I’ve always been a fan of video eyewear devices but let’s face it – no one will ever consider them sexy or sleek by any means. Well it looks like the folks at Vuzix Corporation are about to change all of that with the introduction of the new Wrap 310 widescreen video eyewear.  According to Vuzix, the Wrap 310 has the look and feel of normal sunglasses yet feature high resolution video displays which when worn provide the equivalency of a 56 inch display.

Other features and specs to the Wrap 310 include the following:

• Removable noise isolating earphones
• 2 AA batteries provide up to 6 hours of power
• Composite video input
• Optional VGA and component compatibility adapters (coming soon)
• Improved on-screen user interface
• Independent focus adjustments for users with corrective lenses
• Supports all iPod/iPhone models, portable DVD players, mobile phones with video output, PCs, laptops, TVs, DVD/Blu-ray players, and portable media players

You’ll be able to check out the new Wrap 310 at the 2009 ShowStoppers for the Digital Holidays in New York (Sept. 16th) as well as the 2009 Tokyo Games Show (Sept. 24th – 27th)

No word on pricing as of yet.

Technorati Tags: Vuzix Wrap 310 widescreen video eyewear

Oh the joys and pains of flying with a laptop. On one hand it’s great to have a computer handy while you’re flying about but on the other hand, we all know how incredibly annoying it can be at security checkpoints when we’re asked to remove the laptop and place it on that conveyor belt. That’s where Skooba Design comes in with their lineup of Checkthrough “checkpoint-friendly” laptop bags. Developed in coordination with the TSA, these bags are designed to pass through airport x-ray screening without requiring the user to remove the computer on the inside. Skooba last week expanded their lineup to include a new ultralight backpack as well as a rolling laptop/business case.

Features of the Checkthrough Backpack include the following:

• Bag opens and hinges in the middle to separate and isolate the laptop compartment from the rest of the bag
• There’s also a clear quick-recognition window that is exposed when the bag is unfolded
• Bag and all its content can be carried securely with or without the hinge zipped shut
• Fits laptops up to 17 inches
• Divided folder/file section
• Exterior pockets for metal detector items
• Over 20 pockets, compartments, and organizers
• Durable zippered clear pouch for allowable liquid bottles
• Measures 17 x 12.5 x 7 inches and weighs 53 oz

The CheckthroughBackpack is available now for $129.95.

Features of the Checkthrough Roller include:

• Opens up and hinges in the middle to separate and isolate the laptop compartment from the rest of the bag
• Also a clear quick-recognition window that is exposed when the bag is unfolded
• Fits up to 17 inch notebooks
• “re-folds” simply by picking up the bag by the handle or strap
• 18 pockets, compartments and organizers
• Lightweight frame
• Rolls smoothly on urethane skate wheels, mounted to sleek, protected aluminum axle brackets
• Retractable aluminum handle
• Front support foot doubles as a grab handle
• Measures 17 x 14.5 x 9 inches and weighs 8 lbs
• Available for $189.95

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Skooba Design, Checkthrough Bags

Looking for a unique lamp to decorate that special room of yours? Check out Linus Kutavicius’s Light Pillow on sale over at gnr8.biz for $189 dollars. With a cover made out of 100 percent cotton, and a frame made out of powder coated metal, the Light Pillow can be placed on the floor, hung on the wall or even used as a chandelier – just don’t try to use it as a pillow.

[Check it out via DVICE.com]

Technorati Tags: Linus Kutavicius Light Pillow

OK.. seriously now? As an avid fan of both Star Trek and Star Wars (at least the original trilogy), I absolutely LOVE these corset costumes by the folks at Evening Arwen. Come on now.. how can you not love the Galactic Trooper Corset? Who needs a Storm Trooper after seeing a women in that?

And I’m sorry but Darth Vader just doesn’t compare when you put him next to someone wearing the Galactic Lord Corset Costume.

Trek fans won’t be left out either thanks to a collection of Yellow, Blue, Red Trekkie Corsets as well as the Trekkie Shrug.

The Trekkie Corsets will set you back $200 dollars while the Galactic Trooper will run $500 dollars. The Galactic Lord Corset will cost ya $600 dollars. Well worth it for all you ladies out there.. ahem.

[Check it out via Technabob]

Technorati Tags: Star Trek, Star Wars, Corset Costume, Evening Arwen

If I didn’t already have an ottoman at home, I’d be all over this. It’s the AK Rock Box Gaming Ottoman and yes.. you guessed it – it’s that perfect ottoman designed to store all of your Rock Band equipment. What makes the AK Rock Box Gaming Ottoman even cooler is the built-in AK Drum Lift which easily raises and lowers the drums for playing and storage – all via a simple one-hand motion. The ottoman has enough room to fit two gaming guitars, a foot pedal, and a microphone. The AK Rock Box Gaming Ottoman is priced at $199.99 at Amazon.com but is currently sold out. If you’re looking for a storage bin of some sort for your Rock Band equipment, this seems like a handy one to have!

