Home & Appliance
Gonzo Code-Monkey Challenge: Low-Cost Internet Baby Monitor
The world needs a better baby monitor – and so the gauntlet is tossed at the feet of code monkeys everywhere. The potential market is huge and technology is here to deliver the promise. All it will take is a little grit and some creative thinking. The proliferation of iPhones and other internet-capable devices calls for the end of the venerable, over-priced and under-delivering RF-based baby monitors.
Truth be told some “baby steps” have already been made. Smart developers have built iPhone apps like the CodeGoo Baby Monitor for iPhone. Great for iPhone owners but even for them it requires a PC or laptop w/ webcam whirring away in your toddler’s bedroom. And therein lies the rub. A client-only solutions is only half the solution. It ties up a useful PC/Mac. And in many cases parents will be forced to monitor the monitor – we don’t want a sleep-walking child anywhere near my valuable laptop!
Enter the SheevaPlug plug-in PC , a fully featured computer so small you simply plug the hand-sized device right into a wall jack. SheevaPlug seems the perfect platform to extend parent’s freedom beyond the poor range and interference frustrations of RF baby monitors. Several hardware vendors already offer implementations of this plug-in-and-play platform with prices ranging between a modest $80 – and $99. Plug a SheevaPlug device into the wall and the system has power. Add internet connection and USB webcam and you have a permanent, unobstrusive
What the world (and SheevaPlug Platform) needs is a low-cost end-to-end solution. And the key to this is software.
Features we’d like to see:
1. Streaming Audio and/or Video
2. Still-capture history
3. Security
4. Default Web Interface (Mobile Browser-friendly)
5. iPhone & BlackBerry Client Apps
6. Audio histogram w/ ability to replay “spikes”
7. Alert feature that can email/sms/phone/etc. in response to customizable criteria
8. Long-Term History (Geek Moms and Dads love metrics right? How about a “sleep quality index” based on analyzing and storing audio trends each evening. How about a way to measure trends of average length of sleep sessions?)
You up for the challenge? If interested, email us: Brett -at- GonzoGadgets.com
LCD w/ Stand for Home Treadmill, Elliptical or Stationary Bike
INVU has designed the simple-but-useful VU44 fitness product that might help add to your workout at home motivation and energy level. So when you want to “step up” from The FIRM Wave exercise system, this is the next logical step.
Once you start training with television and LCD entertainment it can be hard to go back to staring at cement block again. The VU44 could add life and interest to elliptical trainers, stationary bikes and treadmills purchased before integrated LCD panels became the “it” thing.
The 15″ LCD comes integrated with a DVD player and telescoping stand. The stand is nice because it adjusts to a comfortable viewing height and includes cable management. The LCD Television is the star of the show of course – it offers 720p resolution, inputs for cable/satellite feeds and acceptable brightness / contrast.
The INVU currently is on sale for $350 down from the original $699 price. Not a bad deal especially if this LCD Television saves you money by helping you avoid succumbing to a gym membership. Learn more at INVU’s product page.
Further reading:
Customer Reviews of 15 Inch LCD TV DVD for Treadmill or Elliptical [via FirstPageFitness]
Suima Robotic Crib Soothes and De-Souls Your Child
We’ve had a lot of refreshingly non-personal computing news lately, including the Kindle 2 e-book reader today and the recent Xpress Redi-Set-Go Cooker Review. So after you’ve filled your day doing some electronic reading and stuffing yourself with personal pizzas, and maybe a favorite espresso drink after dinner, make sure to put tikey down in this soul-crushing robotic crib from Suima.
For only $5,000, it will detect baby’s cries and rock at a parent-simulating 1.8 second ‘pulse’. No word on how fast those little wheels can accelerate this thing, or what kind of monster your child may turn out to be after growing up in there. Just kidding, this is actually pretty cool – if we could afford one we’d be happy to test our infant in it! You hear that Suima? Send us a review unit to evaluate!
