Blehhhh fun.

Ketchup Charlie Spread Head; $3.99

Mustard Marvin Spread Head; $3.99

Toothpaste Rex; $4.99

Flippin for this Upgrade.

I am a huge fan of the Flip and have purchased 7 as gifts.

The Flip revolutionized the way we take and share video and with only a few buttons even the least tech savvy individual can master it.

Now, meet the Flip SlideHD. Same idea - same operation - except now it has a 3" widescreen for viewing...that well, flips out.

Its a must for any indiviudal - 12 hours recording time, capability to take photos and even customizable design. Likey.

What I want .. RIGHT NOW.

ASA Mobo Shift. Available May 12th.

The first ever three wheeled cruiser with a reverse option. Dual joy sticks for steering. Reclining seat with six angle settings.

I love it because it (clearly) allows you to sit back - great for people with bad backs.

Could Robots Replace NFL Kickers?

Joe Nedney (49ers) says no and proves it with a 'kick off'. Nedey went head to head with Ziggy the Combot a 340 lb robot who will be competing in RoboGames this weekend in CA.

Nedney showcased Ziggy's achilles heal: headwind. Humans win.



However, if someone could still tell me why a teams kicker cant also be the punter a lifelong mystery would be solved for me.


Ctsy: Gizmodo -->Robogames-->BotJunkie

Earth Day Gadgetry.

Self Filtering Water Bottle - Get rid of those plastic bottles that are ruining the environment and creating floating trash islands twice the size of Texas! The Self Filtering Water Bottle is only $50 bucks from Hammacher Schlemmer and can go 100 gallons before needing replacement. Its free of any chemicals found in plastic bottles and removes 99.99% of all microbes. And, the best part about it is it can even filter stream water and pond water?!




Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs - Yep, sound boring but this is one of the easiest ways to be eco-friendly and also save yourself money. CFLs last up to 10x longer than an incandescent bulb and use 75% less energy.

Solar Powered Charger - Reduce that digital footprint and charge your gadgets via the sun. I like this Solio unit because it comes with all the popular adaptor tips (for cell phones, mp3 players, etc) as opposed to buying separately which can really add up. Amazon - $60

Solar Powered Golf Cart - Awesome but ridiculii expensive. However a boastful country club must if you have $9,000 sitting around. Hammacher Schlemmer.

Eye-Fi - Making Cameras Wireless Since 2010.

When I was working as an Event Manager for ESPN we were always in a rush to get photos from big events, like the Super Bowl party, uploaded quickly and sent to press. We were slowed down by the fact that the photographer had to shoot all night and then go to their computer, download, and upload to outlets. A necessary evil.

Eye-Fi changes that problem and a series of others and is just overall convenient.

How it works - Eye-Fi is a memory card that converts your digital camera to be wireless. You see, it not only stores photos but can also instantly upload them to your computer, photo sharing or social networking site of choice via any wireless hotspot instantly.

It also never runs out of memory because you set it to delete files after a certain limit.

Crafty.

SkyMall - Coming to an Airport Near You.

For someone that spends way too much time in airports and is sadly greeted as a regular by most TSA employees few things thrill me more traveling these days. Today, was a different day. JFK presented new goodness: a SkyMall vending machine. SkyMall is a catalog that is found in Delta airlines seat pockets sporting random gadgetry and other products like the Solafeet Foot Tanner, the Lawn Aerator Sandals or the Ultrasonic Dog Deterrent Bird Feeder. (Things you don't really need but love to look at.)

Now, I've seen Best Buy and Sephora vending machines which were great and all but nothing as random and unnecessary as this. You see, Sky Mall purchases are not something that should be in a vending machine - they are unique 'wants' that take some mulling over unlike a $1 Clark bar - hence the bazaar 'stop in my tracks moment' trying to imagine and unpuzzle the round table discussion that everyone at the company agreed it was a good idea to move forward installing vending machines.

However, it was still awesome. Especially since for no reason it had a monitor attached to the top of it looping Celine Dion.

Caller ID Spoofing.

Have you ever wanted to make a phone call but not want your number to pop up? Well, if you don't have a private or unlisted number you can hit *67 before you dial to make it come up as unlisted. Alternatively you can upstage that option and be whoever you want to be... via Caller ID Spoofing. You see, Caller ID Spoofing has been around since Caller ID. With a number of programs to choose from essentially you can pick and choose what number you want displayed and you can even disguise your voice real time - which is creepy but kinda awesome.

But cue downer, today, according to Ars Technica Congress will soon pass a bill outlawing any spoofing. The bill states it's illegal "to cause any caller ID service to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information, with the intent to defraud or deceive."

So... get in those weird phone calls while you can. Check out SpoofApp.

And after the bill passes use Sly Dial as a work around - a service that allows you to go straight to voicemail without showing up at all...you can read my previous post on that here.

A few new cool gizmos.

Robot nesting dolls - $14 perpetualkid.com

Quick Milk Magic Straws -$3.99 perpetualkid.com turn any 'average milk' into chocolate, vanilla or strawberry

Scratch n Sniff Stamps- released in Germany - lemon, strawberry, blueberry and apple

Upscale Disney Furniture for adults- launching spring

Thanks to DD for the heads up on these!

