“You got your head in the clouds and you’re not at all what you seem”…

I had the pleasure of attending a very special do on London’s Southbank on Friday for Microsoft’s UK division, with the aim of exploring their longstanding, yet seemingly under-appreciated SkyDrive service. Joining a group of tech-focused bloggers for a breakfast briefing at the Marriott County Hall (below), we delved into the ins-and-outs of all things SkyDrive and prepared for a head-to-head competition – using it to seek, capture and share the City’s landmarks with speed and style.

Just another cloud-storage product? I had thought so. And by seemingly general consensus, so had the group! What we discovered however, was a feature-rich photo-sharing service (complete with quick shoot-and-upload apps for both iPhone and Windows Phone) that makes it easy to save and share individual shots – or even entire galleries (below) – with your friends, family or the world…yes, even those NOT on Facebook.

There’s no need for a Hotmail account (major plus!), you just need to get yourself a Windows Passport/Live ID (which can be linked to any of your existing addresses) and you’re in.

Far from being a static storage device, SkyDrive incorporates Microsoft’s Web Apps, which pack some remarkable features for collaborative editing of workplace Office docs. Word appeared smooth upon demonstration, with clever tools such as the ability to assign certain paragraphs of text to individual people for editing, and a lock-down/notification system that prevents accidental cross-editing and informs the group of rewrites in-progress and completed revisions.

Personally, I struggled using Web Apps to create a PowerPoint presentation for the day’s second challenge, but would highly recommend the service’s photo-sharing feature, which with its gallery lightboxes and simple sharing options (send to any email / post to Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn / get a link for Twitter etc.), plus permission toggling (can edit/must sign in), appears well polished and would make management of larger online photo collections in particular much easier to juggle.

Post briefing, we took our newfound knowledge and put it to the test, with a shoot-out in a private capsule on the London Eye! One lucky winner would take home 2 x Nokia Lumia 800s with Window Phone. Juggling bubbly and photography, we sought out, captured, and tweeted like mad, hoping followers might be able to not only recognize our landmarks, but tell us where they were shot. Yes, that’s what all those random tweets were about Friday…and knowing that followers of MTN are largely US-based (and prolly not even awake yet), I mostly forgive you for not responding.

Next up…battle two. Armed with PowerPoint, we all had 30 mins to create presentations of our experience – vying for a brand new Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook. Utterly surprised by the quality of my fellow bloggers’ slideshows, and personally thwarted by the aforementioned technical problems, I conceded defeat. Again. So yeah, no giveaway prizes I’m afraid.

Finishing up with a spot of fine dining, fantastic views and great conversation at the top of the Oxo Tower, the sun had set and it was time for us to part…until next time!

A special thanks to Ian Moulster from Microsoft UK, Andrew and Emily from 3 Monkeys and all the amazing bloggers that made it such an enjoyable day. And thanks to our pro-photographer, we even have pics of the action. Enjoy…

Perhaps this cast iron casserole by the crème de la crème in cookware could make my cookery less trick — “Voila, crème da la pew!” — and more treat!…

Called the Le Creuset Pumpkin Casserole, this pumpkin-shaped(!), flame-colored dish lets you prepare, cook and serve your seasonal noms with a visual flavoring of festive flair, and even comes complete with a quirky off-center knob to imitate nature’s inconsistencies.

Ideal for presenting sumptuous soups, stews and casseroles for dinner guests on Halloween, to celebrate pumpkin-season or simply for a bit of cheery year ’round fun, the Le Creuset Pumpkin Casserole performs well on all heat sources, includes a lifetime warranty and is available now from the wonderfully rebranded Wayfair.com (formerly CSN Stores) with FREE shipping for $159.95.

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes…

With All Hallow’s Eve creeping up on us, the 10-Foot Macbeth’s Witches have swept into town – ready to scold young trick-or-treaters with a whole cauldron of trouble.

Featuring six integrated 7-watt lights to illuminate the bewitching threesome, and ensure they will not go unnoticed by passers-by “hey, stop the car. I swear that middle chick’s Gargamel!”, this spell-binding decoration is made from strong, lightweight terylene (commonly found in modern nautical sails) and packs more snaggleteeth and implications of ill intent than you could shake a (broom)stick at.

