(Credit:
Aïssa Logerot)
I'm a bachelor. As such, I always look a bit off (I don't own a full-length mirror) and my clothes are wrinkled (I don't own an ironing board). So when my editor forwarded me a link from Boing Boing Gadgets about this combo ironing board/full-length mirror I figured she was giving me a hint. Thankfully she just wanted to share it with all of you.
And look how cool it is. In an urban apartment like mine, every square inch is valuable. That's why items with dual (or more!) uses are so great. And this one has a theme: making you look better. That's awesome.
I'm also a fan of things that transform, as this does, albeit simply. Right now it's just a concept by French designer Aïssa Logerot, but I wouldn't be surprised to see these showing up at IKEAs all over the world pretty soon.
I mean, who wouldn't want to disguise their vanity with function? As a guy who likes cute nerd girls, if I ever meet a girl with one of these in her apartment, I might go ring shopping.
Great, now she'll be in there all day.
(Credit: Stocco)If you've been practicing your Blue Steel face in the bathroom mirror without a soundtrack, the Maitre mirror could take your modeling delusions to new heights. Combining a radio, barometer, MP3 player, clock, and sensor-controlled mirror demister, this thing will put your broken Ikea medicine cabinet to shame and inspire hours of face contortions.
No pricing has been announced, but it's safe to say that being an early adopter of the "bathroom mirror 2.0" experience means putting up some serious cash. The Maitre mirror will be available from Stocco in sizes ranging from about 3 feet to about 6.5 feet. Of course, the budget-conscious among you could always glue a $40 Creative Zen Stone Plus to your existing mirror and call it a day.
(Via TechFresh)
'Mirror's Edge' is a unique first-person game where you assume the role of Faith, a woman constantly on the run. The game offers a graphical style unlike anything seen before, where you must constantly scan your surroundings for items colored in red in order to progress seamlessly. 'Mirror's Edge' is scheduled to be available this year for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
(Credit:
Western Digital)
Western Digital today added a new member to its My Book line of external hard drives. The My Book Mirror Edition is a USB-only, dual-drive unit with RAID 1 redundancy. The 1TB model costs $290, and the 2TB model costs $550. With your data mirrored on both drives, your total storage space is half the stated capacity. The My Book Mirror can be configured with RAID 0, should you want to make use of the full capacity of each drive.
The My Book Mirror's two hard drives are replaceable--no tools required. The drives feature Western Digital's GreenPower technology, which, according to the company, helps the My Book Mirror consume 33 percent less power than other dual-drive enclosures. Another bonus: these energy efficient drives don't require cooling fans, meaning the My Book Mirror should make for quiet desktop companion.
Should you have multiple PCs in need of redundant backup, it should be noted that WD's My Book World Edition II is a dual-drive NAS drive that adds only $50 to the price of the My Book Mirror--$600 for the 2TB model.
(Credit:
Shenzhen MCD Electronics)
Enduring certain ridicule, we have suggested on occasion that the rear-view mirror could become one of the main control centers for vehicles of the near future. Already, there have been versions that have technologies ranging from GPS navigation to built-in camcorders and Webcams. And now there's one that appears to cram in more functions than all of the others combined.
As indicated by its name, the "Multifunction GPS Bluetooth Rearview Mirror System" claims a broad array of features, including a 3.5-inch touch screen, satellite navigation, audio and video players, speakers, SD card slot, five games, and even a stylus, according to Red Ferret. It also has a rechargeable battery, in case you want to pull it off the windshield and use it as a mini-boombox.
Fair warning, though: It's being offered by one of those generic distributors from China, so warranties and any kind of support may be scarce to non-existent. Besides, this version doesn't have a heart monitor--yet.
(Credit:
Crave Asia)
If you're tired of the boring facades on average Blu-ray players, the mirror finishes of the new Mitsubishi Electric recorders is guaranteed to get your attention. And pretty faces aside, the DVR-BZ100 and BZ200 also combine versatile DVD Blu-ray recording with hard drive capacities of 250GB and 500GB, respectively, according to Akihabara News. Another notable feature is their touch-screen remotes, which have color displays and flexible softkeys tailored for specific functions. But alas, this is another Japan-only release.
(Source: Crave Asia)
(Credit:
Cerevellum)
If Cerevellum sounds like some Latin term from a medical dictionary, it would be entirely appropriate because it's the name of a new heart-monitoring device. But this one isn't attached to your arm or chest--in fact, it's not affixed to the body at all. Try the handlebars on a bike instead.
The Cerevellum doesn't stop there either: While checking your ticker, this gadget also serves as a GPS system and a digital rear-view display similar to those seen increasingly in cars. According to ProductDose, this all-in-one device has a 3.5-inch screen and 32MB of space to store your fitness data, as well as a 4-hour battery for those who ride that long (unlike us).
All this doesn't come cheap at $299, but we suppose there's some consolidation savings because you won't have to buy three or four separate products for these various functions. Besides, we applaud anything that obviates the need for those nerdsome helmet mirrors.
(Credit:
Seura)
For some unfathomable reason, there are apparently more than a few influential product designers who seem to think people just must have mirrored TVs. They've used reflective surfaces to hide LCDs, combined them with computers, and even made them waterproof.
But all of these have assumed that we want the TV concealed when it's not in use. Obviously, their focus groups have missed an important demographic--those of us who stay glued to the tube 24/7. The true addict would want something like the "Seura Television Mirror," which proudly displays the screen at all times while providing the reflection around it.
For prices starting at $3,000, BornRich says, bathroom aficionados can have the option of a 15- or 20-inch Sharp LCD and a choice of finishes including oak, cherry, and maple. You can even decide whether you want the display to be recessed or surface-mounted. We recommend the latter, for easier cleaning.
(Credit:
Hammacher)
As noted too many times in this space, we can barely turn around without encountering another personal weather station, as there seems to be one created for every room in the house. But the one place we foolishly thought we'd be able to escape them--the shower--now has one of its own as well.
It may call itself the "Only Weather Station Shower Mirror" but, at this rate, we doubt that distinction will last through the end of the week. We're not exactly sure why anyone would need to monitor the barometric pressure outside while shaving, but this meteorological mirror will provide that crucial information, as well as the usual other readings from a wireless sensor that will work up to 100 feet away.
Considering the frightening number of people who want to spend their entire lives in the bathroom, perhaps this idea makes sense after all.
(Credit:
Chip Chick)
Apparently it's not enough to have a mirror that sends text messages or even engages us in conversation. We need one that'll run Windows too.
Facing stiff competition in its mainstay telly business, U.K.-based Mirror Media has created a line that incorporates a PC into its reflective TVs in sizes ranging from 20 to 36 inches with frames in wood, metallic and other finishes, according to Chip Chick. It remains to be seen, however, whether they'll be able to create the ultimate convergence appliance by including a radiator.
