The Bioloid DIY Robot Kit is designed to make you feel all Arnie as you assemble any of a number of different configuration robots. Yeah you’ve got sensors, yes also to limited programmability, just don’t expect to build your own little Asimo just yet, OK? $899.99. The Bioloid comes with several example programs to make it walk, avoid obstacles and interact with sound. The sensor module in the head of the robot features an IrDA receiver (for communicating with other robots…
Read MoreMonthly Archives: February 2007
3 in 1 Stroller – tricycle, pushcycle and stroller
The 3 in 1 Stroller converts from a conventional 3 wheel stroller to a push cycle to a tricycle as your child grows and needs change. We just like the pretty yellow colour really, never mind all this investment for the future nonsense. $199.95. Unlike traditional children’s vehicles, this versatile model grows with your child by easily converting from a secure, comfortable baby stroller to a parent-assisted three-wheeler to a fully independent tricycle. This durable vehicle is crafted from tough…
Read MoreCell Sensor – an EMF detector for the home
The Cell Sensor electromagnetic field detector will let you know if you’re in danger of frying your body in an over-abundance of electrical radiation. The type of stuff that comes from phones, computers, televisions and just about everything fun that we own. It’s a tough life… $39.95. The compact meter is ideal for detecting both Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) and Radio Frequency (RF) radiation. Easy-to-read analog meter (registering mW/cm2 for RF and milliGauss for EMF), flashing LED and audio alarm make it…
Read MoreTune-In Bed – music while you sleep
The Tune-In Bed incorporates two built in 4” speakers, a control panel with volume and input controls and a little pocket into which you can slide your jigsaw puzzle. What? Oh OK – sigh – your iPod. Yes it’s the biggest iPod dock in the world. If you don’t count the airplane, car, space shuttle and asteroid that are probably also being marketed as such at this very moment. Sheesh! Priced from $699.00. Two 4” built-in stereo speakers and a control panel…
Read MoreGizmodo’s anti-RIAA campaign starts – going for gold
Gizmodo has started a Boycott the RIAA campaign, which is a gutsy and rather cool thing to do. The whole terror campaign being run by the record labels is beginning to wear a bit thin, and maybe it’s time for the majority of RIAA customers to speak up and voice their concern about these bully boy tactics by not buying any more RIAA product. There’s even a manifesto. Gizmodo is declaring the month of March Boycott the RIAA month. We want to get…
Read MoreGtalk2VoIP – IM gets SIP and PSTN power
Gtalk2VoIP is a totally fascinating service which links together IM services like Google Talk, MSN and Yahoo! Messenger with SIP phones and ordinary landlines and lets you make voice calls between them all. What makes this different is that everything is controlled from your instant messenger program of choice, which is a pretty cool way of handling things. The help and setup interface is still a little too…ahem…rustic for my liking, but the concept looks great and they have done a plug-in for Google…
Read MoreGSM Table Lamp – eavesdrop on illuminating conversations
The GSM Table Lamp is a GSM room monitor fitted into a table lamp. Which means that you can dial into the lamp from anywhere in the world and hear what’s being said in the room. For as long as you like (or until your mobile phone battery runs out). Sneaky eh? The lamp mic has a range of 20 metres or so, which should be plenty enough for most nefarious needs. £998.75. One of the best listening devices that we have ever…
Read MoreTeac RX-1DAB Radio – think thin, think trendy
The Teac RX-1DAB Radio features a flat panel NXT speaker which is supposed to make it a wafer thin radio which you can hang on your wall. We’re not so sure. Anyway from the front it certainly looks the part, so good on the designers we say. Honeycomb one-panel stereo NXT speaker • DAB (Band-III)/FM tuner • Output power: 7.5W x2 • 25mm NXT Exciter x 4 • LCD display • Digital clock, Timer-on, sleep timer • Audio Input…
Read MoreStadico Stadium Kits – why buy when you can build?
The Stadico Stadium Construction Toy is perfect if you don’t want to spend $2 billion buying a stadium, but would love to own your local team home. They’re made up of over 2,500 pieces and will take you some 20 hours to complete, but think of the satisfaction of owning Old Trafford. Well OK, think of the geek satisfaction…. £149.99. STADICO is the ultimate stadium construction toy. It features a unique system of modular blocks and pins enabling users to…
Read MoreDesktop Fork-Lift Truck – grabtastic time waster
The R/C Fork-Lift Truck actually looks as though it could be a bit of fun when you’re bored out of your skull on a grey Monday afternoon. Scooting around picking up improbably shaped items just appeals to the magpie in me, especially since I used to drive one of these puppies for real in my college vacations back in the day. Yah-hoo! $23.90 inc batteries. You may never have chance to drive the forklift in your real life, but you…
Read MorePackage Shark – the blister pack tamer
Package Shark is a tool for opening those incredibly infuriating plastic blister packs which now appear to be made of reinforced Kevlar coated polymer. I’m sick to death of wrestling with these things and so anyone who says they’ve come up with a way to slice them open quickly and cleanly gets my vote. Let’s hear it again, death to blister packs. $14.99. Tired of struggling with the plastic packaging on your favorite retail items? When tearing and scissors just…
Read MorexFruits – mashup your feeds
xFruits is a pretty looking Netvibes type thing which has cutesy icons and promises to let you mashup your RSS feeds to your customised delight. My question is – what does this do that hasn’t already been done before, and better? Answers on a Web 2.0 business plan napkin please to….. xFruits is a Web 2.0 service. You do not need any specific learning to deal with it. It is a free online service offering to every user the possibility of:…
Read MoreDivshare – free file storage with a twist
The guys at DivShare sent me notification of their new free file hosting service a while back which to be honest got a bit of a ho-hum from me. Too many such services, not enough time. And as far as I know most of them have their problems. We recently tried to use a couple – box.net was one – to share a file and they both failed miserably, just didn’t work. In the end we used yousendit.com which did work….
Read MoreR2D2 Trashcan – from star to rubbish in one easy move
The R2D2 Trashcan is undoubtedly the coolest repository for your rubbish you’ll find. OK, so George Lucas is spinning in his grave [he’s not dead – Ed] and C3PO is now a carpet cleaner, but go with the flow. We need your help Obi Wan….$149.99. This stylish trash receptacle is imported from Japan and is an incredibly detailed replica of R2-D2. Step on R2’s center “foot” and his dome swings wide to collect your expired TPS reports and leftover wookie…
Read MoreTimeTable – time to sit and stare
The Time Table is a digital clock that dreams of holding your dinner, magazines, toys and other chattels. Look at me, I may seem like a clock but really I’m not. I’m a table. Honestly. No don’t walk away… The entire top surface of the Time Table is a digital clock. The glowing digit segments are made of electro-luminescent film, which accounts for the thinness of the structure (6cm). The electronics include an alarm, and a timer to switch the light off…
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