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TV terminator.
2008-04-07 20:45:00
TV is everywhere. Even in places you don't particularly want to watch or listen to TV. Like bars and restaurants. Or waiting rooms. Or shopping malls. With the Vigilante, however, you can be the TV overlord in any bar, restaurant or lounge. The little wonder contains over 200 infrared on/off codes covering the overwhelming majority of TV models. Just aim and press, and silence will ensue. But do it discreetly, since there might be other patrons who actually enjoy their daily brain-washing. And depending on the bar, they will be more or less prone to violence. USD 20:-.
More About: Terminator

Seat belt light.
2008-04-07 20:44:00
This might be a product whose shelf life has expired even before it has begun. Because if you have a GPS in your car you will probably need a seat belt light just as much as you need a hole in your head. But if you don't have a GPS, it could be just the thing. Imagine trying to find the remote ski lodge you just rented in the middle of the night, and you'll get the idea. It has two levels of brightness from 4 LED lights and it uses 3 AA batteries (not included). USD 15:-.
More About: Seat , Belt , Light

Bike stand for small spaces.
2008-04-04 12:31:00
Here's a bike stand that can help make space for two bikes in a garage or apartment. There's even an extension to accommodate four or six bikes, but it won't be as slim, of course. With the stand bikes won't topple over and since they are upright, they will take up much less space. USD 55:-.
More About: Bike , Small , Stand , Spaces

Tie-pod for tidy travelers.
2008-04-04 12:29:00
We don't use neckties all that often, and we're not about to start. But if we were, and if we travelled a lot, we'd think of getting a few of these tie pods. Keeping a tie tidy in a suitcase can be a problem, but rolling it into one of these see-through tubes would make things a whole lot easier. No wrinkles. No dust. You need one pod per tie. USD 5:-.

Pocket shawl.
2008-04-04 12:28:00
No, it's not a pocket sized shawl. On the contrary. At 66" x 16 1/2", it's quite generous, actually. No the thing is the actual pockets where you can warm your hands on a chilly evening, or keep stuff you don't want to carry. The one in the picture is acrylic, available in black or tan and will set you back some USD 15:-, but perhaps you could knit your own?
More About: Pocket

Tweezer with built-in loupe.
2008-04-02 13:35:00
To remove those bits that you can't see but know are in there. You know how it is. One of these days you'll get a teenzy-weenzy splinter in your finger and you'll be at a loss to find it without these. USD 6:50.

Thermo serving plate.
2008-04-02 13:34:00
Hors d?oeuvres are promised to stay cool or warm for up to two hours with this thermo-insulated serving tray. Put it in the freezer to serve cold food, heat it in the oven to serve warm food. USD 30:-.

Carrying handle for buckets or shopping bags.
2008-04-02 13:33:00
Mabe you have an old bucket that's still useful but missing its plastic grip, leaving just a bare wire handle that dig into the hand. This little helper snaps onto the wire handles of 1 to 6 gallon buckets, making it less painful to lug a load. They are also great for carrying plastic grocery bags. USD 1:95. Link to the other grocery grips and carry handles after the jump.
More About: Shopping , Bags , Carrying , Handle

No posts today. You probably wouldn't believe us anyway.
2008-04-01 10:22:00
Some days are best spent in bed. April first is one of those days. But we are up and about anyway, preparing to-morrow's posts and looking for more smart stuff for your enjoyment. Until to-morrow!
More About: Today , Posts

Password strength checker.
2008-03-31 17:19:00
If you are anything like most of us, you have a few favorite passwords that you use over and over again. Very few seems to invent new passwords, but use and old one that is easy to remember. With the Password Meter you can check your favorite passwords and see if they are up to par. You can also easily experiment with different variables to improve your password and make it stronger. Hint: try to use lower/upper case letters and throw in a number or the odd symbol.
More About: Checker

Rope fastener for the knot challenged.
2008-03-31 17:18:00
Anyone awkward with knots will appreciate this simple fastener. Resembling a large paper clip, it securely holds line up to 3/8" in diameter. Load rated up to 150 lb., the steel fasteners are available with two spiral ends for splicing or with a hook end for use as a tie-down. Comes with instructions. USD 2:75 for a pack of two.
More About: Rope , Knot

Fire resistant document bag.
2008-03-31 17:17:00
This fire resistant bag can be used to store deeds, car title, passports, wills, and other important papers that you want to keep away from fire. It is woven from fiberglass and can withstand up to a 1,000 degrees F. It's USD 12:99.
More About: Fire , Document

The perfect travel jacket?
2008-03-28 00:56:00
If anyone knows, National Geographic should. Using almost 100 years of travel experience they have created the National Geographic Global Travel Jacket (USD 150:-. It is made from teflon coated wrinkle resistant cotton which means it's both water- and dirt repellant. And of course it has leather patches on the elbows and at the end of the sleeves, besides no less than 14 different sized pockets for all your stuff.
More About: Perfect

