The Worst Products of CES 2010

loose electron submitted a (sigh) slideshow page documenting 10 of the worst products from CES this year. Includes a baseball hat with a TV in the brim, vibrating earbuds, an Android powered microwave, and what appears to be the next generation of Teddy Ruxpin.

Comments

how about

[Anonymous Coward]

this autamated frist psot gettor?!?

Re:how about

[Mephistro]

WARNING: There is a nice & healthy virus in the above link. Don't open unless your box is well protected. No, the computer's metal casing doesn't count as protection.

Krave

[Sponge Bath]

One look at that advertisement and I'm craving something other than an electronic cigarette.

Re:Krave

[Brackney]

I actually saw a kiosk for "electronic cigarettes" at a local mall last week. Definitely a WTF moment.

Re:Krave

[Anonymusing]

One look at that advertisement and I'm craving something other than an electronic cigarette.

Hmm. Do you need to borrow my vibrating earbuds?

Re:Krave

[Anonymous Coward]

may be ok as a quit smoking aid (just the nicotine with no tar etc...)

Re:Krave

[Anonymous Coward]

Nah. How 'bout you pass the green goo and a dancing stuffed animal instead. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what I call a Friday night.

Re:Krave

[jgtg32a]

Yeah that's what I thought it was for, I seem to remember hearing that part of the reason its hard to quit is because in addition to the nicotine there's also the habit and comfort of actually hold a cigarette.
 
Back in the day they had candy cigarettes and people would switch to them to help them quit smoking they would just hold them and pretend they were smoking.

Re:Krave

[MBGMorden]

I'm not even positive that is a real advertisement or it's one of the "worst products" they're showcasing for their article.

In any event, I must cry foul on calling the iType a "worst product". Maybe not for everyone, but I kinda want one of these for my iPod Touch. On personal trips now I don't even carry my laptop (as typically what I use it for is doing things like pulling up Mapquest directions or Yahoo Yellow Pages to find a nearby Chinese place, which the iPod does just fine). This would certainly make using it in such scenario's more comfortable.

Heck what I've REALLY love to see is a standardized docking station that allowed a full size keyboard/trackpad and monitor to dock to such phones and view the browser and such at higher resolutions. If hotels could started to provide such docking stations I'd be in heaven (I'd certainly pay extra for it - not more than a few $$ extra per night, but it'll still be something I'd look for).

Re:Krave

[mother_reincarnated]

I know a number of long time smokers that have switched to the e-cigs. Hopefully nothing but nicotine (hey the juice comes from China- so who knows), no second hand issues, doesn't smell, can smoke in restaurants, on long flights, in the car, etc. The biggest problem is that people might not die as quickly AND stop paying the exorbitant sin taxes on tobacco.

I really don't understand what the 'Krave' was doing on that list...

Re:Krave

[gandhi_2]

What? In Utah we were told candy cigarettes were a gateway drug! Had to drive to Evanston, WY to get them.

Re:Krave

[g0bshiTe]

Back in the day of those candy cigarettes is how all us next gen smokers got hooked, trying to look older and cool with our candy cigarettes.

Re:Krave

[AtomicOrange]

Green goo? Perhaps you should see a doctor, something isn't apparently working right... down there.

Re:Krave

[Anonymous Coward]

For those of us who do not smoke, at first glance the "Krave" looks amazingly stupid. Add the hot chick in the ad and it looks like a pathetic marketing attempt to sell a lame product.

However, after thinking about it for a few moments, the point becomes clearer... it's an attempt to sell a nicotine delivery system that provides the nicotine that a smoker craves (hence the trademarkable name "Krave") without the dangerous second-hand smoke and the obnoxious smell that bother other non-smokers.

They're finding a way to create a new market - smokers who want to be less offensive to non-smokers. I'm sure these people exist, but there was no viable way for them to do it before the Krave.

Good luck to them! I hope this works.

Given the hot babe in the "Krave" ad, I find it amusing that the captcha for this post is "escort".

Re:Krave

[citab]

Haha, welcome from the land of zion (or the Zion Curtain to some)

Re:Krave

[citab]

For those of us who do not smoke, at first glance the "Krave" looks amazingly stupid. Add the hot chick in the ad and it looks like a pathetic marketing attempt to sell a lame product.

I hear they are going to start selling them right after the Extenze Infomercials on late night TV ... I mean, what a better time to want a eCig.

Re:Krave

[xaxa]

Ryanair tried to sell me an electronic cigarette last time I flew with them. They've been available (according to Wikipedia) since 2006 in Europe.

Perhaps the article is complaining that this one is disposable (with its battery etc), whereas the ones you can buy now are refillable? I think you buy replacement cartridges for them.

Re:Krave

[chaodyn]

I use one. It takes a while to get used to, but you can flavor it any way you want and after using it consistently for a day "analog" cigs taste pretty bad. The main issue is keeping the atomizer clean (it gets build-up and starts tasting funny). Other than that, what you get is a device that gives you vaporized nicotine in a similar method as cigarettes, without tar or other chemicals. It's basically the same as an nebulizer with nicotine. You can vary the nicotine level, eventually moving down to zero. The only issue is, in my opinion, it's not really a stop smoking aid, it's really a smoking replacement. And you have to make sure you keep your batteries charged - a dead battery will lead right back to a cigarette.

Re:Krave

[ibbie]

I like my e-cig (model DSE801, a "pen style"). I'd tried a few other models, and found that the more they look like a normal cig, the worse they operate.

I bought mine at vapor kings, if anyone else wants to try it.

The "juice" can be 0 nicotine, by the way, and can be made at home using either propylene glycol, or good old vegetable glycerine.

Re:Krave

[Anonymous Coward]

The iType was considered a bad product because it requires a specific app to function. It won't work as a standard input device, making it effectively useless.

Re:Krave

[anonymousbob22]

According to TFA, the keyboard only worked with the app provided by the manufacturer.

Also, the keyboard is very large and cumbersome, so any gain in portability by carrying an iPhone/iPod touch is lost because you still need to lug around the keyboard attachment in your backpack..

Re:Krave

[Housedog]

I know a number of long time smokers that have switched to the e-cigs. Hopefully nothing but nicotine (hey the juice comes from China- so who knows), no second hand issues, doesn't smell, can smoke in restaurants, on long flights, in the car, etc. The biggest problem is that people might not die as quickly AND stop paying the exorbitant sin taxes on tobacco.

I really don't understand what the 'Krave' was doing on that list...

Not all of the liquid comes from China any more, there has been a huge influx of 100% USA made liquid in to the market over the past few months, and the consumers are gladly paying the slightly higher prices for it (myself included). More people are also shelling out the money to have their liquid tested which is a big step forward, and there are groups of users coming together to fund actual research in to the safety of using these devices vs. smoking (something that's common sense to most of us, but tell that to the FDA)

Yes, most all of the hardware still comes from China, but that's even starting to change as the ex-smoker geeks start getting their hands on these things.. there are huge sections on some of the PV (personal vaporizer, a term a lot of us prefer over e-cigarette) forums dedicated to building your own custom battery box so you can go days without having to charge it (and get to solder! win/win!), even some people who have reverse-engineered the atomizers and now build their own, how to mix your own liquid with supplies from US-based labs, etc.

The only big problem (besides the FDA and anti-smoking groups trying to shut us down) is the people trying to make a quick buck off of these things - the fancy brands like Krave, the sales kiosk in the mall (not all of them, but the ones who are just run by a salesman and not someone who actually understands and cares about what he/she's doing), the ones making health claims without proof to back it up, trying to sell to minors, ripping people off.. it makes the rest of us look bad. Every news article I see about these things says that a starter kit is "about $100-$150", when in reality they're about $30 or $40. And we know they're not healthy, they're just better than what we were doing before. Personally I got all of the health benefits normally associated with quitting within about four days of switching to my PV - increased lung capacity, no coughing, increased stamina, no stink, etc. I can use the thing in my house, or at my desk at work, and nobody even knows I'm doing it as there's no smell, and the vapor dissipates within seconds.

Re:Krave

[Anonymous Coward]

OK, let me speak as a guy that has successfully quit smoking (over a year now).

THe reason its so hard, is that Nicotine is probably the single most addictive substance on the planet, mabye second only to heroin. Its heavily physically addictive, and the structure/behavior of nicotine provides a constant psycological re-inforcement of that addiction.

E-cigs are crap, and a complete waste of money from a quit smoking standpoint. They're only real purpose is to provide a way to "smoke" when you can't light up a cigarette.

Fuck e-cigs.

Re:Krave

[rdavidson3]

Yeah, I definitely would tap that... unfortunately, I doubt that she'd tap me :(

Re:Krave

[shadowrat]

The problem with the iType was it only worked with the itype app. It's not anything the iphone considers a keyboard.

Maybe you would want to just type into a word processor on the flight, but i'd rather just have a netbook if i were going to carry something that big.

Re:Krave

[CohibaVancouver]

They're only real purpose is to provide a way to "smoke" when you can't light up a cigarette.

That's exactly their purpose - so, for example, nicotine addicts can get a hit of their legal drug in an airplane's washroom. (I'm a nonsmoker.)

Fuck e-cigs

No one has religion like a convert :)

Re:Krave

[Tetsujin]

it's an attempt to sell a nicotine delivery system that provides the nicotine that a smoker craves (hence the trademarkable name "Krave") without the dangerous second-hand smoke and the obnoxious smell that bother other non-smokers.

That's the thing that gets me about fake cigarettes - who says there's no second-hand danger? It doesn't smell obnoxious - but people in the same room will still be breathing the same stuff...

Re:Krave

[Arthur Grumbine]

The only issue is, in my opinion, it's not really a stop smoking aid, it's really a smoking replacement. And you have to make sure you keep your batteries charged - a dead battery will lead right back to a cigarette.

I also switched to electronic cigarette only, from a 11-year pack+/day habit, and haven't had an analog cigarette to date (over 8 months). I definitely agree with the idea that it's a smoking replacement instead of stop smoking aid, but until there's evidence of long-term risk I'll treat my nicotine habit like my caffeine habit - sure, it'd be better not to be addicted, but I'm not really all that woorried about it.

I found the battery issue frustrating, and so ended up finding a cheap source directly from China for additional batteries (thus avoiding the insane U.S. distributor/retailer markup). A couple months ago, though, I bought a couple of the USB pass-through devices (that pull power directly from a USB port - no battery). Since I'm sitting at a computer the majority of the day I found this much more convenient (after I got used to have a cord coming off the end of my cigarette) now that I never have to worry about constantly recharging/replacing batteries.