Including an electric fan for continuous inflation, the 10-Foot Macbeth’s Witches Halloween Inflatable is available exclusively from Hammacher Schlemmer for $329.95. Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron children bubble…you know, with eerie excitement!

If you’ve ever admired how a person can stay effortlessly balanced on a unicycle, but don’t want to take the time to learn how to operate the one wheeled apparatus – then the Gyroscopic Electric Unicycle is the ride for you!

Suited for urban commuting or suburban recreation, the Gyroscopic Electric Unicycle is a briefcase-sized ride that stays upright on almost any terrain – thanks to built-in gyroscopic sensors that keep it (and you) perfectly balanced.

Leaning forward activates the unicycle’s motors and steadily increases speed, while leaning back guides it to a gentle stop. Subtle leaning to the side will let you turn all motorcycle-like…lean into the corner, lean into the corner!

Riders can enjoy 2 hours of travel on a single charge thanks to built-in lithium batteries, and with top speeds at 10 mph, you can cover plenty of ground around town. Plus, its 16-inch wheel extends only four inches from the case – so you won’t have to worry about getting a pant leg snagged either.

For a quick, stylish, and gasoline-free way to travel, the Gyroscopic Electric Unicycle is available now at Hammacher Schlemmer for $1,800.

With today’s technology, a pen and paper is as outdated as a rock and chisel. Why write the old-fashioned way? Now you can take notes, make lists, and even doodle on a tablet designed to make jotting things down easier than ever. The Boogie Board LCD Tablet gives you all the function of a pen and paper, in a package that exudes convenience.

With a pressure-sensitive LCD writing surface, the Boogie Board captures every stroke and shows them at different thicknesses depending on how hard you press. You can even use your fingernail for ultra-quick notes on-the-run, or for filling in tiny doodle details.

At just 1/8 of an inch thick and weighing in at 4.2 ounces, the Boogie Board LCD Tablet gives you function and portability. Now you can jot down your thoughts, make checklists, and doodle to your hearts content without wasting a single piece of paper. A tool like this might just bring out your environmentalist side.

Give your notepads and pens to family and friends, because the Boogie Board LCD Tablet is available at Amazon.com (rated 3.7/5 stars from 153 customer reviews) for $29.00.

Looking for a way to immerse yourself even deeper into your favorite video games? Wish there was a way to tune out every noise that keeps you from enjoying your games to their fullest?

Well, the V Rocker Video Gaming Chair is here to sit you even closer to the action.

This gaming chair features a wireless audio transmission system that lets you stay immersed in the action while playing your favorite video games, listening to your favorite music, or watching those action-packed DVDs you love so much!

The V Rocker features built-in speakers — installed and hidden within the chair’s shoulder — so you can enjoy the sound of your video games at full volume. However, a headphone jack is also included, just in case you want to keep all the action to yourself.

The chair also includes a side control panel that lets you adjust the volume, bass level, and band switch, and it provides input-output jacks conveniently located within inches of where you’re sitting.

Also playing back mp3s, CDs and DVDs, the V Rocker Video Gaming Chair is compatible with Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, GameBoy, Playstation 1, 2 & 3 and more.

The chair’s cover is made from a heavy-duty vinyl that’s easy to clean, and on the inside, a hardwood frame provides ergonomic full-back support. Its dual-layer, fire-retardant foam provides both comfort AND safety, and when not in use, the V Rocker folds in half, making it easy to carry around or store in the nearest closet.

The V Rocker Video Gaming Chair is a great way to supercharge your gaming experience and it’s available in red or blue (rated 4.5/5 stars from 20 customer reviews) at VideoGameChairs.com with FREE shipping for $132.98.

Let’s face it, kids won’t eat fruit once they become aware of the sweet, sugar-loaded pleasure of eating frozen treats like ice-cream, frozen yogurt and popsicles.

If you care about your kids’ health, but don’t want to deny them the joy of eating a delicious frozen treat, then the Frozen Fruit Soft Serve Processor is ideal (especially for Summer!)

