Gadgets Blog

If you have a thing for old turntables, but at the same time don’t really have a use for one, it seems silly to keep a real turntable around.  Well instead of keeping one around purely because you like the look of them, you could purchase this clock.  It’s made out of an old turntable, so you get that classic look, but it’s still functional.  Plus you can hang it on the wall and you haven’t lost any space on a table top within your home.

This turntable is actually a recycled Fishcer turntable and was handmade.  The album on the turntable is a Doobie Brothers album, Minute by Minute.  To keep the clock up and running all you’ll need is a single AA battery, which happens to be included in the deal.  The entire clock measures 17 inches wide and 14 inches tall and hangs from 2 hangers located at the back of the clock.  Each model is going to vary slightly since it is made out of an actual turntable, making each one of these unique.  You can purchase your own for $89 from the seller Pixelthis within Etsy.

Source: GeekyGadgets

If you’re like me, then you always have a five gallon bucket in your garage or shed. You may not even know where you got it from or how old it is. You don’t know what was even in it in the first place. It might have been oil or paint, but the label has long since worn off.

Those five gallon buckets are useful for all kinds of jobs like something to put pulled-out weeds in, and such. Some innovator has figured out another use with the BucketVac.

The BucketVac is a very simple concept whose name says it all: a shop-vac attachment that easily fits on the top of any 5-gallon bucket. Just snap it into place, and you have something to clean up any wet or dry spills.

Best of all, the BucketVac doesn’t block the handle that makes 5-gallon buckets so handy. Considering how tight 5-gallon bucket lids area, this BucketVac will probably stay on with a vacuum seal. Seriously, I once tried to pry the lid of a five gallon paint bucket off with my bare hands, and it practically cut into the skin. A warning to anyone that hasn’t done this: use a tool.

The BucketVac isn’t expected to hit the market until the fourth quarter of 2009, but it could easily put the ShopVacs out of business.

Source

If there is one thing that I cannot stand about taking pictures, it is the time-consuming process of uploading them to social media sites. Lately, I have been doing a lot of video footage, and YouTube’s upload system, simple as it is, seems like a middleman just waiting to be eliminated.

Camera companies have been responding to this consumer needs with supposed “YouTube” ready features, but this is not enough. Social media addicts are demanding that their pictures be uploaded to their Facebook and MySpace sites through the camera itself.

This was the subject of a presentation by Cerevo at the CNET Japan Innovation Conference 2009. The company Cerevo plans to release the CerevoCam, a camera with Wi-Fi and 3G, designed so that photos can be easily put on their photo sharing site known as CerevoLife.

It promises to be so good that a consumer could take pictures late at night, then wirelessly transfer them to the Internet. By the time he or she logs onto the Internet in the morning, his or her photos will be on CerevoLife. There is room for about 5GB worth of free space, which is good for 4,000 pictures.

The user can also share pictures on Flickr, Twitter, Picasa, as well as other services. The CerevoCam plans to launch in a few months for about $210, but could launch earlier if things are going well.

Personally, I hope Cerevo perfects their process, and it is imitated by other camera companies. Anything that can relieve me of the USB cable to my computer is always welcome.

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Those of you that love the FPS shooter games will fall even more in love with them with the Wireless Game Gun. As you can see by the You Tube video after the jump, someone has finally perfected a way of putting a screen on a motion controlled controller that resembles a military machine gun.

That someone is an engineer and inventor who is known all across the tech and gadget blogosphere as The Redneck Techie. The video shows him moving around the room and stalking in some “classic Tom Clancy” style with this unique gaming peripheral.

You will notice the cord that dangles from the gun and ends up in his pocket. That is apparently the batteries for the unit, which “were too big to fit into the gun”. Perhaps version 2.0 will not have this wire and really be wireless, but I don’t see it being any more annoying than the Wii-strap.

The Wireless Game Gun is Plug-and-Play compatible with Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, and the PC, and maybe even for Macs. You can look into pre-ordering it here, but you might notice that the site looks a little antiquated. It is projected that the Wireless Game Gun will be available by Christmas, but there is no word on price as yet.

