Category: Gadgets

Well, tis the season, or at least getting really close to it, so why not a DIY ice rink?  While it might not be the most popular DIY project, I bet it would be fun. And according to the company, it can be assembled in 60 minutes, without tools.

Outside of the kit, the one thing you will need is a large flat area. I should probably emphasize the fact that it needs to be flat, otherwise you will have half a rink. But the kit is supposed to be location friendly, with no spikes or stakes required to put it together or hold it down. The DIY ice rink uses clips and a strap tension system to hold everything together,  so if you can build with Lego and put on a belt you should be good to go. Of course the water, once it freezes to ice, helps to keep things rigid as well by pushing against the wells and keeping the tension straps tight.

Well, I may have left something out above. You will also need some cold weather to make it work. So people from Florida and California may find that the product has a limited functional application for you. Except, of course, if you have a very large freezer with a large flat surface. If so, this could be perfect for that DIY ice rink you have always dreamed about.

Now, if you want to do it right you may also need some ice skates and a real coffee machine,  a quality one with the eagle on it and valves. After all, if you have your own custom ice rink then you sure can’t skimp on the toasty beverages to keep everyone warm. While you are at it, I would suggest getting some hockey sticks, padding, hockey pucks, and a couple hockey nets. Oh man, this is going to be fun. But the campfire off to the side with the roasting chestnuts and marshmallows on a stick is purely optional, honestly. And if things get really crazy, we even have instructions on how to make your own ice sword.

The DIY Ice Rink comes in a 20′ by 40′ size, and you can buy that from Amazon. There is also a kid-sized 15′ by 30′, and a huge NHL size available on the website itself.

You can find out more about the DIY Ice Rink from the EZ Ice Website.

We all love our smart devices, but sometimes they can be just a bit of a distraction. Sure, they give  us unlimited information and entertainment (as long as you pay your data bill), but our smartphones will sometimes cry out for attention as we get that next notification or email, and it creates a habit of constantly tending to the device. But how can we break this viscous cycle? Klemens Schillinger has an idea, and they have made a lamp that holds your phone hostage until you no longer need the light.

photo credit: Klemens Schillinger

The smartphone capturing lamp works by you putting your device in a drawer and shutting it. As long as you have the device in the drawer, the lamp shines. I’m not sure exactly what this says about the relationship between you and your phone, but the website product description gets a little philosophical about the whole process:

The drawer is like a magical chest that requests a small object like a smartphone that can be put inside. Once the smartphone is locked inside the drawer, the light turns on. When you give something, you get something in return.

Of course, I’m just wondering as to what kind of other object I can stick in there to make the light shine without giving up my faithful (as long as the bill is paid) servant. Maybe a deck of cards or pocket change will do the trick. And if nothing else works, I’m okay – after all, my phone has a light on it.

These days practically everyone that has something with a remote also has a smart phone or other device. But isn’t it a shame that you can’t just use the phone to control it without hunting down the remote? Well, with Klikr’s help that is a real possibility.

The Klikr Universal Remote Control is a small device that you attach to the device you want to control, which then allows control via a downloadable app. The smart app allows for several unique improvements over the remote, such as voice control and automatically muting the device when you have a call coming in on the controlling phone.

But the fun doesn’t stop there, since the app will allow you to control multiple devices at the same time. This means that it will replace all of your remotes, not just the one. Of course you will need a Klikr module for each device you want to control, but at $19.99 for each unit it is still much cheaper than a typical third party smart remote.

Now let’s just hope that your smart phone or tablet doesn’t get lost in the cushions as well.