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Around The Home
Old shape, new technology: GE energy saving light globe
By Emily Clark
20:56 December 11, 2008 PST
GE Energy’s new Smart compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb combines miniaturized electronics with GE’s Spiral CFL inside the glass bulb to achieve a conventional-sized bulb with added energy saving capabilities. The profile of the CFL bulb is virtually identical to a standard incandescent light bulb but offers the equivalent power of a 60W bulb with just 15W. Read More
Road test: Sumo Omni Chair rocks our 'tocks
By Loz Blain
23:11 December 9, 2008 PST
The march of technology and design has elevated the humble bean bag into a surprisingly versatile bit of furniture. Sumo's range of "urban lounge gear" now includes a stiff-walled, tiny-beaned maxi-pillow that can be moulded into several super-comfy positions from crashmat to loveseat to recliner couch. Sure, there's a learning curve - try to "ride the pony" without the proper preparation and you'll end up on the floor - but once mastered, this is one of the most outrageously awesome, buttock-coddling sitting experiences we've ever tried. Loz Blain is barely able to report on his road test of the Sumo Omni Chair due to extreme relaxation. Read More
Roberts digital kitchen radio
By Emily Clark
03:27 December 8, 2008 PST
This digital Kitchen Radio from ROBERTS fits neatly under the kitchen cupboards and offers a range of features, including - yes - an egg-timer, making it a nifty cooking companion. The space-saving design means the radio won’t encroach on your much needed counter space when cooking up a storm. Read More
The iPhone Refrigerator
By Mike Hanlon
19:43 November 25, 2008 PST
November 26, 2008 An emerging prestige manufacturer and designer of quality and innovative household goods, Slovenia’s Gorenje graced our pages earlier this year with its wow-factor SmarTable, and has backed up with two prototypes (modern and retro) of a very clever iPod refrigerator and the news that the soon-to-be-available production versions will be followed by an iPhone refrigerator in 2009. Slip your iPod into the dock on the front and it’ll charge, play music and video through the refrigerator’s two built-in 7 watt speakers, and connect to the internet if you have wifi. Gorenje’s plans are ambitious, and include using the touch screen on the iPod to control other Gorenje appliances and there’s an internet portal under development which will enable the remote control of its wifi-enabled oven and dishwasher and plans to add wifi to other Gorenje appliances in the near future. The iPod fridge will cost around EUR1200 and comes with an iPod Touch. Read More
Two-in-one-furniture: the table-chair
By Emily Clark
00:07 November 21, 2008 PST
We've seen some interesting dual-purpose furniture design concepts of late and the SwiTCh from Ellesco International in Belgium is another bright example. Put the two pieces together and it's a comfortable armchair, separate them and flip the back section upright and it becomes a small table with a seat. Read More
Treehouse escapes: re-live your childhood in style
19:38 November 20, 2008 PST
Treehouses have the ability to fire the imagination and transport you back to the long care-free afternoons of your childhood like almost nothing else. These days, the professionally crafted designs available far outstrip the rudimentary structures we would slap together during summer holidays and they are being used not just as magical playrooms for the kids but as spare guest bedrooms, entertainment areas, hotel escapes and even conference suites. The latest examples to cross our desk are these striking arboreal dwellings from Andreas Wenning of German architecture firm baumraum. Read More
Warming to your Plasma TV
17:57 November 20, 2008 PST
Before television became the new opiate of the masses the fireplace was the focal point of many living rooms. This design lets you combine the two. Picture House TV Furniture produce fully working fireplaces that conceal your plasma screen at the push of a button and their latest offering - the Slimline Montana - can house up to a 50-inch TV and includes space for hiding DVD and cable equipment. Read More
SunStick helps gardeners find the light
By Darren Quick
20:00 November 19, 2008 PST
