05. 6.2007
Flat, wallet reading glasses
These flat reading glasses, designed to be kept in a wallet, appeal to me for reasons of both convenience and vanity (though not in that order). Having finally admitted that I occasionally need reading glasses (meaning, when I'm wearing my long distance contact lenses which help me drive but rob me of my ability to read a menu), I still don't want to display it around my neck or on top of my head. I'm just not ready for that, not yet. And, I can't make room for one more thing in my purse, what with my iPod and my BlackBerry and my handheld GPS all competing for space. For this reason, I love wallet-sized tools, like those credit card pocket knives that include miniature scissors. Okay, so these reading glasses aren't fashionable (haven't seen many that are), but I'd only have to wear them for the 45 seconds it takes me to order my dinner before anybody sees me. Besides, they're only $7.98 at Taylor Gifts.
Via the blogging anthropologist . . . oh, I mean, anesthesiologist, bookofjoe.
Posted by Hoyun
Category:
body
| wearables
Tags: glasses reading glasses wallet reading glasses
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05. 5.2007
Popgadget Mother's Day Gift Guide
Who needs to carry a laptop around in a dull, boring bag anymore when there are beautiful Mango Tango ones to chose from? Available in 16 inch and 18 inch versions, you can find almost every color and faux, from faux suede to faux croc, like the one above, which is owned by our publisher Hoyun, who is a fashionista on a blogger's budget. Prices range from $40 to $60.
If money and good taste are no object, you can always buy your mamma a 24 carat gold Limited Edition iPod. While dissenters would say that gold is too soft a metal to protect an iPod, the manufacturer, Amosu, claims they use a unique hardened mirror gold. Available in iPod nano and iPod video, figure it'll cost you a pretty penny (80GB iPod video with black front (410GBP -- about $817USD).
Fractalspin, a Popgadget favorite geek jewelry and accessories store, has 3 pages of Mother's Day gift suggestions for you, including this very nerdy aluminum Credit Card Organizer, which gives you instant access to six credit cards or other cards at the push of a button and protects them from friction. $39.50 or $58.00 for the 12-card version.
If your mom is a commuter -- or blogger -- think about the USB Travel Mug which plugs into an auto adapter or USB port. The double insulated Stainless Steel Mug includes a spill proof top, essential for me, uh, I mean my mom. Available in soft rubberized finish in red or blue, it's on sale at Gifts and Gadgets for $19.95.
Even the gadget-minded mom loves getting jewelry, take it from me. These fresh water pearls are wrapped in sterling silver wire to form a pretty pair of bird's nest earrings.The size of the nest is a little over 1/2 inch, and the length is 1 inch. At $32, they're a steal, from Starry Designs.
Bangles are back in a big way, if celebs are any indication. Jennifer Lopez flaunts them, as do many other divas. How to wear them you ask? SheFinds answers:
Pile them on and be sure to mix and match solid metals and gem-encrusted ones of different sizes to add texture and elegance. Whether you prefer them in silver or gold, there are a number of options for everyone no matter what your budget.
Urban Outfitters has some interesting ones, made of neon metal or bamboo.
To show your mother how much you appreciate the raw materials that form the magnificent being that you are, why not a DNA portrait of yourself? You just have to give up a little bit of yourself on a cottom swab collected from the inside of your cheek . . . and about 415GBP (about $827USD). From DNA Art.
If your mom knows how to cook or like me, can whip up a mean margarita, then she'd love this heavy-duty mixer, but the best part is that a portion of the sale goes to Cook for the Cure®, a program by KitchenAid that donates money to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. To date, the program has raised almost $5 million through donation-with-purchase programs, fundraising events, auctions and grassroots initiatives. KitchenAid will donate $50* from the purchase of this mixer to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
For the busy, disorganized mom who can't keep track of all the little things she needs during the day, UncommonGoods has a fashionable alternative to dangling reading glasses or sunglasses on the front of a shirt or on one of those eyeglass chains. No one would guess that the Glasses Holder Necklace was actually made for the purpose of hanging glasses. In silver or gold vermeil and priced at $88-$98.
If a card is more up your alley, say it like it is with this "Damn, you're a good mother!" sentiment. Inside message: “Just look how I turned out! Happy Mother’s Day.” Just be prepared for the lecture on swearing. $3.50 at Knock Knock.
