June 30, 2006

Energy Vending Machine

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The Cool Hunter: In a world that is obsessed with mobile phones, PDAs, iPods and the like, we are perpetually draining and recharging our batteries. In-home refuelling is a cinch, but the same cannot be said for public places where electrical outlets are typically guarded against unauthorized recharging.

The ChargeBox offers a solution, which consists of 6 small lockers, each with 4 unique chargers that can power 90% of our mobile devices. Users simply plug in to the charger that corresponds to their device, make payment with a coin or via SMS, lock their box and return when charging is complete. The ChargeBox will top up your battery for 40 minutes at a cost of £1.

The Charge Box [The Cool Hunter]

By Marcel Sim @ 4:11 PM  |  Services  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 29, 2006

MOG

Influx Insights: Myspace started out as a tool for emerging LA bands to connect and build out their fan base. The genesis of this brand was in music, but years later, music still has an important aspect of the site, but its role has been diminished somewhat.

So what fills the void for the music fan?

Mog.com is a potential candidate. It's a music based blogging network. Users blog about music and connect to others who share similar tastes and interests. Mog says it helps you create pages that are an "extension of your musical soul".

The smart thing about Mog is that it recognizes that the best way to recommend other music to you is not with an algorithm, but other people, so Mog matches you up with others that it believes can help you discover new music.

Mog and niche social networks [Influx Insights]

By Marcel Sim @ 4:33 PM  |  Culture & Music  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 27, 2006

Migraine Zapper

photo_blogs_zapper.jpgCoolest Gadgets: I’m fortunate enough not to suffer with migraines, but I have had a couple of occasions when I’ve had the most unbearable headaches and sensitivity to bright lights, and I can only imagine what it must be like to suffer continuously with migraine headaches.

The hand-held migraine zapper is a gadget which produces short but strong, low-frequency magnetic pulses that suppress the spread of a migraine, though exactly how, isn’t well understood at this time.

The device is a spin-off of neuroscientific studies attempting to identify functions of different parts of the brain. Using the technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS, researchers found that they could map the different parts of the brain that deal with (or are somehow associated with) language, memory, and vision etc. They did this by either stimulating them or suppressing them, applying different TMS signals to different parts of the brain.

Migraine zapper gadget [Coolest Gadgets]

By Marcel Sim @ 4:41 PM  |  Gadgets  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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Butterfly from American Express

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American Express: AMEX has introduced the the new Butterfly card. It is a stylish new companion exclusively for American Express® Gold Card members. The Butterfly card works interchangeably with your traditional American Express® Gold Card. Even though it has a different Card number, it’s linked to your regular Card account with all the same benefits and services.

Butterfly from American Express [American Express]

By Yuelin Toh @ 4:05 PM  |  Luxury  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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Body Cooler®

PRWeb: The hot summer months are fast approaching, and Body Cooler® has a way to keep people cool and healthy in the heat. The subsidiary of Akemi Inc. has recently completed a complete overhaul of their website and re-launched www.bodycooler.com under the umbrella of Yahoo Small Business. Now, through the safety and security of Yahoo, online customers can purchase the specially designed polymer-based cooling product that rests on your neck, head, or shoulders to protect you from the dangers of heat exhaustion.

Each Body Cooler® is designed to be worn on a specific part of the body and is made in sections so the polymer will stay in place. Each piece is activated by soaking it in cool water. The special cooling polymers will soak up the cool water and expand to about 1” in thickness. You may then place the creatively designed Body Cooler® securely around your neck, cooling your neck and spinal area, on your head, or even over your entire torso, thanks to the wide variety of Body Cooler® style and sizes available. The popular vest that cools the entire upper body is only 2-3 pounds in weight and can comfortably keep the body cool for hours.

Akemi Inc.’s Body Cooler Product Line Guarantees a Cool Summer in the City [PRWeb]

By Yuelin Toh @ 3:49 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 26, 2006

Straws with Flavours

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GRAB YOUR FORK: Does anyone remember wax straws? And how there was a fleeting fad of coating the insides with chocolate syrup so it would flavour your milk as you sucked?

The chocolate flavour never lasted very long (and I always ended up destroying my straw in the process) but as we all know, retro is in, and technology is rampant!

