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Jude Garvey
Drink No More: stop your pets from drinking toilet water
By Jude Garvey
19:55 October 19, 2009 PDT
Household pets like to drink water from the toilet because it is cool and readily available. However, it's also full of bacteria and toilet cleaner residue, both of which can make your pet ill. And you don’t really want them near your face when you know where their head has just been! Drink No More is an alarm that is on alert when the toilet lid is up and sounds warning beeps when a pet or person approaches the bowl. Read More
The Finger Hinge prevents fingers being caught in the door
By Jude Garvey
11:20 October 8, 2009 PDT
Children and adults can suffer painful injuries, or even risk amputation, from getting their fingers caught between a door and the door jamb. A unique door-hinge design from an Australian inventor could prevent these injuries from occurring. The Finger Hinge is a full-length door hinge that completely eliminates the gap between the door and the wall and therefore removes any possibility of getting crushed fingers when the door is closing. Read More
Turn heads at the yacht club with Alfra Vico's Marino 52
By Jude Garvey
19:39 October 7, 2009 PDT
A new yacht design by Barrett Prelogar and Franco Marino Cagnina blends extravagant features with all the functionality you would expect from a modern-day watercraft. The Alfra Vico Marino 52 is set to be the ideal boat for a weekend getaway - able to accommodate about 15 people for a day trip - or sleep the owners in luxurious five-star comfort. It features a captain’s station with unobstructed 360-degree views, self-contained bedroom and custom-built-kitchen, as well as purpose-build patent-pending electronic control systems and other essential functional components. Read More
Turn up the heat (literally) with Columbia’s Bugaboot Thermo Hiking Boots
By Jude Garvey
21:19 October 6, 2009 PDT
Winter sports offer all manner of exhilarating and exhausting possibilities - from negotiating seriously difficult trails, to mountain trekking or adrenaline-producing snowmobiling. But what if your boots aren’t up to the job, and you have to confess to your fellow hikers that you can’t go on because your feet are too cold? Enter Columbia’s Bugaboot Thermo Hiking Boots - the first hiking boots to integrate a three-temperature heating system to provide protection from the cold…and scornful looks from your hiking buddies. Read More
EcoATM pays you for your used mobile phone
By Jude Garvey
17:38 October 6, 2009 PDT
Even though many people are aware of the importance of recycling their mobile phones, it is reported that only about ten percent of used phones actually make it into a recycling program. Would people be more diligent with mobile phone recycling if it was not only convenient, but lucrative as well? An EcoATM machine currently being trialed in Nebraska, accepts your used mobile, scans it to assess its market value and rewards you with a retail coupon or gift card. Read More
Brinno's Digital Peephole Viewer lets you see who's knocking at your door
By Jude Garvey
00:08 October 6, 2009 PDT
If you enjoy your privacy and like to keep unexpected guests at bay, then a new security device from Brinno might be just what you need. Simply press a button and the Digital Peephole Viewer gives you a clear, wide view of your visitor via an LCD screen. Another press and you can zoom in for a closer peek. It gets better though – unlike regular peepholes, this one doesn’t darken whilst viewing – so your visitor will never know you can see them. Read More
Populous unveils stunning design for 2014 Winter Olympic Stadium
By Jude Garvey
10:37 October 1, 2009 PDT
Global design company Populous has been selected to design the main stadium for the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Sochi, Russia. It will seat up to 40,000 people and is expected to incorporate a number of eco-friendly features. Echoing the striking Beijing Olympic swimming venue, the exterior of the stadium will be sheathed in a crystalline skin which will be translucent during the day and come alive at night with the color and spectacle we have come to expect from modern-day Olympics. Read More
Belkin's Conserve Surge helps reduce power consumption
By Jude Garvey
00:18 October 1, 2009 PDT
We first looked at Belkin’s Conserve Surge protector early last year. The company has just released a new version that includes a clever automatic timer to control power usage. The surge protector has eight outlets – two keep PCs and critical devices permanently on, while the other six outlets are automatically turned off after 11 hours. This allows you to power down non-essential office equipment at night and on weekends, saving valuable energy and money. Read More
