As VoIP communications have begun to be more popular among consumers, even businesses saw a very good opportunity of saving some money on the phone bills and this is how VoIP conference phones have appeared.
And this is the type of device you're about to see as follows, namely the Freecom Internet Conference Phone launched back in the second half of 2006, a device that allows up to 5 participants to enjoy the advantages of VoIP conferencing.
Thus, this device connects to a computer via the USB port and allows users to take advantage of the VoIP services offered either by Skype or by any other voice-enabled IM client. However, since this is a conference phone (which is actually nothing more than a pimped-up speakerphone), it doesn't provide any significant control options, other than the volume control system, the rest of the operations being carried out by the associated software applications.
However, exactly because it's a conference phone, the Internet phone from Freecom provides superior audio features, by the echo cancellation technology and the full-duplex DSP system. Moreover, the device sports a very sensitive omni-directional microphone (-42 +/- 1.5db), which provides an overall range of around 5 meters, as well as a built-in stereo headphone port that allows the users to also make private conversations.
The device also incorporates one 4-watt central speaker and 2 laterally-positioned versions (2 W each), thus ensuring quite a good quality and powerful sound. It is available at various online retailers for around 60 Euro (82 US dollars), which is a little expensive, though, considering the fact that there are quite a lot of similar devices available on the market for lower price tags.
USB Internet Conference Phone for Skype
Waterproof Floating Phone
Do you like spending a lot of time at the pool, and that's why you've been searching for the best method of speaking on the phone while you swim, which will leave both you and your phone intact? Well, if you haven't come across some miraculous solution yet, you might want to give a chance to the device you're about to see as follows, namely the Waterproof Floating Phone presented by the people from Hammacher Schlemmer since the first half of 2007.
The first element that guarantees (at least on a theoretical level) the fact that this device will resist the destructive action of the pool is its very body, made from waterproof plastic and featuring some rubber sides, which ensure a better grip. Moreover, the floating phone sports some pretty big buttons, made also from rubber, which makes them quite usable even in the dark, not to mention water. Quite obviously, these waterproofing features make it rather bulky, as the device measures around 19.68 cm x 17.78 cm x 10.16 cm, at a weight of around 907 grams.
The phone also sports an LCD display, a 10-number memory and a caller ID function with a 30-number memory (nevertheless, one requires a Caller ID subscription from the telephone company in order to take full advantage of this feature). Moreover, its 20-channel autoscan ensures the handset delivers clear reception during calls and emergency numbers can be programmed and dialed at a touch of a button.
The device works with a rechargeable internal battery, housed in a specially designed waterproof compartment. The recharging base has a handset locator button and provides multiple mounting options (either desk- or wall-mounted). Moreover, the floating phone can even be used by persons with hearing disabilities, since it’s compatible with hearing aids.
The Waterproof Floating Phone retails for around 80 US dollars, which is actually quite an affordsable price to pay for a device that will ease outdoors communications, not to mention the fact that it will certainly save users some money spent on repairing the phones dropped accidentally in the pool.
Cool Symbio VoIP DECT Phone / Internet Radio
Both Internet-based telephony (VoIP) and Internet radio have become extremely popular over the past few years, and the same phenomenon has affected pretty much all of the external devices associated to this field. And that's exactly the reason why the people over at Thomson have unveiled back in the first half of 2008 the Symbio, a DECT phone which doubles as an Internet radio receiver.
First and foremost, what we're dealing with here is a VoIP phone, which allows users to carry out conversations at HD-level quality. Furthermore, it offers multi-line handling capability, SMS text messaging, phonebook synchronization, RSS data management and a whole lot more. And since we've mentioned the phonebook, it's also quite interesting to note the fact that the Symbio offers enough storage space for around 100 names, as well as a log for the last 50 incoming calls.
As mentioned earlier, the Symbio also doubles as an Internet radio. For this reason, the device has been equipped with 2 x 3 watt stereo speakers, but also with a digital broadcast receiver, which assures high-quality reception. Moreover, it offers access to a very wide choice of Internet radio stations, arranged by location (regional, national, international), category (Classical, Rock, Pop), etc.
Furthermore, the device also packs a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, which offers a functioning autonomy of around 6 hours. Moreover, the Symbio has also been equipped with a color screen (128x128 pixels resolution), which can be used for displaying various information, as for example the identity of the caller, the name of the song being played and the name of the artist, etc. Additionally, the device has also been equipped with an alarm clock and even supports Hi-Fi ringtones, a very cool feature, as far as most VoIP users are concerned.
