The Bytelove Gadget Blog

Here is a question for you - what is the most vital part of planning a party? Well, from my observations, a party is doomed if you don’t have cold drinks (tea parties don’t count as parties - they are more like social gatherings (that’s okay though)). Well, in my opinion, a party is a waste of time unless they play good music too, but that’s beside the point.

The simplest way to cool the drinks is popping a few ice cubes into them. Works every time - they are welcomed in raging techno parties as well as in, let’s say, anniversaries.

However, we gadget freaks are weird by nature. So why should we choose something so classical? I mean, cubes are boring. How about a rubber ducky?

Like the idea? Well, this silicone ice tray does just that - duckies. It makes eight ducks at a time, and the flexible silicone ensures that it doesn’t break.

Well, if we put the weird part aside, it’s still great for children’s parties, or they would occupy the kids in a more peaceful gathering, where you only want to talk to their parents. They are perfect…Well, okay, so you might seem like a weirdo, but it’s fun

A tray with 8 ducky shapes costs £4.95 (10$) at Gadgeter.

July 20, 01:36. You know what they mean. Actually, nothing that important - it’s just the time that my PC clock shows (it is correct by the way). So anyway, what did you think after seeing the date?

Well, I can’t account for everybody, but I’m certain that there are some of you who thought “only one day left” (well, technically, it’s still July 19 in Britain, so it’s two days). So, what’s so special about July 21, 2007? Hint: it has a lot to do with the picture above.

Well, I suppose it’s stupid to think that this proved to be a challenge. The last book of the “Harry Potter” series will be released. Well, since I’m not too much into gathering the details, I just guess that it will only be released in the UK. The other countries have to wait for translations (I would have to wait an additional 6 months or so for the book to be translated to my language - thank god for international shipping and the fact that I learned english while I was still a kid).

But, if you do have the option to read it almost instantly, why not do it with proper accessories? (Just like team attire that people wear in sport’s matches). Forget about T-shirts and wizards’ hats - get a wand instead. I have stumbled across a great assortment of magic wand replicas, light-up wands, interactive wands (react to movement by lighting up an making noises), levitating wands…

The full assortment can be viewed here. But please remember that these wands re just carved wood (if not plastic), so think about doing anything stupid with them, okay?

What do you do when you run out of some supplies (whether it’s food or supplies or anything else)? Most likely you grab a pen and write it down on your shopping list. So low tech…And I bet that most of you have a writing that noone but you can decipher (I can proudly say that mine’s decipherable…When I write slowly…and in print letters…nevermind).

Well, I have a solution for this. The SmartShopper (Wonder if they spent atleast a minute thinking of a name for this) will both look good/hi-tech, it will behave like it’s hi-tech, and you won’t have to engage in cryptology write anymore.

All you need to do to add a new entry is to press a button and tell the name of the product, and it will be shown on the LCD screen for confirmation (It comes with a library of 2500 items and you can add additional ones on your own).

When you’re actually going shopping, all you need to do is print out your list. The inbuilt printer uses thermal paper (cheap, smooth and a bit reflective paper), which means it doesn’t require ink (it works by heating up the paper, and the paper turns black at those spots from the activated chemical reactions). 3 rolls of thermal paper are included (That paper is quite cheap if memory serves me well, so you shouldn’t have problems when those 3 rolls are used up).

Well, what do you think? Sure beats paper is most aspects. Actually, in all but one price. I don’t know how much notebooks and pens cost where you live, but I’m guaranteed that it’s not $179.95. However, if the price tag doesn’t frighten you, this is available at firststreetonline.

I assume that a lot of you, the readers, are short sighted. Well, I am too. Well, if I am short on time (or just lazy, which is usually the case) I just wipe them off with some cloth. If I’m at home, I (sometimes) go to fetch my microfiber cloth (yeah, yeah, I know I bought it for my glasses, but cleaning laser lenses is more important). I only wash them when I’m in a mood for that. Why? because I’m lazy, that’s why.

If it sounds like you, then we both could enjoy this. It’s not much of a gadget (lacks the “coolness” factor), but it makes our lives lazier (therefor I think it’s great). The Automatic Eyeglass Cleaner actually works like washing machines used for clothes. It’s really easy to use - just pour in some washing concentrate (some is included), water, put in your glasses and leave it for 50 seconds. After that, just polish your glasses with a microfiber cloth (included). By the way, since it runs on 4 AA batteries, it’s extremely portable.

For those of you who want a clear and lazy life, the Automatic Eyeglass Cleaner is just £19.50 (39$) at gadgethub.

I am sure that a nice percentage of our readers (you) are not only readers, but bloggers themselves. Some of you may prefer to record their voices instead of doing the long and boring task of writing. I can’t argue with you - it’s fast, easy and doesn’t require much equipment - a good microphone will do. And if you can do some basic editing, everything is perfect.

