Smart Stuff. The world's smartest gadgets, inventions and ideas.

Letters from readers.
We get quite abit of mail with tips, comments, help and sometimes guest reviews. Here is one from Maj S. who asks us to help her find a couple of products she would like to have. She writes (our translation, slightly edited):

Q: "I would need ... gloves or mitts with some kind of heating. I think there are many who have cold hands all winter long or who gets white fingers from the cold. No wool, thinsulate or sheepskin will help. I once got a pair of gloves from the US with battery powered heating, but I found them too cumbersome. The one time heat packs sold in sports goods stores are too expensive. I need heat every day."

A: We don't know if there are such gloves, but we wouldn't be much surprised. We'll ask our other readers for help on this one. Meanwhile maybe these chemical heat pads (below). They won't get as expensive to use as the one time pads, since they can be "recharged" by boiling in water. The pads are SEK 99:- (approx. USD 13:-) a piece at Clas Ohlson (search for article 34-2978). If any of you gadget connaisseur readers know about any other product that would solve Maj S's. problem, please let us know! /Ed.

Clas Ohlson rechargeable chemical heat pads

Clas Ohlson rechargeable chemical heat pads

Rechargeable chemical heat pad.

Q: I dream of a gadget that makes a noise when it is called or contacted. I would like to stick one to my reading glasses, the tv remote, my favourite pen, my keys or anything that gets mislaid a lot.

A: A few years back there was a key ring that made a noise when whistled at. At least one variant is still for sale (below). It is called Key Finder and is available from Teknikmagasinet (search for article 330002) and it is SEK 59:- (approx. USD 7:50).

Key Finder key ring.
This key finder is probably too clumsy to work with the glasses, but we put our hopes to our readers, and ask for tips on small but clever stuff that could solve the problem with the mislaid reading glasses, remotes, pens and others stuff. /Ed.

UPDATE: We have recieved an e-mail from Matt N., who are far from satisfied with his key finder. He writes:

"I just wanted to share my experience with a key finder we recently received for Christmas. It seemed like a wonderful idea at the time, but the key finder goes off CONSTANTLY. TVs, radios, certain fans, and sometimes even general conversation can repeatedly triggering the loud and annoying beeping noise. Perhaps we're using the 'generic' version which is not as finely crafted as the original, but this device has been nothing but annoying and will soon wind up in the trash. I pity the poor reader who buys this device."

Thanks for sharing, Matt! There you have it. Maybe we should look around a little more? /Ed.

16 January 2006

Pocket sized clothes brush.
We found this innovation in the Quis stand at the Formex design and trends fair last week. Quis is the Swedish Inventors Assn's network for women inventors, and we will come back to some other smart stuff we found with them, but today we will concentrate on this idea for a clothes brush. It is so new, this is only a prototype, but we like the idea. The brush is called Handy Dandy comes from Binnova, and is simply a piece of the brushy material found on miracle brushes combined with a wide elastic band. This makes it easy to bring along in a pocket or purse. When you need a quick brush, just put it on your hand an brush. We have no idea when this thing will be in production, but when it does we will surely get ourselves one or two...

16 January 2006

Prize winning design concept a simple rip-off?
The other day we posted a story on the smart cake cutter design concept (A) from Mod Design Development in Taiwan. A design that won a Red Dot Design award (previous post below). This morning we had a disturbing e-mail from Smart Stuff-reader Ofer K. who writes:

"About the P'sof cake thing - it really is a great idea, and works wonderfully, and I say this from first hand experience. But how can that be? It's only a design concept, no? Well, I've had a cutter just like it for the past five years of so, and I even took a picture of it. I don't know who made it. I got it here in Israel, but I assume that, like all things plastic, it was probably made in China."

Thank you Ofer, for the mail and for the picture. We suppose none of our readers have any trouble spotting the similarities between Ofer's five year old cake cutter (B) and the prize winning design concept from Mod Design (A). The question is if such a design can be "in the air" as it is sometimes claimed, or if Mod Design submitted (and won an award for) a simple rip-off. I that case not only we have been fooled to credit the wrong people, but the much respected Red Dot-jury has been led to award a prestige prize on unjust premises. This is sad, not only for the unknown designer of Ofer's cake cutter, but also for every serious designer who works hard to come up with original ideas and solutions. We hope that the last word in this case have not been written.

