50 Worst Gadgets You Can Buy in SkyMall: The Anti-Gift Guide
50 Worst Gadgets You Can Buy in SkyMall: The Anti-Gift Guide
Posted 11/26/2009 at 8:00am
| by Alex Castle and Norman Chan
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Are you planning to do some travelling or Holiday gift shopping this weekend? There's only one way you can do both at the same time, and that's with SkyMall. It's the catalog for products that didn't quite make it into Sharper Image or BrookStone, and are too expensive to sell on infomercials. We picked up the latest issue on a recent flight, and were astounded to find terrible products on every other page. Here, we've picked out the fifty worst items, including horrendously ill-conceived vehicle accessories, impractical grooming devices, and the most terribly advertised gadgets for sale.
But let's start with the gem of a cover, which apparently breaks the rules of the space-time continuum.
Let's overlook the fact that this Soutwest plane cabin includes holiday decorations, Slanket-wearing passengers, and SANTA CLAUS. Look at the lady wearing the red Slanket in the front. She's reading a copy of SkyMall. But look closely, and you'll see that the issue she's reading is the very issue she's on the cover of! Here's a zoomed-in look at the cover-within-a-cover:
DayClock
Do you have little trouble keeping track of the hour and even the date, but the day always eludes you? If so, then you're a moron.
Passenger Seat Office
What do you mean “Not for use while driving?” I’m writing this article from a Passenger Seat Office right now! OH SHI—
Personal Infrared Sauna
If you're too cheap to get a membership to the local pool, but have $500 to spend on a personal oven. Plus, it doubles as a Captain Pike Star Trek costume.
SkyRest Airplane Pillow
Sleep the restful sleep of a man who has given up on his dignity.
More like this
jacuskalis
October 20, 2010 at 9:47pm
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stocktogouk
October 06, 2010 at 1:41am
I will recommend my friends to read this.I will bookmark your blog and have my children check up here often.I am quite sure they will learn lots of new stuff here than anybody else!....There is also a lot of visual symbolism that is sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle.
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stocktogouk
October 06, 2010 at 1:40am
I will recommend my friends to read this.I will bookmark your blog and have my children check up here often.I am quite sure they will learn lots of new stuff here than anybody else!....There is also a lot of visual symbolism that is sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle.
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seocracker
September 28, 2010 at 11:21am
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beamtech
September 26, 2010 at 10:39pm
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I appreciate your writing skill and way of presentation of the blog. It drives away the reader to read it again and again.
beamtech
September 26, 2010 at 10:38pm
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font-family:"Times New Roman";}I appreciate your writing skill and way of presentation of the blog. It drives away the reader to read it again and again.
payal.mukesh20
September 26, 2010 at 11:31pm
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jonty
September 02, 2010 at 4:08am
Awesome information. Thank you for posting and keep up the good work. I'll be following your blog closely from now on! eco friendly bags
bell22
July 01, 2010 at 9:01pm
Lol, I think Skyrest pillow is good enough for me :)...well, I do have a neck pillow like that, but I think this one is different :P
spentnickles
December 10, 2009 at 5:29am
It's nice to see that not "everyone" (@ Phi) has lost their sense of humor...
The responses to this article are as funny as the article itself... I literally laughed out loud at the "boob-pillow" idea...and would probably buy one as a result!
Keep the laughter coming! S#!^ I think I just BLU myself... :)
Ravenhurst
November 30, 2009 at 12:34pm
lol Holidays got you stressed out much? Or do you just overreact to everything?
kevin000000000000001
March 11, 2010 at 10:20pm
Thanks heaps to the author!
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phi
November 30, 2009 at 3:55am
The author of this article is so arrogant and unimaginative as to put down the products mentioned in this list without so much as a serious critique as to the failings of the product other than a pathetic one line attack that doesn't even convince any sober thinking individual towards the validity of his arguments. There are people with legitimate ailments such as migraines, back problems, hair thinning or loss, and loss of hearing for which some of the products mentioned here would have legitimate use and would be well received as gifts. Other products, such as the shower head that changes colors or the portable microwave, have uses that, while not necessarily indispensable, do make living our way of life a little bit more tolerable or easier.
