February 10, 2006 | Back

Tychi Systems Ships Biometric Doorknob

Have a tendency for losing your house keys? Tired of waiting for the neighbors to come home to let you in with that precious "spare" key? Stress no more! Tychi Systems, Inc., is now shipping their long anticipated BioKnob, the first doorknob with fingerprint recognition. Users brush their finger across the knob to unlock the door. 100 sets of fingerprints can be stored. Entry is also possible by an individually assigned passcode.

With the BioKnob, families do not need to carry keys or hide one in the yard. Managers at businesses need not worry about loose keys or having to re-key locks with every lost key or management change. Guests or short term visitors can be programmed; then after their stay, their fingerprints are deleted. An audit feature records entries by Individual, Date and Time, and records the last 1000 entries. Teens beware - your parents will now know exactly how late past curfew you came home!

> Source: Tychi Systems
> Estimated price: N/A
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

January 21, 2006 | Back

Guardian Industries Glass Technology Protects from Sun Damage

Don't forget your sun block! And, we aren't talking about your skin. Coated glass technology has taken a revolutionary step forward with the introduction of ClimaGuard SPF from Guardian Industries Corp. Designed specifically for use in residential windows, ClimaGuard SPF blocks 99.9% of ultraviolet (UV) radiation without any visible change in day lighting.

Growing awareness of the risks associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation has led the public to widespread use of sunscreen, sunglasses and protective clothing. But what about your furniture? Household furnishings have a good reason to fear the sun as well. UV radiation is largely responsible for the fading and deterioration of furniture, carpets, hardwood floors and other interior furnishings, according to Guardian. Coat yourself, and your glass!

> Source: Guardian Industries
> Estimated price: N/A
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

January 19, 2006 | Back

Wake Up and Smell the Eucalyptus? AbioGenesis Introduces the Aroma Waker

And I thought the Glade Plug In was revolutionary. Well, AbioGenesis has just launched an alarm clock that really stinks! The clock can produce several different scents, activated through its essential oil diffuser that operates a timer in the clock.

Since there are two compartments, you can select one scent to wake you up and one to put you to sleep. Hmmm. Not sure it would put me to sleep as well as my Lunesta, but worth a shot! It even looks pretty cool, so worth a look even if you prefer your alarm clock doesn't stink.

> Source: AbioGenesis Design
> Estimated price: N/A
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

October 05, 2005 | Back

Nautilus Introduces Customized Treadmills

Bored to tears on your treadmill? Not sure this will make it any easier, but Nautilus, Inc. is introducing a new concept in treadmills that gives consumers the opportunity to design a treadmill that best suits their fitness requirements. Nautilus Sport Series treadmills will give consumers the ability to choose from among three platforms, three electronic displays and three software packages, resulting in a treadmill specially tailored to their needs. The customized treadmills will be available exclusively at specialty retailers throughout North America beginning in the fourth quarter of this year.

"Customization is a powerful opportunity because consumers tell us that customization leads to higher levels of motivation in incorporating fitness into their weekly routine," said Tim Hawkins, chief marketing officer for the fitness company. "It also creates greater consumer confidence because consumers can select what they will use for years to come, while components can be updated as family fitness patterns evolve." How motivated and confident are you feeling now?

> Source: Nautilus
> Estimated price: N/A
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 09:40 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

July 26, 2005 | Back

SunGuard Laundry Aid Helps Clothing Block UV Rays

Applying sunscreen and covering up with a T-shirt may seem like complete sun protection, but are you really shielded from the damaging rays of the sun? Not according to Phoenix Brands, the maker of SunGuard laundry aid. The company claims that harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can actually penetrate clothing and leave you vulnerable to skin damage.

However, now with SunGuard, the only laundry aid in the U.S. that washes UV skin protection into clothes, you can boost the protection level of your favorite summertime clothes to a UPF of 30. With the active ingredient Tinosorb FD, a UV protectant from Ciba Specialty Chemicals, SunGuard helps block more than 96 percent of the sun's harmful rays from reaching skin. (If you live in Alaska, you can probably stop reading this. But, for those of us in Florida - maybe worth a shot.)

SunGuard has also received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval as well as The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation.

> Source: SunGuard
> Estimated price: $2 per box
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 09:22 AM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

July 22, 2005 | Back

Fast, Convenient Breakfast with the New Egg and Muffin Toaster

Wouldn't it be nice to wake up and know breakfast can be fast and easy? Back to Basics is banking on it. Their new Egg and Muffin toaster enables users to make an egg and muffin sandwich in just about four minutes. In addition to being a full-functioning toaster, the Egg and Muffin Toaster can simultaneously: 1) toast the bread, 2) cook an egg (poached or steam-scrambled), and 3) warm a pre-cooked slice of ham or sausage or any combination of these three functions, in addition to boiling up to four eggs.

Now, if you don't have four minutes to spare in your morning schedule, well you're out of luck!