HP’s SkyRoom makes videoconferencing easy (and cheap)
By Jude Garvey
01:57 September 30, 2009 PDT
At the risk of sounding antiquated, it doesn’t seem so long ago that a face-to-face business meeting involved one or both parties having to jump on an airplane. Teleconferencing helped a little but video conferencing certainly changed the way we do business - although the expense often meant that it was used sparingly. HP has just introduced new videoconferencing software that it claims is not only high-definition and offers live-real-time collaboration, it is also affordable and has no subscription fees. Read More
Cocoon meat and fish 'maker' wins Electrolux Design Lab 2009
By Jude Garvey
15:24 September 27, 2009 PDT
A conceptual cooker that “makes” meat and fish has taken out first prize in the Electrolux Design Lab 2009 competition. Cocoon uses radio frequency identification (RFID) signals to identify muscle cells in meat and fish dishes and "grow" food in a process described as being similar to making popcorn in a microwave. Read More
Mima's award-winning Kobi stroller converts to a carrycot in a flash
By Jude Garvey
01:30 September 25, 2009 PDT
If you're planning to have more than one child, it’s good to know that designers are producing baby equipment that can evolve with the needs of a growing family. Mima’s Kobi is a stroller that has been designed with the family in mind. Not only is it stunningly stylish, it has a patented 'carrycot inside' system - allowing easy conversion from seat to carrycot, and back again. Read More
Innespace's Seabreacher: cross between a dolphin and a PWC
By Jude Garvey
22:25 September 24, 2009 PDT
Gizmag covered this amazing dolphin-like watercraft almost three years ago. At that stage, the Seabreacher - a unique submersible vessel - was just a prototype. Now, you can own your own, make like Flipper, and dive, roll and jump while staying warm and dry in the comfort of the sealed cockpit. Oh, that is, if you have a cool USD$50,000 burning a hole in your wallet. Read More
Water found on the moon – what will it mean for the future?
By Jude Garvey
22:18 September 24, 2009 PDT
Newspapers and websites around the world are buzzing with the news that water and hydroxyl (hydrogen and oxygen) molecules have been found in the polar regions of the moon. NASA announced yesterday that instruments aboard three separate spacecraft revealed that water molecules were present, although in relatively small amounts. It was also discovered that hydroxyl also existed in the lunar soil. Although the amount of water found is small, it is exciting in terms of potential for the possibilities of establishing a lunar base and even for creating spacecraft fuel. Read More
A pet collar that talks and keeps fleas at bay?
By Jude Garvey
21:58 September 23, 2009 PDT
It’s common knowledge that owning a pet can have many health benefits. A pet can reduce stress and anxiety, help to combat loneliness and even encourage you to exercise. So it’s no wonder that we want to keep them safe from harm. This pet collar from Riddex apparently protects your furry friend in two ways – if your pet goes missing, it literally “tells” people how to contact you and it also uses safe ultrasonic pulses to repel fleas. Read More
My Phones volume-reducing headphones for kids
By Jude Garvey
21:54 September 23, 2009 PDT
There’s something about seeing ear buds in young ears that makes me nervous - not just because of concerns about damage to the ear canal, but also because there’s no way of telling how high the volume is turned. MyPhones headphones from Griffin Technology are set to a maximum of 85 decibels - so even though you can’t always control what your kids are listening to, at least you know there won’t be long-term damage to their hearing. Read More
Kid Kustoms' Roddler stroller converts into a cool trike
By Jude Garvey
02:19 September 23, 2009 PDT
The Kid Kustoms' Roddler stroller has been wowing parents for a few years now - not only because of its customizable hot rod look but also its price tag – from USD $2,500. Now the company has released a trike conversion kit that replaces the front end of the stroller to create a new set of wheels for your trendy tot. Read More
Wall-mounted bar for cool cocktail parties
By Jude Garvey
17:24 September 22, 2009 PDT
