| Ah gadgets, I love them, take something that can be | | | | Aimed at both beginners and experienced drummers, |
| done in a number of ways, find the most pointless | | | | the Ion iED05 drum kit is a digital set-up that connects |
| way of doing it and there you have the making of a | | | | to your PC via USB. All you have to do is simply |
| good gadget. Why for example would you want to | | | | connect the adjustable drum kit to your USB port and |
| open a bottle of wine with a bottle opener that will | | | | you will have access to over 200 drum sounds that |
| cost you 2pounds when you can also do it with one | | | | will work with the velocity-sensitive drum pads and |
| that costs 50 times as much, or maybe one that's built | | | | cymbals, which react accurately to every hit. The kit |
| into your sandal or belt buckle. | | | | even includes video tutorial software and a drumming |
| But gadgets aren't just about helping you get your | | | | game to allow you to play along to music to improve |
| bottle of wine open. They come in all shapes and sizes | | | | your performance. The Ion iED05 costs 129.99 pounds. |
| and some would say that the term covers the entire | | | | Pleo |
| consumer electronics field. I am a gadget lover, ie to | | | | Pleo is the Robotic Camarasaurus Dinosaur from the |
| love all things gadgety. | | | | co-creator of the Furby. The one-week old infant |
| Here are some of my more favourite pointless | | | | Camarasaurus from the late Jurassic period created |
| gadgets at the moment. | | | | by UGOBE (You Go Be) is an autonomous Life Form |
| Glow Tap | | | | that advances through life stages and develops a |
| This little gizmo fits onto taps and has an internal | | | | unique personality through user interaction. Like Sony's |
| switch that lights up a set of LEDs when you turn on | | | | Aibo, if you treat him well and he'll become friendly and |
| your tap transforming the stream of water into a | | | | outgoing, treat him badly and he'll become timid or |
| waterfall of light. Rather than just as aesthetic effect, | | | | angry. Initially cautious, Pleo will walk around slowly to |
| there's a temperature sensor within the unit that can | | | | absorb his surroundings but may cry when frightened |
| tell whether the water is cold or hot, and changes the | | | | or scared. He will stretch when waking up and he may |
| colour of the light accordingly.Complete with a set of | | | | even stomp his foot if he gets angry. Man's best friend |
| universal adaptors for most size taps, the glow flow | | | | had better watch out. |
| tap is available now for 14.99 pounds. | | | | Star Trek "Communicator" |
| Moixa USBCELL batteries | | | | Flip up the grill, and you'll be greeted with the lights and |
| The USBCELL as an environmentally-friendly | | | | sounds Star Trek fans have come to know and love. |
| alternative to normal AA batteries. The top of one side | | | | As an added bonus, this replica is complete with voice |
| flips up to reveal a USB connector, and the battery | | | | clips from the actual series pre-loaded. Oh, what japes |
| simply plugs into an open port. It takes five hours to | | | | you'll have listening to Spock ask you if you want an |
| charge one of the cells if it was fully discharged; each | | | | armed party beamed down, and just think of the thrills |
| battery has a capacity of 1300mAH. The USBCELL | | | | as you call the Enterprise and hear: "Bridge here, |
| cost around 12.99 pounds for two AA batteries. | | | | Captain"! |
| Ion iED05 USB drum kit | | | | |