Attack of the Robots

See this thing? It's called a Roomba, and it's a robot vacuum. I'm not kidding. It uses internal sensors to detect its location, and sweeps up any dirt and dust it comes across, all without your help. That's right, you're obsolete. But I want one. I really do. And I bet my cat, Sydney will love it, at least he'll love it better than our last vacuum (which met its demise when it attempted to clean up Sydney's hairballs. It choked. The poor thing.). And pretty soon we'll all have robot servants to cater to our every whim, and then they'll rebel, and then...On second thought, maybe having a human clean up my floor isn't so bad after all. Besides, this thing doesn't come in a French maid uniform...does it?

Why get a Segway?

Whenever I see one of these things, I can't believe my eyes. It's not because it's a great gadget; there have been others as good as or better than a Segway. It's for the simple reason that the damn thing costs too damn much.I'm just a working class stiff. While I can afford a gadget or three a month, there's no way I'm going to plunk $5000 on this thing. I mean I could probably outrun this thing, and I don't even jog!So what if it's self-balancing? So does a bike when you're riding it. And it's cheaper, too.But I will concur. The Segway would make an excellent vehile for retirees...Who probably can't afford to spend five grand on a thing they could get a cheaper version of, and is stable right out of the box. Like a wheelchair, for example.

Fountain of luuuv

Want to add a touch of class to your next party? Want your guests to remember your last hosting gig? No, I'm not talking about hiring strippers; I'm talking about something with a bit more staying power. This chocolate fountain will surely make your guests feel like they're in a hotel or a snazzy social function. The flowing chocolate evokes feelings of decadent pleasure and exquisite sensations. You can dip pretzels, fruit or even marshmallows in this streaming bit of heaven.But be warned: Playing with chocolate can result in very messy and very naughty results. Use, but preferably abuse, at your own risk.

Need a light?

Whenever I travel, I always bring a good book with me so that I won't get too fidgety or bored. But when I travel at night, reading isn't that viable an option, unless I want my neighbor across the aisle to gently tell me "Turn that off before I break your legs!"That's why I'm grateful for this gadget. It's called a LightWedge, and it's about the same length and width as a regular pocketbook. The clear acrylic lens, lighted by two bright LED lights on the top and bottom make sure that the page I'm reading is properly illuminated. A real handy device, and it saves you the trouble of threatened bodily harm.My cat, Sydney, absolutely loves this thing. It helps him sleep a lot better at night because I don't have to turn the houselights on when I read. He can get real cranky when he doesn't get any sleep.

The shock- and splash-proof phone

This phone is perfect for those who don't want to be bothered by incessant ringing while taking a bath, or doing gardening or just out in the yard taking in the sun. This shock- and splash-proof phone is made by Panasonic and is built to withstand the daily abuse around a busy home and then some!Whenever my cat Sydney goes a little stir-crazy during winter, he always knocks down stuff from tables and shelves and the like. Lord knows how many phones that cat has wrecked. This phone may just be able to keep on going if he does ever get his paws on it. Its rubberized seals absorb impacts so that its 30 phone number memory will remain intact.I just know I'll need this phone come winter.

Syd sez: The Feline Fresh Water Fountain is cool!

For an alley cat, Syd is quite the classy one. Not only does he always use his automatic pet food dish I reviewed a week ago, but he scratched, clawed and sprayed me to get him this gadget: The Feline Fresh Water Fountain.This is not your ordinary pet dish. It's more like a pet dish on steroids, but trained to be a butler. It circulates, aerates and filters the water so that your cat will always have clean, fresh-tasting h2o. A built-in filter assures that the water is free from odor and particles. A gentle, cascading sound ensures that your cat will have a nice, relaxing ambiance while he drinks.Darn that Sydney. That cat always gets the coolest stuff.

Steam Press : Impressive!

This is one gadget for you people out there who live a fast-paced life and can't waste too much time ironing your slacks or dress shirts. The Stainless Steel Steam Press will cut your ironing time by half and save you the trouble of going to the cleaners. It sandwiches the article of clothing to be ironed and steams it flat and straight, and voila! No more pushing the iron back and forth to iron a shirt or pair of pants.Another handy feature of the Stainless Steel Steam Press is the ability of it to be stored upright, thus saving you space in your closet. Its large steaming area is several times bigger than a regular iron's and makes pressing clothes a breeze.So if you're the type that can't afford to stand still, the Stainless Steel Steam Press is a good way to keep that busy pace while still looking good.

Hand-Crank Emergency Radio/Cell Phone Charger

If you're ever going to be stuck out in the big, bad world all alone, this is the one gadget you gotta have. This baby can pick up radio signals, act as a light and can even charge up your cell phone! All without electricity or even batteries.The power to this baby is provided by nothing more than good old elbow grease. You just crank this up for 90 seconds, and it can give you up to an hour of radio, or give you enough electricity to charge up your phone or the emergency lights. This tool can charge cellphones from five different manufacturers.Every home should have one of these, just in case a natural disaster strikes.

The 12 Hour Voice Recorder w/ FM radio

Now here's a gadget techies will love and lawyers will hate. The 12 Hour Voice Recorder, like what its name says, can record up to 12 hours' worth of voice notes, conversations and interviews. Its ergonomic design makes it a handy (pun intended) tool for you budding reporters and interviewers out there. It even comes with an FM tuner and earphones, for entertainment in between those recording sessions. Included with the package are audio cables, a strap, phone jack, USB cable, audio cables and software.Please be reminded that recording conversations may be illegal in some states. Well, that's what it says on the package, anyway.

