วันเสาร์ที่ 7 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 21 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551
FireWinder - Outdoor light that lights up when wind blows
Want to do your bit in keeping the earth green while decorating your home? Well, there are many ways to do so, including solar-powered fairy lights, solar-powered lawnmowers and the like, and today we have yet another idea for you to consider - the Firewinder. Let’s face it, any product named like it will definitely be interesting to look at, and the Firewinder certainly doesn’t come up short when it comes to looking cool! This decorative outdoor light is able to visualize the wind’s energy, turning just about any breeze into light to give your garden a lovely glowing ambience.
100% wind-powered, Firewinder is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. By day it’s a relatively unobtrusive dangling corkscrew doodah that spins in the wind. But when night falls and the wind blows, it lights up, creating a beautiful spiraling effect. The faster the blow the greater the glow, so in a real gust Firewinder becomes a pulsating pillar of light. It’s truly spellbinding and eco-friendly to boot. Firewinder’s helical wing captures the wind from any angle, and it’s so light it will catch the lightest of breezes. Simply attach it to a tree, roof terrace or wall using the included hanging kit (featuring sturdy stainless steel quick release fixing points) and wait for the wind to blow.
The Firewinder was specially designed to spin clockwise, so those who wish it to do so otherwise are out of luck. Small issue that, though. It is also nice to know that the Firewinder has been specially engineered to withstand just about any kind of inclement weather, capable of offering year after year of mesmerizing entertainment without adding to your home’s carbon footprint. Firebox is currently carrying the Firewinder for £99.99 a pop. Why not go green this holiday season instead of further burdening the earth with more plastic devices that do more than just sip power?
Smart Heater
Sat, Dec 6, 2008
The Vortex TVH 600 is supposed to be the world’s smartest heater, on account of the fact that it features a wirelessly connected thermostatic remote control. Oh and it also comes with automatic climate control and auto tip-over protection. OK, so fair enough. Admittedly I was hoping for something more along the lines of R2D2 and a nice hot cup of tea but you can’t have everything can you? $199.99.
Automatic climate control eliminates annoying hot and cold cycles, maintaining the set temperature using less energy. The TVH 600 incorporates Vornado’s signature energy efficient Vortex Technology to fully circulate the warm air throughout the whole room, creating an even temperature. Includes a Smart Remote which intelligently reads and relays temperature to the unit, for a more accurate temperature reading. The touch screen control panel allows you to easily adjust the settings. Includes multi-level safety protection with automatic tip-over protection, non-glowing heat element, cool touch cabinet, and tight grill spirals to keep even the smallest fingers out of harms way.
Via RedFerret
Buddha Machine 2
Wed, Nov 19, 2008
Every so often a gadget comes around that manages to transcend the cheap plastic frame in which it’s encased. The first Buddha Machine was one such device. Created by a little -known Chinese company called FM3, the ambient-musical-loop-playing gadget proved a bit of a surprise hit, garnering a writeup in the New York Times and a compilation record of remixes, and eventually went on to sell an impressive 50,000 units.
Last week, Christiaan Virant and Zhang Jian, the duo behind FM3, announced the release of the second-gen Buddha Machine. Save for the three new color selections (burgundy, gray, and brown), the second incarnation of the box looks nearly identical to its predecessor–something along the lines of a cheap transistor radio you might pick up in Chinatown.
The gadget is roughly the size of a pack of cigarettes with a large speaker monopolizing the front. There are two dials on the top of the box, with a 3.5-mm headphone jack between them. A single button and a power light sit on one side. The rear of the device opens up accept two AA batteries. buddhamachine2.jpg
The Buddha Box 2 features nine new ambient sound loops. The new selection is noticeably more diverse than those of its predecessor–a welcome change. One of my biggest issues with the first incarnation of the box was its relatively limited aural palate. The selections on number 2 should fit a wider range of ambient-suitable scenarios. For further variation, the box also includes a wheel that bends the loops’ pitch, to help you tailor the sound perfectly to its surroundings. buddhamachine3.jpg
On a whole, the changes to the device aren’t really major. But let’s face it, the first version of the box wasn’t really broken anyway. If you purchased the first incarnation, all you get with the second-generation is a couple of new sounds and the option of pitch bending, but if you’re a fan, it might be worth the $25 price tag.
