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?

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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…

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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.

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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?

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REVIEW >> LED Bulb Screw Fit with Remote Control

 

How many engineers does it take to screw on a light bulb? Well, we guess that depends on how complex the light bulb itself is, as well as the technical proficiency of the engineers themselves. One thing’s for sure though – it doesn’t take an engineer to figure out how to install the £29.99 LED Bulb Screw Fit with Remote Control, and to make things all the more interesting, you will be able to change the lighting in an instant thanks to an accompanying remote control that works within a 10 meter range. Basically, this LED Bulb functions like any other light bulb save for the ability for you to control it with a quartet of lighting effects and 16 colors to add some zest to your living room.

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REVIEW >> Great Geysers lets you pop your own

 

Love all things science? Then the Great Geysers will definitely interest you – after all, this unique kit will help you build your very own fizzy pop fountains on a step-by-step basis, as you figure out how to create your very own spectacular geyser that can go up to 25 feet high using nothing but ordinary household pop. This is not exactly new, but it does hold the distinction of being one of the better known experiments worldwide.

With the Great Geysers, you are able to perform more than a dozen other exciting reactions which will fizz, froth and foam – as long as you have enough fizzy drinks to go around. If you don’t mind ending up with a huge mess in your backyard, then the £14.99 Great Geysers is just the thing to purchase the next time you wonder what to get for your school going kids. Hey, you can participate in the fun as well, no?

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Frozen Fruit Soft Serve Processor

 

Since summer is already here officially – hey, you can’t fault Google for putting up a doodle on their main page to announce that, it makes perfect sense if you want to get some relief from some of the summer heat with your own brand of soft-serve treat. What better way to do so than with the Frozen Fruit Soft Serve Processor? This $69.95 purchase will be able to combine frozen bananas alongside any other additional fruit or chocolate, instantly churning the ingredients that results in a treat with the texture of frozen yogurt or soft-serve ice cream.

Sounds delicious, and even better news is there is no need to consume any additional fat, sugar, or preservatives in the process. The chute will be able to accept berries, sliced mango, or cantaloupe, while its integrated conical, spinning blade will mash and incorporate the fruit into a silky-smooth confection. The chute, plunger, and blade can all be thrown into the dishwasher without missing a beat, while each purchase is accompanied by a dessert storage container and a quartet of popsicle molds.

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REVIEW >> Fab Lab Solar Powered Wooden House

Okay, so what are we looking at here? It is the Fab Lab, which one of those awesome environmentally friendly houses.

As you can see, it has what you would expect from these concept homes. First of all, it has a weird shape. In fact, it is so odd, that I don’t have name to describe it. It’s definitely asymmetrical, and a blend of a cylinder, and rectangular solid. I suppose that the best description is something like E.T.’s head.

Then there is the solar powered aspect of it. Apparently, the Fab Lab that “generates more than twice the energy it needs to function”. Seriously, a house that actually gives out more energy than it takes away? Man, that is a good role model for all of us homeowners.

Of course, the house is made of wood, which does damage trees. However, trees are a renewable resource, if you do it right. By the way, all of the interior furniture here is made of wood too.

To answer your question, yes, I would live here. However, I got a family, and this Fab Lab doesn’t have a lot of space. I wonder if they could design a family-sized house that can be as energy efficient as this.

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REVIEW >> Wattbike helps you keep in shape

So you have been trying to keep to your word of staying in shape after all the feasting, but failed to due to the lack of discipline (not to mention the place you live in actually has some pretty good stuff to munch on round the clock). Apart from getting a gym membership (that will gather dust after a while), there are other ways to shed those pounds – how about getting some form of exercise machine in your home? This is what the Wattbike is all about, being an innovative indoor cycle trainer.

This is actually one of the world’s first affordable indoor bikes which will accurately measure power (Watts). Watt computers are there for a reason – they enable athletes to instantly see how much power (Watts) they are producing compared to just measuring one’s heart rate after a certain amount of time spent on the hamster wheel…sorry, treadmill.