While I personally wouldn't use all of these products, I would think that about two thirds of the products mentioned in this list would've been somewhat appreciated if received by the right person. The saving grace of this article is that it introduced me to a lot of products that I personally would appreciate (especially that pocket underwater camera that I can take with me outdoors on rainy days or pool parties without having to worry about it getting wet).
spentnickles
December 10, 2009 at 5:22am
Yeah, run out and spend almost $2000 on the Scuba gear then get back with us...
fangtr18
December 08, 2009 at 4:45pm
Most of the reviews and comments made by the author are just for fun and for a laugh. You really don't need to spas over everything writen. If anyone has an objection to any comments they should just stop reading the article.
Biceps
November 30, 2009 at 10:10am
Dude, if this makes you so upset that you need to write a 500-word reply telling the authors how little you think of them, then you seriously need to pick up a newspaper and find something more worthwhile to get incensed about. Like genocide, or maybe world hunger or something. You definitely need to get a girlfriend, too, btw.
(World) Peace
kevin000000000000001
March 11, 2010 at 10:21pm
Brilliant post mate, keep up the good work J
buy camera(http://www.emartaustralia.com.au/)
Scootiep
December 01, 2009 at 8:44am
Really kinda sounds like you're the one on the rag.
To start press any key...ohh, where's the "Any" key. - Homer Simpson
Kalabajooie
November 29, 2009 at 9:48am
The sort of person that actually needs the Day Clock is also the sort of person who will wonder why it's been Tuesday for the past month, remembering that he/she needs to replace the batteries on Wednesday.
Mighty BOB!
November 29, 2009 at 12:15am
That picture of the self-cleaning cat litter box is begging for the icanhascheezburger treatment
sp0oK
November 27, 2009 at 8:49pm
I would actually buy the passenger seat office if I could afford it. I want to mount a slax laptop in my car as an iPod replacement. Also for nerd cred.
Probably much less retarded looking options for that out there though. Lol.
nekollx
November 27, 2009 at 11:14am
some of them aren't tooooo bad, and some just need to be repourposed...lazer pool cue FTW!
------------------------------
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Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
The Relic
November 26, 2009 at 9:02am
Now WHAT would I do with such a device...I know! Various types of maniacal laughs or screams, depending on the hour! 12AM: "It's....12 o'clock! Muahahhahahaha!" Or 3 Stooges; "At the tap of the dome it is now 3 o' clock!"
AMD64Blondie
November 25, 2009 at 10:48pm
The cell-phone watch had me thinking...."Is Dick Tracy real,and does he read Maximum PC?"
K0BALT
November 25, 2009 at 9:27pm
LMAO... if you need tactical hardware to hit the ball...then quit now.....LMFAO...classic!
snapple00
November 25, 2009 at 8:13pm
That 'mind game' with the ball looks pretty cool.
I think i might just get drunk enough to buy that tonight.
Obsidian
November 25, 2009 at 8:13pm
This was easily one of THE funiest things I've seen on the internet in a long time. Great article, nice quips. Keep up the great stuff.
Although to be fair, that umbrella really does kick ass. It should probably get a Geek Approved stamp on it. Still a funny ad though.
Anyone ever wonder what you get when you put on a robe backwards? ... a slanket perhaps?
SodaAnt
November 25, 2009 at 7:33pm
Actually, the umbrella is legit. I had one for a long time, and it would regularly survive gusts that would blow other umbrellas. If anything, I would actually recommend it to anyone who lives in a place where there is a regular combination of rain and wind.
decapitor
November 25, 2009 at 7:18pm
actually that umbrella looks legit enough not to be on the list.
Queenof1
November 25, 2009 at 7:17pm
This article was great. The space-time continuum front cover is priceless.
Jono
November 25, 2009 at 7:06pm
i love how the driver of the car is using the "passenger seat" office table... if you're going to use a false label for your product, try refraining from photographing the real intentions for the table.
bingojubes
November 25, 2009 at 5:19pm
that blue pillow for your airplane table would be cool if it looked like a pair of large breasts on it. then it would probably sell more, and it would not look as goofy as it does..
yugiah
November 25, 2009 at 5:11pm
Oh my good this is one of the funniest things EVER. I swear to god, they're practically lolcats, but with out the cats.
"This is the face of a man who just BLU himself."
Techrocket9
November 25, 2009 at 4:51pm
Is this for real?
_____________________________________________________
An army of pacifists can be defeated by one man with the will to fight.
ddimick
November 25, 2009 at 7:17pm
Oh, yes. All of these items are regularly in your in-flight shopping guide.
I can't believe they left out the replica Harry Potter wand and the inspirational slogan posters.
It's not all crap, though. Just most of it.
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