Friday, October 2, 2009
Gadgety Things
The idiom "necessity is the mother of invention" explains why we end up with some great gadgets here at Things. What it doesn't explain is how inventors come up with the devices that solve common problems--and why the solution seems so obvious to me only after someone else has invented it!
My new favorite is the Zip It package opener. I get so frustrated when I buy a new Thing that I just can't wait to play with, but it comes encased in one of those diabolical clamshell packages. They seem designed to keep me and my toy separated forever! No matter what I try, from scissors, razor blades and knives to my own teeth, I always end up hollering in frustration. More than once, I've destroyed the contents trying to free them from their impossible encasement! Finally, someone came up with an answer: the battery-operated Zip It. All you do is put the edge of the package into the device, press a button and Voila! Your new Thing is set free from it's plastic sarcophagus. I don't know how anyone could live without one of these ingenious tools!
Things for saving money always catch my attention. This Kill A Watt device is one of the best I've seen for reducing your electric bill. It lets you measure power consumption and project the cost of running everyday appliances. All you do is plug the Kill A Watt into a wall socket, plug the suspect appliance into the outlet and watch the results. I found out my older toaster consumed more energy than my newer toaster oven, even when the oven was on its highest temperature setting. I'm planning to save big bucks with this gizmo. And it even evaluates the quality of the power your getting from your utility company.
This Trip Advisor is both keychain and personal travel assistant. Just select the closest highway exit or mile marker and let the talking keychain tell you where to find the closest gas station, restaurant or rest area. It will also give city to city directions and travel phone numbers like motels, airlines, car rental and roadside assistance. As far as I'm concerned, it's the coolest keychain ever!
And speaking of being on the road, an emergency charger is a critical Thing for every glove compartment. Using only one AA battery, it gives you emergency power for your cell phone or iPod--even if the battery is completely dead. It comes with five adapters and works with your iPod, Motorola, ROKR, Nokia, Samsung, Blackberry, and RAZR phones. It even has over-voltage protection and is guaranteed not to overcharge or damage your Things.
Here's a Thing that makes your life easier and safer at the same time. My elderly aunt can't change the batteries in her smoke detectors anymore. I always try to remember to help her when I change mine, but sometimes it takes me a few days to get out to her house. Since I got her a couple of these Self-charging Smoke Alarms, I worry a little bit less. The smoke alarm recharges every time she turns on the light it's attached to. And it has an internal self-charging power pack that lasts up to 30 days without recharging. And she can test the alarm without standing on a step stool or chair, she just has to flip the light switch. Plus, it's simple to install. She likes it because it's easy. I like it because I know she will always have a working smoke alarm in the house.Whether it's a Thing to make life easier, a Thing to save money, or a Thing to help you stay safe, our buyers are always on the lookout for the most useful widgets in the world. I think I'll go see what else they've come up with...
Until next week,
Bobby
Posted by Bobby at
5:00 AM
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