The Motion-Sensor Dog Fountain

I may be a cat person, but I also appreciate the innovations that dog lovers get for their beloved canine companions. Take this nifty piece of equipment right here, the Motion Sensor Dog Fountain. It's a water fountain for dogs so that dog owners don't have to change the water in their pet's dish every so often. This gadget ensures that the pet gets nothing but fresh tap water and not the stagnant water of a dish. A motion sensor activates whenever your dog approaches, and this opens the water fountain, which connects to any outdoor closet. The water flow stops when the dog walks away. An easily adjustable height setting and battery power (4 "c" batteries) add to this fountain's convenience.If you find yourself constantly refilling and changing your dog's water, why not consider getting this device? Your dog and your back will be grateful for it.

The Automatic 7 cup Kettle

Have you ever wanted piping hot coffee in a jiffy? Or hot soup in a flash? Or maybe some nice hot tea for an afternoon with guests, but it takes the stove far too long to bring water to a boil?With the astounding Automatic 7-cup Kettle you can! This safe and easy to use kettle brings water to a boil in 90 seconds! And you don't even have to transfer the water from the stove to the table. Just plug the kettle in, wait for it to boil, then voila! Hot water for you and your guests!It's got a base that it sits on and plugs into a wall socket so that you can have hot water anytime, anywhere!

Keep the bugs out with the Magneto-Sonic

Pests are a problem for everyone. Well, except maybe for frogs, but then again they eat bugs! For most people, finding a bug in their home is an act of war upon them by the insect race. To help them in their war efforts, the Magneto-Sonic uses inaudible (to the human ear) ultra-sonic waves and electromagnetic pulses to drive away pests such as ticks, spiders, rodents, ants and the like. This gadget can cover around 5000 square feet of space and plugs into any electrical AC outlet.The best thing about this baby is that you don't have to use chemicals, bait or traps that aren't really all that effective against these critters. Just plug it in and watch those pests get out and stay out!

The 3.0 Photo Binoculars

This is perhaps the only time I'd spend cash for a pair of binoculars. I'm not too particularly fond of them, as I find them too big and bulky for any trip. But on some very rare occasions that I get to go bird watching, this gadget might just do the trick. The 3.0 Photo Binocular is an impressive package, bundling a 3 megapixel digital camera and a long-range binocular together in one unit. It's even got a 20-second recording capability as well. You can then upload your shots to any PC for you to enjoy.I'm going to have fun with my neigh...I mean, the next time I go bird watching. Yeah, that's it.

The Motokata Bionic Ear

Do you find yourself turning up the TV more and more each day? Or maybe you keep asking your co-worker to repeat what she just said? Or do your housemates complain about the racket from your normally (to your point of view) playing boom box?Then, maybe it's time to get the Motokata Bionic Ear. This hearing amplifier device (not a hearing aid. That'd just be inviting lawsuits) weighs very little, but works a lot in helping you hear better.You can hear up to 50 decibels better with this equipped. It's smaller than a lighter and it even comes with volume control! Plus, it comes in a way cool silver-black motif that doesn't look anything like normal, geeky hearing aids.

The LCD Portable DVD Player

If you've ever been a passenger on a long road trip, I'm sure it wouldn't take you long to get bored out of your skull. After all, there are only so many times you can sing "99 bottles of beer" before your friend shouts "shut up!" and kicks you out on the highway.We all don't want that do we?Now if you brought along something like the LCD Portable DVD Player, things would have gone a wee bit smoother. This super thin (one inch!) tablet player comes with A/V jacks, an 8.4" hi-res LCD screen and can play almost any CD media format!This baby makes any kind of travel a more entertaining ride.

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Phone

As I've said before, I just love retro phones. These lovely novelties add a touch of whimsy to the business of answering a phone call.That's why I love this phone. It comes in the shape of a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle and even sounds like one when it rings! You use the motorcycle seat to answer incoming calls, and the keypad is located just beneath. The Harley-Davidson Phone makes for a great conversation piece, and is functional, too! This replica is an exact model of the famous "Fat Boy" style of motorcycle. It's a must for the motorcycle enthusiast and the discerning collector as well.

The Krups Duo-Thek Coffeemaker

If you're a caffeine fiend like me, then you're sure to just love this one. The Krups Duo-Thek Coffeemaker allows you to brew and serve not one but two pots of coffee at the same time. Each pot can serve up to 10 cups of your favorite gourmet blend of coffee, or one can brew regular coffee, the other can brew decaf! A truly versatile brewer.This coffeemaker is an excellent choice for those late-night talks, marathon group meetings or for everyday coffee use. Its double-walled, brushed and insulated stainless steel carafes help keep your cup of java fresh, hot and ready to drink for hours.

The Wizcom SuperPen Professional

Having trouble reading that manual? Or are you befuddled by that term in the trade journal you subscribe to? Do you wish you had a trade-specific dictionary that you can bring with you, but hate to lug a heavy book around?Then look no further than the Wizcom SuperPen Professional! This excellent "scan and define" tool for you English speaking professionals contains 9 different text reference materials including a medical dictionary, Internet dictionary, a thesaurus and an idiom reference book, all bundled into one outstanding gadget.If you need to know that word in a hurry so that you won't look like an idiot guessing at it, get yourself the Wizcom SuperPen Professional now!