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Gadgets

Symbol Audio Tabletop Hifi

You might completely dismiss this Tabletop Hifi from Symbol Audio once you learn its price, but if you’re serious about sound (i.e. audio geek) and interior aesthetics then you might just be happy to see the specs and available finishes. Using traditional speaker design, the Tabletop Hifi delivers high quality sound with “two 4 in. high efficiency full range drivers, with titanium cones, set in dampened cabinets, ported for optimum sound and paired with a down firing 5 1/4 in. subwoofer to create deep full bass response.” Enough technical specs to please the discerning, don’t you think? Plus, it’s available in all sorts of cabinet and speaker front finishes.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $1,800.00
Available from: Symbol Audio

Stick-N-Find

Only 8 days left for this indiegogo campaign, and pay attention because it’s for bluetooth stickers. Each small sticker has Bluetooth, so you can track any device, person, or animal, and find it/them with an app on your smartphone. Where are your keys? Where’s the dog? Where’s the remote? Easily found, all via the app’s radar. The stickers are about the size of a quarter and adheres to objects with a strong 3M VHB adhesive.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $35.00
Available from: StickNFind

Pinhole Art DIY Combo

Add this to the list of possible perfect gifts. This cardboard and paper DIY Combo can use 35mm or 120 film and allows for partial-frame and multiple exposures. Perhaps there will be more than a few soft focused images that quality as ‘art’ when using this puppy… you won’t know until you try it out. Also, not that you need reminding (because you’re so on top of things this year), but time is running short for shipping time, so best do your ordering today.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $50.00
Available from: Lomography Shop

Photojojo Phone Lens Series

Are you kicking yourself for not adding Photojojo’s Phone Lens Series to your wish list? If so, join the club. Maybe it’s not too late, though, especially if we lay down blatant hints… as in, gee, I really wish I hadn’t forgotten to add the Wide/Macro Lens to my list. Here’s hoping it works.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $20.00 - 49.00
Available from: Photojojo

Wow Bluetooth Speaker

Another Bluetooth speaker? Indeed it is, and this one seems sized perfectly for desktop or the out-of-doors. The Wow Speaker wirelessly streams music from any of your Bluetooth devices and charges via a USB cable. While it seems to be available only through one US retailer (Unica Home shipping Jan 2013), there are a few UK sites that seem to have it in stock (Do Shop and, of course, the designer’s site AAREVALO shop).
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Purchase Information:

Price: £55.00
Available from: AAREVALO shop

Lumawake

Nice. This smart docking station senses your approach and lights up so you can find it easily in the dark. This function also simulates sunrise to make sure you wake naturally. Lumawake tracks your sleep cycles and gives you a detailed report each morning contact free (which means no wristbands). And, if you’re on the home automation bandwagon, the Lumawake can be integrated into systems like SmartThings & WeMo to turn off lights when you fall asleep or turn on the coffee maker when you wake up. Quite a few functions there, which helps explain the price tag. Ships early 2013.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $149.00
Available from: Lumawake

Lacie Petitekey

Lacie shrinks down its already very portable iamakey usb drive to make the PetiteKey. Measuring a mere 1.5″ in height, it’s waterproof, scratch-resistant and has AES 256-bit encryption. Available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $14.99
Available from: Lacie

Source: The Awesomer

iCorkCase

If you’re the type that wants extra insurance for your precious iPad, take a look at this faceted case made of cork from pomm* design studio. It’s pretty thick, so you know it’ll absorb the day-to-day minor shocks and bumps, and the faceted feature might give you a few ‘oh-that’s-cool’ comments. It’s not cheap, but it does win points for its sculptural form.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $70.00
Available from: pomm* design studio

Vers 1Q

Oh, what a tempting, tiny speaker. There’s the choice of hand-crafted Walnut or Bamboo case, and sure, that looks pretty good, but the point of that wood/bamboo is the natural acoustic properties. Also, check out the size: 3″ X 3″ X 3″. Compact. Of course, it has integrated Bluetooth (what speaker nowadays doesn’t?) and it delivers enough sound to fill a decently sized space. Other standout bullet points are its 30′ range and estimated 10+ hours of battery life.

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Purchase Information:

Price: $119.00
Available from: BiteMyApple

BoostTurbine

With the recent disaster of Hurricane Sandy, many were (and still are) without power, which means no means of communication with friends, loved ones, or emergency personnel. Don’t let yourself fall into the same scenario- take stock of your own disaster kit and make sure you have an adequate wind-up charger for your mobile phone. Etón has a new rechargeable USB battery pack with a hand turbine power generator; one minute of cranking can produce power for a 30-second call or a few important texts. Available for pre-order, starting at $50.
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More information:

View BoostTurbine here

Source: FastCoDesign

Libratone Portable Wireless Speakers

Warm and fuzzy are words to describe pleasant sounds coming from your speakers, but what if your speakers themselves were so? Copenhagen-based Libratone recently released a series of AirPlay-enabled wireless speakers wrapped in either wool or cashmere. Three sizes are available depending on your room size and portability needs. AirPlay works with all iPads, iPhone 3Gs or newer, iPod touch and Mac/Pc. Fabric covers are available in eight colors.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $449.00
Available from: Libratone

Source: Design Boom

SIWA Cushioned iPad Case

If you’re fond of SIWA paper products, you’ll be happy to hear there’s an iPad case available. A simple string and button closure secures the contents and a matching color liner keeps your iPad scratch free. SIWA products are made of Soft Naoron (wood pulp and polyolefin using “washi suki” paper manufacturing process); this paper-like material is strong and highly water resilient.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $72.00
Available from: Baum-Kuchen

Puurco iPhone Wallet Case

This wallet is traveling light at its best. Handcrafted in Prague, a 100% Merino wool sleeve is stitched together with a vegetable-tanned leather pocket. Your phone and credit card, what else do you need? Fits iPhone 4S/4/3GS/3G (maybe the new iPhone 5?). Gotta love that red thread accent and packaging!
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Purchase Information:

Price: €29.00
Available from: PuurCo

Curve BT iDock

For those of us that rely on our mobile phones for most, if not all, of our calls, a wireless handset is worth consideration. I recently received a sample of the Curve BT iDock to try out, and despite my reservations of adding yet another item to my desktop, I’m actually pleased with its look, feel, and function. At times our mobile phones can be a little awkward to hold, but the Curve’s handset is comfortable and more appropriate for longer conversations. It can connect to 2 devices (think iPad + phone) simultaneously and your iPhone/Android can sync and charge while on the dock to avoid losing any of that precious battery life.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $99.00
Available from: Native Union

ReFleece iPad Sleeve

It’s an iPad sleeve, big deal. Except this one is made from reclaimed fleece jackets and sweaters, so it beats the pants off other normal sleeves (ba-dum ching!). The shells are lightweight, fuzzy, and water resistant thanks to a unique method of fabrication created by designer Sam Palmer. Every single case is made in the US from recycled materials that are sourced locally. There’s also a ReFleece Kindle Cover ($25, shown below), if you’re interested.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $32.00
Available from: Uncommon Goods