Author Topic: What are your favorite gadgets and gizmos? (Read 72378 times)

cranioscopical · « **Reply #25 on:** June 18, 2008, 07:44 AM »

...the Jura F90 Coffee maker, with its honest-to-God Jura Internet Connection Kit, can be taken over by a remote attacker, who can cause the coffee to be weaker or stronger; change the amount of water per cup; or cause the machine to require service (call this one a DDoC). 'Best yet, the software allows a remote attacker to gain access to the Windows XP system it is running on at the level of the user.' An Internet-enabled, remote-controlled coffee-machine and XP backdoor — what more could a hacker ask for?

Presumably this is some sort of JavaScript exploit...

mouser · « **Reply #26 on:** June 18, 2008, 07:59 AM »

Mark0 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 18, 2008, 10:20 AM »

A Wi-Fi finder & adapter. Here's a ZyXEL, but there are many almost identical (I have a Dynamode I took on eBay months ago)!

40hz · « **Reply #28 on:** June 18, 2008, 05:26 PM »

OMG! How could I ever forget this little guy?

The FURBY!

The ultimate "no-toy" that's perfect for hours of utterly mindless entertainment, philosophical debate, and caffeine-fuelled speculation.

I like it for two reasons: (1) I don't really understand how it works - and (2) it scares my cat!

Ah Furby! A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou beside me making those creepy little moves and noises!

Shades · « **Reply #29 on:** June 18, 2008, 11:36 PM »

Yeahhh!!!!!.....a furby!!!! Finally there is still one left for target practice!!!!!

Did I mention here that I have spent 38 months in the army? That's a lot of Furbies

Jimdoria · « **Reply #30 on:** June 19, 2008, 03:28 PM »

Somebody beat me to posting the ZyXel. I have one and it is a way cool gizmo. I seldom really need to use it, but every time I do, I get to feel like a secret agent!

There are other WiFi finders, but few as capable as the ZyXel. (Plug it in to your PC, and it can work as a WiFi access point, letting you set up a temporary WiFi network without having to muck around with ad-hoc mode.)

But to anyone who knows me, my "gadget" always refers to my PDA. I've always liked the idea of a Swiss Army computer you could carry in your pocket, but always balked at spending hundreds for something that could get dropped in a puddle at any time. Currently I have an iPaq 3670, which is ancient by most people's standards, but it was super cheap and there's still tons of freeware available for it. Among other things I can use it to read novels, check the current phase of the moon or keep my daughter entertained in the restaurant while we're waiting for dinner.

My wife has said she might buy me an iPhone for Christmas, and as much as I relish the idea, I'm slightly worried that I'll actually have to take a step down in the functionality department when I give up my old PocketPC. Plus I'll have to be a lot more careful around puddles.

thomthowolf · « **Reply #31 on:** June 22, 2008, 02:35 PM »

Yeahhh!!!!!.....a furby!!!! Finally there is still one left for target practice!!!!!
-Shades (June 18, 2008, 11:36 PM)

My daughter was just the right age when this little monster hit the market. The stars aligned and she ended up with 8 of them all at the same time.

I wish I had been properly armed.

SKesselman · « **Reply #32 on:** June 24, 2008, 12:10 AM »

Perhaps it's because I had braces twice that makes this gadget so special, but

OMG it's soooooo refreshing.

Too bad, it's not made very well. I'm on my third one in 2 years.
Fill it with half water, half mouthwash and blast away:

http://www.waterpik....al-water-jet/WP-360/

f0dder · « **Reply #33 on:** June 24, 2008, 08:00 AM »

http://www.waterpik....al-water-jet/WP-360/
-SKesselman (June 24, 2008, 12:10 AM)

They wouldn't be able to market it under that name in Denmark

jgpaiva · « **Reply #34 on:** June 24, 2008, 08:06 AM »

http://www.waterpik....al-water-jet/WP-360/
-SKesselman (June 24, 2008, 12:10 AM)
They wouldn't be able to market it under that name in Denmark
-f0dder (June 24, 2008, 08:00 AM)

Good thing farr now can translate danish to english

zridling · « **Reply #35 on:** June 24, 2008, 10:19 PM »

It's got to be the Bose noise-canceling headset:

Deozaan · « **Reply #36 on:** June 24, 2008, 10:38 PM »

It's got to be the Bose noise-canceling headset
-zridling (June 24, 2008, 10:19 PM)

$300 for some earphones? Yeah, I guess you'd better love them for that price!

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #37 on:** June 24, 2008, 11:45 PM »

Most of my gadgets are built into my computer, but I have a PS2 in good condition and an Xbox I plan to start hacking into soon (maybe get a new "computer" out of it). Ironically the 2 strangest things I have were also the two cheapest I can think of. Cheap doesn't always mean low quality!

#1: Innovage Corded telephone
Price: $12.99 @ Walgreens
Reason: The numbers and math buttons (along with a couple others) on the front panel litterally take NO pressure to activate. You just touch it and it takes the input. Minimal effort, same result. Plus the built in calculator, and funny hold music (it is hilarious, I once left a telemarketer on hold for 15 minutes or so while this annoying jingle played... the hold music will drive anyone insane).

#2: Unknown-brand florescent light
Price: $8.95 @ Lowes
Reason: It is simple, compact, and the part that is really cool is the on/off "switch" is a heat sensing alluminum ball - you just barely touch it and it switches on (or off). It is really bright too, and you can put it almost anywhere.

