Sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke once posited that any sufficiently advanced technology was indistinguishable from magic, which probably explains why I still believe my toaster is magic. I mean, look: I put in bread and it comes out toast . Think about it . I’m convinced that if necessary, we would be able to completely destroy any invading alien menace were we armed with toasters alone. Assuming that the aliens in question were really really afraid of toast.
Today on Gadgetbox we show you how to keep your fingers toasty in the winter, your beverage cold in the summer, and your precious artworks safe year round—all through the magical nature of fairy dust. Or technology. Probably technology.
Protect your fingers from the big chill
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Having spent the past winter living in my spacious but freezingly cold attic room, I remember what it was like to actively contemplate risking the third-degree burns that would no doubt result from resting my MacBook on my lap— just so I could feel something again .
When this winter rolls around (which, since I live in New England, should be in about two weeks), I’ll have to decide if it’s worth it to invest in some alternative method of keeping these writing fingers warm and limber. Perhaps this $44 heated USB keyboard from ToolTopia can soothe my cold-induced suffering. It has two settings: a mild 85°F to 95°F and a high 95°F to 100°F.
I figure with a little overclocking know-how, we should be able to crank this baby up to incinerate , no problem. As long as I can toast marshmallows over the glowing embers of my keyboard, I’m a happy man.
[via SCI FI Tech ]
Protect your drinks from the big heat
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From the dilemmas of winter to those of summer, we’re a Gadgetbox for all seasons. Keeping your cool in the hotter months is important, and the key to that is drinking plenty of cool beverages. But how do you keep your drinks cool on those steamy summer nights without the watering-down effect ice cubes bring?
Why, with your very own personal refrigerator, naturally. Brando, maker of all things USB, is rolling out the USB Mini Fridge, sized perfectly for one 12 oz. can of your favorite beverage. The 5V fridge draws power from your computer’s USB port to chill your drink down to a frosty 47°F, though it’ll take five minutes for your can to hit optimal consumption temperature.
The real question, as far as I’m concerned, is whether or not I can find a glass to hold a gin and tonic that will also fit in the mini-fridge. But, man, you could spend forever looking for one bloody cup .
[via Engadget ]
Protect your paintings from the big hit
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Such is my fascination with all things art heist related, that when I see something that claims to prevent people from stealing your precious artwork, I must immediately start planning on ways to circumvent said deterrent devices.
Take the Art Guard, for example. The concept is simple: screw the device into the wall in place of your standard hook, then hang your art on the Art Guard’s pressure sensor and attach the additional capture clips to prevent people from grabbing the painting and running, alarm be damned. Pull out the arming clip with the attached strap, and anyone who tries to remove the painting—yourself included—will be treated to a pleasantly ear-destroying 120 dB shriek.
So, how best to fool the Art Guard? I’m thinking the time-honored Indiana Jones method. Good art thieves do their research, including knowing the weight of the painting and its frame. Simply bring along a substitute frame of equal weight, carefully remove the Art Guard’s capture clips and then do a switcharoo. Oh, and watch out for the arrows and giant rolling boulder on your way out.
Or, better yet, get ahold of the arming key and use that. They do use different keys, though, which are each color-coded, so your best bet is to invest the money in a set of Art Guards and bring all the keys with you on your heist.
The Art Guard seems mostly aimed at medium-to-large sized collections, since it appears to only be available in a 10 pack for $399. If you buy ten packs of ten, you can snag them for a discount of $375 each. It all depends on how many paintings you need to steal. Er, guard.
[via Oh Gizmo! ]
That’s it for Gadgetbox this week. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go get my tux from the dry cleaner—attempting an art heist underdressed is the most common rookie mistake.