Print v iPads: books win!‏

Although e-book readers might be heralded as the future of literature but a new report shows that it's still quicker to read the old-fashioned print version of a book. However, the study found that although traditional printed books are faster and 'more relaxing' to read, but iPads and Kindles are 'more satisfying'.

Win an iPad with Rohan

Rohan are offering their fans an opportunity to win an iPad over on the Rohantime website.

Free Christian iPhone applications

If you own an iPhone or iPod Touch then there are plenty of great Christian applications and websites that you may be interested in. You can find a range of iPhone and iPod Touch Christian applications listed in five sections on the free Christian resources website to make it easier to find exactly what you are after.

Church leaders call for 'technology fast'

Church leaders are urging people to give up iPods rather than chocolate this Lent as part of a 'technology fast' to save the planet as well as our souls:

• TearFund Carbon Fast 2010 webpages
• Telegraph article

The USB-heated mouse

Feeling the cold?

Stay warm while you surf the web with a USB-heated mouse!

Make do and mend?

BBC News reports that although repairing gadgets can save cash, many people would rather replace their broken appliances. So the BBC decided to find out whether it is worth giving these broken gadgets a new lease of life with a little help from a traditional repair man. Read the story and the accompanying advice from Which?

The Teasmade is back on the boil

The Telegraph reports a revival for the great British Teasmade. Swan have revived the Teasmade by popular demand. The author writes of 'the charming paradox at the heart of the Teasmade [it is] a "labour-saving" device that really just transfers the labour from morning to evening'.

"In its curvaceous new form, with an LCD face like a blue moon and a swanky reading light, the Teasmade is not a bit like its squat old self with the funny little silver pipe sticking out of the top. It looks as if it might play music or make bread. It is unrecognisably lovely. The ceramic teapot wouldn't look out of place in Fortnum's."

Portable espresso machine

If espresso is the ideal beverage for a recession, then a portable espresso machine is possibly one of the best gadgets ever.

You prime it up like a bicycle pump then add hot water to the coffee and....hey presto! No self respecting student or traveller should be without one.

Recycle thoughtfully and environmentally

The Guardian's EthicalLivingBlog is encouraging us to resist the dubious temptation of free air miles in exchange for your old mobile phones, as there are plenty of creative ways to recycle your used handset instead.

A Platypus for wine

OK, so a Platypus isn't suitable for porridge, but another product from the company behind the Platypus hydration system may intrigue you. The PlatyPreserve claims to be "the best way to protect the taste of an opened bottle of wine by completely eliminating the presence of oxygen". How dies it work? The three environmental factors that damage wine are: oxygen, temperature, and ultraviolet light. The PlatyPreserve solves the first factor by isolating your wine from oxygen. You can deal with the other two factors by storing the PlatyPreserve in a cool dark place.

Gadget reviews

The John Lewis website contains a Buying guide for technology gadgets. More informative than just a straight sales pitch, for each topic (e..g. digital cameras, laptops and mobile phones) there is a succinct overview of the technology and the main options. For independent advice, view the Which website (for thousands of products that have been individually tested and rated by experts) and the Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI), described as an "unbeatable check-before-you-buy resource".

USB-rechargable battery

USBCELL rechargeable batteries are a new concept in rechargeable batteries - you simply plug them into the USB ports on your computer to charge them up, then use them in your electrical gadget. With over 15 billion alkaline batteries made and thrown away each year - wasting resources, C02 and creating toxic landfill - it's good to come across an eco-friendly alternative. Even better when the eco-friendly alternative can be re-used hundreds of times and doesn't require a charger or adaptor cable, saving money, hassle and waste.

USBCELL batteries are available from Amazon and the Onya company (who also sell the Onya Weigh and wrapsacks).

Making the perfect cup of coffee

In Who needs an espresso machine?, coffee obsessive Tim Hayward describes his journey of discovery after his prized espresso machine broke down. In his search for alternatives he learned that there are good cups of coffee to be had without the huge investment of a temperamental, steam-spitting appliance. He discusses the use of the Cafetiere, Moka pot (caffetiera), Syphon pots, and the Handpresso.

See also: Espresso: the ideal beverage for a recession

Outdoors Show (27-29 March)

The Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show will take place from 27-29 March at the NEC, Birmingham. The NEC will be filled with with high ropes, scuba diving, mountain bike tracks, surfing, woodland trails, canoeing, climbing walls, a music festival and it’s all free, once you've paid for entry. They say that if you enjoy the great oudoors, you'll love the show! You can sign up to the Outdoors Show newsletter for updates and competitions.

Travel games

A number of Infusion members enjoy board games, and travel. Nomad Travel have brought together these two passions in the Backpacker Travel Game and the Travelproof Bandana Gameboard.

Doing church differently

Cartoonist Dave Walker blogs about his recent visit to an alternative temple of worship: At the Apple store:

I went to the Apple store in London.

The worship space was brightly lit, and row upon row of devotees stood at wooden benches gazing in adoration at white machines of varying shapes and sizes. A glass staircase lead upwards, where further rows of worshippers were doing much the same as those downstairs. People wearing bright shirts stood behind other desks, and names appeared on large screens. In the upper sanctuary a gathering of the faithful sat on wide comfortable pews and listened to a sermon.

I found the whole experience quite baffling. I could not see any orders of service anywhere, so it was rather difficult to know what I should be doing. Eventually I plucked up the courage to approach a sidesman, who explained what the worshippers were all doing and answered some of my questions about the basic tenets of the faith. He took me over to one of the white machines and explained some of the ways in which I too could become a follower should I choose. There would of course be very real costs involved.

Wary of making a commitment on my first visit I thanked the sideman and explained that I was in a bit of a hurry. To his credit he did not seem to mind.

I left clutching a parish magazine and thinking that returning on another occasion might not be entirely out of the question.

Can you charge an iPod using an onion?‏

Scientists investigate the claim (on YouTube) that you can soak an onion in an energy drink and use it to charge your iPod. It sounds very environmentally friendly, but a spokesman from the Royal Society of Chemistry sates: "the science behind the idea isn't bad - you can generate an electric current from vegetables - but the video is a hoax".

Tea-related gadgets

Wondering what to get your tea-loving friends and family for Christmas? If you don't go down the alternative gifts route, you could consider these tea-related gadgets:

• Tea Tool: Designed by a doctor who couldn’t bear the drips created when transferring a soggy tea bag from mug to bin, Tea Tool is a simple solution. Pop a tea bag in the cage, place it in your cup and pour the hot water in; give it a stir and press the plunger to squeeze the bag, releasing all the flavour and excess water. Then, pull the plunger to drop the bag in the bin. No drips on worktops, no burnt fingers, and no mess!
• Teabag Bin: The Teabag Bin is as simple as its name suggests: a bin for used tea bags! This stylish little container made from high grade steel or plastic sits happily next to the kettle and swallows up used teabags keeping your kitchen mess free.

Or you could just buy them a new mug and a box of their favourite tea!

Domestic gadgets go hi-tech

At the beginning of the year I blogged about 2008's most wanted culinary gizmos. Now comes a list of home-helping gadgets that put "the fun in functional". These include a washing machine that will do the ironing, a droid that cleans your floors, and a toaster that always produces a perfect slice of toast.

Father, son and holy toast

From today's Guardian comes the story Father, son and holy toast - a discussion of the JesusPan, kitchen gadgets, and religious images appearing on food. The sort of news story that could only appear on a Friday.