Posted by Evan
Category:
gift guides 2007
| highlights
Tags: gifts for geeks holiday gift guide mother's day gift guide
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05. 4.2007
Flexability Crutches make limping fashionable
Imagine this. You are on a skiing trip, equipped with the most wonderful gear and clothing, with plans to grab all the possible attention there. Alas, fate has a broken leg in store for you and there goes your chance of impressing the crowd. To make matters worse, you are stuck with those clinical looking dull crutches to move around with. There is precious little that you can do about the accident part, except perhaps practice harder and hope for more luck. However, about making the hobbling a more pleasurable experience, there are these designer crutches from qed*.
After observing that there has been no real improvement in the way crutches look for over forty years, the German design team decided it was time for them to evolve. So you have their Flexability crutches donned in bright sporty colors keeping pace with the latest in fashion. If you are wondering if these flexible crutches are all looks and no functionality (remember, you still have to deal with the limping), no worries there. Made out of molded glass-reinforced plastic, the crutches are shaped to make their usage as flexible and comfortable as possible. Storing them while not in use is also made easy by the fact that they can be stacked on top of each other. Quite a useful feature for those who want to stack up all possible colors to match their outfits. Sadly, there are no details on the availability and pricing as yet.
Via MedGadget.
Posted by kanchana
Category:
accessories
| body
Tags: color crutches crutches fashion crutches flexability crutches flexible fashion crutches
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05. 3.2007
Biomorph interactive desks fit to you
I was first introduced to Biomorph Interactive Desks, designed and produced by Stephen Barlow-Lawson, about five years ago. Their ultra-ergonomic features and sleek designs still lead the way in desk design.
The newest model is the Flexo. It comes with a triple-level telescopic frame, which extends from 17.5 in. to 51.5 in. high, for sitting or standing.
The best feature of the Biomorph desk series is that you can adjust both the height of the keyboard and the monitor. Usually, you can only control one, so some part of your body feels out of a natural position. Monitor stands are rarely adjustable, and not a perfect solution either.
The levels on the Flexo are adjusted by a handcrank, or you can upgrade to a whisper-quiet programmable electric motor. Now, your wrists, arms and neck can be in a healthy and safe alignment while you work.
The Flexo starts at $1,945, and goes up from there depending on size and additional special features.
Posted by Ray
Category:
design
Tags: biomorph computer desk computer desk ergonomic computer desk ergonomic furniture furniture
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05. 3.2007
USB ladybug mouse
The ladybug community must have recently hired a tech-oriented PR person because this USB ladybug mouse is the second computer peripheral in the shape of a black-and-red insect we've spotted (ahem) in the past few weeks. There's really only so much you can say about an optical mouse, especially when it's advertised as having a "long using life" and "high accuracy," but I like that it has a scroll wheel. I really like scroll wheels.
It's ironic that the mouse is wired, isn't it? Shouldn't something with wings be wireless? Maybe keeping the cord was the only way to keep the price at a fairly reasonable $14.
Via geeksugar.
Posted by Jenn
Category:
devices
Tags: computer peripheral ladybug mouse mouse
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05. 3.2007
Build sand castles at your desk
Your boss may not like it, but this miniature desktop sandbox delivers all the fun of a day at the beach . . . without actually spending a day the beach. Sunshine, fresh air, and swimming in the ocean are so overrated anyway. And if all you want to do is sit on the shore building sand castles, then there's no sense in using up your vacation time when you can just build to your heart's content right there in your enclosed, air-conditioned office.
This $10 beach-in-a-box kit contains sand that is somehow "always wet" (ew!), two plastic castle molds and sand tools, artificial shells, a tiny sailboat, and even one of those wooden spoon things that I thought were only supposed to be used for ice cream. I think that blue gel-looking stuff is just dyed water or something because there's no packet of "always wet ocean" included.
Via UberReview.
Posted by Jenn
Category:
toys
Tags: beach gift beach in a box sand castle toys
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05. 2.2007
Dedicated Post & Mother's Day Giveaway - PRESTO prints emails and photos without a computer
Do you have a family member or friend who is offline and doesn't have a computer or email at home? Or a parent or grandparent you'd love to send digital photos to on the same day you take them, but they don't have a computer or internet access?
We introduced Presto to Popgadget readers a few months ago, highlighting the simplicity of this service, which delivers emails, photos and other content to people who don't use a computer. Presto enables you to send emails and photos to the recipient, which then automatically pop out of their HP Presto printer (the HP Printing Mailbox) without any action on their part.
