was created.  Others have the option to listen or add to the mix creating new based on someone elses previous work.  I’m not sure if the network mixes could be marked anonymous but an originally-created entertaining communte would ensue for all those interested.

14. Papyrus E-Book

E-book concepts are currently quite common but the Papyrus E-Book concept has a uniqueness that makes it stand out.  Greener Grass, the designers of Papyrus, have students in mind with this e-book.  The device would allow students to take notes with handwriting recognition and interact with teachers through built-in networking.  The designers don’t expect their concept to come to production as much as to be a “catalyst for discussion about improving the classroom experience.”  They would like the e-book, and not necessarily thier specific concept, to become a cheaper alternative to bags full of expensive textbooks.  Greener Grass would like to see a price point of $100.

15. emotivEpoc


Controlling objects with thought alone is not as far off as many would believe, although those objects will be in a computer.  The emotiveEpoc stirred up quite a frenzy as people discovered that the possibility of mind controlled game-play was within reach.  The concept was developed and tested with only slight success.  The folks at Emotive Systems have held off on producing and releasing this concept come-to-life until the system is perfected.  The concept is a great advance and maybe with some patience from fans of the idea and some more hard work from the developers the product will see market release.

The emotivEpoc is a headset that contains electrodes which read electric signals in the brain, detecting thought, feeling, and facial expressions.  It connects to the PC wirelessly with a USB Dongle which doesn’t require any special drivers.  The planned release price is $299.

16. Nokia Pocket Projector

Designer Miika Mahonen brings the Nokia Pocket Projector concept.  This concept gadget is a multimedia device combining an image projector and Dolby NXT-speaker to create a multimedia player that uses a mobile phone as an interactive remote.  The gadget projects images at a resolution of 1280 x 768 in sizes from 15 inches to 60 inches from approximately 8 feet away.  The included LED light technology produces 1000 lumens of brightness with 16.7 million colors.  This device would lend itself well for those who are on-the-go and want to watch a movie on a screen bigger than that on their mobile device or to display a business presentation.

17. Q-Sound Solar Bluetooth Headphones

Shepeleff Stephen developed a set of concept headphones which use solar power to alleviate the need to constantly recharge a pair of Bluetooth headphones under normal use.  The Q-Sound Solar headphones will give the wearer 40 hours of use on a full charge.  In one hour of sunlight the concept headphones will gain about 2.5 hours of maximum volume useage.  The rechargable batteries are removable to be replaced when and if needed.

The looks of the concept Q-Sound’s are a stylish silver and black with blue solar panels across the headband of the over-ear headphones.  In addition to being wireless there is an optional 3.5mm jack to plug in the headphones if necessary.

This list is a short sample of some of the exciting new concepts and technology on the horizon.  As we continue to move at the speed of tech exaustingly long lists of concepts will always be abundant.  If you find any concepts that you feel should have made this list leave a comment and feel free to include URLs for us to see what you’ve found.

This retro body style camera comes with an impressive set of features including a solid 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor, a 3-inch LCD display, in-body image stabilization, a dust reduction system, and exchangeable lenses. The camera is also fully capable of recording video at 720p/30fps video. The Live MOS sensor and the new TruePic V image processor guarantee ultra-high processing speeds and excellent image quality up to ISO 6400. Because of the high quality, the camera is also able to apply Art Filters to both movies and still images. Standard filters are there along with others including Pop Art, Pin Hole, Soft Focus, and Grainy Film.

Two lenses have been specially designed for the camera, a 17mm 1:2.8 Pancake and a 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens. This camera however is also compatible with all Micro 4/3rds lenses and all standard 4/3rds lenses via an adapter.

Due out in July 2009, with a price tag of $749 for body only and $799-$899 with lenses the Olympus E-P1 comes in silver or white colors.

Panasonic has released the HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 HD camcorders.  Both models weigh in at only a 1/2 LB, and despite it’s small form factor has 16x optical zoom.  The zoom is assisted by Panasonic’s Advanced OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) functionality to achieve clear zooming and reducing hand-shake by correcting the picture around 4,000 times per second.  The Advanced OIS is great for providing high quality zooming, stability, especially while walking or moving.  The camcorders  produce Full-HD video at a 1920 x 1080 resolution giving this easy to use camcorder a beautiful picture for your high-definition video recording needs.

