Mattel launches thought-controlled circular ping-pong game

This is really cool, and really dumb at the same time: Mattel's new Mindflex game lets you control the height of a floating ball with your mind as you navigate it through hoops, cages, and hurdles on a circular racetrack. The goal is to move the little orb around the customizable course as quickly as you can (you control the speed of rotation with a hand-operated knob). The device keeps score for several people.

Control is by brainwave. A headset measures the level of your concentration, and the more you concentrate, the faster a little fan spins that's blowing the ball up in the air, which controls its height.
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Get your kitchen tap into gear with the +Shifter

Design savvy is about clever little ideas like this. Designer Shen Di's +Shifter faucet taps on the idea of a gearbox from a premium sportscar, turning this into an instant conversation piece for the home. The brushed black metal and copper faceplate's luxurious look ought to prepare you for future sticker shock should this make it into production. Still, it's an idea worth following up since this marries clever design with water conservation, as each gear ratio equates to the amount of water flowing out. Of course, that feeling that you're tied to the kitchen sink will never be truer since you'll need a sink to match, which in turn means regular elbow grease just to keep all that expensive investment looking sparkling new.
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Smartparts intros 2 touchscreen photo viewers

Smartparts has added two new pocket-size touchscreen digital photo viewers to its current lineup, the 2.4-inch SP24PC and the 3.5-inch SP35PC.

These compact digital photo viewers give people the capability to enjoy their favorite photos on the go. Users upload photos by connecting the viewer to their computer via USB cable. Both viewers are compatible with Mac and Windows.

The SP24PC can hold up to 50 images in its internal memory, and the SP35PC can hold up to 100 images. They both have a built-in rechargeable battery that automatically charges when the viewer is attached to a computer via USB cable.

Both come with a USB cable and a microfiber carrying pouch. They also display the date and time and have an alarm. The credit card-size viewers will be available in March 2009 with a MSRP of US$29.99 for the 2.4 inch-SP24PC and a MSRP of US$39.99 for the 3.5-inch SP35PC.

Via CNET.com

Climbing suitcase: In case there's no elevator

Ever had to lug your luggage up a few flights of stairs? Not exactly a welcome task after a long flight. If so, you'll be happy to hear about the Climbing Up Suitcase by designer Woo Moonhyung.

A rubber belt designed as a continuous track covers the body of the luggage along its two sides, which makes it easier for the entire suitcase to touch the stairs--and to be pulled from both front and back.

The suitcase has a hard-shelled body (you know, just in case you drop it down those stairs in a fit of travel exhaustion), and it opens and closes with a digital lock for maximum security.

The Climbing Up was among the design concept award winners in the 2008 international competition for the Red Dot Design Award. Hopefully for those who travel to stair-intensive sites, it'll move beyond the concept phase soon.

Via Crave CNET | Source: I New Idea Homepage

Gardening made easy

My father has this knack for gardening. He knows what kind of soil to use for different plants, and always managed to nurture greens till they bear fruits. Me? None of the plants I grew ever got past the sapling stage.

I can probably fare a bit better with the EasyBloom Plant Sensor. By sticking this gadget into the soil beside your plant, it can gather information such as soil quality, temperature and if the plant is getting enough sunlight. These data can be accessed by plugging the sensor into the USB port of a computer where the statistics will be displayed. By analyzing them, one can try to rectify the conditions of the plants and hopefully help them grow better.

Alternatively, the sensor can be left in the soil for a day and the program will call up a list of suitable plants that can thrive in the environment.

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor is available from major online retailers such as Amazon.com, and will set you back US$59.95.

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