All Entries in the "Gadgets" Category
Solar Stone Is A Rechargeable Hot Stone For Soothing Body Aches
Got soreness you want relieved, but don’t want to take oral medication? Try the Solar Stone Heater, a frisbee-shaped pain relief device that you can put on the affected area to help relieve any discomfort.
Don’t worry, it’s not voodoo. It claims to be a form of fomentation therapy using heat stones, similar to the techniques used by traditional oriental healers to help facilitate the “flow of energy in the body.”
The Solar Stone’s shell is made from kaoline, a type of clay often used when making pottery. Inside it sits a rechargeable heat generator with a double stabilizer, allowing the device to emit warmth safely when placed on any area of the body.
According to the retail site, the heat will promote blood circulation on any sore area you place it on, eventually relieving feelings of soreness and irritation. It looks simple and harmless enough that it’s probably worth the try. If [...]
iPod Nano 6 Sports Smaller Frame, Sleeker Design
So, Apple introduced the latest generation of iPods yesterday. One of my favorite updates happened for the iPod Nano 6, which has been completely redesigned with multi-touch display and controls, paired with a considerably shrunken size.
Completely eliminating the clickwheel, the sixth-generation device takes on an almost square form factor, measuring 1.5 x 1.6 x 0.35 inches. Weighing a light 21.1 grams, it has a clip around the back for mounting on a sleeve, belt or pocket, making it an ideal portable music player while engaged in physical activities.
The iPod Nano’s front panel is covered almost entirely by the 1.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, which features multi-touch support and 240 x 240 pixels of resolution. You still get three physical buttons – two for the volume, one for the sleep/awake function – all of them lined at the top of the device. Playback is restricted to music and photos.
Touch controls work much the [...]
Samsung Galaxy Tab: iPad, Meet Your First Serious Competition
Samsung has finally made a formal announcement on their poorly-kept secret of a slate. Called the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the much-awaited device will run Android 2.2 Froyo and own the distinction of being the first DivX-certified tablet.
With the DivX certification, Samsung is obviously positioning this as a capable multimedia device for mobile users. Unfortunately, it won’t be able to display full 720p video, with screen resolution topping at 1,024 x 600 pixels (HD content will be played, but output will be downgraded). Aside from DivX, it also offers support for XviD, MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and other formats.
Details of the Samsung Galaxy Tab include a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, a rear-facing 3.0 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video calling, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, a bevy of onboard sensors (gyroscope, geo-magnetic sensor, accelerometer and light sensor), choice of onboard storage (16GB or 32GB) and microSD [...]
Sony SRS-V400IP Is An iPod Speaker Disguised As A Water Bottle
Tired of speakers that look like…uhm…speakers? Drive guests nuts trying to figure out where the tunes are coming from with the Sony SRS-V400IP, an iPod speaker and dock that looks like a cup holder with a matching drink tumbler. Really.
Designed for both tabletop and in-car use, the device consists of two detachable parts: a speaker system disguised as a water bottle and an iPod dock. For home use, you should keep both components intact, giving you a convenient iPod speaker dock that doesn’t really look like one. In case the car stereo breaks down, just remove the tumbler, slip it into your vehicle’s own cup holder and you’ve got yourself a backup stereo system. Just plug in the included cigarette lighter adapter, connect it to your iPod via the bundled cable and you’re good to go.
The Sony SRS-V400IP’s cylindrical speaker is equipped with a diffuser panel (the Sony Circle Sound [...]
Swimsense Gives Real-Time Tracking For Swimmers
Bikers have bike computers that count wheel revolutions. Joggers have pedometers that keep track of their steps, along with even more complete solutions, like Nike+. Now, swimmers get in on the real-time performance-tracking action with Swimsense, a wrist-worn computer that keeps a tab on your numbers while you’re paddling in the water.
Created by Finis, the device incorporates a motion-sensing system that uses accelerometers to not just count your strokes – it can determine whether you’re performing a breaststroke, backstroke, freestyle or butterfly too. Fill in the other details, such as the length of the pool, gender, age and weight, and it can deliver pretty accurate reports of your in-water performance data.
The Swimsense Performance Monitor comes in wristwatch form and should be easy to mistake as one of the many Casio knock-offs from the 1980s. More advanced than that era’s digital timepieces, however, the fitness gadget should prove an invaluable tool [...]
Burglar Blaster Blinds Intruders With Pepper Spray
We love home security systems – the nastier, the better. The Burglar Blaster squarely meets the “nasty” criteria, unloading a blast of pepper spray to blind intruders it detects trespassing on your private space.
