Casio G'zOne Commando
For summer excursions that involve lots of water and mud, an AAPL)" target="_blank">iPhone -- or any typicalsmartphone -- is just not going to survive. TheCasio G'zOne Commando ($199 with two-year Verizon (VZ) contract) is a rugged Android-powered smartphone that meets the U.S. Department of Defense MIL-STD 810G spec for short drops (about 5 feet), water immersions, contact with mud, exposure to scorching sun and other environmental hazards.
SensoGlove
A remarkably innovative golf aid, the $89SensoGlove is aimed at training you to hold the club with a light grip. (Golf experts say a tight grip is the primary cause of an erratic swing on the course.) Sensors in the fingers measure your grip, and an LCD screen alerts you (both visually and audibly) about your grip pressure. You can configure the sensors to warn you when you exceed a threshold, such as a tightness level over 10.
Nike (NKE)+ SportWatch GPS
The trendy-looking Nike+ SportWatch GPS($199), which flaunts neon colors that match well with Nike clothes and shoes, connects to a small wireless receiver (included) that you place in the undersole of your Nike shoes.
Parrot AR.Drone
The Parrot AR.Drone ($300) is a flying "quadcopter" you control with your smartphone. When it was first released last summer, it worked only with the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, but now Android, Symbian and Bada users can play as well. The drone can go up to 160 feet high.
Brookstone Always Perfect Chef's Fork with Digital Meat Thermometer
Some folks claim that barbecuing is an art, but geeks can tell you it's all about science. Expert grillers know that every kind of meat (chicken, pork chops, steaks, hamburgers and so on) has to be cooked to a specific temperature before it's perfectly done.
Some folks claim that barbecuing is an art, but geeks can tell you it's all about science. Expert grillers know that every kind of meat (chicken, pork chops, steaks, hamburgers and so on) has to be cooked to a specific temperature before it's perfectly done.
PÉton's American Red Cross Axis emergency radio ($70) is quite the multifunction gadget, handy whether you're camping in the wilderness or at home when a thunderstorm or other disaster that cuts off your electricity. The device uses an NiMH battery that recharges when you turn the hand crank. One minute of cranking provides 15 minutes of power.
entax Optio WG-1
Available in black or bright purple models, thePentax Optio WG-1 ($350) is a rugged outdoor camera that can withstand 5-foot drops, 220 pounds of weight and underwater submersion to 33 feet. I found that the 14-megapixel camera, which measures 4.5 by 2.3 by 1.1 in. and weighs 5 oz., took surprisingly clear pictures for a pocket camera.
iRobot (IRBT) Scooba 230
Summer means lots of time spent outdoors -- and that means a nearly constant stream of dirt, mud, sand and more dirt tracked inside. The Scooba floor-washing robot is perfect for the inevitable cleanup chores on hard floor surfaces
No comments:
Post a Comment