Miravision

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the coolest of them all? Step aside, wicked stepmother. Make way for Miravision, where things are not what they seem. A brainchild of Philips, this converged device hides an LCD TV behind a thin polarized reflective sheet. Switch on the TV, and your favorite reality show comes on. Turn the TV off, and now it's an innocuous wall-hanging mirror. For those who like to admire their reflection, a "picture in mirror" mode lets you watch Singapore Idol in a corner of the frame at the same time. The screen can also be hooked up to a PC for surfing the Net, and there're plans for a waterproof version to grace bathroom walls. So now you see it, now you don't.

Price: Est. S$5,000-S$6,000 (US$2,922–US$3,506)
Availability: Global launch, October-November
Device: LCD TV-mirror
Basic specs: Available in 17-inch, 23-inch and 30-inch widescreen versions, Super IPS display, accepts component, HD and XVGA signals, multiple AV inputs, customizable frames

Flip Flap

Collectors of Japanese toy maker Tomy's Hidamari No Tami ("sunny people") solar-powered noddies will probably flip over the Flip Flap. Looking like a pair of green bunny ears, this potted plant requires no maintenance or batteries as it "flaps" under the power of a light source. While we are not sure if the Flip Flap has hidden "stress-relieving properties" like its Hidamari cousin, we're certain it will make an interesting conversation piece. In fact, Tomy anticipates that people will want to have more than one Flip Flap. The manufacturer has thus, savvily, packaged each pot in an attractive transparent receptacle that allows yet more Flip Flaps to be stacked pyramid-style. Be warned. If that doesn't whet your urge to start collecting, the medley of six irresistible colors will.

Price: S$29.90 (US$17.49)
Availability: Now
Device: Solar-powered desktop accessory
Basic specs: Solar panel, on/off switch, choice of six colors; transparent acrylic casing

Xenofreaks PIX

Korean company Xenofreaks is clearly hoping the younger set will take to its mobile LED display, a disc-shaped device with a 2-inch LED screen that can be worn armband style or around the neck. Fancily dubbed an "ego visualizer", this could almost be a wearable cousin to the Tamagotchi Connection. Like the virtual pet toy, the PIX is designed to search for icon matches on other people's devices, and owners within range can infrared each other with images or text messages. Hey SDU (Singapore's official matchmaking agency), are you listening?

For more pictures, click here

Price: N.A.
Availability: Korea, likely to be rolled out across Asia
Device: Interactive visual display device
Basic specs: Infrared, 2-inch LED display, 177 high luminous LED in 15 x 15 matrix, 70 x 18.7mm, 59g including battery, 2 AAA batteries good for about 4 days, neck strap

Beachworld Biosphere

Have you ever wondered how the ship gets stuffed in the bottle? The same question applies to the Beachworld Biosphere. How cool can it be that an ecosystem actually thrives within a sealed glass sphere? Created by a space station engineer and two of the original Biosphere2 crew members, the Beachworld Biosphere works along the same principles. Light and heat help the micro algae generate oxygen and food for the resident freshwater shrimp (harvested from lava rock pools in Hawaii), which in turn produce carbon dioxide and nutrients for the algae to grow. Voila! The Beachworld Biosphere claims to be good for up to five years, although the first globe introduced to the Singapore Science Centre is still alive and kicking after 11 whopping years. But what we like best about the Biosphere is that it's absolutely maintenance-free.

Price: S$236 to S$988
Availability: Sole distributor Glo-Well (SEA) at Chinatown Plaza, Singapore
Device: Self-contained miniature world
Basic specs: Available in egg shape or round, varies from 10-25cm, weighs between 0.8kg and 1kg depending on model, contains freshwater amphipod shrimp, algae and micro-algae, self-supporting ecosystem, lifespan of 3-5 years

Sanyo Hello Kitty Toaster

For those who have everything, and we mean everything, here's a toaster that'll burn an image of Hello Kitty's lipless face onto every slice. You even get a choice of six shade settings plus defrost. Apparently, immediately following Sanyo's release of the toaster, an organized protest was held by members of the Cute Characters Union against what they considered "cool product licensing favoritism". What a hoot. But at least kids will now eat their sandwich, while Hello Kitty collectors will probably consider this the best thing to come about since, well, sliced bread.

Price: US$39.99
Availability: Online stores
Device: Toaster
Basic specs: Two-slice toaster, six shade settings plus defrost , cancel button for instant off , self-adjusting bread guides, separate, removable crumb tray

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