This is actually the first indoor bike that has ever been endorsed by British Cycling, and it sees widespread action by UK and European elite athletes, sports bodies and professional sports teams as being part of their preferred high performance cycle training device. Meant to replicate the sensation of ‘real’ cycling, while delivering accurate, repeatable and comparable results. Basically, they enable the user to train harder within a shorter period of time simply because they enable each session to be tailored to a specific intensity and training goal, doing away with any down time which outdoor riders would encounter in the real world.

With a Wattbike, you are able to analyze and fine tune your cycling technique, monitor and record key performance parameters in real-time at an unprecedented level of accuracy. Best of all is, working on this feels like an actual bicycle, boasting air and magnetic braking systems that enable you to replicate any desired training session, ranging from low intensity recovery riding to maximal intensity sprints.

Get this if you want to look buff – just make sure you have the discipline to follow up on your commitment though.

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REVIEW >> ChiliPad helps you sleep better

Are you one of those who toss and turn all night long, simply because you cannot find that perfect position to go to sleep and catch some much needed forty winks? Well, how about getting some external help in the form of gadgets – the ChiliPad is one of them, where this mattress pad will not only cool, but it is also able to heat your bed. Being one of the better dual climate bed warmers to date, this also doubles up as a fantastic cooling mattress pad.

Not only that, the ChiliPad will sport separate controls on each side, allowing you to set your sleep temperature anywhere between 46 degrees and 118 degrees – and your bedmate is able to do so for his/her side without running into any silly arguments after a long hard day at the office. Choose from Queen or King size – makes no sense if you want a single-size version, right? The ChiliPad can be yours for $599.99.

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REVIEW >> R2-D2 Planetarium shows where the Death Star is

 

There is something about Star Wars that makes you want to put its iconic images from on Planetariums. There was that the Death Star planetarium that we reported about one year ago, and now there is R2D2.

Just to let you know, you aren’t going to see any holographic images of a galaxy far, far away from a long time ago. In fact, the 2-D projector is mounted on the top of his head, and not that nose-like projector on the side of his dome-shaped head. You won’t be hearing any princesses talking about how you are their only hope.

The R2D2 Planetarium displays about 10,000 stars, but I am not certain how accurate the display truly is. In fact, it shows something that won’t appear on any star charts: the Death Star. Yes, it is the original, fully-formed one from the first movie. You will notice the lack of planets surrounding it.

Not included in this R2 unit is the plans for how to destroy the deadly space station. However, if you take some fighters down into the trench in the middle, you should probably just shoot the exhaust port at the end. Yes, I don’t know why the Death Star designers left in an obvious Achilles heel in their plans, nor why there is a big trench leading right up to it. To me, that is a greater mystery than The Force itself.

This particular astrodroid is available from Sega Toys in Japan for a price of about $85. It should adorn the rooms of Star Wars geeks everywhere.

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REVIEW >> Native Union Bluetooth handset for iPhones

Own an iPhone of any kind? Well, if the answer is in the affirmative, you would definitely fall in love with the Native Union Bluetooth handset for iPhones that offers wireless goodness to your living room. Why should you need a wireless Bluetooth handset for an iPhone, you ask? Isn’t the iPhone by nature itself a smartphone that can be carried around sans cables and pesky wires, making you look cool like all get out (at least that happens whenever a new iPhone model is launched for a week or so)?

Well, reality check here. The answer is, you might have an iPhone of any generation, but why stop at looking cool when you can be cooler with the Native Union Bluetooth handset? It offers all the convenience of a standard phone handset, not to mention the benefits of your iPhone device, all in a single form factor that boasts of a sleek and curved wireless handset system that supports Bluetooth 2.1 multipoint technology, making sure your beloved iPhone is transformed into a cordless landline which allows you to pair and answer calls on a couple of different Bluetooth enabled devices.

