News, reviews and articles about products that help you make and fix things.
With less than two weeks until Halloween, you’re quickly running out of time to figure out what you’re going to dress up as for the holiday parties you’ll be attending. Dracula and Ironman are so 2013, so here’s an idea that is not only funny, but also timely. It’s a bent iPhone 6 costume that you can […]
This bent iPhone 6 costume totally wins Halloween Read More
Every year since 2011, my boyfriend and I enjoy going to Maker Faire in Queens, NY. Maker Faire is a large family friendly, creative, tech-influenced event that is held in multiple cities around the US and globally. We love to see the inventions and projects from hobbyists, hackers, and students. This year, I thought I would post a
Trip Report: 2014 Maker Faire New York Read More
The blink(1) is a small USB LED status light that plugs into your PC, Mac, Linux or even Raspberry Pi device and can be set up to flash a certain color and pattern when something happens that you need to know about. That “something” is entirely up to you. For example: Do you want to know
blink(1) is a USB LED status light that can alert you to almost anything Read More
Do it yourselfers, handy men and women and just about anyone who needs to measure and mark something will want to check out the PencilMan tape measure from Smith Works Tools. The PencilMan is a 25 foot metal ruler that features an easy to use thumb activated tape brake lever, a belt clip and best
Tape measure + pencil = PencilMan Read More
A couple of days ago I took us on a trip down gadget memory lane when I remembered the Ronco Buttoneer button fastener from the 1970’s. Today Luis Reyes left a comment that there’s a new button fastener in town and it’s called Tic. Designed in Sweden, Tic lets you permanently fasten shirt buttons without using
Is Tic the future of button fasteners? Read More
Tragedy struck this morning when the button fell off my pants and I’ve been walking around all day hitching my pants up every so often just because I’m too lazy to go searching for a needle and thread. The situation caused me to remember a gadget from my childhood – the Ronco Buttoneer. Does anyone else remember this
Gadget memories – Ronco Buttoneer Read More
We just found an inexpensive bike for our daughter to take with her to college, and now we begin the expensive task of collecting all the things she’ll need to keep it on the road. I’ve been trying to find items for a tool kit that she can carry in her backpack, and of course
Fix a flat tire on your bike without even removing the tire Read More
I was at work the other day (Cummins, Inc), when someone walked up to my desk to ask for some help with his laptop. As I was talking to him, he happened to notice the Nexus 7 in the Zagg Auto-fit keyboard case next to me on my desk. He asked me which laptop it was
Julie’s gadget diary – Nexus 7 powered car mods Read More
The Kano computer kit was successfully funded on Kickstarter in December 2013 – and when I say “successfully”, I mean it got more than 15X its $100,000 funding goal. Kano will be shipping in July, and the company is now taking pre-orders for those of us who didn’t get in on the Kickstarter campaign. The
A build-your-own-computer kit for kids ages 8 – 81 Read More
I’ve had the same “Brand B” big-name label maker for nearly 15 years. Why would I need another one? Sure, my old one is heavy, hard-to-read, and often frustrating to use… Okay, maybe it’s time to give the Epson LabelWorks Safety Kit a look.
Epson LabelWorks Safety Kit review Read More
Some of these handy-looking Screw Grabbers would have saved a lot of swearing around these parts recently while we were assembling a butcher block cart and wire basket drawer sets for the closets. This Kickstarter project is seeking funding for a Screw Grabbers, which are “transparent rubber sleeves that slide onto screwdrivers to hold a
You’ll no longer need a third hand to keep hold of that &*%(^ screw Read More
Every once in a while I will get the time or motivation to work on some nagging project that I have been wanting to do for a while. Most of these projects are minor or really inconsequential, but they still bug me. So this weekend’s project was to fix my separating Apple iPad 2 cable
My weekend projects, or finding time to fix the little things Read More
This post brought to you by Makism. All opinions are 100% mine. If you own a computer, you most likely own an inkjet printer to go along with it. I can remember many years ago when I could only print documents at work because I didn’t have my own printer at home. They were just
Makism 3D announces Wideboy line of 3D printers Read More
I am a huge fan of the DIY/maker movement that has come up recently. Every year since 2010, my significant other and I enjoy going to Maker Faire in Queens, NY. It sparks my interest in what people create and hack, and gives me ideas of my own. There are many vendors that show off
Spikenzie Labs Solder:Time Desk Clock review Read More
I’ve seen chalkboard paint, but I’ve never seen dry-erase whiteboard paint before. With IdeaPaint, you can add a dry erase board to walls, tabletops, or other suitable surfaces using just a paint roller. (Professional installation is available, too, for the non-DIYers.) It’s available in the standard white, but it’s also available in black or in
Now you can have a dry-erase whiteboard anywhere if you have a paint roller Read More