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Posts with tag novelty

LED Gadget Translates Your Dog's Tail Wags

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 9th 2008 at 7:41PM

LED Gadget Translates Your Dog's Tail Wags

We've seen toys that claim to decifer dog barks (and even fancy computers that can decode the barks of a particular breed of dog better than humans can), but we still haven't seen a big glowing sign that spells out what your dog is trying to say -- until now.

Okay, truth be told, you still won't, at least not at home, unless you run to New York's MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) for a demo at the Elastic Mind exhibit, since this device is just a concept.

The proposed device would attach to the dog's tail, measure his or her WPM (Wags Per Minute) and use that to figure out what he/she is trying to say. It would then spell out your canine's message in LED lights in mid air as the your dogs tail wags, turning it into a tacky novelty message board.

From Engadget

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Fast Food of the Future

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Feb 13th 2008 at 3:03PM

The Future of Portable Food

If we've learned one thing from the KFC Famous Bowls, it's that Americans love to find absurd ways to make food more convenient and efficient. OhGizmo! has a pair of food related innovations that stop shy of a "failure pile in a sadness bowl," but at least one still crosses the line in to fast food ridiculousness.

With only six locations nationwide, Korean-based BBQ Chicken USA is a somewhat obscure fast-food chain, but it is bound to make waves with its new Col-Pop Chicken menu item. The dual-leveled cup features a top section for chicken nuggets that fits above the bottom soda container. Yes, you can have warm soda and cold nuggets in one easy-to-carry vessel!
The Future of Portable Food

On the slightly more useful side, but still somewhat of a novelty, is Cereal on the Go. The ingenious, two-compartment container keeps milk or yogurt cold in a bottom-insulated cup with the help of a freezable gel pack, while keeping cereal dry and crisp in a attachable bowl until it's ready for consumption. Cereal on the Go even comes with a foldable plastic spoon. As clever as it is we're not sure how much we'd be eating cereal "on the go," and the idea of carrying around a container of milk in our bag or briefcase that could open and ruin everything inside scares the hell out of us, but we'll file these doodads under "nifty!"

From OhGizmo!

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World's First Remote-Control Beer Cooler

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jan 6th 2008 at 4:12AM

Deliver Drinks From Across the Room With the RC Cooler
If you wander by the Interactive Toy Concepts booth at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, there is a good chance you'll be greeted by a friendly bump from a drink (beer) bearing device called the RC Cooler. The RC Cooler is exactly what it sounds like -- a radio-controlled cooler.

The soft-sided, collapsible cooler sits atop four wheels and a radio receiver powered by eight "C" batteries (which will survive only three hours of constant use). The round gray plastic remote takes a single 9-volt battery that shouldn't need to be swapped out nearly as often.

After beating back the CES-show-floor-gawkers who were trying to get a good shot of this thing, we were able to get a good look have to admit we were smitten. Yes, it's silly, but it seems to handle well, which makes it really useful for lounge-chair potatoes who like to party!

Now, when you're lounging poolside at your barbecues, you won't have to get up and fetch a beer or hand one over to a friend. Just send out the RC Cooler with a full load of 12 beverages, while you sit back and relax with the remote. The RC Cooler will be available in the Spring, for $49.99, just in time for the lazy host in all of you to pick one up for the first pool party of the season.

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Boy Saves Sister from Moose Attack with Skills Learned in Warcraft Video Game

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Dec 10th 2007 at 9:06AM

Boy Survives Moose Attack With Skills Learned from 'WoW'This 12 year-old Norwegian boy saved his sister and himself from a moose attack using skills he picked up in the online role playing game 'World of Warcraft.'

Hans Jørgen Olsen and his sister got into a spot of trouble when they encroached on the territory of one of these antlered cold weather staples (otherwise known as a moose). When the beast went on the offensive, Hans knew the first thing he had to do was taunt it so that it would leave his sister alone and she could run to safety. "Taunting" is a move one uses in World of Warcraft to get monsters off of the less-well-armored team members.

Once he was a target, Hans remember another skill he'd picked up at level 30 in 'World of Warcraft' -- he feigned death. The moose lost interest in the inanimate Hans and wandered off into the woods. When he was safely alone Hans ran back home to share his tale of video game-inspired survival.

Make fun of video games all you want, but if one can teach you a skill that saves your (and your sister's) life, then we'd say that was a video game worth playing.

From Internode Gaming Network

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Decorate Your Desk With the USB Christmas Tree

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Dec 3rd 2007 at 1:29PM

Decorate your Desk with the USB Christmas Tree
Even though listening to the Backstreet Boys version of 'Christmas Time' every hour on the hour -- at least while we're out shopping -- makes us want to seal our eyes and ears with a caulking gun, we still like to get into the holiday spirit... we just want to do it on our own terms.

