Animate your steps with Bandai's RPG pedometers

Japanese toymaker Bandai is going the extra mile with a device that fights flab with fun. Strange how most of the exergames like Pocket Pikachu and Wii Fit are coming out of a relatively fit nation. Due this December are two hybrid pedometers that marry anime with exercise, adding a little sport to my least favorite workout. Will this get me off my lazy behind? I seriously doubt so, particularly since this will retail only in the Japanese market.

We do like, though, that Bandai's RPG pedometers (US$45) will make those steps count with role playing. There's a choice of Space Cruiser Yamato (Star Blazers) or 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, with the goal being to complete the journey in some 90 days. As you achieve your targets, icons and events along with more of the storyline get displayed. Online access also helps keep track of body weight, health stats, and dispense free health advice.

However, if you already own a Nintendo DS, you could get ask Santa for Ubisoft's My Health Coach: Weight Management which ships with a pedometer addon that interfaces with the console.

Via Cscout Japan Blog

Take a load off with Honda's walking aid

See all the cool things we'll have to look forward to when we're older?

Honda unveiled another experimental walking-assistant device on Friday that lets people's legs still do the walking while taking take some of the weight off leg muscles and joints. The device looks like another walking aid from Cyberdyne shown off recently, and a followup to Honda's own lightweight walking assistance device for the elderly.

With the latest one, a person steps into the device shoes and leans back into the high seat. Honda does the rest by supporting a large portion of the person's body weight during walking, stair climbing, or even squatting.

The seat level can be adjusted for different heights. People wear their own shoes and place them into the device shoes. The device is controlled through an individual's body movement with the assisting force from two motors being automatically directed toward the person's center of gravity to maintain balance, according to Honda.
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Alarm clock lets you wake up a winner

I have yet to meet a person who enjoys being woken up by an alarm clock. I know I don't. However, that was before I heard about this.

The Retro TV Game Show Alarm Clock not only looks like a wee retro-styled TV, but it also plays old game show themes and sounds to wake you up.

I didn't see a list, so I'm a little curious as to which four theme songs and sounds are featured. I think the losing sound from The Price is Right would be about the perfect alarm tone. Wakes you up and sets the tone for your morning commute.

The irony here is that hearing game show theme songs reminds me of staying home sick from school rather than waking up, but maybe that's just me.
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Retractable Periscope reading light for Kindle does more than you think

For Amazon Kindle owners who want to read in the dark, there's a new lighting option available: The US$49.95 Periscope Lighted Folio. It's actually a retractable reading light, Kindle cover, notepad, and pen holder, rolled into one contraption.

In case you're wondering, the case is made of "leatherette," not real leather, and the lights are "twin" LEDs. The unit's powered by three AA batteries (not included), which should offer "at least 40 hours" of lighting. And when you're finished using the light, it retracts into the spine of the cover.

My two cents: The Periscope Lighted Folio obviously makes the somewhat bulky Kindle even bulkier, but at least you don't have to worry about clipping the lighting accessory onto the top of the Kindle and taking it off after reading. By contrast, the new Sony Reader PRS-700 features integrated LED side-lighting for low-light situations.

The Periscope Lighted Folio will be available next month. It's available for pre-order on Periscope's Web site, which also offers lighting solutions for standard paper books.

Comments on the design or lighting solutions for e-book readers in general?

Record video Bond-style, sort of, with MovieStick

I don't remember any scene where James Bond has to secretly record anything, but if you do, the MovieStick camcorder that Swann announced on Thursday would come in handy.

Slightly larger than a pack of gum and weighing less than 7 ounces (198g), the MovieStick easily fits into your pocket and can be taken anywhere. It uses a removable microSD card (not included) to store recorded footage, up to 2.5 hours of video on a 2GB card. The device supports only older microSD cards (capped at 2GB). It can't handle high-capacity microSDs like those SanDisk recently announced.

The MovieStick's picture quality is about the same as that recorded by a cell phone. It uses 3GP video format and its CMOS image censor can offer an image resolution at only 176x144 pixels, for both videos and still photos.

The device uses a built-in lithium battery, which is rechargeable via a USB port. The battery provides enough power for the device to operate up to 2.5 hours.

While the MovieStick is no technological wonder, it will make a cool toy that allows you to quickly, and perhaps secretly, capture footage while traveling or hanging out with friends. Just make sure you use it responsibly.

The MovieStick is estimated to cost US$120 and is available later this month.

Via CNET Crave

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