I still have a handful of batteries that use for when I'm away from a computer (out at bars/parties/shopping/etc), but the pass-through device has definitely simplified my nicotine habit. And for the model I use (with a disposable cartridge/atomizer) is only about $20.

Re:Krave

[Anonymous Coward]

These cigarettes seem to have just the nicotine. I've never heard of anyone getting addicted to nicotine through second hand smoke, so I have to assume that the amount of nicotine released this way is minimal (most of it gets absorbed by the smoker?).

Re:Krave

[nomadic]

One look at that advertisement and I'm craving something other than an electronic cigarette.

Tasteful green chairs?

Re:Krave

[icebraining]

No, they don't. Normal cigarettes only have about 2% of nicotine (which is the stuff that hooks people), the most dangerous parts are the tar (itself composed of many chemicals), benzene and benzo(a)pyrene, which in turn create multiple components in gas form, like carbon monoxide, ammonia, dimethylnitrosamine, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and acrolein.

The e-cigs only contain nicotine and little else (water vapor, usually), so they're _much_ safer to use, for the first and second hand smokers.

Re:Krave

[yawn9]

I know a number of long time smokers that have switched to the e-cigs. Hopefully nothing but nicotine (hey the juice comes from China- so who knows), no second hand issues, doesn't smell, can smoke in restaurants, on long flights, in the car, etc. The biggest problem is that people might not die as quickly AND stop paying the exorbitant sin taxes on tobacco.

I really don't understand what the 'Krave' was doing on that list...

Not all of the liquid comes from China any more, there has been a huge influx of 100% USA made liquid in to the market over the past few months, and the consumers are gladly paying the slightly higher prices for it (myself included). More people are also shelling out the money to have their liquid tested which is a big step forward, and there are groups of users coming together to fund actual research in to the safety of using these devices vs. smoking (something that's common sense to most of us, but tell that to the FDA)

Yes, most all of the hardware still comes from China, but that's even starting to change as the ex-smoker geeks start getting their hands on these things.. there are huge sections on some of the PV (personal vaporizer, a term a lot of us prefer over e-cigarette) forums dedicated to building your own custom battery box so you can go days without having to charge it (and get to solder! win/win!), even some people who have reverse-engineered the atomizers and now build their own, how to mix your own liquid with supplies from US-based labs, etc.

The only big problem (besides the FDA and anti-smoking groups trying to shut us down) is the people trying to make a quick buck off of these things - the fancy brands like Krave, the sales kiosk in the mall (not all of them, but the ones who are just run by a salesman and not someone who actually understands and cares about what he/she's doing), the ones making health claims without proof to back it up, trying to sell to minors, ripping people off.. it makes the rest of us look bad. Every news article I see about these things says that a starter kit is "about $100-$150", when in reality they're about $30 or $40. And we know they're not healthy, they're just better than what we were doing before. Personally I got all of the health benefits normally associated with quitting within about four days of switching to my PV - increased lung capacity, no coughing, increased stamina, no stink, etc. I can use the thing in my house, or at my desk at work, and nobody even knows I'm doing it as there's no smell, and the vapor dissipates within seconds.

I know a number of long time smokers that have switched to the e-cigs. Hopefully nothing but nicotine (hey the juice comes from China- so who knows), no second hand issues, doesn't smell, can smoke in restaurants, on long flights, in the car, etc. The biggest problem is that people might not die as quickly AND stop paying the exorbitant sin taxes on tobacco.

I really don't understand what the 'Krave' was doing on that list...

Not all of the liquid comes from China any more, there has been a huge influx of 100% USA made liquid in to the market over the past few months, and the consumers are gladly paying the slightly higher prices for it (myself included). More people are also shelling out the money to have their liquid tested which is a big step forward, and there are groups of users coming together to fund actual research in to the safety of using these devices vs. smoking (something that's common sense to most of us, but tell that to the FDA)

Yes, most all of the hardware still comes from China, but that's even starting to change as the ex-smoker geeks start getting their hands on these things.. there are huge sections on some of the PV (personal vaporizer, a term a lot of us prefer over e-cigarette) forums dedicated to building your own custom battery box so you can go days without having to charge it (and get to solder! win/win!), even som

Re:Krave

[Jesse_vd]

for $4.99 in the Cydia store, you can install the BT keyboard stack, and use (almost) any bluetooth keyboard with any app on your device. the mouse BT stack is free, and works awesome :)

Re:Krave

[amicusNYCL]

It doesn't smell obnoxious - but people in the same room will still be breathing the same stuff...

No they won't. The guy smoking will be breathing in atomized nicotine and water vapor. Everyone else will be breathing in whatever you exhale after your lungs have absorbed the nicotine. Not exactly "the same stuff". You're not just saturating the air with nicotine, the point is to make sure that the person smoking absorbs the nicotine rather than exhaling it.

Re:Krave

[gstoddart]

Yeah that's what I thought it was for, I seem to remember hearing that part of the reason its hard to quit is because in addition to the nicotine there's also the habit and comfort of actually hold a cigarette.

I don't know if these are marketed in the US.

Same idea, not electronic. No mist to pretend like it's smoke, but you do get the nicotine when you inhale from it. It lets you work through the addiction by at least getting the nicotine without all of the other stuff. It's a pretty close analog to the electronic ones, but without a battery.

And, yes, the habit part of the equation is a huge aspect to quitting smoking.

Cheers

Re:Krave

[Cyberax]

"Analog cigarette" - now that's a phrase!

Re:Krave

[Housedog]

I realized I should have put this kind of stuff in my original post.

The FDA seized imports from two companies (Smoking Everywhere and NJOY, two of the aforementioned overpriced ones) who in turn sued the FDA. That case is still pending, but no shipments are currently being held up and every vendor I deal with has no problems getting shipments in other than normal customs delays.

First off, a couple of forums, in order of preference (and sorry if I fail at linking, but this is probably my second comment on /. ever and I don't feel like taking the time to figure out how to link properly here right now)

www.vapersforum.com
www.vaportalk.com
www.nu-vapor.com
www.e-cigarette-forum.com

Now there are generally three parts to these devices - batteries (power), atomizers (heating coil), and cartridge (liquid). In some cases the atomizer and cartridge are combined in to one disposable piece (aka a cartomizer).

But without going in to too much detail, most of the US-made devices are for the battery housings, most of which are some sort of tube designed to hold li-ion 3.7V batteries like you'd find in cameras, lanterns, etc. Many people also make 5V and 6V devices but that's another whole story, you can find plenty of information on those types of devices on the forums.

All atomizers for sale still come from China, with the exception of a few people who have made their own, but the only one I know of for sale is in a unit called the Juice Box (www.avejuice.com) and currently has a waiting list of over a month and growing.

That's just to point out that people are figuring it out, and I expect more people to start tackling that end of it in the coming months and start mass-producing them, and put an end to the dependence on imports for these for good. A lot of people are wary of investing in the tech because they're scared of the things getting banned.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, here are some battery mods designed and/or manufactured in the US:

www.altsmoke.com (The Silver Bullet, The BB)
www.vaprlife.com (The VP1, The VP2, The VP-PT USB Passthrough)
www.nhaler.com (The XHaler)
www.puresmoker.com (The Prodigy, The Protege)
www.atmosusa.biz (The Copper)
www.supertmanufacturing.com (The Super Six)
www.mcdonaldwebb.com (The Sparkplug)

And there are tons of hobbyists who make custom units for people, for not a lot of money. For example I bought this one for 50 bucks including batteries, and has a built-in USB charging board:

eboxmods.blogspot.com (The Bartleby)

A few USA-made Liquids:

www.tastyvapor.us (Tasty Vapor)
www.cigtechs.com (Rath Juice)
www.electronicstix.com (Rath Juice)
www.eliquidplanet.com (Essence)

Hope that helps.

Re:Krave

[VIPERsssss]

iHookah?

Re:Krave

[Toonol]

The "juice" can be 0 nicotine, by the way, and can be made at home using either propylene glycol, or good old vegetable glycerine.

Do they offer a variety of 'juices'? For instance, can you use it as a caffeine delivery system, instead of nicotine? Or maybe even some vitamins? Alcohol? I wonder if people have 'hacked' it to deliver illegal recreational drugs. Hmm.

Re:Krave

[Anonymous Coward]

A friend sparked up an e-cigarette in a non-smoking area in a major airport. Some other passengers cried foul but the staff kindly explained what it was and that it was ok. .. little did they know that it was actually one of the forstatt e-spliffs in existence :)

Re:Krave

[pluther]

Yeah, the nicotine's only half the equation.

The other half is the whole physical act. I still can't concentrate properly if I'm not holding something in my hand.

I'm kinda glad they didn't have these things around while I was trying to quit. If I'd had something like this that I could have sucked on all day without having to go outside or even step away from the computer, I probably never would have managed it. And, chain smoking, I imagine I'd be up to the equivalent of a few packs a day at least...

Re:Krave

[bit9]

If anything, candy cigarettes are a gateway drug to overeating and eventual obesity, not to smoking.

Re:Krave

[grub]

Thanks for the heads-up, that looks awesome!

Re:Krave

[toastar]

Making a tincture and vape it in one of those krave's sounds pretty neat, But i think I'll stick to my volcano.

Re:Krave

[Anonymous Coward]

Forstatt==first ..Damn t9 dictionary...

Re:Krave

[sjames]

Spot on. I'm also using PVs for about 3 weeks now. I can't say it is harmless, but I can say it is less harmful than cigarettes. It MAY actually be as harmless as caffeine, most studies showing ill effects focused on smoking or chewing tobacco rather than the effects of nicotine itself.

The FDA, a few legislatures, and the millitant anti-smoking people seem to be making it clear they'd rather people smoke cigarettes, in spite of their stated intent.

Re:Krave

[The Ultimate Fartkno]

Yeah, the nicotine's only half the equation.

The other half is the whole physical act. I still can't concentrate properly if I'm not holding something in my hand.

I have the same problem, but it usually involves that "special" folder I have hidden on my hard drive.

Re:Krave

[frank_adrian314159]

OK. So now that you can get the nicotine solution, where can you get the THC solution?

Re:Krave

[EventHorizon_pc]

http://www.amazon.com/World-Sized-Candy-Sticks-boxes/dp/B000BXSRT2/

Just over $9 for 24 boxes.

Re:Krave

[Khashishi]

I'm surprised that the tobacco industry lobbyists haven't legislated this product out of existence, or relegated it to "medical device" status. Maybe when it becomes more of a threat.

Re:Krave

[Culture20]

We were told that beets were a gateway. Beets->sugar->candy->candy cigs/Big League Chew->tobacco->alcohol->D&D->Brimstone.

