Gadgets Blog

For most people, boiling an egg isn’t a big deal, but if you’re a beginner, sometimes it’s easy to mess up.  It’s also a pain when you’re overly busy to forget about the eggs and then allow for them to boil longer than you had intended.  Well here’s a kitchen gadget that offers a musical solution, one that you’ll either deem helpful or it’ll drive you insane.  Either way, you won’t be able to ignore it when this timer lets you know that your egg is done.

To work the device, just plop this timer in along with your eggs into the water.  It then has different songs for different stages with the egg.  Such as, when the egg is at a soft-boiled point, it will begin singing “Killing Me Softly”.  It has a different song for medium and then yet another one for when it is hard boiled.  In order to quiet the BeepEgg, you just remove it from the pan and place it in some cold water.  You can pick this up online from Firebox for £15  or about $21.

Source: Ubergizmo

I will be the first to admit that my hatred for bugs is a strong and unwavering one.  I’m aware that a lot of bugs are necessary for the environment, but I still like them best when they’re dead.  At least indoors, outdoors I don’t mind them as much.  However, the down side with killing them usually means I have to smash them onto some surface and then clean  up the mess.  A predicament that I despise almost as much as I do bugs.  Well soon you can pick up the Fly-Goodbye Pistol, which solves the bug and mess issues.

It not only solves the obnoxious mess dead bugs create, but it gives you the fun of shooting the fly.  Shooting a fly is far more fun than smacking one.  To shoot the fly you’ll need to insert the front tube that has some glue at the bottom of it.  Then pump up the gun and when you’re within about 1 to 3cm, shoot.  Of course you’ll probably need to use the bullseye to get the fly.  The gun then sucks in the fly and it gets trapped in the goo, it’s basically like high tech fly paper.  The gun will cost you about $30 or €24, but it won’t be until May that these will probably start shipping out.

Source: ChipChick

If you’ve read up on the new Shuffle at all, then you’ve probably heard the bad news.  They removed all of the buttons from the shuffle itself and put them on the earbuds.  That makes it so that you can only wear Apple’s earbuds.  That’s not good news, since not everyone’s ear is shaped the same and some of us have expensive earbuds we prefer to use.  There have been a couple vendors create a pair of earbuds specifically for the shuffle, but they’re expensive and likely you already have earbuds you prefer.  Well now Scosche has created a solution.

Their adapater will allow for you to plug any set of earbuds into your shuffle.  It also makes it so that you can plug your shuffle into an aux input.  All around making the new Shuffle a lot more usable than many of us had predicted it would be.  Sadly there isn’t a ton of info on the adapter just yet, since it is such a new product.  However, hopefully soon they will start releasing when these will become available and how much they will cost you.

Source: OhGizmo

Dutch designer Marieke Staps may have figured out a way of saving energy by harnessing the power of mud.

The picture that you see here is the power source for this soil lamp. It uses a chemical reaction of copper, zinc, and the moistened mud to power a single LED. I suppose this uses the same principle as plugging tiny electrical units into potatoes for power.

You will notice that I am using definitely unsure verbs in my report, such as “may”. The problem is that I have doubts whether this product is for real. It has that “too good to be true, so it probably isn’t” factor. After all, who doesn’t want cheap power based on an easily found resource like mud?

The reason why I doubt this concept is real is the weird logo atop the mud-powered engine. It bears a strong resemblance to the logo of the people who follow the Dharma Initiative on Lost.

I am not saying that this technology is a complete fake because of that, but this is a lesson on a having a healthy skepticism concerning new concept technology.

Personally, I hope this mud-power is true, because I wouldn’t mind having all my electrical power come from the ample supply of mud that is no doubt underneath my home.

Source

I have always imagined that the future will be a computer on everyone’s wrist. Some sort of Personal Wrist Computer (PWC) that is larger than a wristwatch, but not bulky enough to slow the user down.

It would appear that Parvus is ready for this coming era with the development of the Zypad WL 1000. As you can see, this PWC does look a little bulky, but you have to give the company credit for trying something that will probably be the future.

The Zypad WL 1000 has a 3.5 inch touchscreen with 640 x 480 resolution. The screen comes with an automatic contrast mode that allows it to be used, even in the direct sunlight.

The operating system is a custom Linux OS, and it features GPS, Wi-Fi, as well as support for Bluetooth and even Zigbee.

The case itself is somewhat lightweight, weighing in at only 23 ounces. It is also durable, made to withstand water, dust, and extreme temperatures. Something tells me this is good for “hostile conditions”.

So is this Zypad going to be standard issue for soldiers of the future? Or is this going to be the standard mobile device for everyone, civilian or soldier in the world to come? Time will tell, of course.

Source

I suppose that I could start this article with “whatever Microsoft wants, it gets”. After all, when Microsoft noticed that video game consoles like the Gamecube and original Sony Playstation were growing in popularity, they created the Xbox. When Microsoft realized that Portable Media Players were selling like popcorn, they created the Zune.

It appears that Microsoft’s collective eyeball has now turned to laptop cooling pads, which is a growing market. After all, who wouldn’t want to alleviate the hot sensation of a laptop on your lap all day?

It would appear that Microsoft’s first endeavor into the laptop cooling pad market is minimalist at best. This laptop cooling pad, which really needs a formal name, is 1.16 inches thick, and possesses a singular fan that is powered by USB.

Now, you could say that Microsoft is late in its release of the new market, just like the Xbox and Zune came out years after the initial boom of their competitor’s products. In Microsoft’s case, it is definitely better late than never.

In this case, it will be later. If you want to get in on Microsoft’s new pet project, you will have to wait until July. Be prepared to pay $30, and it is available in white or black.

Source

The advantage that houses in suburbia have over apartments in the City is that homeowners can install solar panels on their rooftops to save money on the every rising cost of electricity. Some can even take surplus energy produced by their solar panels and sell it back to the electric company at a tidy little profit. Most apartment dwellers don’t have that option as they don’t have a rooftop with which to install panels. But if they’re on the sunny side of the street, they may be able to install a new awning like product to do the same job.

It’s called Veranda Solar, and it promises to eventually provide solar energy to apartment and condo dwellers by hanging attractive solar panels out windows and balconies. About the size of a DirecTV dish, these Veranda solar panels hope to at least supplement the energy used by an apartment thereby lowering energy costs and helping with demand. They promise to be easy to install with a snap together design, as well as a “plug and play” setup. But to date, there isn’t any data on how effective or efficient these small solar panels will be as they’re still in development. But if they can get the idea going, it could really help those who can’t afford a solar investment in the multi thousands but who still want to do their part if getting more green.

Cost is estimated to be about $400-600 when they come to market. Something worth watching if it works.

Hat Tip â€" Crunch Gear

It started with the rooster crowing at dawn. Then came the clangy bells which ran out if you ignored it long enough. Then came the annoying buzzer which wouldn’t stop, replaced by the dulcet tunes of the clock radio. But you still had to get up to get the coffee going. Not anymore.

The Wake Up Breakfast Alarm Clock brews a cup of java, hot chocolate, and even serves orange juice thanks to its twin reservoirs and has a toaster which will pop up the toast as well, giving those early to rise a fresh continental breakfast. Easy to set up, pour water in the coffee reservoir, add coffee to the filter. Place a slice of toast into the toaster tray. I’d be a tad concerned that placing orange juice in the other reservoir will cause it to spoil on a hot summer night. But I really like the idea of being able to set the alarm and you wake up to the smells of fresh brewed coffee and popped up toast. It’s all very “Wallace and Grommit” in its thinking (hat tip to Electric Pig for that moniker). Now all we need is that automatic dressing machine.

No word on cost or availability as it’s merely a concept gadget from our friends over at Yanko. But it’s easy to see this alarm clock being quite popular with the commuting crowd that have to get out the door and get on the road to work. Sure beats that McDonald’s drive through.

Hat tip to Electric Pig

It’s time to vote for what you think this week’s coolest gadget is, leave a comment for a chance to win a $50 Amazon voucher.

The Econav: Drive Green.

The Econav is like any other Sat Nav with GPS, speed indicators and traffic alerts. It’s difference is in its ability to help you drive in the most environmentally-friendly way.It analyses your various route options and providing you with an eco readout of the potential cost to yourself and the environment. The Econav has a database of over 6,000 cars, so it can tell you the precise moment you should switch from second to third gear on a 2008 Ford Mondeo to keep emissions and petrol costs down.

The full post can be found on Gaj-It.

Tiny worktop dishwasher

This tiny dishwasher is small enough to fit on your worktop. It prides itself on being green and saving on energy and water and is ideal for people living on their own or for couples. Whoever uses it, it certainly beats washing up.

The full post can be found on Decide What to Buy.

TriSpecs

With summer just around the corner you will be thinking about holidays and sun. Well if you’re looking for a great pair of gadget sunglasses then look no further than the TriSpecs. TriSpecs are stylish, unique and innovative. Not only do these give you a great look but they also possess wireless technology which you can listen to music and answer your mobile phone from whilst wearing them.

The full post can be found on Tech Styling.

iPhone / iPod Backup Battery Charger

iPhones and iPods are great, but if you use them a lot while out and about you’re going to run out of battery - but with this backup battery charger you can give your iPhone or iPod that much needed injection of extra power to keep you going until you get home!

The full post can be found on Zath Hi-Tech Gadgets.

Dolphin Monofin Will Make Michael Phelps Eat Your Wake

If you ever imagined what it must be like to swim like a fish, you may just get your chance. Engineer Ted Ciamillo has come up with a carbon fiber and fiberglass monofin, allowing a swimmer power through the water at 8 mph, twice the speed of Michael Phelps.

The full post can be found on UberReview.

Vue - Simplified Home Video Camera Networking

Avaak Vue Personal Video Network is surely one of the most state of the art systems going. Mount their 3″ high cams anywhere in your house and they will deliver battery powered, wireless images to the base station without a PC. You get access to them on a password-protected site even if you are not home. Not only can you move the cameras around, you can take video or stills and upload them to social networking sites.

The full post can be found on Networking Audio Video.

Dell Latitude E6400 XFR - The Rugged Laptop With Ballistic Armor

In a recent survey, a significant number of people felt that laptops were highly fragile, prone to data loss. With that in mind, Dell designed the Latitude E6400 XFR. This laptop comes with ballistic armor and meets 13 military specifications including drop tests, thermal shock, temperature extremes and explosive environments. The laptop can withstand the harshest of treatment without being damaged.

The full post can be found on Coated.

Dynamo Electric Shaver

One minute of winding, and you’ve got yourself enough power for a full shave! It also comes with three individual heads that properly flex and rotate to provide a close and precise performance.

The full post can be found on RGS.

The Great Pyramid PC

This has to be one of the coolest PC case mods we have seen so far here at geeky gadgets, the Great Pyramid PC Mod, made by modder polo360x from the Techpowerup forums.

This amazing case was made from a customized Luxor Pyramid case, which was made from laser cut aluminum, and is a combination of black and silver aluminum, the base measures 19 by 19 inches and the case stands 25 inches tall (there were only ever 200 of these cases ever made, and it looks like there is one less).

The full post can be found on Geeky Gadgets.

Thanks again to all the sites for their submissions now over to you guys for voting (don’t forget to leave a comment with your reason for a chance to win a $50 Amazon voucher).

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