What did you guys grab this weekend for Christmas or whatever? I picked up a pretty cheap graphics card for my son, a pair of crazy cheap Adidas runners, and some LEGO. We’d love to hear what you picked up and what you’d like to see us review in time for the holidays.
(more…)Category: Gear
The math checks out: Braun’s iconic calculator is back
Designed by Dieter Rams, this minimalist calculator made waves when it hit stores in 1986 and the reappeared, under a different guise, as the Apple iPhone calculator. Now, however, you can own a new version of this classic calc.
(more…)I, for one, welcome our robotic wireless cat toilet overlords
I’m decidedly not a cat person but I can appreciate the value of a good, robotic cat toilet. The Litter Robot 3 is a Wi-Fi-enabled cat toilet that automatically cleans your cat’s poops with the intensity of purpose of a Terminator.
(more…)Master & Dynamic’s MW07 earbuds are surprisingly good
I like to be surprised. When I first used the Sony WH-1000XM3 I was pleasantly surprised to the point of replacement, deciding that Bose would no longer get my money. Now Master & Dynamic, a higher end audio manufacturer, might be prying the AirPods out of my oddly-shaped skull.
(more…)Can Microsoft deliver where Google failed?
Remember Pixel buds? Google had this plan to sell earbuds that worked with Android to do real-time translation and Google Assistant. Reviews weren’t great. They had problems pairing, problems charging, and generally didn’t add to the experience, the way Siri via Apple AirPods seems to. Can Microsoft get wireless headphones right?
(more…)Japan shuts down its last pager network
Japanese service providers have shut down the last pager network in Tokyo, ending a fifty-year method of communications popular with doctors and teen girls. In its 1996 heyday, pagers beeped on 10 million belts. Before the mobile phone they became popular with Japanese teens as a cheap and easy way to communicate.
(more…)This self-driving garbage can will take itself out
Worried about leaving your leavings in the back yard? SmartCan has your back.
Created by Andrew Murray, the robot will drag itself out to the curb on trash day. It currently uses a sensor system to help the robot position itself on the curb. Interestingly, the system connects to almost any municipal trash can and is self charging via a dock.
(more…)You won’t know you want the Jackery portable power station until you need it
Devices like Jackery’s portable power station – essentially a big battery that lets you charge USB and mains-powered devices – are seemingly only useful in an emergency. After all, who needs a heavy battery that can last a few hours on a charge unless you’re in the middle of a hurricane.
(more…)Watch this wonderful video involving the restoration of an apple peeler
We don’t often beg on this site but please, please, please watch this amazing video of an 1890s apple peeler being restored into immaculate condition by a guy who calls his channel Hand Tool Rescue. It’s almost meditative in its beauty.
(more…)Daytripper automatically hides your naughtiness when your boss walks by
If you’re anything like me you like to shirk, dilly-dally, and dawdle. But figures of authority like bosses, parents, and teachers are always asking you to focus! How better to thwart their vile ends than with a little box that hides your gaming as soon as they walk by.
This DIY project, called Daytripper, consists of a little sensor and a receiver. When someone walks by the sensor it sends a signal to your computer to hide all your windows or even shut down your computer. This means you can be browsing shopping sites and you’ll immediately be warned when someone who pays your bills walks by.

The kit is simple enough to build by hand but you can also purchase a ready-made kit on Tindie for $59. Some specs:
- Can detect motion within 120cm (4 ft).
- Has 5Hz scan rate, works best indoors.
- Works out-of-box with Windows, compatible with all major OSs.
- Has a 40-hour battery life, rechargeable via USB-C.
- Has a 100 meter (330 ft) communication range between TX and RX, open-air.
- Comes with a magnetic mounting kit.
Given the fact the Man is always trying to steal your time this might be the best solution for stealing it back.