So, for those of us who want to spruce up our cubicles for the holidays and would rather skip those lame snow flake cut outs that are the province of elementary school teachers, we suggest a USB Christmas Tree from Vat 19.
Made of six inches of clear plastic, this 'tree' is lit up from within by LEDs that shift from blue to red to green. The six -foot USB cord ensures you wont the tree crowding your desktop mousing space. And, at only $9.95, the USB Christmas tree is much cheaper than a real tree.

From Popgadget

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Little Rubber Ducky Computer Mouse

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Nov 28th 2007 at 12:57PM

Rubber Ducky You're the One, You Make Computer Time So Much Fun
When we think about our mice (not the breathing kind, but the computer kind), we all agree on one missing element -- a little floating rubber duck. This novelty peripheral from the folks at Uncommon Goods is pretty much your standard optical mouse: It has two buttons, a scroll wheel, and a design that makes it frustratingly difficult to find a comfortable position to hold it, but then there's the issue of the small yellow ducky, which floats and shifts around in some liquid at the bottom of the mouse every time you point and click. It's an adorably entertaining and differentiating feature that made us want to give this thing to everyone we know. Just try not to get too distracted by the little guy and accidentally click on that add for penis enlarging supplements. Little rubber ducky, you're the one, you make computer time so much fun!

From Popgadget

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Woman Finds Accidental Success Selling Tumbleweeds Online

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Nov 27th 2007 at 1:45PM

Woman Accidentally Starts Internet Business Selling Tumbleweeds

Like many a person who found their way online in the '90s, Linda Katz is a Web entrepreneur. The thing is, she joined the ranks by accident. Back in 1994, Linda was teaching herself how to build a Web site. As a joke, she assembled the Prairie Tumbleweed Farm page. To Linda's surprise, people began ordering tumble weeds -- thats right, giant, dried-out dead bushes.

The Prairie Tumbleweed Farm web page hasn't changed much since 1994, and it shows. But there is something charming about the extremely basic page that should have died more than 10 years ago as the joke of an HTML novice.

$15 for a small tumbleweed, $20 for a medium, and $25 for a large have let the likes of Barney the Purple Dinosaur, Johnny Depp's 'Neverland,' and even NASA help this accidental business woman, as they have all needed her wares for props. Linda won't divulge how much she makes, but she says her site makes more than $40,000 a year.

From People of the Web

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It's a CD! It's a Record! It's a CD/Vinyl Hybrid!

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Nov 8th 2007 at 2:31PM

Vinyl/CD Hybrid
There's a small group of us who, in this digital world, has developed a fetish for all things analog. This obsession is particularly strong among musicians and music lovers. Vacuum tube amps, vintage synthesizers, and, of course vinyl records.

Optimal Media Productions is appealing to this fascination with good ol' records by adding a little value and novelty to your average CD. The comapny's new combo vinyl CD is a standard CD on one side and three-and-a-half minutes of pure vinyl goodness on the other.

The combination of the convenience of a CD and the coolness of vinyl isn't quite perfect, since there is only enough room for one song on the vinyl side. Even so, that little vinyl strip could provide the perfect place to add a bonus track.

From Wired

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Dough-Nu Matic Makes a Dozen Donuts in Less Than Six Minutes

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Nov 1st 2007 at 4:07PM

Mmm... Automated Donut
We're ordering one for the Switched offices. That's all there is to it. AOL will just have to foot the bill for our out of control cholesterol levels. The Dough-Nu-Matic forms, fries and dispenses mini donuts automatically.

This might the greatest invention since the wheel. Think about it. No more runs to Dunkin' Donuts to get your fill of deep fried sugary goodness. You can sit around and get fat with out the help of a drive-through window.

This symbol of American ingenuity (or gluttony) can be had for $130 through the most appropriate of retailers, SkyMall.

From Boing Boing

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USB Alarm Clock Blends Balls and Plays Game Show Themes

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Oct 30th 2007 at 11:15AM

70s Throwback USB Blender / Alarm Clock
In case you were wondering how to make sure we cover your product, here's the secret recipe: USB + sharp blades. Oh, and it doesn't hurt if it plays music. That's why you get to read about the USB Blender Alarm Clock. This little toy from Brando is powered via your USB port or by batteries (though the product page doesn't say how many or what kind). When it's time for the alarm to sound, the blades spin up tossing the carafe full of tiny balls flying while it plays '70s game show themes.

You know what, on second thought, this thing sounds terribly irritating, something that belongs in the junkyard of the world's dumbest USB gadgets. We never liked 'The Price Is Right,' so why would we want to wake up to it? And the sound of balls being whacked around a blender carafe might look good on paper, but we think it might traumatize us after a couple of mornings. If you find yourself feeling that masochistic, you can head on over Usb.Brando.com.hk and get yourself one for $25.

From Engadget

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Nutty 'iShoes' Electric Roller Skates

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Oct 29th 2007 at 11:29AM

Seriously? iShoes?

We're not sure what's more groan-inducing, the terribly unimaginative name, or the idea of riding around on a pair of 16-pound motorized roller skates.