[Thanks to BotJunkie]
Xpress Redi-Set-Go Review
As we stated earlier in our preview, the Xpress RediSetGo (www.redisetgo.com) is an indoor electric cooker. The Redi-Set-Go is the new incarnation of the venerable GT Xpress 101 which has been on TV for years. Both are infomercial products which we always eye with a healthy dose of suspicion. The new grill is already catching GTX bloggers interest. Cathy Mitchell, pitch woman for the Xpress Redi-Set-Go, claims the cooker can help anyone make quick, delicious, inexpensive and healthy meals at home.
We put our evaluation unit through the grueling paces at Gonzo Kitchens to see if the unit can deliver on that infomercial promise.
First Impressions
The cooker looks good for starters – the design folks definitely improved on the bland and somewhat cheap look of the GT Xpress 101. The Express ReadySetGo has a fire engine red finish and sweeping ‘handles’ on the sides. We were initially disappointed by the plastic cover – it feels well-constructed but we just hoped it would be metal like it’s color-mate the Kitchenaid. However a lighter cover makes sense as the cooker has a floating hinge to allow foods to rise while cooking. On the bright side we immediately dug the arrangement of controls on the lid – the timer and on/off switch are simple but appealing. Our cooker came with two insertable pans – a divider pan and a “mini food” pan (for making appetizers, mini-treats, etc). You can remove these to serve food and they are dishwasher safe.
The unit also comes with a recipe book with lots of recipes plus a foldout recipe mini-booklet with a handful more. Some are the ones you see in the infomercial itself. Finally you get a space age double-sided spatula to retrieve meals from the Redi-Set-Go.
Fast Healthy Meal #1: Pizza
We hit the grocery store to test out the Express RediSetGo. We brushed a small amount of olive oil in the base of the unit (no insertable pan was used) and hit “On” to pre-heat the unit. The pre-heat was very fast – roughly 45 seconds.
Here’s the Gonzo Pizza recipe: Place a wheat pita bread, about 6″ wide, in the pre-heated RediSetGo. Top with a few spoonfuls of pizza sauce. Add pepperoni slices, banana peppers and shredded cheese. Very simple! Close the lid, set the timer to 7 minutes and wait.
It smelled great after only a few minutes – but we were still surprised at the results when the timer went “Ding!” The crust had gotten perfectly crispy without being burnt and the toppings were well cooked but not over-cooked.
The final verdict? A delicious personal pizza.
Fast Healthy Meal #2: German Puffy Pancake
This is a favorite at Gonzo Kitchens, but nothing like it is in Cathy Mitchell’s included recipe book. So we figured this might very well be a failure. A German Pancake rises like a souffle and sinks in the center as it cools.
Mix 4 eggs, 1 cup milk (we used Skim), 1 cup flour, 1 tsp vanilla. To cook, add just enough batter to cover the base of the Xpress Redi-Set-Go with a thin layer.
We guessed and set the timer to 7 minutes. This recipe takes 30 minutes in a normal oven at 350 degrees!
The first pancake turned out great. It puffed up within the unit and browned on top and bottom, just like in an oven. This results in a light and crispy pancake breakfast. Top with a little butter, powdered sugar and lemon juice, or just use some melted butter/margarine and maple syrup like a normal pancake.
Next we added a favorite spin – we thinly sliced & peeled a Gala apple. We added batter as above to the unit, then placed a few apple slices on top, along with a sprinkling of cinnamon and brown sugar. Not bad with our double latte from our other Gonzo Kitchen’s favorite – the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 espresso machine.
The final verdict? Delicious and easy breakfast and wayfaster than baking in an oven!