The HDC-S10 records it’s video to to a SDHC/SD Memory Card and the HDC-TM10 uses both an 8GB Built-in Memory and an SDHC/SD Memory Card.  The fact that these camcorders use flash memory make the transfer of video easy, while keeping them shock-resistant and enabling speedy recording starts, making it great for those candid moments with the family.  The HDC-TM10 features Relay Recording allowing it to switch to the Memory Card when the internal memory reaches capacity.  To make the video seamless after Relay Recording the video can be merged inside the camcorder and saved to an SDHC/SD Memory Card.

Some very beneficial additional features include:

• A touch screen with function buttons

• A quick 1.9-second power-on, which allows for Eco mode which automatically turns the power off when not in use for five minutes.

• A Pre-Rec function which records the three seconds that happened before the record button was pressed.

• Auto Power LCD, automatically adjusting the brightness of the LCD depending on the environmental conditions.

• Built-in light and flash.

• Highlight playback that very rapidly produces “highlights” for playback at a set time interval.

• One-Touch copy of video to DVD with the BN1 DVD Burner.

Compatibility with Panasonic’s VIERA Link to allow easy viewing of HD video content and can use the VIERA Image Viewer function on a VIERA HDTV.  Video’s can be played by simply inserting a Memory Card into the SD Card slot on a Panasonic VIERA HDTV.

The suggested retail prices for the HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 are $549.95 and $599.95 respectively.

Here are 21 of the coolest gadgets that have the capability to provide you with excellent VoIP, and Skype service.

1. IPEVO TR-10 Conference Phone

The TR-10 allows a user to Skype with other Skype users, landlines, or mobile phones.  Even better the TR-10 lets you communicate with all three at the same time through, the conferencing capabilities it has.  Have more than one friend? The TR-10 lets you conference up to nine additional people including yourself, hence the name TR-10.

The TR-10 can operate in both headset and speakerphone modes. A simple flip of the switch redirects the sound, and the TR-10 instantly changes into a headset.  Mobility is not a problem with this device, with it’s size being about the same as a spare toothbrush, and toothpaste, only 15cm long.  Communication with others is not all this jewel does, it also has the power to act as a high quality voice recorder for those too busy to take notes.

2. Star Trek VoIP/Skype Phone

Want to join the Star Trek hype? Then this is definitely the phone for you.  Proving to  be one of coolest designs to be seen in the development of Skype and VoIP phones.  The Star Trek Skype/VoIP phone works through simple USB connection, and is compatible with both Windows XP, Vista, and Mac OS X 10.5.  The Star Trek features speaker phone, volume controls, and mute.  The added special feature is the ability to produce some of your favorite Star Trek sounds and phrases.

With over 21 special sound effects, I am sure it will take awhile to get bored with this one.  Also don’t worry about having to stay directly by the computer when plugged in, the Skype phone features a 6 foot USB connection cable which can give you a little freedom to roam.  This is definitely a keeper for all the Star Trek fans out there.

3. iRiver’s Wave Home

Looking for something that can do a little more than just the usual VoIP or voice recording? iRiver’s Wave Home not only does VoIP, but it also many other multimedia functions.  It contains a 7″ LCD screen, and a wireless headset that not only does the duties of an average headset, but can be used as remote to control the Wave Home Station.   The gadget comes packed with a 1.3 megapixel camera, this will come in handy when you want to participate in a video chat.  The list of impressive features doesn’t stop there.

Want to surf the web? iRiver’s Wave Home has it covered, along with taking pictures, playing music, and providing a host of useful widgets.  Interested in the weather? Your covered. Traffic, news? Your covered.  The list can only continue to grow with the capabilities of this multimedia masterpiece, iRiver continues to impress those looking for multimedia units for VoIP communication.  The estimated price is rumored to be around $400 and should come out sometime this year.  Sadly this gadget only does VoIP but they are looking to offer a service like Skype.

