New Technology Items: September 2010

Antigravity Platform

No, you are not seeing things. Well, obviously you're seeing something, but the thing you're seeing is in no way an optical illusion. This Antigravity Platform is not a Paul Daniels trick crossed with a Stephen Hawking treatise, it's an amazing and different way to display your ornaments, trinkets, pictures or whatever object you fancy viewing from all angles.

Of course, it's not magic, but it is very clever. The platform itself is a whopping great electromagnet (not as scary as it sounds) and whichever object you want to levitate a few inches above it is placed on another magnet. Just don't ask us exactly how it works. All we know is… y'know, magnets. You can also plug the platform into the mains and illuminate your floating thingies - delightful. Just give it an encouraging tap and it'll revolve indefinitely too, giving a slightly Buck Rogers effect to whatever you've chosen to display.

It comes with a globe to start you off, and it looks great when it revolves. The real charm is being able to display anything you like (with a weight of about 3 ounces or less) in a unique way - the Antigravity Platform quite literally revolutionises how we enjoy the bits and bobs we want to show off.

The Antigravity Platform uses strong magnets to levitate your trinkets.
Perfect for ornaments, small photo frames etc.
Globe included.
Simply pop whatever you want to display on the included magnetic stand and let it go above the platform.
Plug it into the mains to illuminate with nice blue lights.
Developed by an international engineering team (ooooh!).
Be sure to keep the platform away from computers and other such technology that might be sent doo-lally by magnets.
Suitable for ages 8 years +.

Size:-

18.5 x 18.5 x 3 cm (platform).
9 x 9 cm (globe).
5.5 x 5.5 x 1.3 cm (magnet/stand).

Laser Theatre

If you're the sort of person that likes to stage their own Muse concert indoors with the minimum of fuss, then the Laser Theatre is for you. Of course, you'll have to learn to play guitar and waffle on about conspiracy theories, but what's life without challenges, eh? The Laser Theatre is, frankly, an astounding piece of kit that allows you to create an extremely professional-looking laser light show that's so big it could be projected on the side of your house.

That's all very impressive - but how does it work? Well, aside from looking a little bit like Johnny 5 from Short Circuit, there are some extremely powerful built-in laser projectors (red and green) that you can control yourself. Choose the lens, pick a speed for the lights to whiz around at and enjoy the show! There are 4 different holographic lenses to choose from so that the show can vary, and there are 39 different laser show combinations in total.

Whether you're projecting in your front room or entertaining friends in the garden, the Laser Theatre is big enough (and small enough) for the job. You can balloon the show to 100 feet wide or confine to 10 feet wide, it's up to you. With so much control over a spectacular show, you'll want to invest in some pyrotechnics and a stage for the back garden before long. No matter what size you want it and no matter what kind of spectacle you need, the Laser Theatre allows you to make it happen.

The Laser Theatre allows you to create your own laser light show in your front room.
Built-in red and green lasers.
Four holographic lenses to choose from.
Control the show yourself.
Speed control.
39 laser show pattern combinations.
Lens storage compartment and lens cover.
Perfect for indoor use or outdoor displays - up to 100 feet wide!
Mains powered (adapter included).
Suitable for ages 8 years +.

Size:-

16 x 16 x 13 cm.

Immortal Video Sunglasses

Even though they've got a slightly strange name, these Immortal Sunglasses are well and truly excellent in every way. That's mostly because they can record extremely high-quality videos while you're wearing them, thanks to the cheeky little pinhole camera located on the front, meaning that whatever you look at goes on tape. Aside from making you slightly paranoid about what you look at for too long, this means that any active stuff you do can be recorded and transferred to your computer for viewing.

Let's get back to that high-quality video, shall we? Inevitably, many tiny cameras suffer when you come to review the blocky footage you've recorded, but with the Immortal Sunglasses there's no such disappointment. The 3 megapixel lens produces sharp, colourful images and has a resolution of 736 x 480 (that's good, by the way). When you've shot your prize-winning POV footage, then simply use the USB connection to transfer it to your computer. With 4GB of memory on board you won't be running out of space any time soon, either.

We think the Immortals would be especially good for skiing, seeing as you need sunglasses anyway when you're belting down the slippery slide of a glacier (they just make you look that little bit cooler). Truth is, they're equally good for mountain biking, hiking, jumping out of planes (the wrap-around design is pleasantly firm), and all manner of outdoor pursuits. Indoor ones too, if you like. There's a substantial 2.5 hours of battery life off a full charge, and recharging is via USB, mains or (shock horror!) the cigarette lighter in your car.

Basically, we've seen a lot of these super-cool action cams in our time, and the Immortal Sunglasses are undoubtedly up there with the best of them.

Immortal Sunglasses are super-cool video recording glasses.
Perfect for filming sports and other vigorous activities.
Excellent quality video.
3 megapixel camera.
Resolution: 736 x 480.
4GB of built-in memory.
Video format: AVI.
Recording speed of 25 frames per second.
Battery life of 2.5 hours.
Charges via USB, mains adapter or in-car adapter (all included).
Compatible with Windows Media Player, Quicktime, Real Player, Storm Codec.
Computer requirements: Win98, WinMe, Win2000, Vista & Mac OSX.
One size fits all.
Suitable for ages 8 years +.

Size:-

H: 5 W: 15 D: 7 cm (when folded).

Twilight Umbrellas

Rain is grim enough already without adding a dull umbrella to compound the misery. These three cheery rain-beaters laugh in the face of glum weather. The original Twilight Umbrella is studded with a galaxy of tiny white fibre optic lights. Wouldn't it be nice though if you got to see some of the twinkling action - not just the passers by. You dont just want to see the show by staring into a puddle? Thankfully, the other two Twilight Umbrellas have arrived just in the nick of time. One has colour phasing stars that not only light up the outside of the umbrella, but light up the inside as well, letting you walk around in your own bubble of rainbow coloured calm while the heavens empty around you. Unless you want the lights to be white, in which case we suggest you go for the white version. Obviously.

