Game Strap: Conceptual gadget

For all those train commuters, the journey does not have to be totally boring. Why not play games on the Game Strap, attached to the top hand railing? “Play a game with one hand?” you may ask. The answer is: yes!

The Game Strap is essentially a gaming console that also serves as a holding strap, and will be a great way to pass away time on a long commute. The idea is to have buttons on the side for the controls.

This is a concept for now but one thing is sure: if this does go into production people will be fighting over the space to stand on the train instead of gunning for a seat.

Pinoky

Imagine your kid playing with their favourite teddy bear, Mr Snuggles, who can move on his own? With the Pinoky, they can! This gadget may be gimmicky but kids all over the world will want one this Christmas because there is no greater joy than bringing stuffed animals to life, a la Mary Poppins.

The Pinoky is a simple contraption: it is a claw with a magnetic grip which has the power to shake the part of the stuffed animal it is attached to!

It can be programmed to record a certain movement. There is a remote control to action the motion, as well as an accelerator to speed up the motion. And voila, Mr Snuggles literally comes to life. Just grand!

Desktop Cup/Mug Warmer

Does this scenario sound all too familiar? You’re at the office and decide that you need that pick-me-up cup of coffee in the afternoon or just to kick-start your morning. You get back to your desk but just as you sit down you either a) get dragged into a meeting or b) get stuck into replying to an urgent host of emails. The result: you’re left with a cold cuppa joe. We all know that heating cup coffee in the microwave makes it taste beyond revolting.

With the USB Cup Warmer, the above situation can become a thing of the past. Your cup of coffee (or any hot beverage for that matter) will remain hot until you are ready to take those sips. Simply plug it into a spare USB port on your computer and you’re all set!

This is surely the perfect gift this Christmas for so many office warriors out there.

Leapfrog Explorer

The perfect-Christmas-present-for-our-kids pressure is on! Would you like to be hoisted to “Most Awesome Coolest Dad” for the year? I would! After learning that the Leapfrog Explorer won Toy of the Year Award in 2011, I figured this is my winning ticket.

The Leapster Explorer is an extraordinary new learning experience that encourages children to discover something new every day with endless ways to play and learn from games, e-Books, videos and online play to customisable learning skills and more.

It has a library of more than 40 games and the activities include cartridge games, downloadable learning apps (games, e-Books, videos, flash cards). Kids can learn school skills like reading, math, science and geography, plus creativity and life skills like music, health and problem-solving. You can also expand the fun and learning in LeapWorld - a safe, online world of learning games and activities.
What’s even niftier is that as parents, we can connect to the online LeapFrog Learning Path to see what our child is playing and learning, and explore ways to expand the overall educational journey.

It retails at R1200 at most stores. And that is a small price to pay to be the “Most Awesome Coolest Dad” for the year, yeah?

MIC iStation

If you’re a fan of old-school retro and Apple, you can now have the best of both worlds with the iStation – you get the iPad power with the Apple I aesthetics.

The iStation by MIC is essentially a docking station for the iPad, iPad2 and iPhone 4/S. It's constructed of wood and includes a removable wireless keyboard. Both the chassis and keyboard connect to the iPad via a Bluetooth connection, though you can still use the on-screen keyboard if you prefer. It also has a USB port, microSD slot and 3.5mm stereo audio input jack. The knob on the front of the chassis adjusts volume output from the iStation's embedded speaker.

If you don’t have an iPad you can you can still use the iStation for playing music off your normal memory stick, just plug it in and play music directly through the chassis.

The iStation is really easy to use, simply place the iPad in its cradle (either horizontally or vertically), plug the iPad into the chassis' power adaptor in order to keep the iPad charged, switch everything on, pair up the devices, and off you go!

It can be bought online from the M.I.C Store, priced at R700.