The most awesome search engine...
2008-03-28 00:56:00
We got this link from Joe on Bookofjoe today. And before we knew we had spent the better part of an hour flipping through the pages. And it was worth every minute. That's why Smart Stuff is late today. So you know. Search me is a new search engine that shows the actual pages in your results much like a rolodex if anyone remembers those. The service is in private beta which means you need an invitation to sign up for it. You can get yours here. When this is written there's 708 private beta accounts left. Better hurry. this can be big.
More About: Awesome , Search Engine , Engine

What you see is not always what you get.
2008-03-28 00:55:00
But you knew that, didn't you? Or at least suspected. If you have ever bought a frozen or otherwise packaged meal, chances are the actual food did not live up to what the picture on the box promised. A bunch of Germans behind the Verbung gegen realität (Advertising vs. reality) website had noticed the same thing, and with almost proverbial German thoroughness they have gone through exactly 100 ready-mades of all kinds, taken pictures of the packaging, cooked the food according to instructions, and finally photographed the often pretty pathetic result. The pictures are organized in sets of three (example above) where everyone can compare what you're promised with what you actually get. The food in the project comes from German stores, but we don't think the assortment in your or our store is much different. Take a few minutes and look through the gallery before you go grocery shopping next time! Bon appétit!

New LED light rig for compact digital cameras.
2008-03-26 18:45:00
We found this new ring light, the Marumi LED-8, for digital compacts today, and we think it looks pretty smart. You attach the light rig either to your camera's tripod mount or to the tripod itself and attach the camera on top (like in the picture above). The flexible arm the lets you either center the ring light around the camera lens, or, if you prefer, to light up the object from another angle. Battery powered. EUR 79:99 (about USD 125:-).
More About: Digital Cameras , Cameras , Light , Digital , Compact

Stab-proof t-shirt.
2008-03-26 18:44:00
The company Nihon Uni has created a t-shirt that they say will protect against stab wounds. They were doing research to find a lightweight way to offer a bit more security in your day to day routine. The shirt is made from a fiber that is three times stronger than the cotton used for an average T-shirt. It is a ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber, which is supposedly equal to the aramid fiber used in body armor. It will be released in Japan in June in both short sleeve and long sleeve versions, the long sleeve variant offering a bit more arm protection. The long sleeve will be sold for USD 220:- and the short-sleeved version for USD 190:-. Expensive, but perhaps we could hope that companies will buy them for their employees...
More About: Proof , Shirt , T-Shirt

Self inflating tire.
2008-03-26 18:43:00
Tires lose their pressure over time. This is a factor in both road safety, fuel economy, and of course in the cost of having a car. Tires wear out before their time when they do not have the correct air pressure. This solution comes from Czech Republic CODA DEVELOPMENT company and is an integrated system that inflates itself using the air around us. The system consists of a tube chamber in the tire wall that acts as a peristaltic pump, inflating the tire as it turns against the road. Once correct pressure is achieved a valve shuts down any further inflation. Impressive.
More About: Tire

Put your extra lighting inside the car.
2008-03-25 11:07:00
Putting large extra lighting on cars seems to be very much a Swedish and Finnish thing. Maybe it has something to do with the long and dark winters and a bit with rally tradition. We of course understand the reasons to add extra lights (most cars have deplorable lighting) but we have never understood the tendency to put these expensive lights at the very front of the car where they are the most vulnerable for parking damages. On one of our cars we were thinking of putting extra lighting on the roof, to get the lights out of harms way. Maybe if these Rayzer lights had been available at the time, we would have been tempted to buy them. Apart from traditional extra lighting the Rayzer light from Swedish Visualeyes mount inside the car, which solves some of the problems with traditional extra lights. But at what cost... SEK 7,950:- (approx USD 1,312:-) Ouch!
More About: Lighting , Inside , Extra

Kitchen towel with grip enhancing rubber print.
2008-03-25 11:06:00
This kitchen towel has a grip-friendly rubber print pattern that gives extra strength when for instance opening jars of relish. Folded, it can also be used as a trivet. The back unprinted and absorbing. Designed by Josephine Drakenberg it is SEK 125:- (about USD 20:-) on Nytta Design. Josephine Drakenberg is the designer behind the clever string-less kitchen apron that we have posted on earlier. The aprons are also available from Nytta Design at SEK 495:- (about USD 81:-) each.
More About: Kitchen , Print , Grip , Rubber

Umbrella pole hooks.
2008-03-25 11:05:00
How many times have you wondered what to do with all your gear on the beach? How many times have you had rust stains on your clothes from hanging them over the umbrella rig? Or had sand in your camera? With the Pole -R-Bear Handy Umbrella Hooks, (almost) any umbrella pole can be made into a convenient hanger for all your stuff. Made from rubber with four rubber coated hooks. USD 12:99.

