We’ve become used to hearing that the Android operating system for smartphones and other devices is a free, open source product. But in fact, that’s not completely true. There are still bits and pieces on every Android phone that are not open and cost someone, somewhere money. Examples usually revolve around addons installed by the manufacturer (e.g. the Sense UI on HTC phones) or the service provider (e.g. all the Vodafone or T-Mobile branded apps).
Read MoreMonthly Archives: March 2012
Swiss Protection Socks are made of kevlar
Many of us like to lounge around in our socks. If we could, we would wear socks all day long. The only problem with that, is that socks are normally made out of a material that doesn’t take to kindly to pointy objects or jagged edges. If they were made of tougher stuff than cotton, then maybe they could hold up, but those don’t exist, do they?
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MamaRoo Infant Seat mimics your movements
If you’ve ever had to deal with a baby for an extended period of time, you know just how exhausting it can be. They whine, fuss, and cry what feels like almost constantly, and only seem to be happy in your arms and bouncing on your hip. You can try to put them in a bouncy seat or swing, but most of the time, they can tell the difference.
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Weather Station Keychain makes sure you’re always prepared
If you haven’t figured it out by now, the weather channel is offering their best estimated guess of what the forecast will be like that day. It’s not anything concrete, so we often go to our phone to get the latest in weather reports. However, if your phone dies, or has no internet access, you could be walking into a rainstorm unprepared.
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Medisana Thermodock turns your smartphone into the world’s most expensive thermometer
We’re really only just at the beginning of the smartphone revolution, mostly because we haven’t really grasped the implications of having a full blown and extremely powerful computer in our pocket that pretends to be a phone. Once the performance and application tools start to really mature, we’re going to see a real revolution – and I don’t use that word lightly – in smartphone functionality and value.
Read MoreWireless Network Watcher keeps an eye on your WiFi network connections [Daily Freeware]
It’s pretty easy for someone who’s determined to hack into your WiFi network nowadays, even if you think you’re safe with WPA encrypted password protection and all the rest. WEP security is all but useless, and yet people still rely on it to keep others from accessing their wireless LAN. The annoying thing is that anyone camping on your bandwidth costs you money, as well as using up your bandwidth allowance, which is a double whammy, let alone the security issues.
Read MoreTwoppy lets you create your own mobile phone tour guide in a flash
There’s no doubt that smartphones are a perfect tourist tool, just think of the things you can use them for. You can use one to navigate around a strange town (as long as you’re happy paying the roaming data fees for your GPS app), take photos of interesting monuments, even check on currency rates while out shopping. Brilliant, and that’s just the obvious ones. One other very cool use is as a mobile brochure for activities you may enjoy.
Read MoreGalileo Pan-and-Tilt lets you follow real-time action from afar
Whenever you try and talk to someone through FaceTime on your iOS device, it can be a little bit challenging to get everyone into the frame. Whether it’s a meeting, a birthday, or just chatting with a long distance friend, keeping everything perfectly in the view of the camera is a nightmare. You might miss something important or exciting just because your iPhone was tilted too far one way or another.
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Handpresso Auto can give you fresh espresso on the road
It’s the day that we all hate. Monday mornings only give us the promise that the week has just begun, and we won’t be seeing a break in the monotony for some time. For those of us who commute it is an especially terrible day, as it means lots of driving, and not very much sleep. Normally, you’ll make a stop along the way for some gas station coffee, but what if you could have fresh espresso made in your…
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CCfinder is a great way to find free Creative Commons images [Daily Freeware]
The explosion in digital photography has created a massive storehouse of online images, both commercial and royalty free. But above all it has given rise to totally free photo archives, where you can download as many images as you need for your project completely free of charge. The secret lies in the use of a Creative Commons license, which is commonly used on photo services like Flickr.
Read MoreModMyPi cases protect your tiny Raspberry Pi computer from danger
Well that didn’t take long. The sensational Raspberry Pi micro computer is not even out and available in people’s hands yet, and already there are enterprising companies selling add-ons to make them better. For those who don’t know, the Pi is a new tiny computer which costs around $35.00 and is no larger than a credit card.
Read MoreBliss Control is a superb way to manage your social network settings
How many social networks do you belong to? At least one I bet. Well that’s all well and good, but what happens if you’ve signed up to a bunch of them, and you’re trying desperately to manage them, i.e. do things like change password, or email settings or your profile photos. It can be a nightmare to find all the relevant parts of each admin panel to get things done.
Read MoreSonicwalk gives your life that background music you’ve always wanted
It may be called the Sonicwalk, but it was definitely made for high-energy sports. Running, cycling, and snowboarding are all quite fast-paced, which makes listening to music through headphones quite difficult, as jostling around can move your ear buds out of place. However, if they do stay in place, you will be blocking out exterior sound, and might not hear oncoming danger. This is why the Sonicwalk plays music outward from two shoulder straps.
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Kijaro All-In-One Hammock is the ultimate way to relax
The warm season is approaching, which means that you need to make the most of your time to relax before fall rolls around again. Laying out in the sun is nice and all, but if you should happen to fall asleep, you could wake up with some pretty bad burns. Hammocks are nice, but there’s nowhere to set your drink, and you’re sort of trapped there until you can find the will to finagle your way off of the thing.
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KidSafe will keep your iPhone safe from prying fingers
Children like to be part of anything and everything that their parents do. Whether it’s unlocking doors, pushing buttons, or being on your phone, if you can do it, they want to as well. The only problem being that your shiny iPhone 4 or 4S is made of glass, and is very expensive to replace. You could try to tell your child �no�, but seeing as you use your phone all the time, chances are that you will cave at…
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