OXO Tot Perfect-Pull Wipes Dispenser
After Shawn's big announcement yesterday, I thought it'd be fitting to post about this wipe dispenser. With two kids doing diaper damage around the house, he's going to need it. There are three factors that set the Perfect-Pull apart from those cheaply-made dispensers at the grocery store: It's weighted. It has non-slip feet. It somehow (i.e. magically) keeps wipes from getting stuck.…
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The Bulldog Hardware Peg-A-System Kit
With spring right around the corner, I've been reviewing my to-do list for my house and yard. One of the big items on the list is to organize our workshop, which has gotten junky in the 15 months since we bought our house. The Bulldog Hardware Peg-A-System Kit looks like a great way to get things off my workbench (which is a…
Horizontal MacBook Dock
Remember what I said about 2013 and docks? Well now we've got another contender called the Horizontal Dock—made by Henge Docks—which is designed for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. This dock allows you to connect up to three external displays, and features six USB 3.0 slots, dual audio ports, an ethernet jack, an SD card slot, and a Firewire 800 port.…
Traktor DJ for iPad
While there are several "DJ apps" out there for the iPad, Traktor DJ is unique. Instead of presenting turntables on your tablet's screen, this $20 app shows the waveforms of your selected tracks, allowing you you to touch your music as you mix, scratch and drop the beats. (Does "drop the beats" sound cool? It does in my head.) The app can…
SmartFlex Card for iPhone 5
We've covered loads of wallets and loads of iPhone cases here at Tools and Toys, but the SmartFlex Card for iPhone 5 combines the categories in a new way. Securely hold up to 3 cards (or folded bills) in this case's side-loading slot. With a thumb release on one side, you won't be digging your cards out with your fingernails, which is…
Scout Field Bed
This Field Bed by Scout has got to be the fanciest sleeping bag I've ever come across (although that might not be saying much since I just buy mine from Wal-Mart). It's got a 100% organic Italian cotton selvage denim exterior and a 100% cotton Japanese chambray interior lining. It also features Climashield APEX insulation (meaning it can comfortably withstand temperatures as…
MacDock
It looks like 2013 might be the year of Thunderbolt expansion docks. We've got the Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock, which is an awesome addition to desktop Macs. And now, a Kickstarter project known as the MacDock wants to be the mobile solution for your MacBook. The MacDock aims to come in two styles: Mini and Pro. The Mini—obviously being the smaller of…
LEGO Lord of the Rings
I love the following things: LEGO Lord of the Rings Macs I might just be $30 lighter by the time this weekend rolls around, as LEGO Lord of the Rings has shipped for the Mac. With 80 playable characters, multiplayer mode and a super creepy-looking LEGO Gollum, this app looks like a must-have.
Bem Wireless Speaker Trio
Now here is an interesting take on a Bluetooth speaker design. The Bem Wireless Speaker Trio is a set of three 6-inch-cubed speakers plus docking station. Once the speakers have been paired with your Bluetooth device, they can then be carried around or placed anywhere within 125ft of the dock without any interruption in audio. Each speaker emits a little LED glow…
HTC One
While Android really isn't my jam, I have to say, the just-announced aluminum-clad HTC One is probably the best-looking handset the company has put out in years. With HTC BlinkFeed, the company has put web-based content front-and-center on this device, in what looks like a mashup of Windows Metro and Flipboard. And with a camera that captures 300% more light than most…
Portsmith Co. Ekoustic Docks
Yesterday I posted about the CINCH wallet, which is made by the fine folks at Portsmith Co. In addition to that wallet, they sell a variety of lovingly-crafted wooden acoustic docks for the iPhone and iPad. Each dock is made out of wood that has been salvaged or harvested using sustainable methods, machine-milled by professional woodworkers, then hand-finished with non-toxic, eco-friendly tung…
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Belkin Kitchen Cabinet Tablet Mount
The generically-named Belkin Kitchen Cabinet Tablet Mount is a great way to use your tablet (ok, let's face it, your iPad) in the kitchen without putting it in danger of being spills and accidents. With an easy-to-install arm that requires no tools, putting this mount in is a snap. It's compact enough to fit easily in a silverware drawer, and comes with…
CINCH Minimalist Wallet
There's a bit of a "minimalist wallet" trend going around these days, and a lot of them are starting out as Kickstarter projects. My current wallet, the Supr Slim, actually falls into this category but a new Kickstarter wallet called CINCH aims to be the top contender. Like the Supr Slim, the CINCH is comprised of an elastic band to hold your…
Frictionless Freelancing
I — like Shawn and Chris — have projects we consider side work or freelance. For my part, isn't much, but it is enough that it can spiral out of control if I don't manage it well. I think that's true for most people who do freelance, actually. Thankfully, we don't have to do it alone. Freelance designer, editor and all-around-nice-guy Aaron Mahnke…
Monoprice Thunderbolt to HDMI Adapter
While the AppleTV supports AirPlay coming from all modern iOS devices, only the following Macs can broadcast via AirPlay while running Mountain Lion: iMac (Mid 2011 or newer) Mac mini (Mid 2011 or newer) MacBook Air (Mid 2011 or newer) MacBook Pro (Early 2011 or newer) If your Mac is older than this, you're more than likely stuck with needing a cable…
SoundBender for iPad
We've all done it. You know, cupped our hand over an iPad's speaker so we can hear the audio better. But that makes for an awkward holding experience, which is why the SoundBender is so nifty. It attaches via a magnet to the end of the device where the speaker lives, redirects more audio toward your ear, and frees up your hand…
Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock
Since Thunderbolt's introduction, I've been waiting for a really good dock that used the connectivity Apple builds in most of its Macs. The wait is almost over. Meet the Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock. Available now for pre-order for $300, this baby packs a punch. Since Thunderbolt is basically magic, the dock has these ports coming out the back: 1 Gigabit Ethernet port…
Rösle Pizza Wheel
When it comes to kitchen accessories, do you prefer the boring old-school tools, or gadgets that look like they were stolen straight out of a MoMA exhibit? If you're in the latter camp, you should check out the Rösle Pizza Wheel. This beauty is perfect for cutting thin-crust pizzas and flatbread, and it disassembles for easy cleaning. Alternatively, you could just hang…