Ice Shots

For those who don't fancy freezing their behinds off at sub-zero degree pubs like Eskibar but who would like to chill out, here's a swig of ingenuity that'll let you have a blast of a party on a hot, humid night. So maybe your guests won't be standing around looking cool in parkas like The Amazing Race participants at that Scandinavian ice bar, but it'll be one drinking session that's guaranteed to be an ice breaker!

Click for bigger image here | See also Edible Shot Glasses

Price: US$8 per mould
Availability: I Want One Of Those site
Device: Drinking glass
Basic specs: Rubber shot glass maker, makes 4 x ice, juice or jell-o shot glasses, one piece mould, ice shot glass size 5.5 x 5cm, mould size 23 x 6 x 5.5cm

PinQY

Having just caught the TV premiere of Behind Enemy Lines, the hand grenade-shaped pinQY looks almost like a prop right out of the combat movie. Its intent is, fortunately, more peaceful since this palm-sized extinguisher is built to fight fire. Mind you, the Web site's disclaimer states that it's good for putting out only the beginnings of a fire since, given its mini size, this has just 4 seconds of discharge. Luxembourg-based Flanders Product touts this as "the perfect present" for children, the elderly and the disabled who may not have the strength to handle regular-sized extinguishers.

See also Hello Kitty Extinguisher

Price: US$20
Availability: Check out the Web site
Device: Fire extinguisher
Basic specs: Five-year warranty, 1kg, 14cm high

Musical loo

Ready for a singing loo? We don’t know about you, but some of us just can't do it in a noisy setting, even if it's soothing music played to the sound of running water. This being notably from the land where most of its commodes are flushed with gadgetry worthy of Doraemon's pouch gizmos, one supposes the Japanese are simply plumping the depths of their fascination (read: obsession) with toilets by offering an MP3 throne. In pursuit of toilet nirvana, this latest innovation will sense when you enter the toilet zone, automatically lower the pre-warmed lid, and activate an accompanying MP3 player. And when you're done with business, it'll automatically flush and raise the lid. Of course, after it's washed, dried and patted your bum to your satisfaction. Bowled over yet?

See music player upclose

Via News.com

Price: Up to 172,000 yen (US$1,473.40)
Availability: Check out Toto's Web site
Device: Musical commode
Basic specs: MP3 player comes preloaded with 16 tunes and a media slot for SD cards so you can load in your own music library

The Bubble Chair

Fun and dippy, this inflatable bubble chair is great for tiny flats. Guests coming over? Just blow 'em up. Party over? Simply deflate and pack away for the next round. Not only does this look sweet since we've not seen an inflatable of this design anywhere else, the convolution of small and large inflated balls make this butt hugger one very comfy seat.

Click for bigger image here | See also FUNkeys

Price: Regular 29.99 pounds (US$53), large 39.99 pounds (US$70.60)
Availability: I Want One Of Those site
Device: Inflatable chair
Basic specs: Made of heavyweight vinyl, inflatable with man power or with pump, base can be filled with water for added stability, 92 x 74 x 68cm (small chair), 130 x 85 x 105cm (large chair)

Zoom Shops

Get ready for Zoom Shops, high-tech vending machines that aim to give the Japanese ones a run for their money. Apple's iPods aren't the only gizmos to be sold through these standalone retailers. Since March, the Zoom Shops have been stocking Sony headphones, Virgin Mobile prepaid phones, XM and Sirius satellite radios, Bose gear, to mention a few. Expansion plans are in the works, with as many as 10,000 machines being planned by 2007. These machines are not only beefier at up to 40sq ft, which allows a max. of 150 items to be displayed behind the glass pane, this next-gen breed sports touch-screen capability and support for credit or debit card transactions. A robotic arm retrieves items, while optical sensors verify that customers have removed items from the machine before charging their credit cards. In an age of connectivity, these vendors can transmit all purchase data via the Internet to a central bank of service. Oh, and did we mention that they sell snacks, too.

Get the bigger picture here

Price: N.A.
Availability: Currently in the US
Device: High-tech vending machines
Basic specs: N.A.

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