The G3 Archive - some of the stuff you missed! | |
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| Dec '04 |  The December show is a roundup of the best of the year and we start with something I reviewed in September programme and comes from the outdoor living show in Olympia "Fifth Room". I meet Thyssen Williams from the US company Crocs who make great clogs that are not only odour free, but light and comfortable. A wide range of styles and colours, these can be used on the beach, in the operating theatre, in the kitchen and on the boat. They are available by mail order at their website at www.crocs.com Then to the July programme with a phone call to Geoff Day, director of HUKO International who have just launched the innovative Kidsafe . You can monitor up to 3 children for up to 30 metres, if they stray out of range your handheld base unit warns you. Even cleverer is the water alarm feature, if the child gets submerged a different alarm sounds; perfect for worry free times at the pool or by the river. Around £70 with about £4 for p&p, Geoff has also promised a 10% discount for orders from BFPO numbers.In May I met Johannes Paul, one of the 4 designers from Omlet. The chicken coop - or eglu as it is called, looks like an iMac computer and makes keeping hens a viable option in an urban garden. The complete package includes the eglu, the fox-proof covered run with sunshade, feeding bowls, a month's supply of food and 2 hens and is £325. For countries overseas the package doesn't include the livestock - contact Omlet for prices. The eglu has a hatch to enable you to reach in for your breakfast egg, a tray that pulls out the back to empty the soil - which can be put straight onto the garden as fertiliser. Then to January when I met is Harriet Zibkowski the creator of Foxgloves, gardening gloves that are so fine you can use them for everything from gardening to photography, skiing or almost any outdoor activity. £17.50 a pair plus p&p and they should last you many years as well as saving you from cracked hands and nails. Harriet gave me a pair to try and my wife has used them in the garden during the summer and now when she is out with her camera on cold days and thinks they are excellent GPS systems have been around for some years and the industry leader, Garmin, have brought out a wristband GPS designed for distance runners. I spoke to Matt Palmer, the Outdoor Marketing Manager of Garmin UK about the ForeRunner and the new ForeTrex 201. The Foretrex 201 is not just for runners, but sailors, hikers and paragliders. I would guess this will also be seen on many wrists on active duty across the world. The ForeTrex retails at about £175.00 |
| Nov '04 | First for November is a game you play on your computer, but is more a way of training your mind in yogic and therapuetic exercises. I talk to Corwin Bell the Head of Creative Development with the Wild Divine Project in the USA. He explains how by putting on the three finger sensors that track your body's heart rate variability and skin conductance, you move through enchanting and mystical landscapes using the power of your thoughts, feelings, breath and awareness. Wise mentors guide you throughout the realm, empowering you with yoga, breathing and meditation skills needed to complete over 40 biofeedback 'energy' events. Build stairways with your breath, open doors with meditation, juggle balls with your laughter, and so much more. The Journey makes biofeedback, a popular method of alternative healthcare, easily accessible and empowers you to take mind-body wellness, literally, into your own hands. It sounds huge fun and can be bought direct from the USA site for $150 and now in the UK at Magitam.co.uk for £120 including delivery. Cressida Granger is the MD of Mathmos, the home of the original Lava lamp from 40 years ago but now also the creator of some wonderful effect lighting. Their new lamp to the range is the Airswitch, which you switch on and off and dim the bulb by waving at it. Cressida explains how it works and also tells me about some of the new developments that Mathmos are working on. Next, back to to the Games Guru of CD-WOW!, Tony Bergasse who recommends this month's game. - Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault. This game will be reviewed by Ian Flint in Cyprus in the January show. Then our first games reviewer, Tristan Howes in Gibraltar tells be what he thinks about FIFA 2005 the football playing and managing game. If you have played any of the earlier FIFA versions than you will be blown away by the new features in this game. Finally, to Stuff Magazine to talk to the Editor, Oliver Irish who reviews the show stoppers at the "Best of Stuff" show in London in November. |
