home Archive

  • Sleep Scan: Tanita’s sensor-equipped mat monitors your sleep

    Sleep Scan: Tanita’s sensor-equipped mat monitors your sleep

    Posted on April 7, 2010 | No Comments
    Leading health monitor manufacturer Tanita today announced [JP] a sensor-equipped mat that's supposed to measure the deepness and quality of your sleep. The company, which is also active in the US, says placing the mat under your mattress is enough. The system will then keep track of your body motion, breath rate and pulse throughout the night.

    Full Story

  • Nap Vieeb Plus II: Wearable doze prevention device

    Nap Vieeb Plus II: Wearable doze prevention device

    Posted on April 1, 2010 | No Comments
    Are you constantly in danger of falling asleep while working or driving? Alarm clocks, watches or your cell phone are of no help? Then the oddly named Nap Vieeb Plus II [JP], offered by a Japanese company called Takanoha, might be the right thing for you. The Nap Vieeb Plus II is a simple earpiece alarm gadget whose first version was released about four years ago.

    Full Story

  • The Twist Alarm Clock forces you to activate your brain in the morning

    The Twist Alarm Clock forces you to activate your brain in the morning

    Posted on March 19, 2010 | No Comments
    Japan and its alarm clocks. Most of these devices force you to wake up through an extra-annoying noise (or by moving away from you), but this new one, the so-called Twist Alarm Clock [JP], makes you solve (simple) math problems.

    Full Story

  • Panasonic new high-tech massage chair looks very, very comfortable

    Panasonic new high-tech massage chair looks very, very comfortable

    Posted on March 5, 2010 | No Comments
    You could argue massage chairs are something for old people, but after coming to Japan over 5 years ago, I had the chance to relax in more than one of these for a few hours. And let me tell you these chairs, especially those made by Japanese makers, are awesome, provided you don't mind passing out while watching a movie. The problem is that these massage chairs are usually pretty expensive, just like this new model Panasonic announced [JP] yesterday. The main selling point of the EP-MA70 is the built-in ceramic heater that's supposed to relieve fatigue. Special "balls" are used to heat up your back, waist, shoulders and neck area to up to 40C.

    Full Story

  • SodiumOne: Sony’s possibly legitimately fun game in Home

    SodiumOne: Sony’s possibly legitimately fun game in Home

    Posted on December 17, 2009 | No Comments
    Sony hasn't given up on Home, its virtual world filled with avatars and overall weirdness. It just launched Sodium One, which is the latest Home world you and your avatar can spend the day in. There's a game to go along with it, one that looks an awful lot like Wipeout, which isn't bad at all.

    Full Story

  • Review: Dyson DC31 handheld vacuum

    Review: Dyson DC31 handheld vacuum

    Posted on December 2, 2009 | No Comments
    The DC31 is a handheld Dyson. That’s probably all I need to say for you to know that it’s awesome. Features Dual power modes Lithium-ion battery pack Lightweight design MSRP of $219.99 Pros Powerful Very simple design One-touch waste compartment emptying Cons Short battery life No battery life indicator More expensive than most full-size vacuums What is the only company that could get away with selling a $219 handheld vacuum? [...]

    Full Story

  • Bang & Olufsen takes VoIP into high style

    Bang & Olufsen takes VoIP into high style

    Posted on October 20, 2009 | No Comments
    Bang & Olufsen announced their new BeoCom 5 cordless phone today. I know, I know.. bear with me, it's kinda cool. Despite the fact that many people don't even use land lines any more, B&O knows their target audience, and apparently that audience still does.

    Full Story

  • Fog-free shower mirror streams music too

    Fog-free shower mirror streams music too

    Posted on October 19, 2009 | No Comments
    I can't believe I'm about to say this, but this Sharper Image product actually seems to be somewhat useful and – perhaps more importantly -- priced reasonably.

    Full Story

  • The common peephole finally goes digital

    The common peephole finally goes digital

    Posted on October 5, 2009 | No Comments
    It’s 11:30 PM. You’re all alone. Suddenly!! A knock at the door!! “Who could it be?” you wonder. Oh, two large pizzas just for you. That’s right. You ordered them directly from your TiVo in a fit of self loathing. Better make sure it’s the pizza guy, though. Oh, actually it might be the frozen yogurt you ordered too. Time to use the digital peephole viewer.

    Full Story

  • Micathermic Heaters: Do they work well?

    Micathermic Heaters: Do they work well?

    Posted on October 3, 2009 | No Comments
    Fall is here, don’t get me wrong. It’s NOT time to start thinking about winter yet – no sir. However, let’s start thinking about winter. I live in an old apartment in Boston and the radiator in my office is half the size of all the other radiators in my place. As such, it doesn’t put out much heat in the winter time and I’ve had to resort to space heaters (which I’m not too fond of) and Snuggies when it gets cold. These micathermic heaters have caught my attention, though. They’re kind of like space heaters but they’re super thin and can be wall-mounted. I saw this particular one in the SkyMall catalog today and wondered if anybody that’s reading this post either owns this exact model or one like it.

    Full Story

  • LED lightbulb puts out equivalent of 60 watt bulb, uses only 6 watts

    LED lightbulb puts out equivalent of 60 watt bulb, uses only 6 watts

    Posted on October 2, 2009 | No Comments
    Oh man, I thought those compact florescent lightbulbs (CFLs) were expensive at around five bucks a pop. Say hello to the $40 LED light bulb -- and that's an introductory price. It'll apparently cost $50 later.

    Full Story

  • SimpliSafe security system is inexpensive, transportable

    SimpliSafe security system is inexpensive, transportable

    Posted on July 24, 2009 | No Comments
    simplisafeSimpliSafe seems like a pretty simple (get it?) home security system for those of us who value our safety, but not enough to get a professional security system installed and, especially, anyone who lives in an apartment or moves around a lot.

    Full Story