Star Wars Rain Lightsaber

For sheer exploitation, Japanese manufacturer Happinet gets the saber, er, cake. Riding on the current Star Wars hype, this savvy vendor has rolled out the Rain Lightsaber, essentially an umbrella given the Darth Vaderoid silkscreened treatment on the underside, complete with lightsaber handle based on Master Replica's .45 scale Darth Vader lightsaber hilt. When closed, the umbrella comes sheathed in a red sleeve to look like Vader's saber blade. (In fact, is this even legal and licensed?) Whatever the deal, what would be ultra-cool is if the handle has an option to light up at night or if there are prerecorded sound effects of sabers sizzling in rain. That would assuredly make you the coolest dude out there on a rainy day.

Via Wonderland

The Force up large | Star Wars Force FX Lightsabers | Episode III Darth Vader Voice Changer

Price: US$85, preorders now taken
Availability: Mid to late June, Happinet
Device: Star Wars collectible
Basic specs: Durable vinyl material, opens out to 100cm, choice of artwork featuring Darth Vader wielding a saber or a diamond-shaped Vader logo

Hugging Pillow

You can't take current bikini idol Misako Yasuda to bed, but her merchandise folks are giving you the next best thing--a hugging pillow that features a life-size, front-and-back print of the kittenish siren--in thongs, no less. And if you still have a yen to snuggle up close with the Japanese celeb, matching bed sheets can be gotten at a bundled price as well. Talk about strange bedfellows.

For frontal and back view of the Yasuda pillow, click here

Via TokyoTimes

Price: 16,000 yen (US$142.95)
Availability: cdJapan.com
Device: Pillow
Basic specs: About 170 x 50cm, 300g

Scooba

Scooba, dooba doo! Remember the Roomba? Well, our friendly robotic vacuum is about to rumba with the Scooba, a kitchen companion that will mop hard floors made of materials like tile, wood and linoleum. Clorox, better known to Singaporeans as a household bleach compound, has teamed up with Roomba makers iRobot for this latest outing to take the scrub out of your kitchen chores. Besides developing a cleaning fluid that won't send Scooba's steering systems into a spin, they've created a machine capable of sucking up loose particles, cleaning the floor and drying it, all in five stages. Wonder who gets to clean up Scooba after all that dirty, hard work.

See Scooba in action

Other robotic assistants: Bosch's shirt-ironing robot | Motoman's Robobar | Desktop Sushi Robot

Price: N.A.
Availability: Christmas
Device: Robotic kitchen helper
Basic specs: N.A.

Star Wars Force FX Lightsabers

In a galaxy not so far away (try earth), where crazy fan boys are willing to cough out hard-earned lucre to own a piece of Star Wars or parade amidst saner fellowmen as Sith Lords or Storm Troopers, the Force FX Lightsaber is one collectible that's guaranteed to bring out the Jedi in anyone. That said, this isn't for dueling purposes. Nor is it a toy. The sticker price alone should cue you in to that. Having said that, these licensed replicas need more than the Force to activate them, like a fresh set of batteries.

On the Light Side, Anakin Skywalker's saber is a Blue Blade from Revenge of the Sith. For those who've turned to the Dark Side, check out Darth Vader's Red Blade from Empire Strikes Back. Or see both blades lighted up

Price: S$235 (US$119)
Availability: Hobby shops, including one at Suntec City; or check out ThinkGeek
Device: Star Wars collectible
Basic specs: Glowing blades with realistic power-up/down effects, authentic sound effects digitally recorded from movie, motion sensor-controlled sound effects, power-up, idle hum, clash, and power-down, durable metal hilt, sturdy polycarbonate blade attached to hilt, custom-designed display stand

Edith the Mailbox

There're no batteries, wires or processor chip to this low-tech creation, but it earns a spot in Gadgetbuzz for pushing the envelope on those boring boxy mailboxes hanging by a wire on gates. Canadian designer Adriean Koleric has even given his brainchild a name--Edith. Recently showcased at the biannual 2005 FROST/THAW furniture exhibit in Edmonton, Edith possesses plenty of sass in blazing pink and a free-flowing design that should bring a smile on any postman's face despite the welcoming canine committee at the doorstep.

Open sesame here | Edith standing tall

Price: C$500 (US$416)
Availability: See Web site
Device: Mailbox
Basic specs: Welded steel, illuminated frosted plexi-glass letters on front with light sensitive transformer, large enough to accommodate magazines and newspapers

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