The Griffin Helo TC: Now Ready for Take-Off with your iPhone

The Griffin Helo TC: Now Ready for Take-Off with your iPhone
Revolutionary advancements in technology have enabled us to accomplish practically anything our hearts desire – even once-thought unimaginable things, like flying a helicopter! Okay, so, while most of us will not be positioning ourselves behind the controls of an actual helicopter anytime soon, the Griffin Helo TC is next-best to the real thing. Cleverly termed an “appcessory”, this gadget marries a mini, remote-controlled helicopter with an app that works best on an iPhone of iPod.
Don’t let the word “mini” fool you – this Helo looks, down to the detail, very much like a real chopper with a chic, jet-black plastic shell and a minimal metal chassis beneath it. The toy copter also features a single rotor on top of the body for lifting, and a tail boom featuring a tinier rotor for controlling direction – and while navigation is not a cinch and definitely comes with a learning curve, it doesn’t take much to master the controls via the D-pad on your iDevice.
Moreover, aviators can alter the direction of the chopper by simply tilting their iDevice accordingly – and these motions have proved to be much more sensitive and reactive than a classic joystick. The Helo should, without a doubt, be played with in a spacious area – and if you’re flying inside, make sure you pick a room with high ceilings. (On that note: navigating the device outdoors may be a bit difficult, since even a slight wind is apt to throw the chopper off course). The Helo also dons an Auto Land feature, allowing users to easily perfect a smooth, bump-less landing.
While the Helo provides some awesome entertainment, the toy’s battery will only provide approximately 15 minutes of flying time – but you may find that a fair trade-off in exchange for the piloting pleasure you do experience during those minutes!
Check out CPS for an extended warranty for your iPod, iPhone or any other iOS device you may use keep your Griffin Helo TC soaring!

Get Ready to Reach Into Your E-Wallet

Your digital wallet is about to get slimmer, because using it is soon to be a whole lot easier with the new Google Wallet service. Similarly, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon (A.K.A. Isis) have joined forces with mobile phone manufacturers like HTC, LG, Motorola, RIM and Samsung to help propel the revolutionary tap-and-pay service. The e-wallet will allow users to take care of a restaurant tab, pay a cab fare, donate to a non-profit – and complete any type of financial transaction in a jiffy (and most importantly without the need for cash-on-hand).
The technology behind the new way to pay is Near Field Communication (NFC) which functions via an integrated circuit where information is transferred between close distances and also has functionality alongside Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology – whose market seems to be growing at super speeds. Also quickening the access to pay-by-phone, is of course amalgamation of the NFC technology with smartphones. As many NFC chipsets have already found their way into phones recently, they are expected to find homes in a slew of other devices, too, like tablets.
NFC enables for functions other than paying-by-phone, too – for instance, Google’s Beam service, which has been integrated into the Android 4.0, allows users a unique transfer-by-touch function: by touching two phones together, information like photos, files and web pages can be instantly exchanged between them.
As-of-yet, the chipsets necessary to activate and utilize Near Field Communication are pretty steeply priced. For that reason, the technology has not been able to reach the masses of people eager for e-cash. However, experts in the field have predicted – and hope for – an approximation of  30% of all mobile phones on the market to be equipped with NFC. Some phones that currently have the chip are the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, The Google Nexus S, and Blackberry Bold.

Spring Design’s Android-Infused Alex E-Reader is Hot and Handy!

Just because you own an e-reader, doesn’t mean you don’t want to put down Mrs. Dalloway now and then to check out the latest Kardashian goings-on. Lucky for you, Spring Design is hip to your need to curl up with a classic as well as your need to veg out on the internet.  As a result, the company has created the new Alex e-reader, which combines the e-reading experience with the web browsing experience into a hot, dual-screened gadget featuring both in e-ink.

Spring Design modeled part of its dual-personality-ed reader after the smartphone by incorporating the Google Android Operating System and a color touchscreen on the bottom third of the Alex – but without the Apps. Alex is fashionably ahead of its brother and sister-e-readers, as it is thinner (0.4-0.5”), longer (8.9”)and not as wide (4.7 – 4.9”) – and consider this device the Kate Moss of the e-reader world, weighing in at a waifish 11 ounces.

Alex’s features include a USB charging and data-transfer, a 2.5 mm headphone jack, 2 top-quality speakers, and a microSD slot with storage capacity or 32GB (2GB of which is pre-installed). Accessories include an AC-to-USB power adapter, a USB cable, headphones which users have touted as being exceptionally cozy, as well as a protective neoprene sleeve for sporting this e-reader even on the busiest subway train without the worry of scratching it up.

Now onto Alex’s performance: consider it at the level of a first-generation Android phone. Startup time lags a little, scrolling through menus proves a bit stop-and-go-ish, as the screen tends to stutter, and the touchscreen keyboard requires users to wait a split-second for each key to register after being tapped. Nevertheless, Spring Design has created an ambidextrous, stylish gadget that is sure to seduce a slew of e-readers/web surfers – and adequately priced, Alex makes for a pretty fine device.