It is a snap to connect to the Native Union Bluetooth Handset and to synchronize your iPhone and a smartphone for regular calls, or using any other Bluetooth-enabled device such as a notebook, as all of them will rely on VoIP Internet calling including Skype.

Not only does it look great, it sounds great to boot – with the added incentive of having it juice up your iPhone while it is docked. With a high-quality speaker and microphone to deliver optimum call sound quality, you can be sure that the message gets across crystal clear, leaving no room for confusion between you and the other person on the line. A silicone mat has been thrown into the mix to protect your phone from additional wear and tear, which is a good thing considering the money you paid for the recently unlocked iPhone.

Expect to fork out $149.99 for the Native Union Bluetooth handset for iPhones.

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REVIEW >> Aerobed PakMat still useful around the home

Never mind that the Aerobed PakMat is obviously useful whenever you need to camp somewhere apart from sleeping in the comfort of your own home, but did you know that this inflatable mattress offers all the benefits of one no matter where you decide to catch some forty winks (even as an extra mattress in your home), but minus the pain?

After all, it comes with a compact cylindrical carry case which will also function as a pump, helping you carry less wherever you travel with it. Talk about being smart and functional, it will also help you inflate said mattress so that you can crash in under a minute upon your arrival. The Aerobed PakMat will also boast of rip and tear resistant horizontal channels that deliver full body support, perfect to get a good night’s rest anywhere. It measures nearly 2 metres long and 66cm wide when fully inflated, and this £69.99 is a one-off price you need to pay for portable sleeping convenience.

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REVIEW >> Bounty Hunter Carabiner Multi Tool

Those metal carabiners have found another use other than as part of climbing gear. More and more people are using them now as utility keyholders that can easily be attached and detached for convenient use. But there can be more to carabiners than just a simple keyholder. This new Bounty Hunter BxH Carabiner also acts as a multi tool.

The Bounty Hunter BxH Carabiner Multi Tool comes with a built-in utility blade, nail file and scissor into the carabiner’s body. It provides an added utility to an increasingly popular fashion accessory of sorts. The Bounty Hunter BxH Carabiner Multi Tool is available at the Bounty Hunter site for 3,990 Japanese Yen or around US$50.

Image Source: Bounty Hunter

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REVIEW >> Toylet Urinal Gaming System by Sega Comes to Japan

 

You would have thought Sega was kidding when it first teased about a video game system installed inside urinals, which enables players to control the game using the power of their pee. Apparently, they were dead serious.

The Toylet consists of an LCD screen placed above the urinal and an infrared sensor that tracks both speed, duration, and pressure level of one’s pee stream.

Sega plans on introducing the Toylet in bars and restaurants, where players can even “compete” with other players who have previously used the Toylet. Talk about awkward.

The Toylet system will be available for retail beginning November for $1,850, games included.

Source: Diginfo, via CrunchGear

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REVIEW >> Boogie Board Gets an Update

Remember the Boogie Board that Julie reviewed awhile back?  Well it seems that Improv Electronics  has updated their Boogie Board line. The new line includes a bigger Boogie Board of 10.5” which will cost $60, a $45  8.5” binder slate, and a Brookstone exclusive $40 slate.

The 10.5” version has added features such as, a built-in stylus holder, a lock button to prevent accidental erase, user replaceable batteries, and a place to loop your charms to give a more customized look to it.

There’s a new $20 accessory as well for the original Boogie Board where you can slide it into a cork board style holder.

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REVIEW >> Hang Your Keys Almost Anywhere With Hookeychain

Sometimes it’s hard being a gadget lover.  Here at The Gadgeteer, we’ve told you about and/or reviewed a ton of keychain tools  over the years, and I’d be lying if I told you that for at least half of them, I’ve found myself flush with new-gadget-frenzy, my cursor hovering over the “buy” button, only to change my mind, close the browser tab, and never look back.

