SonicImpact SoundPads

What a concept. A lesser-known company has literally thought out of the box here. Doing away with the box-like speaker cabinets, the SoundPads draw on the idea of sticking two tiny speakers onto any flat, thin-walled surface and using that surface to transmit. As the adhesives behind are pretty permanent, you may want to check out that surface for the best sound repro before slapping the SoundPads on for good. Those who've trialed this give a thumbs up for job done decently. Besides, for just US$19.99 for a set of two, who's complaining.

Price: US$19.99
Availability: Sonic Impact
Device: Stick-on speakers
Basic specs: 2 stick-on speakers, wire to almost any amplifier (speaker wire not included), 8 ohms impedance 10w-50w input, 6w each power rating, 57g each

Rockmelon breast-enhancing ringtone

Remember that kookie Japanese idea of a mammary-boosting ringtone? We're still not sure if this is the real McCoy or one great brainwashing game. In case you didn't know, creator Hideto Tomabechi hit the headlines in Japan 10 years back as one of the guys who deprogrammed members of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult. Customer testimonials, however, seem to back up this tit, er, hit subliminal tune, with itty-bitty Japanese gals swearing augmented bust measurements after listening to it for a week. Next up from Tomabechi-san: Ringtones to improve memory, increase attractiveness for the opposite sex, make hair sprout and quit cigarettes.

Price: The ringtone or chakumero is downloaded as part of a package costing 300 yen (US$2.84) a month.
Availability: Japan
Device: Value-added ringtone
Basic specs: N.A.

A4 Tech NB-30 BattryFREE wireless optical mouse

If a mouse is accurate and cordless, with long battery life, what more could you want? How about no battery? Once you get past doing a double take on the spelling of BattryFREE, the idea is pretty cool. The key to liberating this input device lies in a special USB mouse pad that is RFID-enabled, utilizing the principle of electromagnetic induction. What frees that rodent unfortunately also ties it down. So just don't ever lose that mouse pad.

Price: US$39.95
Availability: Online stores
Device: Wireless optical mouse
Basic specs: 1 25 x 16cm USB pad (RFID-enabled), USB connector, user's guide, big u-shaped wheel scroller, 2 status LED lights

Voltaic Solar Backpack

About time someone combined solar panels with a backpack into a portable solar powerhouse. This should find a ready market here with most Singaporeans already lugging backpacks as part of their street wear, and armed with a minimum of one cell phone, PDA, MP3 player and even a compact camera. While the panels may be waterproof, hopefully the same smart folks have included a rainhood for the Voltaic since it's about as pricey as that iPod it's charging up. A pity the solar backpack isn't capable of juicing up laptops, for now.

Click to see the back of bag | inside bag

Price: US$229
Availability: Voltaic Systems, late November
Device: Solar bag
Basic specs: Three waterproof solar panels that can generate up to 4 watts of power, Li-ion battery pack inside, bag material of UV-resistant, 840D nylon padded with high-density foam, 1.59kg

ScubaDoo

Forget the Segway. Now we want the ScubaDoo. Unlike a flipper-clad colleague who's been taking diving lessons, this Australian-designed sea scooter doesn't bother with clunky tanks, foggy masks and uncomfortable mouthpieces. All thanks to an ingeniously designed air-tight viewing dome for your head, with air intake fed by an external compressor floating above water. Did we mention that four-eyed Singaporeans can keep their eyewear or contacts on? And since you don't even need a diver's cert to ride one of these cool machines, you'll soon be gunning this bike down underwater lanes in search of our favorite Dory fish.

Click to see external compressor

Price: A$17,000
Availability: Scuba-Doo
Device: Underwater scooter
Basic specs: 1.5 hours of battery life, weight incl. battery 42.8kg, 2.5 knots, permanent magnet 12 volt DC motor with 40 amps and 35lb thrust, choice of five colors

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