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Santa Slide Show Comes Early
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, USB,
It never fails. The day after school starts, companies inundate us with Christmas presents and ideas. So our first contribution to commercialism has to be this Santa Slide Show. The 1.5-inch color LCD lets you show off at least 50 images on your Christmas
Holiday Tree or on its included stand. Photos can be easily downloaded with its software and USB cable. The ornament requires 2 AAA batteries (not included) and is available for $34.95 at firstStreet. Purchase two and get a $10.00 discount. That way, there can be two tacky displays for showing off the family photos.
Read More 
| ubergizmo
Gallery: Santa Slide Show Comes Early
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Make Tracks With This USB Car
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Toys, Transportation, USB,
Our pick for USB toy of the week is this RC car. You control its six directions from your computer with software for up to a distance of 4 feet (cable included.) The minute vehicle’s size is 8.5 x 4.5 x 3.3 cm, weighs 44 g, and is compatible with Windows 2000/XP. After only a few minutes in its garage for a charge, add decals, honk the horn, and off you go for only $29.99. Check out the demo on brando to watch it go through its paces.
(Thanks, Fanny)
Read More | usb.brando
Gallery: Make Tracks With This USB Car
Sega’s newly improved Yume Neko Smile (Dream Cat) is almost nightmarish in its behavior. Battery operated (not included,) it responds to humans in its weird way as it purrs, rubs against you, and even smiles.It comes with a comb, so you don’t have worry about it coughing up furballs. Just don’t pull its tail.
Check out the video if you want to see this optimistic feline for yourself, but don’t ask us about the little peep in the end. From what we could figure out, it would appear that Yume Neko doesn’t really move around, so unless you are bed bound, it’s not much of a companion at 7,980 Yen (~$69.00.)
Read More | Akihabara News
Gallery: Don’t Feed This Cat
The Kufra Pitcher is almost too perfect a concept. Holding 72 ounces of liquid, the 8.5 x 6.5-inch Italian Glass carafe features a removable plastic tube insert for 8 to 10 ice cubes which screws into the bottom of its plastic lid to keep your liquids from becoming watered-down. Frankly, for the modest price of $13.95, plastic stirrer included, we much prefer that than our usual popping our containers of lemonade in the freezer and forgetting about them until they explode.
Read More | Vat 19
Gallery: Carafe Prevents Melt Down
The Space Invaders Mobile for the Infant Gamer
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Smart Home, Video Games,
Fast on the heels of Pac-Man and NES controller related items are Space Invaders swag, which is great for us retro-lovin’ types. We recently told you about the tote bag featuring Taito’s primitive aliens, now comes—of all things—a mobile, handmade by an enigmatic Chicagoan named PixelParty. The nine aliens and laser base are made of felt, dowels and cord, and actually resembles the video game when hung over your little one’s crib. A interesting gift for an expectant parent? Or a subliminal way to introduce your infant to gaming? You decide. Available for $70 USD.
Read More | Etsy via Technabob
Gallery: The Space Invaders Mobile for the Infant Gamer
Researchers say that fruit flies may be attracted to and can taste carbon dioxide dissolved in water. Scientists at the University of California in Berkeley, in a study funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, one of the National Institutes of Health, believe that this may help the diminutive insects to look for overripe or potentially toxic foods.
“Fruit flies contain similar versions of many human genes, which is why we study them for a variety of health issues, including taste,” says James F. Battey Jr., director of the NIDCD. “This research raises the question of whether people also may have the ability to taste carbon dioxide and perhaps other chemicals in food. If this were found to be true, our sense of taste could be even more complex than we realize.”
The study also found that it may be used as merely a flavor enhancer since it offers no nutritional value to the fly. After we saw this view of one laying an egg, we immediately rinsed out our half-empty Cokes, twice.
Read More | NIH
Gallery: Fruit Flies Detect Carbon Dioxide
libertyIsland Folds Up When Not in Use
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
We like anything that makes kitchen cleanup easier so we are especially fond of ALNO’s libertyIsland four zone electric induction cook top. Attach it to your table inside or outdoors and unfold it with its fixed wheels when you are ready to prepare a meal. At a size of 32 x 16-inches, it also features a glass back splash to keep your table grease-free. Only a concept at this point, we can’t wait for another gadget that we can figuratively shove in a drawer when not in use.
Read More | ALNO
Gallery: libertyIsland Folds Up When Not in Use
JVC’s Bathtime Plays in Your Tub
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
You can now dispense with candles and electric radios near your bath. The JVC XA-AW33 Bathtime plays MP3s, WMAs, and WMA-DRMs. The PMP is waterproof, has a built-in 256 MB memory, hooks up by USB, has an NXT flat panel speaker, and gets up to 15 hours of playback time at a price of $239.00. It also comes with a stand if you simply want to sing in the shower. We dig the way that the company referred to its blue LED (at least in the translation,) “With music the relaxing space is produced.” We want our relaxing space to be filled with Mr.Bubble and strains of Barry White.
Read More | Red Ferret
Gallery: JVC’s Bathtime Plays in Your Tub
eBay Sells Recalled Items
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Smart Home, Toys,
According to a recent study in Injury Prevention Journal, many recalled products that are never returned end up in thrift stores, garage sales, and on eBay. Researchers randomly picked 141 items for children recalled between 1992 and 2004, including baby walkers, furniture and riding toys. The items were found on 190 different auctions. The company says that it doesn’t permit listing of U.S. CPSC recalled items and suggests that buyers check their “security and resolution” page.
We suggest they do more than that. With a mimimal effort we found an Elmo Guitar and Sesame Street Tub, Pots, and Pans, both up for sale on the site. Until eBay gets a clue, if you suspect that one of the items you want to purchase has been recalled, check with Mattel before you purchase.
Read More | MSNBC
Gallery: eBay Sells Recalled Items
Franklin Image to Move in $100.00 Bills
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,
Look closely at the new $100.00 bills that will soon be issued (Oh sure, like we see a lot of those.) A new security thread, similar to those found on 1,000 Swedish kroners, sounds pretty eerie to us. Move the bill side to side and the micro-printing with tiny lenses allows you to see the image of Ben Franklin moving. Although holograms such as those on credit cards were considered for part of the design, the government felt they were not strong enough visual signals. Other features, such as pastel colors found on the recently released $10.00, $20.00, and $50.00 bills, will also be incorporated. For more information about the designs, visit The Bureau of Engraving and Printing online.
Read More | Yahoo News
Gallery: Franklin Image to Move in $100.00 Bills
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