Just put some frozen bananas, raw chocolate or any other fruits you’d like into the processor, and it will churn all the ingredients to produce a delicious treat with a texture similar to soft-serve ice cream or frozen yogurt — the best way to provide your kids with delicious AND healthy treats without the sugar, fat, and preservatives of commercial products.

You can try all kinds of combinations; the chute accepts berries, sliced mango, or even cantaloupe and the processor’s integrated conical, spinning blade will mash and incorporate the fruit into a smooth confection. When you’re done, you can safely put the chute, plunger, and blade into the dishwasher.

The Frozen Fruit Soft Serve Processor comes with a dessert storage container, as well as four popsicle molds, and is available now at Hammacher Schlemmer for an irresistible $69.95. Go on…treat yourself!

Are you still holding on to those classic Nintendo cartridges? Do you have a box full of old Sega Genesis games you’re still saving just in case? Are you having a hard time throwing those old Super Nintendo games in the trash because they remind you of a time when life was much simpler…and FUN?

Well, the multi-platform Retron 3 NES/SNES/Genesis Triple System is here to knock the dust off those vintage cartridges and let you relive the excitement of classic console gaming!

Just plug in the Retron 3, hook it up to your TV through the S-video or composite AV inputs, plug in one of your classic cartridges, and let your nostalgia fill the room!

This three-console system is compatible with Nintendo (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES), and Sega Genesis cartridges and features 2 original control ports for each of these gaming platforms — which allows you to put your classic cartridges AND controllers to good use!

The Retron 3 NES/SNES/Genesis Triple System also includes 2 wireless controllers to add a little distance between you and the screen — you know…’cause sitting too close to the TV will still make your vision go blurry just like it did back in the 80’s and 90’s.

You can get this fun-filled, retro gaming system at Amazon.com (with FREE shipping) in two different colors: Vector Red ($56.80) and Metallic Gray ($58.44).

If you’ve ever wanted to know how you can jump around like Neil Armstrong, or bounce effortlessly like a kangaroo at high-speed, now you do. They make shoes for that. These TRAMP-It Jump Shoes use super-strong, flexible strips beneath the soles to propel kids of all ages through the air like an olympic high-jumper.

Folding up for running or extending for jumping, the metal strips on the bottom of the shoes are coated in rubber, giving the user grip to the ground and control of their bounce.

Not only are these shoes fun, they promise to provide exercise and a muscle-building workout. TRAMP-It will improve your balance and coordination as you use them too, making the shoes a fun way to stay fit.

The shoes are available in three sizes suitable for kids, right up to smallish adults – UK 1 to UK 8 – weighing up to 100kg, and are highly adjustable for a snug fit.

With straps and laces to ensure you’ll never pop out of them, and high ankle supports to protect delicate joints, the TRAMP-It Jump Shoes are available now from Firebox.com starting at $160 | £100 | €111. They’ll turn your kid into a human kangaroo in no time. “Dammit Joey, where have you bounced off to?!”

Are you addicted to the adrenaline rush and fast-paced action of racing sims? Are you one of those people who can’t help leaning sideways every time you make a tight turn playing Need For Speed on your Playstation 3?

Then, the Logitech G27 Racing Wheel will rev up your senses and drive you into the ultimate racing experience.

The Logitech G27 Racing Wheel is designed to bring a complete simulated racing experience to your PC or Playstation 3, accurately simulating weight shift, traction loss, and road feel thanks to its powerful, dual-motor force feedback mechanism. Its exceptionally quiet helical gear system virtually eliminates any steering noise too — delivering all the action and none of the racket.

You can literally put the pedal to the metal thanks to its three steel pedals (gas, brake and clutch). Use the wheel’s paddle shifters to experience ultra fast F1 style shifting, or use the more traditional six-speed shifter with push-down reverse to quickly choose the proper gear for every corner.

Its 11-inch wheel and leather-wrapped rim provide a realistic and comfortable racing experience, and comes fully-equipped with RPM/shift indicator LEDS that integrate with compatible racing game software to let you know when you should shift gears.

Currently rated with 4.5 out of 5 stars from 122 customer reviews, the Logitech G27 Racing Wheel is available with free shipping at Amazon.com for $282.77.