Mini robot vacuum

If cleaning up after yourself ranks high on your list of non-favourite things to do, you might want to hook up one of these: A mini robot vacuum cleaner to suck up all your mess. Perfect for crumbs, shavings, beach sand and other unwelcome desk debris.

Now if they made a life-size version of this baby, we might even be persuaded to take it for a spin around the lounge. Once or twice.

Shirt Shuttle

Do you dread that as soon as you touch down from your long flight you have to jet-off to a meeting? What's worse is that you're gonna want to change your shirt but you know its probably just as creased as the one you have on.
What do you do? You can't possibly walk into the meeting looking as if you slept in that shirt, now can you?

The answer to your prayers is here...in the form of the Shirt Shuttle.

The Shirt Shuttle is a high strength, lightweight, water-resistant case that protects your precious cargo from the elements and from the rest of your luggage.

A very nifty travel mate?...we think so!

Handpresso Auto

Relish the thought of brewing yourself a fresh shot of espresso on your way into the office whilst sitting in back-to-back traffic?


Make it happen...with the Handpresso Auto.

This nifty gadget sits comfortably in your car's cup holder and plugs into the cigarette lighter.
Just add water and an ESE espresso pod of your choice, press the button, and Voila...seconds after (thanks to the 16 bars of pressure) you're ready to have your caffeine fix.

This one deserves a PHWOAA!

Mode Fridge Monkey

You're having the guys over for a game and being the mate you are, you decide to stock up your fridge with beers. Tragedy strikes when the wifey refuses to share her shelf space with you and has restricted you to just one shelf… Swooping in for a rescue is the Fridge Monkey!

The Fridge Monkey is one of those gadgets that no mans’ fridge should be without. It is basically a flexible rubber mat that's designed to maximise the storage space in your fridge plus the rubber base stops them bottles from rolling around and causing a ruckus.

Cool fact: The Fridge Monkey was inspired by the brass monkey commonly used on ships to stack cannonballs back in the day.

The neat part is that this monkey isn't restricted to one bottle size and it retails at a meagre R55.

Angel's Wings iPhone holder

This is not so much a gadget for you, but one you can get for her! And by her, we mean wife, mother, girlfriend, niece, sister, cousin or even a friend. If she has an iPhone, get reading, because she will love a pair of Angel’s wings for her phone.

The best part is that these “wings” do serve a purpose. They will hold up the phone and videos can be watched hands-free. They suction to the back of the iPhone and can be moved for landscape or portrait viewing.

She will love it, guaranteed.

Pinterest: Online pin board

Pinterest is the latest social media platform which allows users to pool resources on various topics of interest. Whether it is creating a vision board for your desired home renovations to keeping ideas for a party you’re planning, Pinterest lets you ‘pin’ various items from all over the web onto your pin board.

You can also use this to express yourself by creating a board and pin things that are a visual representation of yourself, or aspects of your life. You can share by “repinning” - this is when you pin something to your board that has been pinned on someone else’s. Be wary though as this is an open platform so you can’t block certain people from checking out your pins.

It’s great for collaboration – by adding contributors to one of your pin boards you can work together to plan an event.

Currently Pinterest is only open to invited users but don’t be dissuaded, all you have to do is request an invite at www.pinterest.com and expect an invite to be in your inbox within a day or two.

Get Pinning, it is fun and modern way to gather and share info!

Headphones of the future

Courtesy of a few researchers at the Igarashi Design Interfaces Project in Japan, a pair of “Universal Earphones” that automatically switch audio channels when placed in the wrong ear, could be coming out soon.

The headphones being developed have proximity sensors which mean that when the bud is in the incorrect ear, the sensor detects a mismatch and audio channels are swapped, thanks to a small embedded audio circuit.

If you’ve ever shared your headphones with someone to listen to the same song together, you’ll appreciate that these headphones now also create a mono mix of the song. Gone are the days where you get only the left/right channel. It does this by running a weak electrical current from one side to the other. When shared, the connection is broken. Film buffs or gamers will appreciate this for preserving 3D sound that matches on-screen visuals.

The researchers will present their work at the Intelligent User Interface conference in Lisbon, Portugal later this month.

The Nook Simple Touch Reader

With its excellent design and unique eBook-focused features and eBook options, the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch eReader is one of the best available on the market currently. Here’s why:

It excels in design and ease of use. It offers a smooth page turn with minimised blinking between pages that makes you actually want to use it daily.  It's also better for extended reading because of the wider bezel and an indentation on its back that makes it a hundred times more ergonomic than the flat-backed Kindle.

The buttons require quite a firm press so you know you won't press them by accident. What is the best way to make a gadget aesthetically pleasing? Give it a matte finish and this device is no exception! It has a sleek exterior which maximises the screen size and helps make it the perfect device for travel.

While this eBook reader lacks the features such as text-to-speech capability, games and radio, it has a few eReader-focused features such as LendMe technology, Nook Friends and the ability to borrow eBooks from your local library.

Users prefer the Nook's touch keyboard and navigation abilities that make it easier to use than other eBook readers on the market, so what are you waiting for…get yours now!

Retails at R770.

The DStv Walka

Do you wish you could have access to telly all the time? With the DStv Walka, that wish is granted! Besides having a catchy name, this device is basically a handheld TV with a tiny 320p by 240p resolution screen.