| Oct '04 | Last month I asked for volunteers for games reviewers and thanks to the 50 or so of you who volunteered. I've felt is that was only fair to keep it to listeners to the radio transmissions of the show, but thanks to everyone who volunteered from across the world from the USA to South Africa. The first reviewer will be Tristan Howes who will soon be getting a copy of FIFA 2005 for the PS2 and he will be on next month to talk about it. |
| Sep '04 | The first part of the September programme comes from the outdoor living show in Olympia "Fifth Room". I meet Thyssen Williams from the US company Crocs who make great clogs that are not only odour free, but light and comfortable. A wide range of styles and colours, these can be used on the beach, in the operating theatre, in the kitchen and on the boat. They are not yet available by mail order in the UK and Europe but very soon will be, retailing at around £20. See their US website at www.crocs.com Then I meet Jonathan Lindon from Conscience Products who have a super range of chocolates that also carry a message. Thank You, Happy Birthday, Good Luck and many other phrases are printed on the wrapper of the Fair Trade Swiss chocolate. Each bar costs £3.99 including p&p and is available from their website. Sharyn Wortman is the founder of the Today Was Fun company and has developed these special infusions. Inspiration Tea, Happiness Tea, Friendship Tea and other types are beautifully packed and would make lovely gifts or as a very different way of saying thank you. They do not do mail order direct, but you can get them from www.beautifulthings.co.uk at around £5.00. The teas have a shelf life of about 2 years so you can order a bulk purchase to have as gifts for Christmas and other occasions. These teas are drunk by stars like Dave Brubeck & Kylie Minogue. Kirk Eden is Head of Operations at UK Fuelguard and they make a clever little device that is based on the musical greetings card technology that alerts you as you are filling your car to use the correct fuel. Putting petrol in a diesel car can cost about £80 to get it cleaned out and if you run the engine it can cause severe damage. The little device costs £12.50 and you can buy on line from them at www.dieselguard.com Finally, if you own a Kryptonite bike lock like the one on the left then you may be surprised to hear that it can be opened with a biro pen - see www.engadget.com. However Kryttonite are offering an exchange for the affected locks and as long as you registered your purchase with them or have the receipt they will supply you with a new lock. Get more information here www.kryptonitelock.com. |
| Aug '04 | Mike Stamford emailed the show asking what were my favourite gadgets, so we start the August show with praise for the Boxit waterproof mobile phone holder (£19.99) ; and the rather more robust Pelican micro case (£10.67). |
| July '04 |
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| June '04 |
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| May '04 | The summer is here and so the May G3 heads for the open air. We start with a portable barbecue that looks like a moon landing device and can have you cooking them sodz within 5 minutes of setting up. When you have finished you just fold it up and carry it away. It even has a light in the centre dome so that you can cook at night! The cooking grill is non-stick and can be put in the dish-washer and it is very easy to clean. More expensive to run than the big bottled gas barbecues, but at only 6kg this means you have no excuse for not taking it everywhere. But check with the organisers of Ascot, Wimbledon or Lords before firing it up! £99.99 from Thane Direct UK or Firebox.
