By Andrew Liszewski

You know how the big downside to owning a pickup truck is that your friends are always asking you to help them move? Well I suspect the same thing would happen if you also rode this Camioncyclette, designed by Christophe Machet. It features ample sized storage compartments in the front and back of the bike, and the ride-able prototype can apparently support somewhere in the neighborhood of 330lbs, meaning you can carry people too if they’re willing to contort themselves into a wire cage.

[ Camioncyclette ] VIA [ I New Idea Homepage ]

By Andrew Liszewski

It never feels right when you play a classic MAME-emulated game using a keyboard or a modern controller that’s been designed with ergonomics in mind. It’s still fun, but if your hands aren’t sore after 10 minutes the sense of nostalgia just isn’t there. So do yourself a favor and pick up one of these classic one-button joysticks from ThinkGeek ($24.99) which now feature a USB port allowing it to be connected to a PC or Mac, without drivers, for a truly authentic MAME experience.

You tinkerers out there will also appreciate the fact that the joystick’s circuit board actually supports two more buttons, so with a little wiring and Dremel work you can turn this into some kind of super-advanced 3-button model from the future.

[ USB Classic Joystick ] VIA [ UberReview ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Kids rarely have a good comprehension of time. Like when you tell them it’s still another two hours to grandma’s house, and ten minutes later they’re asking “are we there yet?” So the KWID watch features a unique digital hourglass LCD that provides a more visual and easily understandable representation of just how long a given amount of time really is. So when you tell them they can play outside for five more minutes, they’ll see just exactly how quickly the minutes will disappear.

The KWID watch also has a traditional clock face mode with the time displayed as numbers beneath it helping kids learn how to read the hour and minute hands, and various playful animations that make learning more enjoyable. It’s also ~$37 (£22.95) from Baby Sleep Shop which might actually be a bit on the expensive side given how ‘well’ kids take care of their things.

[ KWID Hourglass Watch ] VIA [ Babyology ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I don’t spend a lot of time on the sides of snow-covered mountains with frictionless sticks strapped to my feet, so forgive me if this idea isn’t that new. But I still think it’s rather clever. The Magnestick system is designed to prevent young winter sport enthusiasts from falling off of ski lifts, using a pretty simple idea.

Each child wears a light (just 200g) back protector while on the slopes, which not only protects them from collision injuries, but also features an exposed metal plate on the back. On the ski lift seats you’ll find a set of electromagnets which automatically activate once they make contact with the metal plate, ensuring the rider can’t accidentally fall off even if the safety bar hasn’t been lowered. And the electromagnets don’t deactivate until the rider’s skis touch the ground again at the top of the hill, even if the safety bar has been lifted. According to their website the Magnestick system is already in use in several ski resorts around Europe, but so far in the U.S. only the Alpine Meadows resort in Lake Tahoe has installed one.

[ Magnestick Safety System ] VIA [ Be Sportier ]

By David Ponce

Amazon is in a giving mood. Until November 6th, on a select number of titles, they’re giving away the third title free. Simply put three games in your shopping basket and the less expensive of the three will be free. Titles include: Just Dance 2, Fallout: New Vegas, DJ Hero 2, Rock Band 2, Star Wars: The Force Unleasehd, DJ Hero 2, Medal of Honor, Sims 3 and many more. These are for pretty much any gaming console, be it PS3 or Xbox 360 as well a portable devices and PCs.

Once again, the offer ends November 6th.

[ Buy Two Games, Get One Free ] VIA [ LogicBuy ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Over on The Gadgeteer they just reviewed a clever little contraption that will appeal to guitar, banjo or stringed instrument players that require a pick. It’s kind of hard not to instantly ‘get’ what the Pick Punch does, but if you’re having trouble wrapping your brain around it just think of it as a hole punch that produces 351 or Fender-shaped guitar picks, instead of round confetti.

The Pick Punch website also sells sheets of plastic in different varieties depending on what material you like your pick made of, but you’re also welcome to use old credit cards, gift cards, even plastic containers if you were hoping for something truly unique. $24.95 available from Pick Punch.

[ Pick Punch ] VIA [ The Gadgeteer ]