These ridiculous, battery-powered, "transportation devices" will make sure you never have a girlfriend or boyfriend (though if you think these clunkers are cool, you probably didn't have much hope anyway). Availability and price are unknown since the product -- to be called iShoes -- is still in testing, but a promo site promises a 5-7 mile range and a top speed of 15 miles-per-hour.

The whole contraption is controlled by a wired hand-held power and breaking system, which presumably runs up inside your pants or some such -- otherwise, seems kind of dangerously tangle-prone. The iShoes fit over your own kicks, as long as they happen to be between sizes 8 and 12 for men or 7 and 10 for women.

Alas, the oh-so-tired name has absolutely nothing to do with either iPods, iMacs, or the Internet. Perhaps you could make the claim these shoes are interactive, to use the mid-'90s catch-all description for anything remotely technological, but our money's on insane.

Then again, the Brodway musical version of 'Xanadu' is a hit, so maybe the iShoes peeps are on to something....


From Boing Boing Gadgets

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Mousetrap Gases Rodents, Texts You When It's Done

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Oct 10th 2007 at 10:31AM

Mousey Gas Chamber Texts You To Say the Deed is DoneWhy settle for your run-of-the-mill mousetrap when you can use a teched-out and unnecessarily intricate contraption that you might find in the lair of an old James Bond or Batman villain? Developed by U.K. pest-control pros, Rentokil, the RADAR mouse extermination system is touted as the "smartest and most humane mousetrap ever" -- this from a company that opted to put the word "kill" in its name.

The RADAR (that's "Rodent Activated Detention and Riddance Unit") is triggered by infrared sensors. When a little furry mouse wanders into the trap, the sensors shut the door then release a "measured dose" of carbon dioxide, which Rentokil says ends the rodent's life "quickly and humanely." The fun part, though, is that after the deed is done the trap fires off a text message to inform you that you've got a mouse corpse to clean up when you return home.

The RADAR is available now in the U.K., but requires a consultation from a technician for installation and pricing.

Maybe we're missing something here, but wouldn't the "most humane mousetrap ever" simply keep the mouse prisoner long enough for you to let it loose in the neighbor's yard?

From Engadget Mobile

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PetCell, the Mobile Phone for Dogs

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Sep 11th 2007 at 10:32AM

Calling Your Dogs
If you're prone to losing your dog or have a Barbara-Walters-like ability to communicate with your pooch, you may want to pick up the PetCell, which is exactly what it sounds like -- a cell phone for your pet. Our dogs' conversation skills tend to be a little lackluster, so the calling feature seems a little pointless for anything beyond a a laugh.

That said, dogs do have a tendency to wander off and get lost, which is where the device's built-in GPS features come in handy. Like Verizon Wireless's Migo phone with Chaperone Service for keeping track of your kids, PetCell's GPS capability lets you track Fido's movements, as well as build electronic borders for he or she to stay in -- if your pet steps outside of a predesignated zone, you'll get an automatic alert in the form of a text message or e-mail to your phone or computer.

And get this --the phone can also be programed to only accept calls from specific numbers so that telemarketers can't convince the poor pooch to subscribe to US Weekly. Did we mention it's also waterproof?

Besides the GPS capability, the device is fairly pointless, particularly when you factor in the outrageous $500 price tag before you add a service plan. For that money, we wonder why PetCell doesn't have media playback capabilities and a multi-touch screen.

Of course, pet gadgets -- useful or otherwise -- are always good for a laugh, so here are a few others that made us smile:

From Sci-Fi Tech

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iPod-Controlling Lederhosen Amaze German Traditionalists

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Sep 7th 2007 at 3:09PM

Company Shows Off iPod Controlling Lederhosen

German mountain pants, or lederhosen, are not typically at the top of one's list when shopping for geek-friendly clothing. Until now, that is. Lodenfrey, a traditional German clothing manufacturer since 1842, showed up at this year's IFA 2007 (Europe's answer to CES) with a pair of the suede German pants that sport integrated iPod controls. The buttons run down the leg of the Capri-esque pants, so now you can replay the chicken dance song nonstop until your head spins.

Unfortunately, the iPod-hosen are not yet being shown at Lodenfrey's Web site, so the anxious wait is on. We'll keep you posted!

From Geek Sugar

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Karaoke Machine Records Your Tone-Deaf Wails

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Aug 23rd 2007 at 5:27PM

Karaoke RecorderAs if Karaoke machines weren't embarrassing enough, now there's a model with a built-in recording feature. The i-Sing Karaoke Recorder (yes, yet another innovative use of the letter 'i' for a tech product) bills itself as the first karaoke machine that has the ability to record your voice over the song you're butchering.

Load up lyrics to the gadget via a USB port, then croon your little heart out. The device supports WMA, WAV, and MP3 files, has a built-in speaker, microphone, and headphone jack. It has 512 Megabytes of built in memory plus an SD/MMC card slot to add even more storage space for your serenades.

The only disadvantage? The first time you actually sit down and listen to the playback of yourself wailing along with your personal top 40 will also be the last time you ever use the i-Sing.

From Red Ferret Journal

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