Re:Krave

[uniquename72]

Krave is also the name of the largest gay club in Vegas. Hope no CES-ers got confused...

Re:Krave

[Culture20]

It's basically the same as an nebulizer with nicotine.

So it's a miniature insecticide sprayer?

Re:Krave

[chaodyn]

nebulizer Variant: or British nebuliser /-"lI-z&r/ Function: noun : ATOMIZER; specifically : an atomizer equipped to produce an extremely fine spray for deep penetration of the lungs

Re:Krave

[j-beda]

Well, according to this, they do seem to correlate with adult smoking:

http://medjournalwatch.blogspot.com/2007/05/candy-cigarettes-make-young-smokers.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17532370?dopt=Abstract

History of childhood candy cigarette use is associated with tobacco smoking by adults.

Klein JD, Thomas RK, Sutter EJ.

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Pediatrics and Community, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. jonathan_klein@urmc.rochester.edu

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether childhood candy cigarette use was associated with adult tobacco smoking. METHODS: 25,887 U.S. adults from the Harris Poll Online (HPOL) were surveyed about current smoking status from November 2005 to May 2006. Respondents were randomly assigned to a yes/no item or a dose-response scale to assess candy cigarette use. Data were weighted to reflect the U.S. adult population. RESULTS: 26.4% of respondents reported current smoking and 29.4% reported former smoking. Candy cigarette use was reported by 88% of both current and former smokers and 78% of never smokers (por=0.001). Logistic regression showed that the odds of smoking for those who used candy cigarettes was 1.98 (95% CI: 1.77, 2.21) for ever (current plus former) smokers and 1.83 (1.59, 2.10) for current smokers, compared to those who had not used candy cigarettes. Odds for current and ever smoking increased with increasing candy cigarette use. CONCLUSION: History of candy cigarette use was associated with increased risk of ever and current smoking among this nationally representative online sample of adults. Odds of smoking increased as candy cigarette use increased; these relationships persisted when controlled for sociodemographics. Elimination of candy cigarettes may protect children from products that promote the social acceptability of smoking.

Re:Krave

[splatter]

were you trying to be funny or have you not look around lately?

http://www.vapir.com/
http://www.vaporbrothers.com/
http://www.storz-bickel.com/vaporizer/volcano-vaporization-system.html

Re:Krave

[indi0144]

Well I don't know the specifications of the eCig, you would not believe me but here, very close to the Ecuador we have stores dedicated to the eCig and juices and accessories, I'd like to buy one because I want to stop smoking "analog cigs" but would like to keep on the Nicotine train, you know, I'm one of those guys that would make funny things without my Nico.

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/08/07/1155225 (I'm not schizophrenic, just a bit schizotypal, no, I don't hear voices, and I don't care if they are out to get me)

AFAIK vaporization temperatures for Marijuana are like ~ 300 Celsius (you might want to double check that, theres plenty of sites devoted to that) and other drugs are plain chemical compound so I guess temperatures would be higher. I don't think an ordinary eCig is designed for such uses, after all, there a whole market for "vapes"

I don't know how a very good alternative for a killing habit it's a bad product. Batteries? Well digital cameras / laptops should be on the list then.

Re:Krave

[indi0144]

mod up ppl!

Thank you, you should comment more often :)

Synthetic Snot

[Diss Champ]

That product, if done right (anti-bacterial stuff in the goo to get the keys actually clean, right consistency to not leave bits between keys) would actually be pretty useful in some environments.

For those who didn't RTFA, it's a keyboard cleaner via goo like substance that you push on and pull off and it takes the ick with it.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[Anonymous Coward]

agreed, I thought that product actually looked like a good idea (assuming it actually worked)

Re:Synthetic Snot

[jellomizer]

Most of the products seemed like decent products. The iPhone Guitar did look kinda crappy though, something that you would get kicked out of a nerd convention for being to nerdy. But the rest of them he didn't seem to like them just because they were silly or dealt with taboo topics.

1. I am not a smoker but if I was and it was part of my identity I would want something that at least makes me look like I am smoking. It isn't a bad idea and can probably help stop smoking as it gives more of the visuals that others products didn't have.

2. The TV hat is kinda silly too. But I think it would be good for kids but it on their head and pacify them during long trips and have them watch a movie.

3. Virbrating earbuds. Yea I don't see them kicking off. But it seemed as a good attempt on making a subwoofer on earbuds.

4. iType. I would agree they really dropped the ball there. If they made it work with any iphone app and on horizonatl/verticle then it could be useful, yes it will loose some mobility... However if it cheaper then a laptop it might be good.

5. Phubby... Well the problem with putting your phone in you pocket has many issues... One you can sit on it or find other ways of breaking it and would fall out or you don't know if it is vibrating or not. Low tech but good idea.

6. BabyPlus... There are enough neurotic moms out there to make it sell. There are a bunch of things like this already out. no big deal

7. Unbreakable Phone... Nothing is unbreakable but it is a lot more study then most other phones just because the BBC guy hit it in the right spot they shouldn't be penalized much for it.

8. Android Microwave... Why not... They have computer in them anyways just something with a little more juice. Heck you can program how long you need to cook your dishes vs. risking the preprogrammed ones.

9. Bedet... I guess the blogger doesn't like a clean ass.

10. Fingerest... Yea that is pretty bad.

11. CyberClean... What is wrong with that, if it works so what if it looks like slime.

12. BlackBerry presenter... Those mobile projecters are rather weak in power... That is not what it is for. It is for being able to point on the screen and perform the action.

13. iMini Pets... It is a toy for kids, or people who like cute things... Silly but not bad.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[Hurricane78]

Except that they tested it, and it did nothing at all. (Damn, where is the video, when you need it!)

Re:Synthetic Snot

[Anonymous Coward]

For those of you who missed the Fabulous Fifties, this goo is reminiscient of a product we had back then called wallpaper cleaner. It was essentially a big handful of dark green goop that was supposed to smell fresh and piney but actually smelled more like sawdust. The idea was to smush it against a stain on your wallpaper then refold the ball so as to mix the stain into the rest of the goop; removing the green stain that replaced the original was up to your ingenuity. AFAIK, the only good it did was to hasten the invention of washable wallpaper.

The goop, minus the green piney stuff, next materialized as a grey ball designed to clean the ink off your typewriter keys. It usually resulted in a major pile-up of stuck-together keys, which you carefully unstuck, leaving the ink from them all over your hands and shirt. I predict that this latest incarnation may have the ability to exceed its predecessors in causing more of a probelm than they did.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[shadowrat]

I can't believe the article didn't spend more time ripping the BabyPlus. Of all the products that seemed the lamest.

Maybe the description didn't cover all it's features, but what i read said it played womblike sounds like a mother's heartbeat.

WTF? why does someone in the womb need a womb simulator? There's already a heartbeat in there.

Maybe it's for undead mothers or something.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[christopherfinke]

I have some of this (or an identical competitor), and it works just fine.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[LatencyKills]

A long time ago I was working on a program that used a large fixed telescope, and when the primary would collect dust rather than try and blow it off or wipe it off, both of which might damage the coating, we went with a product called collodian (it's sold as a special effect makeup). It would pour on, something like runny snot, and quickly harden (it was alcohol based). As it hardened it shrank, and it would pull off of the mirror in a sheet, taking any surface impurities with it.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[BigDXLT]

8. Android Microwave... Why not... They have computer in them anyways just something with a little more juice. Heck you can program how long you need to cook your dishes vs. risking the preprogrammed ones.

Want to cook spaghetti? There's an app for that!

Re:Synthetic Snot

[AtomicOrange]

I have seen that product too, and it's not crap.

I still prefer turning the keyboard upside down and giving it a few good taps.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[zerobytes]

Already out there: cyberclean.ch

Re:Synthetic Snot

[Anonymous Coward]

Why do you need Android to program how long to cook your dishes in the microwave? In my day, we used to set the time (and power level) directly when nuking things, instead of relying on presets. As far as I know, all microwaves still allow you to do this.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[tgd]

I don't know if that has antibacterial stuff or not, but I've used silly putty to get crap out from the keys of my keyboard before.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[marcosdumay]

Yet the presets use to work better than my timing. I don't know what they change (they work better even when I set the same time and power), but adapting them to other kinds of food could be nice.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[Silicon Jedi]

Wallpaper Cleaner = Play-Doh http://www.failedsuccess.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/playdoh_history

Re:Synthetic Snot

[PaladinAlpha]

Mod parent down. You don't actually cook spaghetti in a microwave.

(I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Don't mod parent down!)

Re:Synthetic Snot

[aztracker1]

I was thinking that the microwave was a good idea, add in a barcode scanner, and you can put the dish in, scan the barcode on the outer box, and it'll do the instructions on-screen... 2 minutes, shows a picture, remove cover, stir, replace cover... (continue)... It can know exactly how long to cook every product. I know it's pretty lazy, but people are lazy and don't follow directions well.

Re:Synthetic Snot

[ZosX]

Most of the products seemed like decent products.

No they seemed like total wastes of money to me, but to each his own.

1. I am not a smoker but if I was and it was part of my identity I would want something that at least makes me look like I am smoking. It isn't a bad idea and can probably help stop smoking as it gives more of the visuals that others products didn't have.

I smoke and I think the whole idea is retarded. If you are that worried about your health, just quit smoking. Nicotine isn't very good for you either.

2. The TV hat is kinda silly too. But I think it would be good for kids but it on their head and pacify them during long trips and have them watch a movie.

Yeah, that's always a good idea. Pacify the children with the magic video box. Yeah, I know its real hard to talk to your children and keep them engaged for more than 5 minutes. Thanks for doing your part to keep the next generation as stupid and unaware as the current one. I mean, who hell wants to think for themselves?

3. Virbrating earbuds. Yea I don't see them kicking off. But it seemed as a good attempt on making a subwoofer on earbuds.

Uh. The point was that it just vibrates and does not make sound, so you can "feel" the bass. RTFA.

4. iType. I would agree they really dropped the ball there. If they made it work with any iphone app and on horizonatl/verticle then it could be useful, yes it will loose some mobility... However if it cheaper then a laptop it might be good.

A typewriter is a lot cheaper and a lot more useful. The iphone needs a built in keyboard not a full sized one. A $20 486 laptop is more functional than this!

5. Phubby... Well the problem with putting your phone in you pocket has many issues... One you can sit on it or find other ways of breaking it and would fall out or you don't know if it is vibrating or not. Low tech but good idea.

A good idea if you want to look like a dork who straps their phone to their wrist. Would probably look great with an 80s style dayglo hip bag.

