Now, if I was about to enter the Dragon’s Den I’d make sure I was taking in a truly great invention that they simply wouldn’t be able to refuse to invest in. So, I cringed as I watched the lady last night who presented them with ‘Shuc’, her Portable Shower Head! Basically, this was an attachment to take away with you so that in the event of staying somewhere where the shower head does not have a hook attached to the wall, you can attach Shuc to the wall tiles and have somewhere to hook the shower head up while you wash. The Dragon’s were visibly horrified by what they perceived to be a ludicrous idea. Peter Jones told the poor woman she needed ‘a good shake’, Theo kindly said he appreciated the issue she was talking about but she had invented something that would only overcome one small part of the problem, because if you stayed somewhere with the shower head attached to the bath taps, you probably wouldn’t have a shower screen or curtain either, so by using the Shuc, you’d still have the problem of the water splashing out all over the place. Duncan Bannantyne said what we were all thinking - why not just stay in a decent hotel and then you won’t have a problem! Don’t get me wrong, I recognise that it can be a pain when you can’t hang the shower head up, but personally I have more of a problem with the showers that are fixed up to the wall, that you have to stand under and can’t remove to rinse those hard to reach places! But I suppose my main issue with the concept of a portable Shower Head that you can take on your travels with you, is that when I go away anywhere, whether it be on holiday or to a friend’s house for the weekend, I already have a huge list of things to remember (kids don’t travel light), so am I really going to concern myself with packing my Shuc, just in case? I think not! So, I think it’s safe to say “I’m out”!

It never ceases to amaze me the gadgets that get designed in USB versions,
but I have to say, I quite like this one. This cute USB Hampster links to
your keyboard and is powered when you type so the faster you type the
faster he flys around his wheel. Not only can you brighten things up in
the office, you also won’t have the fear of your little pet escaping and
being sucked up by the hoover!

If you can’t go anywhere without your MP3 Player and your favourite songs then check this out. Powered by USB or batteries, this cool speaker cube from Ixos is ideal for laptops, PCs, iPods, MP3 Players and other portable audio devices. With high quality stereo speaker output and the benefit of being compact and portable, it’s a great way to add instant ambience to any hotel room. And, if you’re at home, you can plug it into the USB port of your PC for non-stop tunes. One simple design had been produced in 3 colours - classic black, cool white or cute ink, so there’s an Ixos Speaker Cub e for everyone. It isn’t a proper iPod dock, but it does connect to the standard 3.5mm headphone output of most MP3 Players and comes with a jack-to-jack lead. it is claimed that 4 AA batteries will power the cube for 8 hours. There are so many different devices on the market for iPods and MP3 Players that it can be a little overwhelming and difficult to know what is actually worth buying, but I like the simplicity of this 7cm cubed gadget and think it will probably be a big hit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/broadband/mediaplayer/players/bbc2?
I was watching ‘Dragons Den’ on BBC 2 last night with interest. As someone who keeps an eye out for the latest crazes in the gift and gadget market, I was keen to see what the panel of Dragons would make of the ‘YouDoo’ Doll. As the name suggests, this is VooDoo Doll with a twist. Basically, it’s a cloth Doll that acts as a blank canvas for you to create a Mini Me or to immortalise your favourite idol. You can create its outfits, give it the tatoos and iercings you’ve always wanted (but been to scared to have) and create a doll that’s totally unique. It may seem like a daft idea, but it resulted in a bidding war between the dragons and is now selling on many of the top gadget sites!

Imagine a bike that folds away in just 3 seconds! The Mobiky claims to feature one of the fastest and easiest folds of any bike on the UK market whilst also having the ability to perfectly handle the traffic on our busy roads. It unfolds smoothly and simply without the need for tools or the worry of pinching your fingers. it has also been designed so that all members of the family can use one bike, because it can be adjusted dependant on your height. I think it’s a great idea, if as they claim, it is as comfortable and safe to ride as an ordinary bike. Ok, for most of us there maybe isn’t a great need for such a bike - we’d stick to our standard cycle, but for urban commuters with nowhere to store a standard bike when they get into the office, the Mobiky could be of real benefit. Also, with the capability to fold away like a pushchair, it’s ideal for fitting in the car with the rest of your luggage when you go away, and, because one size fits all, the whole family can use it while you’re away (admittedly not great if a nice ‘family’ bike ride was what you had in mind!) Some of the gadgets I see, I simply can’t fathom out and sometimes feel they’ve been invented simply for the sake of it or to be a little bit wacky. The Mobiky does not strike me as such a gimmick. As I say, I have no real need for a fold away bike, but I’m sure there is a huge market for this futuristic bicycle made mostly from aluminium and there would be plenty of people delighted to find one folded up in their Christmas stocking this year!

I’m not the most technically minded person, but when it comes to gadgets I couldn’t be without, my flashdrive is near the top of the list. Ever wondered how you can carry numerous computer files between home and the office or take them on the road with you so you’re properly prepared for that important business meeting? If you’re constantly on the go and working between PCs, you need your Flash Drive to keep up.

