Rock on: Pebble watch gets catapulted to early backers

The Pebble smartwatch that excited Kickstarter users and impressed more than a few CES attendees earlier this month has started shipping.

Pebble announced the news on its Kickstarter page today, saying that the first batch of its units -- a little under 500 -- are being sent out to its earliest backers. The company said that it had hoped to ship more watches today, but shipments were held up "by documentation at the airport."

The Pebble smartwatch was a massive Kickstarter hit last year, reaching its funding goal of $100,000, and then quickly surpassing it to raise … Read more

Go ahead and spill on this nanotech menswear

A new line of men's suits from custom online menswear brand Indochino might not contain aloe vera and algae extracts like these new patootie-pampering blue jeans, but they still join the denims in the fancy-futuristic-fabric category.

The Ultimate Tech Collection boasts nanotech suits that supposedly repel liquid and stains and resist odors and wrinkles, all while staying breathable and comfortable. If the suits live up to their promise, you should be able to run through a rainstorm while sweating profusely, then break a ballpoint pen over your leg -- and still show up at the board meeting looking (and smelling) no worse for the wear. … Read more

Wrangler Denim Spa jeans moisturize your nether regions

At CES in Las Vegas last week, everyone was talking about how dry it was and how much moisturizer they needed. The Consumer Electronics Association should consider issuing each attendee a pair of Wrangler's new Denim Spa jeans for next year's show.

The jeans come with the tagline, "The soothing touch of nature, now available in jeans." Three different models will be available. One is infused with aloe vera and another with olive extract. The third, called "Smooth Legs," contains caffeine, retinol, and algae extract. These ingredients are enclosed in micro-capsules and embedded in the fiber of the jeans. When you squeeze into them, the capsules burst and rub their precious cargo into your skin.

While the aloe vera and olive jeans are designed to just moisturize, Wrangler claims the "Smooth Legs" jeans will help fight cellulite. These should go great with one of Pepsi's fat-blocking sodas.… Read more

Nano Nails turns long fingernails into touch-screen stylii

LAS VEGAS--Long nails and touch screens don't get along very well. It can take some nimble finger acrobatics to get in touch with the display. Sri Vellanki of Tech Tips had already created an over-the-fingertip stylus. It was a natural step to then figure out how to integrate it into wearable fashion nails.

Nano Nails takes pretty much the same tip design as the Tech Tips and places it under the index fingernail. They will be available in either a full press-on nail or a nail tip. Vellanki expects them to sell for in packages of four or six for around $10. They could be put on by the wearer or applied at a salon.… Read more

Tracking watch for kids throws in GPS, GSM, Wi-Fi, kitchen sink

LAS VEGAS--Locator devices that let parents keep track of their kids are nothing new. Evado Filip decided to do things a little differently with the VivoPlay, a watch geared for the 5- to 12-year-old crowd.

Many parents don't want to cough up a real cell phone for their little dears until they get pretty close to being teenagers. The VivoPlay includes GSM, so parents and kids can get in touch when necessary, but it's not a full-blown cell phone with all the related texting and possible cyberbullying issues. This feature elevates the watch from a location device to a communication device.… Read more

Medical-alert bracelet begs for browser cleansing

A now-deleted Redditor posted a photo of a medical-alert bracelet that the anonymous contributor considered "sensible." Rather than listing allergies or medical conditions, it just conveys this crucial message should the wearer become incapacitated: "Delete my browser history."

The bracelet did manage to launch a Reddit discussion on whether EMTs would find it funny. The opinion was split, but a real paramedic came down on the side of definitely funny.… Read more

Crave giveaway: 'Retroreflective Scarf' by geek designer Diana Eng

Congrats to Jeffrey W. of Urbana, Ill., for winning our last giveaway of 2012, an LG Optimus G smartphone from Sprint.

It's mid-winter, so you're likely to see a lot of scarfs out and about. Most of them, however, probably do not contain retroreflective lenses that alter the shade of the fabric depending on the light. If you win this week's giveaway, yours will.

For our first freebie of the new year, we're giving away a Retroreflective Scarf by geek designer, author, and former "Project Runway" contestant Diana Eng. Diana fashions all kinds of cool techno-wear, including a collection of "smart scarves" with designs inspired by science, math, and technology.

Her new Retroreflective Scarf sports subtle stripes that normally appear gray. But when exposed to a direct light source, the tiny lenses on the stripes illuminate with reflected light, creating different shades.… Read more

Geek pasties turn 'Star Trek,' Grumpy Cat into bosom buddies

The words "geeky" and "sexy" haven't always seemed like they should go together, but a line of geek pasties from Etsy is looking to change that perception.

Pasties, for those unfamiliar with the term, are patches that cover part of the bosom for modesty or decorative purposes. In my mind, the highlight of MontabahnPasties' offerings is the "Star Trek" pasties. The famous logo/uniform insignia is available in either silver or pink versions with coordinating tassels. Though these look like the insignia from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," they're not likely to trigger your communicator when tapped. … Read more

How to find a good iPad Mini case or bag

iPads don't come with their own protection. In fact, these sleek metal and glass beauties ship naked. That just won't do: you need a case. But when it comes to the iPad Mini, I quickly discovered, what makes a good case or bag is a very different proposition than for the larger iPad.

To help you pick out something good, here's what I've observed so far over the last couple of months of hard-core iPad Mini use. Let's take a look, shall we?… Read more

'Lord of the Rings' dwarven beard, helm forged from yarn

With "The Hobbit" going nuts at the box office, it's time to turn our eyes toward "Lord of the Rings" cosplay. The dwarf costumes are perhaps some of the most challenging. Not only are there a ton of dwarves to choose from, but you have both armor and excessive facial hair to deal with.

One clever crafter figured out how to handle the dwarf dilemma by harnessing the ancient and terrible power of crochet. Deviantartist SadDaysCrochet fashioned a dwarven helm and beard out of yarn.… Read more