How to ... Erase Cell Phone Data Before Donating.

One of the reasons cell phone users are not donating their old cell phones is because they don't know how to erase all of their data before giving it away. Who wants their contacts, notes, and in many cases, emails out there for someone else to see? Or even worse, worrying about the chance of becoming a victim of identity theft because someone uses your personal information.

Here are some quick resourceful tips on how to handle that old cell.

First, do not rely on a cell store to erase all the data for you. Are they capable? Of course - but take matters into your own hands to ensure that everything is really deleted. (There are far too many examples of people who have purchased refurbished phones and find they still have data on them!)

Second, make the process easy by using a 'Free Data Eraser'. Go to Recellular.com and enter your model number (which can be found by taking off the back cover and searching near the bar code). Within minutes, you will receive a PDF via email with simple step by step instructions. That's it.

***
Millions of pounds of toxic waste end up in landfills annually. A large percentage of this can be attributed to the estimated 130 million phones disposed of every year - especially at today's upgrade rate.

So... donate that old Zack Morris phone that's been sitting in that junk drawer for far too long because there are a tons of organizations that could benefit from it!

For where to donate: earth911.com
For great organizations to donate to: pacebutler.com
Interesting cell phone facts: recyclemycellphone.org

What I Want... RIGHT NOW.

I'm holding out for a 3G iPad due out later this month - but now I can't resist having a custom version. A bit pricey - but for an extra $400 you can pick and choose your colors and finish right down to the button.

Definitely a way to stand out but I guess when it comes to $400 for an iPad identity you could just go the route of a skin for $20 and virtually accomplish the same thing.

Colorware also can customize an array of other electronics from your Kindle to your MacBook Air to your PS3 controllers.

Where to Recycle Electronics and ETC.

Most people don't know where to recycle old, outdated technology but the best part is there's probably a drop-off right around the corner. Hit up Earth911.com to find your closest recycling center for anything from VCRs to pool chemicals.

And if you're feeling the need for some extra cash check out Gazelle.com where they offer you cash for your old gadgetry and even supply the postage and a box!

Roadside Ventures - Dinosaur World- Plant City, FL.

Ever since the scene in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure where Simone and Pee Wee sit in the giant dinosaur – Dinosaur World in Plant City, FL became a must on my to do list. And today, I crossed that one off my list.

You cant miss Dino World – there is a giant T-Rex and Brontosaurus on the side of the highway hailing to exit – which I'm sure causes a number of wrecks.

With over 150 life sized dinosaurs, a fossil dig and a classic gift shop with dinosaur snow globes (that just seems way to ironic considering that’s a likely theory as to how the entire civilization died) – it was definitely a sight to be seen… in less than a half hour.

The trip was short lived because they didn’t have any food. I was certain they would have the Tyson dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets at the least - nope just a Pringles vending machine servicing the entire park.

After the 100th dinosaur you kinda got the point but still worth a quick visit.

Segway and Project PUMA.

Today in Disney World, (that's how I typically start out every blog post) we stopped in at an 'Innovations' exhibit in Epcot and actually got some pretty interesting material on the evolution of the Segway.

Did you know there is a special equipped golf version, a cargo version and even an off-road version? There was even a four-wheel concept version named the Centaur (seen in the pic to the right) that never made it to market.

But the latest in Segway has upstaged all previous models. Pairing with GM, Segway is underway with Project P.U.M.A. PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility & Accessibility) is tagged as "the future of transportation".

The transporter can hit speeds up to 35mph and can run up to 40 miles on a single lithium battery charge. Its a two-seater, weighing 600lbs and specifically designed for small commutes or really great first dates. And you thought cab rides in NYC were scary?

Click here for PUMA video.

Health Tech.

Love me some gadgets that make serious strides in bettering lives. With that said, meet the Intel Reader.

The Intel Reader is a device with a built-in 5-megapixel camera that takes photos of text and converts it to audio. The sleek gadget is made specifically for those with dyslexia, senior citizens and blind people that have trouble reading anything from books and magazines to receipts. Younger individuals can even take it with them to school and use headphones so not to disrupt. And get this - converted book text can even be turned into an mp3 and stored in the unit creating your very own library of novels. But, regardless of how used, the real beauty is that a visually impaired individual does not have to rely on anyone else to help them read content.

Weighing only 1.4 lbs, boasting and 4.3” screen and even powered by an Intel Atom Processor - this is definitely forward progress. Now if the price would only come down from $1,500….

A Little Reciprocation - April Fools Style.

For a company that is nearly taking over the world in every direction, I was happy to see Google kick back a cool treat to Topeka, Kansas. Last month Topeka's Mayor renamed the city 'Google', Kansas in a PR stint to leverage selection as one of the communitities Google will choose for their broadband project. Today, Google reverses its name to Topeka. Just hit up the main page to see the funs. Surely, an April Fools stint but a nice way to say hey we're listening and no this doesnt mean you are the winner of our contest.