Wicked Lasers has done it again and lives up to their namesake "Wicked." New for 2010 is the first high performance laser pointer that uses regular AA batteries versus the typical AAA type. The result is a longer-running, even more efficient version of this popular laser pointer. Plus
I like the AA's anyway. They are cheaper.
The appropriately sized Evolution Pro (82 grams) comes with a pocket clip and MiniLock to prevent accidental power up as a safety feature. The bean is a sharp green color which I like better than orange and red (common in other models).
Requirements:
2 AA batteries
Opposable Thumb
Aim
Safety Glasses (optional)
Power. Wow!
Most lasers on the market are only 5mW. The Evolution Pro beams strong with a whopping 130mW. For those non-techies, like myself, Milliwatt (mW) is a unit of power equal to one thousandth of a watt. This pointer would certainly be overkill at your next presentation unless you were really far away in a big room. Optimum battery power only lasts for about 30 minutes, so keep extra ones handy. Your laser will continue to work for 3 hours, but for ultimate performance always use new fresh batteries.
NERD
NOTE: The term "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
Safety First Kids!
Safety is always important when it comes to powerful lasers, so Wicked Lasers includes some very hip safety goggles in an equally snazzy carrying case with each Evolution Pro series laser! I recommend using them as I accidentally hit the on button and beamed myself for a split second. It just caused me to not be able to focus for a second, but nothing worse (aka temporary flash of blindness similar to getting a camera flash in your eye). However, DO NOT point a Wicked Laser anywhere near your own, or someone else's eyes!
Also be cautious of reflections in mirrors and glass. Lasers of this level power are strong enough to cause permanent damage.
The biggest "NO NO" and best way to get your-self into a heap of trouble is to point it at an aircraft. It is very bad for pilot safety and could get you arrested and even worse get you thrown in jail!! As soon as you open the box Wicked Lasers provides you with an in depth disclaimer warning you not to do this.
WARNING: Do
NOT use your Wicked Laser anywhere near an airport or airplane.
These lasers have a range of 10 miles or more and can blind
or distract pilots. Causing interference to an American aircraft is a
federal offence that carries mandatory jail time.
Distance & Brightness Tests
I just moved into a new apartment with a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline when my Evolution Pro 130mW from Wicked Lasers arrived. I could not have a better place to show my friends and relatives the power of lasers and give a skyline tour of New York City at the same time. From directly across midtown Manhattan, I was able to shed the "green beam" on the Empire State Building Observation Deck Tower (above windows and people), The Aircraft Carrier USS Intrepid (a museum, not an active boat), The Chrysler Building, The Top of 30 Rock, and for the most impressive point of interest the Statue of Liberty!! What was amazing about this is that you could see the "green beam" on all these landmarks even with the brilliant city lights as a backdrop.
I then took the Evolution Pro out on a boat on Lake George in upstate New York. I pointed it up the lake at what is known as the Narrows forming a cluster of islands. At the Forest Ranger's estimate it was about 15 miles north to the island we were able to reach. It looked amazing going straight up the lake. We performed this test late at night when there were no boats on the water for safety reasons.
One late afternoon, I witnessed a standoff between a Raccoon and my neighbor's cat in the yard. I decided this could be a humane way to save the cat from getting its butt kicked... or even worse. I was not sure how effective the Evolution Pro would be in daylight. I pointed the laser at "Rocky Raccoon" before he was to attack, and he retreated instantly.
EDITOR'S
NOTE: We do not support or encourage the use of the Evolution Pro 130mW laser for any purpose other than explicitly outlined in Wicked Technology's user guidelines. This laser is not a toy and definitely not an ordinary laser pointer. It's a Wicked Laser! Please use your laser responsibly.
Battery Life
Before you run off to perform your own "tests" with the Evolution Pro 130mW, grab a handful of AA batteries. This laser requires 2 AA batteries and the maximum amount of time you'll get out of each pair of batteries is ~180 minutes. This is much higher compared to other Wicked Technology products, but you'll probably want to have some spare batteries just in case. Also note, you'll see the best results from your laser within the first 15 to 30 mins.
Technical Specifications
The Evolution Pro 130mW is a little thicker than a wooden spoon handle and about 6 inches long. Technical specs for the laser are listed below.
Class:
3B laser
Output Power:
20mW-130mW
Size:
13mm x 130mm
Wavelength:
532nm
Laser Body:
Black Polished Brass
Transverse Mode:
TEMOO
Beam Divergence:
<1.2Rad
Beam Diameter:
1.6mm
Power Consumption:
600mA
Power Supply;
2x AA 1.5V
Operating Mode:
Continuous Wave
Warranty:
3 Months
Switch:
Momentary On/Off Button
Expected Lifetime:
>5,000 hours
Final Thoughts
If I had one complaint about the 2010 Evolution Pro Series Laser is that the power button is sensitive and small. It's easy to turn it on by accident... especially with my giant clumsy fingers. This was how I "beamed" myself, and now I always put the glasses on first for safety. I have also had it turn on in my pocket while carrying it. Best thing to do is remove the batteries when not using.
There are many legitimate uses for Wicked Lasers like Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, and Astronomy. I, the average Joe, like it for entertainment purposes like impressing friends. It also poses as a great educational tool for pointing out places of interest in the great outdoors as well as in urban settings. It can also be used to ward off rabid raccoons or as an alternative to cat nip for your feline. I did try to get rid of the pigeons on my ledge but they are un-phased by the powerful "green-beam!
Overall, Evolution Pro 130mW is one kick-ass piece of laser technology. From saving neighborhood cats to dazzling audiences on your balcony, you'll want to keep this laser at arms length.
