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BANG FOR THE BITE
By their nature, most gadgets are just sexed up versions of things you already have, but if you find yourself needing a new flashlight, go eco.
COCKTAIL FACT
Bernie Mac (Ocean's Eleven), DL Hughley (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), and Jaleel White ("Urkel" from Family Matters) have all been the voice behind the Gadgetmobile in past Inspector Gadget cartoons.
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What's underneath your trench coat?
The Bite
Besides your birthday suit. Answer: gizmos that put Inspector Gadget to shame. Here are our energy-saving, waste-reducing green gadget picks. Now go-go gadget eco-tip!The Benefits
- Getting a clue about sustainability. Geeks (including girl geeks) love being on the cutting edge - and green technology that combines recycled and sustainable materials with usefulness is the newest wave of gadgetry.
- Wowsers! These contraptions won over the gizmo-nerds on the Bite team.
Personally Speaking
Brett, who bikes to work on his tricked-out Surly Karate Monkey (even through the MT snow), mounted a HYmini on his bike and uses it to charge his cell phone.Wanna Try?
- HYmini - a portable charger for your cell or mp3 player that powers up using solar and/or wind energy ($60).
- Trevor Baylis Eco Media Player - video and MP3 player, radio, flashlight, and cell-phone charger all in one wind-up gadget (£130/$259).
- Vers iPod Dock - 15-watt speaker with remote that amplifies music from your iPod or iPhone; made using sustainable wood and packaged in recycled materials ($180).
- USBCell AA Batteries - batteries you can recharge hundreds of times using your computer's USB ports ($18/2).
- Dynamo Illuminator Flashlight - get a forearm workout and a lotta light with this wind-up flashlight ($10).
- Make - DIY instructions for making everything from furniture to an LED bike helmet.
Feb 06,2008
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Mini HyMINI Review
(To my right, we have Brett's Surly Karate Monkey - the HyMINI's in his utility bag on the back. You wouldn't want to get in a fight with this bike.)
I have a HyMINI wind-powered charger that usually doubles as an LED bike light when I'm getting around San Francisco at night. It's lighter than it looks, and charges up even when I'm not biking fast as the, uh, wind. I love the efficiency of the gadget, and, last but not least, it works great as a conversation piece when you're parking your bike and wanna chat up the cute biker chaining up their bike next to you.
-Toshio...off to ride like the wind...
I have a HyMINI wind-powered charger that usually doubles as an LED bike light when I'm getting around San Francisco at night. It's lighter than it looks, and charges up even when I'm not biking fast as the, uh, wind. I love the efficiency of the gadget, and, last but not least, it works great as a conversation piece when you're parking your bike and wanna chat up the cute biker chaining up their bike next to you.
-Toshio...off to ride like the wind...
Biter Comments...
I am curious about you using this as a bike LED. I would like to find a rechargeable bike headlight that I could plug the hymini into and charge the battery and ultimately power the headlight. Is this what you do?
Do you guys know of any dynamo flashlights (like the one mentioned in the tip) that use incandescent lights instead of led?
Will not charge iPhone or Pod Touch!
What a bummer. Got one, charged it, tried using it to charge up my iPhone. Then I learned that the iPhone and iPod Touch are 12v devices.
Apparently the Solio(.com) will charge these, however.
Caveat Emptor.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Christopher | February 06, 2008 at 12:26 PM