droolicious : gadgets

7 Days of Dad: Music to his Ears

JeanneSager — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:01:00 GMT

He ponied up for Mother's Day, so now it's time to get cracking on how to make Dad's day. Lucky for you, we were wondering too. So we're offering up seven days of what we'll be giving the guy who reads bedtime stories and changes stinky diapers.

For dads whose playlist can't handle one more "waaaah" or "why," we can help.

Help him get double duty out of his iPhone or iPod with the dexim docking station that hooks right into the TV for big-screen viewing and big sound listening of your downloaded podcasts and movies. One of the most affordable options out there at just $69.95, it was easy to set up and it's versatility means it will last (it works with most generations of the iPod or iPhone). With a wireless remote for easy control from his easy chair and a recharging option as part of the docking station, the dexim will let him share his favorites with his favorite little people.

Because sometimes, he just needs to block it all out, EarPollution headphones from iFrogz can help. He can design his own set (or you can plug his tastes into their site to make him a pair), but even better than the style is the sturdiness of these headphones. Made to be folded up and stowed in the bag, they can handle your toddler yanking them off of Dad's head to ask him a question or accidentally (we'll give them the benefit of the doubt) sitting on them. Loud enough to drown out the noise, with good quality sound and comfortable fit, iFrogz hops onto the list for Dad.

Check out more gifts for Dad this week on the 7 Days of Dad.

Kid-Tested Dad's Day Gift: Olympus Stylus TOUGH Cameras

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

ALL CAPS because they mean it, man, Olympus Stylus TOUGH 6000 and 8000 digital cameras come with the added benefit of marketing that the company isn't afraid to back up. In fact, in a recent series of videos, Olympus stood behind its claims by handing over its cameras to the ultimate torture-testers: a room full of daycare kids.

Dustproof, crushproof, freezeproof, shockproof and waterproof, Stylus TOUGH cameras can apparently also withstand some more uncommon hazards, such as ice cream and finger paint. Check out the complete series below (the "best of" clip is posted here), and grab one for Dad (they're also klutz-proof) starting at $299.99 at Olympus.com. [CNET]

Episode 1: Playgroundproof

Episode 2: Icecreamproof

Episode 3: Fingerpaintproof

Episode 4: Fishtankproof

Episode 5: Iglooproof

Episode 6: Tricycleproof

Episode 7: WaterTableproof

Episode 8: Castleproof

Episode 9: Danceproof

Colorful Automatic Tape Dispenser for the Craft Table

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Actually, I'd prefer to have one of these gadgets on my work desk, but considering its kid-appealing design and easy use, this colorful automatic tape dispenser makes even more sense on the craft table. Four AA batteries (not included) power the gadget, and the clear plastic case lets you marvel at the complexity behind its simplicity.

$28.99 from Perpetual Kid.

Taco Night Made Easier: Kapoosh Taco Tender

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

If you're running out of ways to make taco night more interesting, well, the Kapoosh Taco Tender won't get the kids to try that veggie chorizo you've been digging. The Taco Tender will, however, make it that much easier to dish out the same three ingredients without cracking your shells, and with space for three tacos, it even makes a clever serving tray.

$5.71 (regularly $6.99) at Amazon.

Jive Pod: Like Simon on Steroids

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I'm dating myself here, but I have many fond memories of Simon, the primitive electronic game that had you wildly following lighted musical pads in an effort to keep up with their bleeps and bloops. Hasbro's Jive Pod is sort of like that -- only the bleeps and bloops have been replaced by beats, breaks, booms, bangs and whatever other sounds you can pile into the thing.

Part MP3 accessory, part electronic game, Jive Pod gives you two playing options: You can follow the preset lighted pads, trying to keep up with the game's preloaded music; or if you really want to get daring, you can connect Jive Pod to your own MP3 player. Not only does the game act as a speaker for your tunes, but depending on how advanced your musical tastes, it can make for some pretty intense action on those lighted pads.

$7.50 (regularly $24.99) from Amazon.

PG Key Aims to Help Your PC Keep a 'G' Rating

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:30:00 GMT

We've given Babble readers plenty of compelling reasons to monitor kids' computer activity, but PG Key is different than some of the other policing tools we've seen in that it's, well, a key: Pull it out of your PC's USB port, and the kids can't access the computer anymore. Pop it back in, and it throws your computer into a safe-using/safe-browsing mode that looks to be more G-rated than PG. (Full disclosure: We haven't actually tried the thing yet.)

