Review » DIY Guitar Pick Punch

Talented musicians can be quite the eccentric lot – and sometimes, they just want things done their own way, never mind that the average man on the street might deem it strange. Well, take guitarists for example – some of them might want to have their very own picks to pluck strings with, so what better way to keep said eccentric guitarist happy than with the $24.99 DIY Guitar Pick Punch?

Basically, this device is self-explanatory – you are able to turn just about anything into a guitar pick using but a simple punch. The guitar pick which is punched will be similar to that of a standard 351 style pick, and you get to go green (and creative) with the kind of guitar picks you choose. Use expired credit cards, grocery store club cards, plastic packaging material – hey, your imagination (and the toughness of the material) is the limit, so go for broke!

Be a truly awesome guitarist who not only plays your own tracks, but uses your very own picks as well.

Review » Bring Jurassic Park to your home with the 20 Foot Animatronic Triceratops

I’m not too sure about you, but when Jurassic Park first hit the cinemas all those years ago, my jaw literally dropped to the floor for the first time in my life. Such lifelike special effects that made me ask, “Just how the heck did they manage to do it?” To see man and dinosaur walk together is truly one of the more spine-chilling experiences to date, even though it was only on the silver screen. Well, since Father’s Day is already over and you need to start earning brownie points with your kids to be called the “Best Father in the World” for 2012, here’s a quick tip – bring home the 20 Foot Animatronic Triceratops for them.

Sure, it costs a cool $350,000 and you will probably get an earful from your wife for purchasing this without her permission, but how else are you going to keep the kids happy? This is no ordinary robotic display – it has been featured at museums around the US as part of a traveling exhibit, sporting motion sensors that allow it to respond to onlookers with lifelike reactions. Not only that, you get the standard bellows from a triceratops – or at least, what scientists believe it would sound like if it were real.

There will be motion-activated cameras installed into each eye that will function in unison with customized interactive software, letting this Cretaceous creature recognize multiple subjects’ facial features. The moment such facial features are identified, subjects’ tracked movements are capable of triggering a set of responses:, including having it sway its tri-horned head right, left, up, and down. Should it feel threatened, it will stomp and scuff its right forelimb, while opening up its jaws while growling.

Digitally controlled servos and silent, pneumatic air-activated cams would be the virtual “engine” behind these movement, and with an exterior that has been crafted by professional sculptors from polyurethane foam and textured silicone over a steel and aluminum frame, you can be sure that this is as lifelike as it gets. Good thing there is no poop to pick up after, anyone who has reared cows would know how much these let out, what more an ancient herbivore.

Review » Prelit Halloween Tree

If you’re the type who loves being early for anything and everything, then the Prelit Halloween Tree would definitely be in the pipeline – assuming you celebrate that holiday, of course. After all, Halloween’s still a long way off in October, but it doesn’t hurt to bring home this $249.99 garden enhancement now, does it? Boasting 240 colored LEDs that are encased in plastic four-leaf blossoms, this metal tree will cast an eerie, orange Halloween glow. The LEDs have been rated to work for 25,000 hours, while the branches and trunk are made from weatherproof metal which are sheathed in a black vinyl wrap that contrasts the orange light.

Standing at 6.5 feet tall, the tree sports 10 branches with pliable tips so that you are able to shape it to replicate the random, natural pattern of a live specimen. With an integrated stand and a quartet of stakes, stability outdoors is more or less ensured – unless, of course, a tornado decides to drop by and say hello. Just make sure you have a power outlet nearby to light this puppy up when the occasion arrives.

Review » Coleman Propane Coffeemaker

Gone camping?  That probably means your caffeine fix will have to come by way of a fire, boiling pot of water and scorched hands.  Unless of course you’re willing to plunk down $90 for the Coleman Propane Coffeemaker.  If you haven’t figured it out yet based on the name this thing brews coffee using a built-in propane tank that can produce up to 15 cups.  The coffee maker is good for up to 10 cups in one sitting, so you’ll get 1.5 uses out of the handy tool before you need a propane tank replacement.

Chances are, though, you don’t drink 15 cups in one day, so in theory you should be good for the better part of your camping trip, right?  One 10 cup pot – it’s made of stainless steel -takes 18 minutes to brew, which means by the time the fire gets going and breakfast is cooked your morning joe is waiting for you to be consumed.

Via: Gearpatrol

Review » Gaggenau 200 Series Motorized Drop Down Oven

Gaggenau’s products are exceptional pieces of equipment. They’re designed with not only the cook, but interior decorator in mind. The Gaggenau 200 Series BL253610 is effectively your standard oven, but instead of a traditional flip down door, a motorized tray lowers with the push of a button. This insures that the heats stays in (heat rises) and makes loading a snap; no more bending over. Gaggenau boasts precise temperature control and a feature that allows cooks to monitor the actual interior temperature of the oven, something called “thermo-test”. Other features include auto shutoff, a self-cleaning mode and a built-in air cleaning system so grease doesn’t collect on top of your fridge.