“>Source

Camping season for most is coming to a close, but if you camp all year round, this is one item you’ll benefit from.  Having a hot cup of coffee when it’s not so warm outside is always a good idea.  Yes, it might make you appear as if you aren’t exactly roughing it, but it’s nice to have at least a couple of things to make camping a little more convenient.  This Brunton Flip-N-Drip isn’t overly large either, it’s only the size of a thermos.

In order to make the coffee, you boil water in the base of the coffee maker.  Then you just attach what is called the brew chamber, that is already filled with the coffee grounds of your choosing.  Once it’s attached you flip the entire thing over and it will begin the percolation process.  That portion of the process itself takes about 10-12 minutes.  After that is all finished you remove the 16 oz mug that features a double wall and is insulated.  The Flip-N-Drip isn’t available just yet, but once it is you’ll be able to pick it up for $45 from Brunton.

Source: OhGizmo

Mention MP3 players and the iPod will definitely come into your mind. While other players in the market have tried to dislodge the iPod from its lofty perch through numerous efforts, it is safe to say that they are far from succeeding, but that doesn’t mean that SanDisk will give up the fight just like that. No sir, SanDisk, being the global leader in flash memory cards, has just announced that they will be releasing their latest MP3 player - the Sansa Clip+ MP3 player. This model will feature a microSD memory card slot, virtually allowing you to store plenty of albums on individual microSD cards that makes for easy categorizing. After all, file transfer is a snap using the standard drag-and-drop method.

SanDisk claims that their Sansa Clip+ MP3 player is one of the best sounding MP3 players in the market - how true that is remains to be seen, although we do wonder whether there is any clause if this claim is limited to a player of its size or price range. The Sansa Clip+ will succeed its predecessor, unceremoniously known as the Clip, and will retain full compatibility with SanDisk slotRadio and slotMusic cards, alongside any microSD memory card that boasts pre-loaded music files. Features of the Sansa Clip+ MP3 player includes a wearable clip that makes for hands-free portability, a 1″ OLED display that ought to be bright enough for use even under direct sunlight. It will sport a simple user interface that makes it a snap to select songs and playlists through a variety of assortments. An integrated FM tuner with 40 preset stations make it a snap for you to select your favorite station wherever you are, with a built-in microphone turning the Sansa Clip+ into an impromptu voice recorder.

Available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities, the Sansa Clip+ will retail for $39.99, $49.99 and $69.99, respectively, where you can choose from red, blue or black colors.

Press Release

Seagate has long known to be one of those major hard drive companies as well as a leading storage solutions, and this time they’re back by partnering with MusicSkins LLC, to offer a touch of personal flair to their FreeAgent Go and FreeAgent Go for Mac external hard drives. The result of their collaboration has resulted in a wide range of skins that are garnered from a huge back catalog of licensed creative or customized designs, helping spruce up your FreeAgent drive with a variety of color, size and capacity options that make really personal, ensuring that it would be pretty rare to see a couple of new FreeAgent drives looking the same (unless you can’t be bothered to dress it up, of course).

The MusicSkins that will be used on the FreeAgent drives will feature a patented 3M adhesive technology that solves the problem of air bubbles, making room for both easy application and clean removal. They are hassle-free, and these premium vinyl skins will definitely make heads turn whenever you take out your FreeAgent drive from a notebook bag. Not only does it offer a distinctive look and personal style, it also helps safeguard your device thanks to a durable anti-scratch, anti-UV coating that keeps the hard drive’s exterior protected. If plastering faces of your favorite idol, be they Bob Marley, John Lennon, Madonna or Lil Wayne among others, is not your cup of tea, then you can always opt for personal photos and images.

You can purchase a skin directly from Seagate.com whenever you pick up a new FreeAgent Go drive, or if you already own a FreeAgent Go drive, there is always the choice of checking out www.seagate.com/musicskins and pick a skin from the existing library of designs. Otherwise, you can also opt to create a uniquely designed personal piece using the included online customization tool. Depending on the complexity of the design, prices range from $15 to $30 per skin, and will arrive in your mail within 10 business days.

Press Release

Medion has just unveiled their new X9613 all-in-one computer that features a 24″ display for you to ogle at - what’s more, it boasts multitouch capability, making you drool over the thought of what a 24″ iPhone would look and feel like. Features of the X9613 include a small SideShow screen, an unusually large but practical physical volume knob, a slew of media controls on the bottom for quick adjustment, with a powerful Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 processor running inside, assisted by a GeForce GT240M graphics card. You’ll need to fork out a handsome amount of this though - prices start from 1,499 Euros and go all the way to 1,900 Euros on the high end side of things.

