Space-age design: The mPower Emergency Illuminator is set to hit stores in March, 2010.
(Credit: mPower)Flashlights are becoming more and more sophisticated, as well as rather expensive. Case in point: the upcoming mPower Emergency Illuminator, which made its press debut this week at an event in New York. Designed by the Porsche Design Studio to be "a stylish product with emergency utility, it will cost somewhere between $250 and $300 when it comes out in March of 2010.
Aside from the fetching design, the mPower Emergency Illuminator boasts some innovative battery technology. One battery "tube" stores two CR123 batteries, while the other has what's called an OnCommand Reserve Battery that the company says has a minimum 20-year shelf life and will deliver "power on command when and where you need it."
While the special reserve battery isn't rechargeable and will wear down if you use the flashlight a lot, it will never degrade just sitting around in its tube. In other words, you could never turn this torch on for years, and it would still work the moment you need it--according to mPower. Replacing the backup battery will cost you around $25, though that price may go up with inflation over the years.
It's also worth noting that the flashlight has a built-in USB port for charging cell phones and other gadgets. If there's juice available from the CR123 batteries, your device will draw power from them; if not, it will charge up via the backup battery.
Comments? Would you rather have this model or the battery-free LED quick charging flashlight from 5.11 Tactical?
Beamer, an iPhone case with a built-in LED light, will only be available for purchase if at least 500 people preorder it.
(Credit: Quirky.com)It's not like us to get too excited about an iPhone case, but this one shines--literally--because it's the very device I was wishing for last month while traveling in Europe.
This iPhone day shot of the Leaning Tower of Pisa turned out just fine, but my night shots didn't work at all. Beamer would have helped.
(Credit: Michelle Meyers/CNET)Beamer, as the name connotes, is an iPhone case with a built-in LED light you can turn on to use as both a flashlight and a camera flash. Just the thing I needed when I wanted to shoot the Leaning Tower of Pisa at night with my iPhone, having left my real camera back at our hotel.
And it sure would have helped in Paris when we returned at night to our historic apartment building and had to climb six flights up a pitch-black spiral staircase. (I did light the way with my iPhone, but this would have been much better.)
Beamer has a hard-plastic, two-piece design, equipped with a replaceable coin cell battery that provides about 10 hours of illumination. Pressing the silicone button once will turn the light on for 10 seconds. Pressing it twice in a row will leave it on indefinitely, or until you press it a third time. It comes in an array of bright colors.
The case is just the latest design from Quirky, a relatively new collaborative design community that also conceived of the super-cute DigiDude tripod and that cool Watt Time light-bulb shaped alarm clock.
In line with Quirky's crowd-sourced production model, the Beamer won't be available for consumers until 500 orders have been made, at which point those who have committed to buying it will be charged $32. Right now, 44 prospective Beamer owners have preordered.
Three LED flashlights for five bucks? How can you go wrong?
(Credit: Froobi)I really dig the new breed of LED flashlights. (Of course, I'm easily impressed by bright, shiny things.) LED flashlights are supercompact, but give off way more light than the big, bulky, skull-cracking glow sticks of my youth.
Today only, daily-deal site Froobi is offering a three-pack of 9-LED flashlights for $0 (plus $4.95 shipping).
Each light measures about 3.5-inches long and promises a whopping 100,000 hours of bulb life. (Take that, tungsten!)
You'll have to supply the batteries (three AAA's per flashlight). Speaking of, I'm a big fan of Duracell precharged rechargeable batteries that are only a little pricier than disposables, but can be recharged hundreds of times (ergo, they're way cheaper in the long run--and better for the environment, too).
These little flashlights are crazy-handy. Toss one in your car's glove box, another in your tool kit, a third in the junk drawer--you get the idea.
It's difficult to tell from the product page just what colors you're going to get, but the ones shown are all metallic and cool looking.
Alas, it's too late to get these in time for Halloween (they'd be perfect for trick-or-treaters), but, hey, there's always next year.
