Color-changing brolly lightens up even the heaviest downpour

Unlike the copious high-tech brollies we've written about on Crave Asia, the Skyline Squidarella is a few steps back to our aquadoodling days. Available on Beyond the Valley for US$36, this brolly has an unassuming monochrome print on a dry day, but morphs instantly into a multicolored umbrella when wet. Its color-phasing properties stem from hydrochromatic ink technology which, according to Wikipedia, was developed by Pilot Ink, a subsidiary of Pilot Pen in Japan. The design is set on the London skyline with the London Eye in the background, but we're sure no one in Asia would mind the UK-centric skyscape if the bright colors make it less of a dread to head out into a downpour, right?

Via Dvice

Sonos CR200 remote control leaks out on company's own Web site

The folks at Sonos told us they had some new stuff coming out soon, but we weren't expecting to get any details on it until they brief us in a few weeks. However, word of a new remote started to trickle out recently, and on Tuesday Sonos itself leaked info on the new CR200 controller on its own Web site (the page has now been taken down).

Unlike its predecessor (the CR100), the new controller has a touch screen, and the 3.5-inch VGA LCD is capacitive, which means it's more responsive. The other thing to note is that it's smaller, measuring 2.9 x 4.5 x 0.7 inches and it weighs only 6 ounces.

If you buy it alone it'll cost you US$350, but you save US$60 when you buy it as part of the upcoming Bundle 250. According to Automated Home, that new bundle features the same Zone Players you get with the Bundle 150, but with a slight color change to match the new controller.
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Charge4All mat charges multiple handhelds at a go

This is not for everybody, but if you have more than one handheld device (like me), you'd probably find this handy.

It's called a Charge4All portable charging mat and it can charge up to four handheld devices at a time from a single source of power. This means you won't have to fumble around to find wall sockets, especially if you share a place with another gadget hoarder.

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A Hello Kitty taser that delivers a 50,000-volt jolt

This Hello Kitty Taser Gun was brought to my attention by Hello Kitty Hell, a blog with the tagline, "One Man's Life With Cute Overload." This poor man's online existence has been reduced to his hatred of a tiny cartoon cat, and who could blame him? The existence of this Hello Kitty taser gun makes me want to open it up and point it at my head.
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Sega Toys helps you create your own fireworks

With Singapore's National Day celebrations coming up in August, we've been catching glimpses of firework trials along the Esplanade waterfront. Ritz-Carlton, a ritzy five-star hotel with an excellent view of the fireworks, charges a very nice premium for Singaporeans planning a stay-cation during its National Day two-nighter from S$2,200.

So if you're feeling the pinch in these recessionary times or want to avoid the throngs, Sega Toys' Uchiage Hanabi Fireworks Projector (15,540 yen; US$166) brings the pyrotechnics and fiery colors right into your (preferably darkened) living room, complete with sounds but minus the cordite tang.
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