Newegg Unscrambled » Home & Outdoors

Best gadgets for power outages

Newegg — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 22:48:04 +0000

Hurricane Sandy recently made its way up the East Coast, causing widespread blackouts in many areas. Power outages can be dangerous, and it’s important to take basic steps to prepare for emergencies. While many gadgets are rendered useless during power outages, there are certain devices that can help you stay safe. Many of these are considered necessities that should be staples of every emergency preparedness kit.

Hand-crank radio

It’s important to stay informed during a storm, but without a backup generator you can’t watch broadcast news or follow updates online. A hand-crank radio allows you to listen to news without plugging the device into a power source.

Without the means to follow a storm’s progress or listen for potential evacuation notices, you may be left in a dangerous situation. Many hand-crank radios can receive AM and FM signals, so you can listen to both local and national news.

Lanterns and flashlights

Even if you know your house like the back of your hand, it can be difficult to walk around in the dark. A light source is necessary, especially if you’re dealing with an extended blackout. Flashlights are useful if you need to move from room to room and ensure that all windows and doors are locked. Lanterns can be carried and can illuminate larger areas than flashlights.

However, some people struggle finding their flashlights after the power has gone out. To counter this, we recommend buying plug-in lamps that store electricity and turn on automatically during an outage.

Power supplies

Some electrical gadgets, like cellphones, are necessities, so it’s important that you have a way to keep them charged in the event of a blackout. You can plug external batteries into your wall and then use them to charge any important devices.

It’s important to remember that these energy storage units have limited power supplies. They shouldn’t be used to keep frivolous gadgets, like handheld game consoles, alive.

Batteries

That said, stocking up on batteries is a common recommendation for blackouts. You don’t have to limit yourself to D cells for flashlights either – you may want to consider buying an extra cellphone or laptop battery so those two gadgets are usable for longer periods of time during outages.

Hurricane Sandy is just the latest natural disaster, and there will be others that can cause power outages in the future. What gadgets do you use during a blackout?

College survival guide: how to pimp your dorm room

Kathy — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:45:14 +0000

Attention college students! Now that it’s the beginning of a new school year, it’s time to take a good look at your dorm room. Does it reflect your personality the way that you want it to? Does it look messy and cramped? Does it act as a place where you can be comfortable enough studying for a midterm or partying with your friends? If not, your dorm room could use a makeover so don’t forget to include dorm room supplies to your back to school shopping list!

A makeover doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars or a lot of time – after all, most college students are short of both. Pimp out your dorm room with these 5 simple steps (or enter Newegg’s Pimp Your Dorm Room Sweepstakes for your chance to win one of four ultimate room makeovers!):

Decorate your walls - Add a splash of color and personality without compromising any of your space! You are probably required to keep your walls in perfect shape, but don’t let that scare you away from decorating your walls! Get wall decals which are easy to apply, remove and leave no damage to the walls! In addition to wall decals, you can hang photos or create your own designs – just use double-sided tape or putty.
Examples: Dandelion wall decal, Cityscape wall decal, Bon Appetit Dry Erase wall decal
Build up – Use vertical space to maximize your space! If you’re in a dorm room, chances are that you either have a roommate or limited space. Instead of buying horizontal furniture, focus on building up. Look for stackable furniture, bed risers (to raise your bed for more storage space), and tall bookshelves.
Examples: Stackable Modular Open Cube, Bed Risers, 3 Shelf Storage Bookshelf
Organize, organize, organize – Did you ever get mad because your mom “cleaned up” your room and you couldn’t find anything? Don’t make that mistake again; make sure your room is always clean, neat and organized so your roommate won’t feel the urge to clean up your room, causing you to lose track of everything. An organized, cleaner environment also creates an illusion of open space and is less distracting, which is more conducive to studying.
Examples: Black Bedside Caddy, Mesh Pencil Cup Organizer, 26-Pocket Over the Door Organizer
Create the atmosphere – One of largest but most overlooked factors of creating ambience is in the lighting. Everything looks unattractive and unforgiving under harsh fluorescent lights. Choose lamps with a dimmer if possible, to control the amount of light output. Experiment with different colors and styles of lights to figure out what fits your personality best!
Examples: Japanese Style Floor Lamp, Verilux Graphite Light, Medusa Floor Lamp
Stay updated - Last but certainly not least, make sure you are staying up-to-date with the latest technology. Did your college win last night’s championship basketball game against its biggest rival? Watch the game on your HDTV or look up the score on your Ultrabook laptop! Were you actually at the game? Take photos with your friends to commemorate the experience! You don’t want to be the only clueless one on campus.
Examples: LG 42” 1080p LCD HDTV, Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS Digital Camera, Sony VAIO Ultrabook

