Carry & Go Briefcase Barbecue

It’s the summertime and that means barbecues, heading out to the shore and getting burned to a crisp. But speaking of a good barbecue, why waste time getting one of those high-end Weber grills when you can get the Carry and Go Briefcase BBQ. This is truly the barbecue for the corporate professional. It will fold up into a nice briefcase for easy transport and expands to 48 x 35cm when opened. This is not a propane BBQ and will only work with good old fashioned coal. It is also dirt cheap even for UK prices, £24.95. Just be sure to clean it well before you fold it up and carry it away or you will ruin your well tailored suit.

Pet Night Lights Make You Feel Safe in the Dark

Do you miss your furry best-friend when you are out on the road or on vacation? Are you also afraid of the dark? Well this may be the perfect item for you. The Pet Night Lights is not your typical night light, it can be customized with the picture of your pet. Choose from a horizontal frame or a vertical frame and browse your computer for a pic you would like turned into a nightlight. Just upload a jpeg from your computer to the website and in a few days you will be sent a customized nightlight. The bulb is a typical 4 Watt nightlight bulb. Pricing is not listed on the website but I highly doubt it will break the bank. This is the perfect gift for yourself or any pet lover.

Holiday Previews from Staples, Womens Health, IMAN, The Company Store and more

The Holidays came early for us hard working gals this past week. We were treated to a few sneak peeks of some great female orientated products from Staples, The Company Store, IMAN Global Chic, and Women’s Health Magazine. On display was everything from green-friendly bed pillows made from recycled soda cans, to magical hangers that won’t drop your clothing. [Read more]

GE Designer Cordless Phone is Red All Over

To bad it isn’t Valentines Day because this sexy red phone would be perfect. The GE Designer Series Ultra Slim Cordless Phone is slim and covered in red and it has your typical handset features - caller ID, digital answering machine, with LCD display. It’s hardly on the design level as an iPhone but for $69.99 why shouldn’t your home have a nice phone too.

LP Record Coasters are Retro Hip and Green Friendly

Oddly enough, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen retro media transformed in to coasters. Delight.com is selling sets of 6 Recycled LP Record Coasters. Each coaster is double-sided and laminated to protects the labels and to also prevent scuffing your furniture. The 6 Recycled LP Record Coasters retail for $19, and they would go great with some Soft Sector Glass Coasters that are designed like old school floppy disks.

Rockin’ Lap Desk Carries Your Homework and a Beat

I guess what can be called the lunchbox of the 00’s, the Rockin’ Lap Desk is a cushy bean bag that can hold your homework, possibly a lunch, and it doubles as a portable speaker that you can plug your MP3 player into. The Rockin’ Lap Desk can be personalized with monogramming in different colors or font. It also comes with a sturdy top that can be used as a desk. Four Double AA batteries are required to power the speakers. The lap desk retails for $129.00.

Wii Fit Meet your Big Brother Tanita Ironman

How about instead of that tie for Father’s Day you give dear old Dad the Tanita Ironman Segmental and Full Body Composition Monitor… sheesh that was a mouthful. If Wii Fit was on crack, I assume this is what it would like. The Ironman weighs, monitors, and measures every inch of your being so in the end you will know your total body composition down to your pinky toe. The ironman will present the user with “a complete body composition profile, including weight, body fat % (total and segmental), body water %, muscle mass (total and segmental), bone mass, BMR, visceral fat, metabolic age and physique rating.” The Ironman retails for $299.99 and after one try it will probably send Dad to the fridge for a beer.

Safe Disquised as Bread Watches Over Your Dough

As a child my mother would hide her more most valuable jewelry and some spare money in a soup can in the cupboard. Hmm… I wonder if she still does that?!  Oops! Sorry Mom…anyway instead of hiding it in places that most likely the burglars know about anyway, why not consider the Bread Safe. Modeled to look like an innocent round french bread, it actually contains a safe that you can hide your small valuables in. Retailing for $99, it’s a bit much for a piece of bread… but in the end the “dough” it keeps safe will be well worth it. For those of you weary of the heavy calories that come with bread, alteratively, there is also the Iceberg lettuce safe.

