coolers

An MP3 cooler with a sense of style

Summer is just around the corner, so it's time to start thinking of barbecues and picnics (translation: beer). And as luck would have it, there are all manner of multi-tasking coolers now on the market that can facilitate outdoor entertainment with built-in speakers and iPod connections.

To date, however, most the MP3 coolers we've seen are exceedingly boring to look at--hardly appropriate to celebrate the solar rites. Thankfully we came across the "Chill Out Stereo Cooler Bag" on Chip Chick, sporting a design that seems to fit a psychedelic '60s trend we've been noticing lately. … Read more

A way to keep the CPU cool in style

Computer cooling technologies are serious business--and for good reason--but it still seemed a bit odd at first that one such device would be created as a limited edition. Yet that's the distinction Asus has bestowed upon its "Triton 79 AMAzing" cooler. (The uppercase is correct, by the way, in case anyone was wondering if our caps-lock key was stuck.)

Aimed at gamers and others fond of overclocking their systems, each one of these 3,200 coolers comes with "an ultra-exclusive identification card marked with a limited-edition serial number," according to Fareastgizmos. And here we … Read more

A PC fan system from mission control

We appreciate additional help cooling down the computer as much as anyone else, for obvious reasons. But the way things are going, external PC fans may be getting more complicated than the climate control system for our entire building.

Take this multi-fan controller from Zalman, for example. It looks like something out of a Doppler weather center. The box can control four fans, indicates power consumption in real time on a color LCD, and even sounds an alarm when a fan stops working, according to Gadget Grid.

But what hooked us is the animated propellers. Hours of mesmerizing fun.

A double cooler for the two-fisted oenophile

In preparation of the gastronomic orgy that will take place in a just a few days, Crave continues its beverage-oriented theme for professional imbibers and teetotalers alike. In today's installment, we cater to the oenophiles among us.

What's special about this latest appliance isn't that it chills your favorite vintage to order--we've seen plenty of those--but it can control the temperature of two bottles at once, according to Product Dose. The "Coldmate EF-8780 Thermocool" actually bills itself as a digital warmer as well as a cooler, which strikes us as a bit odd. … Read more

A keg cooler for survivalists

If some digital wine coolers are the subject of dubious distinction, perhaps their manufacturers should expand their product lines. Take Waeco, for instance. Not only does it cater to beverages of the grape, but it pays homage to hops and barley as well.

Its "MyFridge" line includes a keg cooler that "utilizes the century-old, well-proven principle of traditional broaching instead of pumping the beer needlessly through hoses inside the cooler." The appliance uses a "simple aeration mechanism" that keeps its precious contents at optimum temperatures while providing a more sanitary way to dispense it, … Read more

The wine cooler from outer space

Our appreciation of wine notwithstanding, we're not so sure about the need for tabletop digital coolers.

The "Waring Pro" model that we posted earlier this year, for example, apparently had been discounted from $120 to $24 at Kohl's before being pulled from its virtual shelves altogther. Still, others keep coming on the market despite this apparently unconvincing demand.

Waeco's "MyFridge MF-1W" wine cooler--sorry, that's wine "climatiser," according to Appliancist--seems to do pretty much the same thing as the Waring Pro but for more money. It also has the look of … Read more

A wine cellar for the fridge

If we had to pick our favorite inventions, the refrigerator bar would have to be near the top of the list. But, sadly, we acknowledge that hard liquor isn't for everyone. We further realize that space-challenged dwellings present some difficult logistical issues for the wine lovers among us (Caroline McCarthy). Nor can everyone afford a wine vault, much less a cellar of the brick-and-mortar variety.

There is one possible alternative, however: the wine fridge from the U.K. department store John Lewis. This inspired appliance cools up to 39 bottles of your favorite fermented beverage (never red, of course) … Read more

Photos: Burton's iPod-ready beer cooler

How can you resist a beer cooler with an integrated speaker system for under $50? Admit it, it's impossible. We put the Burton Lil' Buddy speaker cooler through rigorous beer testing--overclocking it well past its rated capacity of 12-beers to an outstanding 16 (12 cans, 4 bottles). Want to see what your new best friend looks like up-close? Take a look at our Lil' Buddy slideshow.

MP3 cooler is a tailgater's best friend

As much as we love the "George Foreman iGrill" and other MP3 barbecues, sometimes it's just too hot to cook for an August picnic. That's when a simple cold plate will do just fine--and this a handy way to keep your lunch fresh while taking along some built-in entertainment for the next tailgater.

Wagan's "Thermo Sport Fridge/Cooler" is big enough to hold 16 cans of your favorite beverage while it does double duty as a sound system that can play the radio or your MP3 tunes, according to Uber-Review. The only problem … Read more