6. BabyPlus... There are enough neurotic moms out there to make it sell. There are a bunch of things like this already out. no big deal

Snake oil was no big deal until it became outlawed. You do know that fraud is a crime, right?

7. Unbreakable Phone... Nothing is unbreakable but it is a lot more study then most other phones just because the BBC guy hit it in the right spot they shouldn't be penalized much for it.

It fails to deliver on its claims. Don't call something unbreakable, when it is, in fact, breakable. Calling the Titanic "unsinkable" worked out pretty well, didn't it?

8. Android Microwave... Why not... They have computer in them anyways just something with a little more juice. Heck you can program how long you need to cook your dishes vs. risking the preprogrammed ones.

Program? You mean like entering a time and maybe even a power setting? I don't know how you do use a microwave, but I just punch in the digits on the keypad like everyone else or turn the knob to the time I want on the oldschool microwaves. Does it really need to be more complicated than that?

9. Bedet... I guess the blogger doesn't like a clean ass.

You are totally right. The blogger must love to just sit around in his own shit all day. God you are such a fucking genius!

10. Fingerest... Yea that is pretty bad.

Alright I'll agree here at least. $150 can buy a fucking real guitar.

11. CyberClean... What is wrong with that, if it works so what if it looks like slime.

Most of the crud accumulates under the keys. A $5 can of air would be a lot more effective. You can just take the keyboard and run

Re:Synthetic Snot

[ZosX]

Now that is indeed a capital idea! I take back my previous comment. This is indeed the killer app for new microwaves. They could even have some sort of rfid tag that would tell the microwave exactly what settings to use based upon wattage. Just insert your food, close the door, and come back in 15 minutes. great idea there sir!

Re:Synthetic Snot

[rickyars]

just turn your keyboard upside down and shake

Vibrating earbuds...

[tacarat]

Interestingly enough, they weren't meant to go in your ears >.>

Re:Vibrating earbuds...

[Anonymous Coward]

My girlfriend may start enjoying techno music now.

Advertising?

[badevlad]

Many companies do something absolutely unusable just to be famous because of such lists. What other can be the purpose of so stupid things?

I have one.

[Anonymous Coward]

the HuffingtonPost fucking slide show that had that stupid fucking login on every goddamn page!

Oh. When I saw the microwave with Android it reminded me of something. Why is it that kitchen appliances have to have a fucking chip in them?!? Toasters to coffee makers! WTF! I was staying at a friends house and they had this incredibly expensive electronic coffee maker. It has all these lights, LEDs, LCD displays, an incredible assortment of UI crap. I looked at it and was horribly confused. My friend just said, "What!? You don't know how to use it? Mr. Computer-programmer-IT-professional!"

I asked, "Does it have a fucking keyboard or an USB connector to plug one it!? Smart-ass!"

Anyway, after spending way too long to prep the fucking thing just to make a goddamn pot of coffee, it finally brewed. I could have walked to the corner store and come back with the coffees before the fucking thing was actually done.

The coffee didn't taste any better than a pot made in a Black&Decker from Target.

I can understand a timer so that you can prep the night before and have it brew a pot in the morning so that it's ready for you when you get up. But all that other horseshit?!

Expensive coffee maker: $200+. B&D: $30+ and the B&D actually looks better! :-P

Re:I have one.

[cmiller173]

While I mostly concur I have been wanting a little more programming functionality lately. I'd like to be able to set up the coffee maker at work on Friday to brew a pot Monday morning.

Re:I have one.

[Jeremy Erwin]

It would, of course, have to have a built in grinder, a way to keep the unground beans reasonably fresh, and a way of drawing and possibly filtering the water (so you don't get stale, flat water). Most importantly, it would have to be easy to keep clean. And, of course, the coffee should finish brewing as you walk in the door, regardless of whether your commute was expeditious, or unreasonably delayed.

Re:I have one.

[Demonantis]

You mock but this is all in the realm of possibility. There is just a need for the same number of people that demand that exact device and are willing to pay for its development. Which is what the OP is missing. This product is there because people want it not because the company wanted to make it. He is basically complaining that society enjoys technical advances.

There are advances in technology that make your demands feasible if not completely possible given the money. A gas detector could be used to test freshness of the coffee, like the one used on pears. The maker could easily be connected to the taps, like the ice maker. Easy to clean is relative considering designs. A tassimo like design would fit the bill. You could then give the thing an ip and have it track where you are using the gps in your phone so it ensures that it finishes as you open the door.

Obviously everyone doesn't need this, but it does not mean that some people with the means and money won't and it will get built. At least technology is there to afford the choice.

Re:I have one.

[Jeremy Erwin]

I'm mostly mocking the prospect of having ground coffee sit in a basket all weekend.

Re:I have one.

[el_gordo101]

I had one from Cuisinart almost exactly as you describe. Built in grinder with a tight-fitting lid to keep the beans fresh, water reservoir with an activated charcoal filter, and a programmable timer to start the grind/brew process. It had several design flaws, though. You had to dis-assemble the thing completely after each pot to clean it, otherwise the grounds would plug it up and secondly, the electronics were located at the bottom of the unit, beneath the hotplate. It worked for a while, but the electronics eventually succumbed to coffee/water spills seeping in under the hot plate. Very expensive, poorly engineered hunk of junk.

Re:I have one.

[Jeremy Erwin]

I stick to a french press with hand grinder. Easy to clean--dishwasher for the maker and uncooked rice for the grinder, hard to break-- except for the carafe, and that could be made from a different glass. It's very time consuming though, and not at all automatic.

Re:I have one.

[dmneoblade]

That one is easy. Just give a beer with a "please set the coffee maker" postit on it to whoever works sundays.

Smart Microwave

[Anonymous Coward]

huh, and no one has put android on the toaster yet?

Re:Smart Microwave

[bluefoxlucid]

http://www.embeddedarm.com/software/arm-netbsd-toaster.php

Re:Smart Microwave

[rfuilrez]

I actually saw on some gadget show a few years back the idea of having a Bar Code scanner on microwaves, and ovens and what not. The idea was to have a central database it could pull up after you scan the product, and know exactly how to prepare it. Just scan the box, put it in, and hit cook or whatever.

That to me, seemed like a good idea. Though I never saw it come to fruition.

Re:Smart Microwave

[idiotnot]

Came here to say this. :-) But both demonstrate the need for IPv6 -- controlling your appliances remotely. That TV dinner you have to cook on 50% power for four minutes, then on high for two? Do it from your phone without ever getting up from the couch!

Re:Smart Microwave

[Anonymous Coward]

I wouldn't mind having Wifi or some form of network ability on those myself. Needs to come with some associated desktop app, either for letting you start it and/or telling you when it's done cooking. Besides, you can't always hear the beep from the other side of the house while in a room with the door closed. (And the unfortunate side effect of having cold food that needs to be microwaved yet again if you forget for too long.) Also a means to store every time/power setting exactly for any dish you could think of would be neat too, not everything takes the amount of time it says on the box.

Other than the microwave, wifi for the clothes washer and dryer would also be nice. It may not seem obvious, but having a popup on your computer that says, "Hey stupid, dryer's ready! Don't let your clothes get wrinkled!" is better than going downstairs every 10 minutes to see if the cycle is done.

A matter of opinion

[Jeremy Erwin]

I think the reviewer compiler just has issues with bidets. The Japanese have had robotic bidets for some time now. Chalk it up to "weird Japan" if you must. The android powered microwave is flawed because it's in a microwave, not in a stove. I love to cook, but there are occasions when I want, or need to consult my computer-- email, recipes, perhaps a podcast. But I don't want to get spattering spaghetti sauce on my electronics. A computer, built for the kitchen environment would be valuable.

Re:A matter of opinion

[Anonymous Coward]

I think the reviewer compiler just has issues with bidets. The Japanese have had robotic bidets for some time now. Chalk it up to "weird Japan" if you must. The android powered microwave is flawed because it's in a microwave, not in a stove. I love to cook, but there are occasions when I want, or need to consult my computer-- email, recipes, perhaps a podcast. But I don't want to get spattering spaghetti sauce on my electronics. A computer, built for the kitchen environment would be valuable.

I love to cook, too. If the recipe is complicated I print it out - no worries about splatter. Most recipe sites have a print option that removes all the ads and everything allowing it to print with the least amount of toner or ink.

I see no justification for that microwave or stove with Android or any other computer non-sense except as an excuse to charge more for the item. It's amazing how just adding a few dollars of electronics boosts the retail price of an item by hundreds. And people scoop'em up!

Re:A matter of opinion

[rfuilrez]

I posted this above too, so I'll just copy and paste it here:

I actually saw on some gadget show a few years back the idea of having a Bar Code scanner on microwaves, and ovens and what not. The idea was to have a central database it could pull up after you scan the product, and know exactly how to prepare it. Just scan the box, put it in, and hit cook or whatever. That to me, seemed like a good idea. Though I never saw it come to fruition.

I guess more useful for people who don't cook, and would rather eat microwavable / frozen entrees.... Like College kids...who on a side note don't have money for such gadgets....

Re:A matter of opinion

[Anonymous Coward]

A computer, built for the kitchen environment would be valuable.

This is very true - at the moment I occasionally stick a laptop in there but find it is in the say and too small and kind of gets in the way... for example, when I'm doing an online food order I want to check my cupboards and the online shop at the same time. A decent sized splater proof tablet on the fridge or a cupboard door might work better rather than a screen you have to get up close to and a dinky keyboard.

Re:A matter of opinion

[kent_eh]

I see no justification for that microwave or stove with Android or any other computer non-sense except as an excuse to charge more for the item. It's amazing how just adding a few dollars of electronics boosts the retail price of an item by hundreds. And people scoop'em up!

Not to mention makes them more prone to failure and more difficult/expensive to repair.
Just try buying a stove with 100% electro-mechanical controls and any features at all (self clean, convection, etc).

Don't get me wrong, I live and breath electronics, but adding them to a perfectly functional object doesn't always improve that object.

Re:A matter of opinion

[Anonymous Coward]

Most microwaves I've seen in the shops lately (in the Netherlands that is) also contain oven-like functionality so you can make decent lasagne in it. And you'll probably place it in the kitchen next to the stove anyway, so a recipe viewer with a built-in kitchen-timer facility (tap the "rice" icon when your rice starts cooking and the thing will sound a bell when it's ready) would be very handy. (But what I really want is an Android-powered bidet.)

