June brings sunshine, warmer weather and Father’s Day. If dad seems to have everything and then some, here are a few unusual gizmos and gadgets that might add something original to his collection.
PROJECT FUSION (Above: Olympic sprinter Kim Collins uses the Project Fusion total training system.) Adidas and Polar have come together for a total training
system with Project Fusion. Polar heart-rate monitoring equipment fully integrates with Adidas apparel and shoes, increasing comfort during exercise and accuracy of readings. The Polar WearLink transmitter fits into Adidas adiStar Fusion apparel, including T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts and more,
eliminating the need for the monitor strap around the chest. (Ladies, you can also
get this in a sports bra!) The
s3 Stride Sensor fits into the midsole of the Adidas adiStar Fusion shoe and both talk to the Polar RS800 Running
Computer. The system tracks speed, distance, heart rate and more, and information can
be downloaded to a computer after a workout. System components can be purchased together or separately.
www.adidas-polar.com
HARMONY REMOTE Tired of trying to figure out which remote goes with what electronic device? Do you wish you could go from playing a DVD to watching TiVo by pushing a single button? Get rid of the headaches with this remote control. The Harmony Remote controls all home entertainment
components from one device, and can also control lighting and household appliances. After purchasing the remote, users go online and use the Web wizard to
program the remote control. It handles up to 15 devices. Then, press one button to watch TV, listen to music or play a video game. The Harmony Remote will turn off what isn’t needed and turn on what is needed automatically. The remote also has a colored screen with
customizable icons, so even youngsters can use this device. www.logitech.com/harmony
TRIPOD WALKING STICK For hikers and bird-watchers that are also amateur photographers, check out this two-in-one device. The stick is lightweight, made
out of aircraft-grade aluminum.
It has two quick-release magnetic adapters that let the user attach cameras and camcorders up to nine pounds. It can convert from
a walking stick with a Portuguese cork handle to a tripod, or even
a monopod. The walking stick height adjusts from 47 inches
up to 62.5 inches and in tripod mode adjusts from 43 inches
up to 57.5 inches.
www.trek-tech.com
SOFTSPEAKER PILLOW SPEAKER Listen to music comfortably in bed without disturbing anyone around you. The Softspeaker Pillow Speaker plugs in to just about any earphone jack and is covered in soft foam, so users can rest their ear directly
on the speaker.
www.ccrane.com
DIGITAL PICTURE FRAME This frame by Digital Spectrum Inc., features an eight-inch display, one of the largest for digital picture frames. The unit can read CF, SD, MMC and MemoryStick cards, and also play MPEG 1, 2 and 4 movies and MP3 tracks. It has an external AC adapter and can be controlled both at the unit and by remote. Don’t worry about choosing a favorite photo—rotate through an entire group. Various changeable frames are available. www.pacificdigital.com
NO-DRIP UMBRELLA Rain is a fact of life in the Pacific Northwest. Now rain doesn’t have to drip all over the floor mats in the car when you put your umbrella down. This umbrella, available in black and silver, has its own attached plastic case that slides over the wet fabric to prevent dripping. The tip of the umbrella screws off to easily drain excess water. When open, the umbrella is 42 inches wide and is about 34 inches tall. www.nodripumbrella.com
GRILL ALERT TALKING REMOTE THERMOMETER Grilling season is upon us and many people will be hosting backyard gatherings, complete with grilled and barbecued food to munch on. Now the chef doesn’t have to talk only to those around the grill. With this remote meat thermometer, leave the meat to cook and mingle at the party. The monitor, complete with a belt-clip, alerts the chef when entrees are cooked. The thermometer works up to 300 feet away, is water-resistant and uses two AA batteries and two AAA batteries.
www.brookstone.com
LIGHTSCRIBE If a Sharpie doesn’t cut it
for labeling CDs and DVDs, LightScribe might be the answer. This technology uses a special disc drive and writable media to burn an image on the
top of a CD or DVD, as well as burning data on the bottom. Once you’ve
created the contents of
the disc, flip it over in the burner and burn a custom label. Put anything on the label, or choose an image
from LightScribe’s label gallery. Images burn in grayscale, similar
to a black-and-white photograph.
www.lightscribe.com
KERALA BINARY WATCH
This watch is perfect for those that think in
1s and 0s. The time is displayed as a series
of lights that correspond to the binary number system. Add up each row—the top row for hours and the bottom row for minutes—to tell the time. The watch is stainless steel with a black Ionic plating casing, is water-resistant up to 90 feet and is available with red or blue lights.
www.timetechnology.com
RADIO SHARK Ever wished there was a TiVo device for the radio? Now, Griffin Technology has created one. Called the radio SHARK, this fin-shaped device connects to a PC or Mac and is able to play and record any AM or FM radio broadcast in real time. It can also be programmed to record a scheduled show and will pause live radio, letting you finish the program later. The radio SHARK connects via USB, and recordings can be transferred to an iPod or any other AIFF-compatible digital music player. www.griffintechnology.com
THUMP 2 These Oakley sunglasses are perfect for anyone who enjoys doing things in the sun. Thump 2, as the name would suggest, is an upgrade from the first version. The unique feature about these sunglasses is that they feature a 1 GB music player. About 240 songs can be stored in these sunglasses, and the speaker booms adjust for a customized fit. No longer worry about wires dangling from earphones connected to traditional MP3 players. The battery lasts up to six hours on a single charge.
The sunglasses feature Plutonite lens material that filters out 100 percent of all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light. The glasses are also compatible with PCs or Macs.
www.oakley.com
SWIMP3
This product, by Finis, is
one of the only MP3 players designed specifically for water activities. The underwater portable music player attaches to goggles giving swimmers the ability to bring their tunes to their workout. It uses bone conduction hearing to let users listen to their favorite songs. The unit has 128 MB of memory and comes with a rechargeable battery and a pair of goggles, although it can be used with virtually all goggles. It is PC- and Mac-compatible.
www.finisinc.com
SPEED E CART Sun Mountain, makers of many golf carts, have added this new electric cart to their lineup. The Speed E Cart has a gearless, noiseless 24-volt DC hub motor concealed in the front wheel. It moves ahead unassisted for 15, 30
or 60 yards and can also be pushed like a manual Speed Cart if need be. The unit folds into a compact package to fit
in the car, yet the frame shape wraps around a golf bag, securing the bag without straps.
www.sunmountain.com
GEL-BOT This “activity fuel system,” as the company calls it, is a water bottle and energy gel dispenser all in one. For endurance sports, this is the bottle to get. With the top pulled open, water dispenses. With the top closed, gel dispenses. If the top is pulled halfway open, it is possible to dispense gel and water. The bottle features “ENERGY-CORE” technology—a core screws into the cap that holds up to 3.2 ounces of gel, letting the rest of the bottle hold up to 24 ounces of water. The bottle also breaks completely apart for easy cleaning. www.gel-bot.com
SKYCADDIE The Web site calls this product “The Next Generation Rangefinder.” The SkyCaddie is a GPS unit made specifically for golfers.
It can be used on any golf course to determine distances during a game. Thousands of golf courses are available to download into the unit, but if your course isn’t listed, you can also manually enter information to get accurate distances. The unit is only 4.8 ounces and has a battery life of approximately 10 hours. www.skygolfgps.com
