Cycle safer with solar-powered Anklelite

As a child, if I rode my bike after dark, I'd have to rely on my bike's reflectors and, occasionally, a flashlight to keep me visible. However, today's cyclists have gadgets like the Pedalite Anklelite to help keep them safe.

This Anklelite is a solar-powered floodlight. According to Pedalite, users can expect at least three hours of use from the light in strobe mode; however, it doesn't say how often it will last when not being used as a strobe.

I think the real benefit from this, other than safety, is that you never have to buy or replace batteries. Just keep the Anklelite near your bike gear, and in the sun, and it's ready to go when you are.

According to Pedalite: "The Anklelite's robust design and versatility enables it to be also used as an arm light on the upper or lower arm--perfect for jogging, cycling or riding." It can be used as a strobe or a solid light. Also, says the company, it's weather- and impact-resistant, so it should survive the occasional fall or rain shower.

No word yet on when the product will be available from Pedalite North America, but it's going on sale in the UK for £10 (about US$18) in December.

Via Crave CNET | Source: SmartPlanet

Measure your typing speed in RPM

Instead of the boring words-per-minute (WPM) rating when talking about typing speed, how about going by revolutions per minute (RPM)? Seen here is the USB Mice Wheel (that's the product name, though there's only one mouse there) which responds to your typing speed. The faster you go, the faster it turns.

This requires you to install some software and it works only for Windows XP. If you'd rather not plug it in, you can put in some batteries and it'll still work, except the speed will be controlled by a knob and not your keyboard. From the product page, the company making it seems to be a Chinese manufacturer which sells in bulk, so it should probably appear on online novelty shops after a while. We'll definitely be keeping this away from our 120wpm colleague--she'll probably run the mouse till it dies.

Via The Red Ferret Journal

50 years of space-age technology

Space-age technology has become a cliche for late night television home shopping. From vacuum cleaners to juice blenders, they all claim to be offshoots from Man's race to the stars.

Bad network programs aside, there are genuine products spawned from the space race. Lithium-ion batteries, advanced polymer protective suits, 360-degree photography are but some of the technologies developed by NASA and later commercialized. The space agency has compiled a list of 50 products which stem from its research over the last 50 years. Check it out and how life would have been sadder if Man had decided not to reach for the stars.

Trap-door pool table brings sexy up

Here's one for all you weekend project addicts out there. You've probably already torn through dangerous books of all kinds and now you're thinking, "What's next?"

One option is to cut a huge hole into your floor and hide a pool table in it. Seriously. As you can see from the video, you won't be the first, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it just as much as the engineering genius (that's not sarcasm) who decided to build a hydraulic lift for his pool table and have it dramatically rise out of the floor while no one around him wonders what he's compensating for. OK, maybe that last part was sarcasm.

I can't imagine this being installed in anything but a very large home. So the thought that someone would install this to save space is probably off the mark. It's probably the compensating thing. Also, you probably won't want to have small children or pets around this thing, especially when it's recessing back into the floor.

Thanks to BallerHouse for sending this one in.

Via CNET Crave

SureFlap recognizes your pet via its RFID tag

I can't tell you how many times I've come home to find random cats that I don't know hanging around my house while my own cat is out doing whatever it is cats do. They waltz in through my pet door and make themselves at home, even helping themselves to my cat's Friskies.

That's why I'm considering the SureFlap, a secure pet door that only opens for the pet or pets that have approved RFID chips implanted under their furry skin. Any other animals, say the evil gang that likes to get its fur all over my couch, would be turned away.

This is a pretty high-tech solution for a low-tech problem, but if it's a situation you're in, then it's a perfect answer.

Via CNET Crave

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our new blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (897)

» Digital Cameras (509)

» Notebooks (610)

» PC & Peripherals (672)

» Handhelds (321)

» Printers (47)

» Home AV (605)

» Music & Play (495)

» Gadgets (1114)

» Future Tech (218)

Previously...

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Subscribe to
Crave

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads