UFOCap: Stay dry, look dumb

We've seen our fair share of weird umbrellas. There's one with music, another with nano-technology and the one most recently featured on CNET Asia, the nubrella, which is really a transparent dome over the head. Well, here's another one, the UFOCap.

This Korean product is a cross between the humble umbrella and a raincoat. It makes perfect sense. Instead of mounting it on the head, having it at the shoulder will protect your body more effectively against angled raindrops.

The honesty of its name is commendable, given that you'll look more like alien than human using it. What we really want to see is someone trying to scratch his head while using it. It'll look like one of those dogs attempting to scratch itself with a cone over its head.

Via Notcot | Picture credit: UFOCap

Is the time right for watch phones?

Maybe there's something to this latest watch phone trend after all. Barely a day after posting an item about a model that didn't send people rushing for the vomitoria, we see that another one has surfaced to pique our interest.

The WM2 from Netherlands-based Van Der Led (we'd never heard of them either) has come up with an innovative solution to the obvious challenge of limited real estate on such gadgets, embedding a keypad on the wristband.

Other specs include Bluetooth, 1GB of built-in storage, 300 minutes of talk time, and 240 hours on standby, according to Dvice. You can also use it as a media player because it can handle MP3s and even video files, though we wouldn't recommend trying to watch them on its 1.3-inch screen unless they're about a flea circus.

Via Crave CNET

Cyclists may get a hand (and arm) with safety

Although automobiles have countless safety devices and technologies, there are relatively few for bicycles by comparison. And that makes little sense when you look at the global trends, which will only increase in coming years with the growth of green initiatives.

That shortcoming inspired London design student Michael Chen to come up with a concept for a jacket he calls the Reactiv (that's right, there's no "e" at the end--it's not at typo or some weird British spelling). Using an accelerometer to track movement, the high-tech garment has LEDs on the sleeves that change colors depending on the cyclist's actions--such as green for acceleration, red for braking, and flashing amber for turns, according to Pocket-lint. The design has won a James Dyson Award from the foundation of the same name that's dedicated to inspirating design innovation.

The Reactiv jacket is only a concept at present, but Chen hopes to make a reality in production. In the meantime, there's always the Bicygnals.

Via Crave CNET | Picture credit: Pocket-Lint

Clari-fi headphone adapter cleans up your music

This is probably one of those products where you have to try to be convinced. Apparently, the makers of Clari-fi Music claim the headphone adapter can improve the clarity and richness of MP3 files and other compressed digital audio files, even helping to reduce ear fatigue, especially at top volumes.

This is supposedly achieved by a technology that draws from the signal source to perform real-time compression of digital audio, and thus removing the digital artifacts in the song.

We only wished the Clari-fi Music headphone adapter was smaller and sleeker for portability. A black option would have been nice, too, to go with non-iPod earphones. Still, it sounds like an interesting product that will appeal to music enthusiasts who'll probably be willing to fork out the US$59.95 for one. The Clari-fi Podcast, which is optimized for listening to Podcasts, goes for US$49.95.

Via Slashgear
Picture credit: Slashgear

Kitchen helpers, green and small

What's new in the kitchen? We explored the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago in March to find out.

The tradeshow, which is closed to the public, is known as the largest of its kind, attracting store buyers from more than 100 countries.

Among the items attracting attention this year were a microwave and handheld espresso maker, both billed as the world's smallest. Eco-minded shoppers could find plenty of options for making the home a bit greener, and people with a sweet tooth could find contraptions for making doughnuts and gummy candies.

During the show, we covered gear targeting the germphobic, dieters, and sufferers of bad hair days, as well as plenty of energy-efficient, low-toxin appliances and products.

Via Kitchen Gadgets blog | Picture credit: iCubed International

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