Hello Kitty RoboMop is the Bastard Child of Swiffer and iRobot

Poor Hello Kitty, just about everything has her image or name on it. I’m sure we will soon find a Hello Kitty toilet plunger one day. But till that exciting moment happens we have the Hello Kitty RoboMop . Not exactly iRobot’s Roomba or the Swiffer. No this is some weird mutation of them both. Instead of the standard pink we usually get with Hello Kitty products, there is this blazing red colored automatic mop of sorts with a Robotic Ball in the middle that sort of resembles those NY Lotto machines on ABC with Yolanda Vega. There are also 20 dusting sheets included to "dust" your floors and after charging the robotic ball you can get out of it 90, 60, or 30 minutes worth of dusting. This Robomop looks like it’s made of cheap plastic and would probably break after a few beatings around the house. But for a change it’s not just available in Europe or Asia you can have this thing in your house as well for $99. Good luck reading the manual though it’s in Japanese.

Pimp Your Bedroom with Colorful Under Bed Lights

You may have seen someone on the road drive by with a car pimped out with LED lights under its body. We’ve seen it and just about made us want to throw up. But that reaction put aside, there might be someone out there that would fancy similarly pimping their bed out with LED lights. We don’t know who, but we suppose they are out there. If so, they should check out Under Bed Lights. The Under Bed Lights kit create “spectacular lighting effects allowing you to change the feeling of any room…. choose between various flashing patterns and the speed of each pattern can be controlled and not forgetting there is a built in sound sensors so the lights can react to the beat of any sound track.” You can even control the lights with a remote control. Is this the modern day version of the bedroom disco ball? Kits are available with single colors or you can choose a 7 color kit which displays red, green, yellow, white, blue, purple, turquoise and pink, and there is also a million color kit available as well. Under Bed Lights retail for £199.00.

Rodent LED Lamps are Cute but Pretty Pointless

The only way mice should be seen in your home is as an LED lamp. Available in two colors - pink or white, when turned on the white mouse LED lamp seems to emit a warm blue hue and the pink version seems to emit a dark pinkish hue. Both are actually quite cute and would make a lovely desk companion to any other gizmos you may already have on your desk. The mice retail for $15 each.

VTech’s Custom Style LS6117 Handset Adds Flare With Customizeable Inserts

Cell Phones with faceplates, that has been around for ages. On the other hand, their ancestor, the dect phone has been left out in the cold when it comes to adding some flare. Finally, VTech has had the brains to come out with a landline phone that is personable. The Custom Style LS6117 lets you change out the graphics on the back of the handset using one of the 5 that come with phone or you can customize your own using an online tool. The Custom Style LS6117 is available in black/blue, orange/white or pink/white and retails for $44.95.

Audiovox homebase Message Center and Digital Photo Frame Review

Earlier this year at CES we had reported on the Audiovox homebase Message Center and Digital Frame. At the time we where told it would be released in time for Mother’s Day and alas it was. So would this be a new spin on the average Joe digital frame? I guess we shall see.

Design:
Before you add a gadget to your kitchen area it is very important to many that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb and that it should be aesthetically pleasing. The homebase blends in by having an all white design except for the control keys to the left of the unit which are green. The front is made of a high gloss acrylic that allows for the unit to easily be cleaned that surrounds a 7 inch LCD color display. To the left of the unit is also the power switch, USB port, SD/MMC/MS/xD, and CF slots for pulling off media. The unit comes with 512MB of built-in memory but for some that may not be enough. So the ability to expand the memory is excellent. On the right hand side of the unit is slots for a marker and post-it pads. Overall the homebase Message Center has a neutral color tone and not an ambitious design that would fit into any type of designer or non-designer kitchen quite nicely.

