In the world of hair styling, the name “ghd” is sure to elicit a positive response. Ever since the company’s inception, good hair day products having been spreading across the globe, from salons to the home, providing high quality heat styling whilst minimising damage to your hair. The beauty of ghd is the thought, effort and careful consideration that goes into every new model of straightener. Constantly working to improve itself, each ghd styler is better than the last, with technological improvements to give you the best possible heat styling experience.

The current ghd model is the fourth manifestation of the brands signature style. The IV styler, like those before it, comes in three distinct forms – the standard straighteners, wide plated irons, and the cute mini styler for short hair and fringes. Each styler can perform a wide range of tasks, straightening, curling, adding waves, lift, or volume.

So what’s so great about the ghd IV styler? On each ghd hair straightener, the barrel on which the heated irons rest is slightly rounded, making a variety of different styles much easier to achieve. Perfectly flat irons are great for straightening, but can’t do much else – the IV combines the roles of various different heat stylers into one product. The temperature of the IV is digitally controlled, rising to the perfect heat to style your hair firmly for longer without damaging it. The IV was even announced ‘Best Styling Tool’ in the Sunday Times Style Beauty Awards in 2010, whilst in Cosmopolitan’s 2009 Awards it received the readers’ ‘kiss of approval’.

Investing in a ghd styler could be the best move you ever make. Rather than buying several different stylers, let the ghd IV do any and all jobs you may need. Not only does it style well, but it looks great – and you will too.

The ghd IV Styler Collection

Looking at the number of pictures I’ve taken over the last year with my iPhone (972 and counting!!) there is no doubt that my phone IS my camera.

So given the frequency with which I use it as a camera, what better way to pimp my iPhone than to add a telephoto lens!
PhotoJoJo.com is selling this sweet lens for both the iPhone 3 and 4.  And even though it is a fixed telephoto lens (it does not zoom in or out) it’s just the trick to capture images when you just can’t get closer to the subject like a sporting event or concert.

For US$35.00 (plus shipping) it’s cheap, cool and definitely something that will generate some geek-envy.

For more info, visit their site, PhotoJoJo.com

Telephoto Lens for your iPhone

Surfing and paddling go hand in hand – it’s just what you have to do and is an integral part of the surfing experience! Paddling gives you the time to read the waves while keeping you in shape.

But WaveJet say they are about to make paddling a thing of the past with an engine that can power surfboards, kayaks, kiteboards, rescue boards and light boats.

Their surfboards are powered by an integrated twin-lithium ion battery pack, that’s capable of 20 pounds of thrust, has a continuous run-time of over 30 minutes, and recharges in a standard wall socket.

Surfers turn the jets on and off with a remote control  that will also act as a kill switch if you happen to wipe out.

They claim it’s 2 to 3 times faster than paddling a surfboard.

Even though it is is amazing technology I can’t see the Wave Jet catching on in the surfing world.

Currently their board choices are limiting and you have to buy a Wave Jet board to take advantage of the technology.

Every surfer has a favorite shaper and a collection of boards that suit different conditions and riding styles – why would they buy a WaveJet board when it could limit their performance?

I can’t see the WaveJet lasting long. Think of the life your average surfboard goes through. Roof racks, sun, and salty water is likely to limit the life of even the sturdiest technology.

I can’t see the Wave Jet taking of in the surfing community – but it will be an awesome tool for lifeguards rescue vessels.

Dick Smith Specials
Click here to buy cool gadgets from Dick Smith

Wave Jet – make paddling a thing of the past

With Brinno’s Electronic PeepHole viewer you will never be hassled by door to door salesmen again.

Check out who is on the other side of the door through an LCD screen.

It’s easy to operate -  just push a button and the 2.5” TFT LCD LCD screen will show who’s on the other side.

By pressing the button a second time you can zoom in on the features of there face – there’s no need to squint through a tiny little hole any more!

Installation is easy,  just take out your old peephole and it will slot in.

The Brinno PeepHole viewer is powered by two AA battries (capable of 1500 peeps before a battery change is required). In future models I’d like to see a mains power option.

I would recommend this gadget to the elderly, homes with children and the visually impaired, and all those gadget lovers who just want something cool to add to their home collection.

For all the specifications check out Brinno’s website.

But don’t start thinking your peephole gives you more security. It can actually do the very opposite – completely invading your privacy and home security.

A simple gadget called a peephole reverser, also known as a tactical door viewer, can be used to spy into your home through your peephole. If you’re an undercover spy or private detective it’s available to purchase on eBay for under $50.

