The gadgets that changed your life

When we asked you to tell us which gadgets changed your life, our goal was to arrive at a simple list of important devices. Instead, we learned how some of the products we talk about on Engadget every day make such a profound impact.

Remember when Facebook bought Oculus VR a few weeks ago? The news led to heated conversations about how VR technology would lose its edge and become a vessel for "branded experiences" (or in layman's terms: fancy ads). But we've seen actual life-altering uses of the Oculus Rift as well. For example, before Roberta Firstenberg passed away (and far too young, we might add) this technology gave her an opportunity to relive her younger years and see the sun one more time.

MOST LIFE-CHANGING GADGET: IPHONE

In what was a top 10 list full of smartphones, the iPhone came out on top. Specifically, theiPhone 3GS. When it debuted in 2009, we considered it an incremental upgrade to the 3G, but still an "unquestionably excellent smartphone." Reader Matthias Liffers from Perth, Australia, remarked:

"This gadget finally let me address my information addiction without having to remain in front of a computer all day."

Apple wasn't alone however. The Droid X, Galaxy S II and Palm Pre were also well-represented. And BlackBerry had more than its fair share of fans, too.

MOST LIFE-CHANGING GADGET (THAT WASN'T A SMARTPHONE): TIVO

Talk all you want about how you're going to cut the cord, but we know you can't live without cable and a DVR filled with The Real Housewives of New Jersey. While the term "TiVo" has become synonymous with "DVR" (kind of like asking someone for a "Kleenex"), the company still does well on its own. We most recently called the Roamio Pro "the company's best yet."

On TiVo, Tom Paladino from Long Island, New York, said:

"It completely reorganized how I consumed television at the time, and laid the groundwork for how I would consume media over the next decade and beyond."

HONORABLE MENTION: PRE-PAID FEATURE PHONES

Charles Everett III told us about the gadget that changed his life, a Kyocera K9:

"(The Kyocera K9) was my first cellphone my parents gave me. It was prepaid, so if I wanted to keep it on, I had to work by doing extra chores, saving left over lunch money and getting good grades."

The real story here, though, isn't about the K9, since most prepaid phones at the time were good for one thing only: making calls. We're more intrigued by the way Charles' parents taught him responsibility by giving him the phone, but made him work to keep it running. We can only hope that other parents are teaching the same lessons today with data allowances. Want more data to send selfies on Snapchat? Mow the lawn, kiddo.

TOMORROW'S LIFE-CHANGING GADGETS

If, in the past decade, phones and DVRs changed our lives, what will come of the next 10 years? Will we see a more discreet head-mounted computer that's less likely to result inassault? Or will it be something we can't even imagine yet, delivered to you by Amazon's PrimeAir drones? Whatever it is, we're pretty damn excited to tell you all about it when the time comes.

New Sonos Android app has cross-service search

The app now features three main modules. These tell you what music is currently playing, which room it's playing in, and let you find a song to play next.

Also new is a cross-service search function. This harnesses the power of other services like Spotify, Last.fm and Hype Machine. Search for an artist, and it'll bring you results from all these different services. So you can play their album from Spotify, their dedicated radio station on Last.fm, and their latest tracks through Hype Machine.

That means if one service has something to offer over the others, you won't miss out. And it's all brought together in one simple-to-use interface on the  Sonos app.

Sonos says the new app has the technology to adapt to what the firm has in store in future. It doesn't reveal any more of these plans, but that suggests more features are on the way soon.

The app will launch this spring, but if you have an Android device, you can sign up to the beta now and give it a whirl.

The Sonos desktop controllers for Mac and PC will also be updated later this year.

Google Smartwatch Specs Leak, Show Hardware Comparable To Galaxy Gear 2

Some new details about Google’s upcoming smartwatch, which is said to be made by occasional Nexus hardware partner LG, have emerged from mobile leaker @evleaks, who has a solid track record when it comes to unreleased devices. Shortly after techoblog  reported that Google’s smartwatch development is progressing, @evleaks said that LG was making Google’s device, and that it would debut at the search company’s I/O developers conference this year.

The new specs show a device with a 1.65-inch screen, with a screen resolution of 280 pixels by 280 pixels, which makes for a display density of 240. It also has 512MB of RAM on board, alongside 4GB of storage, which makes it roughly equivalent in many ways to a low-end smartphone. The processor is still a mystery, but based on these stats we can also see that it has a slightly less high-resolution screen that the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2, and the same amount of RAM and internal storage.

Google’s self-branded smartwatch should be arriving soon, given the recent uptick in leaks and a general consensus that we’ll see it this year, so stay tuned to find out what’s up for the tech leader’s take on the emerging wrist-mounted wearable space.

Switched On: Birth of a platform.

Regardless of what one may think about the potential for smartwatches, one of the most exciting things about a new device category is that there is so much experimentation with form factors and capabilities. We've already seen products with different display technologies (Memory LCD, LCD and OLED) and varying screen sizes. Some have various combinations of microphones, speakers, cameras, touchscreens, WiFi or cellular radios. Their prices have ranged from less than $100 to $400 and beyond and their battery life has varied from a day to a year. And then, of course, there are many of the factors that differentiate traditional watches -- size, design and materials.

The launch of the Pebble app store brings to mind the launch of the iTunes App Store for the iPhone. In both cases, a convergent device was being opened up to the imagination and creativity of a world of developers. Taking advantage of its early marketplace entrance (and perhaps some lessons learned from the Allerta inPulse), the Pebble is an extremely constrained platform. With no touchscreen, no keyboard (not even a screen-based one), few accessible controls and a tiny monochrome display, one must have realistic expectations about the sophistication of the apps, of which the watch can have only eight resident at a time. Even accessing some of the apps can be a hassle requiring multiple button presses.

On the other hand, the Pebble has access to certain advantages that the iPhone didn't have when its app store launched. For one thing, it has the iPhone itself (and now Android phones), as an always-connected bridge to do the heavy lifting of connectivity. It also has access to a far greater wealth of internet-based services to draw on, many of which were dragged online and made more accessible because of smartphones. And finally, it is arriving in the early days of a world where, increasingly, everyday objects are connected.

The Pebble has access to certain advantages that the iPhone didn't have when its app store launched.

The initial six categories of the Pebble app store are: Daily, Tools and Utilities, Notifications, Games, Remotes and Fitness. Immediately, one can see that this is far from a perfect topology, but a few of the categories stand out. Games always seem to be a staple of new platforms, but the two categories that best reflect the heart of the smartphone are fitness and notifications. The Pebble doesn't have any special sensors to judge body signs apart from the standard-issue accelerometer, but a whole class of wearables has been focused on providing a reflection of activity -- an input focus. Conversely, notifications -- a feature of the pre-app Pebble -- represent the other main smartwatch focus, the at-a-glance output focus.

Remotes is a bit of a new twist as a category. Indeed, one of the first App Store apps released by Apple for the iPhone was the Remote app for controlling Apple TV. Similarly, using the connected smartphone as a surrogate, the Pebble can reach out and provide wrist access to some of the emerging Bluetooth and WiFi-connected devices such as the Philips Hue lights, Nest thermostat and GoPro camera.

There are a few notable, popular web-based and mobile-based services. These include Yelp and Foursquare, the latter of which has made a habit of being first on a platform with a showcase app. Developers also haven't been afraid to push the Pebble to tasks for which it may not be well-suited. One of these includes an app that allows you to "mirror" the image coming from your smartphone's camera -- at least as well as it can be mirrored on a 1.26-inch monochrome display.

Smartphone app stores have included many of the staples of the PC ... but became better known for a new class of applications that were inherently focused on location and context.

As has been the case with smartphones, the Pebble store can serve to expand market awareness for services that might not cross the radar of someone just looking for a watch that can display a variety of different faces. If you weren't aware of the Indigo or Vera home-automation platforms, you will be when you peruse the store.

Smartphone app stores have included many of the staples of the PC -- web browsers, email, Office productivity -- but became better known for a new class of applications that were inherently focused on location and context, tied to social networks and optimized for a new interface. In its early days, we can see evidence of that trend continuing with smartwatch apps. There is overlap with some of what one can do with a smartphone, but the emphasis has shifted to a different class of applications that is addressing the promise of what one can do with a quick bit of attention to one's wrist.

Gear Fit: The Most Beautiful Wearable Gadget From Samsung

In recent times Samsung has been known to push boundaries, stepping into new technology categories that other major tech companies are still hesitant to go in to. While others are thinking whether to jump in or not (they will), Samsung is pushing even harder. Samsung today announced a new wearable gadget; a stunning smart watch called the Gear Fit.

Samsung Gear Fit

Samsung at the mobile world congress unveiled quite a few products. The main product was supposed to be the Samsung Galaxy S 5 but it seems another Samsung gadget has stolen the show – the Samsung Gear Fit.

The Gear Fit is a fitness tracker that has a stunning curved AMOLED display that is almost viewable on all angles. You can easily wear it on your wrist and the straps are removable. Samsung has multi-colored Gear Fits including designer ones.

The thing that is really going to draw people towards the Gear Fit is the stunning aesthetics; it is absolutely beautiful to look at. Those of you who appreciate a beauty in a product would definitely want to buy this.

Although the product looks amazing, there is a slight downside. The features in Gear Fit are not as many as those found on its siblings; the Galaxy Gear 2 and the Galaxy Gear Neo. It doesn’t have a camera, speaker or a microphone; maybe Samsung has focused too much aesthetics.

We shouldn’t be complaining too much as this is a fitness tracker, most of the people who are going to buy this will use it in a gym or when working out.

The Gear Fit can measure your rate heart in real-time as well as the ability to count steps. It will also display notifications such as messages or other alerts. The built-in coach feature will let you know how you are exercising, whether to go fast or go slow; something many people are going to find very useful.

Samsung has skipped some features and opted for a light and more durable device. It is rated IP67, the same as Samsung Galaxy S 5; meaning you can use it in water and it is dust resistant.

Samsung Gear Fit will be launched on April 11, alongside the Galaxy S 5, Galaxy Gear 2, and the Galaxy Gear Neo. The price of the Gear Fit is not yet available, we will have it as soon as it is mentioned.

Xbox Fun: Xbox One to get massive price cut, 1TB hard drive, report says

So, what does Microsoft have up its sleeve for the Xbox One? Will we see a bigger hard drive, or maybe a cheaper disc-free model? With the PS4 taking the early lead in sales, Microsoft is definitely going to need to react in some way, especially considering the PS4 is set for a mammoth release next month in its home country of Japan. Thanks to a huge dump of leaked information, we might already know what to expect out of Redmond in 2014.

Over at NeoGAF, a user going by the name “ntkrnl” revealed a number of interesting detailsregarding Microsoft’s plans for the Xbox One. This anonymous source revealed countless information on big titles like Halo 2: Anniversary Edition, a new Forza Horizon installment, and the next Gears of War game. More importantly, some information also surfaced about the console itself

Google’s smart contact lenses for diabetics: Another step towards the Google-powered cyborg

Google X, the secretive research lab famed for its work on Glass and Google’s self-driving cars, has unveiled its next product: Smart contact lenses. The first smart contact lens, aimed at diabetics, takes a glucose level reading every second from the tears that wash over your eye when you blink, and transmits that data wirelessly to a nearby device. Google doesn’t say what device, but presumably a smartphone or Google Glass. Yes, if Google X has its way, we will soon all look like cyborgs, our bodies becoming interconnected networks of implants and augmentations.

Currently, if you have diabetes, you generally have to perform finger-stick blood tests throughout the day. At best this is inconvenient, at worst it’s disruptive and painful — but either way, if you want to safely manage your blood sugar levels, it must be done. Due to the inconvenience factor, though, many diabetics don’t test themselves as often as they should — which then leads to all sorts of nasty situations, such as passing out. There are other ways of reliably testing blood sugar levels, such as your tears — but, as you can imagine, collecting tears is no easier than pricking your finger. Unless you have a smart contact lens…

I'm Watch -android smart watch

i’m Watch

the Smartwatch

i’m Watch is much more than a watch. It’s a latest generation device that makes the most of your smartphone. With i’m Watch you can leave the phone in your pocket, in your purse or on your desk.

Calls, SMS,

E-mails and Apps, always available.

i’m Watch communicates with your smartphone, showing you, thanks to its clear and bright display, all the messages you receive. If you receive a call, you can see who’s calling, wherever you left your smartphone.

i'music, all the music you want, directly to your wrist.

i'music is the i'm Watch application that allows you to find, download and listen to your favorite music, choosing from over 6 million songs. Limitless!

Iron shaped clock and speaker!!!!!

Obviously I spend a whole lot of time
perusing the Internet looking for the latest
and greatest stuff, okay, its not always the
greatest, but for the most part its has some
fun factor.This um,creative little alarm clock is shaped like a
miniature iron. It has a built in radio and
an alarm clock that can be connected toeither your iPod, MP3, PC, tablet or
notebook in order to play music. What time
of night do you think this freakishly strange
gadget idea was born?
at least this iron wont make you work, it
will work for you. The Iron iPod
Speaker acts as an alarm clock with a
12/24 hour format display, date display,
an FM radio and a functional speaker for
your iPod. 
It takes 2 AA batteries and comes in pink,
orange or blue and you can get.

Meta 1 -Enter the virtual world

The start-up Meta from New York is developing a wearable computing eye wear"Meta1" which enters into the 3D space and uses your hands for interaction in the virtual world.It consists of  stereoscopic 3D glasses and a 3D camera attached to the glasses to capture the hand movements.

meta 1

By wearing these glasses one can immerse in the augmented reality created by it.

Overtime apps would be created for Meta 1  like the information cards,3D games which can  be manipulated and controlled by hand gestures.Other applications for architecture,medicine where 3D graphic processing is very useful will also be developed.

The augmented reality concept has been shown in feature films like "Avatar",Iron Man" series.Now it's really close to reality.

