SensoGlove helps get a grip on your golf swing

Despite witnessing many friends fall under the spell of Tiger Woods, some of us at Crave have resisted learning how to play golf for one simple reason: It's the kind of sport that would drive us nuts. If we ever become tempted, however, the SensoGlove might well be the first thing we'd purchase. (Well, maybe after a robo-caddy.)

Made by SensoSolutions, it has a built-in computer that monitors grip pressure and other factors, then supposedly provides advice on how to make adjustments, according to GizmoWatch. Four sewn-in sensors send information for display on a small LCD on the back of the leather glove.

One good thing is that it's definitely less expensive than the US$55,000 Full Golf Swing simulator, though no doubt less fun. And it has another essential feature in that it's sweatproof.

Via CNET Crave

Irritating Mugen Edamame and Puchi Puchi score Trendy Toy wins

Can anything be more repetitively annoying and annoyingly repetitive? Clearly not, since the Japan Toy Association, which held its first-ever awards recently, bequeathed the Trendy Toy trophy on both of Bandai's Mugen Edamame (read: Infinite soybean popping) and Puchi Puchi (read: Infinite bubble wrap popping) keychain games.

More bane than bean, these popping simulator gimmicks haven't helped my sanity, since directly behind me is our Japan-crazy editor who got himself a Puchi Puchi which he occasionally whips out to give some of us grief. Suffice to say that unlike the real McCoy, this produces electronic clacking sounds that just gets to you. Worse, in a Faust-like pact, the player is encouraged to keep up the relentless popping, the goal being to release secret sounds. Anyone ready to take a guess what Bandai will pop up with next?

Via Japan Probe

Fancy gadget cleaning kit

The sale of bottled distilled water in a country where tap water is potable is evidence that with enough packaging and marketing, you can sell anything. That thought came to mind when I came across this Surface Clean product made by the people at Audiovox. Its range of products includes bottles of cleaning solution in various sizes, microfiber cloths and swabs made specifically for cleaning off filth from electronic gadgets. What do these things have in common? You can buy them all cheaply (albeit separately) from your supermarket or hardware store.

That's not to say Surface Clean's products have no appeal. Having the stuff all in one place in an attractive package is a good thing. And since they will be available only in September, they may end up being cheaper than when bought individually at stores. As for me, I'll continue using my Zippo lighter fluid and the cleaning cloth for my glasses to wipe the grime off my gizmos.

Via Cool Hunting

Subaru announces the Stella electric concept car

Subaru has recently announced a followup to its R1e electric minicar, a bigger electric car built on its Stella platform. The Stella is a four-seat car sold in Japan, narrow but tall. The electric Stella concept uses a 40-kilowatt electric motor powered by Lithium-ion batteries. This powertrain gives it a maximum speed of 62 miles per hour and a range of 50 miles.

Subaru built the electric Stella concept to test out a car with more practical interior space than the R1e. Five of the Stella concepts will be used at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako summit in July, while one will be used by the Japan Post Group to deliver mail around Toyako. This real-world test is similar to the deal Subaru made to provide two R1es to the New York Power Authority.

Via CNET Reviews

A label printer that's hip and square

Forget Dynamo. That handheld click-clacking label printer doesn't hold a ticker tape to this appealingly hip-to-be-square version, which we bet will add avante garde status to any cubicle drone's desk. When close, it's rather reminiscent of the mysterious monolith in Stanley Kubrick's seminal 2001: A Space Odyssey. But press a little black button, and up pops the seamless lid to expose a monochrome LCD screen and keyboard. The sticker even comes out from a discreetly tiny slit in the side.

Just too bad it's sold only in Japan since the King Jim Tepra Pro SR600 Label Writer (23,940 yen, US$221) does English, too, with a choice of fonts and sizes. Takes six AA batteries or plugs in to the mains. The only problem we can foresee is whether the hinge can take all that abuse as you get a kick opening and closing the lid.

Via VR-Zone

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