This talking USB earth globe connects to your computer and allows you to download weekly updates about nation states, governments, political boundaries, culture etc.

30 learning activities with facts about countries geography, currency, political leaders, history, language, and population are narrated in a clear digital voice. Once a category is selected on the control panel, users place the stylus on a country to listen to up-to-date global info, or they can compare the currency, population, and travel times of two countries by moving the stylus between the two nations.

Young geographers test their knowledge in “Find” mode; the globe asks up to four players to find countries, capitals, and cities, and users r ace against the clock to locate the correct locations with the stylus. Simply connect the included USB cable to a PC running Windows Vista or XP and access the manufacturer’s website to download current statistics and world news; download service is free for the first year ($14.99 per year thereafter).

The Always Current Talking Globe measures 14(H) x 12(W) x 12(D) inches. The product is available from the Hammacher Schlemmer website for $179.95.

Someone has come up with the “bright” idea of combining a fish bowl and an earth globe, and then light it up with glowing blue light-emitting diodes.

Simple and safe, our Globe Aquarium w/ LED Light is the perfect addition to any room in your house. Made with superior glass and aluminum alloy base with modern design, this aquarium will help provide a healthy environment for your fish. The aquarium holds 1/2 gallon of water. Comes with 0.8W LED Light.

The Globe Aquarium with LED Light is available from the Aquariums & Bowls website for $49.95.

(Nerd Approved via Coolest Gadgets)

Looking pretty much like this levitating globe from Deal Extreme, but with one bonus feature; this scale model of Earth also comes with a 4-LED lamp.

The Floating Global with 4-LED measures 10.50 cm in diameter and hovers in midair using electromagnetism. The product is available from the Gadget Brando website for $26.

Simply touch any point on this smart globe using the SmartPen and you will be able to learn amazing facts about different areas of the world.

Features:

• Features 30 exciting activities and quiz games about countries, capitals, major cities, populations, languages, history, current events and more
• Includes an interactive guide to flags from around the world and corresponding national anthems
• Download customized information for three age groups: 5-8, 9-14 or 15 years and older – great fun for all ages
• Download up to 6 languages: Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Italian and Portuguese
• Features 30 English and 6 Spanish activities
• SmartPen can be used wirelessly, plugged in using the audio cable (included) or using headphones (not included)
• 2 years of free downloads for current events and world facts
• Includes a pull-out United States map for more detailed activity, Oregon Scientific SmartUpdate content to update facts and news, and an AC adapter
• For 1 to 4 players

The SmartGlobe V2 is available for $130 from the Discovery Channel Store.

This “magic” globe has more to show than what first meets the eye. When it gets dark, a light sensor transforms the globe from a map of the world to a beautiful brightly illuminated map of the night sky.

It shows 88 constellations all with their common names (far easier to remember), so not only is it fascinating and educational, it also makes a great nightlight.

Features:

• This is two globes in one.
• By day it reveals the world’s capitals, cities, political boundaries and natural features at a scale of 1:60,000,000.
• By night it reveals 88 constellations with their common names.
• A light sensor.
• Requires a mains adaptor (UK adaptor included).
• Size: 33 x 19 x 19cm.

The Glowing Globe costs £49.99 (about $104 USD) at I Want One Of Those.

The advertising globe on the Mira Ball continuously displays text and pictures of your choosing by using LED lights and an electric motor.

This is a great gadget for both advertisers and for people looking to give a unique and cool gift. Pictures, cartoons and text will be displayed with low noise as the electric motor drives the high brightness linear array LED lamps into high speed rotation and all the while the video text stored in the ball seems to be played out in a 360 deree rolling mode because of the inertia of people’s vision.

Features:

• High brightness Linear Array LED Lamp with high speed rotation for displaying characters and pictures
• Display Area: 360 deg display angle
• Rotation Speed: Approximately 2,300 revolutions per seconds
• Written Messages: Up to 30 Characters long
• Photo/ Cartoon Display: Low Rez Pictures/ Cartoon files in BMP Format
• 7 Color Displays: Red, Green, Blue, Purple, Yellow, White, Black
• Horizontal Pixels: 160 (color) 180 (monochrome)
• Internal Memory for display: 4MB
• Computer Interface: COM1 Port (if your computer does not have aCOM1 Port, you can use a USB to COM1 Port Adapter. Not included)
• Power Source: 110 ~ 220V or 4 x AA Batteries
• Dimension: 140×140x180 mm
• Included CD with intuitive and easy to use controls, file uploading, and programs

The Mira Ball will soon be available at the Chinavasion website.

We have already covered a couple of products like this – the Electromagnetic Earth Globe and the Illuminating Electromagnetic Earth Globe.

Unfortunately, there is not much information available about this levitating globe. We’ll just have to assume it uses electro magnets, as with the others.

Judging from the product photos, it looks like the chrome ball at top features a built-in standard magnet (see picture below) to make sure the globe doesn’t fall when you cut the power.

The blue and silver earth globe hovers in midair between a black stand and a lamp-looking curved chrome bar, with the magnet ball at the end.

It measures 7.05 x 2.32 x 7.68 inches and weighs 29.7 oz. The product comes with a 110V AC adapter and is available from DealExtreme for $37.

Discover the ancient world of dinosaurs with the Inflatable Dinosaur World Globe with Stand ($7). It measures 12 inches (30.5cm) in diameter and includes dinosaur images with names, geological period of their existence, and their habitat locations on the globe.

Remember the Electromagnetic Earth Globe from yesterday? It turns out the same company has yet another cool desktop gadget in the same genre.

Electro magnets makes the Illuminating Electromagnetic Earth Globe ($61) float in midair inside the black/chrome arch. The classic colored earth globes measures 11 cm (4.3 in.) in diameter.

Here’s your chance to add a little David Blaine feel to your desktop (if you ever wanted to do that). The cool looking black and chrome Electromagnetic Earth Globe ($137) measures 11 cm (4.3 in.) in diameter and will float in midair using electro magnets. It’s also possible to give it a spin and watch the world go round and round for a long long time…

(Via TFTS & Sci-Fi Tech)