PIVOTS 180°

If you often need to cordon off an area for your dog to keep them from chasing the vacuum cleaner, running on freshly-mopped floors or to keep them away from unsafe or forbidden areas in your home – this ultra-flexible cordon will contain your canine like no other. Called the Configurable Pet Gate, it comes equipped with four 20-inch wide hinged panels that pivot as much as 180°, keeping even impossible-to-contain dogs out of harm’s way in any space.

NO DRILLING

Standing without the need for drilling holes in walls or having to mess about with jamming compression springs into doorways, the Configurable Pet Gate can be used just about anywhere in your home for greater cordoning convenience and with its 30-inch high panels, discourages your pet from trying to leap over the top.

INTEGRATED DOOR

Fitted with an integrated door for easy passage for both yourself and your pup (or other small animal), the Configurable Pet Gate is constructed of furniture-grade hardwood in a mission-style design – beautifully presented with a rich cherry finish and antique brass-finished metal hinges.

ROOM WITH A VIEW

Providing your pet with maximum viewing area to reduce the feeling of confinement (without them being able to squeeze through), the Configurable Pet Gate features spindles with a spacing of 1.5-inches apart, measures a total of 30″ high x 81″ wide x 0.75″ deep, weighs 27lbs and is available now from Hammacher Schlemmer for $189.95.

Store: Hammacher Schlemmer
Price: $189.95

Configurable Pet Gate Pivots 180° For A Drill-Free Barrier In Any Space originally appeared on Mark's Technology News

THREE SCANNERS IN ONE

If you’re looking to digitize and preserve your old photographic prints, negatives for the photos you’ve lost and that boxful of slides under the bed – you could use the Portable Photograph To Digital Picture Converter plus the Slide And Negative To Digital Picture Converter we’ve seen previously. For a little 3-in-1 magic however, these multifunction marvels called the PICS 2 SD and PICS 2 PC Photo And Negative Scanners will have you scanning all your old 35mm images with the utmost ease and convenience.

PICS 2 PC

Available in two easy-to-use 5.1-megapixel versions, the ION PICS 2 PC is the simpler model – scanning all your images and letting your computer do the gruntwork (including providing power). It sends all your newly digitized memories over USB to your PC or laptop for editing, uploading, burning to CD and storage. Think of the PICS 2 PC as a flatbed scanner specifically designed for photos.

PICS 2 SD

The ION PICS 2 SD throws in all the nice frilly extras and enables you to cut the tether – scanning wherever you like without your computer. Like your digital camera, it saves scans on-the-fly to an SD card via a built-in slot. The SD model includes a 3.2-inch color display for viewing your results and even doubles as a multi-card reader with the option of connecting to your computer over USB – at your convenience.

SCANNING SIMPLIFIED

Both models of the ION Photo and Negative Scanners can capture up to 3600 DPI and feature auto exposure and color balance to make the scanning process push-button easy. They accept traditional 3×5″ plus 4×6″ and 5×7″ prints and can accommodate both 35mm and 110mm negatives. 35mm slides play nice too.

COMPACT IN SIZE

Measuring around 8.7″ (22cm) wide x 6.1″ (15.5cm) high x 7.87″ (20cm) deep, the ION Photo and Negative Scanners are available now from Firebox.com with the PICS 2 PC listed at $184 | £120 | €136 and the portable PICS 2 SD going for $214 | £140 | €158.

Store: Firebox.com
Price: PICS 2 PC: $184 | £120 | €136
PICS 2 SD: $214 | £140 | €158

ION PICS 2 SD, PICS 2 PC Photo & Negative Scanners Preserve ALL Your Images originally appeared on Mark's Technology News

If you just lurve the luxury of curling up on the sofa with a warm blanket wrapped around you, you’ll understand how wonderfully cosy and terribly restrictive it can be. Luckily, this problem-solving portmanteau called The Slanket has arrived – tailoring the throw blanket into an altogether more practical and comfortable coat of cozy, keeping your arms warm when reaching the remote, playing puzzles or even handling hot-buttered toast in the kitchen.

Soft, light and snuggly, the Slanket Sleeved Blanket is made from 100% polyester micro-fibers – that super-soft, non-pilling material that provides near-instant warmth – letting you go easy on the heating whilst feeling snug as a bug in a rug.

Also useful outside the house to keep warm on long-haul plane, train or bus trips, the Slanket Sleeved Blanket is machine washable and ready-to-wear in 5 solid colors including alaskan blue, chocolate brown, hunter green, lavender pink and ruby wine or the fab leopard print design aptly named safari.

