Thanko's penlight underwater vidcam

Once again, another Japanese product lost in translation. The "video water" is actually a penlight-looking device that everyone's favorite geek Homer Simpson would love to get his perv paws on. This 22g underwater camcorder (12,800 yen; US$133) will clip onto any strap, and be unobtrusive enough not to get you busted by the pool supervisor. Though why this Thanko minicam would float anyone's boat is questionable since the resolution is about the same as a mobile phone camera's, which, in plain English, sucks. Thanko says this is fine for depths of up to 20m, though that sounds way too good for something that doesn't look rugged enough to get past the deep end of a pool.

The rear cap unscrews to reveal a mini-USB port for file transfer and charging the built-in battery, but note that this is USB 1.1, so you don't want to be offloading reams of video. For charge time, every hour gets you an hour's use, with a full charge maxing out at 3 hours. The 2GB memory claims to hold up to 6 hours, though by that time you'll either be all pruney from being submerged so long, or suffering a chlorine rash. Doh!
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Card-shaped USB drive to attack your wallet

Duality indeed exists in me. Just the other day I complained about membership cards and the hassle of having to carry them. Now I am about to rave about something that takes the shape of a card just so that you can carry it around easily.

It is a USB thumb (or I should say "card") drive from TopTech Products called a Slim Data USB Card. This is a really slim USB drive housed in a case that has the same physical shape as a regular credit card, but is just a tad thicker. When you want to use the drive, you just fold the card in half to reveal the USB connector.

Though original and with obvious practical intention, the device's design, I think, fails to optimize its purpose. As the actual USB drive is so much smaller than the whole device, it would make more sense to put more than one in a package and link them together to increase the storage capacity. Or just make the package smaller; there's no need to make the device with the exact shape and size of a regular credit card just so that you can call it a USB card.
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A magic ball for your health

For a mere US$39, the Body Check Ball sounds like a dodgy proposition in terms of claiming to calculate your body fat. More so when it also states that it can measure your bone density and muscle ratio, all by holding this in your palms. No "Om" chant necessary. Instead, true to its Japanese origins, the Body Check Ball employs good old technology. A pair of electrodes passes currents from your hand to the ball, which then churns out your health stats onto the LCD panel. Amazingly, this stores up to 10 user profiles and even sports a clock and alarm. Get out of here. The only hiccup is the four AAA-sized batteries that it runs off, which will cost you more than AA batts and hold less of a charge.

Via Oh Gizmo

Xbox/Nike foot protectors fetch US$4,000 on eBay marketplace

As a reformed sneakerhead, I understand the mentality behind getting the latest gear, but my mind was officially blown after seeing a pair of custom Xbox Nike Dunks sell for $4,000 on eBay this weekend.

It should be noted that this isn't an official collaboration between the two companies, but rather a special one-off pair made by Sole Junkie, an online company specializing in custom sneakers.

The sneaker is a hi-top version of the popular Nike Dunk basketball shoe, but Sole Junkie snuck fiber optic wiring into the patent leather in the shape of the popular Xbox logo that glows or strobes, powered by a battery sewn into the tongue. The toecap is also custom painted with "Tiger Camouflage" with lime green sneakers to match the laces and accents across the shoe.
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Invisible ray scatters cats

Cats may be really funny at times, but when all you want to do is get a good night's rest, some stray specimens can be downright annoying with the noise that they make. In such situations, the Mega-Sonic ScatterCat Pest Repeller could be your solution. This "gun" actually fires an invisible high-frequency sound that's inaudible to humans but scares the felines away. It even has a laser sight so you know you've pointed it at the right target.

Such products are not new, but this one hits the spot by looking like a cheap prop from a tacky science fiction TV show, which makes it perfect for the homeowner who loves the occasional geek reference in his home decor. It's available from online store Maplin for 10 pounds (about US$15), though you can expect to pay more for shipping to Asia.

Via Red Ferret Journal

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