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10.31.2005

XBOX 360 Giveaway

Posted by Camilla    Category: toys
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10.31.2005

Don't Walk Chair

Something about this Don't Walk Chair by Faster Fine Art just gets to me - in a good way. It's made from recycled New York City "Don't Walk" signs, and the lights are remote-controlled. I don't know whether I'm attracted to it just because it lights up (I'm a sucker for decorative lights of all kinds) or because it's evocative of the bustle and noise of city life. I like the idea of enjoying that feeling of lively madness in the quiet of my house in the suburbs. It's available from UncommonGoods for $3,700, so I'm not likely to buy it for myself for Christmas this year.

Posted by Hoyun    Category: eco | home
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10.30.2005

USB gloves

Winter's (nearly) here, ladies!
I'm having a hard time trying to convince my closefisted landlord that a max. 19 degree in the house (note to self: remind him that the heating in the bathroom doesn't work) is definitely too cold for me.

So here's something helpful: the indispensable USB heating gloves. Hopefully they'll ship them in Europe before Spring.

Via gizmologia.
Babelfish "translation".

Posted by regine    Category: wearables
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10.29.2005

Pet strollers

WHY??? Is this really necessary? Could you really be seen pushing your dog or cat down the block in a stroller made exclusively for pets without feeling ridiculous? I have seen people push their pups in regular old baby strollers before (and there is a rumor here in NY that a homeless man downtown carts his stuff around in a Bugaboo stroller - the $800 status stroller that can be seen all over NYC - how's that for irony?).

I'm just trying to think of a reason why pet owners would need this: you're taking Fluffy to the vet and it's a 10 block walk? Spot has a broken leg so he needs to be chauffeured around for his daily exercise? Check out this pink variation - LOVE the tulips in the background.

From Pet Vogue

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10.28.2005

Another device for the apocalypse

I sometimes find it darkly funny that even though you can never know what problems you'll encounter in a natural or unnatural disaster, a lot of people are very precise in their preparations for that unknown apocalyptic moment. One of my friends has lined his garage walls with cases of water, another is buying a scooter so she can make her way out of town without having to line up behind miles of traffic, still another has devised a plan to head for the hills by way of small roads carefully mapped out. To each his own nightmare scenario, I guess.

My worst fear is losing touch with people and not knowing where they are. My second worst fear is losing power and not being able to see in the dark (I keep rechargeable flashlights in outlets all over my house). I just ordered this Dynamo Flashlight, a 5-LED light which is charged by a hand-crank that also charges your cell phone (fits Samsung, Motorola, Nokia and Ericsson phones). It sells for $29.95 at Sahalie. I'm also getting this as a stocking stuffer for every member of my family.

I always find myself looking for things like this after watching episodes of Lost. My addiction to that show probably also explains my sudden need to hoard monstrous jars of peanut butter.

Posted by Hoyun    Category: devices
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10.28.2005

Cup Noodle timer

Life will never be the same now that we know that Instant Noodles Timer exists. Pour the boiling water, place the cup on the timer, turn the handle into either 3 or 4 minutes and wait till a chime warns you that tonight's delicacies are ready.

I'm more macro-bio obsessed than Gwyneth Paltrow, but that timer is a must-have for me! To do what? To dream that I eat Cup Noodles tonight instead of tofu with ginger and pale roots.

From Odd things from Japan.

Posted by regine    Category: home
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10.28.2005

Docking my cell phones in the Bermuda Triangle

A few months ago, I moved ten minutes down the street from where I used to live to find that I'd entered into a dead zone where I can't use my cell phones. I tried three different services (Sprint, Cingular, Verizon), but they were all the same. My real estate agent did tell me that the neighborhood was "tucked away," but I thought she was referring to the surrounding woods, not this invisible wall that will admit no cell phone signal. As a result, I have to walk out to the street corner to use my phones, or wedge my head into the corner by the refrigerator where there appears to be a little crack in this otherwise impenetrable wall.

