Is that a video probe in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

Two years ago at the National Hardware Show, I came across the General Tools Video Seeker Systems. These devices let you view behind & under things you can’t see with the naked eye. You aim a flexible probe with two built in LED’s to see behind walls, under cabinets, etc. It’s two years later, and General Tools is introducing their new iBorescope. The function is the same, but now instead of being bundled with a video monitor, the output from the video camera is viewed on your iPhone, iPad, or even iPod Touch. It captures VGA (640 X 480) resolution video and still pictures. Video is 30 fps. You download the iBorescope app at iTunes. A thumbwheel on the grip controls the two LED camera lighting. So now you can find out if that AC wire inside the wall is frayed or broken, or what's stuck down the drain. The 39” long probe is waterproof in case you want to look down a drain or under a boat. (But don’t get the main unit wet!) Comes with rechargeable battery and AC adapter. You also get three probe tip accessories: 45 dgree mirror, magnetic pickup, and hook pickup. The iBorescope is not only a wireless camera, but it features a built-in WiFi Hotspot. This enables the iBorescope software to connect to the camera by selecting the iBorescope WiFi Hotspot from your iOS WiFi setting panel. So you don't need any other WiFi network. $299.99. Available mid-July, 2012. 

It’s not on their website yet, but it should be soon:

http://www.generaltools.com/Video-Borescopes_c_37.html

Wouldn’t you like to know about a company whose website is: I Break Plates (dot) com?

Well, I’ll tell you about. At the Green Products Show I saw a youngish lady at one booth, which had broken plates on display. I asked if she fixed broken antique or heirloom plates. She said, “No, I break them even more!”  Huh? Actually, the idea behind the Broken Plate Pendant Company is really clever, and it can save a family from the sorrow of dropping and shattering grandma’s serving dish that’s been in the family for more than 100 years. Instead of trying to glue it back together, which never really works, you sent to the Broken Plate Pendant Company. There is will live life again in as it’s transformed into a renewed form. Artist Juliet Ames told me she breaks each and every cracked or chipped plate with love…and force…crafting them into a collection of inspired and versatile pieces. Did you break your Great Aunt Myrtle’s favorite serving plate? No bother! Send the shards her way and she can craft a number of wearable jewelry for family members. The man’s selection is far less, mostly cuff links, but it’s a way for the whole family to own a piece of family china that was accidentally broken. Most pieces I saw the Green Products Expo ranged in price from $25 to $65. You can check out the various options and get more info at the company website:

www.ibreakplates.com

Are you a slob? Some family members, slobs? Help is on the way!

Sometimes I'm attracted to a product based on its name. That's the case when I saw a booth at the National Hardware show offering the Slobproof! Paint Pen. Slobproof? I immediately wanted to know more. I met Debbie Weiner who is billed as designer/creator and head slob. Debbie explained why she created the Paint Pen. She wanted a quick, and easy touch-up tool for painted walls, ceilings, and trim. The problem? You mar or scratch a painted wall. You get out the can of left over paint and find it has dried up in the paint can, where it’s useless now that you need it. Enter the Slobproof Paint Pen Kit. The kit comes with two paint pens and a syringe to help you fill them easily. Here’s what you do. After you finish painting the walls with your new paint, use the syringe in the kit to fill the Paint Pen with leftover paint. Debbie says you can store the Paint Pen in a kitchen drawer and it will keep the paint fresh for years. Then when you need to make a touch-up, get out your Paint Pen. Turn the barrel of the pen, which moves the paint onto the tip. Now you have a sort of “Magic Marker” loaded with the exact shade of paint that you need. In minutes you can cover dings, scratches, any other minor damage to your painted surfaces.  "It's a mother's dream come true!" The kit consists of two pens and the syringe and it costs $19.99. It will be available just about the time you read this.

