black & decker

With motion-controlled Gyro screwdriver, it's all in the wrist

LAS VEGAS--We've seen pistol-shaped screwdrivers before, but Black & Decker's Gyro takes the cake for cool weapon-style tools.

Shown off at CES 2013, Gyro looks like a ray gun and has a cutting-edge feature: it's billed as the world's first motion-activated screwdriver with variable speed and direction.

You grip it like a gun, then push a strip with the base of your thumb to activate the motor and an LED guide light. The more you rotate your wrist to the right, the faster it will turn clockwise. … Read more

Inspiration in juice

It's easy to become overwhelmed when presented with flavor combinations for any particular food item. Yet, variety, as they say, is the spice of life. As we navigate our senses and find our culinary preferences--whether it be how we like our steak done, or what type of veggies we prefer--often we may find that what we are looking for doesn't exist in nature. Hence, we are inundated with even more choices as flavor combinations are explored in everything from jams and jellies to pizza toppings; it seems there are no varieties that we will not attempt. When it … Read more

Save endangered space

I'm always a fan of how the kitchen looks when the counters are gleaming and clutter-free, but that's not always realistic in a functional kitchen. But what to do with all those countertop appliances when counter space is at a premium? And if I'm leaving my appliances out for ease of use, where exactly am I supposed to cook?

Black and Decker has a nice solution with a new line of SpaceMaker appliances that install under the cabinets, leaving the counters clear. The line includes a can opener/knife sharpener, a mini food processor/grinder, a toaster … Read more

InfraWave speeds up countertop cooking

When I think of a countertop oven, my first thought is of a toaster oven--an appliance ideal for melting cheese, but not something I've really done a lot of cooking in. But the InfraWave Speed Cooking Countertop Oven, from Black&Decker Appliances, takes the toaster oven scenario up a notch.

The InfraWave uses infrared light to cook food both inside and out, preparing meals in as little as half the time a conventional oven requires. And unlike a toaster oven, the InfraWave doesn't require you to defrost food beforehand. Black&Decker promises that, for most foods, … Read more

Hot holiday gadget? You'll never guess

One of the best-selling gadgets this holiday season is, in many ways, something a lot closer to the Iron Age than the Digital Age.

Black & Decker's battery-powered adjustable wrench was a quick sellout at Home Depot's 2,127 stores, according to Advertising Age. The item became so popular that it even saw a bit of price gouging on eBay, running up to $58 on some auctions from the $18 price listed on Lowe's online stores, which also ran out of the product. Not exactly PS3 prices, but not bad for a wrench either.

The product's … Read more