Re:A matter of opinion

[Wizworm]

I bake bread as a hobby, I'd love to be able to program my high end steam oven to

baugette mode recipe
preheat - bake with convection fan on and 100% duty cycle steam at 500 degrees.
insert bread,
2nd step - stop convection fan, wait 5 minutes, reduce steam cycle to 50%, reduce oven temp to 400

etc etc, it would be different for chibatta, or brioche.

Re:A matter of opinion

[The Hanna]

An Android powered microwave could prove useful as well--perhaps with a list of accurate times for common microwavable items (Hot Pockets come to mind). Finding a market for something like that would be the difficult thing to do.

Re:A matter of opinion

[Jeremy Erwin]

A toilet/bidet that analyses the physiological state of the user and sends an appropriate tweet to the user's significant other....

Re:A matter of opinion

[ColdWetDog]

I bake bread as a hobby, I'd love to be able to program my high end steam oven to

baugette mode recipe
preheat - bake with convection fan on and 100% duty cycle steam at 500 degrees.
insert bread,
2nd step - stop convection fan, wait 5 minutes, reduce steam cycle to 50%, reduce oven temp to 400

Funny, the instructions I always get are much easier: open package, place in pre heated oven (350 degrees) for 5 minutes, remove, enjoy.

You must be doing something wrong.

Re:A matter of opinion

[Abstrackt]

A computer, built for the kitchen environment would be valuable.

Just do what I do, use an old laptop. It doesn't matter if the battery is shot since it will likely be plugged in all the time and you don't worry as much about getting it dirty because at least it's being used instead of rotting in a landfill.

Re:A matter of opinion

[dfenstrate]

I've thought about retiring a laptop to kitchen service- I would just make a nice box for it, and then lay the computer out flat on the wall.

Sure, it wouldn't be comfortable to use it, but it would just be there for recipes and maybe streaming a show or something like that.

The cigarette isn't for tobacco.

[Anonymous Coward]

The cigarette isn't for tobacco. "Vaporizer". hint. hint.

Re:The cigarette isn't for tobacco.

[Bios_Hakr]

Also, this isn't really a new product. In fact, it looks identical to the E-Cig products. I know quite a few people who use them and they love them. If you just want to smoke, they offer that option virtually anywhere. No one can really complain about second-hand smoke; there is no smoke. One of my friends even fires his up in restaurants after a meal.

If you want to quit smoking, they offer a pack with diminishing levels of nicotine. You can overcome the physical dependence on the drug while still keeping your hands occupied.

Finally, they have flavored packs; both with and without nicotine.

omg the phone broke...

[gandhi_2]

just because it broke doesn't mean it's not rugged or useful.

the best part of TFA:

a BBC reporter was caught live, on tape, accidentally breaking the 'unbreakable' phone

live, on tape?

Re:omg the phone broke...

[AndrewNeo]

You've never heard of broadcasting something live AND recording it to tape at the same time? (Thus providing proof to what would otherwise be a one-time broadcast)

Re:omg the phone broke...

[gandhi_2]

It is a given that all professional live broadcasts are recorded by some means.

How often do you hear a news anchor saying "We are live, and on tape, down here at scene of an accident..."?

Re:omg the phone broke...

[natehoy]

Actually, my objection is to the term "caught", as if he was doing something wrong. The only thing he did wrong was to apologize for breaking it. I would have pointed to the phone and done my best Nelson impression: "Ha-Ha!"

I do agree, however, that the phone isn't useless just because multiple direct hits of a pointy metal object to the LCD protection barrier eventually made it break. I'd still choose one of these over my Blackberry Curve and a protective zip-loc baggie to accompany me on my next kayak expedition or camping trip in the rain.

But the guy who repeatedly said "unbreakable" on camera had better be prepared for a lot of laughter pointed his way when a reporter manages to break it in less than 20 seconds. It's like saying "inedible" to a programmer just because the pizza's been out for a few weeks and is turning a bit fuzzy. It's not a statement of fact any more, it's a CHALLENGE.

Re:omg the phone broke...

[dcarmi]

a BBC reporter was caught live, on tape, accidentally breaking the 'unbreakable' phone

live, on tape?

ermm.. on tape? At CES? C90s are back?

Re:omg the phone broke...

[Tetsujin]

It is a given that all professional live broadcasts are recorded by some means.

How often do you hear a news anchor saying "We are live, and on tape, down here at scene of an accident..."?

I don't recall ever hearing a news anchor say that...

Re:omg the phone broke...

[Xugumad]

Yeah, I saw that video earlier. That phone looks easily rugged enough to withstand anything that might happen to it in a day to day environment except actually dropping into heavy machinery. Repeated hard impacts to the weakest surface from a single point managed to damage the screen - good grief, most phones I've gone near would have snapped like a twig on the first impact!

Re:omg the phone broke...

[pluther]

I do remember David Letterman occasionally announcing that "Tonight's episode is a re-run."

Re:omg the phone broke...

[mjwx]

live, on tape?

Well he wasn't dead, on tape when he broke the phone.

Cigarettes and earbuds

[NetDanzr]

Electronic cigarettes: Not that bad. I personally don't smoke, but a coworker who is a heavy smoker got adjusted to the electronic version quite well. It also makes the air around the office better (even though he smokes outside, he used to reek of cigarette smoke before he switched).

Vibrating earbuds: I didn't try the insertable version, but I used to have a Panasonic walkman with large headphones that did just that. I quickly got addicted to them; without them even the same music sounded somewhat "flat". The in-ear version may itch a little, but I wouldn't dismiss it until I tried.

Re:Cigarettes and earbuds

[Anonymous Coward]

All earbuds vibrate. It's called "sound"

Re:Cigarettes and earbuds

[Tetsujin]

All earbuds vibrate. It's called "sound"

True. But apparently what they're going for here is augmenting the normal sound output of the earphones with a lower-frequency, tactile vibration. I guess to simulate a rattling bass speaker or something?

Dishwasher Safe Keyboards

[EXTomar]

I'd rather see dishwasher safe keyboards than yet another cleaning thing for computers.

Re:Dishwasher Safe Keyboards

[snowraver1]

I washed my mom's keyboard in the dishwasher. It was really gross, and was just a cheap MS one anyways. It worked like a charm. Next time I was at their house, it looked like a brand new keyboard. I don't know how wireless keyboards would fare... YMMV

Re:Dishwasher Safe Keyboards

[lastchance_000]

Now try that with your laptop.

Re:Dishwasher Safe Keyboards

[Jaysyn]

I thought you could wash just about any keyboard in the dishwasher as long as you let it dry out completely afterwards.

Re:Dishwasher Safe Keyboards

[Anonymous Coward]

Nope...didn't work. Damn...

Re:Dishwasher Safe Keyboards

[amicusNYCL]

You can submerge any electronic device in water as long as it has no power and completely dries out before it receives power again. The problem with a laptop is the motherboard battery which you can't remove without taking the case apart. But if you are taking the case apart, might as well just remove the keyboard parts and wash those.

Re:Dishwasher Safe Keyboards

[ZosX]

impurities in the water can cause corrosion. you are far better off submersing the machine in pure 100% alcohol than any kind of water, though I honestly don't know if alcohol will react with any of the newer built components, but as far as I know its still pretty safe. If it is just something that is going to dry fast after a day in the sun like a keyboard, sure, why not? On the other hand you won't see me dunking my laptop into a bucket.

Re:Dishwasher Safe Keyboards

[amicusNYCL]

Right. In college a couple of us managed to flood another guy's room, who happened to have a laptop on the floor. Naturally the first thing he did was turn on his wet laptop "to see if it still worked". I ended up with the laptop and, after drying it, even though it was far from usable it was able to power on and try to post. If he hadn't jumped the gun we may have been able to recover it completely.

Re:Dishwasher Safe Keyboards

[Anonymous Coward]

might want to update your signature file there buddy, Copyright 2009 is so last year..

Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[gad_zuki!]

A lot of these are pretty good ideas. I would love if my appliances were net enabled. Android on a microwave? Thats perfect. Maybe I can see how much power its used that month or, heaven forbid, it friggin talk to NTP so it can set its own time. Sorry naysayers but this is great.

The buzzing earbuds? I tried a demo of these about three or four years ago. Its an old idea. I actually like them. Its a gimmick, but the suggested retail price was only a few dollars more than Apple's bottom of the barrel quality ipod/iphone headsets. They're no more silly than most audio applications and much less sillier than the people who pay hundreds of dollars for "audiophile" quality headphones.

Teddy Ruxbin? Kids love technology like this. A net enabled doll that could tell stories downloaded from the interent or created from parents sounds like the next xmas hot toy.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[jimicus]

Why does a microwave need to know the time in the first place?

Not to say they don't exist, but I have yet to meet anyone on the planet who has ever used the "Start cooking at 18:00" feature of any cooking appliance more than once.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[jimicus]

Teddy Ruxbin? Kids love technology like this. A net enabled doll that could tell stories downloaded from the interent or created from parents sounds like the next xmas hot toy.

Already been done - though the item in the article was just an iPod dock built into a cuddly toy, something more akin to what you describe was on the UK version of Dragon's Den a couple of years back. ISTR it was backed by Peter Jones.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[maxume]

Later on, you will want a microwave that doesn't insist on showing anything when it is not in use.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[aclarke]

I use the clock on my microwave several times a day. It's the most convenient place to look to what time it is when I'm in the kitchen area.

My confusion is around why LG couldn't spare a tiny capacitor to let the microwave remember its time throughout a half second power outage. This is in one of their supposedly high-end microwaves. They did apparently think it was worth spending extra on the the me-too blue interior.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[jackbird]

People who use microwaves to raise bread dough at a controlled temperature (well, the temp hold/probe thing).

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[Ogive17]

My mom and grandmother use the "start cooking at 18:00" feature quite often when there's a big family gathering. It's easy to prep something early, put it in the oven, set the auto on/off feature and then move on to something else. That way you can plan for everything to finish up around the same time.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[MBGMorden]

My microwave is my main clock that I check in my kitchen. Why bother with a wall clock when the microwave is sitting right here?

And while I don't look atit as often as the microwave for just general time checking (because the display is much, much smaller), my coffee maker has a clock and I certainly use it for automatic turn on (typically I am in a hurry in the morning so it's nice to get up, take a shower, and have the coffee already ready).

The stove also has a clock on it - which is new for me as I just had an older unit (with no clock) replaced about 2 months ago, but I'm really enjoying the digital controls on that too. Previously my old oven for example had regular knob controls. They worked fine for what I used them for, but that stove was over 25 years old. On the new one, I can hit bake, type in a target temperature to pre-heat to and hit start. It'll beep once it makes it to that temperature. Pop in something, type in a time, and hit start, and it'll bake it for that long and then turn off. It works a heck of a lot like a microwave now, and I'm loving it. While I haven't used the clock on that unit much (other than setting it - as a rule I don't like clocks in my house that aren't set), it's basically free to add since all that electric circuitry is there anyways.

