You’re not still setting newspaper on fire to check your smoke detector are you? That’s a fire hazard. Use Smoke Check, smoke detector test instead. Each can has 200+ checks, can be used on photoelectric or ionisation detectors and there are heaps of accessories to make testing even easier. Smoke Detector Tester puts both photoelectric and ionization smoke detectors through their paces to ensure that the circuitry, alarm and power is functioning and that they are actively sampling the air…
Read MoreMonthly Archives: August 2009
Steam Spa – personal, portable sweat box
The Steam Spa. Words fail me readers. Hop in, put on the tin foil hat, and steam away. Has 3 power settings, 2 time settings (30 or 60 minutes) and can generate steam from 1.5 litres of water. �69.99 but there’s a minimum order of two. With a choice of timer and power settings, and double cut-off protection the Steam Spa is a safe and effective way to take advantage of the beneficial properties of steam to help you relax…
Read MoreMegalodon 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset – eight channels into two ears
This is the Megalodon 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset from Razer. Just plug it into a USB socket and the Control Pod will take care of everything else. If you’re not playing a game with 7.1 or 5.1 it will switch to stereo, or if you want to watch The Eagles DVD in full surround then plug it in and away you go. Also comes with a military grade sound engine and a high sensitivity microphone. US$149.99 from Amazon. The…
Read MoreMetal Detecting Dune Buggy – Forget the sandals
Scour your local beach for fun and profit with the Metal Detecting Dune Buggy. It can detect ferrous metals up to 4″ below the surface, has variable senstivity and lights up when it’s found something. It has an 8 metre range and needs 4 AAs and one 9 V battery. It even comes with fake metal doubloons for you to practice on. This is the remote control dune buggy that can detect buried metallic objects when driven over suitable terrain,…
Read MoreOpenSimulator – create your very own 2nd Life from the comfort of your own basement
OpenSimulator is a free open source 3D world creator which you can use to be your own master of the universe. You’ll need some geek smarts to set up the server and associated tech, but if you’re up for customising configuration settings, debugging source code and setting up database schemas, you’ll be in your element here. And dude, that’s before you start thinking about marrying someone with purple hair who lives on a yacht floating skywards above Rio. Go for it!…
Read MoreLED Droop – the fight to improve the efficiency of our LED lamps
This long but interesting ieee Spectrum article takes an in-depth – and very scientific – look at the mystery surrounding the drive to make our LED lamps more efficient. The problem, known as droop in the trade, means that LEDs cannot be manufactured to emit more light, because the output drops off significantly above a certain wattage. That’s apparently why most household LED lamps only go up to 20W or so. It’s a fascinating, albeit geeky, tale which shows how much science…
Read MoreUSB Multimedia Key – uber dongle puts the v back into versatile
This USB Multimedia Key takes the phrase ‘multimedia maverick’ to a whole new level. Not only will it deliver Internet television and radio to your computer courtesy of supplied software and firmware, but it will also lock up your folders, computer, even network connection on demand. And…oh yes there’s more…will give a visual notification when you receive new email messages via a little light thingy. How clever is that, eh? Supports 13 languages and costs $23.99. It can allow you to watch…
Read MoreColorWare – custom gadget colouring
ColorWare can colour your phone, computer, headphones or music player any which way you choose. Using a patented strata of products ColorWare prepares your gadget, applies colour and then seals it all with a tough coating ready to last the years in your pocket. You can either send your stuff to them or purchase the pre-coloured product from ColorWare ready to go. You can even get corporate branded stuff like matched iPhones for the Sales Team? Spiff! They’ll even colour…
Read MorePhosphor E-Ink Watch – skinny electronic paper watch for the digerati natives
The Phosphor E-Ink Watch features an ‘ultra thin profile’ a gen-uine e-ink electronic paper display and some very large high contrast numerals to make sure you never lose track of that time stuff again. Yes, it’s the ultra-trendy, hip happening wrist event you won’t want to miss. That’s what is says here anyway. $195.00. The digital display utilizes the revolutionary E Ink electronic paper display featuring its paper-like, high contrast readability that is sure to be noticed by others around you….
Read MoreLogitech R800 – new presentation tool saves us from fillibustering agony
Computer peripherals company Logitech has just released it’s latest executive toy, the Logitech R800 presentation device. No wait, come back, it’s not that bad. Well not quite. Look sure it’s got a same old green laser pointer in it – yawn – and the usual boring slide show controls – sigh – but listen, listen, it also comes with a vibration alert to tell the presenter he’s over talked himself and should shut up now. Please. Now if that isn’t worth…
Read MoreJLC’s Internet TV – freeware Internet television program
JLC’s Internet TV is a free program which will feed thousands of Internet television programs from around the world to your desktop. Actually it’s probably better to think of it as a front end electronic program guide to Windows Media Player, but it does sport some nice features. Like ratings, favourite channels, search and auto updates. To add some real spice to the sausage, it’s also available in a full on web browser version. Double the value! JLC’s Internet TV…
Read MoreBattlefield Heroes – cartoon warrior game front and centre
Battlefield Heroes is a free to play online battle game done in original Team Fortress cartoon style. You get all the trimmings, vehicles to drive, flags to capture, online foes to best, and of course the opportunity to spend money upgrading your style or performance. It’s a pretty good example of just how far the online gaming genre has advanced. Worth a look if you’re a gamer type. Very clever marketing EA. Battlefield Heroes or, as many like to call it ‘Heroes’…
Read More13-in-1 Multi Tool Pen
You know what these multi-tool things are usually like; they’re so gigantic and awkward you might as well just carry the toolbox. Well now there’s the 13-in-1 multitool. Quite simply a pen, with extras. There’s a hole puncher, a stainless steel file, a short cutting blade, a flat screwdriver, a wire sleeve remover, small nail remover, an ear pick (?), a long cutting blade, tweezers, a Philips screwdriver, a stainless steel fork and a saw. What else do you want…
Read MoreDual SATA Hard Drive Docking Station – all your storage needs in one dock
Wouldn’t be a week on the Ferret without something from Chinavasion. With this Dual SATA Hard Drive Docking Station, no longer will you be forced to choose between 2.5″ or 3.5″ external hard drive docks. Not only that but it has 2 drive bays, so you can duplicate hard drives, copy 2.5″ drives to 3.5″ ones or whatever you like. The panels behind the drives can also be used to screw the hard drives into place to “prevent” tampering. You…
Read MoreSpotify rolls onwards and upwards
Streaming music service, Spotify, has been on the Red Ferret before, heck Nigel even declared war over when he reviewed them. Well the ceasefire may be one step closer today after news Spotify had secured more investors. These new investors as well as the existing lot, which include The Big 4 music companies, suggests that Spotify could have a market valuation of close to �200 million. Spotify has taken off in the UK with over 2 million users and also…
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