If you’re the type of entertainer who likes to make their guests green with envy, then this wall-mounted bar is sure to get your attention. This cooler-than-cool concept is smolderingly good-looking with its dark, smooth drinks cabinetry. The stunning silver ice dispenser and suspended drinks tray just add to the appeal. Don't you wish you could get your hands on one immediately? Read More
World's first stainless steel baby bottles – safe, strong and sustainable
By Jude Garvey
03:09 September 22, 2009 PDT
Given the concerns and controversy about plastic baby bottles containing bisphenol A (BPA) and other toxins, it was only a matter of time that an alternative product was sourced to manufacture baby bottles. OrganicKidz stainless steel baby bottles are free from BPA, PVC and Phtalates and are durable, unbreakable and 100% recyclable. Read More
Logitech's portable lapdesk - if you can't live without your mouse
By Jude Garvey
20:20 September 21, 2009 PDT
There's no denying that laptops have made life on-the-go a lot easier. However, if you're used to the ease and comfort of a mouse rather than a touchpad, you might be interested in a new product announced by Logitech. Complete with built-in mouse pad, the portable lapdesk is designed to allow you to use a mouse whenever and wherever you use your laptop. Read More
Pong iPhone case cuts mobile phone radiation
By Jude Garvey
17:26 September 20, 2009 PDT
Pong Research Company has released a new cell phone case that promises to reduce radiation from the phone’s antenna. The Pong iPhone case covers the cell phone in a tight silicone skin. This skin contains a proprietary technology module that is aligned with the phone’s antenna and attracts the radiative energy up and away from the user’s head. The user will still maintain a full-strength signal without compromising the cell phone’s battery life or functionality. Read More
The multimedia Athena sofa
By Jude Garvey
17:19 September 20, 2009 PDT
Call me crazy, but isn’t a sofa meant to be a place of relaxation? Apparently, it’s not any more. Swiss-based Artanova has created a modern, upholstered sofa that incorporates multimedia into its design. Featuring creamy upholstery and stainless steel feet, this is one stylish-looking piece of furniture on its own, but it also boasts a computer, wireless MP3 player and iPod/iPhone dock, as well as subwoofer and loudspeakers. Read More
Nanostructure films for more efficient solar cells and better eyeglasses
By Jude Garvey
00:08 September 20, 2009 PDT
Nanotechnology applications are increasingly diverse - ranging from being used to acquire fingerprints, to their use in the field of spintronics or even to help in the fight against cancer. Now a team of chemical engineers at Oregon State University has invented new technology that allows them to coat various surfaces with “nanostructure films”, which could be used to make cheaper, more effective eyeglasses and eventually, more efficient solar cells. Read More
Bloom’s Fresco Fiamma – Ferrari red, funky and fabulous
By Jude Garvey
06:32 September 17, 2009 PDT
The design team that brought us the Alma crib has taken their Fresco baby chair to the furniture equivalent of an auto-mechanic shop, lacquering it in new-car-quality high-gloss red and adding an extra design function. The limited edition Fresco Fiamma was rolled out by the four designer dads behind Bloom to celebrate the company’s third birthday. The global production has been limited to 1,100 units that come individually inscribed with a unique model number. Read More
NAVTEQ study shows traffic-enabled navigation saves drivers four days a year
By Jude Garvey
01:47 September 16, 2009 PDT
It wasn’t so long ago that most of us relied on the humble road map to get us from A to B, but with the advent of GPS navigation systems, our map-reading skills are rarely required. There is no denying the usefulness of GPS systems, particularly if you have a tendency to get lost, but do they actually save you time? According to a recent proprietary research study, if you have a traffic-enabled GPS and spend most of your time on busy roads, you could save yourself up to four days a year. Read More
Pet's Eye View Camera - see what your furry companions get up to during the day
By Jude Garvey
19:14 July 12, 2009 PDT
Some people are so fond of their pets they want to know what they are up to every minute of the day. Maybe it’s because of those guilty looks you get when you arrive home unexpectedly… you know that wide-eyed, “I wasn’t doing anything wrong” look? The Pet’s Eye View Camera could help solve these little mysteries - it's a lightweight digital camera that attaches to your cat or dog’s collar and takes 640 x 480 photos at five, ten or 15 minute intervals. Read More
Sam Munro
- November 26, 2009 @ 08:08 UTC