The only caveat to this unique cooking apparatus is that it costs $3,999.

Review » Bambu Pet Hammock (video)

 

Pet beds are more often than not an eye sore, especially when placed in a lavishly decorated living room. And hence why Corey Drew has taken a modern, and chic approach to his project and is now asking for your help to take it from concept to store shelf.

The Bambu Pet Hammock is built to support pets weighing under 30lbs. The cushion is stretched out on all four corners and secured with stainless steel anchors and carabiners creating a sling type sleeping surface. It’s fully washable and is made from upholstery grade ultra-suede. The frame is crafted from exotic strand bamboo material, and is designed to mimic and blend in with human furniture.

Pledging $125 will get you a limited edition Bambu Pet Hammock, while pledging $275 or more will score you the raised the hammock and dinner bowl table.

Review » Northstar Retro Beer Fridge

Why buy a plain old fridge when you can buy one that dispenses beer?  That’s the first question we pondered once we laid eyes on Northstar’s retro inspired fridges.

They come preinstalled with a Brew Master draft system, including through-the-door tap dispenser, coupler, connections, CO2 cylinder and drip tray.  Just add a keg of your favorite beer, tap and you’ll be able to dispense that foamy, velvety beverage like a true gentleman.  While a peek inside the fridge is no where to be found, at least online, it sounds like there is enough room to store a head of lettuce, or whatever vegetable your body requires to stave off scurvy.

Choose from three models (1950, 1951 and 1952) all starting at $800.

Review » Millennium Falcon Lounger: Because Even Geeks Need to Lax

We’re not saying you have to buy the Millennium Falcon Lounger, but any self respecting Star Wars fan probably should. Unfortunately, we can’t track down the price or where you can purchase it, but we’re hearing it comes from designer Woouf.com.

Review » Magazine Rack Coffee Table

They might be called coffee tables, but the reality is they’re often stacked high with your monthly dose of unread magazines. And while it might pay dividends to show your visitors that you’ve got a cerebral side to your good looks, it’s never a good thing when the stack of New Yorker magazine’s takes over the center piece to your living room. The Drop Desk Coffee Table incorporates a carbon steel frame, but more importantly a center that can pull double time as a magazine or book rack. You just drape the pages over the plywood slices and the magazines will hang freely and out of the way.

Sorry, no word on a price.

Review » Review of the VuPoint Magic Wand Portable Scanner

I think that, as a society, we are moving away from paper and going toward an all digital format. Considering that almost every consumer owns a scanner with their printers is a sign that most of our documents need to be made digital, fast.

Those who need their scanning in a more portable form should probably check out the VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand. I first saw it at CES a few years ago, and I finally got a chance to try it out.

I was hoping that I could get past the frustration factor soon, and I did. The Quick Start Guide showed me exactly what to do the moment I took it out of the box. As soon as I inserted a microSD card (not included), I was ready to scan. I found a few of my daughter’s drawings, and you can see the results after the jump.

As you can see, there are a lot of edges that are slightly off, but it captured the image perfectly. A little cropping could take care of that, and I am certain that I could easily perfect this in time.
The scanner has some “rollers” that allow the user to push across and ordinary piece of paper and turn it to a JPG file. An indicator shows how many scans are on file, and the device is powered by 2 AA batteries. It comes with a USB cable so images can be downloaded to your computer.

If you are looking for this type of portable scanning action, feel free to pick it up for about $99 at Amazon.

Review » iDucky for some wet musical fun

It is always fun to take a nice, long bath after a particularly long and hard day at the office. Of course, what’s better than soaking in a warm bath with your favorite aromatherapy candles burning, while you have a glass of milk and some cookies at the side to munch on, reading your favorite book in another hand? Why, some of your favorite tunes would always come in handy! Enter the iDucky waterproof floating bath duck that not only functions as a speaker for MP3 players, it also doubles up as an FM radio to boot.

It is compatible with any device as long as it is connected via the 3.5mm headphone jack. Retailing for $29.99 a pop, the iDucky is powered by a couple of AAA batteries, and will feature an egg transmitter that has a 10 meter working range – that ought to be enough to work with most bathrooms unless you live in a mansion.

Review » Native Union announces Gold POP phone

 

Want to introduce some bling into your life? Well, you can do so with the Native Union Gold POP phone. This is something that might appeal to the little boy in you who grew up reading James Bond novels, and wanting to play the role of a suave, debonair super spy who has everything under control no matter how harrowing it might seem, why not get the Gold POP phone and make it a part of your home as well? It would go down well with the James Bond persona, since Bond never skimps on his gizmos.

