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Copy vinyl to CD - and now to MP3, too.
2008-05-14 22:39:00
We have mentioned a similar idea before. That was when we found a vinyl player that could burn to CD. Now, we have found one that is one better. The Ion LP2CD Converter can write to MP3, too. And if you need to tweak the sound a bit afterwards, it comes with software that can accomplish this; EZ Vinyl Converter 2 (EZVC2) for PC and EZ Audio Converter (EZAC) for Mac. The whole thing is USD 399:95, with Gracenote MusicID software that will analyze the vinyl record and fetch the name of the artist, album, and songs from the 'net
More About: Copy

Slippers for muddy boots.
2008-05-14 22:37:00
We don't know if we're going to laugh or cry over this one. Of course it's a pretty smart idea to let you get away from taking your boots off if you're just stepping inside to pick up a screwdriver. On the other hand it's kind of frightening to think that enough people walk into houses with muddy boots or wellies enough times to make boot slippers like this a marketable product... Made out of felt with a no-slip stripe on the soles. Hand wash only. Available in two sizes. A pair of the smaller slippers will set you back USD 29:50. The bigger ones are a bit more expensive.
More About: Boots , Muddy , Slippers

Generate power as you flush.
2008-05-14 00:09:00
Hydroelectric power is generated when moving water passes through turbines. And that goes for any kind of moving water, not just rivers. So the idea hatched by Leviathan Energy to use water moving through the sewer system could work, too. That means you could help power your house or community every time you flush the toilet. According to Tree Hugger (and Wired) Leviathan?s scalable turbine could be installed on a municipal system, or fitted to your own toilet to make use of the potential power just running down your drain. And if that is possible, why couldn't a similar turbines be fitted to the water mains, letting us generate power from incoming water as well.
More About: Power , Flush

Preventing theft by design.
2008-05-14 00:08:00
After some 195 projectors were stolen from London schools in the first three months of 2005, the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) proposed a simple and low-cost design solution. It suggested that all educational equipment could be produced in a bright and distinctive orange color so that they would be easily identifiable and more difficult for criminals to sell on. Potential customers, it was thought, were likely to find the orange units less desirable and might also know that the orange color meant it was stolen property. According to Becta, the orange idea had an immediate beneficial impact. In the London Borough of Havering annual thefts of projectors and other electronics from schools had exceeded GBP 150,000:- (about USD 293,000:-) in one year. But with the orange projectors and other security measures, such as etched and forensic marking on the equipment, burglary rates fell substantially. Brilliant! More on British Design Council.
More About: Theft

Back saver.
2008-05-14 00:07:00
Part of the Smart Stuff editorial team has suffered from a bad back for years. On occasion acute lumbago has had to be treated by our favorite chiropractor and plenty of acupuncture. Now, this ergonomically designed handle, an easy addition to straight-shaft tools, could have saved us on several occasions. By changing the position and angle of one's grip, it helps reduce back strain, fatigue, and stress injuries caused by repetitive movements. Sounds like Gospel to us. The handle is made from ABS plastic, and it can be used on any long-handled tool, such as a rake, broom, shovel or mop. USD 9:95.
More About: Back

Peel-and-stick solar panels.
2008-05-12 19:32:00
We don't think it's as easy as your everyday peel-and-stick adhesive bumper sticker, but just the same. It sounds like a major improvement from the tedious drilling and constructing that goes into the installation of ordinary solar panels. The Lumeta PowerPly solar panels are glued in place on the roof, using adhesives normally used in roofing. So far the method/product is only available for commercial buildings, but we hope an application for private homes will be in the market soon.
More About: Solar , Stick , Solar Panels

Pen with own writing light.
2008-05-12 19:29:00
This LED equipped pen is meant for pilots who may have to take notes during flights in the dark. Why they did not use a more night vision friendly red LED, we don't know. The ink and the light in the pen can be used individually, so you can use it as a daylight pen or just as a flashlight if you like. It's called the Pilot's Pen, and it's USD 20:- on Amazon.
More About: Writing , Light

Shower for the outback.
2008-05-12 19:28:00
The deal with this water bag is the shower nozzle in the bottom. With the Pocket Shower , you can have a nice warm shower when you get back from whatever it is you do in the wilderness. At least as long as you have a base camp to come back to. No-one will want to carry a filled water bag along all day, and if you fill it up when you pitch camp, it's not going to deliver a particularly warm shower. The idea is you fill it up in the morning and leave it out in the sun all day to get nice and warmed up. The bag has room for 10 liters (2.6-gallon) of water that is supposed to give you about 8 minutes of shower joy. If you don't use it for water you can always pack it with stuff you want to keep dry. It is, after all, water proof. USD 24:95.
More About: Outback

