By Gregg Ellman
Tribune News Service
Honeywell’s tiny Heat Bud HCE100 personal heater is the perfect gadget for most of the country this time of year.
First, it’s built with a great safety feature: If it’s not on a flat surface or gets knocked over, it turns off.
The ceramic heater doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles; just turn it on to high or low settings to warm yourself.
At just 5-by-4-by-7.8-inches, you’ll be amazed at how this little guy can sit under a desk and using only 250 watts of energy at the high setting warm you all over.
It’s built with ceramic technology, which I had to look up for its significance. What I found from thermospace.com in summary is “Ceramic heaters are coil-based units that utilize a fan to draw air through a special conducting ceramic element and then direct it outward. Because the ceramic core is larger than the heating coils, it can operate at a lower temperature, continuously releasing the same amount of energy over a larger area.”
If a bigger heater is needed, Honeywell has plenty to choose from.
Details: www.honeywell.com, $24.95
Organize magnetically
How many times have you seen something you might like, but thought “nah,” I don’t need it but then again it would be really handy if you had it. The MOS, Magnetic Organization System, is just that item.
It’s pretty simple. Just open the box and put it on your desk; the setup is complete.
The system magnetically keeps your charging cables organized and accessible by holding onto the connectors. But the most important design element for me is it keeps the cables from falling behind the desk when not in use.
It won’t slide on the table (earthquake aside) since is has a slide-proof pad built into the triangle shaped device.
If by chance you’re using a non-magnetic charging cable such as the original Apple 40-pin cable — I still keep one on my desk (even thought it’s never used) — not a problem. The system comes with magnetic cable ties to attach them.
What makes it a complete system is the included wall mount adhesive to complement the triangle device available in anodized aluminum ($39.95), black and white poly carbonate finishes ($19.95)
Details: mosorganizer.com
Shine a light
Backfire’s compact Clamplight Backpack is the latest addition to the company’s innovative flashlight line.
It uses Clamplight technology, which frees your hands if you’re using it in an active or adventurous environment.
If you’re wearing a backpack, just clip it on or attach it to a belt loop, tent or whatever will hold it securely. Once clipped, it rotates and pivots to enable it to shine in most any direction; use it in flashlight, lantern or strobe mode with the push of a button.
The exterior has a rubberized finish fused with stainless fittings along with hi-impact ABS plastic to give a rugged feel.
The light uses up to 125 lumens of light in high mode; 65 lumens in low mode and the flashlight uses up to 75 lumens of light. It meets IPX4 international weather standards and even floats.
Three AAA batteries keep it shining bright up to 28 hours depending on the mode it’s used in.
Details: www.blackfire-usa.com, $34.99
Protect your investment
Ballistic Case Co.’s protective case for the iPhone 6 is designed to keep your device protected and gives you access to all the smartphone’s functions.
The reason I like this case for supreme protection is that it does the hardcore work without the hardcore looks and bulk many similar cases have.
You have your choice of six different models; each offering a different amount of protection.
The Hard Core ($59.99) is just that. You can drop it from up to 12 feet and expect the smartphone to be safe. All four corners have extra protection for the drops and bangs as well as a built-in screen protection layer.
The Jewel ($19.99) is much better looking and can only be dropped from 6 feet and keeps your screen exposed, but that’s where the tempered glass screen protector (sold separately) comes in.
Details: www.goballisticcase.com
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