Gadgets Blog: Unusual Gift Ideas
Gadgets, gifts and novelties for all ages
![]() Is there going to be anything we don’t use our mobile phones for in the future?July 31, 2008 on 12:53 pm by Dirk | In News | 1 CommentWith mobile phones getting ever smaller, and incorporating more and more technology, the latest generation incorporating GPS, Wifi, Infra-Red, Bluetooth, accelerometers, among other receivers antennas and chips. Add in the various functions these now perform such as MP3 Player, Radio, Email, Instant Messaging Programmes, and again the list goes on and on.
StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb ![]() What exactly qualifies as a gadget?July 18, 2008 on 1:22 pm by Dirk | In News | Comment on this postA recent discussion between two of our Gadgeteers had over a recent ‘Executive Lunch’ looked for answers to the question “What is a gadget?” The dictionary definition of Gadget is – “a device or control that is very useful for a particular job.”
So this means that anything that serves a purpose classifies as a gadget. Doesn’t it? Well following this logic a cardboard box is a gadget, it’s a device that is very useful for storing and transporting things. For me this doesn’t quite fit what we think of as Gadgets here at Gadgets Towers. My personal opinion is that a gadget is something that instils a certain sense of excitement.Yes, we all know how small children are far more interested by the large box the washing machine came in than the ridiculously expensive Christmas/Birthday gift they were bought, but as an adult (at least in age) I don’t get that sense of excitement from these anymore. I think this is where the ambiguity of the term gadget comes from, in that we all have a different sense of what excites us. There are those of us who are excited by cutting edge technology with a vast array of buttons, and dials to be fiddled with. There are those of us who aren’t too fussed by the technology as long as the article in question serves a use, whether it be a flying car or a sink plunger. There are those who are excited by kitchenalia, gardening devices, I could go on, but I feel you get the point. It would appear that the less than tangible quality of ‘gadgety-ness’ is very difficult to quantify, and leaves it like beauty, and so many other things as in the eye of the beholder, so maybe the question we are asking should really be “How would you define what a gadget is?” StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb ![]() Flipping brilliant video cameraJuly 10, 2008 on 3:32 pm by Dirk | In News | Comment on this postGadgets.co.uk have today added the Flip Ultra Video Camera to our already fabulous range of Gadgets. We have been suitably impressed with the Flip here at Gadgets Towers that we planned to feature a video of our own creation here on this very blog. In order to demonstrate the quality of the videos taken, as well as the ease of use and small portable size of the camcorder we sent one of our intrepid Gadgeteers off to a certain UK Theme Park and tasked them with taking videos whilst on some of the rides so I could post the doubtless stunning results here. Unfortunately despite lashing the camera to our gadgeteer so tightly it stopped blood flow we were not allowed by security staff at the park to take the camera on any of the rides, and even when concealing the small hand held video camera, upon discovery at the end of the ride the groundbreaking video was mercilessly deleted without a single viewing, so you shall have to make do with a pretty picture instead. The Flip Ultra Video Camera is great for anyone who wants to take some good quality videos while out and about, without having the camera overcrowded with needless buttons and settings. OK, as the Flip is without a light, or night mode it’s not at it’s best in very low light environments, and with its fixed USB connector you may experience difficulty in trying to connect to some USB ports, although an extension cord, or USB hub will soon solve this minor problem. On the positive side it switches quickly and effectively from bright light, to low light all on it’s own, auto-focuses, and has an LCD screen so you can play back what you’ve just recorded. Recording is started and stopped by simply pressing the central red button. All the software you need is on the camera itself so there is no need to fiddle around installing drivers or software, just flip out the USB connector and plug in. Overall the Flip is great for anyone looking for a camera they can just point and shoot with a minimum of fuss. StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb ![]() Flashing Batman T-Shirts arriving soon at Gadgets.co.ukJuly 4, 2008 on 3:53 pm by Dirk | In News | Comment on this postWith the release of the new Batman film The Dark Knight just weeks away we here at Gadgets.co.uk thought we should let you know of the fantastic new flashing Batman T-Shirts we will have in stock any day now. StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb ![]() Cardboard crap, or a re-invention of the portaloo?July 2, 2008 on 4:06 pm by Dirk | In News | Comment on this postI have today been directed to a product fairly new to the market. It is one of those things that could revolutionise a particular niche market with its simplicity, somewhat like the Post-it Note. Or it could just be a really crap idea. Allow me to introduce the “Shit Box”. Now I was always of the opinion that epiphanies and eureka moments like these normally came on the toilet, not thinking about using one…? For the princely sum of £15.67 you can get the ‘Bog Standard’ edition which includes a box and 10 degradable bags, with more bags available on their own in packs of ten. Not content with being a just portable loo it also claims that if you fold the lid down you have your very own stool to sit on, maybe in more ways than one. To be honest I’m not too sure about this myself. After all you’re going to need to use this in your tent, unless you are a total exhibitionist, and with the inevitable excesses abound at festivals, as well possible complications from a rouge dodgy burger, it could get very messy, very quickly. A few of my friends have said they are quite curious about it, and as such have suggested we take one with us to the Reading festival this year. Others have suggested if we do they don’t want to camp anywhere near it. But is this really all that different to already available products such as the “SheWee”, or indeed, just doing the same over a big ‘vat’? At the end of the day it is more eco friendly than a chemical toilet, you know exactly who’s used it, and you have no need to venture out in the rain, or middle of the night. People will be put off at the idea of doing their business in a box though. StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb |
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