What new product or invention do you LOVE?

[zoebartlett]

Although I''m not always the most organized person in the world, I strive to be.

I love any organizational storage unit, store, container, etc. I recently discovered the huge Hefty bags (they''re big enough to hold pillows and blankets and other large items). I like idea of space bags but I''ve never tried them.

Kind of related: I think I get this love of storage items from my grandma. She had a whole room in her house dedicated to wrapping paper, tissue paper, and boxes. It seemed a bit strange to me at the time but not so much anymore. She did go overboard though. She used to layer tissue paper in between her clothes when she packed a suitcase. Anyway...

What product or invention do you use a lot and/or find helpful to have?

 

[Steel]

MP3.

I thought the move from tapes to CD''s was amazing. But the leap to MP3 is even better.

I remember my tape recorder eating my tapes, winding the tape on with a pencil. Turning it over and fast forwarding the B side to rewind the A side. Cursing when I heard the gurgle knowing it had eaten another tape. Then CD''s were cool, and I carried a CD box out on hikes with me to change the music, worrying about scratching the discs. With the advent of MP3''s it is light, I can hear lots of tunes and store away all the CD boxes out of the way!

Whoooo hooo for MP3.

 

[Shopaholic]

I love my Nintendo DS! We travel a lot yet I can not sleep on the planes, my DS gets lots of use! I also love the Kindle for travel reasons as well, that way I can bring along a bunch of *books* without lugging them all around - though I still love regular books when I am home, I always have a stack next to my bed of books to read, nothing will ever beat actually turning the pages.

My Wii is another amazing invention that stilll awes me.

ETA: oooh yes, I agree about MP3s, I forgot about my iPod! Love it! My music taste is so eclectic that iTunes helps me get the songs I want instead of the hundreds of different CDs!

I guess I have a trend for liking compact items that travel well.....

 

[rainwood]

My iTouch. I don''t have an iPhone because AT&T has such rotten coverage here, but I''ve been fascinated with my iTouch since I first put it in my hand. It syncs so well with my Mac and I can load photos easily if we''re going to see someone who''d be interested in something particular. And all the great apps (particularly games). If the iPhone ever slides over to Verizon, I''ll be on it in a flash, but until then I''ll love my iTouch to death.

 

[Circe]

My electronic cigarette! I think this thing is miraculous.

 

[Haven]

Date: 8/2/2009 12:56:51 PM
Author: Circe
My electronic cigarette! I think this thing is miraculous.

Details, please. I have never heard of such a thing, that is, unless you are poking fun and this doesn''t really exist, and I''m on the wrong side of the poke.

 

[D&T]

internet, and cell phones! don''t know how I could live with out either now a days

 

[Circe]

Date: 8/2/2009 1:11:00 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 8/2/2009 12:56:51 PM

Author: Circe

My electronic cigarette! I think this thing is miraculous.

Details, please. I have never heard of such a thing, that is, unless you are poking fun and this doesn''t really exist, and I''m on the wrong side of the poke.

Nope,
it''s real! I talk about it on here periodically, to the point that I feel like I must be boring people, but I really think it''s the best, most useful thing to be invented in the last couple of years.

They invented them in China, apparently, where apparently almost everybody smokes, as a kind of a solution to the indoor smoking problem: my husband left me an article about them almost exactly a year ago as kind of a gag. It was an op-ed piece in "Chemical Engineering News" (of all things), talking about how these things were huge in China and kind of big in Italy and England, but only starting to come to the States. It''s basically a battery and a sensor: when you inhale, you activate a coil that heats a little pad soaked with glycerol and nicotine in varying combinations, giving you a hit of nicotine and some fake "smoke" (water vapor) to fool yourself with. It gives you the "feel" of smoking without the carcinogens. It was being marketed purely as an alternative to smoking, *not* as a nicotine cessation device, but there was the hint that it *could* be used that way.

I''d been smoking a pack a day for almost 9 years, and I''d tried quitting a few times - like, say, when I was diagnosed with asthma, when I had serious bronchitis, etc. - but it just never stuck. So I ordered the thing on a whim, thinking that if it didn''t work, I was out 60 bucks and some hope. And I smoked my last cigarette almost a year ago, on August 20th: since then, I tapered down through the decreasing strengths of electronic cigarette cartridge, and I almost didn''t notice when I finally quit all the way. So, if you have any smokers you love in your life whom you''re trying to talk into quitting ....