Enter the Sipahh: easily the most exciting product we saw at the Fine Food Show last week. And we weren't the only ones. This innovative flavouring straw won Best New Retail Product at the Sydney tradeshow as well. The straws are unique in its use of tiny flavoured beads entrapped within the straw. A special filter at each end of the straw keeps the beads in but allows milk to be sucked through. The beads, which are made of tapioca starch, gradually dissolve and flavour each mouthful of milk.

Ripper Sipahh [GRAB YOUR FORK]

By Marcel Sim @ 4:02 PM  |  Food & Beverages  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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June 25, 2006

The Kenguru

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Springwise: Made in Hungary, the Kenguru is a small vehicle that drivers can roll into without leaving their wheelchairs.

Designed by Zsolt Varga, Kenguru is small, stylish and cheerful vehicle whose contours are similar to those of a Smart car. But the resemblance stops there. Made to hold one passenger in a manual wheelchair, the Kenguru doesn't have doors or seats. To get in, the driver opens the extra large back hatch and rolls inside while remaining seated in his wheelchair, which automatically locks into place inside the car. A joystick instead of a steering wheel means that drivers with limited arm mobility can comfortably control the vehicle. (Source: Index.)

Kengurus are electrically powered, have a range of 40-60 km, and reach speeds of 35-40 km/hour, making them best suited to relatively short commutes. Listed price is HUF 2,790,000 (EUR 10,250 / USD 12,920 / GBP 6,980).

Drive-in mobility [Springwise]

By Marcel Sim @ 3:44 PM  |  Automobiles  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 24, 2006

Linking with Consumers

NY times: Over the last few years, though, Mr. Fluevog hasn't just been presenting ideas about shoes and style to customers; he has also been soliciting ideas from them — encouraging brand enthusiasts to submit their own sketches for leather boots, high-heeled dress shoes, even sneakers with flair. He posts the submissions on his company's Web site, invites visitors to vote for their favorites and manufactures and sells the most promising designs. He calls it all "open source footwear."

"Customers want to express themselves, to be involved with the brand," Mr. Fluevog said in an interview at the John Fluevog Shoes boutique on Newbury Street in Boston. "For so long, people would hand me a drawing of their personal design for a shoe or ask if I had considered an idea they liked. This program is a natural outgrowth of that desire for connection."

To date, the company has chosen nearly 300 finalists from the flow of sketches into Vancouver — and introduced 10 shoes based on customer designs.

To Charge Up Customers, Put Customers in Charge [NY times]

By Steven Teo @ 3:49 PM  |  Branding  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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In Need of SkyRest

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DailyCandy: Modern aviation is nothing to laugh at.

Although crying about it is quite acceptable. Especially when you discover that your $600 ticket entitles you to an extra pack of peanuts, a seat that doesn’t recline, and the stewardess’s tortured life story.

Before the situation goes from bad to worse (her teen years were soooo tragic), pull out the SkyRest. The miraculous, wedge-shaped travel pillow makes even the most uncomfortable spots downright pleasant.

Just set it in your lap and snooze. The angle ensures that your head always stays forward. No more back and forth between the tray, the headrest, the window, and your neighbor’s shoulder. Or use it as an impromptu table, foot prop, or back support during long layovers. Because it easily inflates and deflates, you’ll always be able to give things a rest.

Straighten Up and SkyRest Right [DailyCandy]

By Marcel Sim @ 3:40 PM  |  Travel & Transport  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 23, 2006

The New Car Wash

StartupJournal.com: The battle is on to primp your ride.

Facing growing competition from the likes of Home Depot Inc. and Sam's Club, car washes around the country are launching new services aimed at grabbing customers' interest. Some are promising shorter cleaning times and opening plush waiting rooms with Wi-Fi service. Others are pitching Netflix-style discount plans in which customers pay monthly for unlimited washes. Some are even washing the family dog.

The changes are striking in a conservative business long dominated by mom-and-pops and small chains. But technological shifts that have cut labor costs are making the car-wash business more profitable and attracting a number of new and formidable entrants.

