Waterless car wash in a bottle

The exterior of my car is rarely clean; I try to keep it just grime-free enough to fly under the radar of anyone who might be tempted to etch "wash me" on the door. I'm doing my part for the environment - a typical professional car wash uses 20 to 45 gallons of water, while a home car wash uses 80 to 140 gallons.

Now there's a waterless car wash option, and it doesn't even require that you waste gas driving away from home to use it. Green Earth Waterless Car Wash is a product in a spray bottle. You spray your car with it (car can be dry or wet), and it dissolves dirt automatically without rinsing. A 32 ounce spray bottle costs $23 and will last through 7 to 10 washes. Containing organic soap and surfactants, the product is biodegradeable, free of dyes, fragrance, Paraben and VOCs.

My question: Can you use it to wash the outside of your house, windows and all?

Via CNET's Green Tech Blog.

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For the chef: culinary laser thermometer

This one-handed, battery-powered laser thermometermeasures the temperature of cooking surfaces without touching them. According to our friends at Kitchen Contraptions, checking the temperature of your cooking surfaces prevents burning, undercooking, and sticking, and allows you precisely follow instructions to sear, simmer and saute. I have no idea what those cooking terms mean, but maybe the chef-husbands of Chrissie or Jenna would care to comment on the usefulness of this gadget.

$60 at Amazon.

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The Ring: fruitbowl or . . . ?

While these look a little too much like toilet seats for my taste, there's no arguing how practical they might be in a small minimilist apartment.

Fruit is put into the opening at the top and can be taken out at the bottom. At both sides openings are located to show the amount of remaining fruit. "Due to its perviousness to air and its eco-friendliness, porcelain is particularly suitable as a fruit bowl." Who knew?

Concept designed by Joung Myung Lee. Via Yanko Design.

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Morphie provides extra iPhone power on the go

If you’re lucky enough to have an iPhone, you may have some issue with power (ehm . . . don’t we all). Fast approaching to the market is a sophisticated power pack called The mophie Juice Pack. I predict that this will be a handy piece of gear that will be fast-adopted by the iPhone elite (sense my envy?).

The mophie Juice Pack comes fully pre-charged and ready to go straight out of the box. Simply plug in your iPhone to the fully pre-charged Juice Pack and double the time you spend rocking, talking, surfing and sending!

Major mophie Juice Pack Features:



Smart Power Management System

Your iPhone Adaptor or any iPod connector can be used to charge the Juice Pack without your iPhone or with your iPhone simultaneously.



Smart Battery Technology

Instructs the iPhone to always drain out the Juice Pack first. Simply detach the Juice Pack when you're finished, and you still have a fully charged iPhone.



Powerful and Safe Battery Cell

The Juice Pack utilizes a safe, advanced rechargeable lithium-polymer battery cell. There is a built-in circuit to prevent the Juice Pack from shorting, overcharging, and behaving badly under extreme weather conditions.



4 Light LED Battery Status Indicator

There are 4 light LEDs on the back of the Juice Pack. Simply press the test button and it will tell you how much power is left with the Juice Pack. The LED lights also indicate the charging status and the charging progress.

(Available for pre-order)

Price: $99.95 at Morphie.com.

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Eco-friendly bamboo laptop

Gadgets that do their bit for the environment and also manage to score well in the looks department never fail to get my approval. The latest in that honours list is the eco-friendly notebook dubbed as "Eco Book" from Asustek. Plastic casing has always been criticized for its damaging effect on the environment, and since harvesting bamboo causes less strain on the environment than processing wood from trees, it emerges as a better "natural" choice. The eco tag comes from the fact that it is completely encased in natural bamboo. For the design conscious, the laminated bamboo strips will be available in various shades. The laptops are currently in the prototype stage, and the commercial release is expected to happen soon. No details on the pricing yet but expect this product to be in the premium range. Sadly, as of now at least, being good to the earth costs a bit more.

Via Yahoo! News.