After all this food, time to lie down. I meet Craig Haworth who has designed the Ultimate Relaxation Lounger. This is a triumph of engineering and is extremely well made. Each one is made to order and starts at £795. The picture does not really do the chair credit and to sway gently in the supporting hammock is very conducive to sleep. |
| Apr '04 | April 2004 opened with the Stowboard. This is a beautifully engineered folding board that fits into a small bag. I ask Max Anderson, who came second in the UK Pro Board Championships last year to try it out and give his verdict. "Clever idea, but not designed for street boarders". It costs around £99 from many outlets in the UK including John Lewis and you can get more information from the UK importers - re:creation. I'm not a boarder, but I thought the engineering skill involved in making it was excellent and the board has taken California by storm - even appearing the the new movie with Uma Thurman - "Paycheck" Then I talk to Martin Allen, one of the inventors of the Must-Have-1 - a handheld thermometer that uses infra-red to get a reading. From -20 to +220 celsius it has a huge range of uses. See their website to get an idea of its potential and they also do mail order from the site. Just £34.95 including shipping this is a very clever device.Airline catering has a bad reputation, but all that could change in the next few years if the designers at PDD have their way. I talk to Mark Tosey, the Senior Project Manager and Miles Hawley, the Head of Design at PDD about Platinum - "food with altitude". Using intelligent in-pack cooking technology the compartmentalised plate can steam, grill or even chill in one meal. The end of mass catering in the air, no more "I'm sorry the steak has all gone, you'll have to have the chicken". With Platinum it will be "Miss, can I have my meal now please?" Miles and Mark also tell me about SNIF a device that creates individual scents based on your location and mood. That is also on their website under the news section. Their site also has one of the best front pages I have seen in a long time Finally, a welcome back to the Editor of Stuff Magazine, Tom Dunmore. He has become a media darling in recent months and has become the face and voice of gadgets on TV and radio.We talk about how the gadget scene is changing and how they are becoming less of a boys toy and more mainstream. Microsoft's Media Centre, the new PMG phones also come under discussion. |
| Mar '04 |  In America they are called "smelly sneakers" and you can buy "trainer tamers" to cope with the smell from rubber soled shoes. The March edition of G3 opens with an interview with the President of Geox, Mario Moretti Polegato, who moved from running the family's wine making business to managing Italy's fastest growing shoe manufacturer. 9 years ago he invented the first breathable rubber soled shoe that eliminates perspiration and foot odour. They are available in different styles from sports trainers to smart slip-ons (left). They are readily available in good shoe shops in Germany, Spain, Cyprus and the UK. Next time you are shopping for shoes - look for the Geox brand.Dr Anthony Lovatt is next and he describes how his company manufactures custom made mouthguards for all sporting activities. Unlike the old fashioned mouth and gum shields , Opro Mouthguards give you powerful protection and are comfortable in the mouth. The unique selling point is that thay can also be liveried with your school, team or regimental colours. From around £24 for a clear guard to £34 for a full colour version like the one pictured right which Opro made for the victorious England rugby team on their trip to the world cup. After all this activity, you may have picked up a strain. I talk to Richard Chaplin, the Sales & Marketing Manager of MediDirect who manufacture the Pain-Gone. No batteries, just press the button about 30 times and the pulses tell the brain to send endorphins to neutralise the pain. You can't overdose by overusing it and it can be used by the whole family; sporting injuries for the kids and arthritis and other aches for the older folks. There are two versions, the one pictured left which retails at around £50 and the sports version which is £55 Finally, I talk to Stephen Lestly, the Technical Manager of Softswitch about their revolution in fabrics where the circuits can be an integral part of the fabric construction. This gives the possibility of your walkman or iPod controls built into the arm of your jacket. Computer keyboards that double as a handkerchief - right and car seats anddashboards where the swiches are in the fabric. In last month's competition, Graham Johnson in Op Telic 3 and Stelle Dennett from the Rheindahlen Library both with a pair of Foxgloves. |