Super Bowl party necessities

Newegg — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:44:20 +0000

Super Bowl XLVI is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 5, 2012. Just because you can’t make it to the actual game, doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with your friends and enjoy all of the fun. Watching the game at home can be an amazing experience if you have the right supplies. If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party this year, consider stocking up on all of the necessities at Newegg.com.

Here are the must-have items for your Super Bowl party:

HDTV – You’ve been thinking about upgrading your television for a while, so when is there ever going to be a better time than now? Imagine how amazing it would be to watch every detail in stunning high definition on your new HDTV. You and your friends will feel like you’re at the game, while remaining warm and cozy at home.

Home audio – Once you have the new HDTV, you can’t forget about outstanding audio output. Remember how loud your buddies get when the pass is dropped or the touchdown is scored? Consider how frustrating it will be if you can’t hear the game over the party. A new home audio system is definitely a must.

Indoor grill – Freezing February temperatures doesn’t have to stop you from grilling up the football requirements like juicy hamburgers and hotdogs. Surprise everyone at your party with an indoor grill to cook up everybody’s favorite BBQ foods.

Digital camera – Last but not least, capture all of the party’s good times and memories with a new digital camera. You can’t relive a celebration like this, so don’t miss a moment of it. Plus, a digital camera is something you will use all year long at events to come.

The Kitchen: It Doesn’t Matter What’s For Dinner

Newegg — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:10:10 +0000

The kitchen is usually the room in the house where family and friends congregate for
meals and casual get-togethers. However, have you ever wondered if having family and visitors in your kitchen has left them less focused on your company and cooking, and more focused on your outdated kitchen and its old appliances? This just might be the case if you are still using the oven from 1989 or if your outdated blender is drowning out conversation. New appliances are probably more cost-effective than you imagine and can make the most important room in your house digital camera-ready.

Rather than rushing to the coffee shop every morning, think about how much time and money you will save by having a sophisticated coffee maker right in your kitchen. A brand new Keurig or Saeco Aroma Espresso Coffee Maker can be purchased in stainless steel or chrome and may really improve your kitchen’s counter appeal. Making cake mix with the kids or whipping veggie dip in front of guests can be made simple and clean with a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, available in a variety of colors to match any decor.

Did a storm rain out your cookout or is the family craving grilled hamburgers in January? Not a problem if you have an indoor grill or a griddler. This year the neighbors won’t be talking about your ugly kitchen appliances, but how you saved the day at your annual July 4th barbecue.

New cooking utensils can also spruce up a dingy kitchen. For example, a 12-piece cookware set could be used everyday and make your kitchen look more professional by hanging pieces on a rack, such as the Range Kleen Oval Hanging Pot Rack, over an island countertop. If you’re looking to add even more flair to your kitchen, setting up a LCD TV in the room would be great for entertaining guests and enjoying cooking shows while preparing meals. A kitchen television would also allow you to enjoy a cup of coffee (from your new Keurig) while catching up with the morning news as well as prevent the kids from spilling on the couches during their afternoon snack.

Design your perfect home and yard yourself

Newegg — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:12:46 +0000

Sometimes it is difficult to paint a picture with words when trying to describe an object or plan. If this is the case for your home improvement ambitions, do not worry, Newegg.com offers some of the most innovative products on the market, including Punch! Software’s Home & Landscape Design Professionaland Chief Architect’s Home Designer Architectural 10.