Inside the DStv Walka box is everything you would need to watch TV on the go. You get the Walka, a USB charger, earphones, a TV stand, and hand lanyard. A long, delicate aerial provides signal and it needs to be fully upright in order to receive the best signal.

Channels included with the Walka are M-Net Series, eNews, CNN, SuperSport Blitz, SuperSport1 to 4,  Cartoon Network, Discovery, SONY Max, E! Mobile, Africa Magic, Channel O, and M-Net Mobile.

The sound is horrible so do yourself a favour and attach speakers or headphones as soon as you can to avoid killing your eardrums. However, we love the convenience of being able to have a TV in your pocket. The list of channels is small, but adequate. And the price is reasonable too.

At the end of the day we say Walka Walka, yeah yeah! We couldn’t resist that…

Nissan - world’s first self-repairing iPhone case

Don’t you hate it when your touch screen phone is ruined with scratches? That could be a thing of the past with Nissan’s world first self-healing iPhone case that makes use of their Scratch Shield paint technology.

The Scratch Shield paint is made from polyrotaxane, which has a chemical structure that is able to change back to its original shape and fill the gap that results from a scratch. Small scratches can self repair in an hour, while more severe scratches can take up to a week.

The Scratch Shield paint also provides a gel-like surface which makes the iPhone easier to grip compared to the glossy, slippery surface it now has.

If demand proves strong, Nissan plans to release the cases compatible with the iPhone 4 and 4S for sale to the public later this year. Then it is time to wave goodbye to scratches for good!

The Really Tiny Booklight

We’ve all been here: you find yourself unable to stop reading that riveting book, but your partner needs to sleep so they request you switch the lights off. Do you oblige and end up tossing and turning thinking about the story or move to another room?  Don’t be so hasty because you do not have to do either!

Not only is this the most fashion-conscious book light on the market but it's surely the most trim and slim. The booklight is available in seven glamorous rubber coated colours and comes with batteries.

It has a simple easy-to-use clip on design; rotates 90 degrees for illuminating an entire page and is great for travel and those late-night reading sessions while at home.

It retails at R109.

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.

The Backpack Cooler Chair

Okay, so there is a good band playing at the Botanical Gardens and all your mates decide on an impromptu visit. You know you need a) your own chair and b) stuff to nosh. But the sardine express you are travelling in makes it difficult to take a bag packed with food plus a camping chair. What is a guy to do? Invest in the backpack cooler chair!

From its handy backpack design for easy mobility, to the insulated portable cooler for plenty of eats, to the comfy chair it is topped off with, this versatile device makes packing in a hurry child’s play. Fashioned from heavy-duty polyester and featuring a U-shaped zipper for easy access, an exterior water bottle pocket, two cushioned backpack straps with adjustable grips, and a durable metal frame to accompany the fabric seat, this backpack cooler chair miraculously folds flat for easy storage.

The chair measures around 40cm x 25cm x 18cm and 46cm x 30cm when the backpack chair is open. It retails between R380-R400.

Jawbone’s UP – the wearable health monitor for Apple devices

At first glance, the average Joe would never even suspect that inside this thin, attractive wristband is embedded technology that’s able to track your daily activities, sleeping patterns and diet.

The UP uses its inbuilt "MotionX" sensor to track your activity and transfers the relevant data to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch via the headphone jack. A dedicated app then provides an overview of your movement, GPS routes, sleep and meals. UP is meant to integrate seamlessly into the user’s lifestyle “24 hours a day”.

The UP has a built-in Li-ion polymer battery which takes 80 minutes to recharge and lasts up to 10 days, according to Jawbone. It has a USB to 3.5 mm plug adapter for charging at 5V.

The UP monitoring system is only compatible with iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S, iPad, or iPod Touch (iOS 4.1 and greater). The UP app is free but it does not work without the wristband and the wristband is not compatible with any other app or device.

The global launch is planned for near the end of the year.

The Kindle Fire

The newest addition to the Kindle family, the Fire features a vibrant 7-inch multi-touch display which utilizes IPS (in-plane switching) technology to provide an extra-wide viewing angle, so others can watch alongside with you.

The display produces 16 million colours at a resolution of 1024 x 600 and has been chemically strengthened to be 30 times harder and 20 times stiffer than plastic, which makes the Fire durable and more resistant to wear and tear.

Its user-friendly interface allows users to browse effortlessly through the menus. Being an Amazon product, the Kindle Fire gives you access to Amazon’s plethora of digital content, usage of the Amazon Cloud for free, unlimited storage, and Amazon prime members get unlimited free access to more than 10,000 movies and TV shows. If you’re not an Amazon prime member, you get a 30-day free trial of the service so you can get a taste of it.

Amazon has incorporated a revolutionary, high-speed Web browser in the Fire – the Amazon Silk - and have enhanced their WhisperSync tech further by now allowing you to pause movies and TV shows, so you can pick up exactly where you left off.

Just in time for Xmas!

The Citrusaw

I find it intriguing when someone combines a few tools to create one simple and easy-to-use master tool. It removes the hassle and bother of having to cart around all those separate, individual items just to get the job done, whatever that may be.

The Citrusaw is one such jewel of a tool and looks so charming that your chick will be all cuted out. The handle of the Citrusaw is a bottle opener, and the saw bit, obviously, is the knife that you would use to slice your lemon or lime to complete the taste of your beer or cider. Voila!

It’s pretty reasonable, retailing in at around R50.