[Check it out via Chip Chick]

Read this in Chinese Simplified and in French

Technorati Tags: AK Rock Box Gaming Ottoman

OMG.. this is absolutely hilarious (and just sooo wrong in sooo many ways). Yes, It is indeed a dog-shaped pencil sharpener and yes you do indeed stick the pencil into the back of the sharpener (into what you probably would consider the butt-hole). But wait – it gets even better. Stick the pencil in and hear the dog bark!! Hilarious isn’t it? Yeah.. this might not be appropriate for your kid.. but a dog lover might love it!

And if you’re a cat lover, don’t worry. There’s a model just for you too (and yes it meows when you shove that pencil into the butt)

Both the “Sharp-End Dog Pencil Sharpener” and the “Sharp-End Cat Pencil Sharpener” is available at the Perpetual Kid for $14.99.

[Check it out via GearFuse]

Technorati Tags: Sharp end cat pencil sharpener, dog pencil sharpener, Perpetual Kid

Now here’s a novel concept. Instead of having traditional bookshelf speakers that sit on top of bookshelves.. why not build the speakers into the shelving units directly? That’s the idea behind these design concepts by Polish designers Witek Stefaniak and Anielka Zdanowicz over at designboom.com. Now of course.. if you’re blaring music, you might want to reconsider placing anything valuable or fragile on top of these shelves.. but hey, it’s still a great space saving idea!

[Check it out via DVICE.com]

Automatically translated into Chinese

Technorati Tags: soundshelf, speakers, shelves

Let’s face it. Wearable electronics has been a rather boring market over the last few years. Sure it’s cool to have a jacket with embedded controls for your iPod.. but that “coolness” factor wears out fairly quickly and you end up thinking.. gee.. I wish the jacket could do more than play/stop my music.

Well that’s where the folks at QIO Systems come into play. The company has announced a new line of modular wearable electronics called PANiQ which allows consumers to decide which consumer electronics they want to control with their interactive wearable clothing. They call it a wearable “Personal Area Network”. We call it customizable wearable apparel.

The concept’s pretty straightforward. You’ll purchase clothing enabled with PANiQ electronics (i.e. they’ll come with PANiQ smart-fabric touchpad). Then you’ll purchase controller devices designed for your electronics – customizing your apparel to control the devices you care about. Thus unlike other jackets that might have controls and interfaces made specifically for the iPod, a PANiQ enabled jacket from a third party apparel manufacturer can theortically control a variety of device simply by swapping out a module controller.

At launch time, PANiQ announced the following controllers/devices:

• PANiQ controller for iPod (supports all third generation iPods and greater)
• PANiQ controller for iPhone
• PANiQ controller for Bluetooth enabled mobile phones and iPod
• PANiQ Walkie Talkie (Spring 2009)
• PANiQ AM/FM (Spring 2009)

As for apparel vendors, PANiQ’s initial customers include Cole Haan, Zoo York, KILLA, iQuantum, Celio, Beaucre, and Bailo.

PANiQ’s online store currently sells four KILLA products:

• The KILLA Go Go Gadget jacket for $250 dollars (and pictured above)
• The KILLA Infantry M65 jacket for $250 dollars

• The KILLA PUSHA Hoodie for $240 dollars

• The KILLA SNAKE EYES Hoodie for $230 dollars.

Here is the connector for the iPod ..

Which looks pretty much the same as the connector for Bluetooth cell phones and iPod ($79.99):

Check out the rest of the store at http://www.shopatron.com/index/1534.0.

Technorati Tags: QIO Systms, PANiQ, wearable electronics, personal area network

Anyone who’s played a first person shooter can attest to this – walking around the corner in a video game only to find yourself actually tilting your head or body as if you were really in the virtual world itself. Why not accentuate the experience a bit with the LumiSource BoomPod. Designed especially for kids ages 6 to 12, the BoomPod features a rounded bottom which provides a multi-directional tilt to any gamer sitting on the pod. The BoomPod also includes built-in 3 inch 2-way speakers, fully adjustable volume control, an illuminated control knob, RCA input jacks, plush two-tone microsuede surface, a breathable mesh padded surface, audio cords, and a built-in handle. The BoomPod is powered by 4 AA batteries, comes in either red or blue and measures 19 x 14.5 inches. You can purchase the BoomPod at Target now for $35 dollars.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: LumiSource BoomPod, Gaming Chair

Looking for a new beanie? Check out LimbGear’s new “Noggin Net” – an MP3 enabled skullcap which houses both an MP3 player and the earbuds. Features of the Noggin Net include:

• Constructed of comfortable, breathable fleece
• Pocket holds MP3 players
• Internal earbud management channels to house earbud cords

The Noggin Net is also compatible with LimbGear’s Buds which offer a perfect fit inside the cap.  The cap is available in Melon Head and Pea Head sizes for adults and children. The cap with the buds cost $29.50 while the cap without the buds cost $21.99.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: LimbGear, Noggin Net