Setup/Installation:
The homebase doesn’t require any software setup to get started but it does require that you think of where to put it. Included with the homebase Message Center are several choices for mounting it. The most obvious would be the refrigerator. So Audiovox thought outside of the box and included a wire management system that contains the colors White, Black, and Clear all in an effort to make the wires blend in with your fridge and kitchen as the electrical plug finds it way to the outlet around your kitchen. There is also the option to mount it on the wall with an included wall mount bracket with anchors and flat head screws included in the box. Finally if you don’t want to damage your walls or attach this to your fridge there is the angle mount bracket which will easily slip onto the backside of the homebase which will allow it to stand freely on a counter top or table like a picture frame on a pedestal. For review purposes we chose the pedestal option which worked out just fine because honestly I like to have lots of room for magnets on my fridge. I also tend to slam the door on the fridge when I run out of coffee ice cream. The angle mount bracket snapped right into place and we were ready to move on to the next step.

Interface:
So I plugged in the unit and we were off. In a few seconds of turning it on the homebase logo popped on the LCD screen and then a slideshow presentation took place introducing the homebase and some of the things it does. It could easily be a tutorial. The homebase Message Center was definitely made for those who may not be technically savvy. It has a very simple interface that I’m sure your 5 year old would scoff at. To get stared you will press the “Menu/OK” button. There is a Menu button key, Memo, Up and Down key to operate the unit. After you press the Menu button a list of options comes up: Memo, Calendar, Timer, Photo, Settings, and Exit. One major difference between this device and any other run of the mill Digital Frame is the ability to record messages for them to be played back later. When you select Memo you are given the choice to record, play/erase, exit and erase all. So we went ahead and recorded a message by selecting record and it will automatically record your message and then another set of options pops up for you to review your message, record again, keep/exit, and then cancel. You use the up/down keys as directionals for what option you want to choose. We decided to keep the message. When you do, a green light suddenly appears on the front of the unit to show that you have a message. So you can go ahead and leave a message of any type on the machine. What an interesting way of leaving a message I can hear them already; ” Hi Mom we need milk and I failed math - love you” or ” Stay away from the cake, it’s mine!” After you play back the message you can erase it and the green light will disappear. With the calendar option you can record memos for important dates and also add icons so there would be no excuse for your beloved to forget your anniversary ever again or Mary’s recital. You can also set a timer which could be a helpful cooking tool but otherwise I don’t see what else it could be used for honestly.

Then there is the photos option, where of course all the fun lies. When you click on photos you get another menu screen which gives you options to pull media from an External Device, the Internal Photo Library or edit slideshow options for images already on the unit. When selecting images from the external device you have the option to pull images from the slots and ports we mentioned earlier and then you can copy those images you want to the memory on the unit or you can run slideshows just from the external media. We decided to use a USB key to import images. We copied one image over, played it first as a slideshow and then a static image. We also ran a slideshow with the images still on the USB key. It worked flawlessly without fail. You can also choose in what order pictures play in a slideshow or how long the slideshow should last. Lastly is the setting options which you can go to to customize if you want images played in normal mode or widescreen mode, as well as a format the memory to make room for more images and set the time and date of the unit.

There maybe a lot of options to choose from if you access the main menu and all its features but the actual unit has some nice aspects that make it a functional piece of equipment in your kitchen. You can write on it with a dry erase marker, which easily wipes away just in case you don’t want to fumble through the menu to leave a digital message- write it on the front of the unit loud and proud. A marker is included and so are post-its and magnets. As I mentioned earlier the marker and post-it pads have its own designated slots on the homebase. Unlike a typical fridge were you can throw a magnet on to it anywhere and it will stick, on the homebase you can only stick them around the edges of the unit, other wise it doesn’t stick which is kind of a bummer. The trim of the homebase is kind of thin which means using magnets any bigger than a top of a bottle cap is out the question, which means BORING magnets!

Sound Quality:
The sound is typical of any voice recorder device. The closer you are to the unit the better the play back will be. Stand a little further away or whisper and it won’t play to clearly. I stood about a foot away and a had a TV playing in the background and it recorded my message along with the TV sound. So I was pretty impressed.

Conclusion:
When Audiovox created homebase they definitely had the busy mom in mind. It is creative, thoughtful, and really understands the importance of communication on refrigerators in any family’s kitchen, while making it fun and innovative. The design is simple yet pleasing to the eye and easy to use and won’t frustrate Moms or kids in a hurry to get the point across. Currently available in stores for $149.99, and in June Audiovox will be releasing the Video/Audio version of the same model for $199.99. I can only imagine what those messages will look like….

