summer

Gadgets

The Mosquito Click Apparently Stops Mozzie Bites From Itching

Australian Post Posted by Nick Broughall at 11:00 AM on October 29, 2008

MOSQUITOCLICK_ring 12Highres.jpgI won't lie to you - I'm sceptical about this as a real solution to the maddening itch of a mosquito bite. Just reading the explanation of how it works on their website sets off the fire alarm in my mind:

It functions with piezoelectricity ie. the generation of electric currents by the compression or expansion of quartz and similar crystalline substances. Mosquito-Click therefore does not need a battery to function and its small and practical size makes it convenient to carry along anywhere!
However, for the sake of science, I'm prepared to guinea-pig myself to the cause of testing this out for real. I've requested a review unit, and when it arrives, I'll subject myself to multiple mosquito bites at my local duck pond for the opportunity to review this $20 gadget for you, the humble Gizmodian. If it works, I'll thoroughly recommend its purchase for the coming Summer season. If not, we'll christen it snake oil and never speak of it again...

[Mosquito Click]

Gadgets

AirKick Human Catapult Sends Your Flailing Body 8 Metres Into the Air

Posted by Adam Frucci at 12:45 AM on August 23, 2008

We've seen before how fun getting launched in the air over a body of water can be. Now we have another way to do it: the AirKick Human Water Catapult.


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Gadgets

Epic Blob Jump Proves That Fun and Adventure Aren't Without Consequences

Posted by Adam Frucci at 4:00 AM on July 31, 2008

This video shows a girl getting absolutely launched into the air from an inflatable "blob" on a lake. She lies on one end, while what has got to be a much larger man jumps down onto the other. It looks like both the most fun thing ever as well as one of the most painful when she lands. Where can I get me one of these? Seriously, holy crap.


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Weapons

Water Balloon Slingshot Brings the Wet into Hot American Summers

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 4:30 AM on July 6, 2008

Now that we're headed deep into the middle of summer, it's time to bring out water balloons and figure out ingenious ways to fling them at your enemies. Here's a great tutorial at Instructables for making a wicked water balloon catapult using surgical tubing, a rag and other random doohickies from around the house. According to the dude responsible for this weapon of watery destruction, this shooter will never explode the water balloon prematurely, unlike some of the types you get in stores. [Instructables]


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Toys

Evolution Of the Super Soaker

Posted by Matt Hickey at 11:01 AM on July 4, 2008

It's the 4th of July weekend, which means sun for most of us and all kinds of fun outdoor activities, many of them including squirt guns. If you're hardcore, you use nothing but the Super Soaker, which was first introduced in 1989 and have evolved into personal water cannons that seem capable of blasting holes in concrete. Hyperbole aside, they've come a long way, and iSoaker has a very cool interactive, clickable chart showing the evolution of the worlds most popular water gun. Which one was your favourite? [iSoaker]

Toys

Gizmodo's Ultimate Water Gun Battlemodo Royale

Posted by Adam Frucci at 2:00 AM on July 3, 2008

There are few things more enjoyable on a hot summer's day than an epic water gun battle with some friends. In the end, everybody wins, because everybody gets soaked and cools down. But you don't want to be caught with a crappy gun; then you'll just be the guy that everyone else gangs up on. We here at Gizmodo don't want that to happen to our beloved readers, which is why we took on the horrible, difficult task of playing with testing five of this season's hottest water guns under US$20 to find out which one is going to give you the most splash for your cash.


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Gadgets

Waspinator 2 Eliminates Summer Wasps Quietly, Painlessly

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 8:25 PM on July 2, 2008

Behold the Waspinator 2! It has an intelligent optical and ultra-sound directional microphone tracking system which identifies wasps flying near your house by their flight pattern and buzz. Then, the Waspinator 2 uses up to six retractable low-power laser mini-cannons to individually target and kill the wasps, virtually vaporising them in mid-air. Or at least, that's what, with a name like Waspinator 2 should be. Instead, it's just a thing that simulates a wasp nest, so real wasps wouldn't get near, fearing a possible enemy attack.


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Gadgets

Wired's Summer Gear Test Issue

Posted by Sean Fallon at 7:00 AM on July 2, 2008

The folks at Wired have put together their Summer Test roundup for 2008--a guide that brings you the best (and the worst) gear that money can buy for outdoor fun. Everything from campstoves to putters to ultralight notebooks are covered, so hit the link to find out what you should be picking up this year. [Wired]


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Regulars

10 Gadgets For Air-Conditioned Summer Survival

Posted by Sean Fallon at 6:00 AM on June 21, 2008

For many of us, the first day of summer starts just before midnight tonight. That means it is time to start thinking about how to beat the heat when the temperatures soar and the air conditioning unit in your home or office inevitably breaks down. In this scenario, survival means being prepared for anything. The following summertime gadgets will ensure that you have all of your bases covered.


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Gadgets

UV Monitor Assures Extra Tasty Crispy Tanning

Posted by Mark Wilson at 2:04 AM on June 17, 2008

If you're like me, your skin boils in the presence of anything brighter than a 40W bulb. While my self-prescribed cave dwelling generally keeps me safe from the harsh glow of the sun, this UV monitor deals with those times we're forced to go outside by tracking solar radiation levels in real time. Enter the SPF on your sunblock, and the device will calculate your safe window of remaining time in the sun. Plus, you can set a counter to alert you for when it's time to call a beach bunny over to reapply. Pro tip: set the alarm for one-minute intervals. [techchee via coolestgadgets]


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