The current generation of meta is a bit bulky and tethered to an external computer,but the company would like to modify the existing one .The next generation will  include an on-board computer,will be lighter than the previous gen.and  will be 'trendy'.

2nd Gen. Meta glasses

Smart Fabric

Now the fabrics have become smart too.

Now there are sleeping bags and shorts which charge your smartphone while you are on the move

.

Vodafone announced its line of sleeping bags and clothing which can charge  smartphone,tablets,etc.

These apparels are made of the "SMART FABRIC" which draws the kinetic energy when the person is moving and the thermal energy which is the body heat from the user and sends it to the POWER POCKET where you put the devices that are to be charged.

This technology is developed by the students of University of southampton,UK

According to developers one day's walk in Power Shorts can charge to  4 hours of battery-life 

and one night's sleep in the Recharge sleeping bag can charge to 11 hours of battery life.

Vodafone will be releasing it in the UK market by the late june and sure it will take hell of a time to come to indian market.

POWER SHORTS

Beats pill

A lightweight, portable 
speaker that brings the
party with you. The Beats 
Pill is wireless and 
Bluetooth enabled, so that 
you can play music from 
your device or take calls. 
Small enough to fit in your 
hand, the Beats Pill surprises with its powerful signature 
sound.
You’re good to set up anywhere. The Beats Pill is lightweight so it won’t slow you down and small enough to fit in whatever you’re carrying out the door. The carry case even comes with a handy carbine so you can attach it to your backpack.

SMALL SIZE, BIG SOUND.

Despite its compact size, the Beats Pill produces powerful sound. It’s easy to enjoy soaring highs and deep, booming bass in every room of the house. The Pill is Beats' smallest wireless speaker and completely cord-free.

CHANGE TRACKS FROM YOUR PHONE.

Or your laptop, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device from up to 30 feet away. The portable Beats Pill frees you to roam which means you’ll always have high quality sound near or far.

TOTALLY PORTABLE.

You’re good to set up anywhere. The Beats Pill is lightweight so it won’t slow you down and small enough to fit in whatever you’re carrying out the door. The carry case even comes with a handy carbine so you can attach it to your backpack.

BLUETOOTH CONFERENCING

Take that call. The Beats Pill’s Bluetooth capability and internal microphone make talking on the phone easier and better sounding than ever before.

FLEXIBLE DISPLAY

As the name suggests it is flexible,
An OLED  rather made of plastic than traditional glass which is why it is also said that it is unbreakable. There have been a lot of prototype designs by major electronic companies across the past few years containing "the" flexible display.Let's have look at some. 

PHILIPS FLUID

PHILIPS came up with the design of a
smartphone containing flexible OLED display.It named the phone "FLUID".This mobile phone can be wrapped up around the wrist  just like a bracelet.Well this trendy smartphone didn't yet come up in the market and is not of company's plans in near future

                            NOKIA KINETIC 

A flexible smartphone prototype that allows for navigation by physically deforming the device .this device has a fully bendable screen.By twisting the handset laterally you can scroll through the lists of media. Bending the edges toward you or away from you zooms in and out, and then more twisting pans around the zoomed image.This too is nowhere near the commercial production.







SAMSUNG YOUM
At CES 2013, samsung unveiled its flexible screen "YOUM"
which it is planning to soon release into the market through smartphones and tablets.the prototype consists of a screen which is bendable and only attached to base making it  paper-like.





Curved OLED TVs

Leading electronic giants SAMSUNG and LG have displayed their respective curved OLED TVs of 55" screens at the CES 2013.well,the companies say that curved screens increase the depth of viewing which is actually quite true for the panoramic scenes.These TVs are set to appear in market by 2014 with high price tags.

Goal Line Technology(GLT) to make its Debut

         Goal-line technology or the GLT, will finally make its debut in the FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP 2013, BRAZIL. FIFA confirmed in April '13 the appointment of GoalControl GmbH as the official GLT provider for the tournament.

WORKING
The GLT system uses a magnetic field to track a ball with a sensor suspended inside. Thin cables with electrical current running through them are buried in the penalty box and behind the goal line to make a grid. The sensor measures the magnetic grids and relays the data to a computer which determines if the ball has crossed the line or not. If the ball does cross the line a radio signal is sent to the referee’s watch within a second. Adidas designed a ball that could suspend and keep a sensor safe and intact even when the ball is struck with great force.

FIFA has successfully conducted tests on the GLT systems installed in the Maracanã Stadium, Castelão and Fonte Nova in Brazil with the swiss test institute EMPA

The use of this technology will probably not allow the blunders like the disallowed goal of Frank Lampard against Germany in FIFA World cup 2010 and increases the accuracy of referee's decision.