Socket Sense is an innovative and elegant solution to a nagging problem in our gadget world, “big” AC power adapters.

Does it work?

I got a chance to put the Socket Sense to test.  Underneath my desk, I have a ton of AC adapters.  I needed 2 power strips to accommodate all my AC adapters.  With the Socket Sense sockets expanded, I was able to fit all my AC adapters onto the Socket Sense power strip.

As you can see, I have the power strip fully expanded and the sockets ingeniously align in a diagonal position, allowing more real estate for the AC adapters.  I have a couple of pretty wide AC adapters and they fit just fine onto the fully expanded Socket Sense power strip.  It works like a charm.

Some of the nice touches I like is the long cord (6ft) and the plastic packaging.  I like the fact that I can open the packaging without using scissor or razor knife.  It comes pre-cut (perforated) in the back of the packaging.

Although this power strip comes with wall mount keyhole slots, I’m not sure if it’s useful since this is an expandable power strip.

Features

• Fully Adjustable Sockets
• 2160 Joules of Surge Protection
• Six Foot Power Cord
• Power Switch with 15A Breaker
• Surge and Ground LEDs
• Cable Management Channels
• Metal Oxide Varistor Components
• Keyholes for Wall Mounting
• Limited 5 year warranty against defects

Conclusion

Yes, we see power strips on the market which provide wider gaps in between sockets, but they are either bulky, limited sockets and/or create more tangles.  e.g. the PowerSquid Outlet Multiplier
The Socket Sense Power Strip provides unique “expandable” feature and it works as advertised.

Socket Sense SS1650W-06 Expanding 6 Outlet Surge Protector

For more detail and see it in action, check out the manufacturer site.

Save your bills to the the chiropractor.  For those who work mostly alone on a job site or home improvement, moving a 4×8 sheet of drywall, plywood, and paneling around is challenging if not impossible by yourself.  With the Troll, you can just roll your panels.  It supports a maximum loaded weight of 300 pounds–that lets you roll 1-2 sheets of drywall at a time. The Troll weighs less than five pounds and works great on long tables and doors. The dual 5-inch wheels easily roll over job site clutter and cords.

Price: $34

Telpro Troll 300-Pound Capacity Panel Handler

New for 2008, Leaterman is introducing the new Skeletool CX. The new Skeletool offers minimal weight, compact size and capabilities with out sacrificing quality and true functionality.

The Skeletool CX has a large knife blade that can be accessed while the tool is closed; to open it, just place your thumb in the thumbhole at the base of the blade and rotate it out until it’s fully extended — which will engage the safety lock. This locking mechanism is noted with a padlock symbol on the tool. To unlock the blade, press the locking mechanism towards the handle until the blade slides past the lock.

Equipped with a universal bit driver, the Skeletool offers real utility options like no other multitool. To change the tool bits, simply unfold the tool and remove the bit from the bit driver — and pop it out. And replacing bits is just as easy. Just press a new one into position and you’re good to go. There’s even a spare bit located in the handle side opposite the knife blade. This tool includes the following bits: Phillips #1 and #2, screwdriver 3/16-inch and 1/4-inch.

In the plier jaws you’ll find a hard-wire cutter and a regular wire cutter. The regular wire cutter is great for softer grades of wire, but the hard-wire cutter is excellent for heavier jobs — like cutting and bending fishhooks.

Key Tech Specs:

• Length: 4 inches/10 cm closed
• Weight: 5 ounces/142 grams
• Materials: Stainless steel, Tungsten DLC coating, 154CM, carbon fiber (handle scale)
• Included Bits: Phillips #1 and #2, Screwdriver 3/16-inch and 1/4-inch

Leatherman 830850 Skeletool CX Multitool

This seems to be one of those hit or miss products. The Story Blanket is a blanket/comforter with integrated LEDs (133) and music to tell a story. Powered by 3 D cell batteries, the lights and sound are enabled to tell four different Story Blankets: Space, Kitty, Heroes, and Princess.

It also have 2 modes:

• Sleep Mode – One minute of gently lights slowly dissolve and end the story.
• Story Mode – Two minutes of rhythmically moving lights with soundtrack.

