I just wanted to take a moment to thank you, our readers and fans for all of your support over the years. Without you, we wouldn’t be here. I started Technabob out as a side project while I had a full-time “real job” and literally no budget – working all hours of the night and the wee hours of the morning scrounging for cool stuff to write about. Over the years, we’ve managed to grow the site enough that I was able to quit my full time job, focus 100% on blogging, and actually make a decent living at it. It’s thanks to your readership and loyalty that I can feed and clothe myself, pay for health insurance, and our small, but dedicated team of writers. I know many of you dream of working for yourself some day, and this little blog here is proof-positive that if you put your mind to something, you can really achieve your dream.

As a result of our success, I even have been able to expand our tiny blogging empire, with the launch of The Awesomer (shameless plug time) – which features all tons of cool stuff, like smokin’ fast cars, slick industrial design and art, funny videos, action-packed games, movies, and even a smattering of gadgets and tech. It’s a true showcase for creativity and generally awesome things. If you haven’t checked it out, you should. It’s pretty addictive if I must say so myself.

You’d think that with 10,000 posts under Technabob’s collective belts, there wouldn’t be much else to say, but we’ve only just nicked the surface on the world of cool gadgets, gizmos, games and weird science. Thankfully, there’s no end to the creativity and ingenuity of mankind.

Thanks again. Geeks reign supreme!

Paul Strauss (aka technabob)
Owner, Editor, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Technabob | The Awesomer

Here’s his Un-unboxing of a Viewsonic printer:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I still think unboxing videos can be helpful and interesting to watch, but I get Cool Gear Review’s point. Some of the unboxing videos I’ve seen take far too long and only end up diluting the thrill of looking at a new device. No one can stop you from making your own unboxing video, but if you want people to watch what you make, just remember that you don’t have to include every single act and detail. You’re not conducting an autopsy.

[via Urlesque]

The thing is a fake Louis Vuitton belt with a gold colored buckle. That buckle has a cell phone on it that actually works, though I suspect “works” and “works well” are two different things in this case. The phone has a little display on the top that lets the wearer see who is calling.

There aren’t any specs on the phone to speak of. We do know the thing has a camera inside and that’s it really. You can hit up the video below to see this ugly thing in action.

[via M8Cool via GizChina]

Sure, there are apps for your smartphone that can track down your car, but you generally have to remember to set the location before you leave the car. Unfortunately, that can be a pain. This $59 Auto Finder just needs to be installed in your car, and a special keychain added to your car keys. Hold down one button, and it will let you know if you’re pointing in the right direction of your vehicle. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You know, after seeing that thing in action, I can only think of one thing. I want to get one, and hack it into A Ghostbusters P.K.E. meter. I would seriously walk around with one of those, waiting for the little arms on the side to go up all of the way, so I know where the “ghost” is. Who’s with me?

[via CoolestGadgets]

Escort has been making radar detectors for a long time now and the company has unveiled a new device that it claims to be the world’s first fully integrated driving accessory with both radar/laser detection and navigation – the Passport iQ. The GPS device offers what you expect with a moving map, POIs, and turn-by-turn directions.

The radar detection portion functions even in map mode and will detect and learn any type of radar, and also offers multiple laser sensors. It also has a database with locations of speed cameras, red light cameras, and speed traps loaded up. The iQ is available right now to purchase for $649.95(USD), and it works with Escort’s line of radar detector accessories.

The latest addition to the Gorillatorch line is the new Switchback. The thing is on the same articulating tripod Gorillapod line is famous for. But the Switchback is a lot different from the other lights in the line. The Switchback can be used as a lantern when you don’t need a focused beam and can be fitted with a headlight when you do need a focused beam.

I assume that headlight is used not for strapping to your head, but to be able to get a spotlight on a specific area rather than just providing general illumination like a lamp does. The Switchback has multiple brightness settings with 5 lumen, 20 lumen, 80 lumen, and 130 lumen settings. Power comes from AA batteries good for up to 72 hours of use. You can buy the Switchback for $59.95 (USD) right now.