Offered by Bed Gun Safe, the burglary deterrent is a self-contained unit that does the monitoring, detecting and attacking all on its own. You don’t even need to wire it to your home’s electrical system – it’s got an integrated “C” cell battery that can power it for up to four years before requiring a replacement. That means it will keep your home protected, even during a power outage.
The Burglar Blaster uses a passive infrared detector that can watch areas of up to 2,000 square feet. Armed with a pepper spray (you can easily replace it with new canisters when needed), it unleashes four ounces of the vision-impairing mixture when it detects intruders within range. To avoid [...]
Identity TAB, A $250 Android Tablet
Korea will enter the tablet market in a big way, as soon as LG, Samsung and the rest of those cats begins pumping out their slates like they’ve been doing with cellphones. For now, though, you’ll have to settle for the Identity TAB, an interesting-looking tablet that comes in at a sweet-sounding price.
The first Android tablet to come out of the tech-heavy nation, the slate runs Android 2.2 Froyo and packs enough hardware to stand its own against debuting competition. What’s amazing is it costs just 300,000 Won (around $250), making it a huge bargain, compared to the $400 and higher price tag thrown around for most upcoming machines (including the $550 Dell Streak). We’re guessing Samsung will follow suit when they announce their first tablet (whose leaked photos look eerily similar to this one).
Details of the Identity TAB include a 7-inch touchscreen LCD, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, light and [...]
Griffin Party Dock Turns Your iPad Into A Home Console
Need some video games for home parties? Forget picking up a Wii and turn your iOS machine into a home console with the Griffin Party Dock, a gaming accessory that plugs into your TV and lets up to four people play on any compatible game from the App Store.
All iOS machines – iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad – are supported. Just slip the mobile device on the dock, pick up the controllers and commence playing. It only supports Griffin’s own games for now (which are mostly lame quiz titles), but will be extended to others (games need to be specifically developed for compatibility with the platform).
The Griffin Party Dock uses a tabletop dock, with four detachable controllers housed on slots at the same base. Each wireless controller uses a similar layout as Apple’s IR remote (four directional controls, one central button and one back button), which should limit gameplay to [...]
Wavetooth Headphones Let You Listen To Music Even While Drowning
Love swimming in the ocean, hate listening to nature? Drown the sound of the real world with Wavetooth, a functional Bluetooth headset that can you can use even while submerged in the water.
Unleashed from the depths of Brando’s pile of crazy peripherals, the waterproof audio accessory can survive depths of up to three meters for 24 hours straight. That means you can have a complete soundtrack playing in your ears, all while snorkeling with the corrals, relaxing in the shower or surviving the coming deluge of 2012.
The Wavetooth is a pair of IPx8-certified in-ear buds and mic assembly, designed to work over Bluetooth 2.1 with most A2DP-compatible devices. Buds are wired to a tightly-enclosed controller case, with a touch-sensitive control surface and an onboard 360mAh Li-polymer battery (good for 13 hours of playback on a single charge).
It comes with a waterproof bag case to hold your cellphone or music player, [...]
Grow A Garden In Your Cubicle With The Miniature LabBox Grower
Does playing Farmville (and, more likely, Pot Farm) for 60% of your workday make you want to raise your own miniature plantation? Grow one in the comfort of your office cubicle with the LabBox Grower, which claims the unofficial title of “world’s smallest automated hydroponic system.”
Created by Micro Grow Project, the setup offers one of the most convenient ways to grow your own plants, herbs and…uhm…that thing they harvest on Pot Farm. With a grow box measuring a mere 5.40 x 5.20 x 1.44 inches (w x h x d), you can literally put one anywhere, including a spare shelf case, an empty area of your work desk or under the bed.
The LabBox Grower uses a pre-programmed PicAxe 14M microcontroller to facilitate a hands-off approach to all aspects of indoor growing, including watering cycles (four times a day), lighting schedules (you can choose from three options) and temperature settings (it [...]
Imation Link Creates Dead Simple Way To Stream To Your TV
How much simpler can you streaming video from a computer to a TV without the mess of cables and wires? We’re guessing not much simpler than the Imation Link, a two-piece wireless AV extender that facilitates the wireless stream directly from the PC to the HDTV.
A USB dongle plugs into your PC sending whatever appears on the monitor to a receiver that connects straight to your TV’s HDMI port. Yep, it’s really that easy. Offering transfer speeds that put your WiFi to shame, it can stream videos up to 720p, stills up to 1080p and stereo audio, all without fiddling with any moderately complicated hardware or software.