Nikon Coolpix P500 Review

Imagine a camera that lets you take pictures of objects you didn’t even realize were there – well, you can do just that with the new Nikon Coolpix P500. The camera has an amazing 36x optical mega-zoom that can capture astoundingly small subjects with exceptional focus. The best part is, the camera offers these great focal ranges and the lengthy telephoto scope of a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, without the high cost of one.
The Coolpix lacks the mirror-box assembly of an actual DSLR as well as the big APS-C sensor and lens mount, so it is substantially lighter than one, and it measures slighter, too, at 4.6” x 3.3” x 4.1”. Including the battery, the camera weighs 17.5 ounces – comparatively less than average cameras weigh by themselves.
Features of the camera, in addition to the 36-power lens, include a combined AF Assist and self-timer lamp, a pop-up flash, a burst button for changing speeds and adjusting shutter, and stereo mics for the 1080 HD video. The Coolpix’s mode dial allows you to choose between Auto setting and Scene setting. Scene provides you with 16 selections including Scene Auto Selector which prompts the camera to “guess” the subject it is shooting and adjusts itself accordingly for the best quality photograph production.
Other features include a CMOS sensor that shoots numerous frames – and can even take several shots and merge them for a better exposure result, an LCD screen, a a .24” electronic viewfinder (EVF) at 230K pixels with diopter control and a vari-angle 3” monitor at 921K pixels.
Video components include a surrounding toggle that allows you to record High-Def or High-Speed clips and movie-makers will be glad it does 240fps QVGA so they can review slow-motion clips.
These are just a few perks you get when you purchase the Nikon Coolpix P500 – the camera comes with a slew of other neat tricks that both novice and pro photographers will fall in love with. It’s perfect for anyone desiring to capture shots within a huge focal range with superior picture quality, at a reasonable cost.

Enjoy a Brand New Day with the ARCHOS 35 Home Connect

Archos, the tech-product company of some popular MP3 players and tablets has launched its first stab at the home electronics sector with an Android-based Internet radio/alarm clock called the Archos 35 Home Connect.
The innovative gadget transforms your morning routine into an Android experience with over 50, 000 internet radio stations to choose from that will blast – or quietly wake you with – High Definition audio. And it features the integrated TuneIn App. It sports a custom-designed ARCHOS Alarm Clock App, too, which pleasantly delivers weather forecasts, news headlines and traffic updates right to your bedside.
The device is sleeky designed with a 3.5” touch screen, 2 High Definition speakers – and it’s portable, too. With its super-long battery-life, you can take your ARCHOS Home Connect on vacation or business trips with you – and for extra convenience, download the ARCHOS Remote Control App on your Android Smartphone or tablet. With the Remote Control App, you can manage the device from anywhere on the same WiFi connection (Its got embedded Wi-Fi 802. 11b/g/n as well as Bluetooth connectivity).
And of course, you can download any of your preferred Android Apps right onto the ARCHOS Home Connect, because the innovative device features a storage capacity of 4GB with an expandable micro SD card slot – making it easier than ever to create your very own morning wake-up call.
Stop waking up on the wrong side of the bed, and purchase the ARCHOS 35 Home Connect! And if you care not to mess with your morning routine, the device might also make a great buddy to have on your desk at work. No matter where you keep it, don’t forget to protect your new tabletop companion with a warranty from CPS.

A Glance at the Best iPad Covers Around

In addition to a strong iPad case, be sure to protect your purchase with an iPad warranty from CPS. If you’ve got an iPad or will be purchasing one for yourself or as a gift this holiday season, you’ll certainly want to ensure it’s protected. Luckily there is a bevy of ways to shield your iPad from the dangers of your daily grind like dropping it, scratching it or spilling something on it. From casual fabric sleeves to aluminum cases to leather covers – take your pick.
The Smart Cover, which is probably the most popular, is sleek and durable, lined with protective microfiber, and features an aluminum hinge that magnetically aligns with your iPad for a snug fit. Its doubles as a keyboard stand – and also wakes or sleeps your iPad on its own.
In the shell genre of iPad cases, the Marware Convertible is a wise choice. It’s slim protective hardshell case features a clear back window, functions as a typing stand via retractable feet and also has a convenient removable hand-strap. Plus, it’s thin enough that you can slip it inside another neoprene sleeve or a notebook bag.
For moms and dads, Griffin’s Crayola Trace & Draw makes the cut in the land of creative cases. Designed for the iPad 2, this imaginative case transforms into a kids’ activity station by coupling a protective cover with a coloring table. It is custom-designed for compatibility with Trace & Draw Apps, features a storage spot for one washable felt-tip Crayola marker, which is included (as is paper).
Lastly, a cool new case you may want to check out is the Grablet. It is a protector that fits over the back of your iPad 2 and features 2 12” straps with a “G” bucklet, 4 strap retaining rings, and a padded wrap that you can slip your hand into for easy “grabbing” and holding on to. A great gadget for reading your iPad on the subway – or any other place you need a little extra helping keeping your iPad close and secure.