4. Verizon Hub

The Verizon Hub is the first major release of a multimedia unit from the leaders in telecommunication.  The Verizon Hub gives you the ability to use your normal broadband connection to place calls, minus the usual charge.  This gadget gives you unlimited nationwide calling, automatic anonymous call rejection, and scheduled call forwarding.

Of course the Verizon Hub comes packed with multimedia essentials.

• Messaging
• Movies
• VCast
• Traffic
• Chaperone (for those with Children, or maybe your spouse.)
• Calendar

As you can see in the photo, the Verizon Hub features a beautiful high resolution screen, to make using it a little easier on the eyes.  Verizon has set themselves up for a future of profitability, if the Verizon Hub gains popularity.

5. Jailbroken Apple iPhone

The do it all iPhone could not be left off the list of available Skype/VoIP gadgets.  Currently on non jail broken phones the Skype app only works over a WiFi connection.  A few have however figured out how to escape the clutches of AT&T and Apple, and now have the ability to make Skype calls over the 3G network for free to other Skype users.  Using the iPhone on the WiFi network of non jail broken iPhones has worked well.  However AT&T is fearful that users will downgrade to cheaper plans, and take advantage of Skype if they allow the use of it over the 3G network.

If a handy solution can be found to efficiently use Skype over the 3G network AT&T will be in big trouble and users everywhere can rejoice.  This would drastically reduce the price of your monthly phone bill.  Also many have said the sound quality can be better on Skype, than that of calls placed over AT&T networks.

6. AiGuru U1

This sleek and simple Skype phone works seamlessly with the ASUS EeePC.  No need for a driver download, just plug and play.  Allows multiple ring tones and has an easy user interface.  Comes with a built in noise filter to make Skype’s sound quality as clear as a conventional phone.  The AiGuru is only 11.8mm thick, and comes in this clean pearl white finish with a white LCD backlight also.  This is probably one of your best bets if your operating on the Linux operating system.

7. Polycom VVX 1500

If you are in need of something more business oriented then the Polycom VVX 1500 is your answer. This gadget has a sleek office feel to it and is sure to fit in nicely on most professional work spaces.  Built with an integrated Gigabit Ethernet switch for easy use, when your ready to make VoIP calls.  Comes backed with a nice responsive touch screen that allows you to easily place calls or participate in business grade video conferencing.  Tired of bending over so you can be seen in the camera? Let the camera come to you, the VVX 1500 provides and adjustable camera that can bring the camera to eye level.

Not only does the Polycom VVX 1500 provide efficient phone service it also reduces your carbon footstep by being powered under 11W.  While not being an electricity hog it still has the ability to turn your phone into a digital photoframe when not in use.  When the day is over and your not in the office the automatic motion sensor can automatically put the phone into power save mode for you.

8. AiGuri SV1

This was the first certified Skype videophone, that is easy enough to use, that even grandma can speak to you without the complications.  Loaded with an arsenal of features, 7-inch LCD screen, VGA web camera, and of course it works over 802.11 b/g WiFi.  If the power goes out and you still need to Skype some how this nifty gadget has it covered, allowing it to operate for up to 20 minutes on battery power.

While looking futuristic, this gadget remains insanely simple to use and will not scare those from generations past away from joining the Skype revolution.  The AiGuru SV1 can be found on Amazon for around $260.

9. Ooma Hub

As of late the Ooma has gained a lot of ground, in the world of VoIP phones.  Technically the Ooma does not work in the ways of a traditional VoIP.  The sound from the Ooma is suppose to be light years better than that of the traditional VoIP, they reserve bandwidth for your calls so that the quality is better.  The Ooma is outfitted with a clean modern design that is sure to please any contemporists taste.  The set up for the Ooma is rather simple, so have no fear if your thinking about getting your grandparents one of these gadgets.

Has location service for 911 and if you want the option to occasionally use a landline the Ooma gives you that option also.  Built in broadband voicemail and online call log. If you don’t do faxes or run a home alarm system then you should have no problem running the Ooma.  The Ooma can be purchased on Amazon for about $299 or less, and just think of all the money you will save over the years.