Milk Gone Bad LED Lamp
Every now and then we all feel the need to behave like children again, whether we are only 20 or already 80 years old. Indifferent of our body's age, our spirit remains young, or at least intends to and from time to time manifests outbursts that can be identified in a trip around the world, changing our wardrobe, or modifying something in our home's design.
With the Milk Gone Bad lamp collection from AnAtomic Factory you can get in touch with you inner child again, and at the same time you can make your own offspring very happy, by stimulating their imagination. Looking like open milk cartons at first sight, the lamps transform into magic worlds of illustration each, when turned on.
These lamps have a hidden second nature, because, while they look as pure and white as milk when they are turned off, they depict a startling imaginary world of the mold when you switch them on. Each of the eight lamps within the collection is one piece of a series.
Floating somewhere between toys and furniture, the “Milk Gone Bad” lamps can make you feel revitalized and innocent as well as they can do that for a person decades younger. The milk cartons in disguise will give your home a bizarre aspect when they are not lit and they will transform the atmosphere into a fairy tale from the world of the mold once you need their light.
Their creators have been very careful to make them resemble to reality as much as possible, that they made them the standard size of a milk carton and the plastic that they are made of has a very soft texture, similar to the one of the cardboard used for the milk cartons. The lamps sell for approximately $120 and they can be purchased from all over the world.
Discovery Channel Satellite Lamp
Lamps come in all shapes and sizes nowadays, as the manufacturers try to come up with all sorts of new designs that will make their products more interesting for certain specific market segments. And one very peculiar lighting device of this type is the one you're about to see as follows, namely the Satellite Lamp, presented by the people over at the Discovery Channel shop since the second half of 2007, which borrows its shape and overall design from the first satellites mankind launched into space.
Although the vendors have built it to resemble the early satellites in the U.S. Vanguard satellite program, the truth of the matter is that it looks a lot more like the former Soviet Sputnik satellites, at least at first sight. Furthermore, this retro-satellite look is enhanced by the addition of 24 LED lights, which make it shine in the night as fireworks (as a customer's review puts it), something that would have certainly made even the original satellites a lot more attractive.
The main selling point this device has to offer is obviously represented by the 24 bright red, green and blue LED lights, but the device also provides some other interesting features, as for example the 8 display options, controlled via a realistic red “engage” switch. Unfortunately, the finishing touches are not exactly great, due to the fact that this thing is manufactured out of a relatively cheap-looking plastic, somewhere in China.
The device is not exactly very bulky, as far as lamps go, measuring just around 10.2 x 10.2 x 9.3 inches (25.9 cm x 25.9 cm x 23.6 cm), at a weight of around 2.05 pounds (929.864 grams), which means that it won't occupy too much space around the user's room or office (it can also work pretty well as a desktop lamp).
The Satellite Lamp from the Discovery Channel shop retails for around 40 US dollars, which is a pretty small price to pay for such a colorful item, which could always make quite an interesting gift for one's kids.
LED Blow On-Off Candles
Candles have been mankind’s primary source of light for hundreds of years, and are still used quite extensively in those parts of the world where electricity is still a rare and valuable commodity. However, as any open fire, candles are also relatively dangerous, because, if left unattended, they can easily cause major fires.
And this is exactly one of the reasons why the people over at ThinkGeek came up, back in the first half of 2006, with the LED Blow On-Off Candles, some illumination devices that employ the light emitting diodes’ technology in order to mimic the behavior of real candles, without any of the dangers associated with them.
Thus, the LED Blow On-Off Candles have quite a natural look, as the exterior design resembles quite closely that of real candle, especially due to the wax coating. Moreover, they can flicker, much in the same way like real candles, but, in their case, the flickering is controlled by a built-in microprocessor rather than the wind.
Another very interesting feature provided by these “pseudo-candles” is represented by their switch-on system. Thus, unlike ordinary candles, which simply blow out should the user blow towards them, the devices presented by ThinkGeek can also be switched on in a similar manner, after previously pressing the master on/off switch located on their bottom side.
The LED Blow On-Off Candles have a diameter of around 3 inches (7.62 cm), and are available in several height options, namely 4, 5 or 6 inches (10 cm, 12.7 cm and 15 cm respectively). Moreover, they’re not exactly power hungry, as they work with 2 AA batteries, which provide a functioning life of around 300 hours.
These very peculiar lighting devices presented by ThinkGeek retail for around 12-15 US dollars, depending on the model, which is actually a pretty good price to pay for such innovative and lifelike LED lamps.