Crave

When it comes to in-flight movies, it's hard to beat the convenience of an iPhone or iPod Touch.

But comfort? That's another story. Either you're holding the device upright for 2 hours or propping it awkwardly on the tray table (where the slightest turbulence can knock it over).

I speak from experience when I say that both methods can leave you with strained eyes and a sore neck.

Enter SeatBuddy, which straps your iPhone or Touch to the seat in front of you for comfortable, hands-free, close-to-eye-level viewing.

As you can see in the video, the SeatBuddy is basically a rubberized case with straps that allow it to hang over the top of the seat-back tray table (which must stay closed, natch).

What you don't see in the video is that you can affix Velcro tabs (included) to each strap, thus allowing you to secure the SeatBuddy to a treadmill or the back of a car seat (by wrapping the straps around one of the headrest's poles).

I think this little gizmo is reasonably priced at $19.95 (plus $3.95 for shipping), though obviously there are other solutions that cost less.

For example, if all you need is a stand that'll keep your iPhone propped up on a tray table, it's hard to beat the $5 GoGo Stand (which, incidentally, fits in your wallet).

And don't forget my all-time favorite: The do-it-yourself iPhone business-card stand.

Of course, those solutions don't have quite the same go-anywhere appeal as the SeatBuddy, which also leaves you more room to move around in your seat and reduces the eyestrain that comes from looking downward for hours at a time.

What do you think? Is this the answer to a frequent-flier's prayer, or is $20 too much to pay when you can accomplish more or less the same thing with an airsickness bag?

Purple ball, corner pocket.

(Credit: BornRich)

Two sources of entertainment are always better than one, which is why we love this futuristic pool table slash MP3 player by the folks at Newwave Design.

The white surfaces and orange cloth combined with the brushed silver legs add to the modern aesthetic, which to me looks more like an orange Creamsicle, but that might just be because it's almost summertime. The universal media player underneath routes directly to two speakers on either side of the table and features controls for volume and light effects. That's right, several hidden LEDs help illuminate your game in dimly lit rooms!

There's a "sound effects" knob as well, but the Web site has no word on what it does. Wouldn't it be cool/slightly irritating if an audience applause goes off every time you sink a ball? The Lunar pool table includes a full set of balls and two 48-inch cues for a very affordable $745. More images after the break.

(Credit: Nottage Design)

At CNET Asia, we've seen more than our fair share of pool tables since our last workplace had a pub downstairs with one. In fact, it became such a favorite after-hour haunt for some of our co-workers during Happy Hour that we got our own pool table. Now that we've seen the G-1 pool table from Nottage Design in Australia, there's only one word for it: shazam!

Contrary to the idea that a glass pool table is a bad, bad idea, this looks striking enough to eat off while offering a patented Vitrik playing surface that claims to emulate the feel of felt. Now that we've got to check out.

On top of that, the entire table is constructed with toughened safety glass, so there's no fear this will crack if Mariah Carey hits one of her infamous high notes on the home stereo. It better not, since you'll be sinking a cool $29,750 into the pocket just for the fancy glassworks. Ouch! Video and more pics after the jump.

(Credit: YouTube)

Here's one for all you weekend project addicts out there. You've probably already torn through dangerous books of all kinds and now you're thinking, "What's next?"

One option is to cut a huge hole into your floor and hide a pool table in it. Seriously. As you can see from the video, you won't be the first, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it just as much as the engineering genius (that's not sarcasm) who decided to build a hydraulic lift for his pool table and have it dramatically rise out of the floor while no one around you wonders what you're compensating for. OK, maybe that last part was sarcasm.

I can't imagine this being installed in anything but a very large home. So the thought that someone would install this to save space is probably off the mark. It's probably the compensating thing. Also, you probably won't want to have small children or pets around this thing, especially when it's recessing back into the floor.

Thanks to BallerHouse for sending this one in.

Introducing (well I'm not "introducing" anything really since this thing has been available for at least a few weeks now) the Pro Gaming Table from Digital Edge. Priced at $380, and designed with CH controllers in mind, the table offers what looks to be eight different platforms.

(Credit: Digital Edge)

Three of the eight platforms are built to each support a 21-inch LCD monitor or a similarly sized and weighted peripheral. In addition, the other platforms can handle everything from keyboards to joysticks, flight sticks, trackballs, and more.

The set comes only with the tables. None of the controllers pictured here or the chair is included.

I've been primarily a PC gamer for the past few years, playing only World of Warcraft and the occasional first-person shooter. While this table seems like overkill to me, this may have something to do with the fact that I've never played Crysis on a three-monitor-span setup. I guess I need to put that on my bucket list.

(Credit: TouchTable)

If Microsoft's "Surface" becomes a casino fixture next to the slot machines, the touch-screen table computer will find plenty of company. Not only are digital poker tables being developed--complete with "peel up" card corners so players can read their hands discreetly--but even touch-sensitive roulette games are on the way.

The "MultiPlay Roulette" system is the latest from Sweden's TouchTable, featuring a 56-inch touch LCD with 3,840 × 2,160 resolution. The table can accommodate up to seven players and, thanks to the company's proprietary technology, it can identify each person's bet.

Like other digital casino products, the idea is to speed the pace of play and reduce the chances of discrepancies or cheating. Because, as some of us have learned painfully over the years, fast play always favors the house.

(Credit: Vanity PC)

Despite their functionality, not all built-in computer desks need to have a minimalist or futuristic design. In fact, if Vanity PC has its way, computing will blend almost seamlessly into furniture of the most traditional origins.

At first glance its offerings look like a throwback to the faux armoires used to conceal ridiculously bulky tube TVs in the living room, but Vanity PC goes beyond that. Not only does it integrate the computer into all manner of furniture--including a coffee table, as pictured here--but it also builds the technology directly into the pieces, such as an LCD underneath a folding desktop and stereo speakers built into cabinets, according to BornRich.

It's obviously not as versatile as a desk that accommodates a standard laptop, but that probably doesn't matter. Judging by the designs on its site, this isn't furniture one would expect to be used by the average road warrior.