The Good: Great for busy moms and familys. Easy to use and well thought out design and functionality.

The Bad: Would have liked a wireless option with batteries to eliminate wires altogether, wire maintenance in some homes can only go so far, and would have liked a bigger magnetic area for magnets that are larger than the size of bottle caps.

Organic Cotton Remote Pocket Pillow

When we think about it, putting a pocket on a pillow designed to hold a remote does make sense, so why hasn’t anyone thought of it until now? Available in black or natural cotton, the Organic Cotton remote pocket pillow has a special pocket with an illustration of a remote control on it. So the next time you can’t find the remote? Check the pillows - the $116 pillows. We didn’t say that good (or decent) ideas came cheap.

Colorful Glass Coasters Look Like Retro Floppy Disks

Despite the fact that floppy disks only held mere kilobytes of data, we still have fond memories of them. Nowadays they are unfortunately just about useless, but are rather iconic items. Supermandolini has a set of 6 Soft Sector glass coasters that are designed just like those floppy disks of yore. The colorful coasters are made of a vinyl top with a gloss finish and foam base. The Soft Sector coasters retail for €27.00.

Space Shuttle Bunk Bed is Out of This World

Forget getting a bunk bed from Ikea, you want something original and exciting? Something that your kids (or maybe yourself) will really want to sleep on? Then consider the Space Shuttle Bunk Bed which looks like, you guessed it - a bunk bed built in to a Space Shuttle. But it isn’t just a bunk bed, it’s also an indoor playhouse with a side door, cockpit and ladder - you can even add an additional wing for $175 and customize it with a specific color pattern as well. Add Some Buzz Lightyear Stickers, maybe a Captain Kirk poster and you’ll be the coolest geek on the block. The Bunk bed costs $2600 and takes 6 to 8 weeks to be delivered.

Pastel Colored Mini Charging Valet Keeps Your Gadgets Tidy

Charging valets are nothing new. Their a simple way to organize all your gadgets in to one place while they charge, while keeping things neat and tidy by hiding the power cords. The Mini Charging Valet is roomy enough for just a few gadgets like an ipod and cell phone or camera so it wont take up much space. Those of you in to pastels will appreciate that this isn’t some wooden or black affair, e-pad’s mini charging valet is available in a pastel pink, green or white for $19.99.

Steam Spa is a Fold Up Sauna Kit For Your Home

Going to the spa is great but it can get expensive. Chances are you cant afford building one in your home either - or can you? The Steam Spa is essentially a fold up Sauna / Spa for your home. The kit comes with a Sauna Tent, a Steam Generator, a Steam Hose, a carrying case and a Detox Diet plan. Check out the dorky YouTube video to see it for yourself. And look at it this way - it might not be as good as the real thing, but at least you won’t have to tip anyone.

Underwater Disco Lightshow Makes Bathtime Funtime

Many find their bathroom a sanctuary. That peaceful calm place where you can escape from the thoughts and pressure of your overwhelming day. So instead of bringing your rubber ducky into the tub this time around why not the Underwater Disco Lightshow. Put your iPod into a water proof case and get ready to boogie. Waterproof and battery operated you can select different lightshow patterns depending on your mood. For $12.95 you can get down and sweaty and take a quick shower afterwards.

Alarm Clocks Disquised as Retro Home Appliances Sport Special Tricks

What happens when you get your home appliances all confused? You end up with a cute, albeit silly selection of alarm clocks modeled after classic home appliances. Homeade has designed a bunch of alarm clocks like a retro 60s refrigerator, a blender, an iron, a washer, and a stove. Each appliance has its own quirky set of features. For example, the blender really spins. “When the brownies are done it doesn’t just go ding it shreds, dices, liquefies, and plays an assortment of 1970s game show jingles at the same time.” Meanwhile the stove also has a calendar display, a 4 alarm music with vibration feature and incoming call lighting - though it doesn’t specify exactly how that works, and the iron can connect to an Mp3 player as a speaker. [Read more]

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