AirDrives Earphone Review

June 24th
Post a Comment

Post by Charles

airdrivesI feel the need to start off this post by disclosing the fact that I am an audiophile of sorts and I did not get a warm and fuzzy feeling about the idea behind this product right away. That being said, it turns out the people over at InAir Technologies are on to something here. How do I know, you ask? Just the other day I walked out of my downtown office building only to see an unsuspecting guy listening to his iPod while riding a bicycle, cruising up to an intersection where I could clearly see an SUV quickly approaching with the driver on a cellphone. I wanted to yell “look out” but what good would that have done?

The driver of the SUV slammed on the brakes but it was too late, the man on the bike went for a nice ride right up onto the hood but, only for a second, before sliding down onto the ground. I stood there in awe of the fact that they were both completely clueless and I remember thinking how easily this whole thing could have been avoided. It couldn’t have been more perfect timing as I knew the AirDrives were at home ready for the test.

Now that I have bored you with my ”you had to be there” story let me cut to the chase. Unlike traditional ear buds which fit snugly into your ear to block outside sounds, the AirDrives comfortably wrap around the back of your ear while hovering right outside of the ear canal. This means that you still get plenty of volume all while allowing you to stay aware of everything around you. If the guy on the bike would have only known!

The best way I could possibly explain the sensation is that it sounds as if someone is constantly following you around with a great quality boombox. Not only are these earphones perfect for busy urban areas but they also have a children’s version made with your kids health in mind. These earphones do not directly channel the music right into your child’s head (or adults for that matter) thus preserving their young developing sense of hearing.

The comfortable and seemingly durable design has a frequency range of 20-20,000 Hz and sensitivity of 98db at the source with 80db at the inner ear. The four foot cable also has a convenient volume control built right in, making volume adjustment on the fly a lot easier than reaching into your pocket or band to fumble with a digital wheel volume.

The child version retails at around $49 while the adult version is a cool $79. Check out AirDrives.com for more info.

Squeezebox Duet Network Music System

May 23rd
Post a Comment

Post by Charles

logitech squeezebox duetForget about everything you have ever known about home audio entertainment, the Squeezebox Duet Network Music System is here. If you are a true fan of music you are probably sick of downloading mp3’s at a buck a pop and regular old commercial filled FM radio… especially if you know about all Internet radio has to offer. With quality Internet streams from the the likes of Sirius and Slacker the Logitech Squeezebox is all you will ever need for home audio entertainment.

With it’s sleek interface and stylish looks Logitech’s Squeezebox Duet will allow you to access millions of songs from Internet radio or even your own play lists. All of the music is CD quality, and controlled through the easy to operate handheld device. The best part of it all? With one system, Logitech gives every member of the house the flexibility to listen to their own music.

Configuring this personal DJ could not be more simple. All you have to do is grab one little firmware download, setup your network information, and optionally enter your login information for your favorite user service. It should be noted that Logitech has relationships with the Internets top music providers such as; Radio IO, Radio Time, Live 365, SHOUTcast, Sirius, Pandora, Rhapsody, Slacker, MP3tunes Music Locker, Live Music Archive, and LAST FM.

At $399 this product may seem a bit pricey but, with all of that money you would have otherwise spent on CD’s or .mp3’s this gadget will more than pay for itself.

[ Via SiriusBuzz ]

Revenge Against Annoying Neighbors

April 10th
1 Comment

Post by Charles

revenge CDDoesn’t it always seem like when you need a good nights sleep the most, someone is going out of their way to keep you awake? If you have ever been plagued by noisy roommates or neighbors than the Revenge CD is a must have.

With the new Revenge CD you will finally be able to prove that sometimes two wrongs do in fact make a right. For just $7.99 you will be armed with ear piercing tracks like drill, train, orgasm, screams, high heels, cat in heat, door banging, violin practice, garbage truck, and much more. They even throw in a pair of earplugs to make sure you don’t have to be subjected to the same torture as the people around you.

Phantom Keystroker

March 31st
Post a Comment

Post by Charles

phantom keystrokerThe new Phantom Keystroker from ThinkGeek is the latest and greatest advancement in office prank warfare which is guaranteed to drive your unsuspecting coworkers crazy. All you have to do is simply plug in the tiny little circuit board and sit back while it sporadically makes random mouse movements and types out odd garbage text and phrases.

The beauty of the Phantom Keystroker is that it needs no additional software or drivers and it runs on any operating system which means you can be in and out of your target cube in seconds. The stealth like gadget is also equipped with a simple jumper setting that allows you to choose between either keyboard garbage typing, annoying mouse movements or both. You can also turn up the torture level by setting a longer event duration which will have your unsuspecting mark thinking they are losing their minds.

It might be a little late for the perfect April fools prank but, those are way too predictable anyway. For just under 25 bucks you can pick one up today for a boring rainy Spring day.

USB Webcam Rocket Launcher

March 16th
1 Comment

Post by Charles

usb webcam rocket launcherThanks to a giant leap in technology, old-school point and click USB missile firing systems will never be the same. The new USB Webcam Rocket Launcher will now give pranksters the newly added feature of being able to control remote missile launching systems via webcam anywhere with internet access.