Slobproof! was founded by interior designer and mother Debbie Wiener, the Slobproof! line-up includes mess-free, stress-free upholstered seating, a top-selling design book and now the Slobproof! Paint Pen.   You can learn more about Slobproof! at www.slobproof.com.

Paint Pen info: http://www.slobproof.com/product_info.php?products_id=144

World's First Battery Operated Shades.

That’s what the folks call their new Serena Remote Controlled Shades. Want to lower the shades for the perfect movie-watching environment, or ensure privacy in the bathroom, or turn bedrooms into the ultimate relaxation chamber - all by remote control? Well you can, ---- otherwise that long lead-in would have been a waste of time! Lutron Electronics, known for its lighting controls is launching a new product in its shading category. Yes, shading, not shady. Lutron’s Serena is a low-cost, battery-powered, remote controlled, cellular shade system. Prices start at $299. I saw and played with them at Eco-Fest and asked why they were at a “green” event. I thought they were ordinary paper shades, but then the folks there showed the cellular construction that can help keep out heat in the summer, and hold in heat in the winter. Serena shades are available in three fabric styles, for three different levels of light to filter into a room—Single Cell Light Filtering, Double Cell Light Filtering or Single Cell Blackout. They’re available in more than 50 different colors, to match your shades with any your décor. Another interesting features is something Serena calls Triathlon power technology, which extends the shade’s battery life up to three years. The three-year figure is based on raising and lowering each blind twice every day. And it uses standard alkaline D batteries. The company says Serena blinds can be installed as quickly and easily as hanging a picture, with no damage to the walls. And since the batteries are right in the top of the unit, there’s no power wiring. If I recall correctly, all shades up to 3’ X 5’ custom cut to your exact measurements are $299, plus $15 for the remote. If you order more shades, one remote can control them all. Remotes can be IR or RF controlled. IR remotes (like the one your TV uses) are a low-cost way to provide remote control. Additionally, IR “codes” can be learned into some universal remotes—giving you the ability to control your Serena IR shades from the same remote you use for your TV. Our RF remotes have two benefits over IR. First, the flexibility of the Pico RF remote means you don’t need to point the remote at the shade. You can hold it in your hand, keep it docked on your table in a pedestal, or even mount it to a wall using an optional faceplate adapter and faceplate. Second, RF signals can go through anything that isn’t metal. 

Visit www.serenashades.com for more info or to order.

Vacuum at 118 miles per hour?

At the NYC Housewares event, I wondered about the strange shape of the Rowenta 18-V Delta Force Cordless Sweeper.  A spokesperson explained that the triangle “delta” shape lets this sweeper reach into the very corner of any room. The handle swivels 180° to easily grab dirt and dust. Add to that an engineered power boost, which accelerates vacuumed air up to 118 miles-per-hour! It’s a bagless design, with a 33 ounce easy-to-empty dust container. Rowenta says the Delta Force sweeper is the best sidekick a full-size vacuum.Once fully charged via A/C, you’ll get up to 40 minutes of cordless run time. You can use the Delta Force stick vacuum to clean hard floors and stairs, plus touch-up for carpeting. It picks up 99% of dust on hard floors, thanks to the patented suction-boosting delta head that features one large and two smaller canals. The integrated motorized brush that spins up to 3,000 RPM’s adds to the cleaning efficiency. The Delta Force Cyclonic system accelerates the vacuumed air through three filtration systems before it goes into the dust container. They didn’t have any dust at this event, but they did have small bags of oatmeal. I emptied one on a scatter rug and easily vacuumed it up. The Delta Force stands up for storage so you don’t have to worry about leaning it up against something, or it constantly falling over. It ships with a 6’ charging cord. Weighs less than 10 pounds.  It’s currently available in Harvest, but will be available in Pearl, Copper Red and Intense Blue, starting April 1^st. Under $180.

The Giz Wiz Video: http://youtu.be/LJeo9owftNs

More info at the company website: http://www.rowentausa.com/rowenta/frame.aspx