It seems like a great idea in concept: No bloated software installation to deal with; no tiresome content filters to manipulate (though you do have that option if you'd prefer to go beyond PG Key's built-in filtration). And while the Big Brother-esque recording feature -- up to 60 hours' worth of computer activity recorded for you to see -- might seem a little oppressive to some folks, when's the last time your jaw hit the floor after checking the kids' search history?

$59.95 (Windows only; Mac version en route) from PG Key.

To Market, To Market, With a Sweet Little Bag

JeanneSager — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:21:00 GMT

The best part of the green movement? There are finally fun bags for your kids to take to the store and help mom and dad with the shopping.

German company Reisenthel has been my favorite for organization for awhile now, and their Carrybag won points for propping up like the real grocery store baskets and folding back down to almost nothing when it's time to pack it back in the car. The tear-proof polyester is easy to wash and holds up to the gallon of milk, carton of eggs and everything the kids can grab off the shelves and throw in.

With spring upon us, it's the perfect size for the family picnic and for toting all the little goodies they collect from the woods back to the car.

And now our kids can tote a Carrybag too - Reisenthel's made a child sized version of the collapsible shopping basket, so they can carry them around the house, the store or bring their little toys along for a tea party in the woods.

Get the child size from Chic Bambini for $29.99 or an adult size for $39.99 from Amazon.

Make Cotton Candy from Non-Cotton Candy -- No Sugar Required

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Let me back up: This curious little gizmo from Japan will spin up a fresh batch of cotton candy in no time, but this ain't your grandparents' spun sugar we're talking about.

Officially known as Ame de Wataame ("Cotton Candy from Candy"), the machine morphs the hard candy of your choice into cotton form, even if you prefer the sugar-free variety. Simply drop your candy into the top loader, turn on the heater, and let the sweet treat spin its way around your stick. (Gross double entendre not intended.)

Or, you know, drop $3 at the county fair for the same experience, minus the cleanup.

$198 from Japan Trend Shop.

Mother’s Day Gift Alert: Design-Your-Own Flip MinoHD Camcorder (including Sanrio!)

Heather Kuldell — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:03:00 GMT

Chris shared his Flip-camcorder crush before and now I’m joining the fan club. The latest version of the line of tiny camcorders records in high definition. That’s right: It can capture the cute, gooey, silly and otherwise memorable moments of your kids’ lives in remarkable detail. Oh, but there’s more.

While Flip MinoHD ($229) offers many easy-to-use features — the flip-out USB connector, instant upload to many video-sharing sites like YouTube, FlipShare editing software and compatibility with iTunes, iPhoto and iMovie — you can also customize each one. I heart the incredible selection of Sanrio characters from Hello Kitty, Badtz Muru and even discontinued characters like Keroppi and TuxedoSam. If Sanrio’s not your thing, they have an abundance of other choices from textures, patterns, matadors, animals, ninjas or a ton of other artwork. The fee for this extra touches? Nothing. The MinoHD will still cost $229 and will ship in one day when in stock.

Little Sleep Machine, for When You Need a Little Sleep

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:30:00 GMT

I like the idea of the Little Sleep Machine, and not just because the gadget photographs so nicely. The preloaded audio player comes with three hours of soothing music, all of it loaded with natural delta-wave frequencies. As with some other audio sleep aids we've seen, your brainwaves are supposed to lock onto the delta waves and follow them into Snooze-ville.

Unfortunately there's no way to sample the music quality online, so depending on your tastes, there's always the potential that you'll get it preloaded with the sonic equivalent of Chinese water torture. Toddlers, however, are usually less discriminating about their tunes, so considering you can hook it up to speakers, I'd give the Little Sleep Machine a whirl in the kids' room. Especially since it means I can keep my iPod to myself.

$34.95 from Montgomery Ward, which I honestly didn't know still existed before stumbling across this one online. [The Awesomer]

TV Digital Photo Frame: Small Screen, Big Multitasking

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:30:00 GMT

No, you're not looking at the latest Disney-branded kids' TV: While this cute little digital frame from Japanese designer Greenhouse can handle some video files (XviD and mjpeg formats only), the 3"x5" screen and SD/SDHC-compatible memory slot team up to let you stream family photos all day -- at least when you're plugged into AC power.

Curiously, the frame also doubles -- and triples -- as a calendar and alarm clock, and since the instruction manual is in Japanese, many of us won't be able to figure out either function in the first place.

