timer

iPod lookalike can time an egg

If you think you're seeing iPods wherever you turn, there's good reason. Not only do people carry them everywhere, but their design is being copied increasingly for household appliances.

In the bedroom, for instance, we just saw the "Dr. Light" alarm clock with its iPod-wannabe appearance. And now we've gotten word of a Williams-Sonoma kitchen timer, of all things, that sports the ubiquitous click-wheel look as well.

Gadget Labs notes that the "Triple Timer" will be particularly comfortable for the iPod veteran to use, as long as it's not confused with the … Read more

Time three dishes with your iPod...er...digital timer

Digital timers can be invaluable to a cook, especially for slow-cooked food like stews or for roasting large portions of meat. But most of them can be used for only one dish, potentially problematic if you're working on a big meal with lots of individual parts.

This "triple timer" from Williams-Sonoma lets you set a timer for up to three dishes, which would be especially useful during the holidays when you might have a turkey in the oven, potatoes on the stove, and a rainbow-colored Jell-O marshmallow mold chilling in the fridge.

The timer is portable but … Read more

Designers hatch egg-themed products

Will product designers ever stop finding inspiration in the simple shape of an egg? The smooth, rounded shape of the Form trio of kitchen tools owes its existence to a photograph of an egg admired by designer Charles Job. The set consists of an egg timer, an egg slicer and a salt and pepper set that snap together. Each tool is available in your choice of sleek black or white plastic. "Boil an egg; slice it and eat it with salt and pepper--that is the essence of Form," says the product Web site.

To take the theme a … Read more

'TV Timer' makes kids go cold turkey

There's no substitute for direct parental involvement, as we've said many times, but this gadget is worth noting for those moms and dads who simply can't control their kids' TV-viewing habits.

Plug the telly directly into the "TV Timer," and this digital disciplinarian will turn off the tube unwaveringly at the appointed hour. It cannot be bribed and won't succumb to tears or tantrums.

Going where the "Weemote" left off, the timer allows parents to program three viewing slots each day. But be forewarned: It will work just as effectively on spouses.… Read more

Self-portraiture for the friendless

To quote a wise philosopher we once met, this thing is so stupid it might actually be smart. Even so, we're not sure we'd want to look as dorky as the couple in this photo.

The "Quik Pod" is aimed at people like ourselves: those who are either too slow or slow-witted (or both) to use the camera's automatic timer. But if you must prove to your friends back home that you really did go to the Superbowl--and your Photoshop skills are kind of shaky--this may come in handy to record your attendance.

And as … Read more