 

[Shopaholic]

Date: 8/2/2009 1:34:08 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 8/2/2009 1:11:00 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 8/2/2009 12:56:51 PM

Author: Circe

My electronic cigarette! I think this thing is miraculous.

Details, please. I have never heard of such a thing, that is, unless you are poking fun and this doesn''t really exist, and I''m on the wrong side of the poke.

Nope,
it''s real! I talk about it on here periodically, to the point that I feel like I must be boring people, but I really think it''s the best, most useful thing to be invented in the last couple of years.

They invented them in China, apparently, where apparently almost everybody smokes, as a kind of a solution to the indoor smoking problem: my husband left me an article about them almost exactly a year ago as kind of a gag. It was an op-ed piece in ''Chemical Engineering News'' (of all things), talking about how these things were huge in China and kind of big in Italy and England, but only starting to come to the States. It''s basically a battery and a sensor: when you inhale, you activate a coil that heats a little pad soaked with glycerol and nicotine in varying combinations, giving you a hit of nicotine and some fake ''smoke'' (water vapor) to fool yourself with. It gives you the ''feel'' of smoking without the carcinogens. It was being marketed purely as an alternative to smoking, *not* as a nicotine cessation device, but there was the hint that it *could* be used that way.

I''d been smoking a pack a day for almost 9 years, and I''d tried quitting a few times - like, say, when I was diagnosed with asthma, when I had serious bronchitis, etc. - but it just never stuck. So I ordered the thing on a whim, thinking that if it didn''t work, I was out 60 bucks and some hope. And I smoked my last cigarette almost a year ago, on August 20th: since then, I tapered down through the decreasing strengths of electronic cigarette cartridge, and I almost didn''t notice when I finally quit all the way. So, if you have any smokers you love in your life whom you''re trying to talk into quitting ....

Congrats Circe!

Maybe I will get my brother one of these, I really, really, want him to stop smoking!

 

[gwendolyn]

Skype is pretty freakin'' cool. I love anything that makes communicating around the world easier and less expensive. Speaking of, that brings me to the next thing that comes to mind...

WiiSpeak is cool too (it''s like a microphone that works through your Wii that picks up all the voices in one room so you can attend parties long-distance! sorta

), although not enough of my friends have it that it reaches its full potential of cool. But my friend S who lives in Australia and I can play games and chat with each other through it, which I love! And a couple other friends back home have it too. So much fun!

There''s also something that I want to try but haven''t yet--don''t know the name, but it''s like a wall hook type thing that attaches to the wall with some sort of sticky tape like stuff, but when you want to take it down, it peels right off. No holes in the walls from nails, and no chunks of wall to come out like (possibly) with blu-tack. I want to try it out, since we rent our apartment and don''t want to have to patch holes if we can help it!

And although it''s not new anymore, man oh man I still love shopping online. Just bought two things today (a hoodie sweater I LOVE and a silver shrug for the wedding) and it just reminded me how great it is to be able to shop in your pjs.

 

[packrat]

Date: 8/2/2009 1:34:08 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 8/2/2009 1:11:00 PM

Author: Haven

Date: 8/2/2009 12:56:51 PM


Author: Circe


My electronic cigarette! I think this thing is miraculous.

Details, please. I have never heard of such a thing, that is, unless you are poking fun and this doesn''t really exist, and I''m on the wrong side of the poke.

Nope,

it''s real! I talk about it on here periodically, to the point that I feel like I must be boring people, but I really think it''s the best, most useful thing to be invented in the last couple of years.


They invented them in China, apparently, where apparently almost everybody smokes, as a kind of a solution to the indoor smoking problem: my husband left me an article about them almost exactly a year ago as kind of a gag. It was an op-ed piece in ''Chemical Engineering News'' (of all things), talking about how these things were huge in China and kind of big in Italy and England, but only starting to come to the States. It''s basically a battery and a sensor: when you inhale, you activate a coil that heats a little pad soaked with glycerol and nicotine in varying combinations, giving you a hit of nicotine and some fake ''smoke'' (water vapor) to fool yourself with. It gives you the ''feel'' of smoking without the carcinogens. It was being marketed purely as an alternative to smoking, *not* as a nicotine cessation device, but there was the hint that it *could* be used that way.


I''d been smoking a pack a day for almost 9 years, and I''d tried quitting a few times - like, say, when I was diagnosed with asthma, when I had serious bronchitis, etc. - but it just never stuck. So I ordered the thing on a whim, thinking that if it didn''t work, I was out 60 bucks and some hope. And I smoked my last cigarette almost a year ago, on August 20th: since then, I tapered down through the decreasing strengths of electronic cigarette cartridge, and I almost didn''t notice when I finally quit all the way. So, if you have any smokers you love in your life whom you''re trying to talk into quitting ....

Oh wow-I might have to look into that for my parents! They''ve been threatening to quit for years, but the time is never "right"

 

[Shopaholic]

Date: 8/2/2009 1:41:24 PM
Author: gwendolyn
Skype is pretty freakin'' cool. I love anything that makes communicating around the world easier and less expensive. Speaking of, that brings me to the next thing that comes to mind...

WiiSpeak is cool too (it''s like a microphone that works through your Wii that picks up all the voices in one room so you can attend parties long-distance! sorta

), although not enough of my friends have it that it reaches its full potential of cool. But my friend S who lives in Australia and I can play games and chat with each other through it, which I love! And a couple other friends back home have it too. So much fun!

There''s also something that I want to try but haven''t yet--don''t know the name, but it''s like a wall hook type thing that attaches to the wall with some sort of sticky tape like stuff, but when you want to take it down, it peels right off. No holes in the walls from nails, and no chunks of wall to come out like (possibly) with blu-tack. I want to try it out, since we rent our apartment and don''t want to have to patch holes if we can help it!

And although it''s not new anymore, man oh man I still love shopping online. Just bought two things today (a hoodie sweater I LOVE and a silver shrug for the wedding) and it just reminded me how great it is to be able to shop in your pjs.

It''s made by 3M, and they absolutely work! I love them for hanging holiday decorations! They really hold a good amount of weight and come in all different sizes.

 

[Circe]

Date: 8/2/2009 1:45:42 PM
Author: packrat

Oh wow-I might have to look into that for my parents! They''ve been threatening to quit for years, but the time is never ''right''

Shopaholic, Packrat, I hope you do get them for your loved ones! Packrat, I know exactly how your parents feel - for years, I swore to myself I''d quit when I finished my orals, or my Ph.D., or whatever. But after the orals, I had to write the dissertation, and once I''d written the dissertation, I had to move across the country and learn to drive, and then I was fussing about writing my book, and on and on and on ... smoking becomes a habitual crutch, the most comforting of all habits. This way, you get to keep the habit/crutch, without the negative side effects.

One thing, though: it''s not *exactly* the same as smoking. The e-cig is much heavier than a normal cigarette, and the "smoke" isn''t hot, which is a weird feeling at first. It didn''t bug me enough to put me off of it, because I *wanted* to quit, but I bought one for my pack-a-day-since-he-was-TWELVE father, and he hasn''t quit ... he just uses his as a way to spare my mom the second-hand smoke when he''s in the house. Still, though, I figure that''s something!

 

[brightlight]

Date: 8/2/2009 1:34:08 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 8/2/2009 1:11:00 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 8/2/2009 12:56:51 PM

Author: Circe

My electronic cigarette! I think this thing is miraculous.

Details, please. I have never heard of such a thing, that is, unless you are poking fun and this doesn''t really exist, and I''m on the wrong side of the poke.

Nope,
it''s real! I talk about it on here periodically, to the point that I feel like I must be boring people, but I really think it''s the best, most useful thing to be invented in the last couple of years.

They invented them in China, apparently, where apparently almost everybody smokes, as a kind of a solution to the indoor smoking problem: my husband left me an article about them almost exactly a year ago as kind of a gag. It was an op-ed piece in ''Chemical Engineering News'' (of all things), talking about how these things were huge in China and kind of big in Italy and England, but only starting to come to the States. It''s basically a battery and a sensor: when you inhale, you activate a coil that heats a little pad soaked with glycerol and nicotine in varying combinations, giving you a hit of nicotine and some fake ''smoke'' (water vapor) to fool yourself with. It gives you the ''feel'' of smoking without the carcinogens. It was being marketed purely as an alternative to smoking, *not* as a nicotine cessation device, but there was the hint that it *could* be used that way.

I''d been smoking a pack a day for almost 9 years, and I''d tried quitting a few times - like, say, when I was diagnosed with asthma, when I had serious bronchitis, etc. - but it just never stuck. So I ordered the thing on a whim, thinking that if it didn''t work, I was out 60 bucks and some hope. And I smoked my last cigarette almost a year ago, on August 20th: since then, I tapered down through the decreasing strengths of electronic cigarette cartridge, and I almost didn''t notice when I finally quit all the way. So, if you have any smokers you love in your life whom you''re trying to talk into quitting ....

I was looking into getting one of these for a family member but saw a few weeks ago that the FDA thinks they may be a health hazaard (like smoking isn''t?). So, I''m waiting a bit until I hear more from the FDA.

 

[somethingshiny]

Obviously the following are not really NEW inventions/ideas, but I take a while with change....


Chlorox wipes.
The gift wrap organizers. My MIL works at Hallmark, I have my share of bows and ribbons.
MP3 player. This one is particularly weird for me since I just got my first one just a few months ago.
DVR. Hello. My name is somethingshiny and I''m a TVaholic.
Cordless battery attachments for all of my woodworking equipment, saws, drills, sanders, etc.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 8/2/2009 3:23:59 PM
Author: somethingshiny
Obviously the following are not really NEW inventions/ideas, but I take a while with change....


Chlorox wipes.
The gift wrap organizers. My MIL works at Hallmark, I have my share of bows and ribbons.
MP3 player. This one is particularly weird for me since I just got my first one just a few months ago.
DVR. Hello. My name is somethingshiny and I''m a TVaholic.
Cordless battery attachments for all of my woodworking equipment, saws, drills, sanders, etc.

I feel like the texture/thickness of their wipes is a little flimsy. I prefer Lysol. I feel they''re easier to use. I do really love the pre-moistened wipes though.

 

[April20]

Date: 8/2/2009 1:34:08 PM
Author: Circe

Date: 8/2/2009 1:11:00 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 8/2/2009 12:56:51 PM

Author: Circe

My electronic cigarette! I think this thing is miraculous.

Details, please. I have never heard of such a thing, that is, unless you are poking fun and this doesn''t really exist, and I''m on the wrong side of the poke.

Nope,
it''s real! I talk about it on here periodically, to the point that I feel like I must be boring people, but I really think it''s the best, most useful thing to be invented in the last couple of years.

They invented them in China, apparently, where apparently almost everybody smokes, as a kind of a solution to the indoor smoking problem: my husband left me an article about them almost exactly a year ago as kind of a gag. It was an op-ed piece in ''Chemical Engineering News'' (of all things), talking about how these things were huge in China and kind of big in Italy and England, but only starting to come to the States. It''s basically a battery and a sensor: when you inhale, you activate a coil that heats a little pad soaked with glycerol and nicotine in varying combinations, giving you a hit of nicotine and some fake ''smoke'' (water vapor) to fool yourself with. It gives you the ''feel'' of smoking without the carcinogens. It was being marketed purely as an alternative to smoking, *not* as a nicotine cessation device, but there was the hint that it *could* be used that way.

I''d been smoking a pack a day for almost 9 years, and I''d tried quitting a few times - like, say, when I was diagnosed with asthma, when I had serious bronchitis, etc. - but it just never stuck. So I ordered the thing on a whim, thinking that if it didn''t work, I was out 60 bucks and some hope. And I smoked my last cigarette almost a year ago, on August 20th: since then, I tapered down through the decreasing strengths of electronic cigarette cartridge, and I almost didn''t notice when I finally quit all the way. So, if you have any smokers you love in your life whom you''re trying to talk into quitting ....

Thanks for the explanation on this. I saw these in the mall recently and was wondering how they work. We''re not smokers but I was curious about them all the same. I was wondering if it was something that could be used as a tool or sorts to help people quit and it sounds like it can be. Congrats on quitting!

 

[April20]

I love my DVR. I seriously think this is one of the greatest things invented for TV in a while. I love not having to think about setting a VCR to record shows I enjoy and I love being able to watch them at my leisure and FF thru commericials. I also love being able to rewind when I miss something, which happens a lot because I tend to multi-task when I''m watching TV.

I also love, love, love my Kindle. I love to read and hated dragging three or four books around when I travel. They were getting heavy! I also love that when I finish a book, I can get a new one immediately if I so desire.

 

[princessplease]

My Iphone. I am in love with that freakin thing!

 

[Haven]

Reusable shopping bags that smush into a little pouch so they fit easily into my purse

 

[radiantquest]

This may sound strange but a few months ago we needed a new toilet seat. We went to home depot to get a new one. They now have a new seat. It lowers slowly. The lid and the seat. I think it is awesome. There used to be a problem in my house of the lid being left up and I hated it. I thought it was gross. Now it is always down. Husband always puts it all down now because he barely has to start it. Just a little nudge and it lowes itself down quietly.

The only problem is that when we go to someone elses house we nearly crack their toilet putting down the lid(me) or seat(him) because it doesn''t lower itself. It slams every where else.

 

[Shopaholic]

Date: 8/2/2009 6:34:18 PM
Author: radiantquest
This may sound strange but a few months ago we needed a new toilet seat. We went to home depot to get a new one. They now have a new seat. It lowers slowly. The lid and the seat. I think it is awesome. There used to be a problem in my house of the lid being left up and I hated it. I thought it was gross. Now it is always down. Husband always puts it all down now because he barely has to start it. Just a little nudge and it lowes itself down quietly.

The only problem is that when we go to someone elses house we nearly crack their toilet putting down the lid(me) or seat(him) because it doesn't lower itself. It slams every where else.

Radiantquest - you might like the toilets they have all over Japan, it's made by Toto and those things do EVERYTHING except make your bed! The seats are heated, there is a bidet like wash feature but a step further than regular bidets, the toilets also provide...ahem..."blow drying", in business and public stalls they have the extra feature of fake flushing sound effects for those that are shy about their toilet noises, the sound effect even has a countdown light to let you know to press it again if you need it to go on longer....

 

[Lilac]

I love DVR. Never had it till we got married, and never understood all the hype about it, but now that I have it I LOVE it! I don''t have to remember to tape anything anymore once I''ve set it the first time, I love being able to pause and stop and fast forward and rewind. I love just being able to scroll through the TV list, hit "record" without worrying about blank tapes, and watch it whenever I want.

I also love my iPod.

And my heated seats in the winter in my car.

 

[shimmer]

Date: 8/2/2009 7:20:20 PM
Author: Shopaholic

Date: 8/2/2009 6:34:18 PM

Author: radiantquest

This may sound strange but a few months ago we needed a new toilet seat. We went to home depot to get a new one. They now have a new seat. It lowers slowly. The lid and the seat. I think it is awesome. There used to be a problem in my house of the lid being left up and I hated it. I thought it was gross. Now it is always down. Husband always puts it all down now because he barely has to start it. Just a little nudge and it lowes itself down quietly.


The only problem is that when we go to someone elses house we nearly crack their toilet putting down the lid(me) or seat(him) because it doesn''t lower itself. It slams every where else.

Radiantquest - you might like the toilets they have all over Japan, it''s made by Toto and those things do EVERYTHING except make your bed! The seats are heated, there is a bidet like wash feature but a step further than regular bidets, the toilets also provide...ahem...''blow drying'', in business and public stalls they have the extra feature of fake flushing sound effects for those that are shy about their toilet noises, the sound effect even has a countdown light to let you know to press it again if you need it to go on longer....

Haha, I was going to mention that when I read Radiants comment. They had them when I went to Korea last year and now I want one, they are so cool!

 

[marcy]

DVR
Self timer on the oven
Digital cameras
Blackberry - cell phone, email and web browser in one little pink package
100 cal snacks
Baked lays
Ideal cut diamonds (okay they aren''t new but I still LOVE it)
Blu Ray
HD TV''s
Surround Sound

 

[Laila619]

Date: 8/2/2009 10:30:58 PM
Author: marcyc
100 cal snacks

100 cal snack packs are the BEST!!

 

[SapphireLover]

I LOVE my iPhone. I have no idea how I coped without it before!

 

[whitby_2773]

zip lock bags. i use them for everything! dog food, left overs, hair stuff, screws and nails... the list is limitless.

and - anything which removed dog hair. lint removers are a life''s staple in this household!

 

[SapphireLover]

Just thought of a new one- I love my new knife sharpener. It is truly awesome. I''ve had wetstones by they have always been a PITA. I got a cheapy £6 one from Amazon that fixes to my worksurface. It is like having a new knife everytime I use it. I love it!

 

[marlie]

I second that DVR is the best thing ever. I''m obsessed.

I also love my mac keyboard at work and the one on my laptop at home b/c you cannot get crumbs in it. it''s the new one that is just metal with the keys sticking out of it. very flat. it''s always clean. As someone who has to eat lunch while working often, i very much appreciate that!