Not only do they make you visible, but these funky light-up umbrellas stand out happily from all the dreary black ones out there. Perfect for brightening up your commute during the long winter months.

Black Twilight Umbrellas with funky glowing lights.
Available in black with tiny white fibre optic lights, black with tiny colour phasing fibre optic lights, or the Inside and Out Umbrella with either colour phasing or white LEDs inside and out.
The umbrellas have an automatic open button.
Switch on handle to control coloured lights.
Suitable for ages 5 years+.
Requires 3 x AAA Batteries (not included) per umbrella.

Size:-

87 x 6 x 6cm (unopened).

DJ Decks

Though vinyl is undoubtedly making a bit of a comeback in this age of digital superiority, there is an unswaying majority that craves the shock of the new - for them, we have this beautifully intuitive pair of USB DJ decks. No clumsy fumbling 12-inches on the turntables, no scratches, no mess, just clear digital quality and the distinct advantage of having your entire PC-based music library available to mix immediately.

Quite niftily, the Discover DJ Decks will mix your digital music and even match the tempo automatically from track to track for totally seamless transitions. There's a crossfader, bass and treble controls, and even realistic scratch wheels (they help you do that whole "wicky-wicky" nonsense) for even the most rhythmically clueless bedroom DJ to make a start. You can loop your mix to prolong the joy (or agony, depending on whether you made it past the hits of Dire Straits or not), record your performances and, best of all, it's super-easy to use.

You can go straight in at the deep end and utilise the plug and play USB connection, meaning no power or drivers are needed, and all you have to do is install the included MixVibes software to get going. After you've done that, you can hold your own warehouse rave or whatever it is that kids do nowadays.

Discover DJ Decks allow you to DJ with your digital music library.
Simply plug and play via USB, no power supply required.
Realistic scratch pads that simulate the classic feel of vinyl scratching.
No need for clumsy vinyl-fumbles.
Features a crossfader for mixing smoothly.
Bass and treble controls.
Tempo-matching feature will keep the BPM the same from track to track automatically.
Pitch control.
Record and hare DJ performances.
Loop your mixes to extend the music.
Includes MixVibes software to enable easy mixing.
Computer requirements: Mac: OS X (including Snow Leopard) and above, PC: Windows XP, Vista or 7 (32-bit and 64-bit supported).
USB port required.
Suitable for ages 12 years +.

Size:-

48 x 21 x 4.5 cm.

Pocket Cinema

The big problem with little gizmos is that their screens are titchy. In fact trying to enjoy a blockbuster on an iPod is only marginally more entertaining than trying to read the bottom line of an optician’s chart. So thank goodness for the utterly astounding Pocket Cinema.

This forehead-slappingly small device utilises breakthrough technology to project the pictures and movies trapped inside your gadgets (iPods, digital cameras, PSPs, memory cards, mobile phones and more), on to walls, screens and naked backsides. And despite its pocket-friendly dimensions, the image it chucks out is up to 50” wide. It’s even got a built-in stereo speaker.

Just think, travelling with a Pocket Cinema means you can enjoy big screen action wherever you may roam without having to lug around a ludicrously clunky projector (you know, the spool-chewing contraptions that sent entire families to sleep on rainy Sundays throughout the 70s and 80s). It’s brilliant for business presentations, parties and movie nights on the move.
Powered by a rechargeable lithium battery, the Pocket Cinema uses a high powered LED to fling images wallwards (yes, we made that word up). We’re not talking plasma quality – and like all projectors image quality diminishes with distance – but dim the lights and it’s just like being at the flicks. Plus you won’t have to put up with any popcorn munching morons. Result.

As well as its ability to free the pics and vids in virtually any device, the Pocket Cinema V10 can also play directly from its 1GB internal memory or built-in card reader. Simply pop in a card and Barry Norman’s your uncle. We’ll even chuck in a remote control. And why not?

If you’re a lover of the big screen it’s time to stop squinting and get yourself a Pocket Cinema. It really is the ideal way to check out the bigger picture. Pass the chocolate raisins.

Please note:

Requires a dark room for optimum use
Technical helpline: 0203 0516 408
Please ensure you have the latest firmware on your device. Instructions provided in product
Software provided will convert most MP4, ASF or AVI file formats to MPEG4 ASF or MJPEG AVI (recommended) file format.
ArcSoft software Windows compatible only

Product features:

Portable, no larger than a mobile phone

Projects up to a 50" screen from 21cm to 180cm

Light weight

Playback photos, video and music

Compatible with, iPods/iPhones (cable not included*), game consoles and DVD players via AV-out

Playback from internal flash memory or SD card (V10 model only)

Approximately 60 minutes operation from a full charge

Remote control included

Includes ArcSoft Media Converter and ArcSoft Total Media Extreme (V10 model only)

USB Negative Scanner

The great thing about old 35mm photos is that most of us have them 'backed up' on negatives stuffed in forgotten drawers. The bad thing, however, is that most of us can't remember what's on the negatives until we hold them up to the light and squint. And even then it's hard to tell. Enter the truly ingenious USB Negative Scanner.

Using the USB Negative Scanner is a doddle. Simply plug it in your USB port (no mains power or batteries required), slip a negative or slide into the respective holder and push it through. The image then appears on screen. All you do is wait a few seconds for the intuitive software to adjust the back light and colour balance and hit scan. Before you can say 'oh gawd, look at me fringe!' you'll have a genuine 5 megapixel piccy on your PC.