The Story Blanket is made of fire-resistant polyester viscose and is available in single/twin or double.

Fly an airplane indoor? Yes, you can do it with the Palm Z Micro Airplane. It’s lightweight, safe and easy to fly. Palm Z is one of the hottest Remote Control Airplanes. The Palm Z is so small, it fits in the palm of your hand! Fully controllable remote control airplane with EPP Foam means bendable/unbreakable wings! You can crash the item a number of times and nothing happens to it! Best of all, its made by the Silverlit company which is one of the hottest R/C Companies in the industry! Comes to you complete with remote control, airplane and rechargeable battery. Another cool thing about the Palm Z is that you do not need a wall charger, you can charge the airplane on the remote control for hours of fun!

Product Features

• Super-wide infrared control
• Slow fly design feature which (special for small indoor environment control)
• Built-in Li-Poly batteries for long flying time
• Will fly for 4 to 5 minutes after a 12 to 15 minute charge
• Easy and convenient recharging process through the transmitter

Palm Z Micro Airplane

Planning a landscape project? How about solar lighting? Well, these are not your typical lighting you buy from your local hardware store. These are designed to be embedded into the pavement. The folks at Solar Cynergy have introduced a LED lighting product for residential use. The lights can be set into stonework, gravel, or even soil to provide accents or create a safe walk or driveway. It comes in circle, square or rectangle shape and colors (red, blue, white).

Features

*All RSC Series are made of Polycarbonite Resin and PC/ABS

Working Temp: -4 degrees to 158 F

- Made in Japan
- NO Battery! (capacitor technology)
- 10 Year Warranty, 25+ year life
- Uses quality Nichia LEDs
- Weather resilient!
- Drive over them!
- Perfect accent for landscapes, pathways, driveways

Price start at $699 for a set of 6. www.smarthome.com

via TreeHugger

Born to rock any room, the Klipsch iGroove all-in-one iPod/MP3 speaker system delivers audiophile-quality sound anywhere, anytime. With its stunning high-gloss silver finish and class-leading technology, the dynamic performer turns ordinary MP3 players into high-style, high-performance entertainment centers. Unlike other docking speaker systems on the market, the iGroove works with almost all MP3 player brands, as well as any gadget that has an audio out or headphone jack with a standard miniplug–including cell phones, gaming machines, and portable satellite radios. In addition, the system comes with special adapters for the iPod mini and nano and a “universal” J-cup adapter for the iPod shuffle and standard MP3 players. Third- and fourth-generation dockable iPods, meanwhile, fit directly into the iGroove for playback and charging.

A true two-way system, the iGroove gets its dynamic soul courtesy of dual 2.5-inch fiber- composite woofers in a ported enclosure and dual 1-inch MicroTractrix horn-loaded tweeters. The iGroove is one of the few speaker systems in this category to utilize horn technology, a highly efficient design that reproduces genuine, lifelike sound, with minimal diffraction and maximum release of energy into the listening area. The end result is a crisp frequency response of 65 Hz to 17 kHz that’s far wider than many comparable systems. As the name implies, the iGroove truly lets you get your groove on.

In addition to easily filling a room with smooth, crisp sound, the iGroove is also extremely simple to operate. All you have to do is plug it in, pop in an iPod or hook up an MP3 player, and hit play. The included IR handheld remote handles full system control, while the integrated handle makes it easy to tote around.

Klipsch iGroove All-in-One Digital Music System

The World’s first and only automatic universal paper towel dispenser works on all perforated paper towel brands, standard full size and new half sheets. Sensor activated control guarantees one hand operation without touching the unused sheets or the dispenser, and the towels don’t unravel. It prevents contamination and saves paper. This smart Towel-Matic¿ can dispense one sheet, two sheets, or the new half page sheet on demand with just the approach of your hand. The dispenser automatically identifies the perforations on the towel every time making tearing towel sheets easy and mess free.

• Powered by 4 D size batteries (not included) or optional AC adaptor.
• Batteries can last up to one year or 200 rolls of standard 80-sheet towels.
• Designed for table top, wall mount or under cabinet mount.
• Mounting brackets purchased separately.

iTouchless Towel-Matic Automatic Sensor Paper Towel Dispenser