<![CDATA[Gizmodo: summertime]]> http://tags.gizmodo.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: summertime]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/summertime http://gizmodo.com/tag/summertime <![CDATA[Powerbrella to Bridge the Gap Between Nerds and Sunlight]]> The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.Now that it's summer, us cold-weather-city types want to spend every possible waking moment outdoors. But that separation from technology is sometimes just too hard to bear, which is where the Powerbrella comes in. Its solar panels keep your gadgets charged and ready to go.

The recyclable Powerbrella features solar panels on the top of the umbrella and outlets on the bottom to gather that beautiful sun and use it to power your gear. We're not really sure how much juice it could really provide, but it should definitely be enough to power, say, an iPod speaker dock. It's a great idea and one we'd totally use. [via Treehugger]

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<![CDATA[BoomBucket Sound System for iPod Looks Like Ice Bucket]]> The BoomBucket is a weatherproof, portable speaker system with remote control for your iPod. Once charged, its two speakers will run for eight hours, meaning that you can bug your fellow beach monkeys by playing Chacarron on a loop.

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It's fourth- and fifth- gen iPod-, nano- and mini-compatible, and charges them while they are docked. There's a 3.5mm jack for other MP3 players. Available in black and white, it costs $150. [Skymall via 7Gadgets]

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<![CDATA[Sundance Teardrop is Stylish, but Still a Trailer]]> More than just a glorified tin can on wheels, the Teardrop trailer from Sundance is a little pocket of retro heaven - provided your pockets are deep enough to afford the wonga needed to snap one of these up. With an aluminum exterior and maple interior, the 1,000-lb trailer has a whole heap of things inside - including a double bed.


There's LED lighting and a ventilation system in the boudoir, and the galley boasts a two-burner, foldaway stove, hand pump faucet, Formica counter, stainless steel sink and a Coleman steel cooler. There's an awning to keep the sun off you while you're chowing down on that Flame-Grilled Whopper you picked up at the BK just down the road.

Measuring 130 x 72 x 60 inches, and with a price of $24,000, I can't help wondering what this will look like being towed behind a modern car - a plate of sardines and custard, I would guess. [Born Rich]

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<![CDATA[Igloo's Coolbox with Boombox on Wheels Looks Like a Transformer]]> This is what every al fresco party needs - a cooler that plays tunes and lugs your beer to the pier without you needing to see a chiropractor. There's an AM/FM radio to fiddle around with, a jack for your iPod or MP3 player into. And if all that wasn't enough, it also looks like a Transformer.

The 40-quart cooler holds 58 16-oz cans, and is tall enough to carry two-liter bottles upright, and Igloo claims that its Ultratherm insulation will help keep your booze cool for up to 51 hours. The two speakers are 3 watts each and run on four AA batteries. The cooler measures 20"L x 17-3/4"W x 18"H and costs a shade under $150.

Product Page [Hammacher Schlemmer via Book of Joe]

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<![CDATA[Solar-Powered Floatron Cleans Your Pool and Cuts Down on Chemicals]]> The Floatron is a pool-cleaning device that claims to be greener than the rest, according to its manufacturers. Not only does the $270 gadget radically reduce your chlorine use, but its manufacturers also claim that it purifies your pool water to EPA drinking water standards. Here's how...

When the 12-inch gizmo is floating in the pool, its photovoltaic panel converts the sunlight into a harmless, low-power electricity current. The current then energizes a specially alloyed mineral electrode, causing the release of mineral ions into the water. This ionized water controls the growth of micro-organisms naturally and efficiently, it says.

One Floatron is powerful enough to clean a 40,000-gallon pool. And on top of that, your kids can use it as the most expensive Frisbee ever made—although I am waiting for one of you to send me a link to a bling-studded disc commissioned long ago by P. Diddy to play Fetch with La Lopez.

Solar Pool Cleaner [Go Sun Solutions]

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<![CDATA[Teppan-Style Grill from Onfalos Brings Flower Power to the Yard]]> Alpina and Smartech Italia SpA are behind the Onfalos, a teppan-style grill for your garden. Made of stainless steel, the Onfalos grill is so hardcore you can even grill in a blizzard—if you want to, that is—and all you need is a 5kg gas cylinder.

The combustion chamber and chimney are hidden beneath the circular plate (apparently it's easy to clean if you're a slob like me) inside a cone-shaped structure, and there is a drain tray to collect the cooking liquids. The petals come in six colors—lilac, hot, white, mandarin, pearl gray and sun—which I guess are for resting the plates on when you're serving up. Oh, and did you know that nfalos means "belly button" in Greek? No, me neither.

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Onfalos Grills - mobile outdoor teppan-style grilling [Appliancist via Born Rich]

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<![CDATA[Top 5 Water-resistant Phones]]> The summer is here and InfoSync has reviewed the Top 5 best water-resistant, ruggerized phones. They tested the Verizon Wireless G'zOne Type-V and Type-S and Nextel's Motorola i880, ic502 and ic402. They are all good and do their job reasonably well. After reading their report, we know exactly what cell we would like to take to the beach.


The G'zOne Type-V gets the top position for me, even if it's the 2006 model. While less sleek than the G'zOne Type-S, it has EV-DO connectivity.

I also like the design of the two Verizons better than the Motorolas. You would be able to easily hook the G'zOnes to anything, so you don't have to carry them in a bag or a pocket while practicing sports. Even while, in my case, with "practicing sports" I mean mixing margaritas and drinking them.

The only bad thing about the Verizons is the size, but still, they are not much bigger than the Moto models.

In any case, if you need a phone to kick around the world that is also resistant to water, suntan lotion and Jason-style pantsing, check InfoSync's five detailed reviews, complete with full galleries and video. You'll find there all the information you need to buy one of these.

Phones boasting water-resistant and ruggedized cases don't necessarily skimp on features. [InfoSync]

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