Who could forget the toilet light? A look back at Gadget Daddy's top picks of 2021

Lonnie Brown
·3 min read
The IllumiBowl Toilet Night Light consists of a motion detector that hangs on the outside of the toilet bowl, connected by a flexible wire to an LED light that hangs inside the bowl.
The IllumiBowl Toilet Night Light consists of a motion detector that hangs on the outside of the toilet bowl, connected by a flexible wire to an LED light that hangs inside the bowl.

Before heading into 2022, here's a quick look back at some of the columns that were popular with readers last year. Date of publication and company websites are also listed.

Medisafe. (Jan. 9): A free version is available for Apple- and Android-based smartphones. The basic version should satisfy most needs. The app keeps track of when medications should be taken and how (with food or on an empty stomach; morning or evening, for example). If you list a caregiver or friend, it will automatically notify them if you miss a dose. www.medisafe.com.

Illumibowl. (Mar. 6): This little motion-activated night light runs on batteries and is designed to drape over the edge of a toilet bowl. It gives a soft light (which can change colors or remain one steady color) which turns on when it senses movement and turns off about two minutes later. About $10-$15. The night light grew out of a partnership with Kevin O'Leary formed on the March 11, 2016, Shark Tank program. Can be found at big-box and home-improvement stores, as well as the company's website: www.illumibowl.com.

Blackboard. (May 1): A writing tablet that comes in various sizes. It's sort of like an Etch-A-Sketch, but instead of using knobs to write on it, a plastic stylus is used. When done, press a button and the screen clears for a new session. Good for to-do lists or jotting down quick notes. Can be found on Amazon by searching for "Boogie Board." Sizes, colors and capabilities vary, as does the price. Website: myboogieboard.com.

Chess for kids: Chesster and Fritz. (May 29): This chess-teaching program for kids first appeared on CD-ROM in 2003. Children's Technology Review wrote that it gave a "clever review of the chess pieces and moves," and concluded: "This is the best children's chess program on the market. "It still is – and now is available for Apple smartphones and tablets. Chesster is a Cheshire rat who, as the spelling of his name implies, is also a teacher of chess. His ways are imaginative and fun. It can be found in the Apple Store. About $25.

the DjuiinoStar Spinning Top DST-808
the DjuiinoStar Spinning Top DST-808

DjuiinoStar Spinning Top DST-808. (Sept. 4): The headline on this column summed it up: "Time wasting at its best: A high-tech top that spins for 15 minutes or more." Right out of the box, I was managing spins that lasted eight minutes. My longest spin to date went for nearly 20 minutes. Time spinning comes with a price. Sold by itself, the top is $60. For the longer spins, the company suggests a concave, smooth glass base. It's four inches across; a half-inch thick. The concave surface forces the top toward the center, further conserving energy. The glass adds another $30 to the cost. Available from Amazon.

The C64 Mini: A Commodore 64 replica. (Oct. 9): In a computing world long ago, the Commodore 64 was the world's best-selling computer. The brains of the computer were all housed in its beige keyboard. The Mini is a smaller replica of the original C64 keyboard (with nonfunctioning keys). It's about half the length and width of the original C64, is the same beige color, and comes preloaded with 64 of the computer's best-selling games. To touch on a few: Boulder Dash; Jumpman; California Games; Pitstop II; Speedball II; Street Sports Baseball; Summer Games; Winter Games and Temple of Apshai Trilogy. About $40-60 on Amazon.

The Vivitar Bluetooth Activity Tracker keeps track of steps, calories and distance walked; alerts the wearer to incoming calls and text messages; records sleep quality; sets sleep and activity goals; sets up to five alarms for daily or weekly schedules. And it's less than $15.
The Vivitar Bluetooth Activity Tracker keeps track of steps, calories and distance walked; alerts the wearer to incoming calls and text messages; records sleep quality; sets sleep and activity goals; sets up to five alarms for daily or weekly schedules. And it's less than $15.

The Vivitar Bluetooth Activity Tracker. (Dec. 10): I bought this activity tracker/watch at a local discount store just before Christmas. It was the VIVIMP1016N model, selling for less than $15. It wasn't the most stylish or biggest watch, but it did keep time, counted steps and calories and had some other features. It basically was a good way for the people wearing it to learn what was important in a smartwatch. It paired with a smartphone app for record keeping.

Lonnie Brown
Lonnie Brown

Lonnie Brown can be reached at LedgerDatabase@aol.com.

Correction

An earlier version of this column listed a wrong web address for the Blackboard writing tablet. The address has been corrected.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: A look back at Gadget Daddy's top picks of 2021