Gadgets Blog

Hammacher and Schlemmer is continuing on with their quest of creating gadgets that you wish you knew why you needed.  This gadget might actually be one that you attempt to justify paying the hefty price tag for, just purely because it’s a cool gadget.  Despite that I haven’t the faintest idea why it’s necessary. This flashlight claims to be the absolute and only Infrared Flashlight Video Recorder.  It might very well be, I know I’ve never seen another of its kind, but then I can’t manage to see everything there is to see on the internet.  As much as I wish I could and still attempt to anyway.

The flashlight features a 3-watt cool white LED light as the main light and then 17 infrared LEDs that surround that main light.  With those extra LEDs it can illuminate up to 13′ for all that late night recording.  The flashlight will support up to a 2GB mini-SD card and also has 128MB of built-in memory.  The video and snapshots are captured at 640 x 480 resolution at 30 fps.  If you want to use the built-in memory, you’ll be able to store 15 seconds of video and 500 quick snapshots.  It also features a microphone (for sound) and an LCD screen (to show you details such as battery life).  It takes 3 C batteries to keep the light running for 3 hours.  You can pick it up for $399.95.

Source: Gizmowatch

When I first read about the Garmin Approach G5 Golf GPS, I thought they had invented a new Golfball with a GPS transmitter built in so you would never loose your ball on the links again. Then I realized they would cost about $100 each, which would be a royal drag if you hit into a water hazard. Nope.

The Approach G5 Golf GPS is essentially a hi-tech digital range finder which uses GPS ascertain your position (after you’ve found your ball) and gives you range data to the pin based on preloaded maps of thousands of golf holes from all around the world. In addition to range data to the pin, it has a green view for up close putting data (again, a range finder) as well as being able to keep track of your score digitally. Duffers can then download and track their scores onto their PCs. The thing is though, even if the GPS range data gives golfers more accurate positioning in which to choose their irons, etc. For $500, it amounts to a sophisticated scorekeeping system. Sorry, but unless it can find my golf ball for me, it’s not really worth the price, I can add just fine.

Hat Tip â€" Travelizmo

This multi-functional turtle looks about like something you managed to flatten while blazing down the highway in your car.  Well despite the squished look, this turtle would actually be pretty useful and not just for his USB benefits.  Yes, he is mainly a hub to jam your USB drives into his legs, but he has even more ways to help you out during your average work day.

On the back of the turtle, you can flip up his shell to use the tray within.  It’d probably be most useful for coins and things like that.  Despite the ashtray type look, it’s likely best if you don’t use the tray for that.  Although the head of the turtle looks like it could easily be a stapler, it’s not.  The top of his head is just the button you push to pop open that shell of his.  You can jam up to 4 different USB drives into this turtle.  Pick it up for $13.99 on USB Fever.

Source: Techchee

I might very well be crazy, but for some reason with summer coming up it always makes me think of 60’s inspired things.  Maybe it’s how summer-like the style was, the embrace of nature into the fashion.  Either way, if you do enjoy 60’s inspired items, you’ll love these MP3 speakers.  They’re about as brightly colored as they come and are decked out in tie dye to boot.  Plus these come in several different shapes for you to choose from.

The plush speakers double as an FM radio for times when you’ve forgotten your MP3 player at home or the battery has managed to die on you.  There are a grand total of 5 different shapes for you to choose from, guitar, cellphone, boom box and a peace loving teddy bear.  Although the teddy bear doesn’t have the built-in FM radio that the rest of them have.  To get your music up and running, you’ll need 2 AA batteries.  You can purchase one of these speakers for $24.95 a piece.

Source: ShinyShiny

I’m certain that Takara Tomy does not want me to describe this product as a miniature WiiFit, but can you honestly think of a better description?

Unlike the WiiFit, the Minutes Gym requires no thing to stand on, and needs to console to operate. It plugs right into TV through the A/V (red and white) ports on any old or new television. It is easily portable, and runs on 3 AAA batteries.

This tiny little box has a body-fat analysis to measure your current physical state and body fat. Hopefully, it won’t show your obese form like the WiiFit does, or insult you for having an improper sense of balance. (I can’t stand it when WiiFit asks me if I have trouble walking. I can’t think of a worse insult, seriously.)

The Minutes Gym has over 100,000,000 guided three-minute interval workouts, and it can display over three months of workout history. It also comes with a series of avatars whose looks range from muscular, sexy, cute, cool, or Dr. Aiba. I included a picture of these characters after the jump if you want to see them for yourself.

You should be able to purchase the Minute Gym on the Japan Trend Shop for about $73. Hopefully, this product will live up to its slogan that you will “look good naked…eventually”.

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I’ve been seeing many a gadget blog buzz about the Hotelicopter today. I suppose this is one of those coolest gadgets that I can’t help but report about either.

The Hotelicopter is exactly what it sounds like: a hotel in a helicopter. It is a Mil V-12 prototype that was originally built in Russia in 1968. It looks like there was a sale after the cold war ended, and someone plans to give the Mil a 5-star hotel makeover with queen size beds, a mini-bar, and even add extra amenities like Wi-Fi.

This is apparently enough to give 18 guests the night of their life. Just imagine spending the night in a room that can cruise at 140 miles per hour.

I’m not certain that I can see the practicality of this vehicle. After all, a full booking would involve that all guests arrive at a designated time before takeoff, and there is only a limited amount of time that the Hotelicopter could stay in the air before it runs out of fuel.

Of course, this is one of luxuries that will probably cost a pretty penny just so someone can experience their honeymoon and join the “mile high club” on the same night. If you want in on this action, its maiden voyage should commence sometime this summer.

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This next product is a combination of two products. Some of you might remember when we reported on the Kill-A-Watt, a device that will give you a digital and numerical readout of how much power you actually use.

Now there is the Tweet-a-Watt. This is a Kill-A-Watt that is able to go online with Twitter. Now, everyone who is following you on Twitter will know exactly how much power that you use. Be prepared for the ramifications of that.

How does this work? Tweet-a-Watt uses a modified Kill-A-Watt, and then communicates with a computer via XBee receiver. All it takes is an active Twitter account after that.

So how much will this cost you? Well, you need about $20 for the Kill-A-Watt, and about $90 for the components to make this happen with a Do-it Yourself kit. Additional kits for monitoring multiple outlets are about $40.

I am amazed at the Tweet-a-Watt. Not only is it a blend of two gadgets, Kill-A-Watt and Twitter, but two fads: energy conservation and Twitter. Speaking of energy conservation, I have recently heard that last weekend, about 900 megawatts of power was saved during Earth Hour in Toronto alone.

Hopefully, energy conservation will continue to increase. As for Twitter, it seems to be growing quite a bit, like the Washing machine that Twitters you. I can’t imagine what new “Twitterpated” devices we will see in the future.

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