stand

Belkin on Tuesday is introducing a handful of gadgets designed to cut off the flow off of wasted electricity from electronic devices and to give consumers more data on home energy use.

The peripherals maker filled out its existing Conserve product line with a handheld power meter, timer, charging station, and power strip--all of which are meant to give consumers ways to lower power use at home.

The Conserve Valet is a charging spot for up to four mobile devices that cuts power to zero when electronics are fully charged. It's meant to address the reality that even when … Read more

One thing I've learned as an iPad owner is that I need more than one stand for the device. I mean, sometimes I want it propped up on my desk, sometimes it pulls kitchen-counter duty, and on occasion it needs a show-off spot in the living room (usually to impress guests with its Picture Frame mode).

As you may recall, there are plenty of cheap or free iPad stands out there--but I'm hard-pressed to imagine anything cheaper or freer than this, the coat-hanger stand:

Needless to say, I immediately raided my closet--and found a limitless supply of sturdy, … Read more

I'll admit it: I'm not using my iPad much. Maybe that's because I was already an iPhone user, and that continues to be my go-to device for e-mail, e-books, Facebook, and the like. Or maybe it's because I just haven't found enough killer apps yet.

Whatever, the case, I'm finding I enjoy the device more when I'm looking at it than when I'm touching it. That's because I've discovered Picture Frame, which turns that big, beautiful screen into a splendid animated photo frame.

Perhaps you've noticed the little picture … Read more

Yes, here it is, folks, our first iPad-related giveaway: the Joule iPad stand from Element Case.

You can get the full rundown on the company's product page, but the key here is that this stand not only looks sleek, it's also sturdy. "Unlike most stands," the company says, "the Joule won't tip over when using the iPad's touch screen, which allows you to better utilize your iPad on your desktop or kitchen countertop."

It's made in the USA from solid aluminum and comes in a polished finish or a black anodized … Read more

Take note all you DIYers and parents with creative kids. If you don't want to shell out $40 for a high-tech iPad stand, you can make your own--or have your kid make one.

With the help of his father, my 10-year-old nephew Brett went to Home Depot, got a piece of wood, a hinge, and a couple of knobs, and presto, instant iPad stand. I'm not sure Brett's going to win any design awards, but the thing does look pretty sturdy and only cost $12.40 plus tax. That may not be as cheap as Case-mate's … Read more

It's the little details that count in the kitchen. For example, a meal cooked without any herbs and spices would be bland and boring. Same thing can be said about kitchen appliances, except that it is not taste buds that are at risk, but rather convenience and versatility. And as every home cook knows, convenience means saving time, and that can be no small detail.

The Breville Stand Mixer combines function with performance and convenience. Little details stand out on this machine, from a 10-minute LCD timer that can count up or down, to a retractable power cord that … Read more

Apple wants how much for the portrait-orientation-only iPad Dock? $29? Sorry, but I'm tapped out after spending $500 on the iPad itself. What do you have in the $5-$10 range?

Nothing, of course. (Does Apple sell anything in the $5-$10 range?) Fortunately, if all you want to do is prop up your iPad for movie viewing, recipe reading, photo slideshow-ing, or whatever, you can buy or build a perfectly good stand for cheap. These five candidates cost anywhere from nothing to around $7. Take a look:

1. Think the kids will miss a handful of Tinkertoys? If … Read more

There's nothing worse than a smartphone that lays down on the job--especially when that job is showing a movie on an airplane, a photo slideshow at your desk, a recipe in your kitchen, or the time of day on your nightstand.

For those and other applications, your screen needs to stand up. Sure, you could drop a few bucks on something like the GoGoStand, a cool and convenient solution, but I think it's a little more fun to take the MacGyver approach.

You can cobble together a fantastic phone stand using everyday household objects. Here's a look at four of my favorites:

1. The gift-card stand

Stop! Don't throw away that used-up gift card. Or hotel room-key. Or even expired credit card. In about 10 seconds you can turn just about any such piece of stiff plastic into a killer stand. One strategic fold here, a second one there, and boom, you're done. Take a look:

If you need more instructions (and/or want to see the stand "in action"), check out the Instructables source page for this ingenious card-hack.… Read more

Cute. Clever. Whimsical. No, no, I'm not talking about me, but how sweet of you to think that! I'm referring to ForkedUpArt's iPhone stands made of forks and spoons. I think the photos speak for themselves; these things are just adorable.

(Um, did I just use "sweet" and "adorable" in the same paragraph? I meant to say "killer" and "bitchin'." There, manhood restored.)

As you can see, there are two versions, the aptly named Fork Head and Spoon Head. Both use a combination of forks and spoons, and both … Read more