cool, fun gadgets

The problem with most home sound system is that they are either big and powerful or small and mediocre. On top of that, you are just limited to a couple of speakers that you can distribute all around the house. No matter how much you want the whole house to sway to the beat of Bob Marley, the lack of speakers just won't do. People will tell you to add more speakers but that ain't really a smart idea if you're going over a thousand bucks. But Orb Audio will show you otherwise.

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I just watched Old Dogs a couple of weeks ago and although I was not particularly enthralled with John Travolta and Robin Williams, much more by the story, I could say that there are still some interesting parts of the story. Say, for example, the part where Robin Williams pretended to be the king and his daughter, the princess. Robin Williams is being manipulated by John Travolta via a gear that the latter was wearing. Every flinch, every movement that he does, Williams automatically does, too. I figured, this could be possible someday, but are we really gonna use it to control other people? Just then, WIND answered the question for me. Read the rest of this entry »

Nowadays, the trend of going in and out of the country due to business is slowly growing. A lot of people notice that children are given much lesser attention compared to the days when work is just a couple of blocks away. True enough, when you are constantly out of the country for business, you seem to neglect your child's need for a two parents. Now, with ConnectR, the robot that goes around the house while you're away, you will never be out of touch. Read the rest of this entry »

A couple of years back, a tragic earthquake hit Italy and devastated the city center of one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Soon after, China was hit by same catastrophe that took away hundreds of lives. Fast forward to 2010, Haiti became the center of devastation caused by the Earth's shift, too. If there was a way to detect these quakes before they happen, we think that thousands of lives will be saved and aftermath wouldn't be as tragic as they are now. Thank goodness to Indian students who feared earthquakes so much they decided to create a robot that detects the quakes.

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Innovation and all the inventions that come with it really can't be stopped. Now, even hospitals embrace the technology of the robots that first appeared in Japan. Really, using robots for our everyday needs might be able to give unparalleled benefits in the long run. Such as RP-7 Robot's Virtual Doctor. I am calling it here as iDoctor, but that's not the official name. I like nicknames. Read the rest of this entry »

The iPad (I still cringe at the bad choice of brand name. Apple marketing, yoohoo?) is probably one of the most celebrated Apple products. Websites that are dedicated to rumors about it float around the internet even a year before it actually came out. However, Steve Jobs did a great job in concealing any detail about it. Heck, people didn't even get what it's going to be called (I still go for iSlate, mind you)! From the name to the tech specs, everything was just a rumor. However, now that the iPad has finally arrived, people can't stop thinking of ways on how they're going to use it. Read the rest of this entry »

After a hard day's work, it is quite compelling to get a back massage. However, it seems a little bit too hard on the pocket to get someone to give you a back rub every single day. Wouldn't it be heaven to have a robot to do that for you every time your back succumbs to muscle pain? Well, the new concept app for iPhone might help. The HT Connect iPhone app is the best of its kind.

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If there is a gadget that you so long for, leave it to the Japanese to figure out how to make it work. For every lady out there, buying make up is not only an exciting task, it is also filled with a lot of decision making. So, say, you want to try on a new brand, it really is disappointing if it turns out not how you expect it to be. What a relief if you could try it on before buying it, right? After all, the saleslady doesn't really do a good job of picking the right colors for you. And the Japanese says : wish granted.

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Do you remember those mice that were so heavy and comes in only one color which is white? I remember being enthralled by what that thing can do just by the ball that moves around it. However, it kind of gets frustrating when it starts to lose its sensitivity due to dust that gets stuck on its sensors. You literally have to take out the ball and clean the sensors (which look much like small tubes) manually. Remembering those days makes one realize how far we have become now, with the latest mouse technologies that come our way. However, when a mous that is worn as a glove comes around, is it still proper to call it a mouse? Or can we use the term "glove" now? AirMouse will have to decide on that.