As a self-confessed ‘black thumb’ (I’m told that’s the opposite of a green thumb), anything that improves the chances of survival of a plant under my care always piques my interest. My parents constantly tell me the importance of ‘location, location, location’, when it comes to plant placement and a new product from Plumstone, LLC, might just help me get that aspect of gardening right. The SunStick is a garden tool that resembles a faux flower top and measures the light in its immediate area, be it indoors or out, to give gardeners an idea of what plant would be suited to that location. Read More
Kwikset update touchpad doorlock
By Darren Quick
00:15 November 18, 2008 PST
Keys have served mankind well for thousands of years yet we all know the horrible feeling associated with misplacing those ubiquitous chunks of jangling metal. Now Kwikset, the makers of the SmartScan biometric keyless entry system, are looking to lighten the load on people’s keyrings with their next generation SmartCode Signature Series keyless entry deadbolt. Read More
GE twin oven cooks two different meals at once
By Darren Quick
20:53 November 17, 2008 PST
If the proliferation of cooking shows on TV and celebrity chefs is anything to go by, people either like to cook or they like to watch people cooking. I fall into the latter group but for those of you in the former, GE have unveiled an oven that can cook two dishes at two temperatures at the same time. The new GE Profile 30-inch single/double wall oven fits two ovens into the space of a single standard wall oven by including a 2.8-cubic-foot lower oven and a 2.2-cu.-ft. upper oven to provide a total of 5.0-cubic-feet of capacity, making it the largest oven of its kind. Read More
Samsung French Door Refrigerator with 7-inch touchscreen
By Emily Clark
22:10 November 4, 2008 PST
The latest addition to its kitchen suite of appliances, Samsung’s new RFG299 French Door Refrigerator transforms the humble fridge into an interactive, digital lifestyle centerpiece. The RFG299 features a 7” LCD touch screen above the ice and water dispenser and boasts exceptional internal storage at 28.5 cu. ft. in a standard footprint. Read More
Six-bladed Rolling Razor ups the ante against sharp competition
By Loz Blain
21:29 November 2, 2008 PST
If you watch a lot of TV commercials, you could be forgiven for thinking that today's top white-coated science professionals have no higher goal than delivering you and I the perfect shaver. Gillette, having almost reached the logical conclusion of its "more blades = more sales" policy, currently touts the "Fusion Power Phenom" as its flagship stubble eliminator, packing no fewer than FIVE blades, one precision trimmer, 15 microfins and a battery-powered, microchip controlled micropulse generator that improves "razor glide." But Rolling Razor are fighting back with a rubber-grip ring mounted, double tilting headed monster featuring no less than SIX blades mounted in opposing directions so you can shave UP as well as DOWN. Read More
Mirror image: Specchio Wi-Fi digital photo frame
17:39 October 27, 2008 PDT
Parrot has collaborated with French artist Martin Szekely for its latest digital photo frame offering - Specchio. The frame sports a range of connection options including Wi-Fi but its unique feature remains hidden until it's switched off - rather than showing a blank screen the Specchio becomes a minimalist mirror. Read More
Sushi that you sit on
By Emily Clark
21:32 October 23, 2008 PDT
SUSHI is a multifunctional furniture design that doubles as both a sofa and a stool from Australian University student Winaya Suwarnaga Kamaputri. The elegantly simple and ergonomic concept uses a high gloss finished fiber glass base with fine fabric upholstery and its unique pattern was created using a laser cutting technique. Read More
WaterMill provides energy-efficient alternative to bottled H2O
By Emily Clark
17:05 October 20, 2008 PDT
The WaterMill from ElementFour is an atmospheric water collection device for the home that produces up to 12 liters of clean drinking water each day using only air. Once the drinking water is ready for consumption it can be fed directly to your sink, an existing bottled water system, your refrigerator, or a custom dispenser. Read More
Universal remote control with built-in WiFi, color screen
By Emily Clark
01:17 October 16, 2008 PDT
