Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It’s free!
Latest Gear Live Videos
This is no ordinary rubber duckie. In honor of the 30 year anniversary celebration of the King’s death this past week, we decided to share this Elvis Duck with you. Dressed in his classic white, put him in the water and he will glow in varigated colors until you take him out and place him on a dry surface. ED is available at gadgets.dk for DKK 79,00 (~$14.25) and requires 3 x AG10 buttons (demo batteries are included) to rock your world
tub.
Read More 
| gadgets.dk
Gallery: Elvis Duck Digs The Water
Advertisement
There are many reasons to love The Simpsons (although this writer was slightly disappointed with the big screen version). While the show is filled with broad strokes of humor, what makes it so special are the nuances of the characters. This is exemplified by the above action figure, aptly called “Hot for Teacher”, which captures Miss Krabapple and Principal Skinner, well, in action. Skinner’s look of horror—countered by Krabapple’s complete disdain—is absolutely dead-on. We can only imagine the look on Groundskeeper Willie’s face, as we’re assuming he’s the unfortunate one who opened the door.
Read More | White Wizard Toys via Nerd Approved
Gallery: Skinner and Krabapple: Caught!
How Mattel Can Pay for Its Carelessness
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Science, Toys,
It is nearly impossible to ignore the fact Mattel is seemingly paying for their manufacturing sins as another recall was announced yesterday by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. It includes 9.3 million play sets that have small magnets that are can be swallowed by toddlers in Barbie, Polly Pocket, and Tanner Playsets, as well as Batman and One Piece toys. The company is also recalling their die-cast “Sarge” Jeeps from the movie “Cars” that contain lead paint. For a list of recalled items in question, you can visit their website or call 888-597-6597 for information about the recalled toys with magnets, or 800-916-4997 for information about the recalled cars.
Two weeks ago, items from Mattel’s Fisher Price line were also recalled. What bothers us, aside from the negligence and finger pointing between the overseas companies involved, is that so far Mattel’s CEO Bob Eckert has only issued an apology. After reading about the effects of lead poisoning and noting that Mattel has set up a Children’s Foundation as a means of funding for health-related issues, we suggest that they take this money to offer free testing and/or treatment for any of the kids that owned the recalled toys.
Read More | Mattel
Gallery: How Mattel Can Pay for Its Carelessness
Scare Your Friends with Battle Shark
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Toys,
The Swimways Rainbow Reef Battle Shark looks rather ominous as it makes its way around the water, perfectly balanced, with just a fin sticking out on top. The 14 x 7-inch creature needs 2 AA batteries (not included) and comes in chum red, life-jacket yellow, or great white grey for $24.95 apiece at Vat 19, where their videos are as creative as their products. Preorder if you want one from the next batch when it comes back in stock within the next week or thereabouts. We admit that we don’t have our own pool, but think it might be worth buying just to see how the neighbors react when we put it in theirs.
Read More | Vat 19
Gallery: Scare Your Friends with Battle Shark
The mimobots have returned to the planet with their Core Series 2. If you are as big a fan of the little buggers from Planet Blõôh as we are, you know that they come in a Limited Edition, in this case 2,000 for the nine figures. Included with your mimobot are preloaded games, animation and a new Mimozine digital mag. Designed by Dino Alberto, the USB flash drives come in 512 MB ($39.95,) 1 GB ($49.95,) 2 GB ($69.95,) and 4 GB ($109.95) sizes.
Read More | mimoco
Gallery: Mimobots Return to Earth
USB Dance Mat Lets Your Fingers do the Dancing
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, USB, PC / Laptop, Toys,
Whether you love, loathe or simply don’t get Dance Dance Revolution and its brethren, we think you’ll find this item as zany and amusing as we do. It’s the USB Dance Mat, which plugs into your computer and allows you to play DDR—with your fingers. The mat’s arrows light up randomly to the beat (a soundtrack is included), which your fingers “dance” to. The longer you last, the faster the music. It even comes with a cut-out dancer to fit over your fingers, for added silliness. You can choose a 30 or 60 second game, and there’s even a counter to track your moves. We would definitely hold mini-DDR competitions in our cubicle, if it weren’t for that whole pink slip thing. Available for $18 USD.
Read More | I Want One of Those via Tech Digest
Gallery: USB Dance Mat Lets Your Fingers do the Dancing
If you have always wanted to own one of those plasma lamps or optic displays that are featured at Spencer’s Gifts right next to the lava lamps, they are now available in a nightlight versions. The Plasma Light works just like the original globe created by Nikola Tesla back in the eighties. Not quite as fun to play with as the full size counterparts, for the mini-price of $12.00 each we think it’s just a groovy way to spend some time in the dark.
Read More | Fred Flare
Gallery: Nightlights Are Far Out, Man
With the Pac-Man Moving Plush Set, Who Needs an Arcade?
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Toys, Video Games,
Ever wonder what Namco’s classic arcade game “Pac-Man” would look like live and in person? Neither have we, but we love this toy just the same. It’s the Pac-Man Moving Plush Set, including the Pac-ster and his 4 elusive compadres, each 8 inches tall and battery-operated. Just turn them on and watch the go! Great for parties, kids, office hijinks
or the hardcore Pac-fan. If the $100 USD is too high, consider the Pac-Head, or the considerably saner Pac-Man Belt. Requires 2 AA batteries (not included), but unfortunately Club Namco is currently out of stock.
Read More | Club Namco via Retro to Go
Gallery: With the Pac-Man Moving Plush Set, Who Needs an Arcade?
Eternity II Offers $2 Million to Puzzle Solver
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Toys,
For those who were into the puzzle Eternity I, it’s time to get excited. For those of you not familiar with the game, $1 million went to a UK student who successfully solved the first one in five months. This time there is a $2 million prize at stake, and it could be yours if you are the first to figure it out. Once you find the answers to the Clue Puzzles, you receive key locations for the 256 piece main puzzle, which has more than one solution. All entries will be locked in a vault until December 31, 2008, and the first correct answer wins.
The only catch is that you have to buy Eternity II, so we are just not sure if the hype is worth the AUD $39.95 (US $34.76) price with all that competition. Check out the test game with 16 pieces, which is not as simple as it looks, and if you ace that, it might be worth the investment.
Read More | Latest Buy
Gallery: Eternity II Offers $2 Million to Puzzle Solver
Buzz Box Creates Phantom Mosquitoes
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Toys,
It’s the season of backyard partying and if you are in a particularly humid area, it’s also the time for mosquitoes. The Electronic Buzz Box will make your cronies believe, in the dark of night, that there is one of the pesky buggers plaguing them. Turn on a light and it seems to have disappeared (or you can pretend to swat it.) Turn it back off and there it is again. The box is 5 x 4 x 2 cm and comes with batteries at a price of £3.99 (~$7.98.)
Read More | Grand Illusions
