Gadgets: Winter Warmers
By Jay Garrett
When I think about snow, I think about snowball fights – I know; at my age!
The Sno-Baller is the lazy person's way to create perfect snowballs. It features long handles to prevent soggy gloves and frozen fingers and comes in red, blue, pink, and green, so you could even use them in snowy team games. A brrrrrrgain at £7.50 each.
Or you could go for the Snowball Blaster: This snowballing weapon sculpts up to 3 snowballs at a time and then, using the internal slingshot, fires them at your neighbours, friends, enemies or random cats from the safe distance of 50 feet.
The hassle of having to take your gloves off to use your iPhone is a real pain. Solution: DOTS gloves. They have a couple of little balls on the fingertips which you can use to operate your gadgets without freezing your pinkies off - they'll work nicely with all touchscreen lovelies. Only $15 - $20.
If the DOTS Gloves are a bit low-tech for you how about this digit warmers?Swany have shoved a Bluetooth module, speaker and microphone into one of the g.cell gloves. When it detects an incoming call, it gives your wrist a shake and enables you to quite literally talk to the hand. It'll cost you $495 for the smug feeling of not having to unzip your toasty coat and fumble with your phone just to answer that call.
If your winter jacket isn't hacking it in the frozen north then you should check out Ardica's heating system. It fits under your jacket and will also charge your gadgets at the same time. Ardica's 'Moshi' personal heating power system uses a Lithium Ion battery that can provide 25 watts and up to 100 degrees of toasty warmth while weighing less than 300g.
The cost of the personal power system separately for $145 (around £90) from Arcadia's website. You'll just have to get used to plugging your coat into the wall.
Another clever coat is Burton's new Audex winter warmer. Described as a "communication-cum-entertainment jacket" it promises to keep you entertained everywhere: from the piste to going out on the p..........ub crawl.
It's powered by Motorola technology and this sleek piece of snowboard gear is Bluetooth-enabled, meaning wireless music and calls. All you have to do is slip it on, connect your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone to the panel wirelessly, and hook up your iPod via hidden wires within the jacket - speakers and a microphone are located in the hood. Once you're connected you can operate your gadgets via a control panel stitched into the sleeve. At the mo you can only get one by visiting Burton's Stateside outlet online at www.burton.com . Prices start from $600.
If you're gonna be all outdoorsy you might as well get some kit that wont go fizz-bang when things get a little moist (especially if you plan on staying in the UK!). Overboard are doing a deal for £40.00. You get a pair of waterproof earbuds as well as a waterproof iPod Case. A steal if you're gonna be boarding, skiing or just wondering around the North of England......
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Jay Garrett is a a professional bass player and gadget junkie. Check out his blog at idleparis.co.uk
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