USB Electric Blanket

What better use for your extra USB ports on your Hub then to snuggle under an electric blanket when the building's central aircon system gets a little too hardworking. Too bad it isn't big enough to share with that cute office colleague.

Get the big picture

Price: 4,980 yen (US$46)
Availability: MIB OnlineShop
Device:: USB device
Basic specs: 480mA, 2.45W, 36-38 degrees Celsius , 70 × 50cm, 1.5m, 210g, choice of two patterns

Starbucks' coffee in a box

For those who reckon a Venti just isn't large enough to perk you up, try ordering Starbucks' Box of Coffee or Coffee On-The-Go, started just last week. We got this delivered to our office recently and there was more than enough kopi for 12 cups. Inside the carton-like box, a 2.5-liter bag of black brew nestled. Starbucks says to toss it after use. But if you're the Greenpeace sort, this can be recycled from bag to box. Makes for a great water carrier at those East Coast Park outings where you can fill it up with ice water or your own special Java roast.

Click to see: Large image | spout | inside

Price: S$27 (US$19.40) for ½ batch (2.5l), includes condiments
Availability: Your nearest friendly Starbucks
Device: Coffee container
Basic specs: N.A.

The MUSICPOLE

Who would have thought that a 2ft-long, 2-inch diameter plastic tubing can make beautiful music? Well, veteran keyboardist Rags Tuttle's done just that, wrapping a piano keyboard around an acrylic pole. Rather than strike the keys like you would on your ivories, special "Thumbletz" worn on your thumbs and made of conductive fabric slide over the keys--like a slide guitar. To reach another key, the player rotates the MUSICPOLE to another of the 12 keys labeled at the top of the pole. If it all sounds too confusing to master, just keep in mind all that attention-getting you'll soon be scoring with the opposite gender.

Click to see: Close-up | Thumbletz | full set

Price: Instrument: US$395; case: US$75; 8 adjustable thumblets: US$20; conductive fabric strips for 40 Thumbletz: US$5
Availability: Check out the Web site
Device: Music instrument
Basic specs: Acrylic, spans three octaves, polyphonic

StairCycle

Here's a bike you can really step up to. And down. Cardiovascular ultrasound specialist and inventor Craig Ridenhour, who spent seven years coming up with the StairCycle, describes his mode of transportation as a "cross between an adult-sized scooter and stair climber that moves you". An additional mounting device turns the StairCycle into a stationary stepper machine for home use. All in, a pretty nifty fitness contraption that allows you to bask in the great outdoors and all that passing attention. Wonder if one can hook up the ThighMaster and ButtMaster at the same time for an all-round workout.

Click to see larger image

Price: US$995 (including US$200 for mounting device)
Availability: Staircycle.com
Device: Stair climber-powered bicycle
Basic specs: Adult version comes with eight speeds, children's with three speeds, onboard computer to track miles and time for exercise programs, integrated Curvilinear Drive System

Mobile Personal Entertainment Centre

How can we forget the discontinued Sony Glasstron and Virtual IO Headset? Now here's a Canadian wannabe carrying the torch for wearable big-screen TV. The Mobile Personal Entertainment Centre (MPEC) comes in two parts: Cinema Glasses and an MPEC Multimedia Player. Though less classy than the Glasstron and projecting a virtual screen of only 30 inches to Sony's 52 inches, it's still cool-looking enough to imbue you with instant geek chic. Word to the wise: All that sci-fi headwear may not sit comfortably on Asian noses or over eyepieces.

Click to see another view

Via Gadgetmadness

Price: US$649
Availability: cngtek.com
Device: Video glasses
Basic specs: Support for ASF, MP4, DivX, JPEG, MP3, WAV, video recorder, SD card slot, 30-inch virtual screen size, 266 x 255 (180,000-pixel) resolution, 20-30mm distance from eyes, USB, AV input, earphone, built-in mic

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