(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET)
For this week's installment of the weekly Crave giveaway, we have an assortment of Duracell Smart Power accessories that are just about to hit stores. Included in the package is an Instant USB charger, a sweet Daylite LED flashlight, a Go Mobile charger with two AA and two AAA rechargeable batteries (plus a car adapter), and last but not least, the myGrid cable-free conductive charger (you lay your phone on a mat and the battery juices up). Out of the box, the myGrid only works with the Blackberry, Motorola, and Nokia models pictured, but additional charging adapters are available and next year a charging sleeve, which doubles as a protective case, will be available for the iPhone.
Normally, this collection of Duracell products would cost about $170, but you have the chance to get it gratis.
So, how do you try to win the Duracell goodies? Let me enumerate the basic rules. Please read them carefully; there will be a test.
- Register as a CNET user. Go to the top of this page and hit the "Join CNET" link to start the registration process. If you're already registered, no need to register again.
- Leave a comment below. You can leave whatever comment you want. If it's funny or insightful it won't help you win, but we're trying to have fun here, so anything entertaining is appreciated.
- Leave only one comment. You may enter this specific giveaway only once. If you enter more than one comment, you will be automatically disqualified.
- The winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive (1) Duracell Instant USB charger, (1) Duracell Daylite LED flashlight, (1) Duracell Go Mobile charger, (1) Duracell myGrid cable-free induction charger. Approximate retail value is $170.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified via e-mail. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
- Entries can be submitted until Monday, October 12, at noon EDT.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Sweepstakes ends at 12 PM ET on October 12, 2009. See official rules for details.
Good luck.
The flexibly magnetic legs allow the Gorillatorch to grip on any surface.
(Credit: Joby)I tried out the HUGlightrecently and thought it was really cool and practical. Now, I've run across something that brings both coolness and practicality to a new high: the Gorillatorch flashlight.
Introduced by Joby on Tuesday, the Gorillatorch appears to be the first flashlight that comes with a set of flexible tripods. The three legs, made of medical‐grade ABS plastic and German TPE rubber, are flexible enough to be easily bended into any shape. This flexibility, plus the fact that they have strong magnets, means Gorillatorch can grip to virtually anything, leaving your hands free for other tasks.
The Gorillatorch's lamp is powered by three AA batteries (included), and its brightness can be adjusted to three levels. At the highest level, the Gorillatorch shines at 65 lumens (15 lumens brighter than the HUGLight) of white LED light. This is about as bright as most handheld LED flashlights.
According to Jody, at the brightest level the Gorillatorch can shine nonstop for about 20 hours before running out of power. When the brightness is turned down, it can last up to 80 hours.
Now, if only it were waterproof, which it is not, that would make it a perfect companion for outdoor activities or rough working environments.
The Gorillatorch weighs less than 9 ounces, is 8 inches tall, and has a suggested price of between $29.95 and $34.95. It will be available next month and comes with a one-year warranty.
The 200 Hour GlowStick sells for $6 at venues including Home Depot, Target, and the Red Cross Web site.
(Credit: Life+Gear)Given that I'm a city girl about to go camping for the first time in years, I couldn't help but pay attention when information on Life+Gear's 200 Hour GlowStick popped up in my in-box.
The glow-handled LED flashlight offers 200 operational hours on three replaceable AG-13 batteries (first set included). LED flashlights, of course, aren't new, but this one also functions as an emergency flasher and a signaling glow stick. And that's not all campers. The little GlowStick has a built-in high-decibel whistle, just in case you get lost or a bear shows up (wait, are bears repelled by noise or drawn to it? Help, I'm an urban girl!).
The $6 multitasking gadget promises a lifespan of 10,000 hours--probably way more camping than I'll undertake in my lifetime. It floats, is water-resistant, and uses 100 percent recyclable components. And, and as added bonus, it comes in red, blue, green, and orange. You know what that means, don't you? Rave in the woods!
Even when the lighting is fine, you might still want to wear the HUGlight just because it's wearable and it's got "HUG" in its name.
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)I was playing cards with some friends the other night and the power went out. Fortunately, we got a few flashlights and were able to continue the game, but not without some level of awkwardness as it was hard to hold the light in one hand and deal the cards with the other.
Things could have gone a lot more smoothly, however, if we had a few of the flashlights I just got in.
The HUGlight comes in different colors.