Bamboo clothes - future of the garment industry?
2008-05-09 17:16:00
Making textile from bamboo does not seem to be any more strange than making clothes from wood. Yes, they do. The wood fiber is called viscose, and the fabric is very soft and nice to wear. Bamboo fiber is made in much the same way as viscose, but the bamboo has a lot of other nice properties, besides being soft. Here are some of them. Bamboo fiber absorbs perspiration and will not stick to your skin. It's great ability to breath makes bamboo garments particularly comfortable in hot temperatures. They are also warm in cold weather. Bamboo is also naturally anti-bacterial and this makes bamboo clothing stay fresh and odor free longer. It is also anti-static, UV protecting and anti fungal. Bamboo is also considered environmentally friendly since it grows like wildfire, and does not require green thumbs to cultivate. To add to this, bamboo grows in many Third World countries that could well use the additional export revenue. We have a couple of bamboo (and bamboo-cotton mix) t-shirt...
More About: Industry , Clothes , Future

Slide bolt with combination lock.
2008-05-09 17:15:00
We have seen plenty of slide bolt locks before, but the Combi-Bolt is something else. It has a built-in four digit combination lock with 10,000 possible combinations. You can change the combination whenever you feel like it, and the lock is supposed to be resistant to weather. It also comes with a kind of "one way" screws that are meant to make it difficult to remove. Available in black- or chrome- for about USD 25:-on Amazon.
More About: Slide , Combination , Lock

Insulating emergency thermo blanket.
2008-05-09 17:14:00
The material used in these heat insulating emergency blankets is said to have been developed by NASA, to be used as heat insulation during space expeditions. But it can be put to a lot of other good uses besides space travel. At the scene of a car accident, for instance, you can often see injured or shocked people wrapped in blankets like these to preserve their body temperature. In less serious situations, the blanket is very handy when camping, and it makes an excellent sleeping bag liner. Made from water proof, wind proof and highly reflective (90 percent of body heat is reflected) Mylar fiber, they have one more interesting feature. They are just USD 5:- for a 4-pack on Amazon.
More About: Blanket , Emergency

Smart, dead simple wine rack.
2008-05-08 16:20:00
Wine storage can become almost as complicated as space travel. We have some friends who put a lot of work into transforming a basement room into a wine cellar and bodega, complete with wine racks, furniture and lots of candles. Others have fancy wine fridges. Others still, and we find ourselves in this group, would be just fine with a kit like this. Two rubber or plastic wedges that let you stack the bottles on top of each other. It would probably work best if all the bottles are the same kind, so you won't have to rearrange them... It's GBP 4:95 (about USD 9:66) for two.
More About: Wine , Smart , Dead , Simple , Rack

15 smart uses for aluminum foil.
2008-05-08 16:19:00
Fellow blogger Anna Sattler on DIY Life have written a list of fifteen unusual and smart ways to use aluminum foil. The post is not new, but we like it just the same. We'll give you our three favorites; for the rest, please visit DIY Life. 1. Sharpen scissors by cutting through some seven layers of foil. 2. Clean guck from the grill by rolling a foil ball and scrub. 3. Prevent static electricity build up in your clothes by putting a ball of rolled up foil in the dryer.
More About: Smart , Aluminum

Holder and drip tray for beer can chicken.
2008-05-08 16:18:00
It has been a while since we posted on the beer can chicken, and to be frank we have not gotten around to trying it yet. Maybe this summer. Here's a gadget that's supposed to solve a problem we didn't even know existed. Apparently beer can chicken produces spillage that in turn causes flare-ups on the grill. The Steven Raichlen Beer Can Chicken Rack with Drip Pan is supposed to stop flare-ups since spillage collects on the tray. The tray will also collect meat juices so you could make sauce afterwards. USD 24:95 on Amazon.
More About: Tray

Pet food cookbook.
2008-05-07 21:39:00
Don't know if you've got a pet or not, but we have a cat that's allergic to almost anything on this Earth. It will sport a rash as soon as it's fed the wrong kind of food. Now we know pretty much how to handle this, but we would have been happy to have some help in the beginning. We think we would have been helped by this book - The ultimate pet food guide - by Liz Palinka. We just wish we'd known about it a bit sooner... Available on Amazon- at USD 11:96.
More About: Food , Pet Food , Cookbook