At the end of April, Costco Wholesale Corp. opened a test car wash at a Seattle store; Home Depot opened convenience stores with gas stations and car washes earlier this year at two stores in the Nashville, Tenn., area; it hopes to open another location in Atlanta later this year and more down the road. Nine Sam's Club locations now have car washes, and the company, owned by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., anticipates opening more. Wal-Mart already has five Murphy Oil Corp. car washes at its stores. Meanwhile, many gas stations, convenience-store and gas chains like QuikTrip Corp. and even car dealerships have expanded their car-wash operations.

The technological changes include more-powerful drying systems (100-plus horsepower, compared with 30 horsepower previously) that have cut out the need for human dryers at the end. Car washes are also automating payment and finding ways for drivers to load their cars onto the conveyer belts or into the wash without humans helping. Some companies, including Home Depot, have dispensed with the conveyer belt; they clean the car in a garage-like bay that consultants say is cheaper to install and operate, using equipment that adjusts to accommodate vehicles of different sizes.

Now at the Car Wash: Dog Shampoos and Wi-Fi [StartupJournal.com]

By Marcel Sim @ 3:09 PM  |  Automobiles  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 22, 2006

Ingestible Skin Care

borba-skin-clarifying-chocolate-722149.jpgStrange New Products: Borba, a manufacturer of cosmetics and skin care products, extended its line of "ingestible skin care" products with its new "Chocolate Clarifying Bar".

The zit-zapping confection contains Borba's "Skin Balance Clarifying Aqua-Less Crystalline Powder" to remove toxins and improve skin clarity. The powder contains a cultivated bio-vitamin complex which helps the skin regenerate its natural support system.

If it was eating too much chocolate that put zits on your face, now you can eat too much chocolate to take them off. What will you tell your kids now?

Chocolate Bar Clears Up Acne [Strange New Products]

By Steven Teo @ 7:26 AM  |  Health & Beauty  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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June 21, 2006

Diaper Bags

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BabyGadget: Sure, you can just use plastic ziplock bags to organize your stuff, but I'm a sucker for nice packaging and feel a bit guilty every time I throw a ziplock away, no matter how often I try and reuse them. These attractive ziplock pouches are made from 100% cotton with mesh backing so you can see the contents at a glance. Yeah, I realize that dirty, spoiled baby clothes and messy foods are better off in a plastic ziplock, but these ARE machine washable...like I said, I'm a sucker for packaging.

Diaper bag organizer pouches [BabyGadget]

By Marcel Sim @ 4:47 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 20, 2006

Luxury Bed + TV

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PORTALINO: What could be better than watching TV in bed? How about watching TV in bed on a TV that’s built into the bed? Using a wireless remote, you can activate the TV that rises out of the foot of the bed like a display-screen in some James Bond villain’s hideout.

The TV is only 22”, but it should be large enough since it’s so close to you. Also built into the bed, an electronic leveling system. The only downside, as it usually is with cool products, is the price. $25,900 for this bed. We don’t think many people would buy a bed that’s worth more than their cars.

Luxury bed with built-in TV [PORTALINO]

By Yuelin Toh @ 5:08 PM  |  Luxury  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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30 Million Solar Water Heaters

Reuters: Dusty Dezhou was relegated to the footnotes of Chinese history for centuries, known mainly as the place where a Filipino king died.

Now, Huang Ming hopes hot water will help put it on the map.

His company has earned a fortune manufacturing solar heaters, relatively low-tech rooftop devices which capture the sun's energy to provide water for baths and washing and are at the forefront of a renewable energy drive.

At least 30 million Chinese households now have one and last year the country accounted for around 80 percent of the world market, said Eric Martinot, visiting scholar at Beijing's Tsinghua University. "We are at 15 to 20 percent annual growth and I don't see that slowing down."

Huang says his Dezhou-based firm, China Himin Solar Energy Group, is the largest in a fragmented and almost entirely Chinese market, with a share of around 14 percent.

And the mayor is using his heating success as the basis for a bid to follow British University town Oxford and Australia's Adelaide as host of an international solar congress.

Cheap and effective enough to make economic sense to middle-class urbanites, Huang's basic models start at around 1,500 yuan ($190), although for a luxury home this could rise to 18,000 yuan ($2,250).

With technology so efficient they can work at temperatures well below freezing and under cloudy or smog-choked skies, they soon pay for themselves, he says.