| Feb '04 | First up on the February edition is Richard Wright, the inventor of the Rally Office Chairs. All the comfort of a classic Cobra Bucket seat for taking those high speed curves on your PC or watching TV. Around £200 each, not much more expensive than a standard office chair, but much more hardwearing & comfortable. Then to talk to Sophie Cox. She is up for an Australian Design award for her work on adjustable heel shoes. 25mm for the office and a twist and click later and 75mm for the club. Next she heads to Milan to show the Italians her idea.GPS systems have been around for some years and the industry leader, Garmin, have brought out a wristband GPS designed for distance runners. I spoke to Matt Palmer, the Outdoor Marketing Manager of Garmin UK about the ForeRunner and now the brand new ForeTrex 201. The Foretrex 201 is not just for runners, but sailors, hikers and paragliders. I would guess this will also be seen on many wrists on active duty across the world. Arriving in March and about £175.00 Next to Surbiton to meet Martin Heller, director of Action Gear who are importing the staggering Powerisers. 6ft high leaps and 20mph on sprung loaded stilts. One size fits most people. £295 for a chance to leap high buildings in a single bound! |
| January '04 | In January I headed for Earl's Court and the Design and Creative show - Top Dra wer.First on the show is Harriet Zibkowski the creator of Foxgloves, gardening gloves that are so fine you can use them for everything from gardening to photography, skiing or almost any outdoor activity. £17.50 a pair plus p&p and they should last you many years as well as saving you from cracked hands and nails. Staying in the garden, sort of; I next meet Alex Cooper who is the boss of "dcuk" - The Duck Company UK - all he sells is ducks. Made from smoothed bamboo root with the head and legs from other Indonesian woods these have to be seen to be appreciated. Everyone is different and they almost seem to have their own personality. From ducklings at £10 to full size ducks at £20 you can create your complete family and choose from all the different poses online. We all know about party poppers, but supposing you could buy a party popper that stood in the centre of the table and was 22cms high. When triggered, it showers the table with, whistles, balloons and colour co-ordinated streamers for up to 20 people. Clare Harris from Talking Tables talks me through their range of great party ideas. The biggest Tall Table Torpedo costs £25 and there are lots of smaller ideas and 'posh poppers'. I'm not sure about sending these in the post - they only sell to the UK, but BFPO may be OK - check with your local postie. When the Christmas decorations come out, good taste often has to go out of the window. Good decorations are hard to find but Nativity Folk Designs are importing these wonderful figures made from shredded palm leaves over a fine wire frame. Alan Pelling talks me through all the different styles and designs and how the larger models like the Santa Clauses seen here actually are designed to stack inside each other for packing. These are the largest designs at 60cms high and 45 cms wide and cost £50 for the three. Aromatherapy oils come in a bottle don't they? Not any more. I meet aromatherapist Vanessa Kemp of Kemp Aromatherapy Treatments who has packaged the essential oils and natural ingredients into a cocoa butter mould that looks just like a Thornton's Belgian chocolate. An individually packed bath melt is £1.95 and they are much cheaper when you buy a box of 8 or 12. They are almost too attractive to throw into the bath water and come in 10 different flavours. John Nelson makes the BackUp Chair. This beech and canvas chair weighs around 1kg and rolls up into a small tube and comes with a tote bag. Ideal for picnics, on the beach, outdoor events - magine this at the Curium for the classical concerts! £20 +p&p - It has the "Model T Ford" range of colours and John is planning an special indoor version for use by the kids when they are sitting on the floor playing video games. |
| Dec '03 |  The December show is a roundup of the best gadgets and gizmos from the 44 items we have featured during the year.We start the show by going back to March with a visit to the company that specialises in connectors, cables and communication devices - Lektropacks. Kevin Cray explains how scart leads work and why spending around 10% of the components cost on connectors is the best way to get good quality sound and pictures. The Trilogy (right) automatically switches between your TV appliances for £59. In July I met Caroline Wagstaff, a finalist in the British Female Inventor of the Year this year for her BodyBaster Lotion Applicator. This simple, yet clever invention helps individuals apply lotions to those difficult to reach areas of the body. It costs £7.97 including p&p - but on the site you can order 2 for £14.00. One for the sun cream and the other for the body lotion. It has also proved very good for people who suffer from limited mobility for apply cream to all parts of their bodies and for people with skin complaints to apply their ointments. In May I met up with an old friend from September last year. Rebecca Jay is the MD of Dodo-Pad and was launching the new addition to the range - the Dodo Travel Log. As well as many pages to write about your trip there are four strong, laminated pocket dividers , a clear snap-lock pouch for tickets and other essentials plus 100 FREE photo corners and a zipped