Twilight Tracer Balls

The next time you go night golfing, get ahold of these nifty tracer balls. So maybe your partner might giggle over red-lit UFOs whizzing over the green. But we're guessing you'll have the last laugh when he's the one handicapped, and we're not talking golf handicap proficiency here. Unfortunately, all good things come at a price. These thingamabobs cost US$32 a pack of three, and--get this--the batteries aren't replaceable. You get up to 80 hours of gameplay on this. After which, like Cinderella's midnight spell, that pretty glowing thing is going to morph back into a plain, old non-luminous golf ball.

Via New Launches

Price: US$32 for pack of three
Availability: At LatestBuy
Device: Golf ball
Specs: Official size and weight, non-replaceable 5V Lithium battery, flashes upon impact for 5 minutes (approx. seven flashes per second), 80 compression multi-layer ball, Surlyn cover

SENZ Umbrella

Seems to us the humble umbrella's gotten its second wind. This one may not project images like the Umbrella Photo Browser, but we were tipped off that it's apparently the first-ever windproof-designed brollie. We've heard of bicycles and planes being put through the windtunnel test for aerodynamic fine-tuning. But this is the first that we're blown over by an umbrella going through the same stringent shakedown. What's blasted out at the end of this tunnel is a brollie that's virtually unbreakable even against a windforce of 10. Think uprooted trees, very high waves and reduced visibility. And it's all thanks to a patented asymmetrical shape that's a gust of inspiration by Netherland's University of Technology. Although in that sort of ripping gale, you'll be labeled certifiable to be even out of doors.

See top view | side view | metal frame | handle

Price: 49.95 euros (US$66.30)
Availability: More information at the homepage
Device: Unbreakable umbrella
Specs: Asymmetrical, self-positioning shape, plays with the wind but never goes inside out, slimline design, revolutionary open-close mechanism

Handy Wallet Gadgets

Don't leave home without these? The Handy Wallet Gadgets caught our eye for being wallet-friendly in all sense of the word. Great for last-minute gifts, too, and should appeal to tech geeks. They may be gimmicky, but these wafer-thin sheets of etched steel are also novel fun, thanks to the choice offering of functions. There's the Wallet Bottle Opener (which you never know when you might need for yourself). There's the Wallet Picture Frame which holds a picture of your beloved pooch or partner magnetically, protecting it from a dog-earred existence in the wallet. Did we also mention the Wallet Spanner? It apparently fits nuts from M3 to M14, whatever that means. So only a DIY neighbor or technician pal can appreciate it. And what'll any guy do without the Wallet Emergency Cufflinks? Just pop them out of the card, and voila, a pair of twist-out emergency cufflinks. Meanwhile, we'll be waiting curiously to see what the makers have in store next. Wallet Reading Glasses, anyone?

See all four cards here

Price: 7.5 pounds (US$14.76)
Availability: At Paramount Zone
Device: Card gadget
Specs: 5.25 x 8.5cm

Gotchabox

Ever had to work up your creative juices just to disguise a surprise gift? Ok, so maybe the more sadistic among us (think The Office and Candid Camera) might just want to perplex or even, ah, disappoint their giftees? The joke's only funny if it's not on you, naturally. Either way, the Gotchabox packs three gift box sets printed with fake product graphics and descriptions for: A USB Toaster; a Build-Your-Own-Umbrella Kit; and a Salt Of The Month Club. We'd suggest standing by with a digicam just to capture the moment for posterity. Cost of gift boxes: US$19. Expression on your gift recipient's face when he/she opens that box: Priceless.

See bigger image

Via our sister site CNET Germany

Price: US$18.99
Availability: At The Onion Store
Device: Gift boxes
Specs: Box dimensions 12 x9 x 4 inches

Rollertoaster

Looks like a scanner. But this little device is something for Singaporean Jaren Goh to toast to, since it garnered him the 2006 Red Dot Award. Nice going for a homeboy. The product name itself should clue you in. You stick your sliced bread through one side, and it rolls out the other end, nicely browned. While it's not a kitchen appliance to put near tiny fingers, the Rollertoaster scores brown-ie points for being compact and portable enough to pack into your bag, and best of all, easy to clean for busy homemakers.

See larger image | how it works

Via Engadget

Price: N.A.
Availability: Still in concept, more information here
Device: Portable toaster
Specs: N.A.

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