So, considering Grandma never set up a computer, how is she going to set up her Presto printer and service and learn how to operate it? Not to worry, getting started is a breeze. You can go online and set it up for her so that all she needs to do is plug it in, or she can call the Presto Customer Care toll-free line and get it all set up for her. Then the messages are automatically set to print up to 5 times per day (you or Grandma can set the schedule) through an existing phone line.
When you send an email or photo, the printer on the other end produces full color photos and emails without the need to activate anything. Grandma can receive unlimited emails, photos and content from anyone she gives her presto.com email address to. Presto even transforms plain emails with colorful designs.
The printer sells for $150 US and the service fee is $10 per month. And, between now and Mother's Day only, Presto is taking $50 off the cost of the printer, so it's a good time to pick this up for your disconnected friend, parent, or grandparent.
But, of course, one of you is getting it all FREE! Presto is giving away an HP Presto printer to a Popgadget reader and including 3 months of service for free (total value of giveaway is $180). The service is only available within the U.S., so this contest is limited to U.S. residents for use by a U.S. resident.
To enter the contest to win a Presto printer with 3 months of free service, send an email to brook.lenox@presto.com with the subject line "popgadget giveaway," and include in the body of the email your full name and U.S. address. Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries submitted by midnight of Mother's day, May 13, 2007. See the full Popgadget contest rules.
Read what customers are saying about Presto, and view the demo and print styles on the Presto website.
Posted by Hoyun
Category:
contests
| devices
| gift guides 2007
Tags: contest enter to win free presto hp printer printer
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05. 2.2007
DocuPen pen scanner
Where was this when I was in school? Can you imagine having a pen sized scanner? Just glide the "pen" over the page and it will scan it into memory, then connect it to your laptop or computer and it uploads the page. The DocuPen RC800 color handheld scanner, by Planon, can store up to 100 pages of scanned text.
While portable scanners aren't new, the speed of the DocuPen RC800 -- scans a full page of text and graphics in four to six seconds -- puts it in a class by itself.
After a few tries, I found I had mastered it; and it scans images as well as text, plus business cards, pretty much anything you want. The 800 version will set you back $299, but there are cheaper versions available, even a Recertified R700 for $99, which makes it afforable for students.
Excuse me while I go see if I can scan some more stuff.
Posted by Evan
Category:
devices
Tags: docupen rc 800 pen scanner planon scanner scanner
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05. 1.2007
Aquapict jellyfish aquarium
I've never understood the appeal of the tanks of fake fish - they just look kind of depressingingly artificial. What's the message? It's too difficult to shake a few food flakes into a tank of real fish? Hasn't life in general then just become too hard? Is it time to end it all? Perhaps other people, of more stable mental health, wouldn't take such leaps, but every time I've seen one of those fake fish spasmodically "swim" through a field of other scary plastic "fauna," I've wanted to run screaming.
As seen in this video (youtube link), the creatures in this Banpresto aquapict jellyfish aquarium look disturbingly real. I'm not a fan of real jellyfish, but as the LED lights flash and change colors, these fish glow in different colors to mesmerizing effect. I think it could be quite calming in the right environment. And it rides the tacky/cool line so sharply, it could be kitschy or arty or creepy depending on the rest of your decor. The fish are made of very thin sheets of silicone so the slithering motion is very natural. Each tank comes with 12 colors of lights.
These tanks are apparently a huge trend in Japan, but I'm never sure if that's really true or if these bizarre fads are national urban myths perpetuated so that impressionable Westerners will follow suit, to the great amusement of Japanese companies.
Available only in Japan, of course, but you can get it from Audiocubes for $159.
Posted by Mia
Category:
home
| pets
Tags: aquarium home decor
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05. 1.2007
Pan Am retro
Remember Pan Am, if only from the movies? The old logo brings back so many memories of the world-class airline that operated between 1927-1991. What other airline inspired web sites dedicated to its memory?
The classic travel bag has been resurrected and you can buy a piece of history at Unica Home in the same durable PVC exterior in 4 different models, ranging in price from $52 to $84. Styles range from square handheld totes to larger traditional flightbags in signature shades of vintage white, pan am blue, and flight blue.
It brings back memories of days when air travel was exciting, elegant and heck, they even fed you.
Via LA Times.
Posted by Evan
Category:
design
Tags: accessories carry-on bag travel
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