You can't take current bikini idol Misako Yasuda to bed, but her merchandise folks are giving you the next best thing--a hugging pillow that features a life-size, front-and-back print of the kittenish siren--in thongs, no less. And if you still have a yen to snuggle up close with the Japanese celeb, matching bed sheets can be gotten at a bundled price as well. Talk about strange bedfellows.
For frontal and back view of the Yasuda pillow, click here
Scooba, dooba doo! Remember the Roomba? Well, our friendly robotic vacuum is about to rumba with the Scooba, a kitchen companion that will mop hard floors made of materials like tile, wood and linoleum. Clorox, better known to Singaporeans as a household bleach compound, has teamed up with Roomba makers iRobot for this latest outing to take the scrub out of your kitchen chores. Besides developing a cleaning fluid that won't send Scooba's steering systems into a spin, they've created a machine capable of sucking up loose particles, cleaning the floor and drying it, all in five stages. Wonder who gets to clean up Scooba after all that dirty, hard work.
In a galaxy not so far away (try earth), where crazy fan boys are willing to cough out hard-earned lucre to own a piece of Star Wars or parade amidst saner fellowmen as Sith Lords or Storm Troopers, the Force FX Lightsaber is one collectible that's guaranteed to bring out the Jedi in anyone. That said, this isn't for dueling purposes. Nor is it a toy. The sticker price alone should cue you in to that. Having said that, these licensed replicas need more than the Force to activate them, like a fresh set of batteries.
On the Light Side, Anakin Skywalker's saber is a Blue Blade from Revenge of the Sith. For those who've turned to the Dark Side, check out Darth Vader's Red Blade from Empire Strikes Back. Or see both blades lighted up
Price: S$235 (US$119) Availability: Hobby shops, including one at Suntec City; or check out ThinkGeek Device: Star Wars collectible Basic specs: Glowing blades with realistic power-up/down effects, authentic sound effects digitally recorded from movie, motion sensor-controlled sound effects, power-up, idle hum, clash, and power-down, durable metal hilt, sturdy polycarbonate blade attached to hilt, custom-designed display stand
There're no batteries, wires or processor chip to this low-tech creation, but it earns a spot in Gadgetbuzz for pushing the envelope on those boring boxy mailboxes hanging by a wire on gates. Canadian designer Adriean Koleric has even given his brainchild a name--Edith. Recently showcased at the biannual 2005 FROST/THAW furniture exhibit in Edmonton, Edith possesses plenty of sass in blazing pink and a free-flowing design that should bring a smile on any postman's face despite the welcoming canine committee at the doorstep.
Price: C$500 (US$416) Availability: See Web site Device: Mailbox Basic specs: Welded steel, illuminated frosted plexi-glass letters on front with light sensitive transformer, large enough to accommodate magazines and newspapers
Remember Mork and Mindy? "I am Mork from Ork, nano nano". Well, the Koreans are flagging their own nano handshake by biting the silver bullet when it comes to home appliances. Just yesterday, local media were invited to ogle both the gamut of 20 Samsung models heading for Singapore, as well as the more mammalian variant of models parading in tight silver skinsuits at the Silver Nano Health System media launch.
While silver's just another color to you, the ancients apparently employed it successfully as a remedy to sterilize and deodorize. And given the recent SARS and bird flu scare in the region, Samsung (besides competitor LG) has--like any good company--capitalized on this and given its own spin to silver's efficacy. The result is a process that safely coats fabrics, filters and surfaces with bacteria-fighting silver armor.
Whatever your flavor, Samsung has it. Expect to see washing machines and refrigerators (which made a tentative debut in the local market last year), vacuum cleaners for the first time, as well as mobile phones and airconditioning units armed with silver nano. Expect also to pay a premium of about 15 percent for all that goodness endorsed by a little Silver Nano Health System sticker.
Here's Samsung's pitch:
Vacuum cleaners: Generates fresh air while sucking in debris, due to onboard negative ion generators.
Refrigerators: Five new models incoming from June, which claim to keep food fresh for 15 days longer.
Airconditioners: Claiming to be the world's slimmest (for now), its silver-coated filters prevent growth of fungi, and hence cleaner, healthier air.
Washing machines: Six models capable of killing 99.9 percent of bacteria in the wash load, plus coat your clothes with antibacterial protection lasting up to 30 days.
Price: N.A.
Availability: Home appliance outlets
Device: Germ-busting home electronic appliances Basic specs: N.A.