personal security pouch for passports, credit cards and cash. It costs just £16.95 including p&p to BFPO addresses. Robert Pedder is the MD of Kane Gear who make software add-ons for the handheld PDAs that are becoming more popular than laptop computers. Instead of spending over £1,000 on an in-car satellite navigation system you can now spend less than half that and have a system that works in any vehicle, is your handheld GPS and still is your personal organiser. KaneGear also make the conversion kit for the Car Pilot that enables it to be used on a motor bike and their newest plug in is the Vision Station that gives you movies and recorded TV programmes on your PDA. Finally, Globus and their Antquarium Simon Gilboy explained how it was developed from space technology and lasts for around 6 months as the ants live off and burrow into the transparent blue gel. You can add new ants until the gel is all used.Globus also make Beachworld, the stunning sealed blass biospheres with a complete living society within.Antquarium is £20 and the Beachworlds start at £75 |
| Nov '03 | There is a new law coming into force on December 1st in the UK that forbids operating a mobile phone in a car. You can talk but the phone must be in a hands free cradle. I talk to Simon Thethi, Head of Sales & Marketing at JM Communications about their Hasslefree universal hands free kit. All the controls on your rear view mirror and you can even get one with a reversing sensor. They start at around £50 Then to the Commonwealth Institute in West London for Urban Interiors. I first meet Chris Lamon from the Glass Shed Furniture Company. They make really striking bedroom furniture and my favourite was the Pigeonhole. This is gorgeous Art-Deco style bedroom furniture - but be prepared to dig into your savings! I meet up again with Mathmos, and Stuart Reid tells me about the great new light - the Tuba. This light adds superb lighting ambience to your room and with its sound responsive phasing works really well with all types of music and it looks so sexy! The outer is available in white, black and silver is is great value at £78. Then into the garden to talk to Fiona Dymott the Marketing Director of Privett who make stunning stainless steel garden items. Flowers, bullrushes & waterfalls ; there is a wide range of super sculptures. Items start at around £100 and the stunning 2 metre tall Wall Of Water is £4,230! Finally to talk to the designer of Cinnamon Pod, Ian Taylor. The Cinnamon Pod is the 21st century version of the old favourite, the bean bag. As comfortable as the old bean bag, and yet they don't make the room look untidy and are much easier to to get out of. If you think your bones are too old for the original, £700 gets you bean bag comfort with loads of style. |
| Oct '03 | The October show starts with a trip to the smallest room as I review the Toilet Ghost from Tchibo (above) and then speak to Aaron Roth, Vice President Marketing & Sales of Arkon Resources, California about their innovative LavNav (right). No more trips of uncertainty on the way to the loo in the middle of the night; with the LavNav as you walk into the toilet the light shines red into the centre of the bowl if the seat is up and illuminates the toilet seat in a gentle green light if the seat is down. $29.95 for so much peace of mind!
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| Sep '03 | Once again the whole show comes from one venue, Earl's Court and the design exhibition for the trade called "Top Drawer". First stop was Globus and their Antquarium Simon Gilboy explained how it was developed from space technology and lasts for around 6 months as the ants live off and burrow into the transparent blue gel. You can add new ants until the gel is all used.Globus also make Beachworld, the stunning sealed blass biospheres with a complete living society within.Antquarium is £20 and the Beachworlds start at £75 Then to Petalpost. Rebecca Partridge has developed a very clever mailing box, small test tube attached to a card and the waterproof seal that enables you to send a flower in the post. The empty boxes are £3.50 each and sold in packs of 6 and you can choose a flower from the website and they cost £6.75. For someone overseas to send a frangipani or bougainvillaea from the garden to loved ones back home is a wonderful concept. Mark Antoniades is one half of a talented design duo called j-me and they make a great lemon squeezer for £12.95 that keeps your fingers dry, no juice in your eyes and no pips on the food. They also make stylish His & Hers Keyholders at £12.50 each and do mail order via their website - unless you use a Mac and it doesn't work!  Tessa Sinclair was demonstrating the very clever drip free umbrella. Her company - no-dripumbrella.com make a wide range of umbrellas that don't make a puddle in the corner of the room or hallway. She also had a great double umbrella seen here that folds away to the size of a standard brolly.Then to meet Martin Kern of The Magic Custard Company. The name is a bit of a misnomer because what they do supply is kits to make casts of your babies hands or feet. These can then painted in metal clours and framed in deep box frames to create a permanent memento of the early years. The kit is £39.95 and then a box frame is around the same price and you can even have copies made in bronze or silver. Finally to the designers of a brand new type of jigsaw puzzle - Fixits. Afzaal Ahmed describes how the idea developed. The puzzles are different as the images appear in 3D, making the pieces interactive. The puzzles can also be made into posters, using the adhesive backing included, and are presented in novel jigsaw puzzle shaped boxes! You can order from their website at £12.99 for each puzzle. |
