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[Closed] Recommend me a "gadget"

 IA
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[#4933738]

I'm an epic geek, and as such get occasional gadget lust. I love shiny new tech.

Strange urge to get a new "toy" to play with, what have you got recently?


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:00 pm
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Budget?

Helicopters / quadcopters seem to be popular amongst the STW Massive at the mo.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:02 pm
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Most recent gadgery-nadgery purchases;
Canon flippy outy screen DSLR
Olympus TG1 bombproof compact digital camera
Samsung Ickle Tablet

All very good so far! 🙂


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:03 pm
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Apple TV?

FIIO E6 headphone amp?

[img] [/img]

Doodle pen?


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:17 pm
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Some lego technic, preferably old stuff.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:22 pm
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I'm not a gadget nerd, but I'm sat with a couple of quid spare and have been looking at one of the kindle hd fire things, and now I am followed around by them thanks to google ads and the like on every website I visit.

I think I might treat myself to a new toy for my holiday this year which will involve lying reading in the sun


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:37 pm
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My next gadget is going to be a sound bar


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:48 pm
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Raspberry PI ? ( depending on your definition of shiny )

Just turned a non-smart TV into a fairly clever one with RaspBMC and a dinky wireless keyboard.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:49 pm
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I like the samsung tab2 I got the other day. Easier to hold than my ipad therefore better.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:51 pm
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Raspberry pi would be a great choice!


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:52 pm
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One of these would be awesome.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:53 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 3:54 pm
 IA
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Budget?

Dunno, might spend £100 on a whim? depends really.
Helicopters / quadcopters

Slightly intrigued, but then the interest for me would be controlling them with a computer/phone/whatever...and then that becomes a bit too much like work for me...
Canon flippy outy screen DSLR
Olympus TG1 bombproof compact digital camera
Samsung Ickle Tablet

Have a couple m4/3 cameras, and an iPad. Strangely tempted by a nexus 7 but absolutely no need for one!
[quote> http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-e-paper-watch-for-iphone-and-android

If I could buy a pebble today, I probably would. But you can't buy them just now!
Apple TV

Have a mythbox setup (have done for years) so no real need. I can airplay through it, and rarely need/want to.
FiiO

Good idea, but I use fairly cheap headphones at work anyhow, and proper stereo at home.
3doodler

That's quite cool...
Lego technic

Reminds me, I've a crane to re-build..
kindle hd fire ...reading in the sun

You don't want a fire to read in the sun - lcd so will be crap.
My next gadget is going to be a sound bar

Tv is hooked up through my hifi anyhow.
Raspberry PI

Yeah, I keep thinking about one. But not sure what I'd *do* with it. RasBMC is pointless - I have a mythbox hooked to TV and Amp. Playing with linux etc. - well as I said I have an always-on linux box anyhow. I could hook it to some other hardware...but what? Hmmm.
I like the samsung tab2 I got the other day. Easier to hold than my ipad therefore better.

I'd buy a N7 over a samsung...but then I've had android tablets before (for work) and in general, prefer my ipad (Lets not get into the whys etc. here!)


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 4:02 pm
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Suunto Ambit GPS Watch

http://www.suunto.com/gb/en/collections/suunto-ambit

Great battery life (15 hours, 50 hours or 30 days depending on use)
100m water proof
fully customisable screens for different activities
Compass
Barometer/altimeter
Navigation functionality
all the usual watch stuff
Just about wearable as an everyday watch

great gadget.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 4:03 pm
 IA
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Suunto Ambit GPS Watch

Now that's a nice gadget... not cheap mind!

It's why I like the idea of a pebble though...the watch is just a display then you implement all the functionality on a phone which sits in your bag (and is easily replaced/updated etc etc)


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 4:23 pm
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My next gadget is going to be a sound bar

[i]Tv is hooked up through my hifi anyhow.[/i]

So is mine (but just basic stereo through a 'good' amp). Fancied some clarity on dialogue that seems to be lacking in the set-up I have. Fine when it is loud, but when the kids are asleep upstairs it would be good to be able to hear dialogue without pumping the volume up.

Looking at this one http://www.whathifi.com/review/nb3520a

At PC World for £200 now.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 4:30 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 4:31 pm
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Solar panel to charge your current gadgets, just got one that charges my I pad.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 4:54 pm
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Ooh, I know. Arduino starter kit and a project ideas book.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 4:57 pm
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parkesie - Member
Solar panel to charge your current gadgets, just got one that charges my I pad.

Nice idea! Linky please! Especially if it will charge other (betterer) products! 😉


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 5:00 pm
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[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PortaPow-Premium-Solar-USB-Charger-Panel-Battery-Pack-5V-5W-satnav-garmin-iphone-/221028289122?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhoneAccessories_MobilePhoneChargers&hash=item3376500a62 ]Solar panel[/url]. They do them without the battery pack and slightly less powerful panels. Will charge just about anything that charges via USB.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 5:08 pm
 IA
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solar panel

Meh, I use a usb battery pack thingy when I need this. Solar panels aren't really good/efficient enough. Unless they're really big, then that's not practical.