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Too big? - Panasonic 150-inch plasma TV

According to my husband, there is no such thing as "too big" when it comes to TVs. Last year, I regaled him with stories of the Sharp 108-inch LCD TV, showcased at CES. Panasonic, one of the largest plasma manufacturers, is out to win the title this year with "the world largest consumer plasma flat TV," once again at CES, with their 150-inch model. The prototype was developed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. It has a size dimension of 138 x 79 inches which is big enough to stand in.

Fortunately (for me), it's not on the market yet and there's no word on pricing.

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Virtual chefs compete in a Wii cooking game

I’m married to an amazing chef, currently cooking his way in the hearts of Manhattan foodies at Gramercy Tavern where he’s daytime sous chef. But, then there’s me. I use the kitchen table as the place to throw my jackets, dump out the contents of my purse, set up makeshift wrapping paper center, and of course just dump everything else that’s in my way there. For my husband the kitchen table is a sacred space that needs to be treated with love. And, well, I love to throw my stuff on it - it’s extra storage in our tiny apartment.

In an effort to help get me more interested in cooking for Christmas he presented me with an awesome Wii game, Cooking Mama: Cook Off.

The 2 player game pits chef against chef. Step-by-step, recipe-by-recipe, both players assist Mama cook international dishes from 10 different nations and the coolest part is that the players can watch as the realistic foods actually change in appearance based on their actions and misadventures.

Features Boiled Down:

The Wii Remote is the user's ultimate cooking utensil: chop, grate, slice, stir, roll and use all your culinary trickery! Hold and point it in many different ways (i.e. upright to mash potatoes, lengthwise to fry in a pan, etc.). As the user adapts she/he will actually feel the sensation of cooking in a kitchen! (minus the delicious aroma and results).

Cooking Challenge Mode lets players go head-to-head in the ultimate "cook off" to determine who can cook the fastest with the fewest mistakes, creating 55 real world dishes from 10 different nations: Japan, America, France, India, Mexico, England, China, Spain, Germany and Italy. Making desserts like cream puffs and pudding too! From hot dogs to pan fried crab to bouillabaisse, the challenges invite a wonderful array of food.

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Tokyo breathing new life into karaoke

I haven't seen any real karaoke joints in the states, certainly nothing like the place depicted in the movie Lost in Translation. In my experience, karaoke is something that happens as an after-thought in dingy suburban bars and restaurants, and even there I think the novelty of the idea has largely worn off.

Apparently, even in Japan, where interest in karaoke peaked in 1996, the idea is waning in popularity, leading some businesses in recent years to try putting a new spin on the concept to revive interest. Aria Blu in Tokyo offers private karaoke rooms with a serene, classy ambiance, a far cry from standard karaoke boxes which can be devoid of personality. Each karaoke room at Aria Blu has a theme (for instance, "Hollywood", "botanical," and "lagoon"), and gourmet meals prepared by real chefs are served to make it both a dining and entertainment experience (leading people away from the usual tradition of eating in one place and seeking entertainment in another). Aria Blue targets people in their 20s and 30s, though it also attracts business people looking for a venue for company parties, as well as families with young children.

Other establishments offer foot spas and jacuzzis, or anime-themed rooms and meals. Apparently, a leading cause of the slump in the karaoke industry is the competition from electronic gadgets, which takes up more and more of young people's entertainment budget and time.

Source: The Nikkei Weekly (subscription)

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Booq 90 Series SlimCase for your new laptop

This new slim laptop case from Koyono, the Booq 90 Series SlimCase, is like a snake - looks skinny, but can open its mouth really big to swallow up your laptop plus a some of your accessories and files. The dark ballistic nylon exterior (which looks a little overly masculine to me) opens up to a prettier red interior. Lots of pockets on the outside and inside to keep your stuff organized. Its horizontal orientation differentiates this one from the Boa SlimCase, which is vertical. Available in 3 different sizes to fIt 13 to 17 inch laptops, the SlimCase sells for $106 to $136 at Koyono, and now comes with a free Cool Feet Hot Laptop AIr Stand.

