By Bruce Eaton

Pinky up while changing your flat low-pros with the Flat Tire Concierge. Inside a compact storage case is a mat for you to kneel on instead of the dirty ground, a pair of rubber protective gloves so as not to mess up your manicure, and a full-size elastic tire tote or “condom” that will slip over any tire up to 31″ in diameter.

$24.95 gets you the Flat Tire Concierge kit. Now you will be able to move and carry that dirty, naughty tire without grime-on-suit-shirt syndrome.

[Flat Tire Concierge] VIA [Coolest Gadgets]

By Andrew Liszewski

So you want to indulge your paranoia about being spied on but at the same time you don’t want to shell out the $500 for this Wireless Camera receiver we wrote about earlier. Well you’re in luck. For only $99 (summer sale price) you can get yourself the pocket-sized Spy Finder which will allow you to easily search for hidden cameras in the gym locker room, department store dressing rooms or even at work.

The Spy Finder works on the principal of optical augmentation which basically means that any light reflected from a device that is capable of focusing will bounce directly back from where it came. As a result the Spy Finder uses a ring of ultra-bright LEDs to illuminate the lens of any hidden cameras. Simply look through the viewing port, scan around a room and any bright reflected spots you see could very well be a hidden camera.

The Spy Finder is currently available from BrickHouse Security for $99.

[Spy Finder Hidden Camera Detector] VIA [Techie Diva Guide to Gadgets]

By Andrew Liszewski

Besides the wheel the invention of the chain is probably what made the modern bicycle possible but ironically it’s also the bike’s biggest downside. The chain usually needs a lot of maintenance and care to keep it functioning properly and of course there’s always the risk of pant legs or loose shoelaces getting caught. If the Dekra D-Drive (Direct-Drive) system works as well as they claim it does we could be seeing the end of the bike chain as we know it.

Power from the pedals is transferred to the back wheel of the bike via an enclosed shaft that works alongside a bevel gear system. The shaft itself is made of a lightweight yet durable aluminum alloy and should survive even the roughest of rides. The setup even allows for a three-speed Shimano gear system for ‘optimized pedaling efficiency.’ The biggest advantage of having all the gears and drive shaft enclosed is that the D-Drive system never requires cleaning, lubrication or maintenance.

The Dekra D-Drive bike is currently available from the Dynacraft online store in a men’s or women’s model for $300.

[Dekra Direct-Drive Bike] VIA [High T3ch Magazine]

By Andrew Liszewski

I think at one time or another in their childhood most boys want to be a sniper when they grow up. As a kid it seems like it would be a cool job but as you mature and realize just how bad the Tom Berenger film really is you move onto other interests.

For those that stuck with the dream though this sniper watch from Telford Services might be of some interest to you. Now I’m not going to pretend to understand the specifics of effective sniping or what makes this watch useful so here’s a blurb from their website.

Calculate point of impact by inputting critical variables that determine elevation and wind adjustments. Works on all MILDOT, TMOA, SMOA and clicking rifle scopes. Punch in data about the ammunition you are shooting and the conditions you are shooting in and the watch will display the appropriate hold over for a sure hit… It’s that simple. This enhances a shooter’s confidence to engage targets out to 1,000 meters with “whenever/wherever” portability. Data is easy to enter – even through gloves – with the most critical information arranged for fast change and access.

The 5.11 H.R.T Sniper Watch is available from Telford Services for ?199.99 in either ‘Titanium Tactical’ or ‘Steel Dress’ finishes.

[5.11 H.R.T Sniper Watch] VIA [MobileWhack]

By Andrew Liszewski

This should come as a relief to anyone who uses electric power tools outside, particularly those tools designed for cutting. Three inventors from Indiana have patented a new kind of power cable that prevents dangerous electric shocks in the event the cord is severed.

The two live wires in the cable are insulated in the standard way but alongside them runs a bare uninsulated ground wire. All three of these wires are then insulated with a polymer that is laced with black carbon which allows it to conduct electricity. If the cable is accidentally cut the current will flow to the earth via the path of least resistance which happens to be through the conductive polymer and then the ground wire. This of course is far safer than the current flowing to the earth via the power tool and the operator.

[Safe Cable Patent] VIA [New Scientist Invention Blog]

By Andrew Liszewski

If you find yourself stuck at an airport for a few hours you usually just want to find an empty seat and doze off to help pass the time. On the other hand you’re probably also worried about the safety of your carry-on bag full of expensive gadgets you didn’t want packed in your suitcase.

With one of these Doberman Alarms attached to your bag you can rest peacefully knowing that if someone even touches your gear a 100 decibel alarm will sound. After clipping it to your bag just use the keypad to enter your preset security code and the alarm’s motion sensor will then be ‘armed.’ In an emergency the alarm can also be set off by simply pulling the unit’s ‘pin.’

The Doberman Bag Alarm should be available come mid-July 2006.

[Doberman Bag Alarm] VIA [The Red Ferret Journal]

By David Ponce

Quite some time ago, researchers tried to get machines to render 2D images into 3D. They failed. That was because ‘puters at the time flubbed it. But hey, it’s like 30 years later, and we got some serious chips at our disposal. So, the guys at Carnegie Mellon got to work and have made some remarkable progress. If you come inside, you can see footage of what their program is able to do. Give it a 2D image, and it’ll automatically find visual cues of its composition and extract three dimensional information.

Yeah, I bet there are those of you that will poke a thousand holes into this. Not true 3D, etc. Still. Check out the video, and come back and tell me this isn’t some impressive progress, especially keeping in mind these are the first successful steps in this field.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Andrew Liszewski

This is one of those gizmos that definitely puts the ‘Geek’ in ThinkGeek. Take a normal analog pocket watch but make it split open to reveal a perfect replica of the 5,000 year old Stonehenge monument. Telling time with the watch is as easy as finding a sunny spot, inserting the casting gnomon and then properly positioning it based on the built-in compass. (Complete instructions are included.) And for those of you wondering the watch also allows you to accurately predict both the winter and summer solstices. You won’t find that in any Casio.

The Stonehenge watch is currently available from ThinkGeek for $39.99.

[Stonehenge Watch] VIA [Gear Live]

By Andrew Liszewski

So you’ve got the Flux Capacitor and even the full size time-travelling DeLorean but if you venture into the year 2015 you’re gonna look pretty stupid with those 2006-era Nikes on. That’s why you’ll need to grab these ‘authentic’ 2015-era Nikes from ebay in order to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

While they’re not any of the actual pairs made for Back To The Future 2 these replicas appear to be pretty accurate. (Based on the minimal amount of close-up screen time the shoes had.) What’s that you say? Marty McFly’s sneakers never lit up like that? Well apparently the original prop shoes were actually able to light up because of a futuristic basketball scene that was cut from the film. As a result the prop shoes were never switched on during any other scenes.

The starting bid for the shoes is $400 which is roughly what most Nikes go for these days anyways.

[BTTF 2015 Nikes on ebay] VIA [Slam X Hype]