| Aug '03 | The August show opened with a trip to Hampshire to Planet Moto to try out the amazing Segway tranportation device. Gavin Glasspool explained how it worked and how popular it was proving in the UK. Just 15 minutes instruction and you are ready to be whizzing along at up to 12mph. I can verify that at about 4mph it feels very hairy! At just under £4,500 for something that you cannot legally use on the roads or pavements, this may have some way to go before it revolutionises our personal transportation systems, but you can't deny that it's different. Then Michael Menage of Global Gadget UK demonstrates the inspired personal security device that automatically sounds once you and your handbag, briefcase, laptop, camera or even young child become separated. £50 for either the PCMCIA computer or general purpose alarm, this is an extremely useful gadget. Sealskinz, the fully waterproof sock has been around for a few years now. This September sees the arrival of the latest sock made of Merino wool. Giles Polito is the Business Unit Manager for Sealskinz and he explains about how the socks keep you dry and comfortable and the many different versions now available for every type of activity . With prices starting at under £20, wet feet can now be a thing of the past whatever form of outdoor activities you undertake.  Robert Pedder is the MD of Kane Gear who make software add-ons for the handheld PDAs that are becoming more popular than laptop computers. Instead of spending over £1,000 on an in-car satellite navigation system you can now spend less than half that and have a system that works in any vehicle, is your handheld GPS and still is your personal organiser. KaneGear also make the conversion kit for the Car Pilot that enables it to be used on a motor bike and their newest plug in is the Vision Station that gives you movies and recorded TV programmes on your PDA.Finally, Tom Dunmore, Editor of Stuff Magazine talks about the forthcoming Stuff Live in London's Olympia in late September; wireless technology in the home and why hard disk mp3 players are the future. |
| July '03 | July started with a phone call to Hong Kong to talk to Jonathan Elvidge, the founder of the Gadget Shop about their link up with the US gadget company - Sharper Image. One gadget is the very useful device that sticks to your fridge and sends a beep to any four chosen devices, mobile phones, remote controls, car keys, etc that have a habit of going missing. At £40 it will end forever the cries of "Has anyone seen the car keys"? It also has a clever feature that if you remove it from the fridge it will start to beep itself so it can never go missing. Caroline Wagstaff was a finalist in the British Female Inventor of the Year this year for her BodyBaster Lotion Applicator. This simple, yet clever invention helps individuals apply lotions to those difficult to reach areas of the body. It costs £7.97 including p&p - but on the site you can order 2 for £14.00. One for the sun cream and the other for the body lotion. It has also proved very good for people who suffer from limited mobility for apply cream to all parts of their bodies and for people with skin complaints to apply their ointments.Next; tired of tripping your bike in the back passage? Ecolatch solves the problem. This simple device holds the bike firmly by the front forks and means that they take much less room than standing on the ground. For the winter, by rotating the handlebars through 90 degrees you can get the whole families' bikes stored in a fraction of the space. Matt Bower tells me how the idea developed and the many different locations where the Ecolatch can be used. Got a Sky dish but can't afford the PVR hard disk recorder? Then you need the Phantom PVR. Chris Skelton is the MD of Blue Delta Design who developed this clever device and he explains how it works. The Sky decoder sends out a signal each time a programme starts, and this little box interperets that and can start your video recorder automatically. Once it knows your favourites, just like the Sky+ or the TIVO hard disk recorders, it will record them automatically - as long as you have enough tape in the machine, For £30, your own PVR for a fraction of the cost. Finally, Tom Dunmore, Editor of Stuff Magazine talks about the new look in the August issue and looks at convergence - one gadget doing everything and the rise of legal mp3 audio. |