More on Koyono products:

Booq Boa laptop bag for the road warrior

Slimmy: the thinnest wallets on earth

BlackCoat now with integrated iPod controls

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Sony Twirl N' Take camera

There is increasing concern among many (and that includes me) about the potential harm to the environment caused by batteries. With feature-packed gadgets requiring an increasing amount of power, disposal and recycling of batteries promises to become a global headache. So it's always heartening to see companies innovate and bring out devices that are powered by the good ol' "human effort + mechanical wizardry" combo. After launching hand-crank radios, Sony has now turned it's attention to digital cameras. It recently unveiled a hand-powered digital camera equipped with a wheel that can be turned to generate enough power to take photos. Shaped like a pizza cutter, an effort of 15 seconds on the wheel will generate sufficient juice to take one photo. So apart from the tree hugger effect, you have the added advantage of never worrying about running out of batteries for this camera. However, there are two major downers. There is no LCD to preview the photos and the camera is still a prototype. Though Sony currently has no plans to launch this camera commercially, increasing interest may spur it to do so in the future.

Via AFP.

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Bird cell phone

You know why birds squwak all the time? They want someone to talk to. Make your chatty pet happy and get them their own cell phone.

Talk 'N Play is an interactive toy with buttons that light up when pressed that activate phrases to teach them to talk. Teach them handy phrases like "Take out the garbage!" or " You're drunk, Bud." It comes with the requisite mirror because birds are the only pets that have to have their own vanity mirror.

Next, they're going to ask for their own PDA.

$9.99 for the small or $11.99 for the large at Drs. Foster and Smith.

Via those divas at Gizmodiva.

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SmartGlove with thumb support for Blackberry Thumb or texting tenosynovitis

I don't know if Blackberry Thumb is an official medical condition, but anyone who regularly does a lot of texting or emailing on a cell phone knows what it is. According to textually.org, in New Zealand, a woman was diagnosed with "texting tenosynovitis" - an inflammation of the tendons in the thumb from excessive text messaging.

Some hotels offer Blackberry Balm massages to businessmen suffering from this ailment, but short of checking yourself into a hotel or spa, there seems to be little help for those of us addicted to texting. A couple of years ago, I did see, at a Sharper Image store, a little electronic massage machine designed for hands and wrists (similar in appearance to some neck massagers), but I haven't been able to find it again -- anywhere. If you've seen this somewhere, please let me know.

IMAK, which makes SmartGlove wrist supports for carpal tunnel (designed by an orthopedic surgeon), also makes the glove with thumb support, the idea behind it being that it holds your wrist and thumb in a position that prevents further damage. Built into the glove are something called "ergoBeads" which cushion the underside of the wrist. While I don't know what it does to reverse damage already done, it's worth a try if it can prevent more serious problems.

Available for $23 at the Revolution Health Store. Also available at Amazon.

For myself, I'm renaming this condition "iPhone Thumb" - I still haven't gotten the hang of using that on-screen keypad, and have to type every other word twice to get it right.

Related post:

Fit fingers GripGlider

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SmartNav hands-free mouse

The SmartNav hands-free mouse by NaturalPoint enables the user to point and click by using slight movements of the head. Three different designs, with progressively sophisticated features, are available for differing needs: The SmartNav Standard Version is for individuals who want to increase their computer productivity, the Ergonomic version is for those who suffer from carpal tunnel or other forms of wrist strain, and the Assistive Technology version is designed for users who cannot use their hands (includes a virtual keyboard). SmartHomeUSA carries all three versions, and their website includes videos of the devices in use as well as a comparison chart of their features. Priced from $224 to $400.

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Think Pink all year - PInk Sennheiser earbuds

Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean we can't think Pink, as in products that donate to the Komen for the Cure. I love these CX 300 earbuds, not only because a portion of the sales goes to Breast Cancer Research, but also because they're made by Sennheiser so you know they're superior, AND because they're the perfect shade of pink.



