Yearly Archives: 2007

diy January 11, 2007 posted by

How to Mend it – free repair help for appliances

How to Mend It. How to fix your appliances if they go wrong. Or rather the site offers you a location where you can ask how to fix your device. The interface is a bit clunky and the responses a bit patchy, but it’s worth adding to your bookmarks just in case. I think.  Use how to mend it .com to find out how to mend vacuum cleaners and mobile phones, cars and DVD players, computers and tumble dryers, televisions…

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Free Software January 11, 2007 posted by

ZedFiles Project – Open Source Software Suite

The ZedFiles Project is an Open Source suite of ‘integrated desktop and content management applications’ for Windows. Basically it’s a package of a whole range of the coolest and most useful Open Source stuff – like Firefox, VLC Player, AbiWord etc – which can be downloaded in a single folder. Nice one!   The ZedFiles Project…has grown into a comprehensive Open Source Software Suite of fully integrated desktop and content management applications compatible with Microsoft Windows operating systems. It includes a…

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Gadgets January 10, 2007 posted by

Maplins USB Can Inverter – power from your car’s cup holder

Maplins 150W USB Can Inverter. Is this a can inverter or a car inverter? Whatever. It takes 12V DC in from your car lighter socket, outputs USB charging for your devices and features a standard UK plug socket for your other small appliances. Is that useful? Probably yes. £29.99.  3 pin socket USB charging point- ideal for charging your iPod! Brushed aluminium finish with soft-touch trim Slots into your car cup holder DC plug includes a spring tension switch to allow for…

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Gadgets January 10, 2007 posted by

Noisy Phone – loud, so loud

The Noisy Phone. Fed up with the too quiet ringtone on your home phone? Then you need something like this. Call comes in, ears dissolve in a tornado of 83 decibels of sound. How loud? About the same as the scream of an electric drill right next to your ear. LOUD! The strength is adjustable thank goodness, and it comes with a bright red flashing light call indicator too. £89.95.

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opinion piece January 10, 2007 posted by

Gateway notebooks – surprised R Us

The good folk at Gateway Computers have sent The Ferret one of their new Core 2 Duo laptops to check out, and we’ve got to say we’re rather pleasantly surprised. More later when we’ve taken a long hard look at the thing in earnest, but first impressions are definitely positive. There are a few interesting facts. First, it’s actually a decent looking box (we remember the day when Gateway stuff was uniformly hideous), it’s very good value for money (think £699.00…

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Bizarre January 10, 2007 posted by

Insect Lab – dead bionic insects as art?

Insect Lab. Artist Mike Libby has made a name for himself through adding mechanical and electronic parts to the cadavers of deceased insects. It’s kind of weird, and almost, but not quite, macabre. Think of him as a kind of cross between Dr Frankenstein and Prof Taxidermist. Anyway, we know nothing about art, so we’ll shut up now. Prices vary from around $200.00.  Insect Lab is an artist operated studio that customizes real insects with antique watch parts and electronic components. Offering a variety of…

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Bookmark This! January 10, 2007 posted by

Tiny Apps – joy is small useful stuff

Tiny Apps. We’ve mentioned Tiny Apps before, because we simply love the site. Lots and lots of little applications and utilities for all sorts of things. Browsers, editors, optimizers, you name it. What’s good about small computer applications? They’re fast and really simple to use and install. And did we mention they’re almost all free? Check out Easy Thumbnails as a great example of the genre. Bookmark!  Welcome to TinyApps.Org, a guide to very small software for your PC. Virtually all of the…

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Bookmark This! January 10, 2007 posted by

Jotle – Google Maps + Flickr + Wikimapia + ?

Jotle. A combination of Google Maps, Flickr and Wikimapia. Oh and YouTube. So basically it suggests photos and videos for locations that come up on the map. Quite an interesting app, but there are a few of these out there, so it’s not totally alone. Worth a look. [Thanks Michael]

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Asides January 9, 2007 posted by

Apple rPod launch

Apple to introduce Fusion Powered Rumour Pod (rPod) which is designed to bore the pants off everyone at least twice a year. It will cost $2.95 and ship in an airline barf bag.

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Gadgets January 9, 2007 posted by

The Big Flip Clock and Calendar – time flaps

The Big Flip Clock and Calendar. There’s something incredibly evocative about these old style leaf clock calendars. It must have to do with all those black and white movies where passing time was shown via the inexorable and slow motion switch from one date to another. Anyway here’s your chance to play all Alfred Hitchcock in your own home. €225.00.  Big steel wall clock and calendar! Billstiking of the day, the month, the year thanks to a system of leafs. Billsticking of analogique hour….

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Gadgets January 9, 2007 posted by

USB Heating Blanket – snuggly cloaking

The USB Heating Blanket. One day Santa, I want my whole home powered by USB. Everything. From my little mittens to my great big dentist chair and attachments. Whoops… $25.00.  Ever experience that feeling freezing and slowing down your reaction when you are working in an air-conditioned room or in winter? Then USB Heating Blanket must suit your need. It has a warming pad inside. Once you plug it in the USB port, it will be warming your body. You…

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Gadgets January 9, 2007 posted by

Twin Spin Color Changing Speakers – nauseastic fun for everyone!

Twin Spin Color Changing Speakers. Take a set of very basic plastic speakers, throw in some LED spinning action, and marvel. At what we’re not sure, but marvel you should nonetheless. For we have spoken. $39.95.  Watch a mesmerizing LED light show as these speakers react to the music with real-time beat recognition. * Responds to the beat of the music by changing colors * Plug in your music/sound source with the provided connectors * Disconnect your music device and…

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heh heh! January 9, 2007 posted by

Bubbleprice – just how much is your Web 2.0 startup idea worth?

Bubbleprice. The Online Venture Capital Valuation calculator. Just what is the net worth of your brilliant Ajax-driven, Adsense funded, collaborative social networking start up idea then? In round figures? Excellentr!   How much investment capital will my next web product be eligible for? Is a question I’m sure most of us entrepreneurs think about maybe thousands of times a day. Think no more! Now you can do all your valuations online using this simple form.

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yeah, right! January 9, 2007 posted by

10 Sure-Fire Cures for Jet Lag – No Really!

Jet lag is a nasty affliction which often strikes without warning, causing travellers to lose synch between their lips moving and the sound emerging from their mouths (hence the term lag) . We are pleased, therefore, to present The Red Ferret Journal guide to current Jet Lag treatments for sufferers everywhere.

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Gadgets January 8, 2007 posted by

Knicks USB Cable Holder – the handy clamp

The Knicks USB Cable Clamp. Who has not, gentle reader, at some point of a lifetime, found themselves grovelling around in search of an errant USB cable which has fallen from desk? Admit it. So pray be upstanding for this solution to the menace of sore knees and a rumpled hair do. Available in five different colours for an undisclosed sum of money.

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