| June '03 | We opened the June programme with a trip to the brand new Sound & Vision floor at Harrods and meet Tim Garmin the Development Manager for Live Smarter about the computerised home. You can now control almost everything in the house from any room. Lights, curtains, sound, video, security - all of these have been automated for some years, but never in one package. Controlled by a PC, full home automation is now a reality. From around £3,000 as the starter set-up, this is the future for us all. It is said you can lose your driving license between Gatwick and Heathrow airports because of the number of speed cameras installed on the M25. Glen Mansell road tests the Cheetah Speed Trap Detector and then Dave talks to the inventor, Stuart Smith about how it works. The unit, which easily clips over your rear view mirror, costs £199 and has motorway and urban settings and can also have the LED's switched off for night driving.Next to the Dukes Hotel in Mayfair for the launch of the Archos Cinema To Go package. Dave talks to the Archos UK MD, Colin Brown about this revolution in portable technology. In a unit the size of a packet of cigarettes you can store 40 hours of movies, 200,000 photographs, 5,000 pieces of music or any permutation of them all and with the extra AvCam300 you can take digital still or video pictures up to 3.3 megapixels. Listen to your taste in music on the way to the aiport, watch your favourite movies on the flight, take all your photos and video of your holiday all in one small box. Then Jayson Hunter comes to the studio to demonstrate the magnificent Terraskates. Off-road in-line skates that look difficult but are the nearest thing that you can get to cross country or langlauf ski-ing without the white stuff. Everywhere I demonstrated the skates, a crowd would gather and they are huge fun. At around £270 pounds they will get you out, keep you fit, and carry so much street style you will stop the traffic. |
| May 2003 |  The May show is set in Earl's Court and the new show "Pulse". The first guest is an old friend from September last year. Rebecca Jay is the MD of Dodo-Pad and was launching the new addition to the range - the Dodo Travel Log. As well as many pages to write about your trip there are four strong, laminated pocket dividers , a clear snap-lock pouch for tickets and other essentials plus 100 FREE photo corners and a zipped personal security pouch for passports, credit cards and cash. Next I meet Scott Stirling the CEO of Fridgeplay. They have increased their range of games and entertainments that decorate your fridge. As well as chess and draughts they have added other board games with a "Your Turn" magnet allowing a game to stretch out over long periods of time. They also have Theraplay magnets that are pre-enveloped in an array of colours and icons. Just write your personalised message on the back of the magnet, scribble the address of the object of your affection on the envelope and create new smiles by sending it to someone in your world. The Jetrest has revolutionised travel pillows and I meet Mick Robinson who invented the shape and find out how this clever pillow works. From £19.95 for the standard pillow to £140 for the pure Scottish cashmere version, these are great for all forms of travel, from car to concorde. The Flycatcher is a fun device that does exactly what it says on the box. David Nichols had the idea and he explains how it works. It catches all flying things from mosquitos to wasps and even has been known to catch the occasional spider! Retailing at £19.95 it also works outside and would sit equally at home on the balcony as it would on the bedside table. The burp after catching a fly is optional and can be turned off! David has also offered a couple as prizes - be ready for the competion in the June programme. Jim Little runs the Caurnie Soap Company in Kirkintilloch, Scotland. He takes me through the process involved in making traditional cold process soap. Caurnie Soap has been serving the natural skin care community since 1922 and makes superb soap in many different shapes and types. Radio cannot do justice to the wonderful aromatic smells coming from the stand. |
| April 2003 |  In April the show had a clothing bias as we started with a new introduction from Rohan that eliminates odour. The MD of Rohan, Hugh Clark explained that it is all down to the layer of silver that is in the new X-stinctive base layer range of T-shirt and briefs (left). The garment feels like silk and weighs only a few grams. It dries within a few hours and is also high wicking, absorbing your perspiration.£29 for the t-shirt and £15 for the briefs. Imagine going on holiday with only one pair of pants? Then to a shop and website that is designed with a feminine touch. Devotion is the ofshoot of the successful Mojo web and high street trading company and Lucy Schiel talks about the items they have that are proving to be popular with their browsers, both in the shop and on the web. Next, the result of last month's competition and Flight Sergeant Tim Cooper with the RAF on Op Telic in the Middle East wins the CatGee DNA in a tin by correctly identifying the two scientists who discovered DNA 50 years ago, Francis Crick and James Watson. Clothing again and this time the feet. Just as I have been a Rohan user since 1985, I first started wearing Sperry Topsider deck shoes when I was with BFBS in Belize over 15 years ago. David Butler, head of global marketing explains how the deck shoe came to be developed by Paul Sperry way back in 1936, and how the sole of the shoe has hardly changed in the last 70 years. From around $65 for the original shoe to $85 for the Figawi shoe worn by David Bowie. Finally; Tom Dunmore, Editor of Stuff Magazine on Portable DVD machines and also why we should wait before going into mobile phone gaming. |
