Tag Archives: gadget

Trek Support Concept "Power Station" Backpack

by Noemi Twigg
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Trek Support Concept "Power Station" Backpack

All day today, Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam” was playing in my head.  (Perhaps the song being listed 10 times on my On-the-go Playlist had something to do with that.)  While I was enjoying the music and the words as I roamed the streets of a strange city, my back was telling me just how much of a hassle it has been to lug around my laptop and all the other stuff that usually go with it.  Then I had to deal with the fact that the battery died on me after sitting at Starbucks all afternoon. That “ordeal” led me to looking up backpacks that might make it easier Read more »

Concept printer uses pencils

by andy
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Concept printer uses pencils

The paperless office that was promised back in the last century never happened, and despite our increased use of the Internet and electronic gadgets, plus the endless little green pleas about saving the environment on the signature of nearly every corporate email, we still love to print stuff out. Printing technology, then, continues to evolve. Yet while most people are looking for better laser and inkjet performance, Hoyoung Lee has designed a printer that works using pencils. Seriously. OK, the first time I saw this printer I was hoping that the pencil was controlled on some kind of robotic arm in order to form the letters by drawing them (logical, Read more »

Evil Mad Scientist creates own coffee bean cooler

by andy
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Evil Mad Scientist creates own coffee bean cooler

I must say I’m liking what Evil Mad Scientist has been doing recently, such as this fine creation: a coffee bean cooler. If you tend to buy ready-brewed coffee at Starbucks, buy ready-ground beans for use at home, or (shock) drink instant coffee, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. However, if you take the trouble to roast your own beans, you might actually need some way to cool them down afterwards (they continue roasting for as long as they’re hot, apparently). Well, EMS now uses two hot-air popcorn makers. One roasts the beans and the other has been modified to cool them down afterwards. I’m sure you Read more »

M&M Dispenser Maze: Great for dieters who like a challenge

by andy
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SparkFun Electronics have been at it again, this time building something that will definitely slow down your candy habit (unless you just raid the store of course). The M&M Dispenser Maze features a classic wooden labyrinth around which you must guide an M&M without it falling off the edges. It uses 8-bit Nintendo buttons for resetting and starting the game, and the joystick from a PlayStation for controlling pitch and roll of the table. Fantastic idea. Now can we have a version with more obstacles and items to control? Via Read more »

Tabletop Pong: turning a classic video game into reality

by andy
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Tabletop Pong: turning a classic video game into reality

What happens when you try to turn the classic arcade game PONG into a real life tabletop game? Evil Mad Scientist has done just that and come up with Tabletop Pong. It’s a definite work in progress, but you can read the fascinating journey including photos and descriptions of the construction process. Check out the video of it in action: Obviously, some real world elements have crept in to the design — because the table isn’t quite level gravity takes its toll on the ball. Perhaps this makes the game even more playable (or fun, at least)? In order to keep the ball moving (or to encourage it along) the Read more »

Practice your ventriloquism with talking animals pen

by andy
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Practice your ventriloquism with talking animals pen

You know we’re approaching Christmas when the silly gift ideas start appearing. Not that there’s anything particularly Christmassy about these ventriloquist pens, but be honest — when else are you likely to buy (or be given) something like this. (If you think this is the best gift ever, you need to read our 12 tips for buying geek Christmas presents) Right, so what is it? Forget dictaphones and other recording devices. Nothing says “I’m a geek making it in the business world” more than turning up with one of these pens, recording memos on it, and then pretending you’re an ace ventriloquist by playing it back, at which point the Read more »

Top ten Christmas gadgets are so predictable

by andy
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Top ten Christmas gadgets are so predictable

Honestly, I despair. The Great British public has no imagination. It has plumped for the technological equivalents of underwear for its top ten list of Christmas presents this year. Name a really exciting gadget that you would really like for Christmas, and it won’t be on the list. Not the list compiled by publisher CNet UK, anyway. 1. Ooh, look, Sony has brought out a slim version of the PS3. That’s number one. Don’t worry that you’ve already got a PS3. 2. The iPhone isn’t on the list, but the HTC Hero smart phone is. Maybe it’s because it’s cheaper. 3. Those who don’t want a PS3 Slim still want Read more »

Mario-themed USB sticks a must have

by andy
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Mario-themed USB sticks a must have

So now we know what Mario looks like with different moustaches, it’s time to combine our love for the Italian-American plumber and USB with these Mario themed memory sticks. All with 4GB storage, we have Mario, Shroom, Goomba, Koopa, and the Mario question mark (which is actually a USB extender). There used to be a Luigi too, but perhaps he got sold. Read more »

Gradient portable drinks heater/cooler looking good

by andy
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Gradient portable drinks heater/cooler looking good

I’m a fan of good looking and useful kitchen appliances, despite not having a big enough kitchen to house them all, so this Gradient portable electric drinks heater/cooler caught my eye. Not only does it serve a dual purpose (not at the same time, obviously) but it looks pretty good too. The bottom hotplate takes care of tea, coffee and other drinks you want to stay hot by maintaining them at a constant temperature. Read more »