Wicked Technology is a company of laser enthusiasts, maybe even laser maniacs, who - like you - have been searching all over looking for the highest powered, highest quality, affordable laser pointers.
OtterBox
for iPod Mini On
the run, in the car, or at the gym, our iPods have gone with
us to the ends of the earth... except places near water. But
thanks to the OtterBox Mini you can now safely take your
iPod Mini near or even underwater.
The Torch Wicked Lasers named their new flashlight the TORCH... and for good reason. The "TORCH" is technically a flashlight. It looks like a flashlight. Operates like a flashlight. But this is no ordinary flashlight. The TORCH is so bright that its beam can ignite flammable objects as fast as fire.
Flip Mino Camcorder The super-portable, super-simple Flip Mino makes it easy to capture and share high-quality video anywhere and everywhere. And thanks to its flip-out USB arm and intuitive, built-in software, Mino lets you view, edit and upload your videos to popular video-sharing sites instantly.
Apogee Duet What if you could find a relatively inexpensive interface that could easily convert that analog signal to a higher quality digital output for all your apps? Well, the sleek, portable aluminum-cased Apogee Duet may just be the answer.
Radius Atomic Bass
Earbuds If you're looking for an inexpensive, lightweight pair of earbuds with fantastic bass, then Radius' Atomic Bass earbuds are the earbuds of your dreams.
JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser You The JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser (ba-donk-a-donk) is a custom made tank that looks like it was modeled after Jabba the Hut's Sail Barge from Return of the Jedi. Nicknamed the "Donk," the JL421 Land Cruiser made its debut in 2002 at the Burning Man festival in Nevada.
Nintendo Wii Nunchuck Controller Is a weak arm or physical stamina keeping you from taking your Nintendo Wii gaming experience to the next level? Perhaps you should look into getting the Nintendo Wii Nunchuck Controller. This accessory adds even more innovation to the next generation of gaming and does it all with less physical movement.
JBL
Creature II Speaker System What's
the point of downloading your favorite songs on iTunes if they sound
like crap on your computer's built-in speakers? The sound quality
and volume these little babies emit, much to the chagrin of my neighbors,
is truly phenomenal.
Apple TV Review You may have heard of that new Apple product, I believe it's called the, uhh, Apple TV. I understand that newspapers, other blogs, and your Aunt have already reviewed this thing, but I thought I'd add my two cents.
Mod
Your iPod Are
you a victim of the iPod's blossoming popularity? Feel like just another
pair of white headphones in the crowd? Maybe it's time you got
an iPod Mod.
H20
iPod Mini Case
H20 Audio has created a waterproof and impact
resistant case so that we can take our iPod Minis anywhere we
want… including the ocean free.
Digital
Picture Frames Why
give someone a single still framed picture when you can give them
an entire slide show? Most Digital Picture Frames can playback a
series of digital photos and videos on high-resolution screens.
JBL
Encounter Speakers In
a world of boring shelf speakers that are as fascinating
as the wires that connect them, the JBL Encounter draws people
towards it with its innovative tongue-in-cheek design and
then lavishes them with deep warm sound.
Wicked
Lasers Review What makes a Wicked Laser "wicked"? How impressive
is a military grade laser imported from China? Let's test it and find
out...
iTrip
Auto
Play your music through any car FM radio.
™
Wicked Technology is a company of laser enthusiasts, maybe even laser maniacs, who - like you - have been searching all over looking for the highest powered, highest quality, affordable laser pointers. 
JBL
Encounter Speakers
Software
Otterbox
for iPod Video
On
the run, in the car, or at the gym, our iPods have gone with
us to the ends of the earth... except places near water. But
thanks to the OtterBox Mini you can now safely take your
iPod Mini near or even underwater.
Wicked Lasers named their new flashlight the TORCH... and for good reason. The "TORCH" is technically a flashlight. It looks like a flashlight. Operates like a flashlight. But this is no ordinary flashlight. The TORCH is so bright that its beam can ignite flammable objects as fast as fire. 
The super-portable, super-simple Flip Mino makes it easy to capture and share high-quality video anywhere and everywhere. And thanks to its flip-out USB arm and intuitive, built-in software, Mino lets you view, edit and upload your videos to popular video-sharing sites instantly.
What if you could find a relatively inexpensive interface that could easily convert that analog signal to a higher quality digital output for all your apps? Well, the sleek, portable aluminum-cased Apogee Duet may just be the answer.
If you're looking for an inexpensive, lightweight pair of earbuds with fantastic bass, then Radius' Atomic Bass earbuds are the earbuds of your dreams.
Is a weak arm or physical stamina keeping you from taking your Nintendo Wii gaming experience to the next level? Perhaps you should look into getting the Nintendo Wii Nunchuck Controller. This accessory adds even more innovation to the next generation of gaming and does it all with less physical movement.
What's
the point of downloading your favorite songs on iTunes if they sound
like crap on your computer's built-in speakers? The sound quality
and volume these little babies emit, much to the chagrin of my neighbors,
is truly phenomenal.
You may have heard of that new Apple product, I believe it's called the, uhh, Apple TV. I understand that newspapers, other blogs, and your Aunt have already reviewed this thing, but I thought I'd add my two cents.
Are
you a victim of the iPod's blossoming popularity? Feel like just another
pair of white headphones in the crowd? Maybe it's time you got
an iPod Mod.
H20 Audio has created a waterproof and impact
resistant case so that we can take our iPod Minis anywhere we
want… including the ocean free.
Why
give someone a single still framed picture when you can give them
an entire slide show? Most Digital Picture Frames can playback a
series of digital photos and videos on high-resolution screens.
