Although I own a digital camera (and a pretty good one at that), I find that most of my pictures are taken with my phone. Why? I mean, surely it would make more sense to use my digital camera as its photos are taken with a higher resolution and are usually better in general due to multiple photo enhancement options. Obviously the answer lies in convenience. I’d much rather bring just my phone and its photo capabilities out to the bar than have to lug around a phone and a digital camera. I’m sure you feel the same.
We might not be able to do much about our phone’s camera resolution or lack of flash, but we can make it easier to take the picture. The Belkin iPhone Camera Grip (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $34.99) attaches to your phone via the 30-pin connector at its base and provides a stable photo-taking experience. Instead of trying to wrap your hand around the phone and reach the camera button all at the same time (it’s an acrobatic feat for the phalanges), all you have to do is press the shutter button. That’s all. The soft touch design is specially contoured for your hand and allows you to switch from still shots to video with the touch of a button. The grip is case compatible and even features an integrated tripod mount should your photo session turn formal.
Don’t have an iPhone? I guess you’re shit outta luck.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-iPhone camera grip
-2 modes for photo & video
-Fast fire shutter button
-Integrated tripod mount
-Contoured soft touch design
-30 pin connector
-Case compatible
I frequently forget to bring my phone charger with me when I go on a trip. You’d think it’d be something I’d remember to pack, seeing as my phone needs to be charged daily. Oh no, I always end up rummaging through my bag at the end of the day, only to come up empty-handed. The problem with a charging cable is that you usually only have one of them, so transporting it from one place to another is usually a hassle. My charger is plugged in behind my bed – I am way too lazy to unplug it for a short trip.
I’d much rather invest in something like the Credit Card Sized Cell Phone Charger (Hammacher Schlemmer, $29.95) because then I’d never have to wonder if I remembered to pack the right cable. This phone charger is small enough to fit inside the credit card slot of a wallet, micro USB cord and all! Compatible with most Android and Blackberry smartphones (as well as traditional dinosaur-age cell phones), the charger is powered by a lithium-ion battery that can fully charge your device before requiring a power-up itself. Sure, a charging cable doesn’t take up that much room, but it’s way easier to forget in a time crunch. This baby never has to leave the comfort of your wallet, ensuring that your smartphone never has to go without power.
I am addicted to wallet-sized gadgets. Would it be wrong to start carrying two wallets, one for gadgets and the other for actual purchasing properties?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3.25″ x 2″ x .25″
-Weight: 1 oz
-Cordless cell phone power hub
-Fits inside wallet credit card pocket
-One cell phone charge per hub charge
-Micro USB cord
-Available in brown or black
-Compatible with most Android and Blackberry smartphones
-Recharges in 1 hour via USB adapter
One of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to face as an amateur chef is my own laziness. Sure, a home cooked meal made from scratch sounds delightful but it’s a lot of work. More ingredients mean a better melding of flavors as well as more preparation and opportunities to make a mistake. I mean, I know the difference between teaspoon and tablespoon but you’d be surprised how many times I grab the wrong one when I’m frazzled in the kitchen.
What I need, what I’m always looking for, is a product to make cooking less intimidating. The Sink Drainer Cutting Board (Uncommon Goods, $32.00) marries an organic bamboo cutting board with a silicone strainer and I can instantly breathe easier. I don’t have to worry about dropping all the vegetables I just chopped into the sink when I transfer them from the cutting board to the strainer because it’s built right in. The whole thing fits over your sink so you can slide your vegetables or meat directly into the strainer as you go. Usually I end up doing this in batches because my cutting board is too small to sustain an entire meal’s raw materials. Because this cutting board is meant to be used over the sink, it’s quite large and could be a bit tricky to store – something tells me it won’t be spending that much time tucked away though.
It’s probably a good idea to get a jump start on your Father’s Day shopping, so if Dad isn’t into cooking you can still find a bunch of other great ideas at Uncommon Goods.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 24″ x 12″ x 0.8″
-Cutting board with integrated strainer
-Fits over sink for easy chopping
-Wash in warm soapy water
-Made of silicone and organic bamboo
I wouldn’t say that I like getting up early, but it doesn’t bother me nearly as much as other people I know. When my alarm sounds, I immediately turn it off and get out of bed. I didn’t even know how to use the snooze button until a few years ago – true story. Once I’m out of bed, everything else is gravy – all it takes for me to get up is to literally get up. To say this is not true for some people is a clear understatement. If someone tells you that they’re not a morning person, believe them. Your life depends on it.
If there’s any doubt in your mind about your roommate’s temperament, the Mood Mug (Generate Design, $25.00) will clear it up. There are four possible designs available, each depicting a different mood so everyone you encounter will know exactly how you’re feeling without any words exchanged. It doesn’t matter if you’re happy, moody, sleepy, or even hungover – your mug will say it all. Besides the benefit of less morning chatter, these mugs save space by forgoing handles in favor of double wall insulation. Cool to the touch, your coffee/tea stays hotter longer with no pesky handle to slow you down!
Just remember: Sip slowly, lest you burn your entire mouth.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4.75″ x 2.95″
-Capacity: 7 fl oz
-Handleless mug reflects mood
-Double wall insulation
-Space saving
-Available in Happy Larry, Seriously Sleepy, Monstrously Moody, and Horribly Hungover
-Dishwasher safe
-Do not microwave
-Made of Grade A food safe porcelain
Remember disposable cameras? You needed 27 (or if you were lucky, 29) exposures just to get one good picture. It’s not like now when you can repose over and over until your spastic friend finally has their eyes open (alright, that’s me). A friend of mine recently busted out the disposable camera at a party the other night and when I asked her about it, she said that she likes having actual photos where you can’t take a million just to get the perfect one. Hmmm…
For those who want to have their cake and eat it too, there’s the Portable Handheld Scanner (Hammacher Schlemmer, $99.95) – the cake in this scenario being the tangible photo and eating it being the digital copy. It doesn’t just stop at photos though; you can scan anything! Photos, magazines, documents…pretty much anything you can think of. Ok, well you are confined to the limits of the microSD card, but this scanner supports memory cards up to 32 gigabytes in capacity and you can get 180 scans per charge. Each scan is saved onto the memory card as a JPEG file, as either high or normal resolution, and the scanner is both PC and Mac compatible.
Not for retinas.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 10″ x 1.25″ x 1″
-Weight: 7.5oz
-Cordless portable scanner
-Up to 180 scans per charge
-Color image sensor
-High (600 dpi) or standard (300 dpi) resolution
-JPEG images save on microSD card (not included)
-USB cable included
-Uses 2 AA batteries (included)
-Windows 7, Vista, XP, and Mac compatible
