Uncle Milton Solar Racer Set. Environmental awareness comes to racing toys, and while they may not have the cool factor of a pair of tricked up Dodge Chargers, they’ll help your planet survive for another 10 minutes or so. Probably. $19.95 Convert sunlight into speed – and take these solar-powered race cars for a spin. * Uses real solar cells to convert sunlight into racing power * Includes 2 zippy race cars * More than 5 feet of race track…
Read MoreMonthly Archives: May 2008
Password Chart – you want a strong password for nothing?
Password Chart is an online application to help you create really really strong passwords. These are the sort of passwords your average policeman would have trouble deciphering in a 40 year career. The neat thing is the printable chart for decoding your word or phrase, just don’t lose the chart or its identity number. There is no magic snake oil here, its a simple substitution cipher. Here is how the algorithm works: 1. An MD5 hash of the chart…
Read MoreTimex Rain Gauge – measure the downpour without getting your boots wet
Timex Rain Gauge. The most important thing about this puppy is the self-emptying collector. I mean, who wants to trudge out in the middle of a tornado to empty the blooming bucket of water, eh? $34.99. Collect and transmit rainfall information with the Improvements Timex Rain Gauge System. The unit uses radio waves to transmit to the receiver/display unit inside your house (within 100′) where it displays rainfall information, temperature, time and more. Tags: timex+rain+gauge, gadget
Read MoreUSB Washing Machine Alarm Clock – too much spin and not enough time probably
This USB Washing Machine Alarm Clock is very strange indeed. It seems to play four different alarm melodies and vibrate, but doesn’t actually wash any clothes. In that respect therefore, it’s bound to be a bit of a disappointment. We’re also trying to figure out the connection between a computer and fabric softener, but it’s not working. $20.00. Time, date and alarm clock LCD display # 4 different melodies with vibration # Hourly chime signal with LED # 12/24…
Read MoreMoffsoft FreeCalc – freeware Windows calculator with history tape
Moffsoft FreeCalc is a freeware Windows calculator with a history tape, hot keys and regional settings and layout. Think of it like Windows calculator on steroids. OK, don’t then. Tags: moffosft+freecalc, freeware
Read MoreRailsConf bound…
I’m off to RailsConf for a few days this week, so expect a little patchy posting an’ all. Tags: railsconf
Read MoreFerret posts this week
Here’s a quick round-up of Ferrety posts from the past week for anyone who missed them. Enjoy. Mail Chime – motion sensing mailbox saves your legs in the rain – The Mail Chime is a motion sensing… Wind ‘N Go Freedom Shaver – smooth chin, aching wrists – The Wind ‘N Go Freedom… SMS Intercepter – sneaky software remotely grabs all SMS messages from target phone and sends them to you – SMS Intercepter is a small Symbian… How to…
Read MoreThe Scooba Robotic Floor Washer – scrub and wash with wallet ache not backache
Scooba Robotic Floor Washer. From the same people that brought us the Roomba, comes the Scooba (who comes up with these names?) which is designed to automatically scrub, wash and clean kitchen type floors. In other words anything nice and flat and un-carpet like. Hmm…small scurrying objects and hot pots in kitchens…interesting visions. $299.95 This is the Scooba (invented by the creators of the Roomba), an autonomous robot that efficiently and simultaneously prepares, washes, and scrubs tile, linoleum, or sealed hardwood floors, without human intervention….
Read MoreUltrasonic Laser Distance Measurer – how far is that doggie in the window…?
This Ultrasonic Distance Measurer replaces one of Nature’s most cumbersome and awkward devices, the ruler. OK, maybe the tape measure too. The idea is you point this at a nearby wall and receive a distance measurement on the small LCD screen. Saves walking I guess. $29.00. Press-and-Read, measure in a second. – Measure the area or/and volume – Unit of measurement Feet or Meters Tags: gadget, ultrasonic+laser+distance+measurer
Read MoreLightscoop – eliminate ugly pop up flash photos
Lightscoop. Slot one of these gidgets over the top of your DSLR pop up flash and you’ll gain an bounced flash look for your photos without breaking the bank. The device is just a simple mirror holder integrated with a customised holder for the major name camera makes (Canon, Nikon, Pentax etc) so it probably won’t work with your OkieKokie 2000 cam. I do wonder why camera manufacturers don’t include a swivel function in their pop up flashes to allow for bounced lighting, as it’s…
Read MoreSteampunk Wooden Phone – retro rotary rings out
This Steampunk Wooden Phone from China demonstrates everything that’s great and kitsch and weird and cute and quaint about the Chinese manufacturing machine. Comes with push button pulse and tone dialling with last number redial. Tags: steampunk+wooden+phone, gadget, retro
Read MoreIdeal Calorie Intake Calculator – freeware to work out your basic metabolic rate
Ideal Calorie Intake Calculator. This simple freeware program lets you input your weight and type of job, and receive a readout of your daily energy burn and calorific needs. Apparently I burn 10,000 calories a day in front of this monitor and need 7.3 pizzas to keep that myself going. Such a relief to find out I’m on the right track! This calculator will work out your Basic Metabolic Rate which is the amount of calories you burn per day without doing…
Read MorePhotofiddle – framed art from your photographs
Photofiddle. Upload your photograph, hand over some money and receive a framed or rolled computer generated art piece. From the looks of their gallery, the impasto and modern settings seem to give the best results, while oil looks just like a photo which has been run through a fairly basic painting processor. Anyway, prices start at around $15.00 for rolled up art. Photofiddle.com is the only website that allows a user to instantly transform their uploaded digital photo into various…
Read MoreGuardian Angel Baby Monitor – see in the dark system for nighttime zzzzs
The Guardian Angel Baby Monitor apparently sports ‘see in the dark’ tech which will let bored parents keep watch on their precious bairns up to 6ft away from the camera unit. It’ll also broadcast the signal up to 50 meters away wirelessly, which should be enough for anyone without a stately home. $229.00. If there’s nothing more important to you than the safety of your child then the Swann Guardian Angel Handheld Baby Monitoring Kit is a brilliant way for you…
Read MoreTelescope Walking Stick – for the dignified voyeur
The Telescope Walking Stick harks back to a time when men were men and small green furry wombats were…well you get the picture. We’re trying to imagine many instances when you’re likely to want to unlatch your cane and view the surrounding countryside in depth, and to be honest we’re not feeling it too much. Nevertheless this is probably a perfect gift for that slightly strange uncle whose name you can never quite remember. $89.95. This walking sticks handle converts…
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