I got all excited when I heard about phone systems that allow you to use your home land line to make and receive cell phone calls. Among the touted benefits of these systems: they enable you to use your long distance minutes on your cell while at home and to have multiple users on different handsets for those cozy long-distance family conversations. I don't care about minutes or family conferences, I just want to be able to use my cell phones in the comfort of my computer room or livingroom or bedroom. Motorola, RCA, and Uniden offer these systems, though the review of these products in BusinessWeek points out that they all have limited compatability with cell phone models (Motorola's only works with Motorola phones).

Because I tend to change phones often, I like the Dock-n-Talk by PhoneLabs, which is compatible with over 650 cell phone models and has bluetooth connectivity (though it can also be used with a non-bluetooth phone if you get the adaptor). It sells for $149.99 (the online special price shown on the PhoneLabs site is $139.99).

Posted by Hoyun    Category: devices
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10.28.2005

Soniks silent squeak dog toys

I am skeptical that those "only audible to dogs" whistles do anything at all because my dogs don't respond to them, but then again they pretty much ignore the "totally audible to everyone" variety as well. Now there are Soniks squeak toys which utilize the same frequency as those whistles- so your dogs can squeak away and you don't have to hear a thing.

Developed and tested in the Department of Speech and Hearing sciences at a major research university. The Sonik’s ultrasonic squeaker produces a sound with a frequency range between 25,000 Hz and 35,000 Hz - above the audible range of human hearing, but well within the hearing range of dogs.

The toys are a family of aliens from NoNoyz, the "quietest planet in the universe". Unless you're a dog, I guess. I think I will be able to tell if these toys work, actually, because my dog Shasta is obsessed with squeaky toys, and when I give her one it doesn't last long because she can't rest until after an exhausting bout of squeaking, she then mangles and de-squeaks it. A non-squeaking toy leaves her cold.

Soniks are priced from $4.99 to $9.99 and are available at most of the big pet stores.

Posted by Mia    Category: pets
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10.27.2005

Tiny one-cup coffeemakers

I love my coffee but kind of in the way of someone who loves wine but will buy it from a plastic jug in the drugstore: it's about the high, not the bean for me. I don't mind if it's chocolate-kiwi flavored, freeze dried, or some coffee conneisseur's nightmare blended with ice, whipped cream and candy shavings. But I am trying to self-improve and de-sugar my addiction, so I'm looking into these one-cup coffee makers to keep it straight, and not caffeinate to the point of the shakes. The Ready, Set, Joe One-Cup is non-electric so it can be used as long as you have access to hot water. You just need a cone filter and ground coffee and your cup or travel mug (it comes with one or the other) will be ready to go with fresh coffee in under a minute.

If you're a fan of coffee pods, Melitta also makes a one-cup system for POD-system coffees or teas. You use your own mug so you don't have to waste the time pouring. Drip, drip, drink.

The Ready, Set, Joe is $7.99, the Melitta OneOne Single Serve pod coffee maker is $59.95 and comes in four colors. Both are available from Amazon.

Posted by Mia    Category: home
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10.26.2005

Tiny Panasonic cell phone

Recently, when I tried to replace one of my cell phones which came to an untimely death by drowning, I discovered that I couldn't replace it without starting an entirely new two-year contract with the service provider - due to some complication arising out of its merger with my original service provider. After arguing for half an hour with the salesperson to no avail, I left without a new phone because two more years seemed like a very long time to me (I admit to some commitment issues). I then went on the internet in search of unlocked GSM phones so that I could use it with my existing SIM card and ride out the rest of my contract term with a new phone. This time, I figured I may as well get something really, really small that can fit into the pocket of my jeans or hang around my neck.

The one I ordered turned out to be even smaller than I imagined. I don't know if these photos adequately illustrate how tiny my new Panasonic G51 cell phone is. I happen to have preternaturally small hands for an adult, so photographing it in my hand might not provide the right comparison. It measures about 3 x 1˝ inches (about the length of 3 quarters) and weighs only 75 grams. It fits into my pants pocket without creating an unsightly lump, and the keys are fine for my fingers. Anyone with large digits might have some difficulty. I was surprised by the great sound quality coming from this little thing (other features include 40 polyphonic ringtones, 4096-color display, and tri-band GSM capability).

This is the newer version of the Panasonic GD55. I got mine from Overseas Electronics for $119.99.

Posted by Hoyun    Category: devices
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