Transparent hybrid kayak/canoe

How cool can that be--a see-through canoe that blends in with the water so it looks like you're skimming the surface of the waves on nothing? No worries that this seagoing craft will spring a leak miles from shore since it's built of the same durable polymer as the cockpit canopies in supersonic fighter jets. Plus it's all wrapped around an anodized aluminum frame. For modesty, though, we'd recommend checking occasionally that your swimwear doesn't ride up your derriere.

Click to see closeup

Price: US$1,459.95
Availability: Hammacher Schlemmer
Device: Canoe
Basic specs: Adjustable seats, two double-headed paddles, a water bailer, two flotation devices, takes up to 193kg, 80 x 338 x 28cm, 18kg

Casio KLD-300 Label Printer

It's too bad we archive everything on our servers here at CNETAsia. But for home users who do tons of burning and backing up of photos, DivX files and data onto CD-Rs or DVDs, this label printer takes the bother out of labeling those discs manually or with a labeling software which requires a printer. Now you simply slide the CD-R or DVD into the top slot of the device, and voila, consistently labeled discs and covers within seconds. Love it.

Price: ¥25,200 (US$230)
Availability: Japan, from December
Device: Label printer
Basic specs: Heat transfer system, 200dpi, 100 sheets, AC adapter or alkaline dry cell, 215 x 246 x 88mm, 1.4kg

Sony Aibo ERS-7M2

Five years after Sony's pricey purebred wagged its metal parts into existence, we're still not entirely sure if Aibo's a stud or bitch. But it's good enough for the Japanese company to breed a new litter of digital pups capable of yet more new tricks. The latest updates, in black and white options, can dance to MP3, WAV and Windows Media files and allow owners to control, program and navigate wirelessly from a PC. New video-recording capabilities also empower this cyberdog to play watchdog of sorts, recording activities about the house while the owners are at work or on vacation. The robopet's eyes can snap pictures, retrievable via email. Now all lonely, single homeowners need is to get QRIO the half-pint robot, Roomba the robomop, NeCoRo the turbo feline, and we'll have a real family.

Price: US$1,900
Availability: Mid-November
Device: Robot dog
Basic specs: In pearlescent white or new black, 180 x 278 x 319mm, 1.65kg with battery and Memory Stick, 64bit RISC CPU, 64MB SDRAM, 350,000-pixel CMOS sensor, integrated IEEE 802.11b card, mini mics and speaker, 1.5-hr operating time, 2.5-hr charge time

Segway Centaur

Segway, the guys who brought the world the two-wheeled Human Transporter which this little corner of the world, sadly, hasn't had a chance to test drive, has decided that four wheels are better. The scooter pioneer has released a quad plaything called the Centaur which scores alone for its sheer cool factor. Resembling an overgrown toddler's four-wheeler, this offroad bike is anything but kiddy. Geared for any terrain, it can switch between two and four wheels, and works along the same gyroscopic principles as its two-wheeled sibling; i.e. lean forward to go forward, lean back to go back. Plus the Centaur apparently uses regenerative braking, which means the batteries are recharged during deceleration and hill descents. Sweet. Too bad Segway's not ready to go to market with this just yet.

Click to see enlarged image

Price: N.A.
Availability: US; still concept stage
Device: Four-wheel vehicle
Basic specs: Dynamic stabilization technology, top speed of 40kmh, 16-24+km on a single charge, up to 181kg payload, 68kg

USB Noodle Strainer

We love our noodles here in Asia, but why on earth would anyone need a USB-powered noodle strainer? Japanese instructions being what they are (or aren't), we're still baffled by how this cook pot strains your noodles. Or why it even requires USB power. Conjecture from fellow surfers is that it's a water bath to keep your ramen or soba cold and moist. For those who feel their life isn't complete without a USB Noodle Strainer, we strongly recommend the Sushi Specs to go with your next USB-powered meal.

Click to see close-up . Picture by Impress Corp.

Price: US$120
Availability: Japan
Device: USB-powered cookware
Basic specs: Original USB, bus powered, 5m USB cable

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