Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

There are a lot of dangers lurking in the average home that most people aren’t even aware of. For instance, did you know that your common dimmer switch with it’s razor sharp edges and dangerous sliding mechanism has sent more people to the hospital than harmful chemicals and kitchen-related accidents combined? But before you start tearing out all the dimmer switches in your home (be careful! make sure you’re wearing kevlar gloves!) you might be happy to know that the MoMA Store is now selling a much safer alternative to the death traps being sold at your local Home Depot. The Electro Puff Lamp Dimmer is actually an electronic sensor made from colorful recycled carpet fibers and conductive yarns. You can use it to control a lamp’s light level with a simple tap, and not only is it safe to use, but it’s also stain resistant and antimicrobial. So if the safety of your family is of your utmost concern, you can get one of these Electro Puff Dimmers from the MoMA Store for $35.

[ Electro Puff Lamp Dimmer ]

By Andrew Liszewski

We’ve all been lectured on the benefits of proper posture when working on a computer, particularly when you spend a vast majority of your waking hours hunched over a keyboard. But it’s not always easy to maintain a good posture, and even if you remember to sit up, over time your body will naturally return to its previous slumped state. Unless of course you have one of these Visomate sensors which sits atop your monitor and keeps an eye on your posture for you. It connects to your PC via USB, but really only uses it to power a sensor which monitors how close your head is to the screen. As your poor posture causes you to lean towards or away from the screen over time, the Visomate will automatically sound an alarm or light up an LED indicator letting you know you’re on the fast track to a chiropractor’s office. It’s available from the Rare Mono Shop for $37.

[ USB Position Sensor Alarm ] VIA [ Newlaunches ]

By Andrew Liszewski

To celebrate the release of The Matrix trilogy on Blu-Ray in Japan, Warner Brothers has created this ridiculously over-the-top packaging where the 7 discs in the collection can be stored inside a 2-foot highly detailed model of the Nebuchadnezzar. The 7 discs include a copy of The Matrix trilogy and The Animatrix on Blu-Ray as well as 3 additional standard-def DVDs featuring the ‘making-of’ documentaries. The Ultimate Matrix Collection, as it’s appropriately called, will probably only be available in limited quantities when it’s released in Japan on December 17th, and will sell for about $375.

[ The Ultimate Matrix Collection ] VIA [ TOYSREVIL'S I LIKE TOYS ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Ok, so maybe simply multiplying by 7 isn’t the most accurate way to gauge your pet’s age. In fact, university studies have shown that depending on the size and breed of your cat or dog, they could be anywhere from 2x to 7x the equivalent human age, which complicates things a bit when it comes to crunching the numbers. Thankfully though, this Pet Care Clock from Sega Toys is designed to do the difficult math for you. It’s your standard LCD desk clock that shows the time and date, but once you enter your pet’s birth date and specify their approximate size, the clock will also show you their supposed age. (Calculated with a variety of different formulas.) And if you’re the type who likes to celebrate a pet’s birthday you’re in luck. In theory if your dog is aging 7x as fast as you, they should also have 7 birthdays a year, and this clock will actually alert you to every single one of them so you can remember to pick up a gift and a cake on the way home.

[ Pet Care Clock ] VIA [ Gearlog ]

By Luke Anderson

I’m all for combining two useful devices into one even more useful one. However, if you are going to successfully accomplish this, there are two guidelines that really matter. First, the two products should probably be related in some way (a desktop keyboard combined with a tire gague probably wouldn’t go well together). You’ll also want to make sure that the end result can perform the tasks of both independent objects, and perform them well. This BoomCooler is a perfect example of how not to do that.

I can totally get why you would combine a cooler and a sound system. Having good music and cold drinks in the same place is always a good idea. With its 10” sub, dual 6”x9” speakers 600-Watt amp and CD player, you’ll have plenty of good music, but where it fails is in the cooler department. A cooler is pretty simple, it just needs to keep things cool. However, the BoomCooler is not recommended for wet storage, which means no ice. Sure, you can go out and buy some cooler packs to stick in there, but those don’t always work the greatest. I’m pretty sure that for $900 you could get a cheap cooler and get a separate portable sound system.

[ BoomCooler ] VIA [ UberGizmo ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Like power outlets, there never seem to be enough hangers available in a hotel room. And while I’m not exactly the type who has to keep all of my clothes hanging neatly in a closet, it can make things a bit easier when you’re living out of a suitcase for a week or so. You could solve the problem by going the aluminum folding travel hanger route, but I think these Blow Up hangers are a better solution since they take up considerably less room in your suitcase when deflated. But when fully inflated they should be able to support most garments, and not only will the rounded shape keep your clothes in “good form”, but they’re also safe to use with that wet shirt you just washed in the bathroom sink. They’re available in a 2-pack from Bosign for about $10.

[ Blow Up Hangers ] VIA [ productdose ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Have you been looking for the perfect way to combine your passion for Disney with your passion for overly elaborate home security setups? Well even if you’re not, it seems someone out there is, which is probably what led to the development of the M30P Magic Mirror system. At first glance it looks like a regular old mirror hanging on your wall, but the mirror finish actually hides a 30 inch LCD display that features a CGI character known as “Basil of the Mirror” who magically appears to alert you about any problems around your home. The Mirror does require you to have an already existing security setup, but a collection of over 100 different messages make it seem as if Basil is actually monitoring your surveillance cameras, motion detectors and other security sensors. Some of the more popular messages include:

• “Hmmm…most curious… it seems that we have a pedestrian approaching up our driveway”
• “For your information… a motor car has departed”
• “It appears that a pedestrian is exiting out of our driveway”
• “May I inform you that the motor car garage door has just been opened”
• “Pardon me, this is merely a reminder, but the motor car garage door is still not secure”
• “Will someone please greet our guests at the door!”
• “Ahh yes….. it seems the Jacuzzi is now at the selected temperature”
• “Pardon me, but isn’t it time to leave for practice”
• “Alarm! Alarm! The pool gate has been opened”

The Magic Mirror can also be used to monitor the video feeds from your surveillance cameras which will automatically be displayed whenever Basil is notifying you about one of them. And if for some reason you’re not a fan of Basil’s personality, the company (Themeaddicts Inc.) can even create a custom character for an additional fee.

[ M30P Magic Message Mirror ] VIA [ Popgadget ]

By Luke Anderson

I’m fortunate to not work in an environment where I have to worry about my co-workers stealing my lunch from the office refrigerator. However, I’ve known a few people to have their sandwiches (or whatever) turn up missing when it comes time for their lunch break. It’s usually pretty obvious that their food was not taken by accident, which meant that someone decided that they were hungry enough to eat someone else’s lunch. So how does one protect themselves from lunchtime thieves? Make your food appear as repulsing as possible.

If you don’t mind eating gross food, you could always just make sure that you bring something that no one would want to eat. If that’s too much, then just disguise your food as something disgusting. These moldy bags will no doubt make sure that your food is passed up when someone goes scrounging for lunch. These appear to only be a concept for now, so you’ll just have to let your food grow its own mold.

[ Sherwood Forlee ] VIA [ UberReview ]

By Andrew Liszewski

This animated T-Rex skeleton, which is quite honestly too awesome for words, is actually designed to be used as a Hallowe’en decoration for those people who like to go a little overboard on that haunted holiday. But if I were willing to spend $21,862.50 on this sucker (including the stand) you better believe I’d leave it on display all year round. With its 5 inch base Rex is about 13 feet tall and 25 feet long, and the optional museum-esque display stand adds another 4 feet to that height. It also features 6 fluid and lifelike movements as well as an extremely loud roar that’s sure to have younger trick or treaters skipping your house. I’ve also included a video after the jump if you’d like to see it in action before you sign that check.

[ DINO200 Animated T-Rex Skeleton ] VIA [ Nerd Approved ]

Read the rest of this entry »