Well, if you’ve got the Craftsman AssureLink, then that won’t be a problem anymore. This device is an extremely updated and upgraded version of the usual garage door opener.

Instead of a remote, you can just use your smartphone to open and close the door. Huge plus side is that your phone is probably just lying somewhere on your dashboard or in your shirt pocket, so locating it is a breeze. Aside from that, the app for the AssureLink will allow you to monitor its status and even close and open it, even while you’re away – in case you can’t remember if you closed it.

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The AssureLink app works by connecting to your home’s wireless network via MyQ Technology. Aside from letting you control your garage door, this technology can also connect and provide you access to other devices in your house.

The Craftsman Garage Door app can be downloaded for free (obviously) for iPhone or Android devices, but it won’t do you any good without the garage door opener, which sells for about $275 (USD).

[via SlashGear via Oh Gizmo!]

The Float Table from RockPaperRobot is comprised of 64 blocks of wood, which appear to be floating independently of one another. They actually are, for the most part. A bit of steel cabling runs between them all, but they are primarily held in place by magnetic force. This make the table “sturdy, yet capricious.” For the $2,000 asking price, this conversation piece had better start some really good discussions.

[via Gizmodiva]

Instead of adding large keyholes to doors, he’s turned the doorknobs into a pair of connected glass globes. This allows you to see what’s going on in the other room simply by looking at the knob itself. Unfortunately, there’s no word as to whether or not these will actually be mass-produced and sold.

[Openers via Spoon&Tamago]

You’d think that whoever invented the things would have noticed that everything you see in a mirror is backwards. No, they took the cheap way out and just wrote it off as a “feature” or something. Thus, if you want to fix this problem, you’ve got to hack together a solution of your own. This True Mirror looks like one of the nicer hacks out there.Alright, so maybe I’m being a little harsh on mirrors. They do a good job for when you want to see how you look. The times where I actually care about things being reversed are quite rare. However, if you simply must see things properly, this looks like a rather nice way to do it. The device uses a pair of mirrors cut so they fit together almost seamlessly when set at a 45-degree angle.

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While it is a novel idea, you’ll want to have some pretty deep pockets in order to get one. I mean, $245 for a 1-foot square mirror (am guessing on the dimensions, as none were listed)  is a tad excessive.

[via RedFerret]

For those weirdos out there that hate the annoying sound of your alarm going off after only six hours of sleep and feel the need to take it out on an inanimate object, I’ve got something for you. It’s called the Bang! lamp.

The idea behind this lamp is rather simple. When you want to turn it on or off, you simply pick up the gun-shaped remote, point, and fire. If you happen to be turning the lamp off, the shade will tilt over before the light is extinguished. Thus simulating the reaction of someone who has just been shot. The most unfortunate thing is that the Bang! lamp is currently only in the concept phase.

[via Crunchgear via Dvice]

As I said earlier, Chore Hero isn’t really a game, nor does it turn chores into games. It’s really a productivity app: users create profiles for their family/housemates/roommates and then assign chores to each member on a weekly basis. Multiple members can be assigned to one chore, and of course multiple chores can be assigned to one member. The app can even assign a chore at random.

The carrot on a stick? “Players” earn titles, e.g. Chore Leader, and virtual points. You can then determine what the points translate to in real life – money, gaming hours, time off from chores, you get the idea. Tricking your family into doing chores and then revealing that the points mean nothing will most probably ensure that the “game” is over.

Chore Hero is compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch and requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later. You can get it for a mere $3 (USD) at the App Store (link opens iTunes). There’s also a free, ad-supported version (opens iTunes), which I think has a limit on the number of chores that can be listed.

The DaysAgo Digital Day Counter is a simple little electronic badge with a day counter on it. Each badge has either suction cup or a magnet on the back so you can stick it right to the item you’d like to keep track of. Just press the button, and it keeps track of how many days have passed since you last reset it. A set of two timers is just $10, and they come in four assorted colors.

Every once in a while, I see an product and just ask myself: “Why didn’t I think of that?” This is one of those times.