Strange and Weird (and Cool) Things from Japan
Wouldn’t this shape lend itself really well to contain a bluetooth module or something similar? Or maybe you could “disguise” the antenna of a PCMCIA WLAN card this way.
Either way, it’s a great way to show off that you’re drunkard.
(And it’s interesting that they used an iBook to show off the thing.)
(Via Akihabara News.)
One step down from the USB Microscope is the USB Earscope. It’s basically a microscope with a 10x to 50x magnification ratio, an LED light, and software so you can see the inside of your ear on your notebook. The primary purpose seems to be to clean your ears thoroughly.
The earscope is sold by - who else - Thanko and costs 9980 Yen (60.70 Euro).
The summer is already over, but it’s never too early to plan for the next year. If you work - like me - in a building without air conditioning (I have stingy employers), or the AC breaks down at some point you may appreciate this Thanko product: It’s an USB-powered necktie that cools you down with a built-in fan.
Let’s see how this might work out in real life.
….yeah, I don’t believe it either. But if you want to buy one anyway, these rubbery ties cost 2980 Yen (about 18.65 Euro).
(Via Akihabara news.)
To match the Aqua USB hub, Thanko is also selling the Liquid Mouse: An opical mouse in the same style as the Aqua hub. The line was obviously quite successful, because they have two series of these mice.
Penguin, Seal, and Duck
Duck, Penguin, and, uh, Ghost?
I could actually imagine that Linux freaks might buy the Penguin edition.
Thanko sells them for 1480 Yen each (9.20 Euro).
So you need a few extra USB ports on your desk… and the Gold Bouillon USB Hub is too flashy for you. (Really? Who would have thought…) Of course, Thanko has the perfect product for your niche as well, executed in typical Japanese Kitsch style. It’s the Aqua USB Hub.
Comes in one of three styles:
Fish:
Frogs:
Ducks:
The USB hub seems to have two ports, but in addition to being kitsch it can also serve to hold your cellular phone. It’s available for 2580 Yen (16.03 Euro) each.
Have you ever wondered, when you were working on your homework or your latest presentation, that your computer just doesn’t smell nicely enough? Well neither have I but that won’t stop the Japanese from coming up with a solution: It’s the USB Aroma Dispenser!
In addition to (presumably) smelling nice, the whole thing is also lit up by LEDs and looks like something out of a sci-fi movie:
The device is made by Thanko (who else…) and goes for only 2480 Yen (15.38 Euro).
Whether you’re bored with the old, industrial-looking USB hubs, or just want to show off some Glitz, Thanko has the right product for you: An USB 2.0 Hub in the shape of a gold ingot.
Note the strange looking pirate. I think this is Thanko’s contribution to the Pirates vs. Ninja debate: They simply rolled the two into one. The poor man is so confused he’s actually trying to eat the gold buillon:
If you want to place this piece of loot on your desk, you can buy one from Thanko for 5980 Yen (36.49 Euro).
These are actually two products from different manufacturers. They do the same thing: They are microscopes you can attach to your PC via USB.
First we have the Gaia USB Microscope, which can magnify 50x or 200x, and includes lighting. It’s actually made by a Taiwanese company, but what isn’t made in one of the two Chinas these days?
The second USB microscope is sold by Thanko, also comes with LED lighting, but boasts only 30x magnification. It’s probably more of a toy, like most of Thanko’s products:
The Gaia USB Microscope costs 60 Euro. The one sold by Thanko goes for 12800 Yen (78.31 Euro).
(Via Akihabara News and Pink Tentacle.)
If you think about it, computer mice lead a pretty desolate life. Sometimes they are being shoved around in directions they might not really appreciate. And much of their time they’re simply cold and lonely. But those desperate times are over, thanks to the nice Japanese people. They came up with clothes for mice.
Apple has the iPhone and Sony has the… Mouse Phone. I don’t want to call it a “telephone mouse”, because that would, to me, sound like a mouse you attach to your phone.
Instead, the VN-CX1A is a mouse that is really a telephone. You use it for your PC until you receive a call, at which moment you pick it up and use it to talk.
Where to begin? The basic idea of combining multiple functions into one is very Japanese, and rather commendable. But I somehow doubt that this item is practical. What do you do, for example, when you wish to actually use your computer while talking on the phone?
If you’d still like one, the VN-CX1A is available via Sony Style Japan for 7980 Yen (49.18 Euro) and you get to pick from three colors.
(Via Technabob.)