Introducing Gizmine: I want it now!.

We've long been big, big fans of the online shop Dynamism, home of the newest and greatest technology products from Japan so it's with huge excitement that we're helping to announce the opening of a new store by the founder, Douglas Krone: Gizmine. Gizmine is also full of the latest products from Japan, but instead of focusing on bigger ticket items like notebook computers and amazing phones, Gizmine has everything from cool cell phone straps to unique clothing (knife-proof shirts!) as well as the usual tech suspects like cameras, watches, and speakers. Even cameras, though, aren't the same ones you'll find anywhere else.

This Tomy Xaio Digicam is a cute, compact 5 megapixel digital camera, but it has a built-in printer, like an updated polaroid.

The Adaptive Design Assoication needs your help.

A couple of years ago, I reported on a great organization called the Adaptive Design Association, which uses inexpensive materials to make custom furniture for children with disabilities. The best thing about ADA is that they help children through smart design. They also offer classes on topics like basic cardboard carpentry.

Like many non-profits in the current economic climate, the ADA is feeling the squeeze, as grant funding is drying up. This great organization is at risk of closing without the help of concerned people who believe in its mission. If you're curious to learn more about ADA, check their gallery of projects, and there is also a page for donations.

Beforme MP3 stethescope: listen to your unborn child’s heartbeat.

All those future parents who want to listen to the heartbeats of their unborn children in the comfort of their own homes may just have their wish fulfilled if the product concept "Beforme" sees the light of day.

Designed by Elżbieta Madej and Robert Majkut, Beforme is a stethoscope with a built-in MP3 player that can play back the heartbeats of an unborn child. While the embryo-shaped Beforme allows the mother to listen in to the heart rhythms on the MP3 player at the touch of a button, it also displays the beats in a graphical form on the display. In addition, the recordings can be downloaded on to a PC via USB or Bluetooth and then sent to a doctor for examination.

Call that the most utilitarian gift that you can give to a pregnant woman. The product is still in the prototype (embryo) phase.

Via Medlaunches.

Holiday movie choices? Consult IMDB and/or Rotten Tomatoes.

If your holidays are likely to include visits to real movie theaters to view films the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen and accompanied by amazingly expensive popcorn, make sure your investment is worthwhile. Check out the reviews first the easy way - online.

Of course we couldn't do without the venerable encyclopedia of films that began years ago as a labor of love and these days has a lot to interest movie professionals too: the Internet Movie Database. To find reviews, search the movie of your choice. When you get to the movie's main page, scroll down the links in the left-hand window and click on External Reviews. Presto, a list--sometimes a very long list--of reviews. Sources include newspapers, magazines, and lots of websites.

Give One Laptop per Child, get an XO for your child--or yourself.

Feeling gloomy about the state of the world ? You may think there isn't much you can do about the monumental messes we're in. But here's something that could change things, really change things. Give the XO, this cute-as-a-bug green laptop, to a kid in the developing world. And there's a terrific sweetener: the deal includes a second XO for the child of your choice, even if the child is you.

Yes, once again this year the One Laptop per Child folks have come up with a give-one get-one pitch. This means you can buy not one but two cutting-edge small computers for less than the price of conventional laptops retailers are hawking at this time of year: just $399. (Or you can forgo a personal XO and send one to a child in the developing world for just $199.)

The rugged little XO laptop may look like a netbook, but it isn't. Yes, it's energy efficient, with built-in wi-fi and a swiveling screen readable in sunlight. But the big deal about the OLPC laptop is the innovative software that makes it easy for kids to write, draw, paint, make videos, create music--and even program and write their own software. All on their own, mind you.

Imagine a planet where children everywhere, not just in rich countries, live with a computer every day and even begin to master programming. I get a chill just thinking about the possibilities for remaking the world into a much, much better place.

There are many causes worthy of charity. But I can't think of any others with the potential for changing the state of things so dramatically for so little money. To say nothing of also bestowing a generous and enjoyable gift on the giver. When I signed up for the OLPC laptops last year, it left me feeling wonderful--and also left me with an adorable little green laptop of my very own.