The Gold POP phone will also appeal to females, since it doesn’t look half bad at all, and at least it is a whole lot more presentable than the rest of the big boy’s toys that your man likes to purchase. We will look into greater detail as to what the Gold POP phone is able to offer you should you decide to bling up your life.

This shiny, metallic gold handset is the perfect device for those who love multi-tasking, as it enables one to talk, text and perhaps even dodge enemy bullets, all at the same time without breaking a sweat. You can use it to make Skype calls to your mates, or perhaps even hold a conference call with family who are displaced in different continents, looking like money over the webcam as well.

The Gold POP phone will be able to take advantage of its 3.5mm jack to play nice with most mobile devices, and you can also purchase an adapter which is sold separately just in case there are connectivity incompability issues.You will find a first class speaker and microphone fitted to this puppy, while the handset itself boasts of noise reduction technology so that the message gets across crystal clear, reducing the chances for any miscommunication.

Acclaimed French designer David Turpin is the brain behind this retro style handset, and it was based on his interpretation of the classic 1950s Bakelite telephone. Retailing for $60 a pop, this is one of the few affordable indulgences that most folks can afford, especially in the current economic climate, merging both flair and function in a single device.

http://www.nativeunion.com/us/limited/popphone-gold.html

Review » Hand Powered Espresso Maker

There is nothing quite like having a nice hot cuppa of your favorite joe in the morning to spruce things up. After all, the work day isn’t going to get any easier as it progresses (that’s the norm, no?), right? You could always receive help from the kitchen or pantry using one of those machines that churn out coffee by the cup, but if you use your hands via the Hand Powered Espresso Maker, it will be done with love and passion – and surely that would translate to a better taste for most folks.

This hand-powered espresso maker is touted to produce rich Italian coffee drinks sans electricity, letting you stay up through the day in the office even when there is no power supply. All you need to do is pour hot water into the top of the unit, push down both levers to drive a piston downward, where that will create up to 10 bar of pressure to extract rich, complex espresso topped with crema.

With a portafilter that holds one or two shots of ground coffee alongside its removable dual spout which can pour a couple of drinks simultaneously, you will more or less get the perfect cuppa all the time. $149.95 for a hand cranked espresso maker? Smells good to us.

Review » Dreamtrap EASYWAKEme Sleep Stage Alarm Clock

Sleep is vital to the well being of humans, any doctor can tell you that. Heck, you need not slog your way through medical school (suffering from a lack of sleep in the process, how ironic is that?) to know that having the right amount of sleep is important to make sure you function at peak efficiency. Well, some of us get too much, most of us get too little, but the EASYWAKEme Sleep Stage Alarm Clock from Dreamtrap intends to help you achieve the perfect balance.

Ready to rock and roll this coming July, the innovative sleep monitor will be able to detect the most optimal moments for you to wake up through the simple monitoring of customers’ sleep. This means with enough data collected, you will be awakened stress-free while feeling totally alert, energized and ready to meet the new day, never mind that you are already behind schedule in your work.

Make no mistake about it, this is very different from a regular alarm clock, where the EASYWAKEme functions as a sleep monitoring and waking system which will track body motion and detect sleep phases. The Dreamtrap’s proprietary 3D Adaptive Sleep Capture (3D ASC) technology is capable of “reading” body characteristics, tracking sleep duration and efficiency so that it can accurately determine the optimal wake-up moment and reduce your daily wake-up stress.

Accompanied by a wearable sensor that is compatible with most cell phones, this sensor comes in the form of a comfortable band that is worn on the wrist while sleeping. All you need to do is set the required time window to be awakened, and the supporting application will get to work, transforming the cell phone into a sleep phase alarm clock. Relying on a silent vibrating alarm mode, or choosing from your favorite wake-up tunes, EASYWAKEme is well on its way to help you get a healthy night’s sleep.

It can also let you review your personal sleep stats, track sleep duration and evaluate sleep efficiency, as all information on sleep is automatically uploaded to a web site via your cell phone. It is ready to hit the UK for £99, with no word on a Stateside release just yet.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/easywakeme/sleep-monitor/prweb8442409.htm

Review » Book Rest Lamp

 

You know that since you were young, you’ve always wanted to stand out from the rest. That’s not too hard to do if you were to act like a boor amongst your mates, but understated elegance – now that is a hard act to follow. The Book Rest Lamp, however, might just elevate you to such levels if you aren’t quite there yet. The name itself might already give the game away, if not the picture, but how about letting your favorite tome sit right on top of the lamp?

Doing so will have it look like a house in one of those classic designs, letting you feel all nice, warm and fuzzy within. Of course, we do hope that the harsh light from the lamp won’t spoil your book’s pages in the long run if you happen to park the book there more than you read it, using the lamp for long hours each day. Available for £40 with a choice of UK, US or EU plugs, this is one modern design for your home that you would do well to seriously consider.

