GeekSugar

Move Over Roomba: Here Comes a New Robotic Vacuum

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:33:01 -0700

I can't think of much not to love about the Roomba, but there's always room for competition in a market with one really great product.

So, welcome the Panasonic Fukitorimushi (Japanese for "wipe-up bug"), introduced recently at the Tokyo Fiber Senseware exhibition in Milan.

The Fukitorimushi (um, can we please just abbreviate it to "Fuki"? OK then) has a nanocloth underbelly, rather than a traditional sucking mechanism like a Roomba.

Its cloth-covered body kind of looks like you dropped a towel on the floor and forgot to pick it up, but I could learn to live with anything that cleans my apartment for me.

The BacVac Would Make Vacuuming Suck Less

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 03:00:21 -0700

Yes, we got the memo - Roombas are trendy and Dysons are chic yet practical - check. But what about a vacuum that you could throw on your back, that's free from the constraints of irritating cords and a heavy base?!

I bring you the BacVac, a smart concept design created by The Continuum studio, which I spotted on Trend Hunter. This backpack-style vacuum cleaner is powered by an onboard fuel cell that would be replenished with ethanol. Hmm, they had me sold until the ethanol part!

Check out a full picture gallery below!

View 5 Photos ›

Mouse/Vacuum Combo: Totally Geeky or Geek Chic?

GeekSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:06:37 -0800

I don't know what it is about mini-vacuums you can use to clean up dirt and crumbs on your desk - but I love them! So maybe I don't actually own one, or have taken one for an actual test drive, but they still captivate me for some strange reason. Check out this Tokyo Mango special: A mouse and cleaner duo. Yes, now you can surf the net and clean your grimy workspace at the same time - how hot is that?! The bottom of the mouse opens up so you can empty all your trash. This may just be a tad geekish freakish, but I want to know what you think!

USB Desk Vacuum Cleaner: So Hot Right Now?

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:00:46 -0700

So this mini vacuum which I spotted on 7 Gadgets may not be something you'd find in Barbie's dreamhouse, but it does encompass pure retro beauty all-around.

From the old-school design, right down to the beige and brown, you can't help but love it! Rather than trying to convince you of its natural beauty, I'll give you three reasons why it's one of the ultimate desk accessories.

You can sit it right on your desk for quick crumb and dust clean-ups.
It is USB friendly. Just plug it in and vroom vroom-away you go!
It can act as your personal conversation starter. Say good-bye to awkward silences!

The USB Desk Vacuum Cleaner costs $34. Now it's time to reveal your hot or not verdict. Don't knock it till you try it!

The iRobot By Roomba Goes Red

GeekSugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 03:09:12 -0700

When I compared the Roomba to the Dyson Slim (if you haven't seen the fun video, click on the link), I described the Roomba as a "geeky guy magnet gadget that's cleverly disguised as a vacuum." Seriously, girls may swoon to the Dyson, but guys seem to be pulled by gravity to the Roomba. Well gravity has definitely shifted ever since the iRobot got a hot new makeover! What I suggest is you use the fantabulous Dyson for thorough carpet cleaning sessions and then bust out the red Roomba for quick touch-ups. Just turn it on and head out for an afternoon filled with lattés and shopping. The Roomba Red will clean all your surfaces while the supersensitive bumpers help the vacuum feel its way around the room. All you have to do is charge up the battery and leave the iRobot alone to do all your dirty work. Priced at $150.

To check out more images of the red hot iRobot, read more

View 6 Photos ›

DustMates: Vacuum With Your Feet

GeekSugar — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:32:45 -0800

The gadget world has been a buzz about the idea of Swedish designers Electrolux's Dustmate slipper vacuum, which has a built-in vacuum cleaner in the sole of the shoe.
I am generally a skeptic when it comes to novelty gadgets, but this one seems just about as functional as you can get. I only have carpet in a small area of my house, and the rest is covered with hardwood floor so everyday is a dust battle. The idea of putting on some shoes, turning on my iPod and sliding around the house while picking up dust and dirt is just the kind of geeky thing I fantasize about daily. No word yet on the potential cost of the shoes or when they might make it to the market. I'll be waiting nonetheless.

Mini Vacuum Friends: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:00:27 -0800

It takes one little piggy to dirty your desk, and I suspect it'll take another little piggy to clean it up! Who knows if these battery-powered Mini Vacuum Friends - available as a pig or elephant - are worth the $20, but they are pretty adorable.

Billed by Fred Flare as a desk accessory, you might have more luck cleaning up your dirty work space with compressed air. What do you think of the cute little guys?