However, more seasoned pros might want to take it to the next level by offering better quality recordings - editing audio is nowhere as good as getting it right on the spot. The package consists of:
UCA 200- 2/2 I/O USB audio interface with hardwired USB cable.
5 channel studio mixer with XLR input/microphone preamplifier.
Dynamic microphone with clip holder.
Stereo headphones with mini jack and 6.3mm adapter.
Table microphone tripod.
XLR microphone cable.
2 stereo RCA cables.
Quick start guide and manuals.
CD Rom with driver/manual/software.

With this, there is nothing stopping you from becoming the next internet celebrity. Think you have something interesting to say, that the masses would appreciate? Then what are you waiting for. Get this for £89.95 (180$) and start your way to fame. Found at iwantoneofthose.

Well, this is a gadget that would be great for all you DIY fans. Well, actually it’s just as useful for anyone who does some work with small objects. I think everyone knows how annoying can it be. Personally, I really am grateful for my magnifying glass when people drag me their jewelery (chains) to fix (silver/gold plates or silver chains are fine, but high purity old is a nightmare - way too soft and sensitive for my liking (I’m not a brute though - you should see what one of my “clients” did to her silver chain by trying to fix it herself :))).

However, holding a magnifying glass completely occupies your hand. Sure, you could just use a tabletop magnifying glass (a lot of professionals do), but what if it isn’t your job, and you would prefer to do it while laid down on the couch (if I’m gonna be fiddling with a small chain, I might as well do it comfortably I always say). Okay, so that’s too much hints already. These glasses have 2X magnifying lenses. Works well, doesn’t distort shapes (since both your eyes are getting magnification from their lenses), and perfectly mobile/hands-free.

Found at hammacher. Problem is, these cost $159.95, so you might want to look for a cheaper model, or just trust the sharpness (has nothing to do whether you’re short-sighted or far-sighted) of your vision - the benefits are obvious - hands free, extremely portable and mobile, doesn’t break, and completely free

The main purpose of gadgets is to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Of course, sitting cooked up in the office is nothing to be happy about - and that can be easily proven by the sheer amount of office gadgets.

However, it seems that gadgets are spoiling people beyond what’s imaginable. Apparently, games are already too hard and too dull to be played without gadgets (yet it might be for us, gadget freaks). I got this attitude after seeing this gadget - The Laser-guided Pool Cue. Instead of you doing the hard work of aiming the cue, it has a red laser (most likely a class 2 (up to 1 miliWatt)) pointer inside it. Seriously, how could have we played without a gadget that aims for us?(sarcasm)

The cue has a manual as well as an automatic off switch (in case you forget to turn it off manually). The set includes a 58″ two-piece cue with a secure microfiber grip and an aluminum joint and ferrule, in addition to two tip scuffers, two chalks, three replacement leather-tipped ferrules, and a zippered nylon carrying case with shoulder strap and accessory pocket (hope that tells you something - I can barely understand what half of these names refer to. When I play I’m given a stick and told to hit the white ball so it would hit a colored ball into a hole).

The set costs $59.95, and is available at hammacher.

There’s nothing like a good game of horseshoe to liven up your bbq party, right? Well, in my case it’s a NO , but that’s not the case. However, even I do realize that trying to do it when it’s pitch dark outside is nearly impossible (experience with throwing cards).

Yet this gadget changes everything. With it, you will be happy when the darkness comes - playing will become a lot more fun then. There is a light source at the top of each horseshoe and stake. So, not only does it look cool (and way cooler than in sunlight if I may add), it will actually allow you to play at night too. Each item requires a button cell battery to run (included). The batter lasts approximately 60 hours.

The whole complect is composed of 8 horseshoes. It’s available for £18.99 ($48) at gobaz. A pretty affordable price for all of the surprised looks from your friends.

With USB gadgets being incredibly popular, many have discovered how limited their computers are in terms of number of USB sockets. That didn’t stop the craze though - a USB hub was just the solution for the problem. And since people started buying hubs, manufacturers started making gadgets out of hubs. There are a variety of models - Ive seen dogs, godzillas, keyholes and similar looks given for the hubs. However, they’ve forgotten a rule “less is more” (probably because the rule also applies to it’s usability).

However, what we have today is a perfect example of it. If you want, this will be a small hub that fits nicely with everything else (godzillas don’t exactly keep a low profile). And when you want, it stands on your desk shining, and drawing attention to it - I suspect there would be quite a few inquiries as to what the bar of gold is doing on your desk.

The hub has eight USB 2.0 sockets. It can use two power sources - USB (cable included) and AC adapter (included). If you want it, it’s available at AudioCubes for $69.00.

“The force is strong in this one”. These words, spoken by Darth Vader, are just a stupid hint to you to help you guess what are those little critters in the picture. That’s right, these are designer Star Wars USB drives, made in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd.

The drives are 1GB, using USB 2.0. They come preloaded with wallpapers, icons, trailers and a soundByte application featuring actual audio from the Star Wars saga (this data is removable). Also, they come with matching hoods for carrying them in your pocket.

By the way, these are limited edition, available from 2500 to 3500 units depending on the model.

These are available from AudioCubes for $69.00.

And now, for a goofy ending to this post: “May the force be with you, young reader”.