Source: Engadget

With the advancements made in robotics and technology these days, we wouldn’t be too surprised to see that robots might end up as our caregivers one of these days, and the RIBA robot nurse is definitely a step in the right direction. Patients who wake up from a nasty accident to see RIBA tending to them might get a shock, thinking that they are in another parallel universe at first - after all, ugly nurses are one thing, but a robotic bear nurse? That’s totally whacked out! RIBA stands for “Robot for Interactive Body Assistance” and was developed by researchers at Japan’s Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) and Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd. (TRI). It’s main purpose would be to assist nurses by lifting patients in and out of their beds and wheelchairs, alongside providing assistance on and off the toilet. The 180 kg robot bear can handle weight of up to 61 kgs, and was designed after a bear to put patients at ease instead of a more human-looking model.

Source: Pink Tentacle

Need to listen to some music before you can actually fall asleep? That’s not a problem if you happen to be single, but what if you’re married to someone who needs absolute peace and quiet before he/she nods off? Enter the Sound Asleep Pillow that could’ve easily been invented by Edison.

Ideal for headphone haters, telly addicts, insomniacs and anyone who enjoys dozing off to a few gentle Napalm Death lullabies, this wonderfully squishy pillow has a built-in speaker that can only be heard by the layabout with their noggin plonked on it. Simply plug your music source (iPod, radio, TV out) into the pillow’s 3.5mm stereo socket and you’re away. Bedmates will be none the wiser (unless you start singing along and drumming on the mattress).

You can choose from original or memory foam types which retail for £17.99 and £29.99, respectively. Sounds like magic, and probably is!

Clip-on lights rarely look even remotely stylish.  The usual look is a clunky black plastic lamp, but if you’re tired of that type, you can always pick up this lamp.  Since it does come in a great range of colors, the brighter colors will probably appeal to one bunch, while the neutral color will probably appeal to those that prefer their novelty lighting to be at least a little understated.  Of course both groups out of that are likely to be female, this isn’t your typical lamp  that would draw in the guys.

The small clip-on lamp uses 40-watt chandelier bulbs, which means you get the joy of either attempting to remember that or bringing in the old bulb to compare bulbs.  Sometimes I really wish they could simplify bulbs so I didn’t have to worry about what strange bulb goes with which light.  The Bloom lamp comes in tickled pink, vibrant green and then the classic ivory.  The lamp isn’t out just yet, you’ll be able to purchase it mid-September for $29.99 from Perpetual Kid.

Source: ChipChick

Some people just don’t have the common courtesy to refrain themselves from opening and raiding your fridge without permission - which is why you need someone like the Cop Fridge Alarm to prevent those thieving friends from making a quick swipe at your precious box of chocolates inside.

A built-in sensor detects whenever anyone approaches and the cop will issue a verbal warning. Simply put him on a shelf near the front of your fridge and he’ll tirelessly guard it day and night. No sneaky midnight feats will go unnoticed when he’s on duty! So, guard against fridge-raiding flatmates or help keep your figure in trim by giving your conscience a helping hand by setting a cop on guard!

Caters mostly to the US crowd due to the cop uniform, being pot-bellied while holding a donut. He is powered by a couple of AAA batteries and retails for £14.95.

Sony will soon be releasing a digital photo frame that will definitely appeal to those of you that enjoy your bedazzled gadgets.  Likely, most of the ones that enjoy this type of thing are going to be females too, since it does have  a slightly feminine look to it.  The photo frame has embedded Crystalized Swarvoski Elements, so it’s an affordable bedazzling.  Which in this economy is always a bonus, even if you’re not hurting too badly for cash.

The frame itself measures 7 inches and has a full one gigabyte of internal storage capacity.  The frame can store up to 2,000 photos and features auto-resizing to make all of your photos fit.  It has 800 x 480 WVGA resolution and supports JPEG and RAW (SRF, SR2, ARW) image file formats.  To get your photos onto the frame, just plug the frame into your USB port on your computer.  Like most photo frames like this it has various playback options and a remote control.  The frame will be out this October and will cost you $150.

