Typically, when the weather turns warm, electric bills go up. You can avoid spending that extra cash by just cooling the room you're in. And now you can do it in style. Check out the Otto Wooden Fan ($200), a wood-framed fan that looks vintage but features modern touches like three speeds and height-adjustable feet. The wood-ring frame has been oiled twice to create matte finish that will make you want to keep it on display all year long.
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If you've got a really large space that needs a more efficient way to stay cool in summer and warm in winter, then Big Ass Fans ($TBD) are for you. These high volume, low speed ceiling fans are truly ginormous, ranging in size from 6 to 24 feet in diameter (now you know where their name comes from). One 24' fan can cool a 20,000 sq. ft. space on its own, using in-line helical gear reducers for nearly frictionless power transmission. These giants are engineered to move air without noise or wasted energy, providing over 25 times the airflow of a standard industrial ceiling fan.
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With Uncrate HQ suffering outdoor temps in the high 20's today, we're longing for an extra jolt of heat. Like the Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable Heater ($107). This indoor/outdoor propane heater blasts out 18,000 BTUs, heating a 400 square feet area for up to 220 hours on one tank — with the thermostat on low. It features an integrated hot air blowing system, an automatic low-oxygen shut-off system, a built-in Piezo starter, and an easy-carry handle.
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Slim enough to mount on a wall, the Minus A2 Air Purifier ($550) is a great choice for keeping your air healthy and clean this winter. It features a six stage purification system with a BioGS HEPA filter, light-activated auto-mode operation, a mood light for therapy and relaxation, and offers a variety of custom filters to tailor the unit to your needs.
Save
Need to cool down an apartment but want to take your newly-bought AC unit with you when your lease is up? Take a look at the DeLonghi Portable Air Conditioner ($750). With sleek styling, the 11,000-BTU cooling capacity unit will look great wherever you need to cool down, and features an electronic control panel with LED display, an included LCD remote control, a 24-hour programmable timer, adjustable thermostat, and more. Never worry about your window unit crushing a passerby again.
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While they aren't everyday purchases, ceiling fans are pretty common. Unfortunately, cool ceiling fans aren't. The Fanimation Enigma Ceiling Fan ($800) breaks tradition with a modern, single-blade design that offers a halogen light in the center and 3-speed uplight dimming via a wall plate or remote control. Other features include a 60" blade span, 25 degree blade pitch, and an included downrod. A bold, refreshing addition to any room.
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The Ziro Ceiling Fan from Chiasso ($600) is sure to make a statement in any room. Available in ultra-modern translucent plastic (shown) or a more natrual maple finish, the fan offers a contemporary design that moves air better than most traditional fixtures. The aerodynamic fan features a three-vane design, built-in light, and comes with its own remote.
Save
Classic designs are always the best. This globe-shaped fan is an exact replica of one used by Wall Street bankers in the 1920s and 1930s. Its unique shape gently circulates air sideways as to not disturb paperwork and stacks of cash laying around. The Classic Bankers Fan ($240) measures 20-inches tall with a 9-inch in diameter cage, and has a vintage stand made from solid zinc with a bronze finish and antique brass accents.
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The 40-degree weather here at Uncrate headquarters today reminded us that we could use a new office heater to keep us nice and toasty. And once again, you can't go wrong with a classic. With its stainless steel and chrome finish, the DeLonghi Retro Convection Heater ($60) offers a timeless design and instant heat.
Save
If you've got a really large space that needs a more efficient way to stay cool in summer and warm in winter, then Big Ass Fans ($TBD) are for you. These high volume, low speed ceiling fans are truly ginormous, ranging in size from 6 to 24 feet in diameter (now you know where their name comes from). One 24' fan can cool a 20,000 sq. ft. space on its own, using in-line helical gear reducers for nearly frictionless power transmission. These giants are engineered to move air without noise or wasted energy, providing over 25 times the airflow of a standard industrial ceiling fan.
