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02.19.2008

Kojinsha mini notebook to compete with ASUS Eee PC

The well-received Eee PC by Asus, the mini PC with the mini price tag that Laptop Magazine called "the best value-priced notebook on the planet," has inspired competition, including the soon to be released Kojinsha E8 subnotebook. It runs on Windows XP, with a AMD Goede LX800 processor and 512MB of memory. Other features include touch screen (1024x600 resolution), built-in stereo speaker, memory card slot, USB port, and 3.5 hours of continuous use time. Due to be released at the end of this month, it'll be priced between $529 and $635, which is over $100 more than the price of the Eee PC, which sells for $399 at Amazon.

Via Aving.net.

Posted by Hoyun Category: computers
Tags: laptop notebook subnotebook
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02.19.2008

Flexible hangers holds difficult to hang clothes

Why do all hangers look alike even though clothes come in all kinds of crazy shapes? Sleeveless tops (especially ones made of slipper fabric) and wide-necked tops and dresses are especially difficult -- they slip off and end up on the floor with the dust mites.

These flexible hangers are such an obvious idea - hangers that you can twist into different shapes to accommodate your clothing. $14 for a set of 6 from Amazon.

Via thisnext.

Posted by Hoyun Category: home | wearables
Tags: clothing hangers
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02.19.2008

New ergonomic mouse - Wow-Pen Joy

This new ergonomic mouse, called the "Wow-Pen Joy" (which Gizmodo says possesses no wow, no pen, and no joy) is set to be released in North American and Sweden next month, by Korean company WOW Technology, makers of digital pens and ergonomic mice (including a pen-type mouse, which I suppose is the origin of the name). Aesthetics aside, I can see where the shark fin shape of the mouse would be a more natural fit for the hand, as well as the upright position which doesn't force you to twist your wrist downward as with traditional mice. For $30, I'd be willing to give it a try.

Via AVING.net.

Posted by Hoyun Category: peripherals
Tags: ergonomic mouse
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02.19.2008

iPhone apps expected to come to iTunes store

I've been holding my breath for news of the release of iPhone applications that will offer some of the smartphone features I lost when I gave up my Treo (which I was perhaps a bit hasty in doing). For starters, I'd settle for a simple password keeper (there are web apps for this, but I don't want to send secure information into the big wide uncertainty of the web, and I've found that I'm too impatient to wait for pages to load). After that, something that lets me create and revise documents would be nice, and a program that syncs with Quicken.

Wired predicts that the release of Apple's iPhone software development kit will be followed by iTunes become a software store for the huge community of developers that will arise. Apparently, some developers are a little worried about the loss of control of their products that will come with having iTunes as the primary or only distribution vehicle. For iPhone users, there are obvious advantages to being able to go to one shop to browse through all (or most) offerings. While I enjoy browsing different stores for most categories of products, I've never enjoyed that process when purchasing applications for my smartphones (though I suppose exorbitant pricing may change my view on that).

02.18.2008

Fish reflexology - the latest spa treatment

Some ideas take a little getting used to, but this one - a spa that offers treatments where little fish eat off dead skin - is just a little too weird for me. This Spa Fish Pool Dip starts at $35 per treatment - if you go to Sentosa Island off the southern coast of Singapore.

Via honeyee.com, by way of Cool Hunting.

Posted by Hoyun Category: body
Tags: health spa
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02.18.2008

Bubble Scrubber makes washing dishes fun . . . if you're 2 years old

If you ever see me doing this, get me to the asylum post-haste. The clueless premise behind this Bubble Scrubber is that the only problem with washing dishes is that it isn't more fun. Wishingfish.com, the site that sells this tool for $5, also suggests it as a way of interesting children in doing dishes. Anyone who has a small child knows this is a very bad idea. Put a child in front of a sink with this thing, and you'll come back to a hazard - a kitchen floor covered in liquid soap. Now, as a bath toy, it might work, and your kid might even inadvertently clean the tub.

Via Kitchen Contraptions.

Posted by Hoyun Category: home | toys
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02.18.2008

Cut me a slice of pizza

And I mean that literally.

The stainless-steel blades and built-in spatula of the pizza scissors make it possible, while the $9.95 price tag makes it affordable.

One slice of cheese please.

Via bookofjoe.

Posted by Jenn Category: home
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02.17.2008

Keep to-do lists in the palm of your hand

When I was in college, my friends used to laugh at me whenever they saw "rent" written in permanent marker on my hand each month. Strange as it may have looked, it was the only surefire way to remind myself that rent was due. I didn't refer to a calendar often enough to ever know what day it was and anything I wrote in the margins while in class were promptly forgotten about, so my hand was really the only sensible option.

To-Do Tattoos don't just understand what I mean, they validate my idiosyncrasy. Who knew the line between abnormal and normal was made up of twelve temporary tattoos and a skin-safe gel pen.

Via Crave.

Posted by Jenn Category: body | novelty
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02.17.2008

4-in-1 hot dog maker

The next time it's your turn to host movie night with your friends, surprise and confound them with this 4-in-1 hot dog maker from Spilsbury. You can set it up on your kitchen counter, plug it into an outlet, and put all those bags of microwave popcorn you've been served to shame.

Why? Because not only can the 4-in-1 appliance make popcorn, it can also make hot dogs, steam whatever you think should be steamed for optimal movie enjoyment, and boil eggs (I told you you'd be able to confound your pals). The contraption also has two warming spikes that seem designed for hot dog buns but that I'd rather use for mini loaf cakes. I mean, if you're serving boiled eggs, you may as well serve chocolate loaves too.

On sale now for $30.

Via Nerd Approved.

Posted by Jenn Category: home
Tags: appliances hot dogs
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02.15.2008

Solar-powered vibrator

Why do people always send us tips about vibrators? Could it have anything to do with the controversy over the ShePhone, supposedly designed by our editor Mia?

Well, whatever the reason, these products do tend to come our way at regular intervals. Today, there's one for the environmentally conscious -- the solar-powered bullet vibrator from Libida (hmm, I wonder when that domain name got taken up), that charges in sunlight or artificial light. Priced at $29.95.

One user on the Libida site suggests keeping it on your window sill so that it's always charged up and ready (and meanwhile can satisfy any mild exhibitionist urges).

Thanks for the tip, Charlie!

Posted by Hoyun Category: body | eco
Tags: vibrator
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