Source: Newlaunches

Gadgets typically look like, well, gadgets.  They look shiny, new and a combination of plastic and metal.  Being someone that not only adores old looking technology (almost antique in appearance), but your older than average books as well, sometimes I get tired of the same old technology day in and day out.  Well apparently I’m not the only one, because one person decided that their scanner needed to blend in a little more properly within their home.  Now that they finished their mod, it just appears that they always have the same old book laying out on their desk.

If you are tired of the way your scanner looks, this is one way to solve the problem.  Datamancer took a flatbed scanner and put it in a book that they hollowed out.  Choosing the book you use could definitely change the look of the mod completely.  It’d also be one way to show off your personality and the types of things you love.  From the looks of things this isn’t just a book he found at your local Barnes and Nobles, but one he made himself.  You can see the various pictures of his progress on his website.

Source: SlipperyBrick

I have rituals when it comes to my tea that are so set in stone that it’s dangerous to go mixing them up.  However, the things I do have to make the tea aren’t anything special.  They’re just your average low cost items, they just happen to be ones I like.  As much as I love my tea, I really don’t feel the need to spend a ridiculous amount on it.  However, if you love having the top of the line items, this Bugatti Vera Kettle will help you make your tea in style.

The kettle has special electronic controls for all of the functions required to keep the tea kettle up and functioning.  It can achieve temperatures between 45 and 100 degrees Celsius.  The screen and all of the buttons are located on the handle itself.  The screen displays a clock and includes a self-timer that sets and regulates the tea kettle.  The kettle can be programmed to make sure that your tea is done when you need it to be, like on a coffee break or first thing in the morning.  To get this Bugatti Kettle it’s only going to cost you a measly £185.00 or about $300 from Where Did You Buy That.

Source: CoolBuzz

Mention ViewSonic and most of the time you would probably think about LCD monitors, but this time round they have released two devices for the masses - the smallest DLP projector from the company to date known as the PJD2121, while the WPG-350 wireless presentation gateway offers a solution for meeting rooms that won’t break the company budget. These devices are able to offer decent performance and capabilities despite their small size, making them suitable for those who do not want to be limited by projection technology in their line of work.

Let’s take a look at the Viewsonic PJD2121 first - the smallest short throw DLP pico projector from the company that tips the scales at just 2.2 pounds. This advanced device will come with integrated BrillantColor technology that is able to deliver 400 lumens of brightness, where your images are thrown at 800 x 600 SVGA native resolution, easily placing it as one of the brightest projectors available in its class. Contrast ratio for a pico projector is also pretty respectable at 1,800:1, where this combination ought to be enough to handle situations in virtually any lighting environment. It comes with a short 1:1 throw ratio that makes it perfect for tabletop personal use or for small meeting rooms, and can display images of up to 60″ from as near as just four feet away. The ‘Off to Go’ function also enables one to power the PDJ2121 automatically without having to worry about the lamp overheating due to insufficient cooling time. This filter-less design offers easy maintenance and a lower total cost of ownership, while it comes with a Kensington security lock port for added peace of mind. Each $449 purchase comes with a three-year limited parts and labor warranty, although the lamp stands at just one year.

As for the WPG-350 wireless presentation gateway, this device offers wireless capability to any compatible projector, LCD TV or large screen display without having the need to fork out a large amount of money for an embedded wireless projector. It is able to support 1,024 x 768 resolution and full-motion video up to 1080p, featuring 802.11b/g/n hi-speed wireless connectivity. Interested parties can pick up the WPG-350 wireless presentation gateway for $199.

Press Release

Jakks Pacific, the brains behind the Plug-It-In-and-Play TV Games category that made a splash in early 2002, has furthered their trend of innovative products with its new and improved EyeClops Night Vision 2.0 Goggles, the super small handheld EyeClops Mini Projector and a whole new lineup of TV Games products that follows the current trend that the Wii started - by incorporating accelerometer-driven motion technology without breaking the bank. We’ll look at each of these in greater detail right after the jump.

