Dropping your iPhone in the drink is always an unfortunate thing but if you drop Gamago’s iOS icon ice cubes ($8) in your glass, you’ll be the opposite of sad because your drink will be cold and your phone safe. Ice bath, good. Damaged phone rice bath, bad. More »
With Christmas a few days past, you’ve probably gotten a good chance to get familiar with whatever gadgets you may have gotten as gifts. Maybe you got a new iPad Mini, or a Nexus 7. Maybe it was a new phone, or even a new laptop. But as awesome as any of them may be, do they hold a candle to what you’ve gotten in the past? What was the best gadget you’ve ever received as a Christmas gift. Dig deep. What are the classics that stick out in your mind? More »
Every year, without fail, we all receive some bad gifts. Sure, you may’ve scored that phone, e-reader or laptop that you were lusting after, but there will be shockers, too: a hand-knitted sweater from your grandma, novelty socks, or, perhaps if you’re incredibly unlucky, an $80 Walmart tablet. And with gifts that bad, there’s only thing for it: eBay. More »
Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology.
We’re the family techies. The nerds. The ones who answer all your questions at family holiday gatherings about setting up new tablets and killing viruses. And it’s sweet of you to buy us gadgets, but the chances of you getting us something that we don’t already have and something that we actually want are, honestly, slim. So we take the gifts, say “How did you know?” and quietly return them for things we actually want. Don’t take it personally. It’s just that we kinda know what we’re doing when it comes to ones and zeros.
Therefore, I present to you the things we will be returning this week. And if you’re the friend or loved one of a propeller head, perhaps this will help you next year.
Continue reading This is the Modem World: Things we’ll be returning
Filed under: Misc
Confession: I have no idea what to get my parents for Christmas. Last year we got my ol’ dad a Kindle, and it was a big hit. I’m not sure how to top it. More »
Sure you could buy an SSD or an iPad mini or a Samsung Galaxy S III but where’s the fun in that? Those gifts would be great and if they’re a self-respecting geek, they should get that themselves. These made up gag gifts by Joy of Tech though? Torturous comedic gold. More »
Amazon lets you pay a few extra bucks to “gift wrap” an order in case it’s being sent to someone special. Say, this holiday season! What they don’t tell you is that it’s being done by a mule. More »
It’s that time of year where you have to start gifting, and you’ll find yourself faced with all sorts of deep, important questions. Here’s one to get you started: Is it tacky to give an app store gift card as a gift? More »
Take a break from digging, building or replicating the universe in Minecraft and pop open a refreshing drink with this officially licensed Minecraft Pickaxe Bottle Opener.
Even though it looks like an Iron Pickaxe, I’m pretty sure you can use it more than 251 times – thanks to its sturdy zinc alloy construction.
I’m not sure if it can open a diamond bottle crown though.
Dig your way to ThinkGeek and order the Minecraft Pickaxe Bottle Opener for $20 (USD).
These are awesome action figures of the player’s avatar in Minecraft. If you play the game then these are also action figures of yourself. Although you can’t customize Steve’s skin, he – or she – does have a ball-jointed head and poseable arms.
Steve comes in two variants, both 6″ tall. The simpler version comes with Steve in his default clothes, along with his trust pickaxe and a 2″ dirt block. Then there’s the more experienced and battle ready Steve, who’s wearing diamond armor along with removable diamond sword and diamond helmet.
You can buy both Steves from J!NX for just $30 (USD) each. The store also sells the Creeper action figure seen in a couple of shots in the gallery above.
[via Gamefreaks]
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