Dick Smith Specials
Click here to buy cool gadgets from Dick Smith

Electronic Peephole Viewer

The Ultimate Keyfinder consists of two pieces, the transmitter and reciever. The transmitter is a nifty credit-card sized remote that slides easily into your wallet, pocket or bag. The receiver is a chunky thing similar in size to a key, but much thicker. It’ll no doubt add some heft to your keychain, but if you’ve got more than one or two keys you probably won’t notice. And besides, adding more to the keychain will make it easier to spot in amongst the papers on the dining table. With such size it’s only really useful for keychains or larger items like bags.

To find the receiver, you simply punch a button the remote and the receiver starts flashing and beeping loudly. While the site bills the Keyfinder as allowing you to avoid “embarrassing” situations like whistling or clapping to find your keys, this option surely comes in a close second. Still, it offers a nice alternative to rummaging around for hours on end. Of course, the receiver is battery operated, so you’d best keep an eye on it. The Ultimate Keyfinder retails for around $30. While not expensive, it isn’t cheap either.

The Find It All Keyfinder is basically an upmarket version of the Ultimate (ironically). The Find It All features three receivers that act as both receiver and remote: meaning you only need one to find the other two. Neat, huh? In the pack you get three receivers: two key fobs and one “flat fob”. The key fobs are significantly thinner than the Ultimate receivers, measuring only 0.8cm thick, so you’ll likely never notice it on your keys. The flat fob is a wonderful idea: a 0.5cm thick card-like receiver that sticks onto anything from remotes to laptops.

Like the Ultimate, the receivers will beep and flash to draw your attention. If that weren’t enough, the Find It All also features a warmer/colder mode to guide you straight to the sneaky critters. The Find It All retails for $60, which at that price will likely put off most people, but if you are chronically forgetful or you simply value every second in your day, it might be just right.

Of course, no matter how good the Keyfinder you use, it’s no good if you lose the Keyfinder itself. So if you’re thinking of picking one up… make sure you keep an eye on it. They’re sneaky like that.

Cool Gear Special Offer
Click here to buy cool gadgets from Dick Smith

Never Lose it Again: Keyfinders

This scaled-up Lego Minifigure is a fully functional clock, complete with AM/PM digital readout and 24 hour alarm. While it won’t fit other Lego (or even Duplo) pieces, it is an exact replica of a minifigure in every way, down to the detail on the helmet. And like all good Lego minfigs, Vader’s arms and legs are fully posable. The whole figure comes in at 20cm tall, big enough that the clock is easily visable but no so big it’s cumbersome. And if you’re more the working man’s type, it does come in a Stormtrooper variation. And for you die-hard star wars fans, you can pair it with the Darth Vader Toaster for the perfect Dark Side morning.

Of course, by now you want one, but that’s going to be a problem. Australians are used to being passed over by large companies who see our low population as not being cost-effective to publish or ship products to. This often leaves us to our own devices, usually importing the items at significantly higher cost than if they were commercially shipped. But for whatever reason, the Lego shop has put a total block on shipping this product to Australia by any means. Even third-part shops in the US are subject to these shipping restrictions. Of course, you can occasionally find one shippable to Australia via Ebay for prices varying from $40 to $80 AU, which is substantially more than their store price of around $30 US. So unless you have a friend in the States who can redirect the package to you, that’s pretty much your only option at this point.

Maybe all these Vader-centric products are starting to rub off on Lego: they certainly seem to have gone to the Dark Side, at least for Australian customers. Come on Lego, shape up.

Lego Darth Vader – The Alarm Clock

The aptly-named Celluon Laserkey is itself just a small box that you prop up on the desk. But plug it into a computer or a compatible mobile device and from the tiny box springs forth shining beams of light, projecting onto the surface in front to draw the perfect outline of a keyboard. Pretty, you might think. Until you experimentally reach out to one of the keys, and you hear a clicking sound. Sure enough, up on the screen is the letter you pushed. The laser grid spread out in front of you is fully functional, and even works with multiple-key shortcuts like cut and paste.

The tiny form factor (3.6 x 1.5 x 1.4 inches, not much larger than a PDA) means it’s insanely compact and portable. Just remember that you’ll need a flat surface to project it on. And in typing, you will undoubtedly feel very uncomfortable typing on a desk top; the laser keys understandably have none of the tactile response of normal keys. This will make touch typing difficult, depending on how quickly you can get used to it.

And there’s more bad news: the Laserkey is incompatible with a wide variety of mobile devices, most notable Apple’s iOS devices. This cuts out a significant portion of the target market. Even of the devices it does support, newer versions pose some problems. Battery life may pose another issue to users: maxing out at around 3.6 hours of use, the Laserkey is firmly positioning itself as a flashy toy rather than a portable keyboard.