My only concern on the new stove (which is theoretical, not actually confirmed yet) is one of longevity. Like I said the old one was 25+ years old. It still worked fine. Two of the knobs on the top to control the burners had become stuck and the shaft snapped on them (the two back burners), but the front burners still worked, as did the oven, and technically the back burners still WORKED - you just had to use pliers to turn the little piece of a shaft that was left. That thing was built like a tank. With the heat and such that a stove is subject to, I'm not sure that the little computer controls on the new stove will still be going in 25 years.

Overall though, I think appliances with clocks on them is a good thing.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[gad_zuki!]

It already has a clock and its the main clock of my kitchen and pretty much my place. Dont put a clock in if you dont offer some kind of autoset option. Id rather them not put one in if they cant give me NTP.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[Abstrackt]

Not to say they don't exist, but I have yet to meet anyone on the planet who has ever used the "Start cooking at 18:00" feature of any cooking appliance more than once.

I use it for bread. You can stick the loaf in the oven for its final rise and it will start baking automatically.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[swordgeek]

Already want it - and have for years. I have two or three 'always on' appliances in the kitchen with digital clocks. When we haul out our bread maker, the clock flashes at us because we can't be bothered to set it. Our TV and VCR both complain when the clocks aren't set.

Honestly, I want to get rid of most of these digital clocks, and have the option to turn off the display on the rest. (i.e. having a timer on an oven is a feature we use, but I don't need to see the time all the time). Then I could have an attractive, elegant wall clock with a second hand.

(side rant - just because, I want a wall clock with a mechanical movement. Can't find one anywhere.)

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[swordgeek]

"I would love if my appliances were net enabled. Android on a microwave? Thats perfect. Maybe I can see how much power its used that month or, heaven forbid, it friggin talk to NTP so it can set its own time. Sorry naysayers but this is great."

It's a question of implementation. An NTP clock would be nice, but what happens when it loses the signal? Does it have an internal clock which keeps counting, or does it give up entirely? Computers, in general, use NTP to adjust their clock; but some cell phones (for instance) don't _have_ an internal clock, and if you don't have a signal, you don't have a time. In the kitchen, that would suck.

Our microwave is the newest appliance in the kitchen, and was built in the era of cell phones with B&W displays. The Android is going to be obsolete long before the microwave oven is.

Also, it's noise - more displays, more lights, more buttons, more STUFF. I'm a big fan of less stuff.

If you want a net-enabled microwave, fine. The problem is that technology tends to be 'rush to copy.' If these get popular, then appliances that function without a network connection will become nigh impossible to find.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[gad_zuki!]

Im all for applicances without clocks, but if youre going to put a clock on there that cant be shut off then you must provide some type of network functionality for NTP or whatever the radio version of that is called.

A part of me wonders why electric companies arent broadcasting time over a basic data scheme over power. It would solve all these problems. Just broadcast UTC and let the appliance do the conversion. Perhaps this will be part of the smart power initiative thats becoming popular.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[Anonymous Coward]

I commute a lot and actually having dinner ready is very nice, especially for those dishes that take 1h+ to cook and are a bitch to get right unless you are on top of them checking every 5 minutes. Of course you can't foresee always the time of the day you actually go home, so the next step would be ssh'ing to start the program just before you leave.

It is also very nice to let the machine bake your own bred to eat in the mornings. You can customize it with your own ingredients, and it is more tastier and cheaper too. Or sometimes you can buy your food on the way home during the afternoon, cook it during the night and take it to work to microwave it. While you don't get the nicety of the food being totally fresh, it still frees some of your time.

Think of it as a dishwasher: you don't need to use it, you can wash dishes manually. But why bother if it frees your time so you can dedicate it to something more interesting?

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[Chosen Reject]

(side rant - just because, I want a wall clock with a mechanical movement. Can't find one anywhere.)

Are you referring to clocks like Howard Miller?

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[swordgeek]

WWV. It's been there for decades, although just as a radio broadcast, not over power lines.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[gad_zuki!]

My gf has a clock radio that works with WWV. Only works when parked right next to a window. Im not sure thats the solution here.

Re:Sick of the 'culture of fail.'

[swordgeek]

Nice clocks indeed! I'd be more interested in a gallery clock than a case clock, but definitely something to look at. Thanks!

Incidentally, I could probably suffer an electronic clock like this. Or go for a serious wall-clock. Or ultimately, a _really_ serious grandfather clock.

Sorry, just got carried away. The July/August 2005 issue of Fine Woodworking had what may possibly have been the most beautiful wall clocks in existence, but I can't find it online at the moment.

Stupid article overall

[SpeedyDX]

Many of the choices just seem to be because the idea is new or somehow "weird" to the author (the parent's synthetic snot example, the bidet example by another poster) or something that the author doesn't personally have a use for (the e-cigarette) or just something that has a target audience which doesn't include himself as a member ($200 Blackberry Presenter that enables users, presumably mainly businessmen, to plug their BBs wirelessly into projectors but doesn't actually project itself - do you expect a good projector inside a tiny box like that for just $200?!).

Anyway, there are more examples. Probably over half of the products in that article are actually quite viable and/or unique/innovative ideas. Some of them may not be implemented too well, but could still prove to be a launching pad for other good products (imagine an fold-up full-size keyboard for the iPhone that could work in any text field). This author is trying to be disparaging for the sake of being disparaging. Nothing wrong with many of the products he listed.

Re:Stupid article overall

[natehoy]

Hmm, you must be new to the Huffington Post. I don't even need to read the article to come to that conclusion, only the URL. :)

Re:Stupid article overall

[tomhath]

I really wish I had mod points for you. Fox biased? Sure. CNN biased? Of course. Huffington? BWAHAHAHA.

Re:Stupid article overall

[natehoy]

All I need to read is "Huff" and I know it's full of hot air. :)

Re:Stupid article overall

[Steve Max]

imagine an fold-up full-size keyboard for the iPhone that could work in any text field

You mean, like the fold-up (almost) full-size keyboard for Palm OS devices that worked in any text field but sold almost nothing?

If you want a device with a keyboard, you get a device with a keyboard. Any external keyboard will add so much weight (and size) in your pocket that it's useless, and you end up never using it.

Re:Stupid article overall

[Syberz]

Although I mostly agree with you, there's one product that makes NO sense and simply exists to make money off of gullible parents: the Prenatal education system.

The makers of the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System claim that their device, which emits a sounds similar to the mom's heartbeat [...]

So here we have a device that emits a sound similar to the mom's heartbeat for a baby which is in the womb... in the mom... close to her actual heart.

That's like listening to a song on a radio while wearing headphones which belt out the same song but not synched to the one on the radio.

The only way this makes sense is if the mom is dead or a zombie. Either way, you have bigger issues to worry about than "educating" your unborn child.

Re:Stupid article overall

[Rich0]

Heard somewhere that the e-cigarette is probably intended to be drug paraphernalia, but obviously they can't market it as such.

Re:Stupid article overall

[Rich0]

Hate to reply twice, but I noticed they also picked on the "unbreakable" phone - because it could be broken.

Did anybody really think that if you dropped the thing into the sun it would remain intact?

It looked like a fairly functional device that could be useful in a number of very practical jobs. It would be far more survivable on a construction site than a regular phone, even if you couldn't whack it with a wedge and a 10 pound sledge.

I do agree that a few items were dubious, but technology doesn't need to be fashionable to be practical for many customers.

Re:Stupid article overall

[HTH NE1]

Sounds like a way to create your own Stewie/Master driven insane by a constant rhythm-of-four drumbeat.

Yin and Yang

[UseCase]

With CES there must be a worst. I don't fault any of these companies and there "bad" products too much though. They are doing what it takes to get recognition in an industry where sometimes the best products go unseen and unmentioned. Hype/buzz has become the rule of the day, the more you can generate the more successful your product launch will be, whether it is good or bad. I would also venture to say that some products are rushed out of development prematurely specifically for this trade show.

It's finally time for the Honeywell 316!

[name_already_taken]

A computer, built for the kitchen environment would be valuable.

...and here it is!

I think the terminal can also be used as an island. It looks like it's got room for use as a cutting board or for rolling out pastry too! What more could you ask for?

Re:It's finally time for the Honeywell 316!

[khallow]

I think it needs some music too.

Re:It's finally time for the Honeywell 316!

[ZosX]

The Honeywell Kitchen Computer or H316 pedestal model of 1969 was a short-lived product made by Honeywell and offered by Neiman Marcus. It sold for $10,000, weighed over 100 pounds, and was used for storing recipes (but reading or entering these recipes would have been very difficult for the average cook as the only "user interface" was the binary front panel lights and switches). It had a built in cutting board and had a few recipes built in. There is no evidence that any Honeywell Kitchen Computers were ever sold. [4]

"Honey? What do these switches do? MSTR? FETCH?"

OT: Worst website

[British]

I like how huffingtonpost.com's article consists of 99% widgets & advertising and 1% actual content. I actually had to scrounge around the page to find the content. If your content is buried in non-content, it's time to redesign your site.

Re:OT: Worst website

[acohen1]

There was content there? I failed to find it.

Vibrating "earplugs"

[PopeRatzo]

I don't think those vibrating "earplugs" are really meant to go in your ears.

Seriously, try putting an inexpensive pair of earbuds up your rectum (use a lubricant). Then, if you play the second Pavement album at full volume, while watching The Wizard of Oz, you will achieve states of Tantric ecstasy. You have to start them at exactly the same time. Then, just as Dorothy is about to meet the Tin Man, yank out the earbuds as fast as you can.

Warning: Be sure to lock the door to your office before doing this. Having a co-worker walk in could cause some uncomfortable feelings in the workplace.

Re: Vibrating "earplugs"

[Anonymous Coward]

now i deperately need the syntho-snot after spraying egg mcmuffin all over my keyboard

and i'll be checking for earbud cords leading out of my coworkers pants/skirts from now on

Re: Vibrating "earplugs"

[Tetsujin]

Warning: Be sure to lock the door to your office before doing this. Having a co-worker walk in could cause some uncomfortable feelings in the workplace.

What if you have a cubicle?

Re: Vibrating "earplugs"

[vegiVamp]

I have this terrible feeling that you weren't trying to be funny.

Re: Vibrating "earplugs"

[tgd]

Just run the cord up the back of your shirt, no one can see a thing.

I... uh... mean, hypothetically.