With a USB 2.0 2GB Flash Drive in your pocket, you’ll be equipped to switch between computers easily, accessing all your important files, in a, well, flash! That’s because USB 2.0 has a raw data rate of 480Mbps which makes it a massive 40 times faster than its predecessor interface. And, with a mammoth 2GB capacity, it can keep up with the busiest of schedules. It may not be much bigger than a packet of gum, but the 2GB Flash Drive is like carrying your hard drive around with you so you can transport a PowerPoint file to your client’s office ready for a presentation, work on documents from home and then bring them to work with you the next morning or even take thousands of digital photos across the country to share with your relatives.

They say that size matters and when it comes to capacity, that’s certainly true. Combining flash memory technology with the all-embracing USB connection, a Flash Drive is the most convenient method of saving documents, pictures or anything else you want without having to deal with burning a CD or messing around with floppy disks. Now you can reliably transfer data between USB enabled computers or laptops and with 2GB to play with, you don’t need to worry about running out of space for a good while! Transfer text, graphics, music, photographs and multimedia files saved on your hard drive, to your small, yet huge 2GB USB Flash Drive!

I wouldn’t be without my Flash Drive which enables me to update my important files anywhere, anytime, on anyone’s computer. I also use mine to back-up my precious photo collection. 2GB of storage inside a device that’s not much bigger than a packet of gum - it’s hard to believe it’s possible!

If you’re anything like me ( a little short on patience sometimes) you’ll hate it when you’re working at your computer, plugging different things in and getting a horrible tangled mess of wires. I’ve recently invested in a Wireless Mouse. You too can create the desktop you desire and work more efficiently on your computer with a Battery Free Wireless Optical Mouse. Enjoy the freedom of working at your PC without the frustration of tangled wires. Experience the benefit of a clean and organised working environment. With no wires and no roller ball to get clogged up with dirt, this fantastic mouse doesn’t believe in mess or chaos!

The special wireless Optical technology enables you to work with pinpoint accuracy - simply point and click. The ingenious stylish mouse pad provides the mouse with the power it needs to communicate with your PC. Perfect for left-handed and right-handed users alike, the mouse glides silently across the mouse pad as you work.

So, there’s no longer any need to interrupt my creative flow when I’m working at your PC just because the batteries in my mouse have run flat. This mouse doesn’t need batteries! Don’t you just love these simple gadgets that make life easier?

What a great idea!  We all know how convenient Bluetooth can make communication, linking our most important devices to each other and allowing them to talk to each other, but sometimes, despite it’s obvious worth, it can all seem a little dull.  I’ve often asked how we could add some sparkle to Bluetooth.  What better way than combining it with a bit of jewellery.  Now it’s possible to wear your Bluetooth headset comfortably and stylishly around your neck Bluetooth could be set to become a girl’s new best friend!

These days I work from home so the only person I need worry about on the tea round is me - and luckily I know exactly how I like my tea. But I do think back to my office days (not so long ago) when I’d sit there desperate for a cuppa but reluctant to go and make one because I knew it would mean making a hot drink for the whole team. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I’m selfish or even that I’m too lazy to make several drinks. No, the problem was you’d ask everyone what they wanted, collect up their various mugs and by the time you’d walked across the office to the kitchen you’d have forgotten who’s mug was who’s and who had ordered which drink. So, you’d either have to make a good guess or walk back to make a list - and even then you might end up with the wrong drink in the wrong mug. Not only is it a hassle, but while you’re away from your desk you’re being unproductive.

How much easier life would’ve been if everyone had a Selector Mug! Every office employee should have one. One guy did in fact have one and you could guarantee his drink would be perfect every time. Basically, this simple but ingenious invention is a decent sized mug with 3 stainless steel bands. It allows you to select your drink choice and explain how you like it by twisting the bands. the top band gives you the choice of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, herb tea, latte, cappuccino, mocha or decaf (I think that should cover most options and if anyone chooses something else tell them to make their own!) You can then select black, white, cream, lemon, soya milk, ginger or whipped cream on the middle band and the bottom band lets you pick the number of sugars you want (from 0 to 3), sweetener, honey or syrup.

Now you know if you’re on the tea run you’ll get it right every time and better still, with your own selector cup you can put your order in - I’ll drink to that!

Have you ever wished you could bottle sunshine and sell it? I certainly did over the dismal summer we had this year - all my financial worries would be sorted by now! Well, now you can - bottle sunshine that is! This is one gadget that made me sit up and take notice. At first I thought it was just enough gimmick, but then I did more research. Voted ‘Gift of the Year 2007′ you place the Sunjar on the windowsill or any other sunny place and it quite literally collects the sunshine for you.

Then, when the sun retires for the day and you’re left sitting in the darkness, the Sun Jar magically turns itself on and emits an ambient amber glow. Fully charged, the SunJar will glow as bright as a candle for up to five hours - perfect if you’re looking to create a romantic ambience to impress a loved one late at night.

Ideal as the clocks go back and the nights draw in, it’s surely the perfect gift for SAD suffererers - they can hold on to the sunshine on the coldest winter nights. And why stop at the sun. Just think of all the other things we could be storing in a jar…..