Measuring a large 60″ (152cm) wide x 95″ (241cm) long with sleeves of 28″ (71cm) x 13.5″ (34cm), the Slanket Sleeved Blanket is more than enough to keep you warm on chilly evenings (not to forget icy mornings) and is available now from Firebox.com for a cold-busting $46 | £30 | €34.

Store: Firebox.com
Price: $46 | £30 | €34

Slanket Sleeved Blanket Gets You Armed For Winter Warmth originally appeared on Mark's Technology News

If culinary multitasking often has you short of two free hands, these thumb-activated pump-action mills are surely a blessing in a stainless steel disguise. Called the Pump And Grind One-Handed Salt And Pepper Mills, they grind and dispense fresh salt or pepper at the press of a button – leaving your other hand free to stir, mix or fetch that secret spice.

Combining a sleek, modern design with durable restaurant-grade construction, the Pump And Grind One-Handed Salt And Pepper Mills feature a simple, notched stainless steel grinder to provide years of dependable milling for every meal.

Ready-to-go straight out of the box with salt grinds included in the salt grinder and peppercorns loaded in the pepper grinder, the Pump And Grind One-Handed Salt And Pepper Mills can also be refilled with any specialty salt or pepper of your liking.

Including an acrylic window to see when you’re getting low, the Pump And Grind One-Handed Salt And Pepper Mills measure 5.75″ tall x 1″ in diameter and are available now from Vat19.com for $19.95 a piece.

Store: Vat19
Price: $19.95 each

Pump And Grind One-Handed Salt And Pepper Mills Keep Your Other Hand Free originally appeared on Mark's Technology News

Having a neighborhood dog barking all hours is bad enough, but if your own pup loves to bark, yelp or howl indoors – the close proximity and reverberations can drive you mad. Luckily, this patented training device called the Indoor Barking Dog Deterrent is here to help, harmlessly curbing this and other undesirable behaviors to restore peace and quiet in your home.

Emitting a humane ultrasonic tone inaudible to humans, the Indoor Barking Dog Deterrent automatically startles your pooch when they bark within 25 feet of the unit. Your canine quickly associates barking with the unpleasant sound, encouraging to them to cease this behavior.

Requiring no special collars, the Indoor Barking Dog Deterrent also includes manual activation that can be used for other types of training such as keeping your dog off the lounge or stopping them from nosing through the trash.

Requiring only one 9-volt battery to provide two months of training, the Indoor Barking Dog Deterrent includes an LED battery life indicator, measures 3″ high x 5″ wide x 2.5″ deep, weighs 8 oz and is available now for a hushed hound and home from Hammacher Schlemmer for $49.95.

Store: Hammacher Schlemmer
Price: $49.95

Indoor Barking Dog Deterrent Trains Your Canine To Cease Bad Behaviors originally appeared on Mark's Technology News

If you’re a keen bedtime reader and need more room for your reading material, this purpose-built bedside table has your name written all over it. Called the Bedtime Reader’s Nightstand, it features six open shelves to reduce bedside clutter and keep even the most ravenous reader in good supply of books, magazines and newspapers – all neatly organized and within reach.

Designed with shelving that is open on two sides for easy accessibility, the Bedtime Reader’s Nightstand makes it simple to stack books you’re working through or newspaper/magazine articles you want to reference and share, plus thanks to its five dividers – provides separation to categorize, alphabetize and organize your reading material however you please.

Despite its large storage capacity, the Bedtime Reader’s Nightstand requires only 1.5 sq ft of space measuring 31″ high x 15″ wide x 15″ deep. It is made from birch veneer with a luxurious deep walnut finish, weighs 30 lbs, requires only minor assembly and is available now from Hammacher Schlemmer for $199.95.

Store: Hammacher Schlemmer
Price: $199.95

Bedtime Reader’s Nightstand Keeps Your Reading Material Organized originally appeared on Mark's Technology News

If you hide your laptop when you leave the house like I do, this brilliantly simple gadget will save you the trouble – thwarting both snooping roommates and break-and-enter thieves alike. Called the DormVault Laptop Safe, it conveniently locks down your laptop of up to 17-inches in size as well as accessories such as flash drives or even your wallet – bolting to a heavy piece of furniture for safe-keeping.

Featuring a rugged steel construction designed for use in dorm rooms or apartments, the DormVault Laptop Safe is equally useful in any dwelling not equipped with a giant safe in the wall. It also provides a higher level of protection than laptop security cables that are easily cut off and which don’t prevent access to your files.

