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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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Why does it seem like a sleek key ring is the perfect gift for acquaintances, coworkers, and relatives? It is because it’s impersonal yet useful? In any case, this Beta Key Ring has an inkless pen attached, meaning its owner will never be without a writing tool. The pen has a solid metal alloy ‘nib’ that leaves a pencil-like mark on paper.
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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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The following post is sponsored by Aether Apparel.

The Field Jacket by Aether Apparel combines the utility of a traditional field jacket with the weatherproof performance of a ski jacket. The design-focused outdoor apparel company came up with the idea after seeing their photographer struggle to carry an assortment of miscellaneous camera equipment during one of their photo shoots. Their solution? Design a tough-as-nails jacket to keep you dry in the backcountry with enough pockets to hold all your gear.
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You and I both know what a hassle it is to get keys on and off a regular keyring. You can use a staple remover to aid the process or you could change your keyring to a Freekey. It has a patented wave that allows the end to open, making adding or removing keys a snap. There’s also a Freekey System that comes with additional small rings for grouping your keys together.
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Welcome back from your Thanksgiving break! Chances are you’ve already taken advantage of those Cyber Monday deals, so we won’t mess with any of that. Instead, shall I suggest these touchscreen-compatible gloves? Agloves use real silver threads to increase warmth and conduct the bioelectricity from your body to your device. No more cold fingers when answering your phone or changing the playlist on your iPod. Might make a good gift for someone on your list too. Also, if you prefer to keep your own gloves, you could just add conductive thread, as this Touchscreen Gloves Kit provides (via swissmiss).

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Perhaps you’ve learned, as I have, that style takes a second place to durability in the luggage department. If you can get a little style along with durability, then, hey, you’ve done well. This Handmade Canvas & Leather Weekend Bag hits just the right note with its carry-on size and utilitarian materials. If you don’t already have a good weekend bag for your holiday travels, it’s something to consider.

Speaking of holiday travels, have a nice Thanksgiving holiday; if you’re on the road or at the airport, be careful/stay safe/etc. We’ll be back on Monday with our regular posting schedule.

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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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The ever-present key conundrum: how to keep your keys organized without looking like a janitor? This key holder is made from rugged leather and holds your keys in a slender profile; there’ll be no jingling/jangling about like you should have a mop and bucket nearby. Thanks to custom set screws, your keys are stacked together in the case- which protects your bag or pocket contents from those unfortunate scratched surfaces – and at the ready to swing out for use. The corners are embossed with the words “Home,” “Office,” “Door,” and “Ignition” for quick reference.
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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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As you might have noticed, gift guides are popping up all over the place. We’ll have some wishlists/gift guides just like last year in the upcoming weeks, but until then, keep these pins by Macon and Lesquoy on your radar. They’re intended purely for fun, and, as they’re quite small (~1″- 2″), could be easily worn on shirts, jackets, and bags. Perfect for co-workers, friends, etc.
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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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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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Like a bit of lemon or mint in your water glass? Or perhaps a hint of strawberry? Now you can take your fanciness on the road with this glass bottle, thus reducing your own plastic bottle usage as well as any unfortunate snobbery that crops up whenever you’re faced with plain tap water.

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True story: I currently have skinned knees and 4 inch bruise on my chest. Why? Because I completely wiped out going down a parking garage when my left handlebar grip slipped off. Anyways, don’t be like me and have properly maintained grips and bar-ends on your bike. But do it with some style! These new GripRings from Spurcycle are individual silicone rings that make up a complete handlebar grip. Each set included 16 rings in the color pattern of your choice. Ride safe!
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