Author name: Khalid Hosein

TrekStore USB Thumbdrive and Bottle Opener

Computers, Portable / By /

Ah yes, is there anything that you can’t USB-ify?! Well if there is, then it’s not a bottle opener! The TrekStor USB-Stick CO 8GB is a bottle opener and a USB 2.0 thumbdrive.

It’s a good-looking solid, brushed aluminum opener/stick. It’s a bit pricey, but should hold up for a long time assuming one of your buddies doesn’t swipe it from you when you get a bit too buzzed to notice.

Buy now!
Price: $43.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Bank allows check deposits via iPhone

Networking & Internet, Phones / By /

USAA, a privately-held bank, is about to roll out an updated version of their iPhone app that will allow select customers to ‘deposit’ checks without having to mail in or step foot into a bank. Customers will photograph both sides of the check with their phone and then a few touches later, voila!

USAA has had check scanning capability for years now and this is just the next step. Expect other larger banks to follow suit quickly.

via NY Times

Microsoft ordered to stop selling Word 2003/2007

Miscellaneous / By /

A federal judge has ordered Microsoft to stop selling Microsoft Word 2003 & 2007 versions in 60 days, because it was ruled that they [Microsoft] infringed Canadian company i4i’s patents. Of course, Microsoft says it will appeal.

What I wonder is if this ruling stands up, how is Microsoft going to handle the huge quantity of Word licenses that are sold as part of Office bundles particularly by OEM computer makers who include Office in their packages?

Talking Remote Meat Thermometer

Gizmo of the Day, Home Automation / By /

Certainly not the first meat thermometer out there, and it won’t be the last, but this one from Grill Alert is pretty nifty. Stick the stainless steel probe into the meat and the transmitter wirelessly sends updates to the receiver which you can wear on your belt if you’d like.

The receiver/display shows you information like the temperature, the desired temperature based on the type of meat being cooked. It also has a small database of meat types and recommended temperatures. And the best part is that you don’t need to continuously look at it, because it has voice prompts that say when the meat is almost ready and ready.

In case this one is a bit too pricey for you and you don’t care for the voice and/or wireless features, take a look at some of the other meat thermometers we’ve featured.

Buy now!

Price: $69.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Moshi Voice-Controlled Digital Alarm Clock

Home Automation / By /

You already know how we love our alarm clocks here on GfG! Well we love the sound of this one, or more precisely, it loves the sound of us. You see, the Moshi alarm clock is voice-controlled. Start off by saying “Hello Moshi” and it will ask you for the command to perform.

Features include the typical alarm clock, but some other niceties like the current temperature, the date, sleep sounds and a night light. Moshi has a nice large, bright display and is elegantly styled.

Buy now!
More info from the manufacturer
Price: $49.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Lazy Pad – palm-sized Bluetooth keyboard and mouse

1 Comment / Computers, Gizmo of the Day, Portable / By /

The Bluetooth-connected Lazy Pad lets you control your laptop or notebook with this all-in-one keyboard & trackpad. It even includes a numeric keypad. Weighing in at just over 3oz and just over 4″ at its widest and very thin, it’s pretty easy to hold in one palm while you control it with the other.

You can also use it as an adjunct number pad; the accountant in you will like that. It has a number of key combinations that let you perform functions that typically only a full-scale keyboard would do.

More info from the manufacturer

i-gotU GPS travel & sports logger

Gizmo of the Day, GPS, Portable / By /

The i-gotU GPS logger tracks your trip via GPS and records up to 65,000 waypoints in its 16MB memory. With its very small size, you can slip this into your pocket and head off on a hike, bike ride or road trip. Take pictures along the way and when you get back, plug both camera and i-gotU unit into your PC and the software will figure out where and when you took those photos.

The software is also configured to upload your travel blog to sites like @trip, Google Maps, Facebook and more. Take a look at the demo on @trip to get a good idea of what it can do for you without your having to figure out blogging software or GPS to map or photo to GPS.

There are 2 versions: a pure USB one and one that has Bluetooth so that you can pair it with your phone and use it as the GPS unit for your cell.

Buy now!

More info from the manufacturer
Price: $29.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

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