Radio-Controlled Key Finder makes life easy for the scatterbrained.

Three-hundred-and-twelve-thousand-four-hundred-and-ninety-six. That's the number of times I have misplaced my house key. And it is rather strange that my brain still prefers to maintain an exact count of the recurring mishap rather than the exact location of the key once I am done with it.

But there seems to be light at the end of my tunnel of poor memory - the Radio-Controlled Key Finder. The Radio-Controlled Key Finder consists of a fob and a "credit-card transmitter". You attach the fob to your key and forget all about it. When you need to retrieve the key, just press a button on the transmitter and the fob starts beeping and flashing to let you discover where the little rascal is. Simple, huh ? The radio-controlled device has a range of about 80-feet - enough to alert you even you have left the key behind in a neighbor's house. The contraption is available for around $23.

The catch - I must now remember where I left the transmitter.

Via bookofjoe.

Nokia's N97 makes an impressive addition to their smartphone range.

Proving once again that smartphones aren't only the provinces of Windows Mobile, RIM (Blackberry) or Apple (ooh, what's it called again...?), Nokia this week unveiled the new N97 in Barcelona. For those of you who love to text or email on the move, this device has a QWERTY keyboard as well as a 3.5-inch touchscreen. Plus there's a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and video and a huge 32GB of memory (expandable to 48GB with a MicroSD card).

It's on the chunky side, but there's not much it can't do. Plus, it's pretty.

We should see it shipping early in 2009 (and will no doubt find out price and contract details nearer the time, too).

That's not a sugar cube, it's a speaker cube.

A Japanese company called Landport has taken speaker portability to a minimalistic extreme by recently announcing the launch of the Cube Speaker. The Cube speaker is so tiny that it fits well within a small portion of your palm and measures a cubic side of 26mm, with an output of 0.8Watts. That's portability or what.

Connection to an external device (iPod, other mp3 players, and CD players) is via a small, antenna-like 3.5mm jack positioned over the speaker. And you can charge the speaker by connecting it to a computer via the USB port at the back. The playback time is pretty decent as well - you get four to five hours of playtime after a two-hour charging session.

We think the iPods look rather uncomfortably perched over the speakers, but that’s only because being small brings along its share disadvantages too. If you want to give the midgets a go, the Cube speakers are to be available in Japan (only) by December and will be priced at $25 a cube.

Via Gearlog.

Mr. Christmas Musical Animated Train Pocket Watch.

I am clueless as to why the sight of a pocket watch always brings to my mind a vivid picture of Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective. I probably have to attribute it to a childhood heavily influenced by the adventures of the fastidious gentleman. And I also believe - for whatever unconnected reason - that people who use pocket watches are always punctual. I mean, if you have the patience to fish out a watch from your pocket to check the hour, time must be a pretty important aspect of your life, huh.

Anyway, time-conscious or not, the Mr. Christmas Musical Animated Train Pocket Watch could be well worth adding to your collection if unique time-pieces interest you. This pocket-watch has two miniature handpainted locomotives chugging along a circular track that is embedded within the dial. While the trains chug along the track, the watch also plays the the tune "I've Been Working on the Railroad", just to add to the spirit.

Now that’s one train which is guaranteed to always be "on time". Available from QVC for around $20.

Via Boing Boing Gadgets.

Multi-faceted mouse pad is several utilities rolled into one.

It seems even the normally inconspicuous mouse-pad can sometimes make itself indispensable - not because it might be essential to extend the comforts of one to your mouse, but because one like the Roll-up Mouse Pad is sure to leave you impressed. And hooked.

This portable Roll-up Mouse Pad works exactly like it sounds - once you are done with the pad, you can roll it over completely and take it along wherever needed. Wondering why anyone would be interested in taking a mouse-pad around ? Because this little device also hosts a 4-port USB hub and dual speakers that can be connected to your MP3 players. Now that makes sense, doesn't it ?