14 January 2006

At last an MP3-player without cables.
Ever since MP3 players became popular, we have wondered when someone will liberate us from the little thingamagog that houses the actual memory. We have waited patiently while every electronics manufacturer and his brother has been busy launching one new thingamagog after the other. New colors or skins have been the biggest upgrades for a long time. But finally, here we are. It is called MFM and it is an integrerad 512 Mb MP3 player and headphone. We are pleased. Now they could not get rid of the little thingamagog entirely, but at least you can stick it in the headphone and be rid of the cord. Order yours at Scullcandy for USD 230:- (approx. SEK 1,770:-). Via Chip Chick.

UPDATE 14 January 2006. Reader Patrik H. mails in to remind us of the Macally' mTune-N headphone with iPod Nano dock. To be frank we've seen it and forgotten ablout it. There's nothing like alert readers to refresh your memory. Thanks Patrik! /Ed.

14 January 2006

Wool felt trivet from Hetta.
"The pot stocking" or "pot sock" comes from Hetta, made of wool felt and has several smart features. It stays on your pot (if the pot is the right size), lets you hold a hot pot, and has a rubber printed no slip pattern on the bottom. Available in 6.6 in. ø, 8.2 in. ø and 12.5 in. ø (for pies). MSRP from SEK 275:- (approx. USD 35:-) in stores. Design by Erika Mörn.

15 January 2006

GENERAL FAIR USE NOTICE. These pages may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Smart Stuff is making this material available in an effort to advance the understanding of the workings, impact and direction of various global and national issues. We believe that this constitutes a "fair use" of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use", you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The products, tips, tricks and ideas published on this website have not all been tried and tested by us, and you're using them entirely at your own risk. By reading these pages and using the Smart Stuff website you agree not to hold Smart Stuff HB or any of its publishers, shareholders, principals or emplyees responsible for any loss, injury or discomfort resulting from reading or using any of the products, tips, tricks and ideas published on this site. Although we work very hard to provide you with the most current and accurate information on our the siite, we can not and do not warrant that everything you see on this site is up-to-date, error-free or complete. While we may periodically add, modify or delete any of the information on the site, we do not make any commitment or assume any obligation or duty to do so, and you should assume that the information is current and up-to-date only as of the date it is posted to the site. Neither we nor any of the people involved in production of the site will be liable for any direct, incidental, consequential or punitive damages. © 2005-2012 Smart Stuff HB. Smartstuff.se has a Swedish publishing license and subsequent constitutional protection under the Freedom of Speech Act (Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen) Chapter 1. 9 §. Provider, Senior Editor and Art Director: Marie-Louise Hedman. Published by Smart Stuff HB. Version 2.3.