SaveLeave it to the air maestros at Dyson to create a fan with no blades. The Dyson Air Multiplier ($300-$330) uses a fairly ingenious design to suck air into the base, accelerating it through an small aperture in the device's ring and then over a ramp to channel its direction. As it happens, this also causes the air behind and around the machine to be drawn into the airflow, creating a smooth stream of air amplified 15 times, without the unpleasant buffeting caused by the blades of a traditional fan chopping the air. The only downside? It's a $300 fan.
Save
Classic designs are always the best. This globe-shaped fan is an exact replica of one used by Wall Street bankers in the 1920s and 1930s. Its unique shape gently circulates air sideways as to not disturb paperwork and stacks of cash laying around. The Classic Bankers Fan ($240) measures 20-inches tall with a 9-inch in diameter cage, and has a vintage stand made from solid zinc with a bronze finish and antique brass accents.
Save
Need to cool down an apartment but want to take your newly-bought AC unit with you when your lease is up? Take a look at the DeLonghi Portable Air Conditioner ($750). With sleek styling, the 11,000-BTU cooling capacity unit will look great wherever you need to cool down, and features an electronic control panel with LED display, an included LCD remote control, a 24-hour programmable timer, adjustable thermostat, and more. Never worry about your window unit crushing a passerby again.
Save
Slim enough to mount on a wall, the Minus A2 Air Purifier ($550) is a great choice for keeping your air healthy and clean this winter. It features a six stage purification system with a BioGS HEPA filter, light-activated auto-mode operation, a mood light for therapy and relaxation, and offers a variety of custom filters to tailor the unit to your needs.
Save
The Ziro Ceiling Fan from Chiasso ($600) is sure to make a statement in any room. Available in ultra-modern translucent plastic (shown) or a more natrual maple finish, the fan offers a contemporary design that moves air better than most traditional fixtures. The aerodynamic fan features a three-vane design, built-in light, and comes with its own remote.
Save
While they aren't everyday purchases, ceiling fans are pretty common. Unfortunately, cool ceiling fans aren't. The Fanimation Enigma Ceiling Fan ($800) breaks tradition with a modern, single-blade design that offers a halogen light in the center and 3-speed uplight dimming via a wall plate or remote control. Other features include a 60" blade span, 25 degree blade pitch, and an included downrod. A bold, refreshing addition to any room.
Save
With Uncrate HQ suffering outdoor temps in the high 20's today, we're longing for an extra jolt of heat. Like the Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable Heater ($107). This indoor/outdoor propane heater blasts out 18,000 BTUs, heating a 400 square feet area for up to 220 hours on one tank — with the thermostat on low. It features an integrated hot air blowing system, an automatic low-oxygen shut-off system, a built-in Piezo starter, and an easy-carry handle.
Save
The 40-degree weather here at Uncrate headquarters today reminded us that we could use a new office heater to keep us nice and toasty. And once again, you can't go wrong with a classic. With its stainless steel and chrome finish, the DeLonghi Retro Convection Heater ($60) offers a timeless design and instant heat.
SaveFrom the makers of Baconnaise and Bacon Salt comes a bacon-flavored product that you don't even have to eat. J&D's Bacon Lip Balm ($13/4-pack) will protect your lips with beeswax, aloe vera oil, Vitamin E acetate, and other ingredients, all while offering a subtle bacon flavor both you and your partner can enjoy.
SaveMost of us don't have the engineering, design, or architectural chops to recreate any of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterworks, but we can anyway, thanks to these new Frank Lloyd Wright Lego Architecture Building Sets ($TBA). Licensed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Collection, these terrific sets — of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Fallingwater — were developed in collaboration with leading architects to be as accurate as possible, and come with booklets that not only tell you how to build you own model masterpiece, but exclusive archival historical material and photographs of each building, as well. [Thanks, Kris]
SaveEver wish you could combine your dual-monitor setup into one behemoth display? Get ready, because your wish has come true in the NEC CRV43 Curved Widescreen Display ($8,000). Boasting a unique curved design that's sure to immerse you more than a standard two display setup, this beauty also features a 2880x900 double WXGA resolution, a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, single link DVI-D and HDMI inputs, USB 2.0 ports, an on screen display, and the assurance that you have the most unique monitor in the neighborhood. [via]
SaveEver wish you could take a Jägermeister shot machine with you camping, tailgating, and partying? Now you can, with the Jägermeister 6-Bottle Shot Cooler ($120). Available as a six-bottle value pack, the cooler has plenty of room for all six bottles, ice, and the requisite cans of Red Bull, and uses the same tech as the Jägermeister Tap Machine to deliver ice-cold shots straight from the external tap.
