Hello Kitty phones

Yes, we're overdue for some Kitty lurve here at Gadget Buzz. So here're some handsets for the fans, courtesy of blog site Popgadget and manufactured by Taiwan firm OKWAP. Surprisingly, these pack a wallop in features, despite the tendency to pooh-pooh the phones as Sanrio collectors' dribble. The A268Kitty may appeal more to the sweet 16 crowd, but it reportedly comes with dual color screens, an onboard camera and bilingual dictionary. The A236Kitty, on the other hand, slides out to reveal a keypad, touchscreen and stylus. Not bad for something that looks like a toy. Also spotted was the A279Kitty which, despite its "don't' take me seriously" façade, is seriously featured with a pedometer, bilingual dictionary, MP3 player, camera, FM tuner, 100MB onboard memory, and a strip of LED lights on the front panel which acts like Scientific Oregon's projection clocks. This one lets you type a short message where waving your phone will activate the Wave Messaging feature and display your text in the air. How cool is that? And what would the celebrity feline be without matching phone charms, pouches and wallpapers bundled with the phones? Comes pretty in pink, naturally.

Click to see A279Kitty | A279Kitty accessories | A268Kitty | A268Kitty open | A268Kitty accessories | A236Kitty

Price: N.A.
Availability: China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, though you might strike lucky with various online stores
Device: Mobile phones
Specs: N.A.

USB Eye Warmer

Here's another USB gewgaw you never realized you needed until now. Thanks to Thanko's new international distribution store Rare Mono Shop, the USB Eye Warmer is coming soon to a port near you. When your eyes get fatigued from staring at that computer screen all day, here's where this eye warmer comes in handy, soothing those tired optics with some healing heat balm. A power on/off switch controls the temperature, so you don't end up cooking your eyeballs. All in favor of some ER (eye relief), say "eye".

Price: N.A
Availability: Coming soon to Rare Mono Shop (Thanko)
Device: USB accessory
Specs: N.A.

Victorinox s.beat MP3 Digital Audio Player

Just when we thought we'd seen it all with the USB thumbdrive-in-a Swiss Army Knife, Victorinox has again surprised us. Taking off from its first digital foray, the company has now added an MP3 player with remote to its arsenal of tools. The s.beat, just out, comes in 1GB and 2GB flavors, with a 4GB version in the works. There's support for MP3, WMA and--yet more surprises--OGG Vorbis, a voice recorder and FM radio with six presets. Amazingly, the entire package is only slightly larger, in a handy 74 x 22 x 24mm size. Of course, this being a Swiss Army Knife (duh), you also get a blade, a pair of scissors and a nail file/screwdriver. But just in case you plan to take your player onboard, the Swiss have thought up a flight version, too, sans tools. All that's needed is to remove the player from the knife body in one step and, voila. Comes with a protective cover for the USB connection. And we know just the song to play on this multi-tool device. Hit it, Rockwell. Oh oh oh oh oh... knife, cuts like a knife...

Click to see larger image | accessories | being worn

Price: US$276 for 1GB, US$415 for 2GB, 4GB no pricing details
Availability: More info at homepage
Device: MP3 player + Swiss Army Knife
Specs: 1GB / 2GB, metal knife body, earphones with adjustable neck strap and anti-dangling mechanism, remote control with 3.5 + 2.5 earphone plug, protective cap for USB plug, adjustable rubber arm strap, clip to attach to belt, USB extension cable, multi-language quick install guide, drivers and application CD-ROM, Lithium-polymer battery, 32g

Easy Desk Aluminum

Just when we thought the the Rainbow Book Stand was the ultimate sloth machine, here comes the notebook companion. Who says a laptop has to sit on your lap or even on a tabletop? The Easy Desk Aluminum puts it exactly where we like to be--flat out horizontal. Fortunately, it's a little more flexible that that. Pressing a button on the joint lets the legs rotate 360 degrees, so that even those who can't see their toes easily can adjust the table over their generous six-pack.

Click to see Easy Desk upclose | usage

Price: US$58.17
Availability: At Rare Mono Shop (Thanko)
Device: Notebook stand
Specs: Top board 48 x 24cm, leg 30 x 3cm, can be adjusted into a portable desk or folded away for storage

FMP3 Watch

With 007 due to explode on the silver screen this week, the peerless Q probably goes shopping at Thanko's Web site for some of his gizmos. We've already spotted at least one candidate for the Bond arsenal, the FMP3 Watch. Looks covertly like a timepiece, but this Swiss Army Knife of a watch can carry out a multitude of functions, from secretly taping up to 1GB of conversations to line-in recording, to MP3 playback to impress the girl. It even has an FM transmitter for playing through the Aston Martin's car audio system. The only thing missing is a Bond Babe magnet. But that's probably in the next version, coming to a wrist near you.

Click for more images

Price: 1GB version for 16,800 yen (US$142.80); 500MB edition for 12,800 yen (US$108.80)
Availability: At Rare Mono Shop (Thanko)
Device: USB watch
Specs: AC-USB conversion adapter (for charging, USB extension cable, audio cable, 3.5mm headphone conversion cable, earphones, USB adapter

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