Re: Vibrating "earplugs"

[bughunter]

(Score:6, Funny) That is one of the funniest *on-topic* things I've read on /. in a long time. Grats, dude.

Re: Vibrating "earplugs"

[BillX]

I don't know, I think putting earbuds up my rectum already qualifies as causing some uncomfortable feelings.

iPhone keyboard

[Selfbain]

I don't think this is necessarily a bad idea. It's not like it would be the first phone/pda/whatever that had a separate keyboard. The fact it only works in one app is idiotic though.

Also, I had assumed when I first saw the picture of the iMini pet things that the problem was they looked a little... excited.

Is that an iPod in your dock or are you just happy to see me?

Way off the mark on e-cigarettes

[joshamania]

A guy I work with bought one of these...not the same brand, but pretty much same deal. I've tried the e-cigarette and if they were more easily available, I probably would have bought one by now. It actually tastes pretty much like a cigarette, and once one gets accustomed to it, I see it as a direct replacement.

The guy I know who has one...smokes in wal-mart, restaurants, in public, etc. Granted, he's going to catch flak for it from the countless busybody-douchebags in this world that just cannot stand seeing someone else enjoying themselves, but its not banned anywhere. It doesn't burn anything and produces no smell.

This product deserves an A +.

Phubby

[Bakkster]

The Phubby isn't that bad. There are times where you don't want your phone in your pocket, such as when exercising. I mean, iPods already have armband holders, this just looks like a generic one for your phone. I could see wanting something like this for my phone, moreso than a hat that can hold my phone in the brim. And it certainly relates to consumer electronics, so I think CES is as good a place as any to debut it.

The name, though, is certainly unfortunate...

Re:Phubby

[toQDuj]

It should have been spring-loaded, though.. That's the first thing that came into my mind when I saw that. I'd love one of those ;).

As Seen On TV product synergy

[PhilHibbs]

That hat's great, but it really needs a Visorganizer stuck on it.

You have a future as a fluffer

[Anonymous Coward]

busybody-douchebags

Yeah, but at least we don't *look* like douchebags with a little penis sticking out of out mouths. Puff away, smoky.

Re:You have a future as a fluffer

[Tetsujin]

busybody-douchebags

Yeah, but at least we don't *look* like douchebags with a little penis sticking out of out mouths. Puff away, smoky.

This comment reminds me of that anti-smoking commercial where the message was, basically, "smoking is dumb, because smacking the end of a pack of cigarettes looks vaguely similar to this chimpanzee doing the same thing"...

"It looks dumb" is not at all high on the list of reasons why I don't appreciate people smoking in public.

Re:You have a future as a fluffer

[Blakey Rat]

Well, since smacking the pack of cigarettes does nothing ("packing the tobacco" is an urban legend), you could just smoke without doing that and those truth.com people would be fine with that... right?

Re:You have a future as a fluffer

[Anonymous Coward]

Ever smoke a Clove cigarette? The better ones have chunks of clove in them that sometimes spark. Packing the cigarettes actually does tend to cut down on that some.

Packing regular cigarettes compresses/settles the tobacco a bit, effectively overriding the "goes out if you leave it without taking a drag" /managed to quit smoking back in September... don't miss the cigarettes, but damn I've gotten "snacky"

Re:You have a future as a fluffer

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow.... You're an incorrectly informed moron*. Take an "unpacked" cigarette and measure the distance from the end of the paper to the start of the tobacco inside the cigarette, then take a "packed" cigarette and measure again. The results are scientifically demonstrable. Further you can then scientifically show that effects of packing on burn time (via reduced rate of draw), on coherency, on fire-safety (no cherry dropping off) etc.

* incorrectly informed because you're wrong. MORON because you took on faith something you could have EASILY verified.

Re:You have a future as a fluffer

[toastar]

I always laugh at people that smack both sides of the pack, I don't even smoke and i know you don't do that.

Re:You have a future as a fluffer

[bill_mcgonigle]

Well, since smacking the pack of cigarettes does nothing

Not true - each unique attribute of the experience enhances addiction. The sound of the wrapper, the smell of the tobacco, etc. Nicotine on its own isn't the major addictant.

Android Powered Microwave Chime

[ufpdom]

1) Insert popcorn 2) Push popcorn button 3) wait 4) When popcorn is ready instead of a chime you'll get: DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! Only if you can program the replacement chime :)

Re:Android Powered Microwave Chime

[Tetsujin]

1) Insert popcorn
2) Push popcorn button
3) wait
4) When popcorn is ready instead of a chime you'll get:
DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!! DROID!!!

Only if you can program the replacement chime :)

But then you'd have to pay royalties to Lucasfilm...

wireless enabled apppliances good idea

[peter303]

They can tweet you when then have finished doing something. People talked about wiring up appliances to do this in the past, but wires are too cumbersome. Its likely you'll get the whole wireless device, CPU and OS on a single chip at some point for almost nothing.

Sonim's Unbreakable Phone

[flimflammer]

I don't understand how this is among the worst products. The reported was repeatedly smashing the screen against a jagged hard surface and happened to break it? How practical is it to expect that to happen in natural circumstances? I think the fact it took the beating for several hard smashes was a testament to its durability. Surely the writer of this article doesn't seriously expect that phone to be completely impervious to damage. Even superman has his weaknesses.

Pregnant Zombie Nuns

[Anonymous Coward]

"The makers of the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System claim that their device, which emits a sounds similar to the mom's heartbeat..." Really? Wouldnt the mother's heartbeat imitate their heartbeat much better than this pointless instrument? Maybe they are marketing this towards the pregnant zombie demographic who would clearly have no heartbeat and thus need this product..

Android Microwave is a GREAT product

[stewbacca]

I completely disagree with the Android microwave being on this list. I wish ANY of my appliances had a usable/customizable interface. Putting Android on my appliances would be a progressive first step into improving my appliances!

This is seriously one of my largest pet-peeves in life. Why do we give washer/dryers/ovens etc. a pass when it comes to usability? Why are most microwaves and ranges counter-intuitive?

Finally, wouldn't this sort of open design decrease production costs? Without the need for an embedded OS that is specific to the hardware configuration on which it resides, a single open system could be developed that could be put on all appliances then customized to control the one it currently resides on.

Re:Android Microwave is a GREAT product

[mjwx]

This is seriously one of my largest pet-peeves in life. Why do we give washer/dryers/ovens etc. a pass when it comes to usability?

Because they still do the job.

Why do so many /.ers put undue importance on UI and User friendlyness. Ultimately the people want a "I just want it to work today" button not to simplify their lives but to get the task done. Thats it, most people want their dishwasher to wash dishes, their microwave to cook food and their hair drier to dry hair, they don't give a rats arse how good the UI is so long as it does its job. UI designers complain about form, everyone else complains about function.

Function will always be greate then Form. This is why bad* interfaces get a pass.

*bad is subjective, I've never had a problem with the limited interfaces on any of my home appliances. I quite like them as they are, simple yet functional.

Re:Android Microwave is a GREAT product

[stewbacca]

Why do I put importance on the usability of something I use everyday? Is that a serious question?

If my appliances had a "I just want it to work today" button, I'd be extremely happy. Instead, I get microwaves that decides when I push the 1 key, I want a 1 minute warm up, or another microwave that thinks 1 means a 1 second warm up...neither of which actually let me choose what 1 actually means.

"They still do the job" is the same complacency that gives us crappy Microsoft operating systems and office suites, bad American cars, and coffee machines like my crappy Mr. Coffee that has a 10 cup pot, but holds 12 cups of water...every time it overflows by 2 cups it reminds me of why usability, attention to detail, and functionality matter. ESPECIALLY when it is MY money spent on things I use EVERY STINKING day.

You keep using your crap...I want better, thanks.

Besides, you missed the entire point of my post. There is NOTHING mutually exclusive about good function and good form. Just because something functions well doesn't mean we have to give it a pass on the interface. What I'm saying is that a simple, clean interface like Android would make everything better for very little (if any) cost.

Re:Android Microwave is a GREAT product

[mjwx]

Why do I put importance on the usability of something I use everyday? Is that a serious question?

The key word was undue importance. Perfect is the enemy of done, good engineers understand this.

"They still do the job" is the same complacency that gives us crappy Microsoft operating systems

Compared to "It's no good until the UI is perfect" which has lead to so much vapourware and poorly engineered products that its not funny.

crappy Mr. Coffee that has a 10 cup pot, but holds 12 cups of water

This isn't an interface problem, this is an engineering problem. Are you trying to proving my point for me. Your coffee maker has a function problem as in the way it operates is wrong, not the way you operate it unless you're trying to tell me you are pouring 12 cups into a 10 cup system (lets assume we are using the metric system, which is 250 ML for 1 cup not an arbitrary number decided by the manufacturer).

ESPECIALLY when it is MY money spent on things I use EVERY STINKING day.

It was YOUR choice to buy that product. If YOU have requirements that aren't met by the market then perhaps YOU have a problem.

You keep using your crap

I happen to understand how things work, a tiny amount of critical thinking is all that is needed to understand that I turn the knob on my washing machine to 60 Degrees, select colours and press start and my clothes will get clean. I understand that you may be confused by putting the powder in and lets not even start on the complexities of fabric softener. But you keep waiting for Better(TM) rather then trying to adapt to the world around you. After all the entire ocean will succumb to one island of resistance.

Besides, you missed the entire point of my post.

I think not, you were complaining on how ordinary devices arent good enough for your high interface standards, I pointed out that good engineering was the primary concern, which you also pointed out with your coffee machine example. However it appears you missed the point of my post that is a well engineered product with a bad interface will sell as it works, a poorly engineered product with a good interface will fail as it doesn't do what people need it to. Engineering trumps interface, it always has and always will.

Re:Android Microwave is a GREAT product

[stewbacca]

The key word was undue importance. Perfect is the enemy of done, good engineers understand this.

I'm not asking for perfect. You seem to have a lower standard of "good enough" than I do, and I think the industry takes your side because it saves them money...it's an excuse for poor planning, design and execution.

Compared to "It's no good until the UI is perfect" which has lead to so much vapourware and poorly engineered products that its not funny.

Again, I'm not asking for perfect. I have a brand new house in an upper middle-class neighborhood (in the US), with brand new shiny expensive kitchen appliances...with the exception of the stove top and the fridge (they have no electronics input), the way you set the devices is terrible. Not asking for perfect, just asking for nice...or even customizable (like using an OS that is cheap and easy, like Android)

It was YOUR choice to buy that product. If YOU have requirements that aren't met by the market then perhaps YOU have a problem.

