The Nest is a learning thermostat with equal parts beautiful design and intelligent software. It's as easy to use as your old-school dial thermostat, but as you use Nest it learns your temperature preferences and living patters and begins setting itself accordingly. Moreover, it connects to your home's local Wi-Fi and so you can connect to your Nest from anywhere in the…
This little black beauty is an oldie but a goodie. I purchased an Apple TV last fall when these new ones came out, and it though it's the cheapest addition to my home entertainment center, it is perhaps the most important. Well, other than the TV and stereo. But that's just it: you don't need much more than a TV and an…
With a son on the way, you can now look forward to some cool kids items showing up here on Tools & Toys. And so, what better way to kick off the Kids Category than with this kid-friendly, chalkboard laptop? This geeky toy encourages kids early on to understand what a laptop is truly meant for: creating things (not checking Twitter).
The first Mac I ever owned was a 12-inch PowerBook G4. Affectionately named Reepicheep, the G4 had a 1.33 GHz processor, 1.25 GB of RAM, and an 80 GB, 4200 RPM hard drive. I used that laptop every day for three years. I cut my teeth for design and development on that PowerBook. I started writing my weblog on that PowerBook. And…
This little iPod nano has turned out to be quite the utility device. Not only does it provide musical entertainment while you're working out, but it can also help you track your walking or running. Plus it has an FM radio, a slew of awesome-looking watch faces (because the nano makes a great watch), and it comes in a handful of colors.…
The iPhone 4S is "the most amazing iPhone yet". I think the design of the iPhone 4 is already stellar, and so keeping that same casing while massively updating the internals is just fine by me. The iPhone 4S has a much faster processor, handles graphics even better, has a longer battery life, a better camera, and comes with everyone's favorite new…
Small, thin, lightweight, E Ink, touch screen, 2 months of battery, 4GB of storage, and only $99. This is the first Kindle I have owned and I have found it to be fantastic.
The Jawbone Jambox is a Bluetooth speaker rig that packs a surprising amount of punch. When I first turned mine on I was shocked at the clarity and fullness that such a small speaker box could produce. It connects to any device that has Bluetooth (such as your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, etc...) and can pump the jams for over 8 hours.…
An inexpensive FM radio with a cardboard casing that also has an auxiliary input for your MP3 player of choice? Awesome. This thing would be ideal for use in the garage, outside, at the beach, camping, or as part of your cardboard box collection. (Thanks, Dave.)
I use but one computer: a 13-inch MacBook Air. When I'm at my desk (such as right now) this laptop is hooked up to an external monitor. Currently, I'm still using, and loving, an old-school 23-inch aluminum Apple Cinema Display (though it's not as old school as the plastic ACDs). I love my current display because it has the matte screen. Alas,…
I don't travel that often, but how many times has Anna or I pulled a shirt or pair of slacks or dress out from our closet only to find that they are in need of ironing? I can't even answer my own question because it seems like this happens all the time (especially when we are running late for a wedding). A…
One of the few things worse than lugging around a large battery reserve is having your iPhone run out of juice. The brand-new lineup of mophie Juice Packs are sleek and slim. This little guy, the Reserve, is about the size of a Zippo. And he looks like one, too. (Via.)
Perhaps one day I will own an expresso machine. And but so, in the meantime I guess posting about them on Tools and Toys will have to suffice. I have it on good authority that as far as home machines go, the Rancilio Silvia is the best of the best for the price range. Don't waste your money buying something at Target…
When I began writing shawnblanc.net full-time in the spring of 2011, I also launched a subscription membership that gave members access to a daily podcast called Shawn Today. I knew I would need a quality USB microphone for my daily recordings, and so I bought this Blue Yeti. The price is very affordable ($100) and the quality of this microphone is fantastic.…
An item that belongs on the keychain of every man in the world and in the purse of every woman. There are all sorts of small pocket knives out there, but this tried, true, and simple Victorinox Rambler is, in this author's humble opinion, the best of the best. It has the size benefit of the classic but with a few additional…
A repeating theme here promises to be products which find the blend between vintage and modern. And this jaw-dropping clock radio from Tivoli Audio is no exception. Tivoli Audio is renown for their fine products which balance form and function in a way that many product designers only dream of. This Model Three just may make getting up in the morning a…
The day you start wearing an automatic watch is akin to the day you start shaving with a classic safety razor. Automatic watches are self-winding and need no battery (the movement of your arm throughout the day is what keeps them going). And they are normally quite expensive. However, this classy watch from Seiko is currently on a fire sale over at…
That super-long cable is ideal for certain times, and then this super-short cable is ideal for other times. Such as traveling. Also, this little guy wins the award for cutest white cable ever.
You want to grind your own coffee, and you want to grind it with a conical burr grinder. What many people do not know is that there is a big difference between a plain burr grinder and a conical burr grinder. In fact, most inexpensive burr grinders do a worse job grinding your coffee than a cheap blade grinder would. With conical…
I received one of these cables for my birthday this year and I now use it all the time. I never realized how handy a double-length, 30-pin cable would be until I had one in my possession. One would think that the last thing an Apple nerd needs is yet another white cable. But in this case, it's a welcome addition. Trying…