I hate sitting down at other people’s computers, because some keyboards are simply disgusting. Now it’s not the keyboards themselves that are gross, it’s the greasy keys and crumbs that inhabit the devices that get me. Sure, I eat at my desk, but I do it away from my keyboard and wipe my hands before typing again. Well if you’re one of those people that gets the munchies during 12-hour games of WoW, the engineers at Takara Tomy have a new gadget aimed at you.
The Potechi Hand is a rather simple-looking device that grabs chips for you. When I say “for you” I mean that you have to pick it up, then press a button that makes it grab hold of the greasy snack. This is designed to keep your fingers free of grease while at your PC. What’s amusing is that Takara Tomy looks to have actually put a good bit of thought behind this simple device. Read the rest of this entry »
Remember how your mom used to tell you not to eat so fast? Well, if you’re not living with her anymore (and you really shouldn’t be) technology has come to the rescue with a gadget that replicates her nagging. The Mandometer is essentially just a scale that weighs the food on your plate while you eat, and then yells at you (vocally, no less) if you’re stuffing your gob faster than is allowed. It’s not just doing this for fun, though: studies have shown that using the Mandometer can lower your BMI by 2% over 18 months, and it’s supposed to act as part of a clinical method of improving your eating habits.
Still, this thing has no idea what you’re eating, it only records weight. Solution: pack your plate with chocolate mousse and souffle plus a couple rocks to throw of the sensor, and then go ahead and make a gigantic mess of things.
Or I guess you could just turn it off, but that would be way less fun.
If your ride is pimped out with some manner of LCD display with an A/V input, you can now enjoy local terrestrial digital broadcasts thanks to this ATSC receiver that’s specifically designed for vehicles. The blue converter box can be stashed somewhere out of sight, as well as the cables that connect it to your car’s AV center, but an included remote (not pictured) allows you to change channels or select additional inputs if you still wanted to use an external DVD player. The receiver supports the ATSC DTV standard meaning it will work in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Central + South America, while the kit is available from Chinavasion for ~$70.
Newborns, infants and toddlers aren’t able to trim their own fingernails, because quite simply, they don’t have any teeth! But overly cautious new parents might be reluctant to use a nail clipper for fear of hurting an active or squirming infant. The Buzz B from Zoli, however, is supposed to be a safer alternative to a nail clipper thanks to its oscillating cushioned pads which work like a palm sander, though considerably toned down. The pads will safely grind down a baby’s nails without harming the surrounding skin, and it includes 4 pads of varying textures that can be swapped out as your child grows. $25 available from the Zoli website.
If a 4-foot, $99.99 Death Star vinyl wall graphic makes you stop and ask “why?” then quite simply these aren’t the living room decorations you’re looking for. But for those of you who’ve already got your credit cards at the ready you can pre-order one from the StarWarsShop.com, though they won’t actually ship until February ’010.
Rarely do I look at a gadget and think, “I’m not worthy enough to own such a device,” but this is one of those times. Just looking at a photo of the the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos 566 makes me feel as if I’ve accidentally walked into a store that’s above my price range and level of sophistication, while the sales staff hope I quietly exit without making a scene. Even reading the description makes me feel awkward.
Reinvented by Australian designer Marc Newson, its balanced and simple design is as unexpected as it is obvious, resulting in a level of sobriety that borders on minimalist. Its Baccarat crystal case houses a new movement, the Jaeger-LeCoultre 566 Calibre, which in addition to indicating the hours and minutes, also displays the month, equation of time and a splendid view of the night sky as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. It also includes an indication of the cardinal points and astrological signs. Two limited editions will be available: a series of 48 in Baccarat crystal, and another of just 28 in blue Baccarat crystal.
All I got to say is that’s one fancy ticker box you got there mister! And the price? Well if you actually care what it costs then I’m pretty sure this isn’t the desk clock for you. Now would you mind leaving without making a scene?
With an LCD display just 2.5 inches in size, don’t think of the Gigtube from Aputure as an upgrade to your DSLR’s own LCD display, since it’s probably far from it. Think of it more as an extra useful remote control. It connects to your camera’s video out and USB ports and allows you to monitor a live feed (if your camera supports live view) or snap and see a photo immediately after you’ve taken it.
The 2 meter extension cable means you won’t be able to wander far from your camera when using the Gigtube, but it does seem handy for properly framing shots in situations where you can’t easily look through the viewfinder or check the LCD. A built-in rechargeable battery should keep it running for about 3 hours of continual use, and it’s available from various online retailers, like Amazon(Adorama), for about $200.
Nintendo fans might want to skip this mod because it requires sacrificing a Game Boy Advance, but since you couldn’t really see the LCD display on the original non-backlit model anyways, this seems like a far better use for the housing. The mod doesn’t require much in the way of electronics capabilities, short of removing screws and various bits of circuitry, but ‘Goteking‘ who created this bit of hackery did manage to stash the iPhone’s sync cable in the GBA’s battery compartment for easy access. And thanks to some clever alignment the ‘B’ button on the GBA can actually be used to press the iPhone’s ‘Home’ button.
I’ve seen a number of different “desktop organizers” before, and most are just boring hunks of plastic or metal that don’t do much. Here’s one that still doesn’t do a ton, but at least adds a little style to your workspace, along with a few extra USB ports.
The Space Bar is essentially a tray under which your keyboard slides when it’s not in use. Its aluminum construction will definitely fit in with anyone owning a Mac, but should also look good with any setup. Three USB ports can be found on either side of the Space Bar, giving you easy access to a free port. Will this thing revolutionize your desk? Probably not; but the $42 price isn’t exactly terrible for what you get, provided you don’t have a keyboard tray built into your desk.
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