John Pearse’s D Angle Guitar Hanger is an ingenious solution to an ancient problem. How to keep your guitar out of harm’s way, even when travelling. $17.99 and all the Robin Trower you can eat. Hang your axe just about anywhere. Innovative design can be hung from almost any horizontal surface. Coated surface protects your instrument’s finish. Tags: gadget, d+angle+guitar+hanger, musical+instrument, guitar
Read MoreMonthly Archives: June 2008
Presslite VerteX – fine tune your camera flash output for studio like results
The Presslite VerteX is a small flash unit add-on which provides ‘multi-dimensional’ illumination through the use of a cleverly arranged smoke and multi-mirror arrangement. The idea is for the photographer to twist and twizzle the mirrors into different settings in order to optimise the quality and amount of light hitting their targets. Apparently it will work with just about any standard square type flash unit on the market. Pre-launch price is $34.95 (MSRP $49.95). [Thanks Dan] Small in size, lightweight and self-contained,…
Read MoreEvernote – remember everything…and find it again?
Evernote is an ambitious new data gathering service which lets you grab information clippings via the web, mobile phone, computer or email. There’s a fair few data capture products out there (e.g. Scrapbook and Clipmarks of course) but these are more basic web clipping tools whereas Evernote goes a fair few steps beyond their functionality. For example, Evernote is supposed to recognise handwritten notes on scanned or photographed images, which means you can capture data with your camera phone while out…
Read MoreBicycle Tutor – bike repair video tutorials
Alex Ramon’s Bicycle Tutor is a new online video tutorial service which offers lots of great videos to help you fix and maintain your bicycle. It’s nicely designed, clear and well indexed, and I can see this becoming a very useful tool indeed for those who perambulate on 2 wheels not 4. I particular like the fact that there’s a community feel to the place, what with the comments and all, as though you’ve entered into a nice old bike shop…
Read MoreOoma Hub – the plug and forget VoIP box
The Ooma Hub is a VoIP Internet telephony box that you plug into your broadband line to get cheap and free phone calls. It also has an in-built answering machine and you can use your existing phone number if you keep your old phone service ticking over on a low cost plan. The box costs $249.00 and there’s also a premier service which offers stuff like call screening and 3–way conferencing. It’s obviously aimed at the technophobic crowd, but I’m not sure…
Read MorePhonoFone II – zero power ceramic iPod speaker dock boosts earbud volumes – at a price
The PhonoFone II is a fascinating twist on the iPod dock meme. Made of ceramic, this zero power dock connects to your iPod earphones and boosts the sound through natural acoustic technology. The basic white version costs $500.00 (?) but this limited edition black model will set you back a cool $600.00. Yep, we’re also trying to work out the power saving return on investment angle too. Give us time. Without the use of external power or batteries, the Phonofone…
Read MoreFPV RC Racer – world’s first acronym loving virtual reality remote control toy
This new Fat Shark FPV RC kit is billed as the world’s only commercially available first person view remote control racing car with on-board camera, wireless video glasses and head tracking. Stick the goggles on your head, grab the remote control and drive your buggy around at unfeasibly fast speeds while looking like a complete dork. Oh yes, chillun, you will end up looking like a dork, trust me on that one. But the fun factor of racing around with a street…
Read MoreUSB Retro Desk Vac – clean up your desk with a touch of 50’s nostalgia
USB Retro Desk Vac. This cute little desktop vacuum cleaner resonates with the simplicity of life from yesteryear. Remington typewriters, secretaries, long leisurely lunch breaks and a large, black, Bakerlite telephone sitting on every desk. Ah me…£7.99. Restore order to your desk with your own USB Vacuum Cleaner. Plug it in and suck your way to a cleaner environment in effortless retro style! Tags: usb+retro+desk+vac, usb, gadget
Read MoreFrets on Fire – open source Guitar Hero for your computer
The Open Source Frets on Fire game gives you that Guitar Hero feeling on your computer without all the nasty paying money stuff first. Download the version for your platform – Mac, Linux, Windows supported – grab your keyboard like this… …and rock. OK, so you won’t look quite as cool as an air axe ninja, but apparently you can also hook it up to a Guitar Hero controller and your TV via a Media Center. Such ingenuity, eh? Of course…
Read MoreMovaMail – mobile email done superbly
MovaMail. I can’t believe I haven’t already mentioned the MovaMail mobile phone email client here. I’ve been using it for a fair while now, and have raved about it in my newspaper column, so it’s weird. Anyhoo, here’s the redress. Number one, it’s a Java app, so it runs on just about every mobile phone out there. Two, it has a superb, easy to use interface. Uncluttered, clear and easy to read, even on very small screens. Three the account set up…
Read MoreWorldCard Ultra – slot-in business card scanner digitizes all those sweaty handshakes
The WorldCard Ultra Business Card Scanner offers up a minimalist slot interface, 600 dpi resolution and 16 languages in its recognition database. So now there’s no excuse for losing that important deal just because you used their card for a wobbly table leg wedge at dinner last night. Windows and Mac. $199.95. WorldCard Ultra is an elegant-palm-sized color business card scanner. Slot-in design makes it the most intuitive and easiest way to scan business cards that you have never experienced. Ultra redefines what a business card scanner…
Read MoreVoice-Mail Audio Email Sender – record and send voice email messages instead of typing them
The Voice-Mail Email Sender lets you record your messages and send them via email as attachments instead of having to laboriously type them out with your keyboard. It’s a USB gizmo and the functionality looks to be super simple. Press the REC button to record and the Send button to automatically transmit your audio email off to the selected recipient. Interesting. $39.98. Email voice sender instantly sends voice recorded messages to recipients via email, eliminating the need for typing, with the click…
Read MorePowerPly Self Adhesive Solar Panels – just peel off the backing and stick to your roof
Power-Ply 380 Peel and Stick Solar Panels. Lumeta’s new Teflon coated self adhesive solar tiles are super sensible. A goodly part of the cost of installing solar panels lies in the infrastructure needed to keep everything safe, so anything that removes that cost is a Good Thing. With this stuff all you do is remove the sticky back plastic and attach the panels to your roof. Of course anyone who has ever tried to install adhesive bathroom tiles knows that this is…
Read MoreScreaming Meanie 120dB Alarm Clock – loud, did you say LOUD?
The Screaming Meanie 120dB Alarm Clock is loud. We’re talking wake the neighbourhood and adjoining airport loud. It also doubles up as a personal attack alarm – no kidding – is battery powered for portability and hysterically is recommended for ‘People who live in areas subject to tornadoes, earthquakes or hurricanes’. Oh yes. $35.97 including shipping. A five and ten minute pre alarm can be turned off with one button. The final alarm requires pressing three buttons at the same…
Read MoreFireNes – Firefox extension lets you play Nintendo games via your browser
FireNes is a Firefox extension that lets you play all those ancient Nintendo games via your browser without having to install any emulators or ROMs. Clever, no? It’s actually loading a Java emulator in the background via the browser, and you won’t be able to save games as yet, but if you’re a Mario fanatic this one’s probably for you. FireNes is an extension for Firefox that allows us to play around 2500 Nintendo games, without the need to download…
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