Battle Of The Vacuums: Roomba Vs Dyson Slim

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:07:17 -0700

A Dyson vacuum is one of those gadgets that elicits an "ohhhhh" and an "awwwww" from everyone that walks by it. Or at least everyone that's walked by geeksugar central in the last week. I attribute the giddy Dyson adulation to the British company's hoity-toity reputation (they make a jaw-dropping $2,000 model), the assertion that Dyson is the "first vacuum cleaner that doesn't lose suction" and the fact that for a vacuum, it's ridiculously good looking.

It frankly isn't fair to compare the Dyson Slim, which is only 15.8 pounds, to my clunky vacuum at home because the Dyson is designed with art and innovation in mind. So, in the spirit of cleaning fun, I decided I should pit the lady killer against an even more unlikely candidate, the iRobot Roomba. For those of you that don't know, I describe the Roomba as a "geeky guy magnet gadget that's cleverly disguised as a vacuum." Seriously, girls may swoon to the Dyson, but guys seem to be pulled by gravity to the Roomba. So how did the sexy, feminine Dyson compare to the more masculine robotic Roomba? Be prepared to be impressed all around.

For my full review, read more

Like I said, it's not fair to compare the Dyson to the Roomba based solely on the fact that they are completely different models and machines, but it was a fun challenge and they each presented their own perks.

Suction
Most of all, I wanted to compare how much each sucked up because at the end of the day, you buy a vacuum to suck. In that respect the Dyson was a clear winner. I can admit, much to the pleasure of my male colleague, the Roomba did perform a lot better than I expected and does have the ability to clean a room. It just needs to do it on its own time and can't be pushed with the same force of the Dyson.

Coverage and Strength
I was also curious to see how long it would take the Roomba to clean a room by itself versus how long it takes to clean a room with the Dyson. I passed the Dyson over the room and covered every spot in about 2 minutes. I then set the Roomba to clean the space - I had to put up a funky barrier wall to keep it within the same space - and it took about 15 minutes to tread the same ground. Of course, the plus of the Roomba in this case is that it can vacuum by itself, so if you don't have guests coming over in 10 minutes, you can program the Roomba to clean, leave the room and make yourself a spot of tea.

Grace and Beauty
Apparently, air expelled from a Dyson has up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than the air you breathe. That alone sold me on the model. Of course, it helped that the machine is sleek, light and powerful. I happen to be one of those geeks that gets a real pleasure out of vacuuming - it's the only chore that gives me a real sense of accomplishment - so I love that you can give the Dyson a good push and get the job done.

As for the Roomba, watching that little thing hum along the floor is a delight. There's the thrill you get when you realize it's actually cleaning your floor sans cords or human help, followed by an even greater thrill when you realize it can clean the floor when you're not home.

Need To Call A Draw?
Buy them both. Use the Dyson for the heavy duty cleaning and the Roomba to do your dirty work when you're not home. Or scare little dogs.

Daily Tech: Check Deposit Via iPhone Coming Soon

GeekSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:10:02 -0700

Customers belonging to the USAA bank will soon be able to deposit checks to their account by using a new iPhone app - The New York Times
Is the Dyson D22 Motorhead Vacuum as great as everyone is claiming it is? - Switched
It's rumored that Amazon put up a Game of the Year version of LittleBigPlanet for $50 - Joystiq
These colorful 3.5-inch floppy disk change purses are the perfect geek-chic accessory - Technabob
Analysts are predicting that Apple's new tablet will cost around $600 and primarily be used for web surfing, email, and digital media - Wired
The green Samsung Reclaim cell phone gets unboxed - MobileCrunch

What Electronics Can Be Recycled?

GeekSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:01:16 -0700

You can't escape the grocery, electronics or movie rental store without seeing a small cell recycling drop box, but how can you dispose of larger, more ecologically dangerous gadgets? Electronics companies have - or been forced to! - put considerable resources into making their products recyclable. A handful of states have even passed laws that require companies to take back their goods (Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Sony all do so at no charge), but you can always be green by selling or gifting the item, or giving it to a reuse effort.

To get the scoop on electronics that can be recycled, read more.

Accepted AT All Locations	Accepted AT Most Locations	Rarely Accepted
Computer Monitors CPU's (Central Processing Units) Televisions with Cathode Ray Tubes and Flat Panel Displays Printers Laptops Cables Keyboards Mouses	Answering Machines Camcorders Compact Disc Players Copiers Duplicators Electric Typewriters Fax Machines Hard Drives Mobile Phones Modems Pagers Printed Circuit Boards Radios Remote Controls Stereos Tape Players Telephones Telephone Equipment VCRs Word Processors Batteries PDAs Games (Video)	Microwaves Smoke Detectors Large Household Appliances (Refrigerators, Washing Machines, and Air Conditioners) Toasters Fans Vacuum Cleaners Lamps Specialty Cookers

This list is based on data from the EPA. Check out the EPA's guide to where you can donate or recycle your electronics.