Neodymium Magnets and the Wiki M-Cube

The name Neodymium originates from the Greek words 'neos' meaning new and 'didymos' meaning twin. It was discovered by Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach in Vienna, Austria in 1885; however it took another 40 years to isolate it in its relatively pure form in 1925. He separated neodymium, as well as the element praseodymium, from a material known as didymium by means of fractional crystallization. Sounds complicated? It is, so I won't go into it here, but suffice to say as scientific understanding evolved so the purity of the finished product improved and can now be produced to a purity of 99.99%. Neodymium magnets are made from a combination of Neodymium, Iron and Boron and are extremely powerful, this increased strength has inspired some new applications such as magnetic jewellery clasps and magnetic building sets for children and herein lies the fun aspect.

One such inspiration is the Wiki M-Cube it's a puzzle like you have never seen before! It consists of 216 highly magnetic Neodymium rare earth magnets with a durable nickel plated surface, far more powerful than your average fridge magnets. Each one has a north and south polarity, allowing you to make a myriad of different shapes and patterns in both 2D and 3D. There is no one solution, but it is a puzzle if you choose to set yourself challenging targets. Even returning the cube to its original shape once dismantled is harder than it sounds. It can be shaped into funky jewellery or sculpted into inspiring shapes and when you get bored with your creation you just have to start again. It will entertain you for hours and can help to relieve stress, develop the creative side of your brain and relieve boredom. It makes the perfect executive toy and would look stylish on any office desk. Your kids will also love it and you'll be prising it out of their nimble fingers at every opportunity (though not for children under 36 months due to small parts). However, take heed, once you start, you cannot put it down, it’s seriously addictive!



So , neodymium for science or for fun? Try the Wiki M-Cube then decide! I think your kids will agree that physics just got that little bit more interesting.

Facebook War on Apps

CNET have reported that Facebook has begun to shut down iPhone applications which it believes infringe its trademarks by using the company's name or logo. All the applications concerned interact with Facebook to provide an enhanced interface.

"Emoti for Facebook" for example now gives an error when being used as the application has been cut off.

It seems that just having the letter "F" in the icon is likely to render you disconnected, and if it hasn't already happened then it's only a matter of time.

Facebook have issued the following statement to CNET,

"We ensure that applications that access Facebook user data adhere to Facebook Platform policies ... Those applications that do not comply are subject to enforcement."

STK - Universal Drivers Pack

"I've been driving in my car, it's not quite a jaguar
I bought it in primrose hill from a bloke from brazil
It was made in fifty-nine in a factory by the tyne
It says morris on the door, the g.p.o. owned it before
I drive in it for my job, the governor calls me a slob
But I don't really care, give me some gas and the open air"

Madness

Nothing mad about this handy Universal Drivers Pack though, in fact you'd be mad not to have one! It has everything needed to charge and store mobile devices on the go. It includes a universal air vent holder, 12-24V in-car charger with interchangeable adaptors for the latest mobile phones and an anti slip mat that will keep mobiles and other items secured.

Click here to buy

This could be the answer to sludged hands. The Humunga Tongue has been designed with a ball at one end for your dog to carry and a long tongue to throw it. Your dog will love it especially if you place a special treat in the hole in the ball end. Also good for a game of "Tongue of War". No more dog saliva, just fun, fun, fun!!!

Click here to check it out ...

SP250 Bluetooth Speakerphone

The SP250 Bluetooth speakerphone is compatible with most Bluetooth mobile phones. Fully portable, it’s an ideal wireless communication solution for in-car or office use within a maximum range of 10 meters. With built-in echo cancellation and noise suppression, the Bluetooth speakerphone provides you with impeccable sound quality in full duplex mode.

For more information click here

Cheap 'n' Sassy

Are you looking for a novel gift that won't break the bank?

Okay, so it's your mate's birthday, bar mitzvah, wedding, whatever! He's got everything he could ever wish for, nice house, gorgeous wife and a sporty car on the drive. No amount of money could improve his grossly material lifestyle. A little inspiration though, might just prise open that teeny weeny crack in his expectations, enough for you to fill it with something a little unexpected and interesting. Forget, iphones and apple tablets, how about a novelty gift or gadget that he would never consider buying himself! Bring a smile to his face and he'll remember your qwerky offering long after the other dudes have delved deep into their pockets and produced something that everyone else has got and he probably already has too! Remember, cheap isn't necessarily nasty. How about slinky the original walking spring toy? Or perhaps some novelty toilet paper that glows in the dark!? Perfect for a midnight dash to the loo when you've had too much to drink. Seriously though, there are 101 different fun and gadgety toys just waiting to be plucked out of cyberspace. Toys and gadgets that fly, shock, squish, stretch, glow and transform. Be prepared to be mind boggled, the possibilities are endless. Be kind to your wallet and your friends too.

By the way, glow in the dark toilet roll really does exist!

Electronic Language Translators

Whether you are learning a new language, traveling abroad or communicating with foreign clients an electronic language translator may be the answer you've been looking
for. Electronic language translators are basically portable dictionaries that can change english words or phrases into any one of a number of different languages.

Imagine you are working, travelling or living in a foreign country. How much more convenient would it be to pop this handy little gadget into your pocket or handbag instead of carrying around one or more foreign phrase books or dictionaries?

Some language translators are quite complex and contain far more features than you would ever need to use. Then there are electronic language translators that give sample replies that you might hear in response to a particular phrase. Deciding what you want to use the translator for and then researching the product best suited to your needs is the first step to deciding which is the right translator for you.

Cost is also a factor and the more functions a translator has the more you will pay. Model and brand will also influence the price. For instance the VoxTec Phraselator P2 is available starting at $2,300, a huge difference when you compare this with some of the translators that you can find at just £15.00 online. Consider this though, the Phraselator p2 has the ability to instantly and accurately recognize the user's voice and then speak the appropriate translation. This device also works for just about any user, male or female, since it doesn't require special voice training. It's a versatile gadget which can be used in both left or right-handed modes, as well as one-handed, with an external headset or loud-speaker. In addition, it is designed so that it can be used in adverse weather conditions including heavy rainstorms and extremes of temperature since the device has a very rugged and weatherproof outer casing. It has proved itself in terms of functionality and reliability and is used extensively in the field of law enforcement in the U.S.A.

At the other end of the market the Voice Travel Mate is programmed with words and phrases from 12 different languages, English, French, German, Spanish, Portugese, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Swedish, Japanese, Chinese Mandarin and Turkish. The Voice Travel Mate also has foreign words and phrases in eight categories and over 700 frequently used sentences, enough to get most of us by in every day situations. It does have other handy features including the time, date and travel alarm clock plus the ability to store up to 60 phone numbers. This would be the logical choice for those of us just wanting to get by on holiday once or twice a year.

Of course, there is no substitute for learning and speaking a foreign language and an electronic language translator can help you to do this too. An ideal option for any student studying a foreign language because it is lightweight and portable and if you are studying more than one language it's relatively cheaper than buying a mountain of foreign dictionaries.

There is a huge variety of translators on the market and there will be one to suit your needs but research is the key to acquiring the one that will give you the functionality to match your requirement.

Click here to view the Voice Travel Mate