Plus, consider the "cool" factor - you would look much like a sleuth rolling out a scroll for your next clue as you set up your roll-up mouse pad. Wonder if anybody could beat that. Available from Gadget4all for $22.

Via bookofjoe.

Want to simplify secret santa? Try Elfster.

Considering the current economic climate, I'm guessing more workplaces then ever are employing a secret santa policy when it comes to gift giving this year. If you got stuck organizing volunteered to do it for your office, you might want to make use of Elfster, a nifty website designed to help keep all the details straight (so you won't find out who is buying yor gift unless they tell you!)

Input the details of participants (along with any extra info such as gift exchange date and price limit) into Elfster.com and it will, assign gift-givers and email them all with the details. The only thing is can't do is take responsibility if you don't get what you wished for...

What to look for in a bargain laptop--and how to find it.

Now that brand-name laptops can be had for under $500 if you are a smart shopper, a notebook computer is a reasonable choice for the Big Present even in these worrisome times. Laptop mag's Avram Piltch has a brief rundown on features to look for in a bargain laptop here.

The smart shopping is up to you. One place to start is Retrevo, the comparison shopping site for electronics. Retrevo also finds reviews and those precious manuals.

Mobigrip gives you a firm grasp on your handhelds.

Among the most abused gadgets in my home, the remote control takes first place - closely followed by its distant cousin, the (my) cell phone. In addition to the brutal bangs on the floor administered frequently by its butter-fingered owner, my cell phone has recently become the sole "toy" that my toddler son is really interested in. Now imagine how many more accidents the poor cell phone now has to look forward to.

But protecting it against accidents of the first kind seems possible with Mobigrip. This handy little accessory sticks to the back of your cell phone and throws out a "micro bungee" that you loop across your finger to avoid dropping the phone. The usage of this unique accessory isn't limited to cell phones either - you can use Mobigrip for most of your small household devices such as PDAs, MP3 players, iPods, voice recorders, some digital cameras, glucose meters, tv remotes, navigators, etc.

Securing small gadgets against accidental falls couldn't get any simpler. Or perhaps cheaper. Mobigrip is available in various colors for $9.95. Also available at Amazon.

Via The Red Ferret Journal.

iMuffs - iLike.

Cut the wires and enjoy music without pesky headphone wires. And lower your chances of an embarrassing fall off the treadmill at the gym. (Ok, maybe that's just me.)

iMuffs by Wi-Gear are sleek, ergonomically-designed headphones that are wireless and deliver impressive stereo sound. iMuffs work with iPods and BT phones. (That leaves us iPhone users out.) The control panel on the headphones is easy to use and lets users pause, change volume, skip tracks, and seek music right from the headphones. And when paired to your BT phone, you can pause music and answer incoming calls as well. Features a noise canceling microphone, which is essential these days.

I took them to the gym, where I have almost killed myself with tangled wires on the elliptical machine, and found I could leave my nano in my gym bag and get a good 30 feet away and still hear strong sound. It doesn't travel through walls or when you get over to the free weights, though I'm sure soon advances in BT will change that.

If you have a pair of the original iMuffs, don't despair since now you can buy the Adapter MA110
and upgrade your iMuffs to the iPod nano, classic, and touch. ($59.99.)

Just in time for Christmas shopping, the price has dropped from $179 to $129.00. They're also available at Amazon.

iPhone ad ruled "misleading" in the UK.

Last week, Apple was forced to pull a UK ad for the iPhone 3G after the Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints by viewers who felt that the ad exaggerated the speed at which users can access applications, both visually (skipping several steps) and in the language used ("really fast!").

The company defended its claims, saying they were "relative rather than absolute in nature" and that the 3G iPhone was "really fast"... in comparison with the 2G version. It didn't fly and Apple has now released a modified version of the ad which makes clear that the speed and performance of the smartphone will vary from how it appears onscreen.