LG 105-Inch Curved UltraHD TV: A Case Of The Bends

Tech By on Dec 20, 2013

“It’s OK for it to have a curve,” my doctor told me the other day. Whew. Now I can buy that 105-inch LG UltraHD TV! What? You didn’t think I was talking about… oh god no! Get your mind out of the gutter. LG’s mind (and Samsung’s) is apparently on massive TVs that bend it like Beckham at the corners. The 4K UltraHD 105UB9 will feature a 21:9 aspect ratio, 5120 x 2160 resolution, and Thin Film Transistor (TFT) pixel circuit technology to prevent color leakage. Ah leakage… another thing my doctor said was normal. We’ll find out the price of this beast at CES early next month.

MORE: LCDs, LEDs & Plasmas, Tech

Kubo Electric Cargo Scooter: Carry On, My Weighed-Down Son

Rides By on Dec 17, 2013

The urban dweller can easily justify the use of a scooter for getting around town, but what about when he needs to stock up for that night’s raucous-yet-perfectly-legal-thank-you-very-much house party? Kubo ($5,000), the electric cargo scooter is the answer. Its unique 22″ square cargo space is perfectly laid out to handle all the stuff that would never fit on another bike. Kubo can carry up to 300 lbs (driver weight + cargo), and it goes up to 45 mph while lasting about 50 miles before needing a charge.

MORE: Motorcycles, Rides

Zubie by @GoZubie: Making Sense Of It All

Tech By on Dec 17, 2013

‘CHECK ENGINE’ said the big yellow light on my car’s dashboard. That was in 1998. Finally, last year, I got around to it, and when I lifted the hood, that same yellow light then read ‘MADE YOU LOOK.’ Did that really happen? Of course not, but those mysterious messages often seem to have no rhyme or reason. Zubie ($100) is a smart device that plugs into any port in your car and sends your phone a detailed breakdown of what’s going on with your vehicle–and what those damn messages mean. It also offers location tracking and alerts, as well as feedback about your driving skills. Watch it, Zubie.

MORE: Accessories, Tech

Vorson Bookmark Backup Battery: Thinner Than Ashton Kutcher’s Oscar Chances

Tech By on Dec 16, 2013

“Need a charge?” may have just officially supplanted “Got a light?” as the ultimate pickup line. The Vorson Bookmark is the world’s thinnest battery backup for mobile devices, and if that doesn’t impress that blonde at the bar then maybe this will: Thanks to your little friend, she can get up to 12.5 hours of video playback when her phone dies. At just 4.7mm thick (hence the bookmark name), let’s just hope she doesn’t mistake the Vorson in your pocket for anything else.

MORE: Accessories, Tech

Smarty Ring: One Finger To Rule Them All

Tech By on Dec 13, 2013

Before pretty much anyone could get too deep into this whole smartwatch thing, BAM!… the smart ring is now a thing. Smarty Ring ($275 when it goes on sale) features a built-in LED screen that connects to your phone and shows text messages, caller ID, social network updates, and more via Bluetooth 4.0. Designed for use with iOS and Android devices, Smarty Ring also promises to let you manage your phone’s apps, like its camera, and even set off an alert tone if you stray too far from your phone. If you like it, you know what to do.

MORE: Accessories, Tech

vela: Green Lantern. Or Blue, Or Red, Or Yellow…

Home By on Dec 13, 2013

Vela (pronounced veh-la) is a Bluetooth-enabled LED lamp from the small but spunky crew at Michigan-based twisthink. Is it just a light? Yeah, but it’s about as versatile a lantern as one could hope for. When fully charged it promises 16 hours of luminescence at full intensity, and many more hours if it’s dimmed. You can change the colors it emits at any time or set it to change on a timer; you can make the light dance like a candle; heck, you can even blow your phone to turn it off. So basically it’s four times as entertaining as Ryan Reynolds in Green Lantern.

MORE: Home, Lighting

The Gripstar: I Believe I Brought A Clip

Home By on Dec 12, 2013

Gotta love when tech invades old school objects, like the clip. Yes, the clip. That thing just got better. The Gripstar makes the clip cool for the first time since 1641 or something by providing a fast, functional, and attractive way to hold something up. Just apply the adhesive, stick Gripstar against the surface of your choosing, then insert the object. It can hold up to 1.5kg of weight and it sticks against many types of surfaces, including wood, brick, glass, metal, and wallpaper– never leaving a mark.

MORE: Decor, Home

Powerslayer: Smart USB Charger

Tech By on Dec 12, 2013

With all these ‘smart’ devices out there, one glaring component has been sorely overlooked in the electronics-with-a-brain category: the charger. Yes, the little thing that delivers your phone’s precious juice has been an afterthought… until now. The Powerslayer is billed as a smart USB charger that intelligently powers up your devices while eliminating energy waste and improving long-term battery performance. Thanks to the embedded software, Powerslayer powers off and on automatically, delivering energy only as needed to protect against over-charging. It’s made in California and they have some pretty smart people there if you subtract the Clippers management.

MORE: Accessories, Tech
Next ›