SaveShow your fang affiliation by stocking your fridge with Tru Blood ($16). Based on the synthetic blood drink favored by the more civilized vampires of HBO's True Blood, this carbonated real-world version packs a slightly sweet, slightly tart blood orange flavor and a rich red color that will have guests wondering if you're drinking the real thing.
SaveFlapjack lovers, rejoice. Now you can make fresh, 97% fat-free pancakes in as little as 30 seconds using the ChefStack Automatic Pancake Machine ($3,500). This microwave-sized wonder uses no-mess batter pouches to crank out stack after stack of four- inch diameter pancakes, and doesn't even require supervision, letting you cook up breakfast for you and your crew while you get your other morning activities out of the way — like taking a shower, brushing your teeth, or downing a half-dozen mimosas.
SaveOne of the worst things about adding ice to a whisky is its ability to water-down the flavor. So chill your next drink down with Whisky Stones ($20). Milled in Vermont by some of the oldest soapstone workshops in the US, these stones chill quickly in the freezer, and won't impart any flavor to your favorite blend.
SaveWe love bacon, and we've seen everything from Canned Bacon to Baconnaise, Bacon Salt, Bacon Floss — hell, even Bacon Lip Balm — so it was only a matter of time before we discovered Bacon Soap ($6). Made to both look and smell like frying bacon, this soap will get you clean while giving your appetite a jump-start on the day.
SaveTempted by the MINI's go-cart handling, but not a fan of its boxy exterior? The MINI Coupé Concept ($TBA) is for you. Ready to accept any of MINI's powerhouse engines, including the 1.6L twin-scroll turbocharged unit from the MINI John Cooper Works, this stylish two-seater pairs a decidedly MINI-like bottom with an aggressively designed upper half, including a swept back windshield, short contrast roof, hidden B-pillars, and more sexy than every other modern MINI combined.
SaveTackle the great outdoors -- or just yard work -- in the coldest of weather in the Timberland Utility Jacket ($150). With straightforward looks, it's not exactly a flashy piece of outerwear, but it does the job, with a rugged cotton twill outer, nylon polin and polyester fleece lining, a front zipper with button flap cover for added wind protection, dual snap-close side pockets and two cargo-style chest pockets, slightly distressed details for a worn-in look, and stitched down shoulder epaulettes.
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Terrorism. Murder. Blood. Bullets. Darkness. This is the G.I. Joe cartoon you've been waiting 25 years for. G.I. Joe: Resolute ($14) is a new animated mini-series featuring classic Joes and Cobra operatives that's sure to make the live action movie look even more like a turd. Aimed at older viewers, and garnering standing ovations at JoeCon Comic-Con, Resolute consists of 11 episodes (ten 5-minute episodes and one 10-minute finale) totaling 60 minutes. We won't tell you the plot, but let's just say Cobra Commander goes totally apocalyptic on Moscow. In the first four minutes. Can someone please start a petition to turn this into a regular weekly series? Oh, and don't forget the toys.
SaveWhat good is a portable hard drive if you're afraid to take it anywhere? With the Hitachi SimpleTough Hard Drive ($100-$135), you simply grab your data and go. Featuring a rugged body with grippy rubber sides and a smooth rubber body, the SimpleTough can withstand drops of up to 7 feet and also offers underside lighting and an integrated USB cable, giving you one less thing to remember when packing for your next spy mission.
SaveHaving a big-ass tool set is all well and good, but when you can have the most popular sockets on hand in just one tool, why bother? The Black & Decker Ready Wrench ($30) offers exactly that, with 16 of the most popular sockets — in both standard and metric — on rotating heads on either end of the tool, ready to replace both one- and two-inch deep sockets. With a rubber grip for added comfort, it'll let you save the big tool set for those really tough jobs — like assembling Ikea furniture.
