Hacked Gadgets Happy Holidays Contest

Happy holidays from everyone here at Hacked Gadgets! This month Hacked Gadgets will be giving a lucky commenter a $75 gift certificate to ThinkGeek.

To enter please comment on this post to tell us what you would purchase at Think Geek if you win (please include a link so others can look at it) and comment on an article between now and January 1, 2008. The more comments you leave the better your odds of winning!

“ThinkGeek started as an idea. A simple idea to create and sell stuff that would appeal to the thousands of people out there who were on the front line and in the trenches as the Internet was forged. From programmers, engineers, students, lovers of open source, to the masses that helped create the behind-the-scenes Internet culture. ThinkGeek started as a way to serve a market that was passionate about technology.”

Below are a few examples of cool geek items that you could get with the gift certificate. What would you get with $75 to spend?


USB Rocket Launcher

The USB Rocket Launcher would be one of my picks if I had $75 to spend.

“This rocket launcher connects to your Windows 2000, XP or Vista machine via USB. Install the included software, plug in the Rocket Launcher, and with 360 degree horizontal rotation and 45 degree vertical rotation, the USB Rocket Launcher can fire over six meters, giving you coverage for over 113 square meters of your workspace.”


Wi-Fi Detector Shirt

This Wi-Fi Detector Shirt should come in handy when you are looking for a network to connect to. 🙂

“The glowing bars on the front of the shirt dynamically change as the surrounding wi-fi signal strength fluctuates. Finally you can get the attention you deserve as others bow to you as their reverential wi-fi god, while geeky chicks swoon at your presence. You can thank us later.

Product Features

* Glowing animated shirt dynamically displays the current wi-fi signal strength.
* Shows signal strength for 802.11b or 802.11g
* Black 100% Cotton T-Shirt
* Animated Decal is Removable (with hook and loop fasteners) for Easy Washing
* Battery Pack is Concealed in a Small Pocket Sewn Inside the Shirt
* Runs for hours off three AAA Batteries (not included)”


Bluetooth Retro Handset

How funny would it be to use this
Bluetooth Retro Handset instead if the tiny cell phones that are all too common…

“We have taken the ever-popular Retro Handset and updated it to connect to your cell phone using Bluetooth technology. That’s right! No more tangled up phone cord. Now people will think you’re really crazy talking into a old-time handset connected to… nothing. Oh, and speaking of nothing, there’s nothing out there quite like this handset because this product is a ThinkGeek original design, only available here. How ’bout them blueberries?”

74 Comments


  1. I’d probably purchase the happy hacking keyboard.


  2. So cruel, Hacked Gadgets… making me choose!

    Honestly, I’d probably go with the LED Binary Watch because, then no one would be able to read my watch but me!

    Long-live ThinkGeek!


  3. Thanks marks256,

    Not sure what happened there… The link is now updated.


  4. The USB Rocket Launcher would be mine. I can see with no problem who I use that at at work. Hehe. If only…


  5. the head set…. Or some of the Animated shirts…


  6. Id probobly get the plasma globe, some lasers and stuff,meaby one of those WiFi keychains.


  7. I would totally buy the ‘T-Amp Gen 2 Amplifier’ to make my speaker-bench operational..


  8. Hi Hello Moto,

    That Annoy-a-tron would drive people at work up the wall!


  9. My thoughts exactly. I’ve also thought about copying the circuit and making 10-25 of them, that way they could be used as a long-lasting and infuriating (but legal) senior year prank.


  10. The easiest answer would be EVERYTHING, except for the fact that I already have 50% of the stuff lying around the house, aaaand $75 isn’t quite enough..
    So I’d settle for a walking robot and a R/C forklift
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/japanfan/9c8d/
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/924e/
    Then I’d do my best to fit the motors and electronics from the forklift inside the robot. I’m not sure how to solve the problem with turning left/right yet, but I’d solve that during the holidays..


