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Since the term is all the rage, maybe we can christen this as Rocking Chair 2.0? I mean, this is certainly not something we would expect grandma to be sitting in while she’s getting her knit on. This unique piece is designed by Contraforma in such a way that you should be able to rock comfortable in it, despite the lack of what we like to call a “rocking crest.” Definitely a conversation piece, and we all need one of those in our homes, don’t we not? How else do we curb that whole “awkward silence” thing?
Read More 
| Contraforma
Gallery: The Ten Legged Rocking Chair
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The Rain or Shine Assists Arthritic Pets
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
From the clever folk who brought us the Hear Now, the pet collar with GPS tracking, comes another product for our furrier friends. The Rain or Shine is a comfortably warm bed that utilizes magnets to relieve arthritic dogs and cats. It features an adjustable umbrella, and food and water trays so that Fido can hang outside and still be covered. It comes in three color combinations and four sizes, and can be ordered online with prices ranging from $89.99 to $159.99. We are thinking of ordering a Rain or Shine just to go with our new G’zOne.
Read More | The Hear Now
Gallery: The Rain or Shine Assists Arthritic Pets
Unboxing Sumo Lounge Omni and Otto Beanbags
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Features, Smart Home,
Over on Unboxing, we just did a video showcasing an Unboxing Ceremony for a few SumoLounge products - namely their gigantic Omni, and miniature Otto beanbags. Don’t let that fool you though - these things are off the hook, and nearly indestructible. If you are looking for a couple of pieces of “furniture” to add to your den, you may want to check these babies out. Let us know what you think of the video.
Read More | Unboxing
Gallery: Unboxing Sumo Lounge Omni and Otto Beanbags
If you don’t do mornings, you might want to try an alternative to your loud and user-unfriendly alarm clock. Philips has created the Wake-up Light, which sends out light that increases in intensity for 30 minutes, just like the sun. When the light falls on your eyes, it sends a message to reduce production of melatonin, the hormone that put you to sleep in the first place. Claiming their product to be medically proven, the Wake-up Light can be preset and adjusted in intensity. It will be available this month in France with an overall roll-out next year. Contact Philips for price and availability in your area. This is fine idea, but we would like it more if it came with a pot of coffee.
Read More | Philips
Gallery: Philips Wake-up Light Simulates Sun
Keuco Visiomatic Brings Info Into The Bathroom
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
Keuco has joined with Visiomatic to create a multimedia system for, of all places, your bathroom. With it you can listen to the radio, play music, watch TV, write SMS messages, read the latest news, and even talk on the phone. The system has already been installed in such luxury hotels as the Beverly Wilshire, NY’s Four Seasons, Chicago’s Park Hyatt, and the Dorchester in Boston. If they throw in the guy in the tub to scrub my back, they’ve made a sale. Contact Keuco (click on new products and multimedia) for price and availability.
Read More | Keuco
Gallery: Keuco Visiomatic Brings Info Into The Bathroom
Isn’t it GE who claims, “We bring good things to light?” Panasonic can now take credit for the tagline with the advent of their DL-GWN toilet seat. The seat provides a bulls-eye light so that in the darkest of nights, males won’t have to worry about missing their targets. Females will surely enjoy the warming function, since the water pumped in is boiled for cleaning the seat automatically after each use. The DL-GWN will be available in November in Japan for 135,450 Yen or ~$1165. That sounds like a lot of money down the drain to us. Don’t tell Panasonic, but some time ago, a gadget called the nightlight was invented.
Read More | Panasonic via Newlanches
Gallery: Panasonic DL-GWN Shines On
This one was just too kinky for us to pass up. Woody Allen’s Orgasmatron has finally come to fruition by means of this Dominic Wilcox designed washing machine. He claims it “puts the fun back in housework.” It features a dial that registers from “oh!” up to “oooooooh!”. On display at the London Design Festival, going on September 18 - 25, it is housed at Habitat as part of the Room X exhibition. We don’t really know if this is a feasible gadget, but given what room this leather-clad washing machine is housed in, it is certainly worth giving the Orgasmatron a test run.
Read More | Dominic Wilcox via London Design Festival
Gallery: Orgasmatron Featured at London Design Festival
Philips Releases New Ambilight HDTV Models
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Smart Home,
After its recent debut at the IFA, Philips has released its Ambilight TV with models 32PF9731D and 42PF9731D, featuring 1366 x 768 resolution panels, and its 37PF9731D with a 1920 x 1080 1080p set. All three feature Philips’ Pixel Plus technology integrated with digital tuners and boast 2x HDMI ports along with two RGB scart sockets, component video input, S/PDIF in/out and an Ethernet port on the rear. Philips also utilizes Dolby Digital for full surround sound, and a USB connector for easy play.
Philips claims that Ambilight “makes an impressive contribution to the overall viewing experience with ambient light to complement the colours and light intensity of the image on screen. It creates ambiance, stimulates more relaxed viewing and improves perceived picture detail, contrast and colour.”
To experience Ambilight for yourself visit Philips. At price points of £1,799 (~$3396), £2,499 (~$4717) and £3,000 (~$5663), we may have to wait to catch Ambilight at the neighbors’ next Superbowl party.
Read More | Trusted Reviews
Gallery: Philips Releases New Ambilight HDTV Models
Hitachi Bot Sports Sensory Laser
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys,
It just keeps getting scarier. Hitachi’s EMIEW (Excellent Mobility and Interactive Existence as Workmate) is now equipped with a sensory laser for navigation. The new bot will make its debut at the 2006 WAC (World Automotive Congress) in Japan which begins October 23.
The EMIEW keeps its balance using internal gyroscopes. It can locate its owner by voice recognition and can perform basic household chores, such as retrieving items from other rooms. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t aim that laser on the cat.
Read More | JapanCorp via engadget
Gallery: Hitachi Bot Sports Sensory Laser
Logitech Harmony 1000 One-Touch Remote Launched
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Home Entertainment, Smart Home, Wireless / WiFi,
Logitech has announced a new and improved Harmony remote control. With its cool silver and black finish, the Harmony 1000 boasts a 3.5” color touch-sensitive screen, Internet programability, a variety of one-touch activity options, and rechargeable batteries.
Logitech has redesigned its online interface to automatically match to characteristics, discrete codes, and infrared commands of over 175,000 devices from more than 5,000 manufacturers contained in Logitech’s online database. The Harmony can even function behind a closed door and will work with VCR’s, digital video recorders, high-definition televisions, many household appliances, as well as multi-room entertainment systems.
“The Harmony 1000 remote delivers affordable luxury — it simplifies control of today´s complicated home-entertainment systems at a fraction of the price of traditional custom-installed remotes, and it’s luxurious in its sophisticated design, which adds an element of prestige to any living room,” said Bryan McLeod, vice president of Logitech´s remote control products.
Luxurious? That’s putting it mildly. The Harmony 1000 will be available in both the U.S. and Europe later this fall at an SRP of $499.99 You can also purchase a wireless extender at the same time for $149.99.
Read More | Harmony 1000 Release