Motorola sponsors charging kiosks in Uganda.
2008-05-07 21:37:00
The Third World has had an explosive growth in mobile phones. The mobile phone technology has meant a leap in so far as the developing countries has not had to go via landline phones to create a telecommunications system. However, it is not without problems. The most difficult is probably access to electrical power to charge phones and to power base stations. In many places where there is no, and probably never will be, a power grid people are left with diesel generators, with all the problems they bring. A better solution would be to use solar power, a commodity that's abundant in most of the parts of the world that need it. Motorola has sensed this, and are now testing placement of charging kiosks where you can charge your cellphone for free. If there's only Motorola chargers available is not clear at this point, but during the wait you'll be able to check out the latest Moto offerings and perhaps re-fill you cash card. The idea seems to be to entrust the kiosks to female mi...
More About: Sponsors , Uganda , Charging

Serious work gloves.
2008-05-07 21:36:00
Designer Shawn Campbell from LA has, apart from a lot of other cool stuff, created these very serious work gloves. They are made for the "Grunters, Framers, Grippers, and Handlers" out there, i.e. all the people that makes it possible for us to watch shows, movies and concerts and to be able to move house without breaking our backs.
More About: Work , Gloves

Finger cutlery.
2008-05-06 21:08:00
We have previously presented the finger paintbrushes and a finger toothbrush. So we suppose it's about time to introduce the finger cutlery. The culprit behind the finger cutlery is designer Merry Kawamura Ganjavian, and there's a finger fork, a finger knife, and of course a finger spoon to let you cope with every eating situation. Maybe the finger cutlery would be the perfect picnic gear. At least you don't have to carry the weight of the handles...
More About: Finger

World's first semi auto shotgun for left-handed people?
2008-05-06 21:07:00
The credits for this invention goes to Italian arms company Benelli. It's something we've been wanting for years; an auto-loading shotgun for us left-handed shooters. There hasn't been much to choose from for us lefties. You either live with having the hot shells zip before your eyes after each shot, or go for the classic systems with a bock (over-under) or a side-by-side. However, there has for some time existed another alternative; an auto-loader from Remington that ejects the shells downwards. We have posted on the Remington before, and maybe their solution is the best in the long run since it's okay for both right-handed and left-handed shooters.
More About: People , Auto , Left , Semi , Shotgun

Wash without detergents.
2008-05-06 21:06:00
Our good friend and frequent tipster, Monica F., sent this snippet from a Swedish house-and-garden magazine. It's about washing balls (they look a lot like small UFOs) that, if they work as advertised, could replace ordinary detergents. It sound pretty fantastic, but the balls, when immersed in water, are supposed to produce ionized oxygen. The oxy is then supposed to activate the water molecules to penetrate deeply into the fabric and lift the dirt off. The upside would be that you could save on detergent, on running shorter washing cycles, and running them on a lower temperature. Three balls (supposed to last for a thousand washes) are SEK 750:- (about USD 123:-).
More About: Wash

Transfer and measure angles.
2008-05-03 17:12:00
Here's a a quick way to measure angles without having to construct a special template. Set the tool in place, adjust its arms to conform to your project?s angles, then tighten the thumbscrews. Tiling and flooring is much easier with a tool like this. We have tried it both ways. The Angle-izer comes with a CD-ROM for Windows (no Mac version, alas) with a calculator for cutting parts to fit arches or circular patterns. USD 24:95.
More About: Transfer

First really waterproof watch?
2008-05-03 17:10:00
Most watches are called waterproof but they?re really not waterproof. If you try to engage the chronograph on most pieces the watch will become unstable and could let water in. Breitling has solved this problem by placing a magnet on each button, and another magnet inside the case. When you press the button, it engages the movement without actually touching anything. The magnets repel each other. The downside is that Breitling has used their caliber 73 SuperQuartz motion, but if you can live with wearing a quartz watch on your arm...
More About: Watch , Waterproof

Hand powered onion chopper.
2008-05-03 17:10:00
We have another Chef'n product in use since a couple of years, the Rev'nChef herb chopper, and it works like a charm. Just put whatever herbs you want inside and pull on the string. Their new onion chopper (above) uses the same basic tech (a string like on a lawnmower) but on a bigger scale. But if our experience with the Rev'nChef can be trusted we think this one is equally good. USD 29:95.
More About: Hand , Chopper , Onion