With the use of MSN messenger you will be able to remotely assess the landscape of your firing station and unleash havoc from the cozy comfort of your workstation. Want to up the ante? Grab one of these USB gadgets for you and a friend so that you can video chat, share files, and fire missiles at each others heads!

The USB Rocket Launching System also doubles as a regular old webcam so, if your already in the market why no take it to the next level for just $59.99?

FreeLoader Solar Charger - Power in your Pocket

Post a Comment

Post by Meghan Scott

Granted, solar chargers are just about everywhere these days, but how about one that doesn’t cost upwards of $100 and can still jack in to all of your mobile goodies? Get excited for the FreeLoader Solar Charger, able to soak up the power of the sun and store it for up to 3 months in a pack small enough to fit in your pocket. Whether you’re off the grid completely or just absentminded and in need of a power kick, a solar charger is one step up from an emergency battery since you’ll still not need an outlet when even that winds down — just pray for clear skies.

The lightweight aluminum FreeLoader unfolds to reveal two solar panels and comes with a USB charging cable, plus eleven standard adapters for your major cell phone, digital camera, PDA, GPS, and MP3 gadgets — and if the standard set doesn’t fit your device, there are extra accessories available to fill out your set (like an iPod adapter — now you can take long roadtrips and not worry about running out of tunes after 8 hours). Available for $49.95 from firebox.com, the FreeLoader is a great add to your power arsenal without breaking the bank.

Crocs Cell Phone Cases

March 5th
Post a Comment

Post by Meghan Scott

Crocs are one of those seriously divisive brands — you either love ‘em or hate ‘em, but either way you fall you’re probably going to laugh when your dad shows up for dinner at a nice restaurant wearing black socks and bright blue Crocs. And now they’re releasing the perfect accessory for that fashion-blind weirdo in your life: a matching Crocs Cell Phone Case.

Because why not.

With all the crazy colors and jibbitz (we actually had to look that one up) standard to the Crocs line, the new cases are expected to hit the market on May 1. No word on pricing, but if you’ve already thrown down for a pair of shoes you’ll probably be ok with the pricepoint for the case.

Ripserver — All Your Music Are Belong To Us

March 4th
Post a Comment

Post by Meghan Scott

Heads up, Apple — there’s a new cowboy in town, and its name is Ripserver. Taking an Apple-ish design nod for all things sleek and shiny, this new unit (set to officially release on March 1 but available for pre-order now) lets you store, rip and serve in one tight little package. With an aim to make the process of ripping all of your CDs as simple as possible, Ripserver is a true standalone piece of conversion storage — no monitor, no keyboard, just plug the unit into your network connection and your files are at your fingertips, quickly converted by inserting your CDs into the slot loading drive for a full disc rip in minutes (you can even adjust the MP3 options to set your own bit rate).

The embedded operating platform runs on Linux with an integrated UPnP server and USB access for direct access from computer to peripheral and back again. Ripserver is available in two different storage sizes — both 500GB and 1TB — and is compatible with any media player or device that can network share. Reserve yours now for £599 - £699 directly from the manufacturer’s website.

Pop Up Bottle Opener

March 3rd
1 Comment

Post by Meghan Scott

Merging a great love for imported beers and a delight in confounding friends, the Pop Up Bottle Opener is a surefire way to throw one more wacky looking gadget into your kitchen that’ll impress your guests. Designed by Giovanni Alessi Anghini, the opener seems like nothing more than a stainless steel egg sitting on your countertop til you plunk it atop your capped bottle and press down — the interior workings transform that pressure to mechanically lift the cap from the bottle and hold it tight with a magnet, thus magically lifting free of the bottle with the cap seemingly disappeared. We’re a sucker for fantastically functioning design, and this doesn’t fail to disappoint. Available for pre-order at Unica for $47.

Wellness Shower Filter - Cleaner than Ever

February 19th
Post a Comment

Post by Meghan Scott

wellness-shower-filter.jpgWhile the world soldiers on to treat and purify our tap water, let’s face it — they’re not doing a real bang-up job. If they were, we’d all still be drinking straight from the faucet instead of mounting water filters and buying bottled H20. But you’ve noticed the difference, don’t like the way that tap water looks or tastes, and have decided to do right by your body and consume the cleanest water possible. Here’s the thing: your hair and skin are just as delicate as the rest of you and would LOVE the same level of TLC.

The Wellness Shower Filter is touting itself as an “anti-aging shower system”, but that’s not the real selling point: it’s that the same sort of system you’ve got hanging from your kitchen sink can now take out all of the harsh toxins from your shower, too — the chlorine, harsh metals and free radicals that dry out your skin and can even cause breakouts. The filter even goes one better by putting a little love back IN to the water — utilizing rare volcanic minerals, water is effectively “softened” and can help contribute to a more hydrating experience by increasing the residual moisture content of your skin and hair. Plus this purified water contributes to reducing the bacteria and fungal growth in your shower, so it may even speed up your bathroom cleaning. At $249 it’s a bit of an investment, but for healthy skin — and maybe a few less bottles of moisturizing lotion in your lifetime — it seems a decent trade off.