Summary & Recommendation
As you probably guessed, we enjoyed cooking with Cathy’s Mitchell’s Express Ready-Set-Go. Our first two meals were unqualified successes and got us thinking about new things to try. The Redi-Set-Go truly makes quick food, and it’s versatile with the insertable pans and ability to cook, bake, steam and grill all in one small unit which is easy to store. We like that it pre-heats so quickly and it cooks quickly. This is the perfect solution when cooking for yourself or for two.
We were very happy with our experience with the Xpress Redi-Set-Go and we will admit that this is one infomercial product that delivers the goods. See below for more photos of our tests.
Highly recommended!
For now the Xpress Redi-Set-Go appears to be available only at the Xpress Redi-Set-Go official site or via 800 number (see site for details).
Check popular Xpress Redi Set Go Coupons sites for additional savings or bundle deals.
Xpress Redi-Set-Go Indoor Grill
UPDATE: Our unit has arrived – see the full Xpress Ready-Set-Go review from Gonzo Kitchens.
Are you a sucker for late night infomercials? How about one that highlights comfort food and skips the typical grueling workout / Billy Mays yelling thing? Then put this on your radar – the Xpress Redi-Set-Go (www.RediSetGo.com). It is a new indoor electric grill like what George Foreman sells – except it costs only a third as much.
The Xpress Redi-Set-Go appears to be the newest incarnation of the GT Xpress 101 – only it’s bigger and like the George Foreman grill has different pans you can put into the grill and then the dishwasher. The red finish looks a lot like a Kitchenaid tho we don’t expect this will have a metal exterior. Still it looks good enough for the Gonzo Kitchens. Speaking of which …
Cathy’s selling the grill at a discount until the end of the month – then it goes on TV for $10 more. In exchange we get the fun of a new infomercial with Cathy Mitchell (seems like the GT Xpress infomercial has been running forever). If you want to take the leap (of faith) – we’d love to hear how it cooks.
In the meantime, check out what must certinaly be a snippet of the actual infomercial. Ready Set Cathy Mitchell:
DeLonghi Magnifica 3300 Esclusivo Review
We’ve been prepping this review for several months – and drinking far too much espresso. Beware. Our energy level has never been higher.
Fully Automatic Espresso Maker – DeLonghi Magnifica 3300
Have you ever looked at the full cost of your espresso habit? I found myself visiting local coffee shops an average of 6 times per week, conservatively spending $3.50 each time (I usually order smaller “tall” lattes). Over the course of a year that added up to just over $1,000. The cost plus the time involved in just getting to the coffee shop in the end limited how many espressos I was willing to enjoy in a week. And none of this figured in my wife’s own coffee habit!
For most espresso fans the financials look great immediately. Finding the right machine was next – a process which proved a little daunting.
Happily, we can report that we found at least one great option – the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 Super Automatic (Amazon.com).
Many Choices Out There
Prospective buyers of super automatics will find a large number of unfamiliar manufacturers. The terminology can be bewildering and most have no first-hand experience even using these types of machines in the past. Combine that with the ticket price and it’s enough to turn many people away before they get started.
We had luckily already been exposed to the awesomeness of fully automatic espresso. Friends ‘inherited’ an older hand-me-down $2000+ model from their parents. And while that wasn’t going to work for us the seed was planted and kept growing. We knew how easy it can be to make great coffee at home and having reviewed the cost of our “habit”, it was just a matter of time.
In researching options, DeLonghi repeatedly came up as building reliable effective and economical machines. After lots of feature cross-checking and carefully reading online reviews we decided the DeLonghi Magnifica 3300 – DeLonghi’s “lower-end” model (ha!) – was the right place to start.
Getting Started With Super Automatic Espresso
We were slightly taken aback by the size of the unboxed ESAM 3300. Your old automatic coffee pot is going to have a serious inferiority complex. (You probably won’t be too interested in that thing any longer anyway). We had the measurements right and it fit where we wanted it to go, but it did a day or two for it to feel “right” in the kitchen. The exterior is nicely designed and complements other appliances well. Once it started pouring great espressos the DeLonghi instantly became a member of the family.