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Feed via Feedburner What are feeds? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	SMART STUFF #1, VOLUME 2. JANUARY 2006 \|..<.....5..6..7..8..9 Letters from readers. We get quite abit of mail with tips, comments, help and sometimes guest reviews. Here is one from Maj S. who asks us to help her find a couple of products she would like to have. She writes (our translation, slightly edited): Q: "I would need ... gloves or mitts with some kind of heating. I think there are many who have cold hands all winter long or who gets white fingers from the cold. No wool, thinsulate or sheepskin will help. I once got a pair of gloves from the US with battery powered heating, but I found them too cumbersome. The one time heat packs sold in sports goods stores are too expensive. I need heat every day." A: We don't know if there are such gloves, but we wouldn't be much surprised. We'll ask our other readers for help on this one. Meanwhile maybe these chemical heat pads (below). They won't get as expensive to use as the one time pads, since they can be "recharged" by boiling in water. The pads are SEK 99:- (approx. USD 13:-) a piece at Clas Ohlson (search for article 34-2978). If any of you gadget connaisseur readers know about any other product that would solve Maj S's. problem, please let us know! /Ed. Rechargeable chemical heat pad. Q: I dream of a gadget that makes a noise when it is called or contacted. I would like to stick one to my reading glasses, the tv remote, my favourite pen, my keys or anything that gets mislaid a lot. A: A few years back there was a key ring that made a noise when whistled at. At least one variant is still for sale (below). It is called Key Finder and is available from Teknikmagasinet (search for article 330002) and it is SEK 59:- (approx. USD 7:50). Key Finder key ring. This key finder is probably too clumsy to work with the glasses, but we put our hopes to our readers, and ask for tips on small but clever stuff that could solve the problem with the mislaid reading glasses, remotes, pens and others stuff. /Ed. UPDATE: We have recieved an e-mail from Matt N., who are far from satisfied with his key finder. He writes: "I just wanted to share my experience with a key finder we recently received for Christmas. It seemed like a wonderful idea at the time, but the key finder goes off CONSTANTLY. TVs, radios, certain fans, and sometimes even general conversation can repeatedly triggering the loud and annoying beeping noise. Perhaps we're using the 'generic' version which is not as finely crafted as the original, but this device has been nothing but annoying and will soon wind up in the trash. I pity the poor reader who buys this device." Thanks for sharing, Matt! There you have it. Maybe we should look around a little more? /Ed. 16 January 2006 Pocket sized clothes brush. We found this innovation in the Quis stand at the Formex design and trends fair last week. Quis is the Swedish Inventors Assn's network for women inventors, and we will come back to some other smart stuff we found with them, but today we will concentrate on this idea for a clothes brush. It is so new, this is only a prototype, but we like the idea. The brush is called Handy Dandy comes from Binnova, and is simply a piece of the brushy material found on miracle brushes combined with a wide elastic band. This makes it easy to bring along in a pocket or purse. When you need a quick brush, just put it on your hand an brush. We have no idea when this thing will be in production, but when it does we will surely get ourselves one or two... 16 January 2006 A. B. Prize winning design concept a simple rip-off? The other day we posted a story on the smart cake cutter design concept (A) from Mod Design Development in Taiwan. A design that won a Red Dot Design award (previous post below). This morning we had a disturbing e-mail from Smart Stuff-reader Ofer K. who writes: "About the P'sof cake thing - it really is a great idea, and works wonderfully, and I say this from first hand experience. But how can that be? It's only a design concept, no? Well, I've had a cutter just like it for the past five years of so, and I even took a picture of it. I don't know who made it. I got it here in Israel, but I assume that, like all things plastic, it was probably made in China." Thank you Ofer, for the mail and for the picture. We suppose none of our readers have any trouble spotting the similarities between Ofer's five year old cake cutter (B) and the prize winning design concept from Mod Design (A). The question is if such a design can be "in the air" as it is sometimes claimed, or if Mod Design submitted (and won an award for) a simple rip-off. I that case not only we have been fooled to credit the wrong people, but the much respected Red Dot-jury has been led to award a prestige prize on unjust premises. This is sad, not only for the unknown designer of Ofer's cake cutter, but also for every serious designer who works hard to come up with original ideas and solutions. We hope that the last word in this case have not been written. 14 January 2006 At last an MP3-player without cables. Ever since MP3 players became popular, we have wondered when someone will liberate us from the little thingamagog that houses the actual memory. We have waited patiently while every electronics manufacturer and his brother has been busy launching one new thingamagog after the other. New colors or skins have been the biggest upgrades for a long time. But finally, here we are. It is called MFM and it is an integrerad 512 Mb MP3 player and headphone. We are pleased. Now they could not get rid of the little thingamagog entirely, but at least you can stick it in the headphone and be rid of the cord. Order yours at Scullcandy for USD 230:- (approx. SEK 1,770:-). Via Chip Chick. UPDATE 14 January 2006. Reader Patrik H. mails in to remind us of the Macally' mTune-N headphone with iPod Nano dock. To be frank we've seen it and forgotten ablout it. There's nothing like alert readers to refresh your memory. Thanks Patrik! /Ed. 14 January 2006 Wool felt trivet from Hetta. "The pot stocking" or "pot sock" comes from Hetta, made of wool felt and has several smart features. It stays on your pot (if the pot is the right size), lets you hold a hot pot, and has a rubber printed no slip pattern on the bottom. Available in 6.6 in. ø, 8.2 in. ø and 12.5 in. ø (for pies). MSRP from SEK 275:- (approx. USD 35:-) in stores. 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If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use", you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The products, tips, tricks and ideas published on this website have not all been tried and tested by us, and you're using them entirely at your own risk. By reading these pages and using the Smart Stuff website you agree not to hold Smart Stuff HB or any of its publishers, shareholders, principals or emplyees responsible for any loss, injury or discomfort resulting from reading or using any of the products, tips, tricks and ideas published on this site. Although we work very hard to provide you with the most current and accurate information on our the siite, we can not and do not warrant that everything you see on this site is up-to-date, error-free or complete. While we may periodically add, modify or delete any of the information on the site, we do not make any commitment or assume any obligation or duty to do so, and you should assume that the information is current and up-to-date only as of the date it is posted to the site. Neither we nor any of the people involved in production of the site will be liable for any direct, incidental, consequential or punitive damages. © 2005-2012 Smart Stuff HB. Smartstuff.se has a Swedish publishing license and subsequent constitutional protection under the Freedom of Speech Act (Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen) Chapter 1. 9 §. Provider, Senior Editor and Art Director: Marie-Louise Hedman. Published by Smart Stuff HB. Version 2.3.	This website is worth What is your website worth?