The coolest flip phone that I have seen in a long time has tuned up from a company called iida and the phone is the X-Ray. The phone has translucent cases in red, blue, or black colors. No matter the color, you can see through the case with the parts inside being part of the design of the phone.

The phone has a small 7 x 102 dot-matrix LCD you can see on the front that shows time and caller ID info. Inside the phone is a larger 3-inch screen and the devices measures 49 x 110 x 15.7mm overall. Other features include an 8.08MP camera phone that can record video and has flash and image stabilization. Storage is 925MB onboard with expansion using microSD cards.

Pricing and availability are unknown at this time, but you might be able to find out more over at the iida website.

Made by Fascinations, the thing has a fish tank on one side that has a filtered powered by the USB port. The place where the water is returned to the tank looks like a faucet and it has gravel, and multicolored lights inside. The right side of the aquarium has a bin for holding stuff like pens and even your iPhone. The front of the holder section has a display.

That display has a clock, calendar, and a temperature gauge. The tank capacity is 1.5 quarts and you will need to add your own gold fish. The downside is that you will have to clean the tank on a regular basis, or have a stinky desk. You should be able to buy one soon for about $40 (USD).

[via Chipchick]

The survey found that 34% of parents have to ask kids for help with fixing a gadget and 19% have to get kids to help with their computers. I am totally getting my kids those shirts that say, “No I won’t fix your computer.” Check out the list of the top ten things the survey found kids can do.

1. Turn the TV on
2. Get themselves dressed
3. Write their name
4. Turn a computer on
5. Work the DVD player
6. Ride a bike
7. Use the internet
8. Read a book
9. Use Sky+
10. Make their own breakfast

This is really no surprise considering geeks begat geeks. My son was using a computer all alone for kid games when he was three. He was correcting teachers at pre-k when he was four for calling the tower beside the desk the CPU. My daughter had to teach my wife how to use her new iPhone when she was four.

Help has arrived. Quirky has a cool new product in the works called the Trek Support. The thing is a backpack that can hold your gadgets and a notebook, but with an added bonus. The gadget section has pockets for four different items and the thing can charge three items at one time.

The notebook sleeve is removable and is held in place with Velcro. Inside the backpack is a battery that you charge from the AC outlet in your home or hotel. That battery charges the gadgets and is good for 7 hours depending on what you are charging. The laptop section will fit machines with up to a 15-inch screen.

As is the case with all Quirky products, it won’t be made until enough people decide to order one. If you’d like one, you can pre-order now for $130 (USD). As of the moment, they’ve taken orders for 58 out of 1200, so there’s a way to go before this thing becomes a reality, so head on over if you want to make it so.

It has three slots and several interchangeable charging tips, so you can use it to charge a variety of random devices at once.

You can order the IDAPT at Firebox; the grey version costs £29.99 (approx. $47 USD), while the black version, which also has an additional USB port as shown above, costs £39.99 (approx. $63).

[via 7Gadgets]

Peitersen says that his iPhone illustration in particular alludes to his amazement at how advanced smartphones have become. The rest of the pieces on the other hand, were made simply because the concept is awesome. No metaphor needed.

Check out Peitersen’s deviantART page for larger versions of these illustrations. What gadget do you think he should draw next? I’d like to see his take on Acer’s Predator.

[via Neatorama]

The remote control is built using an Arduino controller wired to a methane sensor as the main components. You can even enclose the remote in a case of some sort if you want to hide it in the cushions.

I can just imagine this thing in action. Dad lets one rip. The channel changes from the Jets game to the Real Housewives of New Jersey. He says, “What the hell.” He farts again. The channel switches back just in time for the big play. I love technology.

[via Instructables]

The thing appears to be a trench coat length jacket festooned with an unbelievable number of pockets (33 to be exact). If they ever do a geek parody of the scene in the Matrix where Neo and company come in wearing jackets packed with weapons, this would be the wardrobe.

The thing has pockets for the iPad, iPhone, MP3 player, glasses, cameras, personal care items like tooth brushes and those tiny shampoos you can get on the plane with and more. The weirdest pockets are so big, they can even hold your extra clothes and shoes. I wonder if you can even walk in this thing – and I can only imagine what fun it will be to get through airport security with one of these fully loaded.