Arduino

Vaguely tempting, though maybe more tempted to go the route of GPIO on a raspberry Pi..... but then I think what would I want to control (for either of them)? Any suggestions? Some ideas...

Home automation - I'd love to control my lighting/heating, but I'm in rented accomodation so I don't think they'd appreciate me messing about with the wiring! When I get my own place though...

Maybe some sort of clock, projecting the time (or other info) on a wall somehow...but with what? lasers? Hmmm.... how? Raster scan simple stuff? But raster how? Motors? Noisy...etc.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 5:12 pm
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Arduino with a quadrocopter. See how long it takes you to make it able to fly itself. Then add some object recognition and get it to follow you down trails whilst carrying a gopro.


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 5:16 pm
 IA
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Arduino with a quadrocopter. See how long it takes you to make it able to fly itself

As I said, a bit too close to the day job...it'd be fun but I need to do something different some of the time!

Would need a bit more cpu power than an arduino to track/follow, but I could implement that I think. Would probably use a cheap android phone.

Tempting project idea, but as I say a bit too much like work and I've visions of me piling a quadcopter into someone/thing.. not cheap either!


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 5:28 pm
 bigG
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Shiny, new and more than a little cool. I've got mine on preorder.

[url= https://www.leapmotion.com/ ]Leap Motion[/url]


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 5:56 pm
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also got a Leap on pre-order.

But also tempted to pre-order one of these too:

https://getmyo.com/

FFS, why are my videos not embedding today?

MOD: Because you are using the short code rather than full URL


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 7:58 pm
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Just put in an order for this ... 😀

[img] [/img]

After I bought this two weeks ago from STW member ... :mrgreen:

[img] [/img]

This what I really really want ... 😆

[img] [/img]

On budget get this ... 🙄
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 8:24 pm
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How about a fitbit or withings scale?


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 8:44 pm
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[nsfw] fleshlight? [/nsfw]


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 8:47 pm
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PCM M10


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 10:37 pm
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Sounds like you need a [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curta ]Curta[/url] mechanical calculator, utterly pointless in this day n' age but very tactile and once you play with one you'll forever be attempting to justify the price to yourself as they are a strangely desirable gadget that serves no possible use thus rendering them even more alluring.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 10:42 pm
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Stages Power Crank Meter (ultegra flavour) and a head unit to show how unpowerful I am. It's great, does exactly what it's meant to. I'm no kettle-boiler, that's for certain, even climbing over the Surrey hills 😉


 
Posted : 06/03/2013 11:40 pm
 IA
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Some good suggestions here. Bit worried about Chewkw 😉


 
Posted : 07/03/2013 10:10 am
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Those Curta calculators bring out the inner geek in me, but the price 😯


 
Posted : 07/03/2013 10:16 am
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A Gadget you say? How about this:

[img] [/img]

[url= http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Trinity.html ]Trinity[/url]


 
Posted : 07/03/2013 10:20 am
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 07/03/2013 10:24 am
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Chewkw - I've got a strider folder which I'm toying with selling. Interested?


 
Posted : 07/03/2013 10:26 am
 IA
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birky - Nevero proboscis moto-moto bicyle!

sockpuppet - as I mentioned I'm letting my flat and I don't think they allow me to store my nuclear arsenal there?


 
Posted : 07/03/2013 10:52 am
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chewkw My old man has 2 hand me down Ghurka Kukri one ex service one ceremonial. He has said I can have the ex-service one, I cant wait to get my hands on it.


 
Posted : 07/03/2013 11:33 am
 IA
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Dammit, still find myself pondering gadgets...

any new suggestions?


 
Posted : 08/03/2013 12:37 pm
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How about one of these?

Think I might build one out of Lego Mindstorms.


 
Posted : 08/03/2013 12:53 pm
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Buy a lathe. You can never go wrong buying machine tools. I just bought this:

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8538318721_8cdcc86b68_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8538318721_8cdcc86b68_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/cycleologist/8538318721/ ]New lathe...[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/cycleologist/ ]Ben Cooper[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 08/03/2013 1:04 pm
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I rather like that Sunnto Ambit... justifiable by lots of dog walking possibly?

Delivery man dropped off an Apple Trackpad the other day. Quite enjoying that at the moment. Also replaced my old NAS with a Lacie 2big NAS, nicely designed bit of kit even though it's not quite as fiddleable with as my old QNAP...

[img] [/img]

Also got a Transcend Wifi SD card. Stick it in the camera and I can access photos from an app on the Pad or a web page on the PC. Pretty cool gadge. 32gb and class 10 too, better than the Sandisk ones.


 
Posted : 08/03/2013 1:48 pm
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Whole family's had some good fun with this 😀

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8538462331_ae52d798a3_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8538462331_ae52d798a3_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/davesport/8538462331/ ]Aquascooter2[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/davesport/ ]Davesport62[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8538462873_f05d63c0f8_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8538462873_f05d63c0f8_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/davesport/8538462873/ ]Aquascooter1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/davesport/ ]Davesport62[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 08/03/2013 2:24 pm
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