Hasta La Ideas

This is from Smart Stuff reader Helen M., who writes (somewhat edited) I would like to suggest … (these) dishwasher tablets, non corrosive, environmentally friendly … all (the company’s) products are probably innovative and smart, but the only ones I have tried are the dishwasher tablets only sold by Överskottsbolaget (Swedish outlet store/Ed.). They are great. (I) use two tablets per wash in Gotland. In Stockholm one (is enough). According to the Biotab site the contents of the tablets are sodium carbonate, softener and enzymes and the ingredients are declared to be biologically dissolvable according to OECD guidelines. And there’s no perfume either. From Biotab in Skellefteå, Sweden.brbr

The Sticky Bowl has been designed to attach mixing bowls securely down to a flat surface. It basically provides an extra hand in all types of kitchens, whether you’re working on your own or with others. Sticky bowl can also be applied to plates, bowls and platters. One side has been designed bigger than the other to accommodate a larger range of bowl sizes. On the side are easy to find release levers. AUD 19:95 (ca USD 18:-)brbr

We do not write much about new electronics, but we will make an exception fort this new Canon HF10 camcorder. If we are not mistaken it is the first camcorder with a 16GB SSD that can record up to six hours of video. And if that is not enough, it has a slot for SD/SDHC memory card, if you need additional memory. This should have been enough even for Andy Warhol in his day. The downside is perhaps that its memory only lasts for 3 hours, so an additional battery might be a good investment. Other features include 12x optical zoom, HDMI out, built-in electronic lens cover, built-in video light, 3.1 megapixels photo shot, and more. It will be available, among other places, no Amazon from May first.brbr

The PlayPump is a children’s merry-go-round hooked up to a water pump and water storage tank. The idea is simple and smart. The kids spin the merry-go-round, which works a water pump that pumps water into a storage tank just a few feet away. Each installation can pump up to 1,400 liters per hour. The initial investment is USD 9,000:-, and maintenance costs are covered by advertising. Besides the benefit provided by access to clean water, the pump can also improve the situation of girls and women, who would otherwise spend hours each day fetching water instead of going to school. The pumps are manufactured and installed by South-African Roundabout Outdoor Ltd., with funding coming from an international coalition of governments, NGOs, companies, foundations and individual donors. See a link to our previous winners after the jump. Thank you all for voting!/Ed.brbr

Shinfin is a different kind of swim fins. Instead of putting the fins on your feet like ordinary swim fins, Shinfins are made to be put on your – you guessed it – shins. This demands a different swimming technique, where you move your legs at the hip rather that at the knee. The advantages compared to regular swim fins are more or less obvious, and are to a large extent about ergonomics. Shinfin says that their fin gives a lot more natural swimming movement. This can only be determined by a test swim, but just the fact that you can walk in them, and use all sorts of water sports equipment, goes a long way in our book. The Shinfins are AUD 99:- (approx. USD 92:-) on the site. Thanks to Kirsten for the tip!brbr