Mobile

Hot In The Hive: iTwinge iPhone Keyboard

Alex Gambardella on Sep 29, 2009 5:24 AM PDT

I think I'm one of the few people left in this world who still refuse to join the iPhone cult. I'll admit it, sometimes I get a little jealous when I see people at the gym listening to their music and making calls from one sleek device while I'm trying to juggle my PDA and my prehistoric video iPod... but I'm sorry -- I NEED a keyboard! REAL buttons that you push. Not a touchscreen with pretend keys and a "word predictor" that tries to guess what I'm trying to type through the inevitable typos. It shouldn't have to guess! Apparently our friends over at Mobile Mechatronics had the same frustrations, because they came up with one seriously genius idea: the iTwinge. It's an attachable keyboard that simply slips on over your iPhone, providing REAL push-able buttons for more accurate (and quicker) texting and e-mailing. Of course, I'm not sure if the convenience of having keys is worth having to constantly take the device on and off whenever you're done with an e-mail or text... so while this clever add-on is definitely worth the splurge for curious iPhone owners, I'm not sure if it's cool enough to make a convert out of a Palm girl like me!

Price: $29.99
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the iTwinge to the Hive.

Tags : technology , tech , phone keyboard , phone gadgets , mobile

Hot In The Hive: Bluetooth Mini Phone

Alex Gambardella on Sep 23, 2009 6:22 AM PDT

Don't you love laughing at the crazy-looking people on the street who look like they're talking to themselves but are really just using a handy-dandy hands-free device? Or how about those folks driving on the freeway who look like they're bopping and singing along to the radio but are really just making a business call from that huge hunk of Bluetooth-activated plastic attached to their ear? If you're considering your own mobile accompaniment but don't want to look like you're deep in conversation with the voices inside your own head, look no further than the Bluetooth Mini Phone. Shaped like an actual handheld receiver, you can wear the phone like a semi-stylish pendant necklace & then when you want to make a call, you just pick it up and press call and start chatting! Oh. Wait. So it's not actually hands-free... but it's still pretty cute, and a clever sort of gimmick. And, uh, a great conversation starter?

Price: 29,99 GBP
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the Bluetooth Mini Phone to the Hive.

Tags : wireless , technology , tech , phone gadgets , mobile

Hot In The Hive: MobiGrip Device Leash

Alex Gambardella on Jun 16, 2009 6:20 AM PDT

If you've ever had to replace a waterlogged cell phone (or two) due to an unplanned dip in the toilet, this handy little invention has your name written all over it! The MobiGrip device leash, a stick-on mini-bungee that loops comfortably around your digits, is the cure to all butter finger-inflicted disasters that leave your poor dropped phone either cracked on the sidewalk or slowly fizzling out in a puddle of water. You just peel and stick the little button to the back of your cell, PDA, iPod, digital camera, or other accident-prone handheld and it's safe, sound, and secure in your palm no matter how klutzy you are or sweaty your palms get. You could even use the springy loop to clip your valuables to your belt or to your handbag's wallet clip for extra mishap prevention! As long as you're not careless enough to go for a swim with your gadget still looped to you, you may find yourself sticking with the same unharmed cell phone for a record duration of time!

Price: $9.95 each, with discounts if you buy 6 or more
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add MobiGrips to the Hive.

Tags : technology , tech , phone accessories , pda , mobile

Hot In The Hive: Your Own Baby Mobile Garden!

Ida Hsiang on May 4, 2009 6:22 AM PDT

Make a green statement with these adorable and quirky baby plants in a capsule! Offered by Strapya-World, these baby plants are easy to grow and maintain and you can customize and personalize to really make it your own. Simply plant a tiny seedling in a capsule, screw the top on and water it once or twice a month. Soon you will see your own seedling growing and you can care for it and show it of at all times since it hangs from a pretty strap from your cell phone. You can also choose to have a "marimo," a special fuzzy moss ball that is believed to have healing qualities, in a capsule along with your birthstone! Really be eco-chic and choose the "Vitro-Capsule," a small plant grown in a Bio-fertilizer that comes in pretty pastel colors. Once your pet plant starts to get a little bigger, simply take it out and replant it into your garden or a flower pot. Share a special bond with your pet plant and give Mother Earth something to smile about too! At an affordable $5.00 and up, you can get a few for yourself, or give it as a unique and relevant gift.

Price: $5.00 USD and up
Who Found It: Idabone was first to add the Strapya-World Baby Mobile Garden to the Hive.

Tags : plant , mobile , green , garden

Hot In The Hive: The Motorola AURA, A Luxury Watch-Inspired ...

Alex Gambardella on Apr 3, 2009 5:21 AM PDT

Is your mobile service contract up and in your search for a new phone, you just can't bring yourself to buy into all the iPhone hype? Are you perhaps looking for something a bit more -- oh, I don't know -- stylish? Expensive?! Well, lucky for you, Motorola has just released the most exorbitant phone buy you'll be able to find! At a lavish $1,999.99, the Motorola AURA fuses the worlds of top-of-the-line technology and that of designer timepieces to bring you the first circular display mobile phone (a 62-carat sapphire crystal circular display at that!) to provide the luxury of fine jewelry with the crystal-clear yakking capabilities of a mobile phone. Does it have a full keyboard? No. Does it come with cool apps? No. Does it have a touch-screen? Of course not, but it is about as heavy as a brick (so you can literally "feel the richness," it says) so it can weigh down your pocket after it burns a hole in your wallet. Perf! Hopefully you still remember how to read an analog clock, 'cause this baby is already a whopper of a waste of money as it is!

Price: $1,999.99
Who Found It: shopchick was the first to add the Motorola AURA to the Hive.

Tags : watches , watch , technology , phone , mobile

8 Budget-Chic Home Accessories for Under $30!

meg donohue on Oct 7, 2008 2:18 PM PDT

Wallet feeling a little light these days? Sigh--I hear ya. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to give your home a fun, unique look without spending big bucks. Little touches like vases wrapped in graphic patterns, votives with a pop of color, nature-inspired coasters, and cool artwork can boost your pad's look to a whole new level without breaking the bank. So display a few design-savvy accessories and go ahead and celebrate your style smarts with a well-deserved dirty martini--those olives count as dinner, right? Check out my slideshow of 8 budget chic home accessories under $30!

Tags : vases , vase , mobile , interior design