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Nowadays, everyone is all about finding fuel efficient and environment friendly vehicles that do not compromise speed. There were a few that we could say really do meet the marker. However, we still have not found that oomph we are looking for. Sure, they may be fuel efficient and environment friendly, but they also come in boring designs. Where is the fun in that? Unlike most of these shenanigans, we found something that seems to be truly promising: the Mission One motorbike from Mission Motors. Read the rest of this entry »

I really hate it when my dog stinks up the whole house because he left traces of water dripping from his dirty fur. You'd probably tell me to give him a bath but I do that. However, my dog is the naughtiest furball ever. Ever. And he brings his stink with him whenever he goes inside to drink... from the toilet bowl or the faucet. Even if he has his own water bowl. I really have no idea why he likes our bathroom water so much but I'm thinking that's because it does not stagnate, so it tastes fresher. But I am not confident that it is hygienic for him to drink from the toilet bowl. What saved me was this: the Drinkwell Original Water Fountain. Read the rest of this entry »

What are weekends for? For rest, right? That's why they are aptly called rest days. However, because we have no more time during weekdays to spend on tidying up the place, we spend our weekends cleaning up our home. One week's worth of dust and dirt, from fallen hair, to Fido's fur, to spilled milk! How can you possibly finish everything in just two days? Impossible, you might think. But not with the new Roomba, a seven day scheduling robot that vacuums your home independently.

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Okay, so I love Sundays. I love not having to worry about work (save that for another day) and how I could stay in bed the whole day. I love how it's definitely okay to wake up at 10 am, get up and turn on the TV, grab an apple, and  go back to bed again. Seriously, for me, Sundays are my holidays. However sometimes, lying down on my twin bed while watching TV isn't that comfortable. I don't know where I should be putting the TV or the bed to make it work and I just hope they came together. Wish granted. The HiCan Bed is the bed for me. And you. If we had the money. Read the rest of this entry »

"Honey, let's go home now. I want to watch this DVD I bought."

"No honey, I'm not finished shopping yet. Here, take my bag."

"Your what??"

Yes, husbands can now find something they can do while their wives are lining up in Macy's for the sale season. Instead of complaining about sore feet and back pains and how dreadfully bored you are, just take any DVD disc with you together with your wife's new bag. The new BagTV will keep your boredom away while your wife is busy with play.

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When the light goes off without warning, we are all victims to walking in the dark looking for a candle or a flashlight that will light our way. In the process, we bump into a lot of things mainly because we aren't really sure where we placed that darn lamp. However, with Sanyo's new addition to its Eneloop family, you will never need to look for the flashlight again. Never. The Eneloop Lamp has three features that make it a wonderful idea, and an economical one at that. Read the rest of this entry »

Watching Charmed a few years back, I wondered if it is really possible to control things with the mind. I know that telekinesis is real and it is something that some people are gifted with. However, what I am after is a power that will really define the human brain as powerful. Something that every normal human being will be able to do with little effort. Then I heard of Interaxon, a company that will host its first mind controlled techniques open to the public on February 12 to 28, 2010 in Vancouver.

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When I was a kid, I remember hating the sink's faucet a lot. Whenever I reach out to turn its knob, I either had to carry a chair or tiptoe and hurt my  chest trying to reach it. Then, I have to tiptoe and hurt my chest again so I could turn it off. And then, as I grew up, I learned of other types of faucets. Our local mall has this really cool faucet in the toilet that has a sensor. However, it is not that accurate and when I move a little, the things goes off, too. Really annoying when you are in a hurry. I thought to myself, wouldn't it be nice if there was one that I could just touch and the water flows out naturally? Enter Pilar Touch-Activated Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with ToucH2O Technology. Whew! Too long for a brand name, eh?

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Have you noticed that when the whole family gets to go on a vacation, each family member is doing something along the way during the drive? Dad is busy driving, Mom is busy nagging Dad to keep his lane, big sister listens to her iPod, and big brother is on his PSP. So what does the kid do? Look out the window and dread the boring ride to the destination. However, that's all about to change now. With a DVD player designed specifically for kids, the little one might even nudge you to go on a long drive! This portable DVD player is called Audiovox Kids. Read the rest of this entry »

I have always loved playing with a camera. At age 10, I remember owning my very first film SLR and we were inseparable. I still believe in its power and though a lot of digital SLRs were introduced, I decided to stick with film. After all, I would rather look at grains than pixels. However, there is no denying the fact that digital cameras are much more convenient if you want to share pictures of people you love. Plus, film cameras do not have video functions unlike most digitals. So I waited until the best point and shoot camera hit the markets that offers superb video performance as well. Now, the wait is over.

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Because of the continuous mobility of devices, we seem to forget how to use pen and papers now. Diaries are so passe and blogs are the hip thing. Snail mail? Come on! I could send a message faster than that! With just a few clicks of the mouse and a little tapping on the keyboard, I could deliver my message in minutes. So yes, I am guilty of bringing my laptop with me to the kitchen while preparing something for the family. And yes, my first laptop died on me because I spilled boiling water on it. It's about time that a kitchen-friendly gadget shows up and saves all other portable devices from knives and fire. Read the rest of this entry »