Review » The Inspiration Archipod

 

What happens when you live in a house with plenty of screaming children, running up and down the stairs repeatedly while disturbing you whenever you try to work, or just want to chill out in your abode after a particularly long, hard day at work? Surely your blood pressure will boil to a certain level, and you might just snap at them, never mind that children are being just that – children.

Perhaps it is time for you to look into the Inspiration Archipod, where this spherical pod will create an environment conducive for creative working, meditation, and innovation. A retreat right in your own backyard (if it is big enough, that is), now how about that? Designed by British inventor and Engineer Chris Sneesby, the Archipod’s interior will deliver a sense of space that you won’t believe when you step inside.

The frame is constructed from timber and clad with Western Red Cedar shingles, while the walls are double insulated, plastered, and painted, resulting in a seamless 12 1/2′ diameter x 8 1/4′ high interior space without any visible joints. Just to give it a semblance of a home, there is a stainless steel-framed porthole window that lets you see outside, although you can add in more if you want to.

The locking gull-wing door will be raised and lowered using an air piston, while a built-in electric panel heater provides warmth whenever the mercury drops outside, letting you contemplate on life’s challenges in comfort regardless of the season. Ceiling-mounted, dimmable lights provide mood lighting and two double-socket electrical outlets will let you use devices like computers or to charge up your iPad. The asking price? A whopping $40,000.

REVIEW >> Floating Pool Archery Game

Want to have some fun this summer when you’re throwing a BBQ by the poolside? If that’s the case, get your body all buffed up and slap on enough sunscreen – so that you can have a field time trying to hit the target, scoring with your archery partner after that if possible. After all, when two good looking people get together, hit it off with the right kind of activity and have plenty of booze to feel relaxed, why not?

The Floating Pool Archery Game definitely on target where family fun is concerned, letting you make an attempt at being the Robin Hood of the pool, as you attempt to beat your opponents with your skills. Of course, there are always different factors to take into consideration such as the strength and direction of the blowing wind in addition to the way water moves, affecting just how the target board floats.

$39.95 to improve your hand-eye coordination is still more affordable compared to purchasing a new Nintendo 3DS, no?

REVIEW >> One Touch Photo Dialer

 

Making a phone call has never been easy, especially for those who can’t quite seem to put a name to a face. Enter the $39.95 One Touch Photo Dialer which will take an unorthodox route when it comes to making a phone call. Relying on easily identifiable pictures, this unique idea will deliver one-touch dialing for commonly called or emergency telephone numbers. This is made possible thanks to individual buttons which measure 1.5″ x 1″, as they can be customized with a picture or symbol. It doesn’t matter who you put there, but for sure you can’t call Osama bin Laden since he’s sleeping with the fishes. Each of the dialer’s dozen buttons can be linked to a different telephone number that is entered via the recessed numeric keypad on the dialer’s underside. Shame this works with a land line only…

REVIEW >> Interactive Story Telling Mirror

It seems like I am always reporting on how the mirrors of the future will be touch-interactive. This Through the Looking Glass mirror takes it one step further.

Designed by Romy van den Broek, this mirror allows children to experience an interactive fairy tale. If you have ever seen one of those interactive storybook iPad apps, then I am guessing that the experience is going to be quite similar.

Right now, they have it set up for Hansel and Gretel, and I am told that two kids can interact with the mirror at the same time. I wonder if they can take advantage of the mirror’s reflective surface, which would be the only difference between this an some sort of storybook app or interactive website.

The technology is done with a highly reflective LCD touchscreen display, and I suppose the idea is to imitate the magical mirrors that are seen in many stories. For example, Harry Potter’s Mirror of Erised, which I just realized is “desire” spelled backwards.

Right now, this is just concept technology, and I’m not certain whether parents would justify the purchase of one of these techno-magical mirrors for their own children. Perhaps one day we will live in an age where all mirrors will be like tablet PCs, and the functions of the Through the Looking Glass mirror will be just another App.

REVIEW >> Flexibility Increasing Stretching Aid

You know that when you get older, your body stops to work as before. It is less elastic, and certainly not as flexible at the joints. Of course, there are others out there who get involved in sports and activities that help preserve or maintain your flexibility, such as yoga. How about a machine right in the comfort of your living room such as the Flexibility Increasing Stretching Aid?

Those who are in the know would realize that something like this can be found in better-equipped workout facilities, where this stretching aid will employ the body’s weight in order to improve flexibility. It works more effectively in stretching the lower back than others, what with its pivoting seat and kneeboard that allows users to isolate a muscle in order to lessen overall resistance and control the intensity of a stretch. Basically, you stretch using the machine instead of having it the other way around.

Benefits include improved posture, improved circulation, and a decreased risk of lower back pain amongst others. Best to invest $499.95 in this now than visit a doctor later on, eh?