You are right. There is no choice in the market (because they all use the lazy engineer excuse you proved above..."gotta get it out the door", "good enough" etc. etc.) so none of the devices meet my "requirements". This is the entire reason I posted a response saying that the Android Applicances don't belong on the list of ridiculous devices.

But you keep waiting for Better(TM) rather then trying to adapt to the world around you.

No, I keep waiting for decent and acceptable. I'll completely ignore the part where you try to set it up to prove how much smarter you are than me when it comes to using a washing machine and just tell you that you are the fool for adapting to your limitations instead of pushing forward and making the world a better place.

I think not, you were complaining on how ordinary devices arent good enough for your high interface standards,

You still completely miss my point because you injected your own engineering biases into the interpretation of what I wrote, as opposed to what I mean. I'll say it again, it's not perfection I seek. I merely posit that consumer appliances lag far behind other things in our lives due to consumer complacency, not because the high and mighty engineer should dictate what a consumer needs (or even wants) in their own house.

However it appears you missed the point of my post that is a well engineered product with a bad interface will sell as it works, a poorly engineered product with a good interface will fail as it doesn't do what people need it to. Engineering trumps interface, it always has and always will.

You are making an argument where there is none. You have set up a false dichotomy in your statement though. The reason kitchen appliances with lousy interfaces sell is because the ALL have lousy interfaces and there is no competition to make it better. Nobody says that a device can either be well engineered with a bad interface, or have a good interface but poorly engineered. Why not a decent interface that is tested thoroughly. Better yet, why do engineers so easily dismiss the interface (and I know the answer, because in your world, it doesn't affect the requirements) when it is a key component in the overall engineering design.

Re:Android Microwave is a GREAT product

[Anonymous Coward]

How are one button operations so complicated with a washer/dryer? That's exactly how many presses you have to do to use the ones in my apartment building (excluding inserting a card so it can charge you for using the machine). All you have to do is choose "colors", "whites" or some other one I've never used for the washing machine. For the dryer, same thing: "normal", "permanent press", "delicates". Sure, there might be complications with things like fabric softener, but it's not complicated.

For my oven, to cook something, press bake or broil, set the temperature, press bake or broil again. Not complicated, and it took me all of a minute to figure it out. For the range, you turn knobs to desired temperature; the same way it's worked for decades. What the heck is so complicated with your stove?

I don't think you've looked hard enough to find something that suits your tastes.

Cyber Clean

[mmmmbeer]

I bought some Cyber Clean from Thinkgeek a while back and it's awesome. Works just as described on my phone, keyboard, etc. These retards picking it as one of the worst products have obviously never tried it.

Re:Cyber Clean

[NitsujTPU]

I was about to say something similar, albeit, perhaps less derisively. I haven't tried Cyber Clean, but it seems like a great product. If it's at ThinkGeek, I'll have to throw it in with my next order of energy drinks.

Not quite

[ukemike]

personally I got all of the health benefits normally associated with quitting within about four days of switching to my PV - increased lung capacity, no coughing, increased stamina, no stink, etc.

Actually since you are still inhaling nicotine your cilia will still be paralyzed which means that your lung's self-cleaning system will not be functioning. You have eliminated all of the nasty gasses and particulate that smoking adds to the nicotine, but the root cause of the problem is the nicotine. All other gunk that you breath will still stay in your lungs (including very hazardous things like silica, asbestos, pm10.) So you have gotten some of the health benefits normally associated with quitting, not all.

Don't get me wrong, I am glad that people addicted to nicotine now have a way that they can get their fix without also breathing in all that nastiness that is smoke. I am also glad that people who do this won't be adding to the juggernaut of noxious clouds around every building entrance. I am also glad that these items are expensive enough that smokers won't throw them on the ground after they are done with them. I just wanted to remind people that these do not eliminate the dangers associated with nicotine use/addiction.

Teddy Ruxbin was before its time

[JoshuaZ]

We had Teddy Ruxbin when I was a little kid, some of the first models. Unfortunately, they kept breaking. Sometimes Teddy would slowly die with his speech getting slower and slower. One time his lower jaw fell of and he kept talking apparently oblivious. That was slightly traumatizing. The technology really didn't exist to make that sort of robot that was both cheap and dependable. This newer toy sounds much more promising. The other gadgets not so much.

Re:Teddy Ruxbin was before its time

[rantingkitten]

Yeah, my sister had one too, and it broke constantly. To their credit, Worlds of Wonder would fix or replace it each time, but we had to ship it back to them so often that my sister and I knew the brown UPS van only as "The Teddy Ruxpin Truck" for a long, long time.

That was her problem, though. I got one of Teddy's friends, the fobs, which were basically puppets and rarely broke.

Re:Teddy Ruxbin was before its time

[ZosX]

remember those weird monster puppets with the big glow in the dark eyes? I always wanted on when I was a kid. I can't remember what they were called at all.

What?

[Anonymous Coward]

Still no sexbots? Sigh... maybe next year...

Re:What?

[ZosX]

When were sexbots ever a bad idea?

vibrating earbuds?

[Khashishi]

Actually, I'd be more disappointed in earbuds that didn't vibrate.

My thoughts

[Locke2005]

Krave -- Why not just inject the nicotine directly into your bloodstream?
TV Hat -- I'm sure nobody will think of using this to watch porn while driving!
EarVibe -- Wait... are you sure these are designed to be stuck in you ear, and not somewhere else?
iType -- Actually not that bad an idea for those of us that have fingers larger than a Barbie, and thus problems typing on tiny touchscreens.
Phubby -- Aside from being ugly as hell, actually not that bad. Any idea how many times my phone has fallen out of my shirt pocket? And when I wear it on my belt, I usually can't hear it.
BabyPlus -- Why stick the headphones you already own on your stomach, when you can pay big bucks for this glorified speaker?
Unbreakable Phone -- Geeks regard the word "unbreakable" as a challenge!
Android Microwave -- It's need for voice recognition, 'cause telling your microwave "Please make popcorn now" is much easier than just pushing the Popcorn button! Unless this doubles as a refrigerator/freezer, I'm not sure what the added smarts buys you. Plus, using a touchscreen in a high-grease environment -- what a wonderful idea!
Electronic bidet -- My wife gets pretty much the same results with a recycled plastic bottle.
Fingerist -- If you'd like to feel like you're playing a real guitar, perhaps you should, you know... buy a real guitar!
CyberClean -- What isn't clear is, after you get the crap out of your keyboard, how do you get the crap out of the CyberClean? I generally just turn my keyboard upside down and bang it on the desk a few times, and yes, it's amazing how much kruft can be in an old keyboard.
Blackberry Presenter -- Couldn't you, um, just build this functionality into the projector?
iMini Pet iPod Player -- Anybody who thinks this is a BAD idea obviously doesn't have children!

More thoughts on iType

[Locke2005]

This is designed for doing serious data entry into the device, not everyday use. It wouldn't be useful for an Android phone since all your data can be edited directly from your Google login on any computer. I'm sure Apple also provides a mechanism to sync any iPhone/iPod/iTouch with a Mac, so for most people it serves no useful purpose.

Re:Did it occur to you to avoid namespace clashes?

[jo_ham]

And you are making the rest of us non-smokers look like total wankers. Grow the fuck up.

Cooking Fail

[Anonymous Coward]

You obviously have never cooked rice dishes properly.

keep your batteries charged

[Anonymous Coward]

That's why I use USB-powerd e-cygs.

Vibrating earbuds?

[seebs]

As opposed to non-vibrating earbuds, also known as "earplugs"?

MOD Parent Up

[Anonymous Coward]

I totally agree.

Strangely Appropriate

[Duggeek]

There's a nice amount of irony. For those who can smell it, their failures makes for a satisfying zen-like feeling.

Allow me to elucidate:

Branding your cigarette-substitute product the "Krave" isn't exactly aligned with the "quit smoking" campaign. By making "crave" the central theme, and increasing the amount of harmful waste with each dose, it's actually making things worse. #quitfail

Let me get this straight; it's a baseball cap with a "bill" that's over 3x longer than regular caps, and all it does is hold your portable video device about a foot in front of you... with blinders. They call it the "As Seen On Television Cap" but I think an acronym is much more appropriate here: The ASOT cap. #hillbillychic

Vibrating ear-buds. I remember those in the 90's. They were cheap, they burnt-out after I turned my portable music to "7" or higher and they were painful. I understand the retro thing, but that really is going too far. #immersionfail

Ah yes, the iType. Let's take a perfectly portable platform, fasten it to a airline table-tray so that we can type like we do at our computer. Every major innovation truly needs something new to tether it to the past. #progressfail

Phubby®, brought to you by the people that invented the Snuggie®. (I bet!) Does that god-awful "robotic reading lamp" fit in there too so I can jog in the dark? #cultwarning

I got this great idea; let's make a device for expecting mothers... it sounds just like a mother's heartbeat! Why, it's proven science that a mother's heartbeat makes us more alert, responsive and aware while in the womb. So, since it has so many education-related benefits, we'll call it a Prenatal Education System! -- It would be brilliant, but only if the infant was developing while the mother is dead. #facepalm

The zen is right there in the video... try to break a phone, and it breaks. Impressive indeed. #fail2fail

I think the only tag for this is "too soon?" The Android platform is still in its infancy, so why should it be invading our kitchen like a rambunctious toddler? For that matter, why would you want to spend more time in front of your microwave? #toosoon

The bidet, hundreds of years old and works on a simple concept; a gentle spray of water will... ahem... clean you up. So now we add robotic probosces. Creepy! Also, I believe that the intensity of that jet may be just a bit uncomfortable for the average loo-goer. #hentaihorror

The parade of iPhone-junk just doesn't end, does it? It's not enough to air-guitar with an i-brick in one hand, now we should fasten it to a contraption that only makes it more cumbersome and louder... and still fails to look anything like a real guitar. #wegottacrapforthat

I don't know about you, but I find DIY aspects of technology maintenance to be a good thing. Cleaning keyboards can be an exercise in patience, diligence and attending to details. It also helps familiarize me with the placement of keys so I'm not searching the dimly-lit, off-color, 5-point type when I need to use the calculator. As for the goo... welcome to the 90's, and it's called "slime" not "keyboard cleaner." #toysRcheaper

For our latest achievement we give you... a video adapter. It can connect to your existing video device without the cumbersome convenience of owning yet another video device. #cablesnotincluded

At last! A way to bring the joy of music and (digitally managed and restricted) entertainment to your young children and give them nightmares of animatronic plushies... all at the same time! Personally, I'd love to watch as one of those things plays Metallica or Slayer... or MJ's PYT. #doyouknowwhatIamsaying