The Imation Link uses Wireless USB 2.0 (WUSB) to establish a connection, so you’re completely free from WiFi interference. Components consist of a regular-looking USB dongle and a 10.87 x 4.0 x 5.5 inch receiver (clad in matching satin black finish) that can play [...]
Ergomotion Mouse Rocks, Swivels And Pivots To Support Your Hand And Wrist
Still can’t find the comfort you seek in a mouse peripheral? Before giving up in favor of trackpads (or ditching PCs altogether for tablets), you might want to audition the Ergomotion, a new wrist-friendly accessory that claims to prevent repetitive stress injury (RSI) and carpal-tunnel.
Manufactured by Smartfish, the device splits the conventional mouse into two parts – a top that looks like any regular mouse and a base which contains the laser-based movement controls (800 dpi). The top is attached to the base via a central pivot that allows your wrist to bend forwards, backwards, sideways and whichever position is most comfortable, all while doing the normal things you do with the peripheral.
The Ergomotion is a symmetrical mouse that can be used by both left- and right-handers with ease. Using the unusual two-part design, it can rock, swivel and pivot, supporting all natural hand and wrist positions throughout your entire [...]
LightCap 300 Puts A Lantern In Your Water Bottle
Do you carry both a lantern and a water bottle during your outdoor adventures? Save space in your backpack with the LightCap 300, a one-liter water bottle that doubles as a solar-powered LED lantern.
Created by Sollight, the mash-up does sound a bit random. If you really think about it, though, it actually makes good sense. We do tend to keep our water bottle easily accessible – like on an outside pouch of our backpack, along the frame of our bicycles or within reach on top of our desks – so if you equip it with built-in lighting, you can quickly get illumination whenever you need it.
The LightCap 300 is a BPA-free water bottle made from clear plastic that measures 8.5 x 4 inches. Designed with usability in mind, it has a wide mouth for easy cleaning and a narrow waist for a secure grip. It also has a built-in swivel [...]
WD Livewire Powerline Streams Your Data Over Electrical Wiring At 200Mbps
Western Digital just announced a new home networking kit for hooking up your media to your various entertainment devices. Called the WD Livewire Powerline, the setup lets you stream HD content to your home theater using the house’s existing electrical wiring.
Using the HomePlug AV standard, the devices plug into your electrical outlets to send data from one room to another, sparing you from upgrading to WiFi-compatible hardware (hey, you’re cheap), lest install a mass of cables all over your house. Offering data transfers of up to 200 megabits per second, it can support playback of 1080p streams on up to seven connected machines all at the same time.
The WD Livewire Powerline comes with two HomePlug AV adapters, each one equipped with four Ethernet ports. Setting up is as simple as plugging the adapters in two separate areas – one where you’ll be watching the streams and the other wherever your [...]
Tapi, A Rubber Fitting That Turns Your Faucet Into A Fountain
Like drinking out of the tap? Stop straining your neck, cupping with your hands or reaching for a glass with the Tapi Tap Squeeze Drink Fountain, a rubber fitting that turns any regular faucet into an upwards-shooting drinking fountain.
Sure, you can put your mouth to the tap like a dog in the yard on a hot summer afternoon perfectly fine. If you like taking your water like a dignified human should, however, this little rubber contraption should easily make it happen, all while letting you use the faucet like normal if you wish.
The Tapi is a 2.48-inch rubber widget that slides snugly onto the faucet’s mouth (provided it does not have a straight spout), instantly doubling its functions. If you open the faucet and leave it to itself, the water pours out just like an unmodified tap. Pinch the bottom of the rubber, however, and the water spins the other [...]
KeyTool Keyring Multi-Tool: Eight Tools On A Key-Sized Sheet
Multi-tools designed to hang around your key fob aren’t anything new. For some reason, though, we’ve never really seen one that masqueraded as an actual key. That’s exactly what the KeyTool Keyring Multitool does, bringing eight different instruments in a single key-shaped frame.
Because of its size and shape, it literally takes no more space than a regular key, so it can sit snugly in your keyring without adding any unnecessary bulk. That means you can easily hide it among keys, making it the most inconspicuous multi-tool in the history of mankind (not that this recognition carries any real value – it just sounds awesome).
The KeyTool Keyring Multi-Tool is a stainless steel instrument measuring an impressively small 1.97 x 0.79 inches. Despite the diminutive dimensions, it manages to bundle eight different functional tools, namely three sizes of screwdriver, a wire stripper, a bottle opener, tweezers, finger nail cleaner and a nail [...]