$99.99 at Gizmine.

Cool Concepts: Stork, a Portable Ultrasound Machine

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Though it's not yet on the market, this concept for a portable ultrasound machine has our attention both for its eye-catching design and its practical, parent-friendly features.

The brainchild (yuk yuk) of Bay Area firm Bridge Design, the Stork reduces the complexity of an ultrasound to something expectant parents can manage with minimal effort, while its clever design touches -- a removable second screen, "cup holders" for gel and probes, and the ability to send baby pictures via email -- also keep easy usability in mind.

Check it out at Medgadget, or visit Bridge Design's site for a look at everything the firm has up its sleeve.

Got a Science Kid? Make Your Own Nintendo DS 'Light'

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Sure, you'll need to have a functioning Nintendo DS Lite to work from, but it's just a minor expense from there to make your own solar-powered DS "light" using these free guidelines from Instructables.com.

The brainchild of a 14-year-old gamer from Texas, the DS "light" utilizes the DS' generous surface area to draw a constant trickle of power from the sun, virtually guaranteeing that you'll never need to use your wall or car charger again.

Nice work, kid -- don't ever let 'em tell you games rot your brain. [The Awesomer]

Drool-Worthy Glam Gadget for Mom

Cathy Hale — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Dads, want to knock her socks off with a Valentine's Day gift that keeps giving this year? Well, this gorgeous digital clutch might just do the trick.

This unmistakably chic HP has been featured in Elle, Decor, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire and many more. It's the HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition and to quote Paris Hilton, it's "hot!" The eight-color Peony design has a matching sleeve for easy, safe and stylish transport. You can't beat the 10.1" display; just 2.45 lbs and a mere 1" thick. It's $800 until February 14th. Come on, isn't mommy worth it?

LEGO Digital Box Brings 3D Awesomeness to German Toy Aisles

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Sure, you can check out the photos on the box to get some idea of how your fully built LEGO toy will look, but the LEGO Digital Box takes the experience of previewing your toy to a whole new level. Wave your LEGO box's barcode in front of the screen to see an animated 3D model of the contents, fully constructed and ready to roll.

Unfortunately for the rest of us, the LEGO Digital Box hasn't yet made it outside of Germany, but we're staying optimistic that it'll replace those LEGO endcaps in U.S. Target stores by year's end. [Cherryflava]

End Monitor Insecurity: Swann ADW-330 FamilyCam

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:00:00 GMT

If you're worried about the kids' sleeping habits being broadcast through neighbors' monitors (and vice versa), Swann's new wireless ADW-330 FamilyCam promises to clamp down on stray signals in the nursery.

The color monitor can transmit digital video from up to 165 feet away, and its swiveling camera kicks into night-vision mode as soon as light levels drop. And, thanks to its encrypted point-to-point wireless signal, the only kid you'll see on the viewfinder is your own.

$199.99 (in black or white) from Swann.

Turn Your Wii Remote Into a Crossbow (Without Killing Anyone)

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:00:00 GMT

As shooting games go, Link's Crossbow Training is as tame as they come -- essentially a 21st-century version of the old Duck Hunt so many of us used to geek out on as kids, with a Legend of Zelda theme thrown in for added nostalgia value. Anyway, the game already comes bundled with the Wii Zapper controller, but spend a few minutes with this crossbow-replica laser zapper, and you may be ready to make an upgrade.

Compatible with Link's Crossbow Training (which, again, is OK for kids) and other shooting games (which often aren't), the crossbow features an open slot for your Wii remote: Just plug it in, point and shoot -- and be the envy of every geek within firing distance.

$24.99 from SourcingMap.

Mind-Controlled Games: The Force May Be With You This Fall

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:30:00 GMT

You won't be able to whack it with a lightsaber (yet), but when Uncle Milton Industries' Jedi Force Trainer hits stores this fall, you will be able to use the toy to flex your real-life Star Wars muscles. And you literally won't need to lift a finger to do it.

To play, you strap on a wireless headset that transmits to the toy's remote tower and converts your brain waves into action (much like a grade-school version of an EEG). Eventually, just like Luke Skywalker did under Obi-Wan and Yoda's tutelage, you learn to harness the "force" within your noggin enough to make the tower's sphere move up and down inside its clear plastic tube. Sounds fun, if only for a moment -- we imagine the novelty could wear off rather quickly.

