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Latest Gear Live Videos
Doodling on the Fridge Encouraged
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
How cool is it to have a refrigerator that you want your kids and your spouse/partner to draw on? Nova Consul’s Aquarela Refrigerator, with its dry erase door and sides, can become an easy grocery list, a note pad for the rest of your family, and of course an outlet for your anger if your roommate does something to tick you off.
The appliance comes in portable fridge and full length frost-free models for BRL 199.83 (~$103.33) and 1449.00 ($748.78) respectively. At this point they are only available in Brazil, but we are counting on American companies to take the hint. Instead of providing us with stainless steel or other high-class finishes, we can see them developing a child-friendlier concept.
Read More 
| Consul via Josh Spear
Gallery: Doodling on the Fridge Encouraged
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Bring Your iPod into the Shower with the iH2OW Hidro-Fi
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Apple, Smart Home, Music,
So we recently told you about the iCarta, a toilet paper holder that’s also an iPod dock and speaker system. The only thing was, we cautioned you about using it during hot showers, as the iPod would be exposed to the steam. Not so with iH2OW Hidro-Fi from iHome. It’s a water-resistant, dual speaker-system and dock, that will house most types of iPods (and MP3 players), and is powered by four AA batteries or an AC Adaptor (it is recommended to use batteries when using the device during a bath or shower). The iH2OW has an attached strap as it is designed to be hung from a rod or shower hook. There’s even a headphone jack, for private listening. The only thing is, there is no display, only basic track and volume controls, which some music lovers may find limiting. According to the website the iH2OW is coming soon, and will be available for $80 USD.
Gallery: Bring Your iPod into the Shower with the iH2OW Hidro-Fi
AUR Lamp Interacts With Humans
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Videos,
We can hardly contain our inner excitement over this prototype AUR Lamp that was designed by Guy Hoffman, a member of MIT’s Robotic Life Group. The device knows when to turn on and off, follows you around the room, and can be set to mood lighting. According to Hoffman, AUR “is aimed to evoke a personal relationship with the human partner without resorting to human-like features.”
We would like to ask the team politely what happens when a second person enters the room.
Read More | Guy Hoffman via Mr. Future
Gallery: AUR Lamp Interacts With Humans
If your old lava lamp has finally given out, it might be a good idea to replace it with the Alien Baby Lamp. Available from the Danish gadget outlet MegaGadgets, it’s comforting to know that there are a few sightings on that side of the planet. Available in stainless steel with either blue or green liquid, it may be the perfect complement to your overly-viewed copies of ET and Independence Day for €24.95 (~$33.45.) Here’s hoping that it doesn’t put in any requests for Reese’s Pieces.
Read More | MegaGadgets (translation)
Gallery: Aliens Lurk in Lamps
Thomas to Head Back to the Depot
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Toys,
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a voluntary recall of 1.5 million Thomas and Friends Wooden Trains which have been distributed by RC2 Corporation. The models were manufactured in China between January 2005 to June 2007 for between ~$10.00 to $70.00. Sadly enough, the paint on the toys in question contains lead, which could be toxic if swallowed. Those marked with codes “WJ” or “AZ” are not included in the recall. We are frankly amazed that no one had noticed this before the trains were distributed. If you think you may have one of the trains in question, contact RC2.
Read More | Far East Gizmos
Gallery: Thomas to Head Back to the Depot
Vonage Keeps Changing Our E-911 Settings To An Incorrect Address
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Corporate News, Editorial, Features, Smart Home,
Vonage E-911 isn’t helping us at all in our home. For some reason, despite inputting the correct address over and over, Vonage automatically changes it to a completely different address. One that isn’t even in the same city, in fact. At first, it was an annoyance. You see, when we signed up for Vonage, we gave them our address and thought that was that. A couple weeks later, we got a confirmation email saying that the address we submitted was accepted - however, in the email, it listed an address we had never seen before. Odd, we thought. We changed it back, and went along on our way…until a couple weeks later we got the same email. Our change has been accepted, but…again, Vonage changed our submission to that same address in a city that is ten minutes from where we have service. We changed it back, and dropped Vonage a support email. We never heard back from Vonage on support. However, two days ago we needed to call an ambulance to rush our 3-year old to the hospital in what was a life-threatening situation. Fortunately, the 911 operator has our correct address come up on her screen - something that when you are in the midst of an emergency, you don’t want to take the time to have to recite.
However, the day AFTER that frantic 911 call, guess what we found in our email inbox…
Click to continue reading Vonage Keeps Changing Our E-911 Settings To An Incorrect Address
Gallery: Vonage Keeps Changing Our E-911 Settings To An Incorrect Address
Climate Control for Your Personal Space
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
It’s heating up outside and if the air conditioning or heat is never quite right for you inside, add this Herman Miller C2 to your desk. Place it at a distance of 12 to 18-inches, and the Be Collection Designer fan can increase in temperature up 32º or decrease 8º from the ambient room temperature. You can control the speed of air with a touchpad and the direction with a handy roller ball on top. It also has auto-shut off after 4 hours. The C2 also features a cleanable Greenguard-certified particulate air filter, uses 90% less energy than a space heater, and will be available this summer. Check with Herman Miller for price and location of a retailer near you.
Read More | Herman Miller
Gallery: Climate Control for Your Personal Space
Taking animating wands one step further, this Message Alarm Clock features 20 built-in messages including “Good morning,” “It’s Independence Day,” “Boo, Boo, Boo,” and “TGIF…It’s Friday.” It also displays time and date, stores personalized messages, has a failure memory back-up system, and includes an AC power adapter. It requires 3 AAA batteries (not included.) We can see placing one on our work station, but at a cost of £39.95 (~$81.50) we don’t think we have the patience to set the clock up the day before holidays. We barely remember them as it is.
Read More | crazyaboutgadgets
Gallery: Animate With a Message Alarm Clock
Pet Populations on the Increase Because of Global Warming
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Science,
The National adoption organization Pets Across America has reported a 30% rise in the amount of cats and kittens in shelters from 2005 to 2006. Other shelters have also noted an increase of strays, feral, and owned cats. Kathy Warnick, PAA’s president, seems to think this is due to global warming.
“States that typically experience primarily longer and colder winters are now seeing shorter, warmer winters, leading to year-round breeding,” she says.
Other species, such as penguins and migratory birds, have been affected by longer breeding seasons. Although Gear Live loves all creatures, we hope that you spay or neuter your pets, since global warming doesn’t appear to be going away in the near future.
Read More | Live Science
Gallery: Pet Populations on the Increase Because of Global Warming
Robocco Plays Bartender
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Videos,
Someone has come up with a more advanced version of the Beer Launching Fridge. The Asahi Robocco Beerbot stores and refrigerates up to 6 cans of your favorite brew and keeps it at a perfectly chilled state with an internal sensor. The robot opens the can and pours it at a slant with an accompaniment of a male, female, or custom voice. It can also go into cleaning mode when excused from its duties and features a child lock to keep the underage away. The bot comes with 2 mugs and 6 foam cup bases. Robocco is available from Kilian-Nakamura for your upcoming Father’s Day Beer Fest for $799.00. Although it may not be able to toss us a beer, we think it’s handy enough to compensate for that failing.
Read More | C Scout
Gallery: Robocco Plays Bartender
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