Crave

(Credit: NCSX)

When it comes to bathtime, bubbles aren't just good enough anymore. You either need a floating music player, or maybe light-up disco balls for your bath salts. But even that might not suffice in today's cutthroat bathtub-gadget culture.

Enter the Aqua Rain, which does all of the following: 1) lights up via LED to illuminate your tub in soothing, color-changing hues, 2) plays waterfall noises, and 3) creates a mini-fountain of water. I'm normally a fan of things that change color, but really, I don't see any point to this whatsoever. And it's $40.

Next, please.

(Via Technabob)

A few months back, the Transport pod created by Alberto Frias gained some serious blog buzz, and with good reason--what self-respecting tech blogger wouldn't want to write about a space-age sleeping pod equipped with speakers and color-changing LEDs that pulse along with the music?

(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET Networks)

Consequently, while wandering around at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in NYC on Sunday, I spotted one of the cocoon-like Transport pods on display and more or less squealed. Frias himself was there to show it off, and the first question I asked was, "Can I go inside?" I wasn't expecting Frias to say yes, but he did, so I promptly kicked off my sneakers and dove in.

The view from inside. That's my right leg, for the record.

(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET Networks)

Well, here's what it's like. First of all, it's super comfortable. I mean, really sink-in-and-immediately-fall-asleep comfortable. The LEDs aren't too bright, and cycle through a sequence of soft colors that are indeed very soothing. Frias recommended that I stare at the ceiling because the colors would dilate my eyes and start to create a sort of 3D illusion--tough to explain, but it did actually happen. Very trippy indeed.

The only negatives: it's a little bit tough to climb in and out, and additionally, there does appear to be strong potential for whacking one's head on the ceiling. Nevertheless, I'm totally enamored by it. Prices start at around $10,000. Who wants to buy me one?

P.S.: I'll be posting a few more ICFF recaps over the course of the day. Want more? NOTCOT blogger Jean Aw has been snapping lots of photos too.

(Credit: AudioCubes.com)

You do? Good. Then these are perfect for you. The Toyo I-Lit TwinSpin speaker system, a Japanese import, is a set of desktop speakers that do look peculiarly similar to eyeballs. But that's not all. They've got LEDs in them that pulsate to the beat of your music, and said LEDs change color along with the volume. They're $69.

Never mind that it's a little bit creepy to have a set of giant eyeballs on your desk playing music. It's a bit Big Brother-ish, even. But I suppose we can all deal with that.

I know you want them.

(Via Technabob)

(Credit: Frontgate)

There are certain gadgets that make me wish I had a swimming pool. Namely, pirate ships, remote-controlled water cannons, and Robo-Shark. Then there's this one, the floating jellyfish pool light.

They're pretty much completely awesome; the top lights up and changes color, and the tentacles are made of glowing fiber optics. They'd be the perfect decoration for all your pool parties! Unfortunately, they aren't remote-controlled, nor do they squirt water at people. That's why I classify them as "pretty much completely awesome" rather than "completely awesome."

The price, at $59 a pop, is also not particularly ideal. Oh, well.

But on an unrelated note, when I think of "jellyfish" and "parties," I typically think of that String Cheese Incident song that describes the aftermath of a tequila-infused night with the lyrics "now all I really want from life is to crawl back into bed/on account that my brain is just a jellyfish in the ocean of my head." Kind of profound imagery there.

(Via Uber-Review)

(Credit: Signorini Design)

At Crave, we're all about living the high life, or at least pretending we can--it sure beats Hello Kitty sometimes. You know, flying cars, Ferrari phones, and speaker-equipped cocoon beds. Basically, if it's gorgeously yet somewhat-obnoxiously designed, we're all over it (vicariously).

Consequently, we are totally drooling over this shower from Signorini Design (yup, it's Italian). Not only does it pour water forth from a sleek metallic block rather than a typical shower head, but a set of colored lights can illuminate the water in your shade of choice. Which means--yes!--it's color-changey. That basically seals the deal for us...er, maybe just me.

(Via Geeksugar)

(Credit: Lounge Light USA)

The Lounge Light Projector might resemble a can of WD-40 more than anything else, but it's actually a lamp affixed to a battery that can keep whatever-you-want lit up for 150 hours. (That's the battery life. The bulb itself lasts a whopping 100,000 hours.)

Plus, to use one of my favorite expressions, it's color-changey! But if that annoys you too much, you can push a "color hold" button on the Lounge Light Projector to "freeze" the gadget on a color that you like.

It'd be cool if you could get a plug-in version of these, but for now, it looks like they're battery-only. But that's OK. The light itself only costs $15.95, and a pack of six refill batteries will also cost $15.95. Not bad at all.

(Via Technabob)

Recently we've been digging astronomy gadgets around these parts (and astro-mashups on Webware). Most of the time, they deal with plain old stargazing or the simulation thereof. This Japanese import, however, deals with recreating the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) on your wall, ceiling, or projector screen of choice.

The gadget in question is a 6-inch-tall lamp, retailing for the Japanese equivalent of slightly over $60, which runs on AA batteries and even comes with a sleep timer so that you can use it as a sort of visual lullaby. It obviously isn't an exact scientific reproduction, but for those of us who don't get to see the Northern Lights on a regular basis, it probably has a cool novelty effect. And as always, don't underestimate its potential as a party gadget.

(Via Technabob)

(Credit: Morpheus)

If you have a mean landlord who doesn't let you paint anything in your house or apartment, this could be a solution to your lack-of-color woes. The Morpheus Ambient Lighting Modules use really, really, really, really high-end LEDs to mix a combination of red, green, and blue light. Then it projects it on white walls--sorry, I'm not sure how it would be distorted by that lovely eggshell or alabaster color you've got in your living room.

It'll cost you the Brit equivalent of $167.

Basically, it's the ultimate haute end of color-changey gadgets. Because here's the best part: not only can you select from literally millions of potential color combinations (way more choices than the selection of Benjamin Moore paint swatches at your local Ace Hardware), you can program the uber-sleek Morpheus to cycle through colors as well.

(Credit: Morpheus)

Actually, that's not the best part. The best part is that these LEDs will last you 40 years before you have to change a bulb.

(Via Technabob)

(Credit: Hammacher Schlemmer)

Imagine if you had one of these in your yard. It's a floating fountain that you can place in your decorative pond of choice (provided it has at least a foot of water in it) and it'll create an array of water that's 10 feet in diameter. Plus, it's illuminated by 42 LEDs that make it an awfully pretty sight. There's even a sensor that will make sure that the lights are only on when it's dark out. Sure, it costs $850, but that's a small price to pay for such coolness. (Right?)

We recommend that you pair this with your light-up inflatable bar, that dancing light MP3 thing, and don't forget the table decorations. Then you can have your very own overpriced backyard rave!

The product description does not, however, say if the Illuminated Floating Fountain is safe for use in ponds that may have fish in them. I'm sure you wouldn't want this thing sucking up all your expensive koi.

(Via Uber-Review)