SaveSimplify the process of installing the apps you want on your Windows machine with Ninite. This awesome free service lets you choose from a range of applications, plug-ins, utilities, and other goodies that might normally take hours to download separately, with a "Get Installer" button at the bottom that will do all the heavy lifting for you, creating a simple, one-step app that will install all of the software you chose in one fell swoop. Good for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7.
SaveWe've seen plenty of not-so-hot iPhone cases that have tried to tack wallets on as an afterthought, but this is the first time we know of it's been done the other way around. The Hard Graft Phone Card Wallet (€79; $120) is a slim, front-pocket style credit card wallet that's built with such strong elastic tape that it can also hold a phone inside for a decidedly less-slim solution. Other features include grey vegetable tan leather construction, seven card slots, and measurements that happen to hold an iPhone perfectly.
SaveInfinity pools have been around for a while, so it only makes sense someone would apply the same idea to another home-sized water feature: the aquarium. ZeroEdge Aquariums ($600 and up) do exactly that, providing overflowing aquatic environments for all types of fish and sea creatures in a variety of styles and shapes, ensuring you can find one that's right for your home or office. Just remember: no edge equals no lid, so be sure to keep the Darla-types away. [Thanks, Brian]
SaveIf you're into gadgets, and if you're reading this that's highly likely, then you no doubt have several SD and/or microSD cards laying around — so turn them into USB drives using the LaCie DataShare ($13). The DataShare breaks into two halves — red for SD and white for microSD — that fit together to form one solid, easily-portable storage solution.
SaveWe're quite used to seeing tons of tools crammed into a pocket knife-sized package, but it's not everyday you see the same thing done to an axe. The Brook & Hunter Mo-Tool Axe ($40) brings the handyman heat with a capable axe blade and hand-crafted red oak wood inlay handle, plus a hammer head, screwdrivers, knives, a can opener, wire cutter, file, pliers, and a wrench.
SaveLeave it to the air maestros at Dyson to create a fan with no blades. The Dyson Air Multiplier ($300-$330) uses a fairly ingenious design to suck air into the base, accelerating it through an small aperture in the device's... [More]
Typically, when the weather turns warm, electric bills go up. You can avoid spending that extra cash by just cooling the room you're in. And now you can do it in style. Check out the Otto Wooden Fan ($200), a... [More]
If you've got a really large space that needs a more efficient way to stay cool in summer and warm in winter, then Big Ass Fans ($TBD) are for you. These high volume, low speed ceiling fans are truly ginormous,... [More]
With Uncrate HQ suffering outdoor temps in the high 20's today, we're longing for an extra jolt of heat. Like the Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable Heater ($107). This indoor/outdoor propane heater blasts out 18,000 BTUs, heating a 400 square... [More]
Slim enough to mount on a wall, the Minus A2 Air Purifier ($550) is a great choice for keeping your air healthy and clean this winter. It features a six stage purification system with a BioGS HEPA filter, light-activated auto-mode... [More]
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Need to cool down an apartment but want to take your newly-bought AC unit with you when your lease is up? Take a look at the DeLonghi Portable Air Conditioner ($750). With sleek styling, the 11,000-BTU cooling capacity unit will... [More]
While they aren't everyday purchases, ceiling fans are pretty common. Unfortunately, cool ceiling fans aren't. The Fanimation Enigma Ceiling Fan ($800) breaks tradition with a modern, single-blade design that offers a halogen light in the center and 3-speed uplight dimming... [More]
The Ziro Ceiling Fan from Chiasso ($600) is sure to make a statement in any room. Available in ultra-modern translucent plastic (shown) or a more natrual maple finish, the fan offers a contemporary design that moves air better than most... [More]
Classic designs are always the best. This globe-shaped fan is an exact replica of one used by Wall Street bankers in the 1920s and 1930s. Its unique shape gently circulates air sideways as to not disturb paperwork and stacks of... [More]
The 40-degree weather here at Uncrate headquarters today reminded us that we could use a new office heater to keep us nice and toasty. And once again, you can't go wrong with a classic. With its stainless steel and chrome... [More]
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