Gadgets

No green thumb needed for Click and Grow plants

The ability to reach out and pluck fruits and vegetables off of a nearby branch, for many, is an unrealistic dream. Yet fresh food that is grown nearby continues to be a desirable commodity. As well it should; food that is fresh is far superior to that which has been hanging around during transport or otherwise. As delicious as freshly picked food may be, the hurdle of actually growing it is not one to be ignored. Unless of course, the whole process is automated.

Two new self-monitoring plant kits have been added to the Click and Grow kitchen countertop grove. … Read more

Deliver chopped garlic with a twist

Perhaps more so than any other single fruit, vegetable, or herb, garlic gets its own dedicated gadgets. It should probably not come as much of a surprise that garlic has demanded so much attention. After all, the pungent little cloves do tend to stand out amongst everything that they come in contact with. Yet, we cannot seem to stay away from the species Allium sativum even if we try. However, we can avoid touching it.

Prepping garlic is one of those kitchen tasks that is easy to do yet can be time-consuming. The Chef'n Garlic Machine Garlic Press ($10.95)Read more

EatWave vending machine nukes your nibbles

Our long national nightmare of vending machines only delivering cold items is almost over. Once EatWave vending machines take over the break rooms and hotel lobbies of the world, we will no longer have to wait in line at the microwave.

EatWave offers a complete junk food meal from a single machine. You can get a cold soda, a bag of chips, a hot pastrami sandwich, and a chocolate bar all at once. Each EatWave machine is equipped with a built-in microwave unit and a gravity delivery system for moving the food.… Read more

Get a 4th-gen iPod Touch (8GB) for $129

Quick housekeeping note: I've got something pretty sweet lined up for tomorrow. And next Friday. And the Friday after that. It's all part of a somewhat special occasion, and I'm really excited about it. Stay tuned!

If you ask me, there's no better gift item for a kid than an iPod Touch. Music, videos, games, e-mail, books, cameras, apps -- they're all there, all in one pocket-friendly package.

For a limited time, and while supplies last, Apple has cut prices on refurbished Touches. To wit: You can get a fourth-gen iPod Touch with 8GB for $129 shipped, … Read more

Design of the times: The secret to creating cell phones for seniors

Allen Calvin earned a doctorate in experimental psychology, was a consulting professor at Stanford University, and is currently the president of Palo Alto University, a post he's been holding for 28 years. He's learned a lot during his 84 years of living -- except for how to cut and paste text on a smartphone.

"I just want to copy anything and paste it out of an e-mail," he said with a voice that sounds like sandpaper. "This is obviously harder than it looks."

Calvin and his wife, Dorothy, are inside a brightly lit Verizon … Read more

HTC and Verizon will unveil new device Nov. 13

Judging from an invite that just hit our desks, Verizon and HTC will pull the tarp off a fresh smartphone on Tuesday. The press event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in New York, and we plan to be on hand to find out just what kind of luscious mobile technology will drop from the sky.

I personally hope this event will center around the rumored HTC DLX handset, a 5-inch-screen phone said to be armed to the teeth with a truckload of powerful components and software. These include Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, an 8- or … Read more