Motorized Pool Lounger

Motorized Pool Lounger

Motorized Pool Lounger. OK, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the point of a pool *lounger* to…ahem…lounge? Technically this should be called a Motorized Pool Annoyer, shouldn’t it? Yeah well, it’s $149.95 (not including third party liability insurance we presume).

The Motorized Pool Lounger may be the most advanced pool lounger in the world—and it’s definitely the most fun! Two quiet but powerful motors will propel you around your pool in comfort and style, with easy-to-use joysticks that control two independent propellers. Why just float when you can drive?

• Large, comfortable armrests
• Independent power and directional control
• Built-in cup holder
• Supports up to 250 pounds!
• Two separate motor/propeller subassemblies
• Sturdy 0.35 mm PVC construction
• Requires 12 x 1.5 volt D-Cell batteries (not included)

Samsung shows off flash laptop drive at CeBIT

Samsung shows off flash laptop drive at CeBIT


That long-dreamed-of product, the solid-state laptop, is one step closer to reality, as Samsung is showing off a flash-powered laptop at CeBIT. The demo box uses a 32GB 1.8-inch solid-state drive created by Samsung, to show off the company's flash chops. Unfortunately, at $30 per gigabyte, the 32GB drive would cost over $900. However, with flash prices continuing to decline, and companies like Intel predicting that flash laptops are on their way, we may not have to wait too much longer for this to be feasible -- though, even at over $900, that flash laptop drive sounds mighty tempting.
[VIA Engadget]

These Dada Sneakers Were Made For...Music

These Dada Sneakers Were Made For...Music
Move over Oakley Thump MP3 sunglasses. There's a new wearable MP3 system to stomp the competition.
Dada Footwear is launching a wireless footwear system dubbed, "Code M." The Code M System delivers both audio and data—through your sneakers! Say goodbye to wires and carrying an MP3 player.
The Code M System is integrated into the basketball sneaker's heel and tongue. It can hold up to 100 songs, running on a 6-hour battery life. To transfer songs onto the system, just use the USB port on the side of the shoe. To listen to your music, use the included wireless headset, which picks up the music playing from your sneakers up to 30 feet away.
Here comes the real kicker: the sneakers will also feature house speakers for listening to music out loud. (I can just imagine Michael Jordan being the spokesperson.)
If the Code M Sneakers prove successful, the company plans on expanding their line to a Get-Fit program in which you can receive workout-related data from a personal trainer's voice. It doesn't end there. The shoes may also be designed as a way to forward your phone calls to it.

I think this is a really cool idea, although I hope they're sweat-proof out on the court. I don't know how well the sound quality will be, but Dada certainly knows how to think out of the box. Hopefully they'll come out with other colors.
The Code M Sneakers will sell for $199.99 beginning in April 2006.
[via TechEBlog]

French Advertising

French Advertising

Live from CeBIT: Samsung's SCH-B600 10 megapixel cameraphone

Live from CeBIT: Samsung's SCH-B600 10 megapixel cameraphone



Ever hold a ten megapixel cameraphone? Naw, neither had we, not until today anyway. Straight from the floor at CeBIT, we've got the Samsung SCH-B600 with an integrated 10 megapixel shooter. It's never gonna come anywhere close to the US or Europe so nuzzle up to your monitor real close-like and take in this beauty. Click on for more pics.


At least they can't brag about it being RAZR thin -- still, not bad.


Camera controls right up top where you'd expect 'em.

Tree-climbing robot

Tree-climbing robot
A remarkable, if slightly creepy, tree-climbing robot is being developed by robotics experts from Carnegie Mellon and several other US Universities. And here's a video of it scrabbling up several different surfaces.The aim of RiSE (Robots in Scansorial Environments) is to develop a robot capable of walking on land and also crawling up vertical surfaces. And it is funded by DARPA's Biodynotics Biologically Inspired Multifunctional Dynamic Robotics (BIODYNOTICS) Program.Obviously such a robots could have plenty of useful applications, in search-and-rescue and space exploration, for example. But presumably it could also help you reach those really hard-to-prune branches.

Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja Geometrik

Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja Geometrik

The Toilet Guitar..

The Toilet Guitar..
The Toilet Seat Guitar. Complete with toilet paper strap. Apparently it has a very good bottom end. Boom, boom. Thank yew, we’ll be here all week, folks.

Okay, I don't think this one needs much narration. This little gem was brought to our attention by our pal Andy way over there in Canada (Hi Andy! *waves*), and although it isn't a bass, I nonetheless felt compelled to share this work of art with you. It is, in my opinion, the very definition of amusing. I especially appreciate the attention to detail - the toilet-appropriate hardware, the toilet paper strap (which actually looks pretty comfy to me), the realistic turd (I almost used the phrase 'life-like'! Yikes!) pick-up mount. Andy tells me that a bass version is available - I know a certain bass player out there who can hardly contain himself (no pun intended). Right, Keith?

Burj Dubai

Burj Dubai
Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill
The Burj Dubai will be the world's tallest building when it opens in 2009. Its shape is inspired by the indigenous desert flowers that often appear as decorative patterns in Islamic architecture, but it also has an engineering purpose: The swirl shape ensures that the mass of the structure lessens as it reaches the top, making the structure steadier. A mixed-use building developed by Dubai's Emaar Properties, the Burj Dubai will house shops, offices, residences, and entertainment venues.

La Scala Bathtub with TV

Water, Water (and TVs) Everywhere, and Not a Thought to Think: La Scala Bathtub with TV
The La Scala bathtub treats you to the ultimate home theater surround and entertainment system right in the luxury of your own whirlpool bath. With plenty of room for side-by-side bathing, you can nestle in for a long soak and the finest motion picture experience ever imagined. Thoughtful touches, such as a floating remote control and ten fully adjustable jets for the ultimate in head-to-toe relaxation. An ideal complement to your master bathroom.

popular size 5' unit with an extra wide bathing well combine to make the Mito™ Air Bath the perfect choice for maximum comfort in bathing.

Red Nose Studio

Red Nose Studio Art

The Power Plate

The Power Plate.

The Power Plate is apparently the hottest thing to hit the ‘get fit, get skinny’ brigade since the invention of low fat celery. You stand or squat on the thing and it jiggles your important little bits to strengthen, tone and build up muscles. Cost yer £2,599.00 for the privilege, but it must be tax deductible somehow, shirley?
The special vibrating platform stretches the muscles, which activate Tonic Vibration Reflexes. Because the Power-Plate vibrates at 30 to 50 times per second, these involuntary muscle contractions happen at the same speed. Power-Plate activates 95 to 97% of the muscle fibers Not only will your muscles contract and relax at very high speed, but also the amount of muscle fibres in every single muscle involved exceeds the amount of muscle tissue utilised in regular training. For most people in conventional training a maximum of 40% of the muscle fibres per muscle are recruited.