One morning, Eric thought he accidentally put his precious electronics into the trash (how, we don’t know). Using the iPhone’s GPS, MobileMe and his friend’s iPad, he managed to track his lost gadgets all over town. By setting his iPhone to beep via MobileMe, they eventually found them. Check out the complete story in the video below:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

In the end, it turns out that they weren’t in the trash after all. They fell off his car and got run over, and a crew of roofers picked them up, and stopped along the way for some wings at Hooters (GPS doesn’t lie.) Once recovered, the iPhone was still working, but the screen was cracked. The iPad’s screen wasn’t cracked, but the aluminum unibody was bent out of shape and it wouldn’t power on. Not that it would have gotten found without the iPhone companion – he didn’t have the 3G/GPS enabled iPad anyhow. I guess now Eric might buy one to replace it.

Moral of the story: Hang on to your precious gadgets, and don’t mix them up with the trash.

[via Wired]

While the iPhone works fantastically for me, the thing wouldn’t last for long in the wilds. For the worker all alone in the middle of nowhere, an injury that might not be that big of deal in the normal world can be a major catastrophe in a remote area all alone. Sonim has a new mobile phone called the XP3 Sentinel just for these lone workers in challenging conditions. The device is ruggedized to military specs for water resistance shock, humidity, pressure, chemicals and more, and offers 2 months of standby time on a single charge.

The phone also has a cool call for help feature that uses green, amber, and red buttons. Red calls for help immediately even if the phone is locked and sends GPS coordinates for rescue. The amber button signals for close watching because of a hazardous environment, and the green is for starting and ending a shift. The only thing better would be if it worked on satellite networks, so you could get a signal anywhere.

Howdy, Technabob fans! The guys at ThinkGeek have are offering Technabob readers a special discount code you can use to get yourself some cool geek schwag with.

Just spend at least $40 bucks at ThinkGeek, and you’ll get a $10 discount on your order. All you need to do to get the discount is enter the promo code “TECHNAB10” at checkout and you’ll get the special.

The offer is good through 6/30/2010, so head on over there and grab yourself some cool geek stuff! I can’t decide between the Tauntaun sleeping bag R/C Warthog. Maybe I’ll buy both.

The watch has a square face with hours along the bottom of a grid and minutes along the left side. The lines in the center of the screen intersect at the appropriate time. It seems easy enough, but it’s still odd to me. I can see me wearing this thing, someone asking what time it is, and it taking me a couple minutes to trace the lines with my finger and answer them.

The watch can be had in silver or black with different face colors as well. You can grab one up for $189 (USD) over at the Yanko Design store if you want.

Is the way to save the print journalism business really to fleece the digital savvy early adopters of the iPad? Honestly, I for one will boycott your $4.99 per copy digital version of Popular Science. I can get the print version of the mag for a buck per copy if I order a subscription.

If you think you are going to charge me over four times as much for the privilege of reading your mag on the iPad, you my friend are dead wrong. In fact, I won’t even buy your print mag. It is inexcusable to me to charge four times as much for a product in digital format that has a mere fraction of the costs associated with a print magazine. I hope that all iPad owners stay far, far away from the overpriced publications trying to put themselves back in the black on the backs of digital users alone. I hope the market bears the PopSci digital publication right off the market and sends a clear signal that we expect prices to be reasonable.

Obviously these are all conceptual images, but since quirky is already accepting pre-sales (pre-sales are different from pre-orders in that a set number of pre-sales must be reached before the product is actually manufactured), I’m pretty sure the real Cable Caps will be as creepy as these mock ups. Still can’t figure out how they’re used? Here, let “printer man” (Really? Printer man? It took a group of people to come up with that?) show you how.

See? Despite their deranged looks, the Cable Caps are pretty easy to use: just thread the USB’s head through the slot in the middle of the band, stick it into the head, and then wrap the rest of the band around the rest of the cable. There are six designs in all, none of them decent.

As I said, pre-sales are now being accepted at quirky. Cable Caps are sold in sets of three for $8 (USD) per set. They’re pretty useful, just don’t stare at them.