For those unfamiliar with the device, you can check out some sound samples at FM3’s site. It’s hard to really express the appeal and therapeutic nature of the box beyond that, but if you find the concept intriguing, you don’t have much to lose by picking one up.
Thanks GearLog
Sony Rolly
Thu, Nov 20, 2008
The Sony Rolly is perhaps best described as a break-dancing MP3-player. Simply fill the egg-shaped curio’s 2GB of storage with MP3s or AACs (ideally with something upbeat for maximal effect), turn it on and watch how it proceeds to roll, pitch and spin on the spot in time to the rhythm.
If that sounds silly, well, that’s because it is. But it is highly entertaining to watch, I tell you that. The sound pumped out from its side-mounted speakers is better than you’d imagine, thanks to its inclusion of a dinky digital amp, and users can ever program in their own choreographed moves via the bundled editing software. Once you’re done fiddling, you can then upload your finished routines to a dedicated online forum and share them with others.
Despite being unapologetically frivolous and arguably a touch overpriced for what it actually does, the Rolly’s cute additions, such as switching to shuffle mode when you shake it and Bluetooth audio streaming support, help to make it an endearing, and deceptively sophisticated toy.
Turn an Old iPod Into a Cigarette Holder to Look Cool, Get Cancer
Fri, Nov 21, 2008
If you have an old, dead iPod kicking around and are also looking for a way to disguise your disgusting cigarette addiction, here’s a nice way to kill two birds with one stone: hide your cigarettes in your iPod! It’s a pretty straightforward operation, involving getting rid of the guts in your iPod and then filling said iPod with cigarettes. A better DIY project? Quit smoking. Just saying.
via Gizmodo
Hands On: i360 Music Infused Polar Headband
Sat, Nov 22, 2008
It’s getting chilly, and we’re starting to think about keeping warm. This means hats, scarves, and gloves, but if you look closely, the dangling white iPod headphones are bound to be hiding somewhere in the mix. A little cold weather won’t keep us from rocking out!
This is where i360 and its Music Infused apparel step up to bat. The company offers headbands, beanies, and hat beanies that have built-in pockets in which to stash your iPod nano and its provided headphones.
I had the chance to try out the Music Infused Polar Headband ($49.95 direct) that was designed for the 1st-generation nano. This model comes in black or white for both the 1st- and 3rd- generation nanos.
Installation is simple; plug your iPod and the packaged headphones into the pre-threaded wire and then slip them into the side pockets. The headphones stay completely hidden within the band, while a round hole in the front gives you access to the iPod controls.
After I had my iPod loaded into the headband, I tried it on. And here’s where the first and biggest problem arises.
Though many will concur that I have an exceptionally large mental capacity, my actual head is average size. The one-size-fits-all headband was too snug for me, though, causing the integrated electronics to push uncomfortably into my scalp. Additionally, to get the phones in a good listening position requires pulling the headband down to a point where it both looks and feels awkward. And if you’re an eyeglasses wearer like me, expect to have the frames dig into the side of your head, adding more pain to the mix.
Had this been a product I wasn’t reviewing, it would have already ended up right back in the box for a swift return. Grunting through my discomfort, I felt around haphazardly for the nano controls, which were exposed near the front of the headband. When I finally figured out how the buttons were orientated, it was time to hear how these puppies sounded.
A tinny tone and a severe lack of bass were immediately apparent. I continued to fiddle around with placement, thinking that was causing the degradation in sound, but the only improvement came by pushing the headphones even more uncomfortably close into my ears. This created an improvement in the bottom end, but it’s not a reasonable solution.
Volume-wise, these things can get pretty loud when you crank the sound up, and I heard no significant degradation in sound or distortion at full volume. The downside is that even when you’re listening at normal sound levels, the people around you hear it too, since the speakers are unenclosed.
My recommendation is to stick with your favorite pair of ear buds and throw a comfortable hat or headband over the top. This is especially true for any classic iPod owners out there who wouldn’t otherwise be able to fit their players inside the i360 headband.
Via GearLog
Sun, Nov 30, 2008
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