Most of the Japanese people, young and old, homeless to the emperor, spend quite some time in hot boiling water daily. Say, half an hour, at least. Don't worry, we never get parboiled. Those who posess thermophobic genes in their cells have died out in the long and hot evolution process.

When Japanese go to their favorite resort, I mean thousands of hotspring locations, they usually soak up to around 23 hours a day in hot volcanic water, chatting, dozing, fighting, munching and engaging in unmentionable activities. Even the African hippopotami would get bored after 10 hours or so in the water and jump out onto the grassy riverbank. Japanese simply stay aquatic, forever.

JVC's Digital Audio Player XA-AW33-W in action. A digital bath toy in the tradition of the rubber ducky.

The soaking time in Japan, therefore, is considered as a kind of easy-come nirvana. People are trying hard to make this spell as comfy as possible. Radio? Waterproof bathroom radios are readily available. Televisions, too. Battery-operated LCD TVs are pretty common everywhere in bathhouses. Watching your local tem on the pitch in the scaling bathtub could enhance your health tremendously, so they say.

Oh, you fear electrocution in the bathroom? Even though the bathroom TV topples into the water, weak battery voltage could not stimulate your pet goldfish, no less killing you outright.

Hot water computing would be a bit more problematic. Sure, there exist a few tough notebooks on the market, all of them being waterproof (splashproof, rather). But, where are you going to open the clamshell? None of them float on hot water!

Victor-JVC of Yokohama has released something interesting for hot water lovers, akin to that legendary bath toy, the rubber duck. The floating silicon player.

XA-AW33-W floating in air.

Equipped with 256MB of flash memory, Digital Audio Player XA-AW33-W can play MP3, WMA and WMA-DRM music files. Its water resistancy rates IPX7 (Japan Industrial Standard, water protection specs 7), which means it can survive more than 30 minutes underwater, up to a depth of 1m.

Music files have to be downloaded first from PC in dry land through USB cable. No Wi-Fi capability, though its ample size (12cm diameter, 8.7cm heightl) could contain quite a few more components. Four AA alkaline batteries, no chance of murdering your enemy in the bath by electrocution.

The funny-shaped XA-AW33-W floats and swims perfectly all right on the water surface. But how can you store it when not in use? Or when to use on dry land? No worry, Victor provides a special stand.

XA-AW33-W in resting position.

XA-AW33-W radiates a gentle blue illumination on the water. So, share your bath with your loved one, turn low the light, and play romantic muzak with this funky gear. 19,800 yen (US$168). Sold only on the Web site. Just 1,000 pieces have been offered.

 

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