January 2009 - Page 9 of 10 - The Red Ferret JournalThe Red Ferret Journal

Gadgets January 8, 2009 posted by Dan

Wireless Indoor Remote Controlled Power Outlet – for those hard to reach devices

There’s no need to go the whole hog and spend lots of money to get a “smart home”, all you really need is a pair of these Wireless Remote Controlled Power Outlets. Simply plug in your floor lamp, fish tank light, heater, fridge or disco ball and your can control it via the remote control. The pack comes with two remote controlled outlets and the remote control itself which works up to 25 meters (80 feet) away. It uses 433MHz…

Gadgets January 8, 2009 posted by Nigel

Electronic Drum Kit Shirt – rock your chest baby

This Electronic Drum Kit Shirt will cause head-bangers to fall at your feet in adulation, club owners to swoon at your cool, and parents to frown disapprovingly at your lousy taste. Not a bad day, really. Just remember to remove the speaker before shoving it in the washing machine. Oh and guys? That video…? $29.99. So, how about an electronic t-shirt with a picture of an actual playable drum kit on the front? That’s right. Hit the drums on this…

Gadgets January 8, 2009 posted by Nigel

ART USB Phono Plus – connect your analogues to your digitals

ART USB Phono Plus. Phono preamp and USB interface gives you the perfect way to connect old stuff like turntables or cassette decks to the computer to digitise your attic chattels. Powered from an external AC adapter or from the USB port, and look, it’s got a lovely friendly knob on it. For twiddling and stuff. Be still my audiophiliac heart. $99.00. The USBPhonoPlus v2 from ART is the perfect solution for connecting a turntable to a computer, to archive vinyl…

diy January 8, 2009 posted by Nigel

GridOMatic – print your own graph paper

GridOMatic is a freeware program for creating and printing out your own graph paper. Lovely little utility, free for personal use (although the developer asks for contributions and contact for commercial purposes). The only purpose of this little tool is to print graph paper, either as millimetric (with 10th divisions) or imperial (with 8th divisions). A laser or inkjet printer is capable of printing paper of a very high quality, and as a bonus you can adjust the scale, to…

Gadgets January 7, 2009 posted by Dan

Zuca Professional – gadgety luggage

Z�ca make a range of customisable travel bags for professional and not-so-professional travellers. The Zuca Professional bags are built extremely tough with individual colour-coded drawers that slide in and out, aircraft grade aluminium handles, polyurethane wheels and most importantly a seat. Z�ca claim that the bags will fit into the overhead storage lockers of all planes from a 737 up so you won’t have to check it in and you can even wheel it down the aisle of the plane….

Gadgets January 7, 2009 posted by Nigel

Discovery Power Welder – learn ’em a proper trade for the future

The Discovery Power Welder ‘safely’ welds plastic to plastic, enabling small people to enjoy themselves stinking out the living room and generally causing chaos with their aging Action Men and Her Little Ponies. OK, so the thing is supposed to be used responsibly with the correct materials, but who’s to say what they’ll hack together once you’re not looking. Tricky little tykes. $19.99. Discover the power to make and create with the tool that safely welds plastic to plastic. *…

Gadgets January 7, 2009 posted by Nigel

Computer Magnifier – stop squinting and profit…

This Computer Magnifier doubles the magnification of yer average 17 or 19 inch monitor, which could be useful if you find yourself squinting at screens all day. Of course it may also make you look a little elderly as well, but what’s that against relief from eye strain eh? Banish the vanity, sunshine. $62.98. Reduce eye strain while working or playing on the computer. Monitor panel provides 2x glare-free magnification. Mounts via hook and loop tabs to your monitor. Removes…

Bookmark This! January 7, 2009 posted by Nigel

Free HTML Calendar Maker – create your own web calendars for free

Free HTML Calendar Maker. Unlike other calendar makers, this one is designed to produce web based versions. Nothing fancy, just monthly calendars which you can post to your web site and/or print out. It’s very basic, but one of the interesting things you can do is enter in any year and get a print out of that time, which makes it cool if you want to set up a retrospective view of calendar events/etc in the past (e.g. a war or…

Gadgets January 6, 2009 posted by Dan

Whispergen microCHP – generate your own power

If you live in cold climes and have a central heating system then you should have a look at the WhisperGen microCHP. The microCHP is a natural or LP gas powered micro co generation unit which generates heat and power in your home. Co generation units are designed to generate most of the power required by a suburban home and if more is required then extra power can be drawn from the grid. Co generation also overcomes the transmission losses…

cool tech January 6, 2009 posted by Nigel

Blaupunkt TravelPilot 700 – GPS satnav uses your real route as map backdrop

The Blaupunkt TravelPilot 700 GPS satellite navigation system uses a novel video feed system to overlay the navigation instructions onto a display of your actual route. So instead of seeing an animated map, you actually see the road in front of you with arrows, signs and voice instructions overlaid on top. It’s one of those ideas that seems kind of obvious now it’s here. Of course the big hassle is you can’t use it at night, but it comes with…

Gadgets January 6, 2009 posted by Nigel

Aube Solar Time Switch – sync your lights to your location

Program your city’s latitude and longitude into the Aube Solar Timer Switch and the thing will automatically turn your lights on and off according to sunset and sunrise. It doesn’t however adjust for daylight savings, so it ain’t that clever. Pah! $39.99. You don’t have to spend hours adjusting the programmed on and off times on a light switch timer as the seasons change. Program your lights to turn on at sunset based specifically on your area with the Aube Solar Timer Switch, 40-500W, an attractive Decora-style timer switch…

Free Software January 6, 2009 posted by Nigel

Install-it – simple instant free CD installer utility

Install-It is a tiny freeware utility which does one thing. Burn this prog to the root folder of a CD, add some other program files and when you insert the CD into a PC it will automagically display a list of the programs ready to install. It’s perfect for creating basic but easy to understand disks for friends and family who need to install programs, drivers or other bits and pieces when you’re not around. In other words, think of it as…

Awesome January 5, 2009 posted by Dan

Tvan – The coolest, toughest camper trailer

Australia has some pretty rugged country so naturally people have devised some pretty ingenious ways of getting around it in comfort and style, like this. The Tvan is a rugged, two berth trailer camper that fixes a lot of problems with existing campers. To start with it’s go-anywhere, seriously go-anywhere. You’d expect nothing less from a company that builds trailers used by the Australian Army, Navy and Airforce. It has a 1,600kg fully articulated coupling that can angle up or…

Gadgets January 5, 2009 posted by Nigel

USB PC to PC Transfer Cable – move your stuff from computer to computer easily and quickly

This USB PC to PC Transfer Cable promises to make the process of upgrading from an old computer to new much easier in every way. What’s unusual – and very useful – is the fact it’s compatible with Windows 98se, ME, XP and Vista, which is great if you’re moving from really ancient to modern hardware. $49.95. Getting all the “stuff” from your old computer into the new one doesn’t have to be a challenge. This File Transfer For Dummies is so simple – no software to load or special cables…

Gadgets January 5, 2009 posted by Nigel

Yumi – the bilingual rag doll

Yumi is a bilingual rag doll that can speak 30 phrases in Japanese and English. We’re not sure if she’s designed to teach English to Japanese children or vice versa, but we’re sure that those parents with ‘achiever’ status inscribed on their foreheads – in whatever language – will be all over this beauty like a Shibumi rash. $39.99. The Yumi doll is bilingual and will teach your child 25 to 30 different phrases by stating them in English and…

Monthly Archives: January 2009