All Posts Tagged With: "Gadgets"

The umbrella is one of those tools we’ve created that serves a specific purpose so well it’s damned hard to ever improve on it. Over the years people have tried to make the umbrella better. Use of the “umbrella” type device can be found in references dating as far back as the 16th century and pictures from the 18th century look very much like umbrellas of today. It’s one of those devices that’s virtually impossible to improve upon beyond the basics of style and size.

Until now. The Ambient Forecasting Umbrella (thanks to modern technology) not only serves the traditional purpose of protecting you from the sun or the rain but it can also forecast the weather and tell you if you need to take it along with you. Using a built in wireless receiver it gets a daily weather forecast from Accuweather.com and the blue LEDs will flash when the forecast is for rain or snow. How cool is that? The LED’s even flash according to the percentage chance of precipitation, so if there is a 100% chance of rain they will flash quickly vs. more slowly for a lower chance.

I might have to get one of these. Many times I’ve hit the parking lot of Cubeville in the morning and looked at the sky wondering if I should take the umbrella with me, only to decide not to and end up getting drenched when I came back out. Now maybe I can pawn that decision off on the umbrella. It’s available from ThinkGeek Electronics
for a mere $99.99, maybe a bit pricey for an umbrella but just think how cool your gonna be.

Now here’s an interesting concept product. The Flameless Rechargable USB Lighter replaces traditional lighter fluid with a battery and uses resistance coils to generate heat. The USB port doubles as (get this, a USB port) and the flame end of the lighter. Not only does it light your cancer sticks, you can store files on it as well. I can see it now, a couple of dudes were sitting around their apartment, drunk off their ass playing Doom when one grabbed the USB thumb drive and tried to light a smoke with it. His buddy, after snorting a couple times and laughing says something like “Dude, a USB lighter would be Kool” and the rest is history.

via: Zedomax

It’s a good thing I can’t really afford some of this stuff I find because I’d need a warehouse just to keep up with all. Roboscorpion is a detailed robotic arthropod that crawls with scorpion inspired movement is freaking awesome. I’m not sure what the heck I’d do with it but the possibilities for tormenting friends and family are endless. If that’s not enough just think of what you could do to your neighbors cat.

via: GizmoWatch

Now here’s a gadget that I can really use. The WMF Coffee Pad takes a single portioned coffee filter and can brew a cup of hot steamy coffee in about a minute. Ideal for taking to work or if your lazy and don’t feel like walking down to the cafeteria just keep it in your cube. Imagine the envy your cubemates will feel when they smell your freshly brewed cup of coffee. Bewarned though, this is a pricey gadget (a modest $198) so you’ll want to be sure and keep it under lock an key.

via: Zedomax

Here’s another asinine gadget for your iPhone. Ok, while, technically they’re not a gadget they’re still a ridiculous notion that will be lapped up by the ubergeeks just so they can sport them off to their friends. Phone fingers or finger condoms as seems more appropriate allows you to use your iPhone while protecting it from fingerprints. Yeah, ok, when I had my demo phone that was freaking annoying, I kept having to wipe the glass on my jeans so it would be clean. While the phone fingers might keep your iPhone glass clean, they’ll make you look like some bastardized child of Freddie Krueger at best and worst they get your ass beat in the locker room during gym class.

via: The Gadgets Weblog