10. Ooma Telo

Looking for something a little more advanced than the original Ooma? Then the Telo has you covered, unlike the original Ooma this one comes outfitted with a sleek headset.  Contains all the features of the original Ooma and then some.  Offers high-def DECT 6.0 voice, which should be music in the ears of those that are not satisfied with the quality of the current VoIP phones.  The kit can be expanded to include multiple headsets, and a connected phone book with the option to have musical ring tones.  Somehow the Telo is planning on integrating cell phones into the usage of VoIP.  This should be an interesting feature once all the kinks are fixed with that one.  So if you want the highest quality calls available on VoIP then save up for this jewel.

11. Asus Eee Keyboard M50

Most keyboards simply plug into your computer via USB and input commands.  Not this one think again, it comes packed with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom microprocessor, 1GB of DDR2 DRAM, 16GB or 32GB SSD.  Also don’t think your just going to connect via USB to this keyboard, it comes with built in Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0, Wide HDMI USB 2.0×2, VGA, HDMI, headphone and mic ports.  With all these ways to connect you have a keyboard capable of running Skype and VoIP.  Simply plug in a mic, headphones and possibly a VGA camera and your keyboard just became one of the coolest gadgets available to use Skype or VoIP on.

12. Rimax Mystic

By day this gadget operates as an MP3 and at night suddenly transforms into a VoIP phone.  Simply plug it in to the computer via USB and your MP3 player instantly transforms into a VoIP phone.  The Mystic has a full color 1.5″ screen and you can choose between 512 MB, 1GB, or 2GB of memory.  It has a built in recorder so need to remember something really fast just say it into the Rimax, you can also preset up 20 FM radio stations, or if that is not good enough you can record directly from the radio.  Some may say it is simply another device that can plug into your computer and be used with a VoIP application, but not many things can be taken away from the computer and carry music all while giving you that option.

13. Nokia N97

Don’t think the iPhone is the only available cell phone that can do Skype, the Nokia N97 is going to give the iPhone some competition.  The Nokia N97 will give its user the ability to talk via Skype, which would save you from eating up so many cell phone minutes.  It also comes packed with a 5Megapixel camera, which would make it one of the best phone/camera duos on the market today.  The N97 also has the option to work on a 3.5G network, where available and if you could manipulate it to run Skype over this 3.5G network you would surely be in business.  Large telecommunication networks are very fearful that allowing Skype on this machine could lead to more trouble in the future.  Be on the look out for this gadget sometime in June.

14. Phillips VoIP841

The Phillips VoIP841 phone uses Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) frequency, and it allows you to plug into a PTSN landline or use your existing broadband connection to make calls via Skype.  In addition to this you can  make and recieve calls via your traditional phone line also.  The base station you see it coupled with runs on a Linux based system.  The Phillips VoIP841 gives you the option to have four different ring types for Skype, SkypeIn, landline or the intercom.  The handset gives you the ability to save up to 500 Skype contacts.  If you have the lungs to talk for 12 hours the VoIP841 has you covered.  The punch line for this phone is that it is a standalone Skype phone that does not require the use of a PC to run Skype.

15. Spracht Aura Mobile BT

When you get sick of dealing with cables and cords, this is your go to man.  The Spracht is a multifunctional bluetooth speaker phone, so you dont have to live with something plastered to your head all the time.  When in need of a higher quality speakerphone for your use with VoIP this gadget can wirelessly connect to your computer, and provide top notch quality sound.  Comes with built in noise-reduction and echo-cancellation, has up to 4hrs of talk time and can be had for about $100.

16. Symbio

Not only does the Symbio have a cool design, it has the ability to play internet radio and provide wireless DECT calls.  A built in phonebook that can hold up to 200 contacts and you can see your 50 most recent calls.  Tired of old ringtones, well this gadget gives you the option to set up HiFi ringtones.  Sends SMS text messages and provides HD sound.  The radio is not average, comes with two high quality speakers that provide you clear digital broadcast, and if you get tired and fall asleep it has a built in radio alarm clock that will surely come in handy.  The variety of the available radio stations is not a problem and allows you to store up to ten of your favorites for a later date.  So if modern design and great functionality is your thing then this VoIP phone might have a spot in your living domain.