Another downside is the asking price: you’ll struggle to find the newest CL850 model for under $170 US. So if you’ve got the cash to burn and want a keyboard that looks incredibly impressive and cool, then look no further. But for the realms of the practical, laser keyboards currently have too many points in the negative column. Give it a few more years.

Here’s the keyboard in action on Youtube:

Celluon’s Laser Keyboard from the Future

The point where basic timers fail is when you have more than one thing on the go at once – something that anyone who cooks anything more complex than 2 minute noodles will be all too familiar with. You want to set the oven to roast for three hours, the veggies to start half an hour before that’s done, and put the dessert in the fridge for two hours. Traditionally you’re left to manage all this with a single timer (that’s if you’re not just stuck with a clock), which leaves you having to micromanage all the different points to reset the timer. And even once that’s done, you’ve likely forgotten how long the oven’s been on for, when the dessert went in and so on. All because you were stuck with a single timer.

The Quad Pro’s innovation is almost too simple you’d wonder why it’s never been done before. It is four seperate timers in one casing, all completely independent from one another. It can show up to two timers at once; and you can choose exactly which two you want to view at any time, cycling through all the timers.  When a timer runs out the alarm sounds, and the corresponding display and LED indicator will blink.

And the user-friendliness doesn’t stop there. Like all good innovations the Quad Pro doesn’t forget the basics in the rush to make something new; standard timer features like memory recall and count-up after timer expiry mean that you are still getting everything that you would in a normal timer. The body is a mixture of stainless steel and black rubber, to kitchen spills will be shrugged off with ease. The simple dial and button controls mean this is one toy for your kitchen that will save you time, not take it away.

The Quad Pro can be found on American websites for around $25 US. Even taking into account shipping, that isn’t much more than you’d pay for a home-brand timer from the supermarket. And this one won’t melt after a few month’s use. Couple that with the sleek design and you’ve got a utilitarian but stylish addition to your kitchen that you’ll never want to do without.

Chef’s Quad Timer Pro

The masters of technology at ThinkGeek.com have one such watch, available here. Now you’re undoubtedly thinking back to the high-tech watches of the 90s that featured everything you could ever think of: calculator watches, watches with lunar cycles and astrology charts, and so on. But don’t be put off by the thought of 90s watches advertising “portability!” while showing you a kilogram of metal strapped to a wrist. The streamlined gadgetry of today is so portable you’d never know it was there.

The watch features a nice design that isn’t too over the top, unlike other watches that wreck the usefulness of the technology with garish styling. It’s functional too, with glow-in-the-dark hands and digits. The watch comes with 2, 4 or 8GB of internal storage, and the drive is perfectly hidden in the watch case itself. The ever-bulky USB connector is cleverly worked into the band connector, so it doesn’t feel too cumbersome when you’re moving around.

The USB watch is the perfect solution for moving your digital files around stealthily and conveniently. Despite the small capacity compared to regular thumbdrives, the watch can take a decent number of photos or songs, or a virtually infinite amount of word documents and other work. It’s available for as little as $20 Us for the 2GB model,  and up to$40 for the 8GB. Considering that you’d struggle to find a decent watch with modest styling for that price anyway, it’s a great catch.

USB Memory Watch

Of course, the product would be useless if it were not equally good at being both a Pillow and a Remote. The technology aspect is reasonably well covered; the pillow is advertised as being compatible with over 500 different home entertainment devices, from DVD players to TVs. Of course, there isn’t a readily available list of exactly what is and isn’t supported, so you’re taking somewaht of a chance. As a pillow, the comfort of the thing is to be questioned: if the buttons are soft and perfectly woven into the fabric for comfort, then they’ll likely be hard to press. If they are harder and easier to press, then the pillow will probably be less comfortable than leaning on the remote it’s replacing.

However, the design of the thing does raise some questions. Brookstone gave the pillow a simple solution to what would’ve been the most obvious flaw: lean on the pillow in any way, and you’ll set off dozens of buttons. This is partially solved with an activation button tucked away in the corner. No doubt there’ll still be times that you’ll accidentally squeeze the activation button and all hell will break loose, but at least there is a safety net of sorts. The pillow uses an Infrared LED like most remotes, which is good for compatibility: however, this does mean that the LED (wherever it is on the pillow) needs to be able to directly see every unit you want to control, which could pr0ove irksome.

The pillow takes 2 AAA batteries like any good remote, and has an automatic setup function to ease the transition. It’d be a nice piece to have on the couch, and is a surefire way to impress guests and start conversations. And for $30 it won’t set you back much more than any other universal remote. But make sure you’re okay with brown: for the moment, that’s the only colour available.

The Pillow Remote Control