Hammacher Schlemmer offers first voice-activated coffee maker

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Household

Famous gadget distributor Hammacher Schlemmer is offering something for the “coffee achievers” (or baby boomers?) with the world’s first voice-automated coffee maker.

This is the first voice-interactive coffee maker that asks, “Would you like to set the clock or set the coffee brewing time?” and operates in response to your verbal commands. Simply saying, “Set the coffee brewing time,” or “Set the clock,” will prompt the machine to reply, “Please say the time, including AM or PM.” It uses an advanced voice recognition system to identify any time of day you speak, eliminating the hassle of fussing with buttons.

That’s right, no more fooling around with buttons or other confusing controls.  The coffee maker is capable of 10 cups a time, and you can remove the carafe during a brewing to pour yourself that cup of joe.  You can pick this one up for $99.95.

Read More | Hammacher Schlemmer

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Rotato Express Automatic Peeler

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Household, Misc. Tech

No more cut fingers trying to peel potatoes. The Rotato Express doesn’t simply peel fruits and veggies, it knows enough to stop automatically. The 5 1/2 x 5 3/4 x 11-inch gadget runs on 4 AA batteries (not included) and peels in one continuous movement. You simply place the item between spikes and press a button to begin. Made of ABS and metal, the Rotato will set you back $29.98. We think the military should hear about this one.

Read More | Taylor Gifts

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Pandigital Photo Frame for Kitchens

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: HDTV, Household, Misc. Tech

Pandigital has been making digital photo frames for a while now and has just come out with one for your kitchen. This 720p HDTV includes a digital cookbook for those who want to see what dinner should actually look like. Wall mountable, it also comes with an under cabinet mount and stand for counters. When you want to use it for fun stuff, it will support JPEG, Motion JPEG, MPEG 1, MPEG 4 and AVI formats. With 512MB of memory, you can add to it with its 6-in-1 card reader. Think gourmet on this one with its price of $399.99.

Read More | Digital Tech News

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ReadyBot Does Dishes

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Videos

Why settle for a simple Scooba to wash your floors when you can get a ReadyBot to clean your entire kitchen? The prototype loads your dishwasher, cleans up the mess on your counter, and even takes care of leftovers. Created by a group of engineers from Silicon Valley, the team hopes to have them on the market in approximately two years. They also say that being made of commonly available parts, the bot will be affordable for us common folk. We say, “Sign us up.”

Read More | ReadyBot

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Automatic martini shaker comes to your rescue

Posted by Sparky Categories: Accessories, Household

Ever been too tired (or too drunk) to shake a martini, but wanted just one more fine shaken drink in the spirit of everyones espionage hero James Bond? The Perfect Temperature Martini Maker comes to the rescue. The automatic martini shaker features a temperature gauge to shake your martini to a perfect 34F without over shaking (and thus diluting the delightful concoction within.) The dream of drinks at the push of a button might finally be here.

Does it take some of the showmanship out of crafting the perfect drink? Yes! Does it add a touch of techno-gadget perfection to an otherwise gadget barren wet bar? HECK yes! Pick one up today for about $100.

Read More | Hammacher Schlemmer via Shiny Shiny

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Avoid Germs with the Touch-Free Trash Can

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Household, Misc. Tech

In this age of the MRSA “superbug” and heightened germ awareness, we bet this could soon become a staple in all homes. The Touch-Free Trash Can is self-explanatory: with its infrared sensor, the lid opens when your hand comes within 8 inches, and closes automatically after 5 seconds. Used in medical facilities and labs, the Touch-Free is now available for home use, in 6 different gallon sizes. Requires 4 “C” batteries, which last approximately 6 months (20 opens/day). The smallest size—1.5 gallons—is available for $30 USD. See website for a video demo.

Read More | My Virtual Zone

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Hello Kitty Runs Amok

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Household, Misc. Tech

Hanil has learned to appreciate the value of Hello Kitty. After they retained a licensed contract from Sanrio, they began designing a whole range of gadgets that includes a humidifier, mixer, fan, toaster, ice crusher, blender, and a coffee pot, just to name a few. The only thing more unsettling than seeing a kitchen full of Hello Kitty appliances is the fact that there are those who want them. Hamil reports that they plan to expand their line in the future because sales are purrfectly fine.

Read More | Aving

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The Fridge Message Magnet Speaks to Everyone

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Household, Misc. Tech

Here’s a handy household gadget, perfect for families: the Fridge Message Magnet. Just attach it to the fridge (natch), and family members can leave messages for each other, just by pressing the corresponding button for that relative and leaving a voice recording. No more post-its or messy whiteboards—just the facts, mom. The buttons also function as picture frames for extra cuteness. A set of two will be available next month for $20 USD.

Read More | Discovery Channel Store via Gadgets Weblog

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Presto Pizzazz Pizza Cooker Review

Posted by Sparky Categories: Features, Household, Product Reviews

Recently Gear Live picked up a Presto Pizzazz Pizza Maker from Amazon. It’s the best of “Buy now from TV” come to life - nearly instant pizza, with no muss, no fuss. It’s designed to cook 7 to 12 inch pizzas from start to finish in under 15 minutes. Click through for our impressions of setting it up and using it.

Click to continue reading Presto Pizzazz Pizza Cooker Review

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