Including mounting brackets, multiple-size bolts, (internal) wingnuts and a combination lock, the DormVault Laptop Safe measures 16″ long x 13″ wide x 5″ thick, weighs 9 lbs and is available now from ThinkGeek for $59.99.

Store: ThinkGeek
Price: $59.99

DormVault Laptop Safe Bolts Down Your 17-Inch Notebook & Accessories originally appeared on Mark's Technology News

If your bed is on its last legs and you’re looking for a replacement mattress, this memory foam overlay will save you the effort of installation and disposal and provide a quality sleep that’s difficult to top. Called the Serta Ultimate 4-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper, it reduces pressure points that cause you to toss and turn – resulting in a well-supported slumber that’s deeper and more restful.

Cradling your body with a deluxe 4-inch thick high-density visco-elastic memory foam, the Serta Ultimate Memory Foam Mattress Topper features a sturdy 4-pound density that won’t disappear under your body-weight like thinner overlays. Antibacterial and hypoallergenic, it also makes an ideal bedding solution for allergy sufferers.

Naturally antimicrobial (unlike most chemically treated mattresses) and also resistant to dust mites, the Serta Ultimate 4-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper simulates a flotation effect that’s perhaps akin to sleeping on a cloud.

Made in the USA and including a three year warranty, the Serta Ultimate 4-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper comes in a number of sizes including Twin (37″ x 72″), Full (51″ x 72″), Queen (58″ x 77″), King (76″ x 77″) as well as California King (70″ x 80″) and is available now – rated 4.5 / 5 after notching up an impressive 3389 reviews – from Overstock.com with all sizes going for $169.99.

Store: Overstock.com
Price: $169.99

Serta Ultimate 4-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper Improves Your Sleep originally appeared on Mark's Technology News

Having just moved into an apartment with large, single-glazed windows – I know first hand how much light, cold and noise they let in. If you too are looking to combat this problem, these dapper drapes seem ideal. Called the Solid Insulated Thermal 84-Inch Blackout Curtains, they feature an innovative fabric construction that has shown in independent laboratory tests to block 99.9-percent of light – for improved sleep or movie watching. They also insulate your home against heat, cold and noise – cutting your energy bills and saving your sanity.

With a luxurious look (inside and out) that will enhance your home decor whilst ensuring greater privacy, the Solid Insulated Thermal 84-Inch Blackout Curtains simply hang from your existing curtain rail or decorative rod and are machine washable – making it easy to keep them dust-free.

Made of 100-percent polyester which is well suited for this application as it doesn’t breathe like natural materials, the Solid Insulated Thermal Blackout Curtains measure a long 84-inches for to-the-floor coverage of most windows or doors and come in two separate panels – each spanning a large 52-inches wide for palatial pleats.

With a large selection of color options including the gorgeous burgundy pictured, plus black, grey, navy, royal blue, sky blue, turquoise, violet, cardinal red, pink, orange, beige, wheat, olive and chocolate, the Solid Insulated Thermal 84-Inch Blackout Curtains are available now – rated 4.7 / 5 from 759 raving reviews – over at Overstock.com for $59.99.

Store: Overstock.com
Price: $59.99

Solid Insulated Thermal 84-Inch Blackout Curtains Block Light, Cold And Noise. originally appeared on Mark's Technology News

If you like to see your marine life in their natural environment rather than on the end of a rod and reel, this take on glass-bottomed tourist vessels is sure to float your boat. Called the Transparent Canoe Kayak, it features a sturdy see-through shell made of the same polymer used for cockpit canopies on supersonic fighter jets – providing you with an undisturbed underwater vista as you paddle.

With a lightweight anodized aluminum frame that is easy to transport and maneuver, the Transparent Canoe Kayak causes minimal disturbance to the aquatic environment – providing a panoramic view of underwater ecosystems in their natural state.

Featuring a wide design that displaces more water than regular kayaks, the Transparent Canoe Kayak seats both yourself and a fellow paddler lower down in the deck too – providing extra stability, balance and ensuring confident canoeing. The vessel also features adjustable seating to accommodate people of varying heights.

Including two double-headed paddles, two flotation devices and a water bailer (in case you rock the boat or hit a wave), the Transparent Canoe Kayak is made in the USA, has a 425 pound capacity (including your picnic cargo or uncovered treasure), measures 33.5″ wide x 133″ long x 11″ deep, weighs 40 lbs and is available now from Hammacher Schlemmer for $1,600.

Store: Hammacher Schlemmer
Price: $1,600

Transparent Canoe Kayak Is Clearly The Boat For Underwater Panoramas originally appeared on Mark's Technology News