There’s no point hauling yourself off the couch to go outside only to find that the weather’s terrible, right? The Universal Smart Remote Control from Acoustic Research eliminates the guess work displaying up to date weather information, plus news, sports and TV listings using a built-in WiFi connection. Read More
Fingerfood: hold on to your hors d’oeuvres
By Emily Clark
23:04 October 12, 2008 PDT
This adorable idea takes the notion of “finger food” quite literally. A tiny plate attached to a ring that slips over your finger, the Fingerfood is the perfect way to balance your snack and glass of wine at a party. Read More
WoodStation: weather with a difference
By Emily Clark
18:37 October 12, 2008 PDT
The function is familiar, the form definitely isn't. WoodStation uses LEDs embedded just under its surface to transform what appears to be a solid block of timber into a digital weather station and clock. Read More
Portable party: the BoomCooler
By Emily Clark
21:02 October 9, 2008 PDT
Take a 36" x 18" x 17 cool-box, add 2 x 240 speakers, a 10” Subwoofer, a 4-Channel Amplifier, then throw in wheels and a towing handle and you have yourself an ideal summer entertainment solution with which to terrorize the neighborhood. Read More
Sonance updates outdoor speaker line
By Emily Clark
18:47 October 7, 2008 PDT
Here's one for those looking to entertain outdoors without upsetting their back-yard's natural ambiance. Sonance is expanding its Landscape Series of outdoor audio speakers with the addition of three new models. The new products include two smaller rock-like speakers and a larger boulder-like enclosure to house Sonance’s Mariner outdoor speakers. Read More
Get world wide weather via the world wide web
By Emily Clark
19:05 October 6, 2008 PDT
The Hama WDS-300 takes a conventional digital weather station format and links it to the Internet to enable easy access to weather forecast information from around the globe. The device offers one touch access to the weather details of your five favorite saved locations chosen from over 20,000 cities and data is synchronized every time you go online. Read More
Liebherr's ZKes 453 cigar storage unit
By Emily Clark
00:29 September 12, 2008 PDT
Storing and maturing cigars successfully relies heavily on the regulation of air temperature and humidity, and the new ZKes 453 humidor from Liebherr achieves this using a stainless steel housing lined with Spanish cedar wood that incorporates sensitive electronic control system in conjunction with temperature and humidity sensors, all operated via an electronic SoftTouch panel. Read More
New coffee machine joins expanded Kenwood kMix range
By Emily Clark
19:17 September 9, 2008 PDT
Kenwood has unveiled a new addition to its kMix range; the CM 020 Coffee Maker. As well as aiming to be a colorful complement to your kitchen decor, the new caffeine machine features an Opti-Temp function which uses a separately heatable hotplate to constantly maintain coffee at an optimal temperature. Read More
DVR now indispensable technology
By Jack Martin
03:53 September 4, 2008 PDT
September 3, 2008 Anyone who has ever owned a DVR will attest to the usefulness of the device, so we were interested to see the results of a new survey commissioned by global digital pay-TV technology solutions provider NDS. Though such surveys are often clearly contrived to generate obvious promotional fodder for the benefit of the commissioning company, the responses from the UK, US, Australia and Italy clearly demonstrate that the DVR has moved into the indispensable household technology category for those who have experienced it, and equally, that it improves family harmony. The vast majority of respondents would rather give up their landline phone, dishwasher, radio or MP3 player than their DVR due to how much it has improved their enjoyment of television. Read More
Grundig announces return of Audiorama spherical speakers
By Kyle Sherer
23:41 September 1, 2008 PDT
September 2, 2008 Grundig's disco-ball-esque speakers blasted funk in the 70s, and now the company is releasing a model for a new generation to enjoy. The Audiorama 9000 is set for an October release, for an RRP of €1100. The speaker set consists of two deep mid-range chassis, and incorporates a hyperbolically diverted treble system that provides clear 360 degrees surround sound without the “lattice fence effect”. Read More
Robert Ferry
- July 3, 2009 @ 15:42 UTC
