Blogs

Gadgets can be pretty generic looking – even if they’re cooly designed, it’s still the same as what everyone else has. We’ll, a Montreal company is offering a service whereby you can put your own mark on your electronics, literally. Etchpression Customization Service can laser engrave nearly any laptop, mp3 player, cell phone or other device with an image of your choosing.

Price: $20 and up. Available at: Etchpression, Montreal Eaton Centre, 705 Sainte-Catherine W., 514-885-8382.

Slowly but surely there more stylish options for gadget charging stations are hitting the market. I like this simple highgloss version from West Elm.

Price: $49 Available at: West Elm

Keeping track of everything during a renovation or design project can take some major organization. Budgets, wish lists, measurements – having these things with you when you’re out shopping is a must. You can carry a binder and files with you, but why not put technology to work? I talked to Alec Taylor of Microsoft (who’s just completed his own reno) about how Windows Mobile – software found on many smart phones like the HTC Touch Diamond (above) – can help you manage your project.

mange your budget
With fully functional applications just like what you have on your PC, Windows Mobile on your phone is like “you took your computer and put it in your pocket,” says Alec. For budgeting, this means having excel spreadsheets that you can edit and adjust when you’re on the go. Enter in actual costs as you buy to ensure you don’t spend to much.

manage your design
Take photos of items you like when you’re out scouting, and file or email them. You can also view PDFs, which Alec found useful when his contractor sent him a PDF of different nosing options for the countertop – no waiting until he got home to take a look and approve the style he wanted.

manage your timeline
Use the calendar to track delivery times, when contractors will be on site, and when work is expected to be done.

manage communications
With e-mail, instant messaging and phone calls, you can keep in touch with everyone involved. 

Windows Mobile for info.

These showerheads are more modern glam light fixture than utilitarian bath hardware.

Jalco Lumiere series showerhead with built-in LED lights Tondo cube in stripes (left) and Quadro cylinder in damask. Price: $4,200 US each. Available at: Amati. Taps Bath Centre.

With Thanksgiving coming up, I’ve got turkey on the brain. And I sure could use this wireless thermometer and timer when I – ok, my husband cooks up a bird this weekend.

The thermometer has two parts: a base with a heat sensor cable and probe that you insert into the bird, and a remote that you can carry around with you (it has a belt clip if you want to go for geek fashion, or use the stand if you’re just chillin’ in the living room). Wander up to 100 feet away and you’ll still get the alert that your meat is done. A 10-degree pre-alert tells you when food is almost ready, and audio and visual alerts let you know when the desired temperature is reached.

More handy features include a backlit display that shows current and target temperatures in either Celcius or Fahrenheit, preprogrammed settings of different meats according to USDA safety specifications, and a custom program to set your own desired temperatures.

Wireless Probe Thermometer and Timer by CDN. Price: $74.99 Available at: Kitchen stores across Canada. Call Browne & Co. at 866-306-3672 for retailers.

Meet the SUV of computer mice. Microsoft’s new BlueTrack technology means you can use the Explorer and Explorer Mini mice nearly anywhere. Marble, granite, wood – the mice work smoothly on them all. Trust me, I’ve seen this mouse in action. I tried it out on gritty, dirt-covered concrete, on the arm of a sofa, even on the PR rep’s hair! Hair! And there was smooth tracking on it all – no jerking, stops or lifting and shaking. Now, so what, why would you ever run your mouse along your head to surf and click the web, right? You’re right, you probably wouldn’t, but you would use it on a granite kitchen countertop, one covered in crumbs perhaps. And maybe your kids would enjoy being able to lounge on the floor of the family room with their laptop and use the mouse on the carpet. Just saying, it’s pretty cool.

Microsoft Explorer Mouse, $89.95. Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse, $69.95. Available Nov. 1st at: Best Buy. Major electronics retailers. Microsoft for info.

The recent release of the new bright iPod Nanos inspired me to pull together a few products that come in a bunch of different colours. Because a girl should have a choice.

1. iPod Nano, comes in 7 colours, plus black and silver. Price: $169 (8 GB), $219 16 GB. Available at: Apple.

2. Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 in Milk Chocolate, Aloe and Pomegranate (also comes in Strawberry Sorbet and Blue Sno Cone). Price: $39.95 each. Available at: Best Buy, Office Depot. Microsoft for info.

3. Dell Studio 15 laptop in Jet Black, Tangerine Orange, Flamingo Pink, Midnight Blue, Ruby Red, Spring Green, Plum Purple and (in centre) Graphite Grey with colour trim. Price: From $799 each. Available at: Dell.

4. (From left) Dyson DC20 Stowaway, $549.99. Limited edition Issey Miyake Dyson DC16, $179.99. Dyson DC25 Ball $599.99. Available at: Future Shop, Sears, Home Outfitters, The Bay. Dyson for info.

5. KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 quart 325-watt tilt-head stand mixer. Price: $469.99 each. Available at: Home Outfitters, The Bay, KitchenAid.

When you’re decorating a small space, clear Lucite furniture like the Louis Ghost Armchair or IKEA’s Tobias chair (which I have in my kitchen) is a great option because it doesn’t take up too much visual space. So why not carry that philosophy through to other items in your home, like computers and speakers? I like Dell’s Crystal 22-inch LCD monitor, which will look smashing atop any desk. And can you imagine how sexy your home office would be if you paired it with Ferguson Hill’s über-sleek FH007 Mini Speaker System (which sounds great by the way)?

LEFT Dell Crystal 22-inch widescreen flat-panel LCD monitor with built-in webcam, monitor and speakers. Price: From $1,219. Available at: Dell.

RIGHT FH007 Mini Speaker system (includes two 17-inch-high horn speakers, two eight-inch-round bass speakers, and 6-inch cube amplifier). Also connects to iPods and most stereo systems. Price: $549.99. Available at: Ferguson Hill.

Speakers have come a long way since those big ugly black boxes – we’re no longer limited to squares. I like the mod spheres of Orb Audio’s Classic Two Stereo Speaker and the futuristic eye shape of Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab 4000. Both are small in size but big in sound, plus they come in a variety of colours.

LEFT Classic Two Stereo Speaker in Metallic Black Gloss (also available in Pearl White Gloss, Mettalum Hand-Polished Steel, Metallum Hand-Antiqued Copper and Metallum Hand-Antiqued Bronze). Price: $698 US per speaker system (includes two speakers and a subwoofer). Available at: Orb Audio.

RIGHT BeoLab 4000 in red (also available in black, white, silver, dark grey, yellow and blue). Price: $2,800 per pair. Available at: Bang & Olufsen.

I have to say, I’m absolutely loving the Flip Ultra digital video camera. It’s small, it’s cute, it’s so easy to use (I didn’t even read the instructions!) – what’s not to love? It’s available in black, white and three sherbet-bright colours (pink, orange and green), and at $159.99, it’s priced well below many other video cameras. I’ve been toting mine with me everywhere, capturing family events, the adorable antics of my cats and random scenes around town. The USB arm means no hunting for a cable to connect the camera to the computer (Mac or PC) for importing, and built-in software is said to make editing and sharing easy (honestly, I haven’t done anything with my videos yet, beyond just sticking them in a file – I’ll keep you posted on how I fare on this end). Video is limited to 60 minutes max, but so far I haven’t found this to be a problem – really, no one needs to see an hour of footage on the raccoons who prowl my neighbourhood (and back porch!).

Price: $159.99

Available at: Wal-Mart. The Flip Ultra Video for more info.