Gizmology

In the age of multi-tasking, items we think can buy time

By Randy Haberek
Published: Dec 29, 2007

Cleaning
Scooba (IROBOT) scooba
From the brain trust that brought you the Roomba, the “Scooba” ($399) is a robot that mops your floor with very little effort. At the end of the day, the concept of mopping is akin to slamming one’s fingers in a car door. This is especially of interest to those who have children. Trying to wash the floor while keeping an eye on the little ones is always a tricky endeavor. Push the button, leave the room and let this saucer do its thing. It’s just that easy. Bonus points: works on hardwood floors.
(www.irobot.com)

Babying
Xplore (GTX)
xplore Admittedly short on style, but long on functionality, the latest GPS shoe unveiled by GTX is the perfect companion for parents with a penchant for a big brother mentality. Shoe owners can utilize the firm's "internet portal" in order to pinpoint limited boundaries in which the wearer can, for lack of a better term, Xplore. If the person's shoes ever leave the pre-determined area, a phone alert is immediately sent to a pre-selected individual to warn them. (www.gtxcorp.com)

Kitchening
Tonight’s Menu Intelligent Ovens (TMIO) oven
At last modern space age convenience lands in your very own kitchen. Aside from its sleek, sexy design the Connect IO Intelligent Oven ($8700) is quite the hybrid. Not only is it an oven, it’s the first appliance that allows you to refrigerate foods for cooking at a later time. But more importantly, you can activate this time-saver remotely via telephone, cell phone or Internet. So pop that turkey in the Connect, whip out your Blackberry while getting that mani/pedi and voila…polished off on all fronts. How cool is that?
(www.tmio.com)

Working
iPhone (Apple)
iphone Admit it…you want one, regardless of the Apple hype machine working overtime to the point where you really wanted to watch it fail miserably. Didn’t we all make fun of the techno-geeks paying people upwards of $500 on Craigslist to wait in line to be one of the first to get their clammy paws on perhaps the most highly anticipated all-inclusive gadgets to come along since the Swiss Army knife? Therein lies the rub… the iPhone is worth every penny from a design and status standpoint, but it does have a few bugs. Most noteably, the flat panel screen eliminates the tactile feel of raised buttons when dialing numbers (so sending text messages while driving is quite difficult, we know you do!).

Additionally, there is no video or HD video streaming, you can't Send Pictures (MMS), there is no voice command option, and you can’t use Skype on iPhone for VOIP. Then again, you can download those adorable videos of squirrels waterskiing via Youtube. Bottom line: If you’re looking for a sexy phone which is compatible with iTunes and has a two megapixel camera built-in, loosen those purse strings ($499 for a 4 GB model). If not, wait a bit while Apple works the bugs out.
(www.apple.com)

igasm Entertaining
iGASM (Ann Summers)
For those times when you desperately need to entertain yourself, we couldn’t resist mentioning this multi-tasking gadget. Simply hook up your iPod, MP3 player, laptop or CD player and jam whatever tunes float your boat while the iGASM ($60) vibrates in sync with the beats. Turn up the volume to increase the strength of the vibrations.
*Matte white love egg for music-activated orgasms
*Set includes splitter for use with headphones
*Two silicone ticklers included
*Can be used without music as a vibrating love egg
(www.annsummers.com)

Randy Haberek, a native of Detroit, Michigan, has held staff positions at stellar publications such as Raygun, Bikini and Hustler. He has also been a frequent contributor to Stuff and the now-defunct FHM. When not toiling away in front of his antiquated Mac, he can usually be found in some dank dive bar trying to drown out the voices in his head.

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