(Credit: MyLight.com)It's aptly called the HUGlight. Unlike most traditional flashlights, the HUGLight is a malleable steel alloy wire stick, covered with thick soft foam rubber, with light coming out from both ends.
You can bend it into different shapes to give you hands-free, hassle-free lighting. The best application is probably to wear it around your neck when reading or, in my case, playing cards. It can also be wrapped around objects or coiled to stand on any flat surface.
Each end of the HUGlight is equipped with a spotlight and a wide-angle LED. These two can be turned on and off separately to give you better control over the level of lighting. When both are turned on, they provide a wide-area illumination with stereoscopic light, shining up to 50 lumens.
This is a level of lighting that's perfect for reading but not bright enough to play detective with. For example, it's not something you can rely on when walking on a slippery path at night.
Powered by two AAA batteries, the HUGlight can provide up to 40 hours of illumination. It's available in a rainbow of colors and measures 6.25 inches by 12.65 inches by 1.4 inches and weighs less than half a pound. If the color is right, it actually looks good wrapped around your neck, which is why it's too bad it's something not designed to be used during the day.
The HUGlight is available for purchase now and costs just $14.95.
Light for Life uses ultracapacitor technology.
(Credit: 5.11 Tactical)Last year, 5.11 Tactical, which makes clothes and gear aimed at law enforcement officers (but sells to civilians), announced a new high-tech flashlight called Light for Life. Only recently, however, has it become available to order.
What's special about it? Well, the flashlight uses three LEDs, but its key component is Flashpoint Power technology, an ultracapacitor energy storage system from Ivus Energy Innovations.
Light for Life recharges in just 90 seconds and shines at 90 lumens for 90 minutes per charge. The flashlight has three modes: bright (270 peak lumens), standard (90 lumens), and strobe, which is good for dance parties or scaring the neighbors' dog and kids (OK, I'm kidding, but you get the picture).
According to 5.11 Tactical, the 50,000-hour LEDs never have to be replaced and the flashlight is engineered to "offer 10 years of maintenance-free service under typical conditions." (You can recharge it up 50,000 times or one time a day for 135 years.)
I got a chance to play around with the thing at a recent event, and I have to say I was pretty impressed. It's lighter (16 ounces) than it looks, and it feels very durable. The one question I asked was: what happens when the power goes out and you have to recharge the thing? Answer: it comes with a 12V DC automotive charger, so you can use your car to charge it up in the event of a power outage.
The only drawback: Light for Life costs a whopping $169.99. But 5.11 Tactical says that when you add up the cost of all those D batteries over the lifetime of a battery-powered police flashlight, it's still a deal. And then there's all that good karma you get for not chucking those batteries into the garbage or landfill. It's hard to put a price on that.
Comments?
See one more photo after the break. ... Read more
(Credit:
Perpetual Kid)
Flashlights can be serious business for some people, with collectors spending upward of $200 for a high-end one. That's not what the Battery Snap is. This $5 flashlight connects directly to a 9V battery and can be turned on using a tiny switch on the top. That's it, there's nothing more to it. The simplicity of this gadget makes it great for kids, especially if you're giving them a physics lesson on electricity.
We reckon it's not exactly the newest product around. Let us know in TalkBack if you have one or have seen it in a novelty shop.
(Source: Crave Asia via CrunchGear)
Start off with a bowl full of Gadgettes, inspired by illuminated electronics. Sprinkle a serving of bling prescribed by our resident doc. And finish it off with a loud new segment that's been a long time coming.
Listen now: Download today's podcast
 |
EPISODE 126 |
OLED Wallpaper: Who needs a window?
Flashlight with assault crown is dangerous lighting
Modern decor for coffee addicts
On call street lamps let you light up the town with your cellphone
Good Vibrations
Vibrator chandelier
What the hell?
Old-timey rotary phone hides Bluetooth secret
Tool Time
Alcohol shotgun will still kill brain cells
Pink Watch
Scar your iPod for life with these shaggy cute-cases
Bling RX (thanks for the name, Eli!)
World’s Most Expensive Crystal and 24k Gold Plated Bike
Voice mail
Anonymous
shark rant!
E-MAIL
... Read more