| Mar 2003 |  We start the show with a visit to the company that specialises in connectors, cables and communication devices - Lektropacks. Kevin Cray explains how scart leads work and why spending around 10% of the components cost on connectors is the best way to get good quality sound and pictures. Helen Kettleborough is the Head of Corporate Communications of Pace UK and tells us why the new Pace Twin Digital Recorder is such an exciting gadget and is in the shops this week at £349.00. Watch one channel while recording another; 10 hours recording time and the clever pause control so that if you are watching live TV and the phone rings, hit the pause button and then when you are free, pick up from where you left off. Urban clothing to house all your gadgets is now in the shops. I talk to Stephanie Madden from Sprayway about their new Alpha Urban jacket (right). Lightweight Gore-Tex fabric and pockets for all your electronics - great value at around £130.00 rrp. Finally; Tom Dunmore, Editor of Stuff Magazine on the new wearable technology and how the Pace Twin Digital has changed the way he watches TV. |
| Feb 2003 |  The Fantazein clock has been around for a while, but I just discovered it this year. I talk to Jules Nicholson from Gadgets.co.uk who are the UK importers, about how the clock works and what it can do. Totally silent and with up to 4 personalised messages as well as the date and time, it is very visible in daylight and even better in the dark - £69.99.Janette Vince started Thanksdarling.com because her friends never knew what to buy her as a gift and she thought that might make a good business opportunity. Voted in the Sunday Times as "this year's big thing", thanksdarling.com offers great experiences - feeding the lions in a zoo, driving a Ferrari, or zorbing down a hillside. The flushing toilet has remained pretty well unchanged for the last 120 years. That is about to change as what started off as a concept toilet a couple of years ago is now getting close to realisation. I talk to Terry Wooliscroft from Twyford Bathrooms about the VIP super loo and what the Versatlie Interactive Pan actually does Nell Nockles was suffering so badly from asthma that after she had been told of the association between the house dust mite with ashma and rhinitis she started to sleep on an airbed and the attacks markedly decreased. This led to the design and production of the Pilgim bed - designed for young children who are asthma sufferers to give them a good night's sleep. For more information go to housedustmite.org and pilgrimbed.com. Finally; Tom Dunmore, Editor of Stuff Magazine on the new 3G mobile phones and surround sound audio with only 2 speakers. |
| Jan 2003 | For the first show of 2003 we go to Olympia for Top Drawer Spring. First I talk to Andy Baxter, the Show Director about how Top Drawer is increasing in size and importance as the main UK event for design and creativity. Then into the main hall where I first meet David Nicholson the founder of CATGee. From the beautifully presented tin box you can capture your own DNA for posterity. Coming soon will be T-shirts, mousemats and other goodies with your own four lines of DNA thread printed on them. Next I meet Kim Lauren Annen from Welligogs. Striking hand crafted wellingtons - not painted but with the pattern created in the rubber. Kids have their own range of great designs and there is also a matching range of other wet weather gear. Prices start at £14.95 for the wellies and there is a large range of other matching accessories. From wet weather gear to the disco. Jason Entner is from New York and was showing some great flashing funky looking bracelets and watches. The bracelet is around a tenner and will be available soon from HiFiWear. Julia Doig is a Director of Kikoy. Mens skirts, otherwise wraps or African sarongs, who as anyone who has worn one will know are the most comfortable thing to wear in warm climates. I discovered this type of garment with BFBS in Brunei 20 years ago and still wear a cotton wrap in the summer, even in the UK. These are 100% cotton and vibrant with the clours of Kenya, where they are made. From £25 mail order, the website has many other great garments and beachwear to buy. Finally, from the beach to urban protection. Clive Bayley is the MD of Karrysafe. This company, working with the Police has come up with a range of bags that can protect you from the mugger, dipper or pickpocket. Starting from £20 you can now be safer in a high risk environment. |
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