Coach gets adjustable window tint.
2008-05-01 14:54:00
Japanese coach and truck maker Hino has developed a new luxury coach with windows that let passengers individually adjust the degree of tint in the windows. The coach has more than 11 square meters of glazing that can be varied from crystal clear to a tint six to eight times darker than normal tint. The technology can block more than 99% of UV radiation, drastically reduce heat build-up and glare inside the coach and as an added bonus it offers better soundproofing and greater structural strength to the bodywork.
More About: Coach , Window

Shine your shoes like a pro.
2008-05-01 14:53:00
Now, if you want that pro shine you can't keep shining with just one hand. No way. You will have to imitate a professional shine man's moves. With this convenient shoe holder you get to use both hands, while not having to assume the shine man's kneeling posture. Just attach the holder to the wall at a convenient height. The holder can be adjusted to accept shoes up to a man's size 13. USD 21:95.
More About: Shoes , Shine

Sponsor a water purifier for just USD 25:-.
2008-05-01 14:52:00
Vestergaard Frandsen, who created the smart Lifestraw water purifier, has taken their technology one step further and developed a family version; the Lifestraw Family. After recently delivering 75 Hippo Rollers in Africa, Project H Design has started a project to fund 100 Lifestraw Family units for a slum community in Mumbai (used to be Bombay) in India. For no more than USD 25:- you can sponsor one system for one family, and the water purifiers will be delivered and installed this summer by Project H Design. In a world where more than a billion people lack dependable drinking water, and where each year five million die from water related diseases this is an opportunity for anyone to make a difference. The Lifestraw Family can clean at least 10 liters of water an hour and more than 10,000 liters in the span of the units life span. That means an average family can have 18 months worth of clean water for a measly 25:- bucks.
More About: Water , Sponsor

The Th!nk electric car enters production.
2008-04-29 10:43:00
Almost exactly one year ago we posted on the little G-wiz electric car, we'd found on London's streets. Now we've discovered that the Norwegian electric car project, Th!nk, is about to enter into production of its City model. The company hopes to produce 1,200 cars in its Aurskog, Norway, plant this year. Meanwhile Th!nk apparently has secured financial backing from US partners and are planning to set up a plant in California, too. It has been a bumpy road for Th!nk since the first prototype was introduced in 1991. The TH!NK City model (in its fifth incarnation above) first entered production in 1999, when the Ford Motor Company was a major shareholder and sunk some USD 150 million into the operation. Ford pulled out after four years, and the company was more or less put to pasture. Norwegian investors, however, supplied fresh funds in 2006, and now they are ready to start production again. If the Th!nk lives up to its promises it could be a serious competitor to the Smart city c...
More About: Production , Electric , Electric Car

Bicycle with electric motor assist.
2008-04-29 10:39:00
It's not exactly cheap, but it could be a steal anyway. The Electric Motion Systems' E+ electrically assisted bicycle could prove to provide a major improvement in your health, the health of the planet and, of course, the health of your finances. After the initial investment you could improve your health by biking to work instead of driving, you would use much less gas, and subsequently spend less money. The E+'s electric motor is situated in the rear hub and the battery in the front. This could make the bike a little front heavy, but we'll reserve any opinions on its handling until we've had a chance to test drive it. Other things are more obviously smart, like the regenerative braking, which enables the battery to get charged each time the rider brakes, and the the handlebar-mounted LCD display which shows speed, distance traversed, battery level and whether or not cruise control is enabled. It is a hefty USD 3,495:-, but considering the price of gas lately...
More About: Motor , Electric Motor , Assist , Bicycle

Cane flipper.
2008-04-29 10:38:00
Upright a cane using just one foot. Just apply pressure on the tip to raise the cane to its upright position. The rubber tip can also serve as a cane stand when you're not using it. Fits most canes. USD 12:95.
More About: Cane

Folding balcony.
2008-04-25 15:51:00
Lots of people who own condos in old buildings in Sweden are looking to add balconies. Balconies are rare in buildings from the turn of the century (the one before last) and it seems everybody wants one. Now the planning authorities never allow balconies to be built facing the street, but it's okay to put them in back in most cases. If you're looking to add a balcony, here's a novel take that can make you reconsider the traditional box. It's been dubbed the BloomFrame and it transforms a standard window frame into a balcony. It can be installed in both new buildings as well as retrofitted to older buildings. The idea comes from Hofman Dujardin Architects.
More About: Folding