17. Digital Cowboy Old Tyme VoIP Phone

If keeping things retro is your forte then this VoIP phone can keep you from escaping to far into the future.  A simply design that reminds you of those classic phones from our past, this VoIP is simply to use, and might fool some into believing you have an antique in your possession.   If your the type that does not mind not knowing who is calling then you won’t mind the lack of a caller ID.  This may not be a time machine but at least it can make you feel somewhat in the past.  Allows dialing with the rotary dial and for about $50 you can have Skype working to perfection on your ageless “antique”.

18. Tatung VoIP

The Tatung is the ultimate luxury when it comes to Skype/VoIP phones, the design on this gadget looks like it belongs in a modern museum.  This is one of the best looking Skype/VoIP phones out there designed by Nova Design.  They are sure to capture the hearts of many gadget lovers with this beauty, it features bluetooth, wireless and a touch pad design.  This gadget has all the connectivity you need to get your VoIP and Skype rolling, and no unnecessary extras to make it bulky.  The Tatung has been rumored to be ready for mass production but until then it would be like getting a rare piece of art to own one of these rare beauties.

19. A4 Tech Internet Phone Keyboard

This reliable keyboard comes with a headset phone that allows you to place calls anywhere via VoIP.  Outfitted with a built in digital sound card for easy use with microphones and headphones if the headset is not the route you want to take.  Lets you dial for free to any other Skype user in the world and has an ergo design to help with wrist problems should you need to type.  Don’t let the look fool you this keyboard is anything but bulky, has a sleek design minimalist design, and takes up less space than most traditional keyboard.  So if you just want to purchase a keyboard and get a nicely design Skype phone for free this is the gadget for you.

20. IPEVO S0-10W

IPEVO is known for making some of the best designed Skype phones on the market today and this one is no exception.  The S0-10W has  beautiful professional design that would please those looking for a Skype headset for the office.  Comes with a nice 2.4″ screen that should be enough to let you know who is calling and alert you of other necessary actions.  Has support for both Ethernet connections and wireless, and don’t worry about the set up being difficult in minutes you can have access to all available Skype functions.  The S0-10W can be purchased for around $170.

21. Callpod Drone Bluetooth

This small gadget instantly turns your bluetooth headset into Skype’s best friend.  No need to buy a separate headset just plug this jewel into your computer and magic your bluetooth headset can instantly start being used to communicate via Skype or on VoIP.  So why waste the extra dollars on more equipment when your current equipment can provide you the same service as some leading Skype/VoIP phones.

So sit back, grab some popcorn, don’t forget to get a cold drink from the fridge, and take a look at 13 amazing computer case mods.

1. Dodge Charger PC Case (Pre Fabbed)
   A marriage between car and computer never looked so good. The company behind this case mod has built a fully functional computer and put it inside a car model. The headlights and taillights blink and the hood ornament serves as the power button. Featuring Intel Core 2 Duo processors, these sharp looking computers actually boot up to the sound of a HEMI engine. For those that like to change the look of their PC often, the outer shells of these bad boys are interchangeable. Want a Dodge Magnum body instead? It’s easy to change because the components are all mounted on one standard frame.
2. The Giant Tetris Case
   This case comes to you from the creative minds of a Spanish gaming group. There are several computers that actually make up the display as seen in the picture above. The colorful Tetris blocks are actually acrylic panels built to attach to each other to form the pile of blocks.
3. Computer Desk and Case in One
   This case mod brings a whole new meaning to the words “Computer Desk.” The senior technology editor over at Popular Mechanics set out to create the ultimate computer desk. The result is a beast of a machine with all the latest and greatest components they could find. The transparent desktop allows you to see the innards of the computer, and the blue lighting really adds to the displayability of the desk. Just make sure you have a cloth handy to wipe down the finger prints.