Energy-hungry China warms to solar water heaters [Reuters]

By Marcel Sim @ 4:39 PM  |  Environmental  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 19, 2006

Washroom Fun

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Uber-Review: It’s official, Sudoku has jumped the shark. Why read the newspaper during your washroom visit, when you can challenge your brain with Sudoku. As the site puts it, “if you make a mistake no-one need know, you can just flush it away.”

Sudoku Toilet Paper [Uber-Review]

By Steven Teo @ 7:20 AM  |  Homes & Living  |  Comments (2)  |  Article Link
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June 18, 2006

Repellent Ringtone

photo_blog_repelllent.jpgWashingtonPost.com: When it came out in Britain in December, the Mosquito sound system was supposed to be the sonic equivalent of a "no loitering" sign. Its annoying, high-pitched sound -- which many adults can't hear but most young people can -- would act as a teen repellent.

Now, teens are staging a worldwide rebellion: Downloading the sound, or another ring tone in that same high-frequency range, allows them to hear their cellphones ring when their parents and teachers (mostly) cannot.

And the company that brought the Mosquito to market -- Compound Security Systems Ltd. of Britain -- is being barraged by a new market of companies wanting to sell a line of subversive ring tones.

"When we brought out the teenager repellent to market, we really didn't think anybody would be interested in ring tones" in the same frequency, said Simon Morris, marketing and commercial director for Compound Security, who has been fielding hundreds of calls from companies and journalists around the world since the annoying ring tone became popular.

Teens Find a Ring Tone in a High-Pitched Repellent [WashingtonPost.com]

By Marcel Sim @ 4:31 PM  |  Mobile  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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Soccer Anywhere

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BornRich: If you love to play soccer then now you dont need to content yourself with just soccer games meant for desktop table! You can actually play in your own soccer pitch anytime anywhere with Subbuteo Giant Inflatable Pitch! The football pitch is ideal for four-adults, so if you were thinking its meant only for teenagers or kids then you need a reality check!! All you need to do is, simply plug in its uber-powerful pump and the pitch will inflate in just 30 seconds. So, what if you are not gonna play in the FIFA World Cup, you still can fancy kickabouts in your own football pitch.

Subbuteo Giant Inflatable Pitch For Adults! [BornRich]

By Steven Teo @ 7:14 AM  |  Sports & Games  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 17, 2006

MySpace for Cars

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TechCrunch: We have social networks for just about everything these days. If there’s one for dogs and cats, why not for cars?

Berkeley, California based Boompa is just that - a new web startup focused on car fanatics (and better yet, it isn’t ridiculous). The founders, Ethan Lance and Dave Snider, previously worked together at CNET before starting this company.

Users enter information on cars they own, or want to own. Other users can tag and comment the vehicle, and contact the owner and/or add him or her as a friend. The site is extremely well designed and uses Ajax effectively throughout. The fact that just the two founders built the site in a few months is impressive.

CNET Veterans Launch Boompa: “Myspace For Cars” [TechCrunch]

By Marcel Sim @ 3:29 PM  |  Online & Social Networks  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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Beans in Toast

beansintoast.jpgThe Daily Telegraph: FOR those who find baked beans on toast just too messy to put together, help is on the way. Heinz has devised a frozen baked bean sandwich which simply needs to be heated in a toaster.

Heinz chief Bill Johnson said the company needed to give people "new ways to use beans".

"If people take the time to cook beans and put it on toast, why shouldn't we cut the process for them and give them beans on toast?" he said. The technology is being developed by Heinz researchers in New Zealand.

Heinz toasts a new product [The Daily Telegraph]

By Yuelin Toh @ 5:05 AM  |  Food & Beverages  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 16, 2006

Triple Scoop

triplescoop.jpgJS Online: It's summertime, and the livin' is . . . way too hot to be easy. Fortunately, manufacturers keep churning out delicious new ways to feed these seasonal cravings. Can't agree on an ice cream flavor? No problem - make three at once.

Strawberry, chocolate chip or French vanilla? Ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet? Make all three in just 20 minutes with the new Triple Scoop gourmet ice cream and frozen treat maker from Euro-Pro. No stirring is needed with this automatic machine, which comes with three insulated stainless steel canisters and a book of recipes. A see-through cover with feeder hole lets you keep an eye on the treats and easily add mix-ins such as nuts or candies. Available at national retailers and Web sites for $59.99 to $89.99.