Couldn't find an image, sorry

Also, I have a Waterpik as well - they do a really great job, as long as you know how to use it (and don't go cranking up the pressure like an idiot

). They really do make a difference, if you can't floss or if you have braces/some other dental adjustment. I have this one:

-Brandon

jgpaiva · « **Reply #38 on:** June 25, 2008, 05:02 AM »

Since people mentioned earphones, i love my philips SHE9501:

Oh, and my philips QG3080:

This one has made my life way easier

Deozaan · « **Reply #39 on:** June 25, 2008, 03:55 PM »

Oh, and my philips QG3080:
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This one has made my life way easier
-jgpaiva (June 25, 2008, 05:02 AM)

Those are some scary looking headphones!

zridling · « **Reply #40 on:** June 25, 2008, 09:46 PM »

I don't own a set of those Bose headphones, but I wish I did!

cranioscopical · « **Reply #41 on:** June 25, 2008, 10:02 PM »

I don't own a set of those Bose headphones, but I wish I did!
-zridling

I do and I'm less than thrilled with them. (Found I could hear a whole lot more noise during plane travel than I had anticipated.)

oldfart · « **Reply #42 on:** June 25, 2008, 11:03 PM »

My favorite gizmo is my watch. Its a http://pathfinder.casio.com/home/ Casio Pathfinder that gives me time, temperature, barometer, altitude and a compass along with all the usual digital watch functions. It has an auto backlight and weighs about a half pound. Mine is a few years old and they have replaced it with even neater models.

CleverCat · « **Reply #43 on:** July 12, 2008, 03:18 AM »

Because our 'load shedding' we get frequent power cuts! Without my PC I'm bored and it's difficult to do anything due to my disability. So I got myself a small MP3 player to listen to Audio Books/Music. I can't get the ear buds in if my Mum is out so I got a Shox speaker - it's great!

http://www.tevo.co.z...p;intCatID=100001011

cranioscopical · « **Reply #44 on:** July 12, 2008, 07:03 AM »

Just picked up one of these

The four coloured lights on the front correspond to the four burners on a kitchen stove.
Four timers can run at once, and each can be re-run for the same time period, or reset to a new period.
Running timers show a green light. Expired timers flash a red light.
Timers are set by twisting the central control knob, which beats fiddling with the all-too-common set-minute and set-second butons.

It's a really nice design and useful for all kinds of things, in the kitchen, the workshop, the studio... wherever.

Link is here: Quad Timer
The regular price is about $26 USD but I found one locally for $15 CAD.

KamyKaze · « **Reply #45 on:** July 15, 2008, 12:21 PM »

I carry my Creative Labs Muvo v100 USB key/MP3 Player everywhere. I upgraded from the Muvo TX which has 512MB capacity. This new one has 2GB storage. It can fit about 16 CDs worth of music along with my other data files. No cables needed, plugs directly to USB. I also use it to store voice memos!

What are your favorite gadgets and gizmos?
And you see it in this photo paired up with this geekier Digiana AudiaX DGT-202 FM transmitter. I'm also a returning customer of Digiana. I mainly use it to listen to MP3 on the car stereo but I've at times livened up a party with this small kit of two. It's scalable. If you want to turn your private headphone listening experience into a big rave, you can! Just add a few cars to a nice location and ask them to tune to your radio station.

It's so cool it should be illegal! Oh... wait

It is an illegal broadcast, in Portugal! Oh well, who cares?!

What are your favorite gadgets and gizmos?
Also the Xact Skil laser measurer, because measuring tapes are a thing of the past and any gadget with laser is cool.
BTW me Moleskine fan too.

dpierron · « **Reply #46 on:** July 18, 2008, 11:19 AM »

"Ok, what is that ?" you may ask. Well, first of all, i don't know about your country but in France, people are getting pretty crazy about coffee machines called "Expresso-makers". It works like this : instead of putting coffee in a filter and waiting forever to enjoy your coffee, you buy single doses (it looks like this), put one in the expresso maker and you have a delicious coffee in a minute. Pros : it's very easy, very quick and the coffee is very good. Con : buying doses is WAY more expensive than buying traditional packs of coffee. This is where the little gizmo pictured above comes and changes your life : you fill it with any kind of coffee you like and put it in the expresso maker and voilà. This is the CycloDS Evolution of coffee makers.
-ak_ (June 15, 2008, 04:32 PM)

Quite fun joke about homebrew !
If I may ask, where did you find this little, but very useful, contraption ?

Cheers,
David.

ak_ · « **Reply #47 on:** July 18, 2008, 01:32 PM »

Bonjour David

First of all, i have to admit the joke about homebrew was totally unintentional

Actually i was comparing this item to CycloDS because it's a little device which enhances the joy of using another device (Nintendo DS / Coffee maker). Looks like my subconscious is a lot funnier than myself

To answer your question, i bought it at a supermarket (a "Champion", to be exact) but you can find some on eBay.

mouser · « **Reply #48 on:** August 04, 2008, 08:53 AM »

I want to add this, if you have wood floors its a cheap little miracle device:

Swiffer-Sweeper-Vacuum

http://www.amazon.co...r-Kit/dp/B000BYM8W8/

e638225b9da0e63ebae81110.L.jpg

40hz · « **Reply #49 on:** August 05, 2008, 12:14 PM »

I want to add this, if you have wood floors its a cheap little miracle device:

Swiffer-Sweeper-Vacuum

-mouser (August 04, 2008, 08:53 AM)

Or if you have any kind of floor and one or more beagles.
(Just because they're little and cute doesn't mean they're not evil.)