Samsung DVD Jr

We don't know if this is a good or bad thing, but this could provide Desperate Housewives like Lynette Scavo a weapon to plug her twins in and keep them in check. Samsung's DVD Jr is a handheld mini DVD player designed for kids under age 15. Bundled with Warner Home Video, the company distributing titles such as Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban and Scooby-Doo, this device is outfitted with a 2.5-inch TFT LCD screen and offers up to 2.5 hours of playback time. The catch is DVD Jr reads only specially made 3-inch mini DVD discs. But that might be a small price to pay for a wee moment's peace.

Price: US$149.99; discs are from US$9.98-24.98
Availability: The US
Device: DVD player
Basic specs: Supports MP3 files and JPEG images, 2.5 hours playback on included Ni-MH batteries, adapter, DV power jack, built-in headphone jack

Bluetooth Motion Cam ROB-1

News of American Idol hopeful Mario dropping out of the competition is probably more newsworthy/devastating (ok, so there're some hardcore groupies here) than, say, the announcement of a new tech innovation. Still, Sony Ericsson's Bluetooth-controlled ROB-1 camera deserves a mention in Gadget Buzz, not least because it's done right from your cell phone a la James Bond style. Unveiled at CeBIT, ROB-1 acts like a roving eye extension of your mobile's inbuilt camera. Steering is via joystick or keypad on your handset, or for the P900/910, with the touch screen. What ROB-1 sees, you see on your cellular's display, with the option to capture those images. It's good for up to 50m, though at a goodly 11cm in diameter, this gizmo is a tad too large for stealth work.

Click here for the large image | press release

Price: N.A.
Availability: Q3 2005
Device: Bluetooth-controlled camera
Basic specs: Up to 50m, VGA camera with QCIF video streaming, spherical, three wheels, 11cm in diameter, ability to move forwards, backwards, look around corners, pivot on the spot or tilt the camera 70 degrees upwards and 20 degrees downwards, ultra-bright LED headlights for night vision, ample onboard memory, supplied USB cable

Sharp Healsio water oven

Fancy an oven that zaps the fat from your food? Well, Sharp's water oven, which we announced in Gadget Buzz last October, has finally made its way here to Singapore--the first country regionally to get it. For those still in the dark, the Healsio (an approximation of the Japanese meaning "reducing salt") utilizes steam superheated at 300 degrees Celsius. This potent steambath apparently melts away fat and reduces oil and salt in meat, but amazingly won't wilt your veggies into lifeless clumps, instead preserving those essential nutrients and vitamins. Those of us at the press launch were equally amazed that the Healsio could toast bread with just water, albeit at superheated levels. For those watching their figure, the company claims that's eight times more fat removed to using a frying pan, 13 percent more calories cut, and thrice the salt reduced in grilled fish compared with cooking on a gas grill. For us watching the figures, that's six times the price of a conventional microwave oven at your neighborhood home appliance store.

You can read how it works here.

Price: S$1,799 (US$1,111)
Availability: Singapore from mid-March, only in silver
Device: Steam oven
Basic specs: 25 liters, 240-240v, 50Hz, 21 menus, functions include steam, grill, roast, bake, defrost and reheat, 850ml water tank, 520 x 490 x 345mm, 20kg

Gel Shield

It's a testament to Apple power that we're still waiting for third-party casings for our Zen Micros, but the much-lambasted iPod shuffle already has an array of choices that's growing. The latest from Pacific Rim Technologies, the Gel Shield, is a silicon condom for the shuffle in a hot lineup of hues, with spicy names like Juicy Pink and Lime. However, given the shuffle's rather flimsy structure, we doubt the Gel Shield will offer too much, erm, protection.

Availability: March 8, Pacific Rim, though likely to head down Singapore's way; 3-packs go for US$24.99, singles for US$10.99
Device: Protective casing
Basic specs: N.A.

Sharp SJ-HV46J fridge with warmer

Tech convergence seems to be on a collision course. Now Sharp has developed a refrigerator that keeps food... warm. All this while the next compartment is busy chugging out ice. The middle section is apparently insulated to keep meals as toasty as 55 degrees Celsius for as long as 8 hours. When not in use, it can revert to chilling foods. Just watch where you're storing the beer.

Click to read press release

Price: 238,000 yen (US$2,300)
Availability: March 11, Japan
Device: Refrigerator with heater section
Basic specs: No fluorocarbon frozen refrigerator, total fridge space 455 liters, warmer compartment 20 liters, pre-set timer, 750 × 1,830 x 634mm

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