Mattel also plans to roll out its version of the same technology in an upcoming game called Mind Flex. In this one, however, you focus your brain waves on a tiny fan that moves a ball through a tabletop obstacle course. Look for it this fall, priced at around $80, while the Jedi Force Trainer is estimated to come in somewhere between $90 and $100.

Both games are the latest announcements in what seems to be a growing mind-control gaming trend -- check out Engadget's coverage of the similar (if higher-tech) gizmos Mindset and Epoc for the skinny on those. [USA Today, Engadget]

Capture the Kids In a Fisheye Without Putting Down Your iPhone

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:00:00 GMT

If you snap the majority of your family photos on an iPhone, USB Fever has a literal handful of detachable lenses that can dramatically expand the types of shots you're getting.

The wide-angle lens (pictured above) provides 0.67 wide zoom and Super Macro capabilities for ultra-close shots, and it's easily swapped out for the 170-degree fisheye lens and 2.0X telephoto lens via an adhesive backing and magnetic ring.

If you're not an iPhone 3G user, don't give up hope: All three lenses also attach magnetically to a number of different metal devices, including digital cameras and laptops.

$16.99 each from USB Fever. [Via iPhone Alley]

Say This 3 Times Fast: PalPoDzzz Portable LED Nightlights

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Their name may look a little unwieldy, but PalPoDzzz portable LED nightlights promise smooth sailing in the nursery. Each casts a warm, soft ambient light that draws minimal electrical current, and if the power ever goes out, you can detach the main character -- ranging from the ladybug pictured here (link below) to a retro-looking rocketship -- to use it as a flashlight.

$19.99 from the Sylvania Online Store.

Microwave Gadget Cooks S'Mores Indoors

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Who says you need warm weather and a campfire to make perfect s'mores? This kooky-looking gadget cooks up the summertime treat in your microwave: Just fill the inner chamber with water, set up your marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers beneath the two arms, and nuke it for 30 seconds. Our only regret is that it makes just two s'mores at a time.

$7.19 (normally $8.99) from Amazon. [Via Outblush]

Kim the Robot Clock Scares the Living Daylight Saving Time Out of Us

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Dunno about you, but if I were a youngster still learning to tell time, I'd want this talking robot clock situated somewhere other than above my headboard. Still, if your kiddoes can't yet read numbers but are dying to know whether it's time to get up, Kim the Robot could be a handy gadget to have around -- at least in daylight. Press her nose and her eyes light up as she delivers the current time in a robotic voice.

$50 from Urban Outfitters [Via Chip Chick]

Godfather Spaghetti Measurer Doles Out Servings You Can't Refuse

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Nothing says, "Don't @#$% with me while I'm cooking," like a pasta measurer shaped like brass knuckles, eh? Built to measure the recommended serving size for your own mob, the Godfather Pasta Measuring Device lets you adjust from "Child" to "Triplets" to a whole famiglia, but as far as using it to fend off attackers goes, don't get your hopes up: It's way too thin to do any real damage.

$50 from Charles & Marie. [Via Uncrate]

Baby's First MP3 Player

Chris Ford — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:01:00 GMT

There are a lot of crazy baby products out there, and this one is, well, borderline. If you don't want to subject your iPod to your toddler (but you still think it might be fun to get an MP3 player for your one year old) then you should probably check out the SweatPea3 MP3 player.

The SweetPea3 MP3 player is made of FDA food-grade rubber, has three buttons for kids to use to control it as well as a secret button so parents can set all the specifications (most importantly volume). It's got 1GB of memory, a headphone jack (for the kids when they get older) and room for three programmable playlists.

SweetPea3 MP3 Player, $59.99 from ThinkGeek.com

Ion Drum Rocker Goes From Rock Band 2 to Real-World Drum Lessons

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:30:00 GMT

If your family takes its Rock Band 2 seriously, it's time to invest in some serious hardware. The Ion Drum Rocker Premium Drum Set (available now for Xbox 360, with a PS2 and PS3 version on the way) features customizable, reinforced hardware that can take whatever abuse you and your miniature Keith Moons can unleash on it.

Granted, it's a little expensive -- nearly twice as much as a complete Rock Band 2 bundle, in fact -- but if your kids are interested in learning drums somewhere other than in a video game, the Ion can actually save you money in that area (real kits, after all, don't come cheap): Just swap out the Xbox 360 controller for an Alesis drum-brain module, and you've got a real electronic drum kit.

$299.99 from Amazon.