Screenshot of Software’s Home & Landscape Design Professional

If you are planning some landscape or home innovations, there is software that allows you to construct exactly what you are thinking, rather than trying to tell someone. If you are not tech-savvy, some products offer tutorials to make the software that provides the greatest ability.

Products can even be printed so not everyone has to stand around a small computer monitor to view the plans. There is software that includes libraries of objects to be customized, as well as the ability to design your own objects. 3D models and tours literally bring the creation to life.

Stop trying to picture what your perfect house and yard looks like and start designing it yourself today with the latest home improvement software out there from Newegg.com.

Grilling time is nearly here

Newegg — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 20:15:58 +0000

As the weather continues to become warmer, outside activities are on a lot of people’s minds.

This, of course, means it’s almost grilling season. Whether you are on the go or setting up shop at a backyard barbeque party, the smell of a grill cooking food is synonymous with the outdoors and warm months.

There are many different kinds of grills out there, and for some people, as long as it cooks the grub, that’s probably good enough.

However, if you are meticulous about how your food is cooked, there are plenty of upscale grills out there, especially at Newegg.com. If quantity and quality is needed, deluxe grills offer more grilling space to keep the burgers and hot dogs cooking at a steady pace.

There are also smaller grills that can be used for camping trips, tailgate parties or those late nights at the beach. If space is an issue, there are indoor grills that include smokeless broilers, which distribute heat more evenly and don’t set off the fire alarms.

No matter where you live or how much space is available, there is a grill for every situation.

Well ALMOST any situation. (image found on hackedgadgets.com)

Newegg Mancave Madness Sweepstakes (Ladies Welcome)

Scott Meaney — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:21:45 +0000

From now through March 31, Newegg is letting visitors of either gender enter to win “The Ultimate Mancave.”

Oh, and obviously that name sounds pretty dude-focused. Ladies are most definitely welcome! In Newegg’s book, both men and women are free to win a room full of awesome stuff and not let the opposite sex in.

We’re still calling it a “Mancave” though, because Mancave just sounds good.

Mancave.

The Mancave Madness promotion will also reward lucky winners with weekly prizes and a total of over $26,000 in merchandise.

The Grand Prize includes:

55-inch Panasonic TV
Panasonic Blu-ray player
ONKYO Network A/V receiver
Sony Playstation 3 Slim
Char-Broil Grill
Logitech 700 Remote
Microsoft XBOX Kinetic Bundle
Haier 150-can Beverage Center

Second Prize includes:

50-inch Panasonic TV and Blu-Ray player
Polk Audio Surround Sound System
Yamaha Network A/V Receiver
Logitech 700 Remote
Haier 150-can Beverage Center

Third Prize includes:

42-inch Panasonic TV and Blu-ray player
ONKYO Network A/V Receiver
ENERGY Surround Sound System
Logitech 700 Remote
Haier 150-can Beverage Center.

You can enter each week and the winners will be announced at Newegg.com. For more information on the Newegg Mancave Madness sweepstakes, visit www.newegg.com/ultimate.

MANCAVE.

Press Release

Fill your garden with ambient light without impacting your energy bill

Guest Post — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:31:15 +0000

Enjoying an evening in the garden can be a relaxing, romantic and fun time. Whether it is hosting a neighborhood barbecue in the summer, watching gentle snowfall in the winter or enjoying the crisp evening air of autumn, there are plenty of ways to enjoy an evening in the garden.

In order to maximize a lovely evening outdoors, ambient lighting is often necessary. Enjoying the outdoors is difficult if it is pitch dark, and too much light ruins the evening atmosphere. But small lamps that illuminate paths, letting the clear light drift softly into the evening can provide the perfect atmosphere.

Enjoy this ideal atmosphere without dealing with extensive electric bills by investing in the Sunforce Solar Garden Lights, which Newegg currently sells in a 10-light value pack.

The lights feature an intelligent solar panel that not only stores energy all day, but responds to the amount of natural light available, automatically turning on when it becomes dark and shutting off with dawn.

For a more artistic ambiance, consider the Allsop Solar-Powered Clear Globe Garden Art Light. The light provides solar-powered accent to any garden with a hand-blown, cracked glass bulb that gives illumination a creative edge.