Bringing the work to workout October 22, 2007
Posted by alivelee in WTF.Tags: laptop, Steelcase, treadmill
3 comments
Who wouldn’t jump (or, um, walk really fast) at a chance to combine your two most favoritist activities, working and working out? Gadgets like this from Steelcase, which is rumored to sell for around $6,500, make me pine for the good ‘ol six day workweek. At that price, this might just be your [insert winter holiday here] gift from your boss. You know she’d love to bestow some pricey encouragement to convince you to never leave the office — ever. Or, perhaps this is Steelcase’s way to show you how to better enjoy that special “me time” you get to devote to your own health. You can destress from work by stressing about work! That wacky Steelcase, always thinking of my health.
Source: Crave
Sony’s HDMS-SiD digital photo album ready to bore you like home movies of old October 22, 2007
Posted by alivelee in Kinda cool, Personal rant/rave.Tags: digital photos, digital slideshow, overbearing matriarchs
2 comments
As an aunt to five precocious nieces and nephews born over the last eight years, I’ve been subjected to many a “must-see’ photo viewing opportunity. Digital cameras saved me from being watched while I from dutifully shuffled through 36 “soooo cute” photos in favor of being watched while I squint to view, oh, just 10 or so on a tiny camera screen. This little cube, available now from Sony for about $400, strikes terror into my heart. This digital photo album allows overbearing matriarchs everywhere to “archive, organize and enjoy slideshows of their digital photos. This compact device features an 80GB hard drive, connects to a high definition television via HDMI and showcases up to 50,000 high resolution photos.” My lord — 50,000. Okay, I’ll admit watching a photo slideshow on a TV screen is cool. But since there’s no accounting for what is “sooo cute” and what is simply the same shot of a kid wincing when he eats lemon/falls off bike/becomes frightened by Santa chronicled in multiple frames. And do you really want to see the entire archive of your friend’s trip to Spain? Seriously, do you? Remember when you used to fall asleep to home movies? Yeah, welcome to digital Ambien.
Spatubook October 17, 2007
Posted by alivelee in Kinda cool, WTF.Tags: cookbook, cooking, cooking utensils, kitchen design
4 comments
This is one savvy spatula! According to designerspotter.com, the only site I found that tried to explain this new gadget in English, this is coo.boo, a digital cookbook. It’s designed by Philipp Gilgen, of Basel, Switzerland and apparently it can call up recipes and display full-blown audiovisual cooking lessons. That’s right — it’s just meant to look like a spatula, but far as I can tell, you can’t cook with it. You can, however, wash it. (Don’t ask…translations aren’t my forte.) From what I gather, it connects to a wireless docking station, which syncs up with your computer to retrieve recipes, video, etc. I’m not sure this thing will ever hit the market (it won a “concept” award at the International Design Forum of Hanover), but it’s a pretty cool design.
Via International Design Forum of Hanover
and Philipp Gilgen
My cup rocketh over October 17, 2007
Posted by alivelee in Personal rant/rave, WTF.Tags: home accessories, speakers, steros
3 comments
Designers love to create things that look like others things, because, presumably, the things that are the things are bor-ing. It takes a copycat for people to realize, hey, that’s no beverage container — it’s a cup full of rock ‘n roll! This portable home audio set, called “Supper,” is made by Taguchi Craft, a respected Japanese audio design firm. The set debuted in London in September and word is the company plans to have the set on the market late 2007/early 2008. The gist is the bottle and cups are speakers, while the “serving dish” is base station. The wine bottle even doubles as a mic*, or at least it would at my house.
*While this is not true, if it did, it would have to be “triples” or something, as it’s already a serving multiple purposes. Shit, even faux wine bottles are multitasking these days.
Via Technabob
Water bed? Shower? Eh, who cares! October 15, 2007
Posted by alivelee in WTF.Tags: , shower, waterbed
5 comments
What I hate most about showering is all the upright-ness of the whole thing. I mean, what, we’re expected to lay down for hours at a time and then STAND, for crying out loud??? The Hoesch Water Lounge takes laziness to a whole new level. And what’s with the light? Is there suggestion we should be working while bathing, now, too?
Forget Venus/Mars stuff and just watch TV October 15, 2007
Posted by alivelee in Polls and surveys.Tags: gadgets, gender differences, gifts
4 comments
A September survey of 1,200 U.S. residents show that 3 out of 4 are wishing for a new gadget this holiday season. What’s tops? Both men and women ranked HDTV’s as their number one desire, followed by a Windows-based notebook, digital camera and Windows-based desktop. From there, tastes converged, which is just a slight foreshadowing of the anxious game of gift-upping you and your partner will enjoy yet again this holiday season.
Slim TVs need huge props, apparently October 15, 2007
Posted by alivelee in Personal rant/rave, WTF.Tags: flat screen TV, home entertainment
3 comments
That flat panel TV making your living room feel just a tad too spacious these days? Don’t worry – furniture designers are ready to reclutter. Several designers — apparently tired of non-inspired (and non-spending) people who just hang ‘em on a wall — are marketing furniture to take up the floor space once occupied by your massive TV.
Why isn’t your refigerator doing the laundry? October 15, 2007
Posted by alivelee in Kinda cool, WTF.Tags: coffee maker, espresso maker, refrigerator
2 comments
As a coffee drinker, and a rather enthusiastic one, I have to say I am intrigued by the concept of this refrigerator. But it seems to have self esteem issues. It isn’t satisfied with merely keeping things cold. It now wants to be a barista. Whirlpool’s out marketing its espresso refrigerator, and the company says it’ll be available in January 2008. Beside boring water and ice, it’s got a separate built-in that makes coffee AND espresso. Word is it might be huge in Britain. It’s a coffrigerator. Thoughts?
It’s not a home without a mouse gas chamber October 15, 2007
Posted by alivelee in WTF.Tags: death chamber, mousetrap
5 comments
In what has become perhaps my favorite new gadget of all month, at least of all day, a company called Rentokil has literally created a new kind of mousetrap. The kind that uses takes poisonous gas to combat the critters – AND sends you an ominous text message to assure you the hit has taken place. Its got some tricked out sensory-y thingy, and emits — what else? — carbon dioxide to suck the life outta those arrogant mice. And, via death text, lets you revel in the kill. Imagine…up-to-the-minute information on the slaughter of rodents in your home. You’ll breathe easier, and live a long, happy life. Right?
Hello world! October 15, 2007
Posted by alivelee in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
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