USB blankets are old hat (for better or worse), but the USB Heated Shawl takes an aged concept and makes it relevant again with the addition of a single clip. Clearly designed for elderly folks who aren't kept warm enough by the bottoms of their laptops and for the billions of cubical dwellers who freeze in silence each and every day, this $28.95 device is a godsend. Just plug it in, wrap it around and enjoy the warmth. Oh, and ignore the haters.

We'll go ahead and squash your hopes before you waste time pulling out the plastic -- this thing's just a concept, at least for now. From what we can glean, the HEAT ME is a fantastic device just waiting to be snapped up by Brando (or similar) and turned into the next must-have USB-powered gizmo. Put simply, the metal ends of this here stick warm up when plugged into your USB port, thus giving you a toasty wand to keep your hot tea / coffee at the proper temperature even when colleagues pull you away momentarily. Really though, is there any doubt this won't go commercial within the next six months?

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

It's that time of year again. You know, the months where your typing slows to a crawl as your fingers gradually lose every ounce of feeling in them. Granted, there's a myriad options already out there to keep 'em thawed out, but this particular alternative just looks awfully practical. The USB Hand Warmer takes the form of a stick, enabling any frosty citizen to grab hold, wrap their digits around it and instantly feel the heat. Best of all, you can pick up a couple and get the left and right paws warmed up simultaneously. Not too shabby for $10.99 (apiece).

[Via The Red Ferret Journal]

A product some five years in the making is nearly set to hit the ice, and it's (quite literally) bringing the heat along with it. The Therma Blade, invented by Canada's own Tory Weber, is a battery-warmed ice skate that purportedly melts the ice just beneath the skater to provide the wearer with "more speed, less work and an overall better hockey experience." Currently, it seems uncertain whether the new blades will ever see action in the NHL, but amateurs could certainly get an edge over their opponents if they're willing to pay the premium. Unfortunately, we've no idea how lofty that premium will be, but according to the official website, there's under a fortnight left till we find out.

[Via TheStar, thanks Corey]

Ok, we can understand the whole heated floors thing, especially in the dead of winter where your hardwood often feels like it's going to give your toes a mild case of frostbite. But level with us here, Panasonic, if you're going to develop an electric blanket, at least have the decency and sense of humor to make the damn thing into the most powerful covert Van De Graff generator the world has ever known. Yeah, we're totally the types to give our guests static shocks bad enough to burn holes in their clothes -- so what? On sale in Japan this September.

[Via Shiny Shiny]

Let's face it, peripheral manufacturers have been beating around this bush for far too long, and it's about time a company finally delivered a device that would actually motivate you to finish up that thesis over the cold winter break. Sure, the G-Gloves and heated mouse did their fair share of warming the hands, but the V8 Tools' WK001 keyboard manages to radiate heat where it matters most. The AC-powered gizmo sports a three-way toggle that keeps the heat off, on low, or on high if you're just begging for palm sweat. Of course, the company doesn't promise that it won't melt after extended usage on the highest setting, but it is purportedly "constructed with upgraded materials and components inside and out" to handle the temps. So while it's going to be a few months 'til Old Man Winter makes his return, $43.59 isn't much to guarantee your readiness for that impending cold snap.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

While you've got your H-Bomb to keep you nice and toasty while surfing through chilly waters, and the Airvantage vest to keep your chest warm while braving the bitter cold, even the most hardcore skiers will probably admit that their fingertips go numb just a few hours after they hit the slopes. Reusch's latest pair of high-end ski gloves looks to solve the chilly finger dilemma (sans USB power), as the new Solaris gloves pack iThermX heating technology, which was developed by Interactive Wear AG. Beneath the supple exterior is an electronics unit with a 16-bit microcontroller that "manages the intelligent power and temperature control and executes application-specific programmable heating algorithms," effectively turning up the heat whenever a user-selected temperature is reached. The heat is powered by two flat, lightweight Li-ion batteries, which can purportedly provide a hand-based oven for "around five hours" before needing to hit up the lodge for a quick recharge. There's even an onboard selector / LED indicator to switch from constant heat to "temperature-defined heating," and while we've no idea just how pricey these gloves will end up being, we're fairly sure any skier who has dealt with freezing fingers will do nearly anything to own them.

Trying to avoid the chill that sweeps through the office during the winter months, we have been forced to either remain stationary, or do a bunny hop to get around in our USB heating slippers. Now, Thanko -- the company keeping us comfortable by our computers -- is allowing us to do the two-step with their new product. The aptly named "USB heating slippers dual" has two heating settings -- reaching a maximum temperature of 50 degrees F -- and individually powered slippers, assuring that each foot is cozy. Coupled with all their other products, we have never been happier bloggers.

[Via Brando]