Why, you ask?  Well, as much as I love gadgets, I also love simplicity.  And when it comes to my keyring, the simpler the better.  It’s something I have to lug around in my pocket all day, after all, so unless it’s something I’ll use on a regular basis, its presence on my keyring simply isn’t justified.

That said, the Hookeychain from Megawing (the same designers that brought us oddities like the Armed Notebooks) may be the first bauble to make it onto my keyring in a long time.  Appearing to be a simple cylinder of aluminum, the Hookeychain has a magnet embedded in its angled end, allowing you to stick your keys to any ferromagnetic surface.  It’s not clear just how strong the magnet is, so while you probably can’t use the angle of the Hookeychain as a hook to hang your jacket on, you probably can hang a lightweight hat on it, and you can certainly use it to pin up a self-reminder note for later.

The Hookeychain is available from various online retailers, I found it for $16 at Molla Space.

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REVIEW: Natura helps save the environment even as you pee

 

Guys, what do you normally do when you go to the loo to relieve yourself? Normally, most guys do one or the other – which is to look ahead or stare straight down, no one really turns to the left or right just to check out how your neighbor is doing, size-wise or otherwise. If you are the type who stares down, then have you noticed just how urinals have evolved? From the classic types that tend to have your pee splash back at you at the right angle and pressure, we then got urinals which could flush (phew, taking away the stench!) followed by waterless urinals that used biological agents to get rid of the smell and keep the area clean.

Well, water-less solutions are definitely the way to go forward when you think just how much abuse our earth has gone through to date, and the Natura concept is the perfect way to continue moving in the right direction. After all, the standard toilet uses up 15 times more drinking water each day than a regular human, which is why Natura intends to stop that thanks to designer Jose Genovés. This toilet is even more attractive by the fact that it can adapt to male urination in addition to female urination, & defecation, helping reduce water consumption by up to 60% if properly implemented!

Where male urination is concerned, Natura will offer a male urinal that is integrated fully into the toilet design. The urinal itself comprises of a reclining element which is located in the back part of the toilet, where it can be lowered toward the user using a simple “push to open” system. The urinal itself will dispose the urine with but a half liter of water, helping you save up to 30% of the water that is used by conventional toilets for the same purpose.

As for female urination, all urine is disposed through an additinal eco-siphon that will use up only a half liter of water. Natura will have a lower water level at the bottom of the bowl, helping keep paper out of the user’s sight.

If you have to lay a log, then Natura increases the water consumption from 4.5 liters to 6 so that any stored toilet paper can be flushed away, but it makes up for this apparent “wastage” by saving more on the urination process.

http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/06/06/customize-your-flush/

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REVIEW: Ila Portable Door Alarm Wedge

Door wedges are useful so that your expensively fitted door will not cause any marks on the doorframe should a strong gust of wind blows through your home, and it also works handy in keeping a door in place so that it won’t shut by itself – but it is no guarantee against poltergeist activity! One interesting question is this – will a standard door wedge be able to amount to anything more than its designated purpose?

The answer is yes – in the form of the Ila Portable Door Alarm Wedge. This £14.95 gizmo is the perfect traveling companion, especially when you are living in an unfamiliar city, putting up in a new hotel or hostel. The Ila Portable Door Alarm Wedge can be turned on and slipped under your bedroom door before you have your sleep for the night, and when anyone tries to intrude, it will automatically set off a shrill alarm – hopefully you don’t sleep like the dead and try to look for the snooze button on your alarm clock!

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REVIEW: Magnetic Levitator Classic

I would say that rewind the clock by a couple of decades, and you would find the Magnetic Levitator Classic to be simply magical, as it is touted to be the ultimate anti-gravity spinning device. Retailing for $11.95, this toy will deliver cool kinetic motion of a carefully positioned item at the point of the axle against the clear glass plate. Once you have managed to perfect the smooth spin, all you need to do is challenge yourself and see just how long you are able to keep something spinning on it, making this a better time killer than a desktop computer game at the office whenever you are bored – since there are no Alt-Tab buttons to press.

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