Fake Window

Remember the Fake Sun Roof. Well, someone's now come up with a pretend window that you can put up on a blank wall. Designed by Mongoose, there's nothing ratty about this since now you have an HR solution to your overworked, underpaid underlings complaining that they're stuck all day in a window-less room. Just get one of these, and problem solved. To create that clever illusion of a sunlight window, Makoto Hirahara's Bright Blind utilizes electroluminescent sheets. If the fake sunlight gets a wee bit too bright, simply adjust the blind down just like the real thing. According to gnr8, these are custom-made and available, though other gadget blogs state that it's still a concept. Whatever the case, it'll be some time before you can lay hands on one.

Hangman in 3D, anyone?

This is certainly a lot more interactive fun than the original paper and pencil guessing version. If you've never played the game (which leads us to ask which rock you live under), this involves drawing one part of the hanging victim's anatomy at a time as a tally mark against each bad guess. In 3D, it gets a lot more graphic than a stick figure. Although the noose, erm, news is I Want One Of Those offers a sanitized cartoony version complete with crossed eyes, albeit in blood red. To play, you build your victim up one limb at a time, all attached magnetically. Which is great since one can envision creating a Frankenstein to up the gallows of fun. C_ _ _!

Via Coolest Gadgets

Gap dresses up Vespa for the holidays

Here's something you don't see every day.

Gap has partnered with Piaggio, the maker of Vespa motor scooters, to offer a limited-edition LX50.

The Vespa is painted in the same colorful pattern that Gap is offering in scarves, gloves, sweaters, leg warmers, and baby clothes this season.

The US$5,999 "Holiday Vehicle" is a bit more pricey than the US$3,199 you'd likely pay for the standard LX50.

The pattern is called "Crazy Stripe". While it's adorable, I'm not so sure you'll still think so after the third kid stops to ask if you can get his letter to Santa when you return to your workshop.

Come to think of it, aren't these colors and the vehicle better suited for summer?

In other Vespa news, Piaggio has announced the winners of its Vespanomics video contest. Winning videos can be viewed on the Go Green Vespa Video Challenge Web site.

Via Crave CNET

USB locket is a sad comment on what we love

This is a sad commentary on the state of modern culture. There was a time when lockets were reserved for photos of loved ones or, in the 1970s, perhaps a gram or two of an illicit substance. Now? A USB drive.

It's obviously not the first time we've seen a memory stick worn around the neck, but most of those trinkets were the actual drive themselves. There's something about secreting it as a hidden treasure that makes this "Olinari Sterling Silver Dog Tag" particulary perverse, not to mention overpriced at US$349 (or US$319 without the 2GB Sony Micro Vault). Luxist calls it "the perfect hoiday gift for that hard-to-buy-for, rugged person" (rugged?) but we're reasonably sure we could come up with something better for that kind of money.

Via Crave CNET

Putting a label on the latest weird trend

If there's one thing that's never in short supply on Crave, it's odd trends. But here's one that we never saw coming: Labels.

Not only can we make labels using only a mouse, as we learned a few days ago, but now we can include photos grabbed from Webcams as well. Seiko has released a software update for its "Smart Label Printer" that works with many Webcam models on the market today, according to Electronista.

One day soon we suspect we'll be printing labels without the label maker.

Via Crave CNET

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