Cool new gadgets help you chill out [JS Online]

By Yuelin Toh @ 4:54 AM  |  Gadgets  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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Fusion Fitness

TrendCentral: These fusion workouts combine the intimacy of personal training with the challenge of boot camp-style conditioning in private, class-like settings. Each session targets the five key elements of a complete fitness program—strength & endurance training, flexibility, and balance & core work. Juliet Kaska, fitness guru and owner of L.A.’s Emerson Hall Fitness created these three-times-a-week-for-five-weeks programs exclusively for her famous Zen-mod training studio by pulling from a multitude of her favorite exercise methods (resistance training, yoga, boxing, cross training, plyometrics and pilates) and incorporating nutritional food and whole health guidance.

Hybrid Fitness Programs [TrendCentral]

By Marcel Sim @ 12:46 AM  |  Luxury  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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June 15, 2006

Liquid Mag

c5.jpgIconoculture: Step into liquid. Imbibe magazine covers everything from cocktails to wine to beer to juice to coffee to tea. The motto: All that's fit to drink.

The premiere issue of the bimonthly publication features hot chocolate and mezcal in Oaxaca, great hotel bars around the country, Trappist ales and organic wines.

A handy guide to every imbibing opportunity will whet whistles through inspiration and empowerment.

Imbibe magazine toasts beverage culture [Iconoculture]

By Steven Teo @ 11:55 AM  |  Media & Publishing  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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June 12, 2006

The Nail Tattoo

photo_blog_nailtattoo.jpgTrendCentral: For London women tired of manicures every week or expensive and time consuming nail regimens, the latest and greatest is the nail tattoo. Using a super fine needle, the tattoo artist goes through the first few layers of your nail to create an extremely detailed image directly onto the nail. Fans are loving the intricate, as well as the thrill of doing something a little different that is not permanent---as the nail grows out, so does the tattoo. Although we have not yet seen this trend here in the US, we know that hip Londoners are going to New Wave Tattoo in Muswell Hill, London.

Nail Tattoos [TrendCentral]

By Marcel Sim @ 2:27 PM  |  Culture & Music  |  Comments (2)  |  Article Link
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June 11, 2006

Quirky Nights Under French Skies

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Telegraph.co.uk: You can stay in France in anything from a Yurt to an Airstream caravan. Ann Noon offers a guide.

Yurts
Squatting at the top of the Ardèche river gorge, overlooking some of the most rugged scenery in France, the Mille Etoiles encampment is home to 12 individually-designed yurts scattered throughout a peaceful oak forest. Handcrafted from different woods, each tent is furnished with a double or king-sized bed and has a relaxation area complete with hammocks. For honeymooners, three of the yurts are hidden deep in the woods with their own miniature camp kitchen and ecological toilet.

Gipsy caravans
Four fully equipped gipsy caravans with en-suite bathrooms are the main reason to stay on the Saint Cerice estate in the pretty village of Vogüé, also in the Ardèche. The caravans, which each sleep five, are designed for maximum comfort. With cherry trees, olive groves and vineyards all around, the surrounding parkland feels very Mediterranean.

Teepees
In the western Loire stands Le Bonheur de Vivre, a Sioux Indian village with six "authentic" wigwams decked out in skins and pictures of chieftains of yore.

Quirky nights under French skies [Telegraph UK]

By Yuelin Toh @ 1:57 PM  |  Tourism  |  Comments (2)  |  Article Link
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The Window Cleaner

The Franchise Magazine: When Terry Mullins was searching for someone to clean his windows, he discovered that the traditional domestic window cleaner has all but disappeared. So, after two years of research and planning he has launched The Local Window Cleaner Ltd.

"The market has always been there," explains Terry. "What was required was someone to devise a system that could deliver the service reliably and profitably, and that's just what we've done."

The Local Window Cleaner customers are 'recruited' rather than sold, using a system that is more of a signing-up process than a form of marketing. Window cleaning is what we do, but it's not what we sell," says Terry. We sell reliability and peace of mind and our customers are very happy to pay our prices for it."

The Local Window Cleaner is committed to supporting franchisees with comprehensive management and staff training. Franchisees are empowered to grow their business to a size that matches their own personal ambitions.

