toast

UK ahead of the curve in all-important heated butter knife category

For those who keep butter in the refrigerator, the morning ritual of the spread can be challenging. Some elect to soften the butter in the microwave; others, according to research, use a hair dryer. The betterment of humankind often relies on intensive research, and clearly this is true in the case of the Toastie Knife.

Warburtons, a U.K. bakery chain, has given the world the heated butter knife. The battery-operated utensil solves the morning conundrum of how to introduce butter to bread, muffins, or pastries. Described as being able to achieve the "perfect temperature for spreading," the … Read more

Retro toaster dock is hot for your iPhone

Take a long look at your iPhone. What does it remind you of? If you said, "breakfast," then I have the perfect dock for you.

The Gavio Toast iPhone dock and speaker system looks like a 1950s toaster all covered in chrome with rounded retro lines.

The details are sketchy, but it looks like the speakers hide behind the front slots. The iPhone sits right on top like it just popped up.

There is an adjustable volume control and a mysterious handle on the side that looks like it should trigger the dock to suck your iPhone inside.… Read more

Toast your photos

PhotoToaster is an image editor with tons of preset effects and custom options to give your photos a stylized look. To "toast" a photo you can either take a new picture with your iPhone camera or choose an image from your photo library. Buttons across the bottom of the interface let you experiment with the different effects.

With PhotoToaster, you can use one of several global effects for a photo or use them as a starting point--this app lets you customize the effects to your liking using onscreen sliders. Global effects include retro looks, black and white effects, … Read more

Digital City 99: Social Networks, laptop tans, and dreams of PS3/360 friendships

Can you believe we're only one episode away from No. 100? We can't either, and we discuss our various plans for next week's very special podcast. But, while Dan is away in Texas, it leaves Joey, Scott, and Julie feeling restless in the rainy city.

Scott's finally seen "The Social Network," and he finds it oddly self-contained but very well-made. But, as Julie points out, where are the other movies based on computer pioneers? Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were relegated to a 1999 made-for-TV movie. We wonder what other tech endeavors deserve feature treatment...the Palm Pre story?

Also, we discuss "Toasted Skin Syndrome" and whether we fear hot laptops on our skin; Andy Rooney's latest rant goes off on car gadgets, but we find them useful; Joey wonders why PS3/360 multiplatform games can't play with each other (can't a person dream?); and Scott talks about some recently-released games he's played, including the potential sleeper Enslaved and Nintendo's latest Mii-fest, Wii Party.

See you next week on Episode 100!

'Toasted Skin Syndrome': Are laptop users at risk?

"Hot legs" isn't just another term for good-looking gams. It can be a warning sign of a medical condition that affects users of laptop computers.

The condition, dubbed erythema ab igne or "Toasted Skin Syndrome," arises when people rest a hot laptop on their laps for an extended period of time.

Sounds ridiculous, but recent cases suggest it's no joke.

In one case, a 12-year-old boy developed a sponge-patterned skin discoloration on his left thigh after playing computer games a few hours every day for several months.

In another case, a Virginia law student … Read more

Toaster bags let you toast pizza, more

Ever wanted a grilled cheese sandwich but didn't have time to do anything but stick some bread in the toaster? That simple act can translate into a grilled cheese sandwich if you're willing to put cheese between your slices of bread and find a way to keep it from dripping into the toaster. The NoStick Toast It Toaster Bags can keep your cheese contained, along with other sandwich fixings. The bags are made from a heat-resistant material that can be reused up to 50 times and works well with any type of toaster.

The NoStick Toast It Toaster … Read more

Countertop rotisserie oven makes mealtime manageable

It's easy to find convenience in the kitchen. Everywhere you look, gadgets and appliances are designed with ease of use in mind. This is a good thing, as cooking should not be intimidating to anyone; it is communal, fun, and something we all have in common. Having a device that has preset modes for easy operation makes kitchen chores accessible to anyone, including children. Having a device that offers preset cooking modes, and advanced options makes sure that particular appliance offers something for everyone.

The Black & Decker Digital Rotisserie Convection Oven is one such device. Sure, you could … Read more

Toast (and toaster ovens) always in style

Toast is always in fashion. Perhaps that's why when we raise our glasses to celebrate something we call it a toast--or maybe not. (Actually, it may just be.) Whether toasted bread and toasting drinks have anything historically to do with each other, the fact of the matter is that toast is delicious, and we need a way to make it.

Toaster ovens are convenient little contraptions offering much more versatility than the simple toasters of the past. The DeLonghi Six-Slice Toaster Oven marries that versatility with convenience and packages it into one attractive unit. Featuring clean lines reminiscent of … Read more

Toaster oven rivals oven-oven in versatility

Toaster ovens may be multitaskers by design, but quite often, they seem to not live up to their potential when actually in use. Sure, you can reheat pizza or broil an open face sandwich, but when it comes to actually cooking something (other than, well, toast), they often seem to fall short of the mark. No longer is that the case, as the toaster ovens of today offer a host of features.

The Calphalon Convection Toaster Oven combines the easy-to-use features of a toaster oven with the versatility of a convection oven. Large enough to accommodate a 12-inch pizza or … Read more

Toaster combines modern and classic styling--and that's it

There are a lot of toasters out there. For every personal aesthetic, there seems to be a corresponding toaster. Toasters range from the bright and shiny to gimmicky multitaskers made out of plastic. Machines are available for those that prefer design, and there are toasters out there that tout convenience. Combination appliances are great fun, and at times actually do save time and money (consider the toaster oven, for example). But sometimes you just want a toaster that toasts.

That is, toasts and looks cool too. The Bodum Bistro Toaster combines classic and modern design into one impressive design. All … Read more