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This winter promises to be a wicked one. Even if your tiny apartment doesn’t get quite warm enough, we have the solution in this sculptured Frontgate GlassFire fireplace. Composed of Italian glass and aluminum, the tabletop gadget can be used indoors or out, and features sand, faux logs, a lighter, and a snuffer. It utilizes Fenola Gel fuel which makes it smokeless and presumably 40% more energy efficient than wood. The mini-fireplace is available at shop.com for $549.00, which unfortunately won’t leave much to purchase a few chestnuts to roast.
Read More 
| Frontgate
HannSpree Releases TV Petting Zoo
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Home Entertainment, Misc. Tech, Toys,
For those of us who just can’t afford the latest in coolness with an HDTV or Plasma for the Holidays this year, we will just have to settle for cuteness. Taiwan’s HannSpree even outdoes Hello Kitty with their uniquely designed TVs which go beyond the merely functional. Available in 8 different plush designs, each has a 10-inch LCD display, a viewing angle of up to 130º, and a SVGA resolution of 800 x 600. The TV comes with its own remote and its cover is removable for cleaning. The critters are available online for $299.99, and HannSpree is offering free shipping and a 30-day return policy should your plush TV decide to misbehave.
Read More | HannSpree
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Five Great Online Stores For Finding Gifts For Geeks
Posted by Chris Cardinal Categories: Editorial, Features, Hot Deals, Misc. Tech,
If you’ve been following along with our Holiday Gift Guide 2006, you’re probably looking to pick up something unique and fun for someone you love or merely tolerate. Fantastic. But if you’re not looking to spend quite $100+ on them, because, perhaps they haven’t earned that much friend equity and hey, you’ve got a Wii to buy yourself, well, that’s just fine. The interweb is plush with amazing niche shops, terrific web stores that have all sorts of amazing and fun gadgets, toys and fun things for your desk. And with just two weeks left, it’s best to get cracking right now.
Our five favorite places to shop for cool people for under $30? Let’s see:
1) Wishingfish.com: With great desk toppers like Swiss Aromatherapy Pens and animal-shaped rubber bands, this diverse site has all sorts of goodies ripe for the taking. Pick them up a Smores Maker and they’ll be roasting marshmallows inside at what’s sure to be a very awkward, but soon tasty staff meeting in no time!
Click to continue reading Five Great Online Stores For Finding Gifts For Geeks
Latest Gear Live Videos
If a nut-cracking Darth Vader is too bizarre, why not settle for R2-D2? The droid has a mood status indicator, infrared location sensors, sonar navigational technology, sound processing mics, and motorized treads. He will respond to over 40 voice commands, plays music and dances, and can even play tag. He stands 15-inches high, weighs 6 pounds, and requires 4 AA and 4 D batteries (not included) and some minor assembly.
We first found the bot at Toys ‘R Us for $99.00, but he has apparently gone back to his galaxy far, far away temporarily. Maybe The Dark Force just convinced him to make an appearance on Amazon, where you can still get one for an inflated $379.95.
Read More | Hasbro
I Am Your Nutcracker, Luke Skywalker
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Movies,
With only a couple of weeks left before Christmas, it’s difficult not to notice the extremely weird that you would never even consider buying the rest of the year. This Limited Edition Darth Vader Nutcracker, designed by Germany’s Steinbach is a case in point. The Lord of the Sith is 18 1/2-inches tall and weighs 4 lbs. He features his signature helmet, and vinyl cape and boots. He even sports a chest control unit, breathing apparatus, and light saber.
Darth is to be part of a Star Wars Collection (a Yoda nutcracker is also available) from our friends at Hammacher Schlemmer for a whopping $349.95. He comes with a lifetime guarantee, but for that price, he should at least have a working voicebox so that he can sound like James Earl Jones.
Read More | Hammacher Schlemmer
Panasonic Reveals World’s Smallest Speaker
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Misc. Tech, Peripherals, Portable Audio / Video,
Technology just keeps shrinking. Panasonic has created what they say is the world’s smallest micro-speaker. Their previous record holder was 2.5 mm, and at a mere 1.5 mm thickness and a size of 2 x 1 cm, they claim that the PED (Panasonic Electronic Device) loses no reduction of sound quality since its diaphragm is inserted on the top and bottom of its magnet, rather than making the magnet smaller. You will be able find them in cell phones and other portable devices in May 2007.
Read More | FujiSankei Business via plasticbamboo
GreenHouse’s USB Ashtray Literally Sucks
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, USB,
If you smoke and want to be politically correct, GreenHouse’s USB car Ashtray will take care of irritating second-hand smoke. Simply lift its top, and as its headlights come on, the fan will literally suck up the smoke. You can also utilize 3 AAA batteries to keep you smoke-free wherever you travel. At a size of 135 x 97 x 82 mm, the ashtray’s interior is removable for cleaning and will be available in Japan near the end of December for ¥500 (~ $4.00.)
Read More | Akihabara News
The Talking Plate Warns You of Gluttony
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,
Worried about pigging out during the holidays? Ukrainian Dr. Hryhory Chausovsky of the Zaporizhia University Life Activities Laboratory has created the Talking Plate, which lets you know if it is overfilled. The plate measures 15 cm in diameter and is connected to a palm-size computer. Its integrated weigh sensors judge how much food is on the plate, and then issues nagging phrases such as, “Where’s your willpower?”
Although the plate is not yet available to the general public, Dr. Chausovsky has also invented other dining aids, such as a belt that issues a tone when you eat too much and a plate that plays music each time your fork hits the plate. “If the utensil strikes are too rapid, the plate will play fast and aggressive music while if the person eats more slowly, the music will be calmer and less stressful,” Chausovsky said.
We think we will stick to our usual over-feasting and just not look at the scales until 2007.
Read More | iol
Roadmaster Offers Bluetooth Speakerphone
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Misc. Tech, Transportation,
With all the to-do about cell phone usage while driving, Roadmaster has made available its Bluetooth speakerphone unit with a back-lit LCD screen. You can easily attach the unit to a sun visor with an E-Z mount clip. The Roadmaster features DSP echo cancellation and noise suppression, call forwarding and waiting, redial, caller ID, a built-in microphone, and a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The VRBT200V is available online for $69.99. Do without the LCD and you can pick up a $39.99 model.
Read More | Roadmaster
USB.brando has put up for adoption its Robo-Pup Cam, a puppy with a web camera for a nose. It features a VGA 350k pixel resolution, 640 x 480 Video format in 24 Bit color brightness, a green LED indicator, a 360º viewing angle, and is compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP. His adjustable legs make him capable of several different poses. Although he cannot do much more than sit around and look cute, at least you won’t have to worry about incessant barking or housebreaking. The Robo-Pup is available for $22.50 at USB.brando.
Read More | USB.brando
