Earbuds, we’re told, are wonderful things. They’re much less clunky than traditional headphones or earphones, making them easier all-around for everyday use. But the problem is that we’ve never found a pair of earbuds that don’t fall out and/or cause major pain in the ears. And because they don’t fit the way they’re supposed to and they’re always falling out or falling out of position, we’re forced to turn the volume way up. Those problems may now be solved by these fascinating little “earbud enhancers” called Yurbuds.

Yurbuds are little silicon adapters that fit onto most types of earbuds and Bluetooth headsets. They’re designed to help the devices stay put in your ears, even during vigorous physical activity. But they aren’t just one-size-fits-all; after ordering a set of the enhancers, you’re prompted to take a picture of your ear with a reference item: either an Apple earbud or a US quarter. Based on the relation of the reference item to your ear, Yurbuds’ scanning software will determine what size your ear canal is. Then you get a pair of the little gizmos that you just slip on over your earbuds, and they’re just the right size for your particular ears. Not a bad deal for $19.99.

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More and more of us are using our laptops as primary computers, and all of our favorite photos and videos are stored on those laptops. We’re also streaming videos more, getting instant gratification from Netflix or Hulu when we want to watch a movie. But unless you’re watching that movie or looking at those vacation videos alone, it’s helpful to be able to hook your laptop up to your TV. Doing that now requires a whole process with cables and drivers and whatnot.

Alereon recently announced a somewhat simpler solution that lets you stream from your laptop to your HDTV wirelessly. It involves this shark-fin-looking device above, along with a USB dongle that plugs into your laptop. The TV side of the device connects via HDMI or VGA, and the laptop dongle looks like any other similar device, if maybe a bit bigger. As you can see in the video, there’s a small lag, but nothing too frustratingly major. We’re thinking this would do wonders for those people who love to show their favorite YouTube videos at family gatherings but just can’t figure out a standard wired setup.

The post Wireless Watching: From Laptop to HDTV With no Cables first appeared on Gajitz.

Most great inventions are called “dumb” or “silly” or “useless” for a while before they actually take off. The personal computer, for example, was said to be a pointless invention that no one would ever want – and now just about every home in the developed world has one. But not all inventions are winners – some really are dumb, silly or useless. Here are a few of the worst inventions of the 20th century.

Back in 1948, there was apparently nothing weird about riding across a lake on a motorized surfboard while wearing a nice suit and bowler hat and smoking a cigarette. Forget his lack of safety gear – inventor Joe Gilpin looks cool gliding along on the water.

This invention was only dumb because the Green Goblin stole it and used it to terrorize New York City. This flying platform was developed for the military, and in this picture it’s being tested at an Air Force base.

A machine that answers the phone? Genius! Except…this one couldn’t talk, play a greeting or record the caller’s voice. So, really, it was more like a phone-picking-up machine.

Humans in the 1930s had a much higher infant mortality rate than the one we experience today, and we think we’ve found the reason: inventions like this insane baby cage that suspends your precious bundle of joy out of the window, high above the very hard pavement below.

This is another example of superb 1930s parenting: a baby carrier suspended between two parents. It seems slightly risky, but not like the most dangerous thing ever…until you realize that the parents in question are ice skating.

This shower hood from 1970 has us baffled. Is it meant to keep your head dry while you shower? Or does it let you just wash your hair while your face stays dry? Either way, we commend this model for being able to smile while standing naked in front of a photography crew while wearing a beekeeper’s hood.

Speaking of bees, honey is a well-loved folk remedy and has been for centuries. Vinegar is also used often to treat various conditions. But mixing the two together resulted in Honegar, which we can’t imagine even trying to stomach.

Seriously, what was up with guys playing in the water while wearing suits? At least M. W. Hulton’s invention included poles to help the rider with balance. The duckfoot propellers on the back of these Sea Shoes helped the well-dressed man traverse all of the pesky ponds between home and work.

In the 50s, everyone smoked. In fact, they couldn’t smoke fast enough if this cigarette pack holder is any indication. Did the inventor of this fine contraption not know that excess nicotine causes violent vomiting, dizziness and severe headache?

(all images via: Life)

The cigarette holder for two: for when you really want to share your lung cancer with the one you love.

The post Epic Fails: 10 of the Dumbest Inventions of the 20th Century first appeared on Gajitz.

Every couple of months it feels like there’s a strange new “innovation” in toothbrush design. Most of these seem completely unnecessary, like little rubber nibs that massage your gums as you brush. But once in a while, the basic design of a toothbrush is improved so dramatically that you actually get the urge to rush out and buy a new one right away. Such is the case with the Brush & Rinse toothbrush from Amron Experimental.

It’s so genius, yet so simple, that you have to wonder why no one has thought of it before. Just a little ridge on the end of the toothbrush turns it from dental cleaning device to water fountain. Being able to brush and rinse with just one item cuts down on waste and bathroom clutter (no need for those little paper cups next to the sink) and actually makes brushing fun. Plus, obviously, this makes it easier to clean the bathroom sink: just aim and shoot.

Any parent who’s ever had trouble getting their kids to brush their teeth will appreciate the simplicity and fun of this design. Just about every kid loves a good water fountain, so imagine how much more they’ll love it when it comes from their toothbrush. This award-winning design is in pre-production now, but won’t actually be produced unless they reach a total of 50,000 pre-orders by their deadline. Its popularity is due, in large part, to the explosion of popularity the design gained after being heavily featured all over the internet.

The post Creative All-in-One Brush-and-Rinse Fountain Toothbrush first appeared on Gajitz.

The Gorillapod has been around for a while now, and just about everyone agrees that it’s a brilliant design. The geniuses behind the tiny tripod that grabs on and holds your camera anywhere are now introducing the Gorillatorch: an awesomely handy little flashlight that goes anywhere you want it to and stays put wherever you need it to.

While looking like a robot from “batteries not included,” the Gorillatorch manages to be at once adorable and utilitarian. Its three non-scratch legs are flexible enough to grab onto or wrap around any nearby surface or object to hold it just where you need it. If there’s nothing to wrap the legs around, they’ve also got strong little magnets in the feet, so you can just stick this bad boy onto your fridge, car hood, or wherever else you need a little extra light.

The dimmer switch on the front of the Gorillatorch lets you adjust the strength of the beam, which goes all the way up to a respectable 65 lumens. It requires three AA batteries, which can provide light for up to 80 hours on the “economy” setting. It’s small enough that you can stash it pretty much anywhere, and it’s even waterproof – so you’re never without light, even in a downpour.

Besides the cool technical aspects and usefulness of the Gorillatorch, it’s just plain cute. We can imagine it speaking in that squeaky alien-robot language as it tells you that it’s hungry for new batteries.

The post Go-Anywhere & Do-Anything Faux-Robot Flashlight Design first appeared on Gajitz.