New launch climbing for profits [The Franchise Magazine]

By Yuelin Toh @ 1:51 PM  |  Services  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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Slimming Toothpaste

Iconoculture: Hungry? Go brush your teeth. White Glo Crave Away and F.A.S.T. are two toothpastes that claim to curb hunger cravings with herbal formulas that signal the brain that the body has eaten.

Consumers hot on the trail of a thinner body are happy to try new therapies that don’t involve eating less or exercising more. Whiter teeth and a thinner body to go with it? As beauty buffs raise the bar on what they see in the mirror, multitasking products give them greater hope of keeping up.

Appetite-suppressing toothpastes promise to brush away cravings; not all agree [Iconoculture]

By Steven Teo @ 6:27 AM  |  Health & Beauty  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 9, 2006

Beer Buddy

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The GadgetStore: Can’t tear your eyes away from the match to pass your mates another beer? Simply slide the Beer Butler along the table and you can keep your attention on the game, because it will ingeniously stop when it reaches the edge without spilling a drop! Yes, this football shaped Beer Buddy is battery operated and smart enough to carry your beer back and forth across the table. So, you see, all you need to do is make sure all the drinks are in the room at the beginning of the game and let the Butler distribute them amongst your guests.

Beer Buddy [The GadgetStore]

By Steven Teo @ 2:27 PM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 8, 2006

In-game Advertising

The Gazette: High-tech spy Sam Fisher uses a Sony Ericsson phone to snap a picture of terrorists and sends it to home base. Then he reads his mission briefings on his PDA - personal digital assistant - from the same gadget maker.

While Fisher may be fictional hero of Ubisoft's Montreal-made Splinter Cell video game series, the tools he needs to complete his missions are quite real. And this is only the beginning for the fast-growing industry of advertising in video games, as the eyeballs of young men shift from the television to the gaming console.

"Advertisers want to engage audiences in the environments where they are," said Brandon Berger of Ogilvy interactive, which creates in-game ads for client brands.

"Games are not even a phenomenon anymore. It's mainstream. These are major consumers."

As video games become increasingly lifelike, so do their ability to imitate the world's ad-cluttered landscapes. And as production costs for major titles can hit $40 million, some extra cash is highly welcome.

And it can only grow from here. Depending who you ask, in-game advertising could be worth up to $4 billion by 2010, Berger said.

Product placements like Sam Fisher's camera phone is the most popular choice, linking the brand directly with an enjoyable activity.

Product placement enters virtual world [The Gazette]

By Marcel Sim @ 1:44 PM  |  Advertising  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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June 7, 2006

Nu Mobile

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TrendCentral: myNuMo is a new teen-oriented, online community with a similar model for user-created mobile phone content. The site offers users the tools to create and publish ringtones, wallpapers, and of course, videos. Members can then profit from their creations by uploading them to their own custom webpage within the site where they can then sell them by using a text-message ‘shortcode’.

Although it’s in the beta testing stage right now, myNuMo could eventually become a valuable source for young music and art creatives to gain exposure, promote themselves and hopefully, make a little cash on the side too.

myNuMo [TrendCentral]

By Marcel Sim @ 4:04 PM  |  Mobile  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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Bite and Drink

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sacbee.com: How many water bottles do you own?
Probably more than you need, but the new 25-ounce CamelBak bottle comes with such a nifty cap design that you might consider owning one more. Actually, the bite-and-drink valve cover alone is almost worth the price.

The rubber cover that slips over the hinged valve has a slit, so when you flip up the valve and bite down on the soft cover, it opens and you can drink your fill. Perfect. Plus, if you knock it over, there's no spill. Drivers will find the bottle fits into most cup holders.

Otherwise, this CamelBak model is similar to other water bottles: solid polycarbonate construction and a wide opening for easy filling. The bottle has a large, sturdy loop, making it easy to hook to a day pack with a carabiner.

Gearing Up: Cool new gadget: Bite and drink [sacbee.com]

By Yuelin Toh @ 2:11 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 5, 2006

Mangos and Apples for Busy People

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Springwise: Although nothing beats fresh fruit, and apples and bananas are conveniently packaged by nature, sometimes consumers favour something even easier.

E4B ("Easy for Busy") steps up to the challenge, packing the puree of multiple fruits into portable pouches. E4B's mango flavour, for example, contains 2 mangos, 1 apple, half a banana, and no artificial additives. Packaging was originally developed in Japan for Nasa, and the pouch's seven layers make for a shelf-life of a year.