> Source: Back to Basics
> Estimated price: $49
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

July 19, 2005 | Back

New Shower Filter Helps Protect Against Waterborne Pathogens

You showered, but are you really clean? Not according to Pall Corporation, who just introduced its latest point-of-use filter showerhead that efficiently protects against pathogens, including Legionella spp. (a widely recognized waterborne bacteria), found in water used for showering, bathing and other hygienic procedures.

The new Pall-Aquasafe disposable showerhead is a CE marked medical device that removes bacteria and protozoa for up to 14 days. Pall says it offers advantages over previously available shower filters with its longer duration of protection (14 versus 7 days) against a wide range of waterborne pathogens, not just Legionella. Its unique combination of design and materials provides numerous benefits to health care facilities for savings in labor, cost and waste disposal.

Recent studies estimate that there are approximately 1,400 deaths in the US annually due to water-associated nosocomial pneumonia from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. P. aeruginosa is a potentially lethal bacterium especially for people with weakened immune systems. Further exacerbating the problem is the bacteria's dramatic and growing increase in resistance to antibiotic treatment. Remember that next time you shower! Or, better yet, try very hard to forget it.

> Source: Pall Corporation
> Estimated price: N/A
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 09:10 AM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

July 01, 2005 | Back

iRobot's Latest Robot Cleans Around Your Schedule

Self-cleaning vacuum not enough for you, you say? You need it to turn itself on and off too? That may sound a bit absurd to most folks, but not to iRobot. The company just introduced the iRobot Roomba Scheduler Robotic Floorvac, a robot that automatically vacuums floors on a schedule you set. The latest addition to iRobot's popular line of Roomba Discovery Robotic Floorvacs allows people to program the new robot to clean floors at a certain time each day, seven days a week.

The company also announced a new accessory for iRobot Roomba owners. The Scheduler pack updates the software in Roomba Discovery series models, thereby adding new scheduling functionality to their existing robots. With more than 1.2 million units sold since its introduction in 2002, iRobot claims that its award-winning Roomba Robotic Floorvac is the most successful consumer robot in history.

> Source: iRobot
> Estimated price: Roomba Scheduler $329 - Accessory Pack $59
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

June 24, 2005 | Back

New GE Profile French Door Bottom-Freezer Refrigerators Elegant Yet Functional

GE Profile has introduced its latest fridge, and if you're in the market for a high end model with lots of storage (and lots of features), this one is kind of cool. Its French doors require only a 33" installation opening and minimum space to open the doors, ideal for small kitchens or kitchens with center islands. The door configuration allows oversized items like deli trays and large cookware to glide easily onto the slide-out spillproof glass shelves. A QuickSpace shelf quickly slides out of the way to make room for tall items like iced-tea pitchers.

The variable humidity ClearLook crispers are great fruits and vegetables, with humidity controls and clear fronts, and an adjustable temperature deli drawer provides a temperature-controlled place for meats and cheeses. The model also includes two new features: the TurboCool setting quickly cools the refrigerator after frequent door openings or when hot items are placed inside; and, the water filter indicator light shows when the water filter needs to be replaced and has an easy-to-use pushbutton reset. The new refrigerators are available in stainless, white and black. Cool stuff, but I'm holding out for the self-cleaning model.

> Source: GE
> Estimated price: $1,279 to $2,749 depending on upgrades
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 09:52 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

June 01, 2005 | Back

Mercedes Homes Unveils Hurricane-Resistant Homes

At the beginning of what hurricane forecasters predict will be another active hurricane season (oh yes, my fellow Floridians!), Mercedes Homes, in conjunction with HUD's Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), unveiled two new hurricane-resistant home prototypes in Huntington Lakes, a Mercedes Homes community in Rockledge, Fla.

After the beatings we took in Florida, and other parts of the south, Mercedes has bumped up their new hurricane-resistant homes with elements such as stronger structural design to reduce damage from high winds and cast-in-place concrete walls to provide hurricane resistance. Several design features were also included to reduce water intrusion such as out-swing entry doors, removable hurricane shutters, reconfigured soffit vent openings, baffled roof vents and an elastomeric sealant. Since the season started this June, we better move fast!

> Source: Mercedes Homes
> Estimated price: Varies by community
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

May 25, 2005 | Back

iRobot Unveils World's First Robotic Floor Washer

iRobot has unvelied the company's latest household miracle (and I do not use the term loosely), the iRobot Scooba Robotic Floor Washer. This next-generation robot is designed to vacuum, scrub and dry hard floors automatically. Yes, you read it right. Automatically.

The new robot builds on technology advances from the company's runaway hit, the iRobot Roomba Robotic Floorvac. The new robot will utilize a specially engineered cleaning solution from Clorox, and only uses fresh water and cleaning solution from a clean tank. It never spreads dirty water on the floor! So, you basically do nothing and get cleaner floors than you ever thought possible. I predict a winner here...

> Source: iRobot
> Estimated price: Not yet determined
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 06:02 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments