Crapgadget -- Engadget

Crapgadget: 'Gee... thanks?' edition

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jul 2nd 2009 at 1:33PM

If you need a flash drive or USB hub there are many useful and, more to the point, tasteful options out there. But if you want to saddle a hapless co-worker or relative with a silly, embarrassing, or just plain crapulant gag gift suitable for the current technological moment? Look no further than the following assortment of crapgadgets. Your illustrious Engadget eds have hand-picked a wonderful assortment of devices tailor-made to evoke awkward responses at office birthday parties and the like. So, without further ado...

Read - No Green Thumb Required: USB Fever 4-Port Flower Pot Hub
Read - USB Airplane Hub with built-in fan
Read - Robot USB Drives would make a cute gift
Read - USB Artillery Hub
Read - USB Octopus Hub

Crapgadget: Delicious salmagundi of decorative inanities edition

by Laura June, posted Jun 21st 2009 at 12:36PM

We're always big fans of mixed-use gadgets -- but these ones kind of mutilate the principle. On hand today we've got a two pack of bedazzled necklaces -- one an MP3 player, the other a USB flash drive / watch combo. We've also unearthed a USB speaker that claims to be a whale, but more closely resembles a weird, in our opinion. Finally (and this one was worth the wait, trust us), we've got a tiny Moto Horn for your bike, which makes it "safer" to ride your bike by... making vroom vroom motorbike noises as you zoom along. Consider these our best suggestions for what to do with your disposable income, folks.

Read - USB Jewel Square Necklace MP3 Player
Read - USB Jewel Watch Necklace Flash Drive
Read - USB Cetacean Whale Speaker
Read - Moto Horn

Crapgadget: Tacky USB knicknacks edition

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jun 1st 2009 at 8:07AM

When the fine folks of the USB Implementers Forum put together the specs for USB 2.0 some nine odd years ago, they certainly never dreamed that this technology would be the standard connectivity option for the tacky knickknacks of the 21st century. We know you won't be lining your mantelpiece with any of these things (the space being reserved for your Franklin Mint collector plates depicting the cast of Gone With The Wind) but maybe your cube could use some gussying up? We have 2GB thumb drives for you that almost-not-really pass themselves off as cat's ears, a USB hub that comes with "chocolate" balls of dubious provenance, a hub that might look at home next to your skull bong, and lastly, a USB powered fan with a fetching Spider-Man motif. Do any of these sound good to you? We didn't think so. But feel free to hop on past the break for a good laugh.

Read - USB Chocolate 3-Port Hub
Read - USB Memory Cat Ears
Read - Wacky Skull and Potato Polyresin USB Hubs
Read - USB Spider-Man Fan

Continue reading Crapgadget: Tacky USB knicknacks edition

Crapgadget: USB embarrassments shame Intel's rock stars

by Darren Murph, posted May 24th 2009 at 2:32AM

Seriously, Ajay here would be downright ashamed. His Universal Serial Bus has found some seriously awesome uses over the years, sure, but the latest torrent of USB-equipped garbage is looking to do more harm than good to the venerable connector. In our latest roundup of crap found 'round the web, we see yet again that it's the USB-infused devices holding down the fort. From a flashlight-packin' USB SD card reader to a USB Parrot, our heads hurt from just imagining who among us is actually spending cold, hard credit on this rubbish. Feel free to inflict the same pain upon yourself by visiting the links below, and then cast your vote for the worst of the worst. Good luck, brave souls.

Read - USB SD card reader with flashlight
Read - Sparkling USB bracelet with no purpose or dreams
Read - USB Notebook Pocket Cooler puts 'Huffing' and 'Puffing' out of work
Read - Pepe, the USB Parrot
Read - 4-port USB hub gains a mirror... because it can
Read - Jewel Rose Pin USB Flash Drive: perfect for Great, Great, Great Grandmother's Day
Read - USB U-Shape i-Speaker just looks disturbing

Crapgadget: No wonder the economy sucks edition

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 27th 2009 at 1:08AM

While we here at Engadget are doing everything in our power to get this philosophical "economy" back "on track," it's items like these that aren't doing anything to help. No innovation. No stimulating capabilities. No utility at all, really. Just a webcam that scans business cards, an MP3 player shaped like a cow and a flash drive that's absolutely not certified for circulation by the Democratic National Committee. Though, we must say that they're all tailor made for Crapgadget, which is (just barely) good enough for us -- drop your vote for the lamest below!

Read - CowCow MP3 player
Read - 4-Port Soccer Ball USB Hub
Read - MSI StarCam Flip Webcam
Read - USB Bird Fan
Read - Bling Bling USB Card Reader
Read - Obama Flash Drive

Crapgadget: USB abomination edition (with a pinch of superhero)

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 11th 2009 at 3:50PM

Seriously, just listen at this and try to stifle your sighs. "Bling Bling USB optical mouse." "Jewel Necklace USB flash drive." "Turtle-Look USB 2.0 Hub with a tray." "Magic Sensor LCD Alarm Clock." "Insect USB Mini Fan." Yes, friends, this is the type of utter garbage we're dealing with in this episode of Crapgadget. Honestly, we're simultaneously astounded and deeply depressed that anyone would even consider dishing out their hard-earned cheddar for any of this rubbish, but we're doing our darnedest to pretend that these were simply created for us to have a laugh at.The week's strongest contender? Some superhero magnet pixels... and that's saying something.

Read - Bling Bling mouse
Read - Jewel necklace USB drive
Read - Turtle USB hub
Read - Sensor alarm clock
Read - Insect fan
Read - Magnetic pixels

Crapgadget: Why are you doing this to us, Spider-phone?

by Laura June, posted Apr 7th 2009 at 3:52PM

We can't tell if this is an insane piece of crap or completely awesome. Spider-phone appears to be a new item, albeit pretty far behind the Spider-man product curve -- but, you know -- whatever. Regardless, it's got all the hallmarks of a finely crafted attempt to cash in on Peter Parker's alter ego... the webs, the webs, not to mention the fact that Tobey Maguire's on the box! This rad GSM piece boasts a 2 megapixel camera, a microSD slot, and a color swivel display. It's available in Hong Kong for HK$1180 (about US$152). Up next: a NewGoblin-phone with Franco napping on the box? We sure hope so! Check out a few more shots after the break.

Continue reading Crapgadget: Why are you doing this to us, Spider-phone?

Crapgadget: "Wow... just, wow" edition

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 13th 2009 at 7:34AM

A buffalo USB speaker? Really? Someone thought this was a good idea? How's about a completely unlicensed Mickey Multifunction Webcam? You know, for doing lots of random crap, just not very well. Or what about an MP3 pen that helps you learn Mandarin? Yeah, 'cause that's totally beneficial in more than three locations on Planet Earth. Or, if you're still not sold, how's about a USB bamboo fountain that'll be a surefire catalyst for adding mold and mildew to any room? Believe it or not, all of these are real products that you can exchange hard-earned dollars for, though obviously we wouldn't recommend it. Cast your vote below for the most jaw-dropping of all.

Read - Buffalo USB Speaker
Read - MP3 Pen
Read - USB Bamboo Fountain
Read - Mickey Webcam

ITOI children's interactive toilet concept is terrifying

by Nilay Patel, posted Feb 5th 2009 at 4:42PM

We're not so sure you should be teaching your children to shake hands afterwards.

[Thanks, Adam]

Crapgadget: let's get this year started wrong edition

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 19th 2009 at 7:15AM

Now that CES and its wide range of goodies and garbage are behind us, it's time to take a look at the first roundup of Crapgadgets in the year 2009. Not surprisingly, the creators of crap are kicking things off in extraordinary fashion, with an actual "bust warmer," cassette tape-turned-USB hub and a handset leash making the cut. Those kings of catastrophe are being joined by a $100 spy pen that might be worth a nickle and a Painted Dot iChair that could cause retina damage upon seeing it. Have a glance at the links below and cast your vote for the lamest of the lame.

Read - Thanko Bust Warmer
Read - 4-port USB hub / wannabe cassette tape
Read - Highly functional spy pen
Read - Painted Dot iChair
Read - Mobigrip device leash

Engadget Podcast 129 - 01.16.2009

by Trent Wolbe, posted Jan 16th 2009 at 5:03PM

Yes! Engadget is back from CES and ready for action. We thought this week might be a little quiet, but it's been quite the opposite. Listen in to Josh, Paul, and Nilay discussing the hot button items of our time: Steve Jobs, Windows 7, and Crapgadgets. Seriously, this is pressing stuff, people.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Popcorn

01:56 - Steve Jobs is taking a leave of absence from Apple due to health reasons
27:45 - Microsoft temporarily removes Windows 7 Beta download limit
57:00 - Crapgadget Crapdown, CES: the best of the worst

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Crapgadget Crapdown, CES: the best of the worst

by Nilay Patel, posted Jan 12th 2009 at 5:21PM

We didn't notice nearly as much crap at CES 2009 as we did last year, but what we did see was pretty stunning in its mediocrity -- and then there was the amazing Dragon gamepad, which in our opinion was single best product of the show. Pick your favorite of the contenders below, then hit your local dollar store to see 'em in person.