Lifestyle

Ah, summertime. The season of warm weather, vacations, barbecues and over-the-top recreational water products that cost thousands of dollars. We're glad to see that Hammacher Schlemmer didn't disappoint us in this category with the latest example of aquatic excess, the "Motorized Four-Person Lounger Boat" (catchy name).

This little watercraft may seem simple enough by appearances, but don't be fooled. Its features include a five-speed electric motor with three reverse speeds, a sealed compartment for two 12-volt batteries and an "ergonomic reclining mesh seat." How else can it justify its $4,000 price tag? … Read more

If you can't afford Manny Ramirez's grill (or even his neighbor's), fear not: Stainless steel and BTU levels aren't everything. For one thing, we're willing to bet that it doesn't play music.

That's right, you too can be the owner of what T3 calls "the world's first MP3 blasting barbecue." B&Q's "Memphis Barbecue" hides a speaker behind a retro-designed front panel that sports a chrome emblem worthy of the grille on a '50s hot rod (a grille grill?). In the back is an adapter that … Read more

Sure, you can get vests that play your music, but what will you do in an emergency situation? That's when you may wish you had what Hammacher Schlemmer calls "The Only Two-Way Radio Life Vest."

The Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device comes with two (count 'em) 14-channel two-way radios--"one integrated into the chest of the life vest and another for use on a boat or on shore, allowing instant communication from water skier to boat or ship to shore from up to 1.8 miles away." They also have large buttons and LCDs "… Read more

If you're into sado-masochistic gaming (that's enough information, thank you), you might be interested in this next item. Picking up where the "Shocking Duel" leaves off, the "R/C Laser Tag Shocking Tanks" uses the general concept--giving the enemy a physical shock with each "hit"--but without having to encounter your opponent face to face.

By remote control, the tanks shoot at each other with lasers shot from built-in infra-red cannons. If one of your beams strikes the opposing tank, its controller will receive an electric shock pass along to its human … Read more

We're convinced that the electronics industry is conspiring with our personal trainer, because he knows that built-in gadgets are the only way to get us on the cardio machines. The latest invention goes far beyond the iPod fitness equipment we mentioned earlier; this diabolical device really hits home--with games.

And we're not talking DDR either. The "ProForm 20.0 Elliptical CrossTrainer" includes a backlit console with a screen mounted right in front of your flushed face, according to Newlaunches. As if that weren't enough, additional cruelty comes in the games themselves, which the manufacturer says … Read more

And you thought the iPod bed was weird. The collision of two consumer technology trends--iPod docks and media furniture--may have seen the ultimate mashup in the iPod fireplace.

Yes, you heard it right. Cal Spas, the purveyor of Marin County-style hot tub culture products, has done it again in offering a musical hearth complete with built-in speakers and iPod docking station. It's not just for looks, either. BornRich reports that this "Home Resort" piece puts out a full 65,000 BTUs.

But, believe it or not, there's some stiff competition. Why confine yourself to … Read more

Dance Dance Revolution may very well be the future of working out.

Case in point: the MX9 Workout Master by Motivatrix is a full-body workout machine in which sensors on a platform and in a ring above detect a user's movements and input them into a monitor. There are a variety of games, exercises and choices of music to choose from, and the display will keep track of the user's performance. Sound like a video game? Well, that's the point.

"Your body is a joystick...this is a way to take those Nintendo kids and give … Read more

Are you willing to pay $28 for a light bulb?

No? Well, how about this light bulb?

The mind-boggling Lamp/Lamp isn't actually a lamp. It's a cleverly designed 30-watt bulb with two sets of screw threads.

Screw one end into an outlet, and it creates the optical illusion you see in the photo to the left. Turn it on, and watch as houseguests do triple-takes.

Designer Hironao Tsuboi is the brains behind the Lamp/Lamp. If you like it, you'll probably appreciate the other home products Tsuboi designed for 100per.com.

Tsuboi's other designs include … Read more

Have you ever played a game of Super Mario Bros. and wondered what it'd be like to be one of the bricks?

Sebastian Schmieg's Roy Block project may hold the answer to that question. Schmieg, a student at Merz Akademie in Stuttgart, Germany, created Roy Block as an interface experiment.

There are no traditional game controllers. Instead, players use two small wooden blocks, which are pressed against the screen. Rather than controlling the protagonist in the game, the player controls the environment by moving the blocks.

Confused? Just watch the YouTube video below.