The EyeClops Mini Projector says it all - a pico projector for your little ones and even adults who want a device that allows them to share their favorite videos and photos with folks around, anywhere - as long as the room is dark enough, of course. Perfect for young people who want to impress their date with their own bedroom ceiling movie night. It relies on high powered LED illumination to project movies, TV shows, video games and other media up to a maximum size of 60″ from a compatible multimedia device, ranging from DVD players to cellphones, camcorders and digital cameras. Heck, it is even compatible with Jakk’s own Plug It In & Play TV Games products. The included battery pack offers 5 hours of battery life through the use of D batteries, but you can also connect it to a power outlet through the DC adapter when required. The EyeClops Mini Projector retails for $99.99.

The second iteration of the EyeClops is obviously known as the EyeClops Night Vision 2.0 Goggles, retailing for $59.99 which is $20 less compared to last year while bringing an improved, action-styled, hand-held design alongside the power to see using both eyes. You get up to 50 feet of visibility in complete darkness, letting you stalk your cat outdoors instead for fun.

The new line of TV Games Motion games will merge Jakks Plug It In & Play TV Games technology that boast real accelerometer technology, boasting a reactive motion controller that lets your character’s movements on screen depend on what you do in the real world. It plugs into the A/V jacks of any standard TV, where each controller comes with multiple games without the need for extra consoles or cartridges. The TV Games Motion lineup will include Star Wars: Clone Wars, SpongeBob SquarePants, Spider-Man, Disney Fairies and Power Rangers, retailing for $29.99 a pop.

Press Release

Robonica is a start-up that is looking into new ways of robotic entertainment and aims to redefine the entertainment robotics market later this fall by rolling out a whole new range of products that come with the tagline, “The Rise of Robotic Gaming.” This new range will merge elements of robotics, R/C vehicles and electronic gaming, making them stand out from the current crop of entertainment robots that is able to offer meaningful and structured gameplay regardless of whether one is alone, with friends or through online interaction.

A smart, fully programmable and highly agile two-wheeled robot, Roboni-i is the first entertainment robot to offer unlimited play patterns. The state-of-the-art robot features 16 sensors and four processors, RF remote control and Zigbee peer-to-peer RF protocol allowing for competitive gameplay with real-world robots. It also comes packaged with game accessories and six action games enabling players to form a playing field and use the gaming controller to select a game as they enter a new dimension of interactive, real-world robotic gameplay. Whether alone or with friends, they will need to beat the odds, race against time, manage resources, neutralize threats, execute special effects and collect bonus points to improve score. The Roboni-i’s online gameplay is out of this world. By plugging Roboni-i into the PC, players enter a virtual world where they can create profiles, participate in virtual missions, play online games and interact with friends who are online at the same time. Its Advanced PC-based Command Center Software allows users to program every facet of the robot’s behavior, edit games and upload performance data.

The following online sources - ToysRUs.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and more will be the first to get hold of Robonica’s offering, followed by retailers Hammacher Schlemmer, Edmund Scientific and other specialty shops.

Press Release

The Sound Bomb Speaker would be something that we would advice against bringing on a flight with you, as it might just rouse the suspicions of poorly trained airport security personnel who might want to play hero that particular day and detain you for a lengthy questioning period. It does resemble a bomb by all means, but don’t expect it to come with explosive sound just because there is the visual potential of offering just that. The Sound Bomb Speaker can be powered when plugged into your computer’s USB port directly or use a quartet of AA batteries instead whenever you want it to go portable. Firebox has placed a £24.95 bounty on this.

Although this fridge magnet surely has some practical purpose, I can’t help but be creeped out by the sappy way it’s depicted by the manufacturer.  They’re of course pitching it as a way to leave sweet loving messages for your significant other.  One so sappy that it will surely make any kids that might be in the house, likely lose their appetite before they can even manage to get what they originally wanted out of the fridge.

Of course you could utilize this 1.5 inch LED screen and use it for helpful reminders about things you need to remember.  The fridge magnet has a built-in video camera within the device itself.  With that you can manage to record up to 30 seconds of video.  Giving you plenty of time to leave a helpful reminder or some disgustingly sweet message.  You push one button to record and then an entirely different one to actually play the message.  To charge the device you’ll just need to plug it into the USB port of your computer.  You can purchase it for £29.99 or about $49 from I Want One Of Those.

Source: RGS