After debuting the final chapter in our 404 Superhero series (thanks Hayato!), we break into chats about the next-gen air-con, an Xbox autographed by Palin, cell phone crackdowns, and a Nintendo inflatable cushion that raises questions of hygiene...yikes!
THE FOUR-OH-FORCE!
(Credit: Hayato Shimizu)Thanks again to Hayato Shimizu for making the image you see above, which features all three of The 404 hosts as their respective superheroes in the Four-Oh-Force! You can always depend on us to save you from a bad day! Well...except for Sundays, you're on your own there.
Lots of stories to get into today, like this Nissan car with a built-in revolutionary air-conditioner that blocks "unpleasant smells" from entering your car. Having driven with Jeff and Wilson before, I can say without hyperbole that I'm more worried about the smells coming from inside the car, but I'm sure that invention is in development as well.
We also talk about San Francisco cracking down on cell phones in the car and a Sarah Palin autographed Xbox 360 fetching 1.1 MILLION DOLLARS on eBay, but the weirdest story of the day comes from Nintendo, who is developing an inflatable cushion for the Wii used to simulate riding on the back of an animal or being in the driver's seat of a vehicle. There are a million and one jokes to be made here, and we get to about 4,297 of them in the second half of the show, so be sure to check that out. Nintendo has officially lost its marbles.
A big apology goes out to everyone who couldn't leave a voice mail last night--we've since cleared it all out, so please call us back at 1-866-404-CNET and leave another message!
EPISODE 402
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(Credit:
Joystiq)
Just when you thought Nintendo Wii accessories couldn't get any more bizarre, along comes a patent filing that has left us speechless. According to the actual online patent page, the proposed inflatable air cushion will have room for a Wii remote and can be used to simulate riding on the back of an animal or being in the driver's seat of a vehicle.
Judging by the rest of the images in the set, the user would be able to plug in a Nunchuk attachment as well. The sample figure drawings also suggest the cushion itself wouldn't be flat but round, allowing the rider to lean in any direction and control onscreen action.
Since this is only news about the filing of a patent, it's tough to speculate when or even if we'll ever see this kind of device used with the Wii. That said, it certainly sparks the debate about whether these accessories are getting out of hand.
What do you think? Would you ever spin around on something like this?
(Source: Joystiq)
(Credit:
Thanko)
We thought we'd found the ideal laptop angle years ago with the "Easy Desk Aluminum," but that position can get a little old especially when used at play as well as at work. That's where the aptly named "Lazy Geek's Cushion" comes in.
Unlike many of its other products, Japan's Thanko may actually have come up with something useful with this, er, workstation, at least for those of us afflicted with terminal laziness. It supposedly claims to alleviate back and neck pain, though we have no idea if there's any actual ergonomic value to it. Then again, it can't be any worse than spending every waking hour on one's back.
(Credit:
Newlaunches)
We've complained before about the plight of our misshapen ears and the resultant problems with headsets that fit, and if we were a decent lot we'd stop whining. But we're not, and we won't.
At least, not until we find a pair of headphones that solves the problem, which is why we're intrigued by a new pair offered by Klipsch. A line of three models known simply as Custom 1, 2, and 3 feature buds with gel cushions intended to snuggle up to even the most aberrantly configured aural canals. The high-end Custom 3 also has built-in tweeters and woofers that provide a "studio reference acoustic experience."
And they indeed had better be that good, at the prices Klipsch is charging. The top model goes for nearly $300 on the U.K. market, according to Newlaunches, though Crave UK reported that they can even go to nearly $400. That, by the way, was before we knew of their possible availability in the States, as well as the gel cushions--which of course is all that matters because they're useless if they can't stay in our ears.
(Credit:
GeekAlerts)
At first glance this might seem like ridiculous proposition, and for $531 it probably is. But if you talk a lot and don't have a decent speakerphone or other way to have a comfortable hands-free conversation on your mobile phone, the "purCushion" might not seem as silly as it looks.
Except for taking photos, this Bluetooth cushion includes several basic phone functions, according to GeekAlerts, including volume control, muting, redialing, and other features, with 8 hours of talk time and 300 hours on standby per charge. And unlike most handsets, it's washable.
(Credit:
PODillow)
Sometimes the only way to endure the oppressive winter gray is to daydream of warmer climes, so even the silliest summer gadgets can look pretty good this time of year. And this one certainly fits the bill.
The "PODilllow" may look as ridiculous as its name, but it's the price one must pay for a perfect tan. It's like a portable version of the face cushion on a massage table, but with one important difference--it has a hidden compartment for your MP3 player (and other must-have possessions) so you can drift off to the tunes with nary a worry about your stuff being stolen.
In fact, Gizmodiva says, it makes the bold claim of being "the only face-down pocketed tanning and massage pillow in the world." Talk about going out on a limb.
The HA-FX66's come in four colors, including red.
(Credit: JVC)Just got the press release on JVC's new in-ear HA-FX66 headphones. For a second I thought I was looking at a Nike press release after I read the headline "JVC Introduces In-ear Air Cushion headphones" and that they "use a soft cushion of air to provide a secure, comfortable fit."
The release goes on to note that JVC's research shows that "consumers' biggest problem with in-ear headphones is their tendency to fall out." (Wow, guys, you needed to conduct a study to come to that conclusion?) "The HA-FX66 headphones tackle that problem by using a soft silicon rubber air cushion for the earpiece body. In addition, the headphones come with three different size silicon rubber and memory foam cushion earpieces for the best possible fit. The result is an in-ear headphone that stays securely in place while remaining comfortable. What's more, the design also provides superior isolation from background noise, allowing the user to get the most out of the headphone's 8.5mm neodymium driver. Noise caused by cord movement is also minimized because of the headphone's Friction Noise Reduction Cord vibration-proof structure."
The JVC HA-FX66 Air Cushion headphones are currently available at a suggested retail price of $29.99 in blue, black, red, and white. We'll let you know just how snug they fit--and how they sound--when we get a review sample.
(Credit:
LumiGram)
It occurs to us that the previous item may have left an erroneous impression. For the record, we wish to let it be known that not all LED products are actually useful. In fact, if Crave's posts are any indication, the superfluous may well outnumber the practical. (On second thought, Crave should never be used to judge reality in any form.)
In any event, this next example ranks right up there with the "Illuminated Handbag." The "LumiHeart" cushion is made of fiber-optic fabric lighted by batteries stuffed inside, according to Gizmodiva. There's apparently a toggle switch somewhere in this ill-advised accent piece, if you're so inclined to turn it on and off, and it even comes in small and medium sizes. We can't imagine why it's not offered in large and XL too.
(Credit:
Hammacher Schlemmer)
With the iPod clothing business practically all sewn up (sorry), the cottage industry seems to be turning its sights to the Pottery Barn crowd. But while products like the iCushion appear destined for the living room, the Mi speaker pillows--which come in neck or rectangular shapes--can be taken with you on a plane or car ride. Chip Chick points out that the red cushions even match Bono's iPod color scheme, though Hammacher Schlemmer notes diplomatically that they'll work with any MP3 player too.
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