For the discerning audiofile, the CX200 provide poweful, bass-driven stereo, plus excellent attenuation of ambient noise, meaning it cuts out most outside noise, but you can still hear a police siren. Ear adapters in three different sizes ensure a perfect fit ,which is important if you intend to use them all day as I do. Asymmetrical cable helps prevent wire tangles, though I can still do a pretty good job of winding them up.

$90 at Sennheiser and Amazon(on sale now for $60).

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Urban Collectables hand-burnt toy cars

Rather than give your son false hopes of one day being able to drive a luxury sports car or shiny speed demon with a set of Hot Wheels toy cars, give him a harsh dose of the real world with a $50 Urban Collectable instead.

The cars in this series will yank the wool from your child's eyes faster than the high-speed chase the toys were likely involved in (before they were individually hand burnt and otherwise destroyed, of course). Yes, it's time to stomp on little Tommy's foolish dreams of polishing a red Ferrari or weaving through traffic in a Porsche. His chances of becoming a well-adjusted adult and contributing member of society are much greater if he can imagine the events leading up to the creation of the joyridden 2-door hatchback, petrol-bombed jeep, and minivan/insurance scam.

Via iliketotallyloveit.

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Lightmare Watch: a new way of telling time

If you're bored of telling time in the usual ways, you might like this Nightmare Watch from Fractalspin. Not only are there no numbers on this watch, there are no hands either. The hour hand is represented by a large inner, red LED dot, and the minute hand by a smaller outer dot. Made of stainless steal, with a rubber wrist band, the Lightmare Watch sells for $165. It would take some getting used to, but it seems fairly intuitive despite the quirky design.

Related posts on watches:

Seiko Electronic Ink Watch

Geomesh mirrored LED watch

Hitachi biometric wristwatch monitors body functions 24/7

Watch what you wear

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BIG Sale -- iPod cases and more at Pacific Design

If you shopped almost exclusively online and are finished with your gift list, you're feeling pretty proud of yourselves by now. I know I am. So reward yourself and pick up a few goodies for Santa. Check out Pacific Design's huge sale.



Here's the scoop:



- $9.95 on selected iPod nano 3G, 2G, 1G, iPod video & Classic, iPod mini and iPod 4G cases,

- Free Personalization,

- Orders over $35 get free shipping ,

- Laptop sleeves and totes - 30% off selected styles,

- Sony PSP cases just $4.95.

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Presto: Let grandparents receive photos and emails without a computer

Even if your grandparents aren't on the Internet (maybe they don't even have a computer), you can now send them emails and digital photos. Get them a Presto printer and service and they'll be able to receive emails and photos automatically. It's a simple, quick 3-step process: (1) you send your email to the Presto service through your own email address, (2) Presto converts them for sending to grandma, (3) grandma picks it up on her printer without doing a thing (all she needs is a regular phone line). The Presto printer sells for $149.99, and monthly service is $9.99. Take a look at how easy it is to set up and use.

[Popgadget is an affiliate of Presto through February, 2008.]

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Modern gingerbread house

Well now. I'd say it's about time the gingerbread house underwent some major renovation and had its landscaping overhauled.

The modern gingerbread house ($78) by RedEnvelope traded gum drops for a rock garden and trashed the Hansel & Gretel blueprint for something more contemporary and suburban. To be the only house on the block without an attached garage and graveled driveway is hardly keeping up with the Joneses, after all.

The 18" x 13" x 5.5" house ships preassembled and should be eaten within 30 days of unwrapping.

Via Daily Gadget.

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Christmas tool light set

Just because you're not the handiest person to have around the house doesn't mean you can't pretend to be. I mean, if you walked into my living room and saw a 6-foot string of plastic tool lights hanging above my window, you'd probably assume I could do a lot more than change a lightbulb. Sure, you'd question my decorating sense and snicker when I couldn't identify the screwdriver, pliers, hammer, and saw immediately, but hey, the lights were on sale for less than $15. And if nothing else, at least you'd respect my eye for a bargain.

Via Nerd Approved.

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