Popular Science: Best of What's New 2008

Each year, Popular Science culls through the latest innovations and inventions to create their comprehensive Best of What's New Issue. It's a huge undertaking and the results are worth at least a 1/2 hour of your internet browsing time.

They just went live with their website for this year's issue and you should go there and check out all the winners. Obviously, we're most interested in the 'Home Tech' category, but, like we said, it's a site built for browsing, and all of the selections are, at the very least, interesting.

And while you're over at their site, check out the article on DeWalt's new corded technology. We covered the basics the other day, but they actually get a look inside the motor and explain why the new tools are so powerful. Read the article here.

Check out Popular Science's Best of What's New list here.

Layoffs at Hyde Tools

It was announced last week that Hyde Tools made the decision to layoff 14 workers (approx. 7% of its workforce). An article on the subject, appearing in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette News, states,

Hyde Tools president Richard M. Clemence cited a downturn in housing starts, falling home prices and a drop in revenues for such home improvement retailers as Lowe's, Home Depot and Ace Hardware.

"This is tough for all of us," Mr. Clemence said in a statement. "We have no choice but to flex to meet the industry decline. We simply have to buckle down."

We hope this trend doesn't continue both for the employees sakes and our own. One of our all time favorite tools is their 6 in 1 (if you don't have one of these, you're really missing out).

Read the article here.

Hyde 6 in 1 at Amazon
Other Hyde Tools at Amazon

Bosch: One Step Closer to World Domination

It looks like Bosch is in the process of acquiring CST/berger, formerly a division of Stanley Tools. CST/berger is known primarily for their laser levels and measuring devices. They make some pretty high class (read: expensive) stuff and their products tend to stay in the 'contractor's only' category. The press release states:

"With this purchase, Bosch is further expanding its product portfolio in the rapidly growing global measuring tool segment, above all in the U.S. market. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. The purchase price amounts to 205 million U.S. dollars (roughly 132 million euros)."

Read the press release here.

CST/berger tools at Amazon.
Bosch tools at Amazon