How many times have you been on your way out the door, only to realize that you can’t find your keys? This doesn’t usually happen to me (I’m pretty good about keeping track of my personal items), but I’m almost always accompanied by someone who is constantly losing everything. Remember my friend that I told you about, the one who I bought a whistle key finder for only to learn that he couldn’t whistle? Well he’s not the only person in my life who needs more than a little help holding on to their personal possessions. I have another friend, we’ll call him Enrique, that loses his keys just about every day. He loses his keys so often that he has multiple spare sets on hand. He loses those too.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel though: the Remote Key Finder (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $22.95) may be able to help him. Like most other key finders, you attach the receiver to your keys (or any other device you’re prone to misplacing) in hopes that it will aid you in its location. This key finder uses a transmitter to activate an 85 decibel alarm on the receiver when pressed. In case you don’t know, that’s pretty loud. As in, if you’re standing right next to it, you might jump out of your skin a little bit. What makes this transmitter different from the others is that it operates using a unique digital signature, so you can use multiple devices without interference. Also, the transmitter works through walls and floors, with a range of up to 75 feet.
Before you start complaining that this key finder doesn’t work, you should know that you’ll need to press and hold the transmitter button in order to activate the receiver – one quick press of the button isn’t going to cut it here. And while I did test to make sure it transmits through doors and walls (it’s crazy, but true), I didn’t fully test its 75 foot range. Mostly because my apartment isn’t that big.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 1.75″ x 1.5″ x .25″ -Includes transmitter, receiver, and double sided tape -Transmitter activates 85 decibel alarm in receiver -Up to 75 ft range -Works through walls and floors -Unique digital signature allows for multiple device usage without interference
I’m a terrible packer. Either I try to get by with just a few things and end up forgetting all the essentials (try getting dressed without your pants) or I go in the complete opposite direction and basically scoop up everything in my closet before throwing it in a suitcase. That being said, I try to keep my carry-on items to a minimum, but anyone who travels knows that this is no easy task. After you pack a book, magazine, snack, iPod, headphones, crossword puzzle, Sudoku, Mad Libs, and DS, there’s really not that much room left (and yes, I do need all that to travel). And guess what? I haven’t even tried to pack my computer and everything else I need for work, which close to impossible after all that.
In the interest of being both space-saving and functional, the Portable Laptop Cooling Pad (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $23.95) is fantastic. When retracted, it has one fan showing and it looks like half of a cooling pad. But once you extend the pad by pulling out the other end, two more fans appear and you’ve got a big boy cooling pad. This creative design allows you all the cooling power of a regular pad without the added weight and bulky exterior. Like most cooling pads, this one is USB powered and features a small on/off switch on the side. All you have to do is pull the cooling pad open when in use and push to close when you wish it transport it. It’s as easy as that!
This thing is gonna be a godsend when it comes to airports. Just think about the last time you had to go through security and didn’t separate your laptop into its own container because it was wedged into your computer bag next to your oversized cooling pad. That wasn’t fun, now was it? Unless you like being taken into your own special room for some one on one questioning…
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 12″ x 6″ x 8″ (retracted) 12″ x 9.5″ x 8″ (extended) -3 built in fans -Lightweight and portable -USB powered -On/off switch -Cooling pad surface made of aluminum
My desk is a mess. Again. I seriously clean my desk off about once a week and for some reason, it always ends up covered in papers, pens, and other miscellaneous pieces of garbage. I once looked all over the office for my phone for about 20 minutes before I realized that it had been sitting on my desk the whole time, underneath a mountain of paperwork. True story. Now, I could make it my prerogative to be more organized, but that sounds like it takes work and I’m pretty lazy. There has to be a slacker way to handle this situation.
An easier, and more practical, way to clean up your desk lies within the Non-Slip Gadget Holder (ThinkGeek, $15.99). Not only does it hold your phone close, ensuring that you’ll never again lose it in a sea of papers and be forced to miss that important call from your mom, but it’s also a 4-port USB hub. That’s right, now you don’t have to deal with wires all over your desk and unplugged electronics scattered over your desk, fighting tooth and nail to get one of your computer’s USB slots. Instead, you can enjoy the luxury of plugging four of your beloved gadgets into one USB port. With a plug and play attitude that requires virtually no set-up, you’ll be able to actually see the surface of your desk in no time.
My desk is made of glass?! I had no idea!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 59mm x 102mm x 106mm -Non slip pad holder with USB 2.0 4 port hub -Includes holder with 4 port USB hub, mini USB cable, charger output cable, 6 mobile phone connectors, and user manual -Fully compliant with USB 2.0 specifications -Backwards compatible with USB 1.1 -Plug and play -Full list of mobile phone connectors available on product page -Supports Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OSX, and Linux
I can’t ever seem to find my phone when I’m in the car. Without fail, it’s in the backseat or it’s fallen off the front seat and onto the floor – in any case, I can’t easily reach it. I mean, that’s if I can even hear it ringing when I’ve got the radio cranked up and I’m singing my heart out (what, you know you do it too). The only place I can really put my phone while I’m driving is in the cup holder, but sometimes I like to actually use that to put a cup in. Shocking, I know. And on the off chance that I’ve located my phone in time to answer it, I have to fumble with a headset so I don’t get caught driving and talking on my cell phone. It’s really hard to be so popular.
Behold, the Magnetic Cell Phone Holder (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $7.95)! With this device, it’s easy to field all those calls without compromising your car safety. Using the power of super strong magnetic force, the magnet half of this gadget attaches to your car’s dashboard with the help of a flexible adhesive back. The metal plate adheres to the back of your phone using a two-way adhesive, and then all you have to do is place the metal plate on the magnet. Voila! Hands-free talking can now commence!
I had my doubts about how well my iPhone would actually stay stuck to this holder, but it worked like a charm. I mean, there’s a release button built into the holder for a reason. While this is fantastic for my iPhone, I would venture to guess that it could also be pretty awesome for your iPod. At least then I wouldn’t have to drive with one hand on the wheel and then other holding my iPod, searching for a song. You know, safety first and all that.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Makes any cell phone hands free capable -Includes 1 metal plate and a 2 way adhesive -Magnet with flexible adhesive back attaches to any dashboard form -7500 gauss magnet holder
I just got my electric bill and wowza, it was a lot! I can’t say I’m really all that surprised though because when you’re addicted to gadgets like me, you tend to utilize a lot of electricity. And while I can accept a high electric bill as the result of my hobbies, there’s nothing out there that says I have to like it. I mean, half the time I’m not even using most of my electronics, but I’m just too lazy to go around turning them off. An easier (i.e. lazier) way to go about saving some dough of energy expenditure is to use the Outlet Switch (Taylor Gifts, $5.98). Instead of having to turn off or unplug all your electronics when they’re not in use, simply plug them into this switch and then plug the switch into the wall. All you have to do then is turn the outlet off when you aren’t using it. That’s it. There are no other complicated steps. I’m pretty sure that just about anybody could do this. Then again, there’s that lazy factor – if I’m too lazy to unplug an appliance, am I really going to flick a switch? It requires barely any effort, but I’m still not sure if I would do this on a daily basis.
Let’s not overlook the fact that you can only plug one item into the switch, so if you had the amount of gizmos I do, you’d have to buy a gazillion of these things. If only there was a product out there that allowed you to plug in a multitude of items and still turn them off with a simple touch of a button…you know, like some sort of strip of power…
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 1.75″ x 1.5″ x 1.25″ -On/off switch -Easy to use -Made of plastic