Birgitta's flush-pod can reduce the risk of Legionnaires' disease.
2008-03-20 13:54:00
Birgitta Olsson of Färgelanda has been awarded the 2008 prize as the year's Swedish female inventor. Her idea, the "Spoldosan" (approx. Flush -pod), has been developed into a product with great commercial promise. The flush-pod is meant to be used to rinse away stagnant warm water left in pipes, shower-heads and hoses, etc. By letting the water run through the Flush-pod into the drain, the amount of water vapor in the air is drastically reduced as is the risk of spreading the Legionella bacteria that causes Legionnaires disease.
More About: Disease , Risk , Reduce

Tea light holder with tea light dispenser.
2008-03-20 13:53:00
The Light house tea light holder is one of designer Carina Ahlburg's latest bright ideas. The tube/tower can hold one lighted tea light on top, and several more in reserve below. You fill the Lighthouse via the opening near the top, and remove one tea light at a time through the opening at the bottom, much like any old dispenser. We like. Also check out Ms. Ahlburg's clever collection box for recycling old newspapers, that we posted on a while back.

Braille cellphone for the visually challenged.
2008-03-20 13:52:00
All cellphones rely heavily on their UI. Some are good, some barely OK, and some suck. But to a blind or visually impaired person this does not matter, since he or she can't use the phone anyway. They would be happy with a phone without all the bells and whistles, as long as it is good for calling up friends and family. Now, apparently, Indian phone service provider Spice has recently showed a USD 20:- braille cellphone. Phone manufacturer Doro also has a cell phone model meant to facilitate for the elderly or visually impaired, but although it has a very simple UI, it does not use braille. Now our question is this; how hard could it be for Motorola, Nokia, Samsung or Sony-Ericson to add braille to the keyboard next time they re-design one of their phones?
More About: Cellphone

Deer whistle promises to reduce wildlife accidents.
2008-03-19 21:45:00
The Save-A-Deer whistle is an animal alert, deer warning device that aids in accident prevention with animals. Help save human and animal lives through reduced deer and vehicle collisions. Not to mention, you will be able to avoid the severe damage animals can do to your vehicle. Tack till Helen M. for the tip!
More About: Wildlife , Accidents , Whistle , Promises

Waterproof socks.
2008-03-19 21:43:00
The breathable sealskinz type boot liner has a patented fabric structure of three highly engineered layers including a membrane capable of allowing perspiration to escape while not allowing water to penetrate (Gore-Tex principle). Each sock is high-pressure tested to make sure there are no leaks. That makes them suitable for most any activity where you risk getting your feet wet. And at USD 14:95 they will not break your budget.
More About: Waterproof , Socks

Bake potatoes on the barbeque.
2008-03-19 21:42:00
From the website: "The Baked Potato Grill Cooker makes it twice as fast to cook a potato on the grill ... Stick your potato onto the prongs of the rack, then place (it) on the grill. The metal rack will conduct heat from the grill, cooking it from the inside while it?s also cooked from the outside. Also keeps the potatoes from rolling around." USD 7:99.
More About: Potatoes

Sir Arthur C. Clarke CBE, dies at 90.
2008-03-19 00:33:00
Arthur C. Clarke , possibly the most visionary sci-fi author of all time, has reportedly passed away. He had just turned 90 years old. The AP alert reads:"AP News Alert 1 hour ago COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) ? Aide says science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke has died in Sri Lanka at the age of 90." Clarke is most famous for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, and for collaborating with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name. He is also is accredited with inventing the concept of the communications satellite. Wikipedia.
More About: Arthur , Dies

Power-strip with ejector pedals.
2008-03-18 23:50:00
The Eject Power -strip is a concept that uses a pedal device to eject power plugs that lead to devices not in use to prevent "vampire" power consumption. That's pretty neat, especially if the power-strip is hard to get at, i.e. under a desk. But being clever, unfortunately it does not help you get the stuff connected again, since it appears you still have to bend down and crawl under the desk to plug them back in. Maybe further development is required, like making the pedal device into a circuit breaker...
More About: Strip

Eco friendly dishwasher tablets.
2008-03-18 23:49:00
This is from Smart Stuff reader Helen M., who writes (somewhat edited) "I would like to suggest ... (these) dishwasher tablets, non corrosive, environmentally friendly ... all (the company's) products are probably innovative and smart, but the only ones I have tried are the dishwasher tablets only sold by Överskottsbolaget (Swedish outlet store/Ed.). They are great. (I) use two tablets per wash in Gotland. In Stockholm one (is enough)." According to the Biotab site the contents of the tablets are sodium carbonate, softener and enzymes and the ingredients are declared to be biologically dissolvable according to OECD guidelines. And there's no perfume either. From Biotab in Skellefteå, Sweden.
More About: Friendly , Tablets