4. Matrix Regenerator PC Case
   If you thought the last Matrix based case was cool, then your jaw may just hit the floor. Simply put, this case is absolutely incredible. The designer who thought this up has a great eye for detail and thought of everything from the pinkish looking coolant that runs through the “regenerator capsule” to the tubes and rusty “metal” that you see. This case is truly a work of art!
5. The “It’s not you, it’s me. I just need more space.” 2-In-1 Dual Case Mod
   The modder responsible for this monster of a case decided that everything he planned to put together needed to actually go inside the case. To that end, he actually took a pair of Aerocool ZeroDegree cases and bolted them together. Being a work in progress, what you can now see is fairly impressive to begin with. Looking at the list of specs on this bad boy is impressive in and of itself. I have my doubts that you could fit half of the hardware in even a single case of any sort. The final product here looks fantastic.
6. “Freeman’s Box”
   Starting with an NZXT Tempest case, the modder set out to create a tribute to Gordon Freeman, the main character of the Half Life series of PC games. The case looks to be a fairly solid salute; all of the LED lights on this case are orange, and the trim inside and out are matched with a nice Half Life-esque orange paint job. Inside the cable management is well done and overall it is a very nice example of an Over the Top case mod.
7. “Yellow Bulldozer”
   This next case mod is great looking and the cool factor on it is just amazing. While the modder is apparently a person of few words, it looks like the computer is actually mobile. The front bucket goes up and down and the wheels can move around your desk. Bright and colorful, this computer is an amazing mod.
8. “Biohazard Custom Mod”
   The baseline case used for this computer mod is a Lian-Li PC-V1200 case. The artwork on the case was created with a technology called CompuCoat, a method of permanently fusing digital images with metal surfaces. The look is fantastic but will set you back almost $300. On this particular machine, in the pictures it looks like the case is oozing radioactive waste. The rusty look and custom fan location on the top really adds to the ambiance.
9. Steampunk “Damnation”
   
   
   A steampunk offering by Jake Hildebrandt, this case is a tip of the hat for the up and coming game entitled, “Damnation.” Featuring wood paneling, old style gages that actually work and a look that defies the technology that lies within…the “Damnation” case is a sight to behold. The components actually built into this case are current top of the line. This is a beautiful work of art with a powerful heart.
10. Wall-E Case
    In Mother Russia, Wall-E serves you…well, he serves your files. The modder has taken the single word hero from Disney’s hit movie and created a delightfully accurate version of Wall-E. Everything on this case has basically been machined from scratch, including the wheels, cogs, treads, and Wall-E’s “head”. A brilliant paint job that simulated rusty wear on the various parts and working arms makes this case truly one of a kind.
11. Hand-Carved Wood Case Mod
    In 2005, a Russian modder created this simply gorgeous work of art. Each panel is hand carved wood backlit with eerie red lights. The case looks as if it could fit in any living room next to your entertainment center, on a table top or really just about anywhere
12. C3M Military Transport Style Case
    This is a case mod that looks like it should be the next latest and greatest military machine. The detail for the mod is incredible from the mesh on the top of the case down to the military style stenciled lettering on the sides. The base of the machine is a Shuttle XPC. Whatever the case is supposed to be, either military vehicle or maybe an ammunition container, the artistry on this particular case mod is brilliant.
13. R2D2 Case
    Everyone’s favorite Star Wars droid R2D2 has been recruited to be a computer case. The case modder has integrated just about everything you could possibly need into the body, which just happens to have been a trash can in it’s previous life. LED lights, an integrated web cam, a spinning radar dish on top and integrated speakers are just some of the brilliant details that made it into the design. Brilliantly devised on / off switches are seamlessly integrated into the little bleeping droid’s body. For the enterprising case modder in you, you too can create a case just like this for around $150. May the force be with you!

It also has a voice control feature which allows you to call someone on your contact list, or listen to a song on your iPhone, all by simply telling it to do so.

Other cool features include:

• Search: The ability to search your iPhone the same way you would search for something on your computer.
• Cut, Copy and Paste: Long awaited, and finally here on the new 3G S, or with the OS 3.0 update.
• Multimedia Messaging (MMS): Send video, images, audio or location based information.
• Video Recording: Capture VGA video in portrait or lanscape and easily share it on Youtube and more.
• Compass: A built in digital compass which automatically adjusts the orientation of maps.

The new iPhone is currently slated to be released on June 19th. Find out more from the official Apple website here.

[ Images courtesy of Apple ]