  11. Hi Rick,

    Love the new CD Turbine site! Make the phone turbine powered. 🙂


  12. probably whatever’s in the top 5 🙂


  13. I might get angry if you keep posting what you might get, B! Give it up. Or santa might not bring you anything! hehe



  14. Oh, and my ID badge is just hanging off a safety pin right now, so I was thinking of getting the Pirate badge holder to show my allegiance… Most of my cow-orkers are on the Ninja side of the fence, and I wanna stir things up.
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/57af/


  15. Ok, i am posting again…

    i changed my mind. I would get the PI sweatshirt http://www.thinkgeek.com/apparel/hoodies/7b0a/ because PI is just plain cool.

    the tux sweatshirt http://www.thinkgeek.com/apparel/hoodies/5844/ because when i am not being nerdy, i am being geeky with linux

    and finally, i would get the remote computer switch. It takes my computer ~45 seconds to boot, and me about 45 seconds to get to my room from the door to my house. So this gadget would be perfect for hacking up an rfid system or something that will turn my computer on right when i walk in the front door!

    well, if only i had $75…


  16. Thank you, Alan, for a great year end contest everyone can jump on!
    As to what I’d buy – Dueling Mini R/C Copters.
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/9e6c/
    This way my son and I can spend some fun times together.
    Thanks again.
    J.


  17. it’d have to be the usb launcher.


  18. ragincajun1337: careful with that coldheat soldering iron.. since it produces a voltage to create heat, it’s probably bad to use on sensitive components. I’ve read some bad reviews on the thing that call it the “cold-joint” soldering iron.
    You’d be better off getting a regular $10 ratshack iron… here, this:
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/7048/
    contains one, and so much more… still under $75!


  19. The USB Rocket Launcher for my home office! I’d set it up so that my crew could shoot me when they need to. Like Tuesdays when it’s time for staff notes. When a project deadline is due. Or right after annual reviews…


  20. indelible: oh! i’ll definitely keep that one in mind, i’d probably pick up just the soldering iron by itself somewhere because there’s another toolset i had in mind to pick up at some point, but then again, i’ll keep that one in mind as a possibility


  21. I would have to go with the usb rocket launcher after the recent article showing their potential.


  22. I would definatley purchase the Wi-Fi Detector Shirt if I won. I am a middle school computer teacher and my wireless goes out every Friday, but no one believes me. I could put on the shirt and leave my cam on all day. When the wireless goes out I will have proof 🙂

    Being a middle school teacher, I am surrounded by all of the kids germs in the winter. The Plush Robot Tissue Box is just cool.

    I like the Inanimate Character Stickers for my cup and stapler.
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/9866/

    Finally I would love the USB Christmas tree because although Christmas is over, it’s still a lot of fun!


  23. There are only three things I desperately need at this time (and about a million more I WANT).

    I’m A US Marine, full-time student (Studying electrical/mechanical engineering), and I’m in the process of starting a business developing various gadgets. Obviously, with all this on my plate, I don’t have time to sleep (sleep is for the weak!). The Mega Caffeine Candy Sampler, v7.0, would allow me to find the optimal caffeine treat to keep me going night and day.
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/candy/9aab/ ($19.99)

    I recently broke my watch, which is really frustrating. I’m the sort of person who glances at my wrist every 3 minutes or so, and my bare arm is driving me nuts. Also, between school, work and home, I often have a number of important files that need viewing or editing, but I have no way to transport them. A USB Memory Watch would solve both of these problems, and with style!
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/watches/9771/ ($39.99)

    I eat at the chowhall here on base nearly every day. Bill O’ Reilly’s frowning mug is on the TV there every day. I’m really sick of the silly politics and propaganda. I don’t know if his show is meant to be taken seriously, or if it’s all satire, but either way, it would be really nice to have a TV-B-Gone! I would really enjoy a nice peaceful quiet lunch.
    http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/755e/ ($15.99 – $18.99)



  24. On second thought, I definitely want some caffeine soap – totally worth it!



  25. おい上、是非、これらの事実*と証明書* iの人*大爆笑だが投稿されもしかして:P

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