The products are slurpable, but presented as snacks, not drinks. Pricing seems a bit steep at USD 5.99, and the product is currently only available in (parts) of the United States.

Fruit for consumers on the go [Springwise]

By Marcel Sim @ 4:16 PM  |  Food & Beverages  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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Fit & Fresh

Providence Business News: Stories about the trials of eating healthy at work led MEDport, a Providence product development and design firm that also markets, distributes, warehouses and manufactures consumer health care products, to try to find a solution.

“People told us they like to take salads to work,” said Larry Wesson, president of MEDport, which employs 15 people in the United States and six in China, where its products are manufactured. “We wanted to address healthy eating on the go.”

The company developed Fit & Fresh, a new line of food storage containers with freezer packs built into the lids. Since the products hit retail shelves in January, the number of stores selling them has grown to 12,000 nationwide, making Fit & Fresh the fastest-growing product line in MEDport’s history, said Brian Carey, vice president of sales and marketing.

Local firm has fresh ideas for food storage [Providence Business News]

By Yuelin Toh @ 8:30 AM  |  Homes & Living  |  Comments (0)  |  Article Link
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June 4, 2006

Robot Tutors

AP: Lying in his hospital room, on a mattress designed to protect his fragile skin, 13-year-old Achim Nurse poked his bandaged fingers at an orange button on what looked like a souped-up video game console.

Half a second later, in a social studies class discussing the Erie Canal, a 5-foot-tall steel-blue robot raised its hand.

"You have a question, Achim?" said the teacher.

Achim is using a pair of robots — one, called "Mr. Spike," at his bedside, and its mate, "Mrs. Candy," in the classroom — to keep up with his schoolwork and his friends for the months he will be bedridden at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, just north of New York City.

The robot in the classroom, which displays a live picture of Achim, provides what its inventors call "telepresence": It gives the boy an actual presence in the classroom, recognized by teachers and classmates. It can move from class to class on its four-wheel base and even stop at the lockers for a between-periods chat.

"The robot literally is embraced by students in the classroom as though that is the medically fragile student," said Andrew Summa, national director of the robot project, which is in use at six other hospitals around the country. Achim's teacher, Bob Langerfield, said his other students had become used to the robot — and were treating it as if it were Achim — after just a few days.

Robots help hospitalized students keep up [AP via Yahoo!]

By Marcel Sim @ 1:29 PM  |  Robots  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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Shredding Scissors

shreding scissors.bmpGizmodo: Save electricity by shredding your unwanted bank card applications manually with these Shredding Scissors. Combining the power of five scissors with one blue handle, these make short work of old credit cards and Christmas cards. You could even cut your kid’s hair 5 times as fast. It is available from Japan for 2,010 Yen ($17).


Shredding Scissors [Gizmodo]

By Yuelin Toh @ 8:36 AM  |  Consumer Goods  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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June 3, 2006

Dual Screen Cellphone

Digital Lifestyle Magazine: Alloy Total Product Design has come up with The Polygon, a cool new concept phone. This one seems to resemble the Nintendo DS in terms of design, and while at times a bit too similar, the whole dual screen nature of the casing seems to go very well with the cellphone. A portable phone is supposed to provide the user with a quick, convenient and efficient way to make calls on the go, and this concept works quite well on The Polygon. While obviously not going to be released in the very near future, The Polygon provides hope for constant innovation in the cellphone industry.

the-polygon.jpg

The Polygon consists of two screens, one a touchscreen and one a regular display. The regular display is supposed to be very high resolution, and quite large. This is because most of the data that you will be viewing will be shown here. If you wish to watch television, or browse the net, this is the screen that’ll display all of the video and pictures. The second screen is sensitive to the touch, and is thus a lot more durable. This is the screen used for navigation of the various features and media available on The Polygon. The traditional physical keypad won’t appear here, and will be replaced by a virtual one that’s displayed on the touchscreen. Both portrait and landscape modes should be available on the phone.

New Dual Screened Concept Cellphone! [Digital Lifestyle Magazine]

By Yuelin Toh @ 8:24 AM  |  Gadgets  |  Comments (1)  |  Article Link
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