(Credit:
Heineken)
So much for our trend-spotting skills. We thought for sure that, where beer dispensing is concerned, the next big thing would be built-in taps, whether they be for the fridge or the game console. Instead, what seems to be taking hold is the portable version, we assume for reasons of practicality.
Case in point (so to speak): The Heineken "BeerTender," which Gizmodo says it wrote about nearly four years ago, at long last is arriving on U.S. shores. The attractive dispenser accommodates a 5-liter mini-keg, though the long delay means it'll face some stiff competition. Even so, it's timing is still good--just in time for St. Patrick's Day.
(Credit:
Miidio)
As they continue to morph into music devices, phone makers have made significant strides in portable speakers over the last year. But all too often they're still too big to carry around easily, with even the most compact models often larger than the phone itself. At the other end of the scale, some of the smallest versions look like some kind of makeshift project from a 7th grade electronics class.
Miidio tries to address both issues on the U.K. market with its line of ultra-compact speakers, which have a standard 3.5-millimeter plug so they can be used for media players and laptops as well as phones, according to Pocket-lint. While claiming to provide 360-degree audio despite their dimunitive form, they also come in some interesting designs such as the "Keg," "Piggy," and our personal favorite, the "UFO" pictured here at just 3.3 inches in diameter and 1.4 inches tall. All that's needed are some tiny crop circles left behind.
(Credit:
Avanti)
To show we're not snobs when it comes to libations, the martini aficionados at Crave wanted to give equal time to the beer drinkers among us.
So even though we've already highlighted such hops-friendly items as the HomePub, Gamerator, and MyFridge keg cooler recently, we'll also mention Avanti's "Mini Pub Mini Beer Keg Dispenser." It's an appliance that's suitable for the everyday consumer and connoisseur alike--not only does it accommodate a generous 5-liter mini-keg for entertaining (or just solo enjoyment), but Techie Diva says temperature can be regulated by its digital control.
Most important, it's a much safer way to imbibe than some robotic alternatives out there.
(Credit:
Waeco)
If some digital wine coolers are the subject of dubious distinction, perhaps their manufacturers should expand their product lines. Take Waeco, for instance. Not only does it cater to beverages of the grape, but it pays homage to hops and barley as well.
Its "MyFridge" line includes a keg cooler that "utilizes the century-old, well-proven principle of traditional broaching instead of pumping the beer needlessly through hoses inside the cooler." The appliance uses a "simple aeration mechanism" that keeps its precious contents at optimum temperatures while providing a more sanitary way to dispense it, Appliancist says.
The best part, if it works as advertised, is that the cooler will function anywhere at any time, without the need for any CO2 cartridges. Can you say Burning Man?
(Credit:
Dynamism)
It may be called "Media Keg," but don't mistake this for another St. Paddy's Day accessory. (We already have that covered elsewhere.)
In fact, the name is all the more curious because this Kenwood media player is anything but keg-like, weighing only 2.8 ounces--making it "the world's smallest HDD-based MP3 player," according to the company. Despite its diminutive frame, Shiny Shiny says, the device houses a 10GB hard drive, sports a 1.5-inch screen and claims a battery life of up to 24 hours.
If all that is true, even at $399 it still deserves a toast.
(NOTE: Yes, I am aware that this post's headline probably makes no sense.)
(Credit:
Wunderbar)
By now, it's clear that "user-generated content" is going to be one of the big tech buzz-phrases of 2006. Most of the time, it refers to the antics of AJAX-filled Web apps with cutesy names and cutesier logos, or to grainy YouTube videos of kids breaking TV screens with Wiimotes. But clearly, user-generated content goes beyond the series of tubes and into other niches of 21st-century lifestyle. Boozing, for example. A while ago, we wrote about the WinePod, which lets oenophiles with a little extra time (and money) become do-it-yourself vintners. (Crave readers: Have any of you actually tried this thing or heard anything about it? Does it, like, work?)
There doesn't seem to be a beer equivalent to the high-end WinePod (the "Beer Machines" found in college dorms and frat houses don't count) but this contraption, called the Wunderbar, comes pretty close. Basically, you get a keg--about 300 brands of beer are supported--and stick it into this sleek, luxe-looking dispenser that will apparently use all kinds of innovations to produce the perfect beer. It comes in three sizes that are designed for various levels of intensity: from "party" to "professional." The lower-end "party" model runs on AA batteries, so you can even put it in the back of your car and be the classiest tailgater around. And there you have it: user-generated professional booze-serving. Power to the people!
And, if you're a teetotaler, you can use an add-on "uni-keg" so that the Wunderbar will dispense chilled soft drinks.
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