The manual is easy to follow. We impatiently ran through the recommended cleaning cycle. A few minutes later we had loaded our first beans and water, set the dials for medium strength and medium coffee quantity and pressed the 1-cup dispense. The machine came to life and poured out an aromatic first cup of espresso with a professional-looking crema (the redish-brown layer of foam on top). Delicious!
3 Weeks Later
The beginning of our new espresso-at-home life was exhilarating but we really hit our stride after a few days with our “barista” duties. Specifically: Finding personal preferences for brew quantity and grind strength (both settings are adjusted and easy-to-remember via numbered dials on the front), expanding to latte’s/cappaccino’s/mocha’s/etc., learning to use the frothing wand (easy, but takes a couple practice cups to perfect the art). We are happy to report everything quickly became second nature and now we don’t like to imagine living without the ESAM3300.
My usual weekday routine: large Americano for the morning commute and a skinny double-shot latte (iced latte during summer) when I get home in the evening. On weekends I like to include more exotic fare, usually 2-3 espresso’s per day.
Good vs. Bad
Good
- Making great-tasting espresso is easy and fast
- Built-in grinder w/ bean storage
- Built-in, removable water container (60 oz or about 7 full cups)
- Easy to use frothing/steam wand
- Handsome, elegant appearance
- Awesome when entertaining coffee lovers
- Built like a tank
- Easy to clean & maintain
- Conversation starter
Bad
- Unit is large – make sure you have the counter space and upper cabinet clearance!
- Grinding process can be noisy (no more so than a dedicated coffee grinder)
- The grinder bypass for using pre-ground beans seems to result in weaker espresso
- Cup warmer takes too long to be truly useful
- Not for brewing large quantities of “regular” coffee all at once for a large party
Magnifica? Well, Is It?
In a word, yes. In a couple words, absolutely yes.
The DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 lives up to its name and the company’s reputation. It makes great-tasting espresso (in all its forms) easy and enjoyable.
On the cost-saving front, yes, we still go to Starbucks and other local shops but only for the occasional social outing. The coffee we make at with the Magnifica 3300 at home rivals and sometimes surpasses what’s available elsewhere.
Where To Buy
The best place to buy the Magnifica ESAM 3300 is Amazon.com, who offer the lowest price we have found and sometimes free shipping. We’ve seen it at retail at Great Indoors and have heard it can be spotted at Bed, Bath & Beyond and similar stores.
Further Reading
Read product info & user reviews at Amazon’s DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 page.
DeLonghi’s official ESAM 3300 page (DeLonghiUSA.com).
See additional high-end espresso machine recommendations online (CompareTheBrands.com).
Want to take good espresso-making on the road and trail? Check out something a bit more portable, namely the Handpresso Wild, a hand-pumped espresso maker you can take camping, hiking … anywhere. (GonzoGadgets.com)
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May The Toast Be With You
Only Vader Could Be This Bold
“I felt a great disturbance in the kitchen. As if millions of slices of toast suddenly cried out in terror and then were suddenly silenced. I fear something delicious has happened.”
- Obi Wan Kenobe
Indeed, Obi Wan. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet and along comes this amazing gadget for the Star Wars Fan. Too bad we don’t know any of those. The Darth Vader Toaster from Star Wars Shop just became available for pre-order. In a rare marketing misstep Lucas has the toaster shipping January ‘09. As one would expect, this burns the Sith’s imposing visage onto that most basic of foods, bread. Going to be tough to top this as a slightly-delated holiday gift for the Star Wars geek in your life.
Maybe it’s just us, but does this give the “darkness” setting new meaning? How evil do you feel today – 1 through 5?
(We’re personally relieved that the toaster doesn’t burn the face of Anakin as played by Hayden Christensen.)
Courtesy of www.StarWarsShop.com, the online store of George Lucas’ mega-branding and bread scorching corporation LucasFilm.
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