Technology as fashion isn't new.  Years ago, I walked around with cannibalised computer chips dangling from bits of metal and called it "jewelry."  The rubberised, Imation Flash Wristband goes a step further by being not only wearable, but actually functional.  Snap it off your wrist and plug it in to your USB drive for data access. The 256MB fashion/data accessory is available in either blue or black; a limited selection if you're less concerned with having your digital files handy and more concerned with outfit coordination. However, it's a good, wearable data option to hold us all over until we can have USB flash memory embedded directly into our pointer fingers. -[Star C. Foster]

Product Page (via Uncrate)

Just launched on the US's Verizon service provider, this tastefully pink V3c (which I gather is like the V3i but with EV-DO, another wireless broadband standard the US has that we don't) is an aesthetic and technical step up from the fearsome 'magenta' (I prefer !!PINK!!) RAZR V3.

Going by reviews, the V3c/V3i is sturdier than the V3 - both in construction and software - has improved mp3 playback, call quality, camera and LCD screens. Shouldn't be long before this one hits the UK's shores, probably nabbed by T-Mobile first if past experience is correct. [Sara Wallen]

Product Page [via Engadget]

More RAZRs:
!!PINK!!
Blue
3G
iTunes

Gone are the good old days when text messages were in the written form. You see, while you may write them on your mobile as texts, send them to your text-enabled BT landline and a computerised voice will read them out for you. Some of you may like to point out that you may as well just call the person rather than send them an eerie robot voice message, but that would be churlish of you. And anyway, while the original voice may have sounded like you were being stalked by the great Stephen Hawking, for a short time you can have Doctor Who make your calls for you.

That's right, it's the now ubiquitous Tom Baker, the man currently responsible for shouting over the top of Little Britain, who will be voicing the "texts" for the next 3 months. Head over to Tech Digest to find out how it all works.

Find out more
More TV News and Reviews on TV Scoop

Since the advent of the computer my handwriting has progessively degenerated and today I'm left with nothing but a meaningless scrawl and a cramping hand. But for those of you who still have a script to be proud of, you can turn your writing into a font of your very own, allowing you to type out those Christmas thank you letters (still haven't sent those out) with no one being any the wiser. Find out how to do it over at Propellerhead.

Read

I'm rather proud of my "In the Pink" USB Key. It's teeny, it's shiny, it looks like a teeny shiny lipstick (although, one complaint, it gets seriously toasty if you leave it plugged in for any length of time). Now, just for you, Digital Era has gone and done a special Simply Scarlett version in time for Valentine's day. It'll cost you £13 for a 128MB model.

Read (thanks to Hannah - as ever!)

More gadgets cunningly disguised as make-up:
Powder Puff MP3 Player
"In the Pink" USB Key
Compact Mobile
Siemens "Fashion" Phones
Naughty Lippy

I'm going to tell you something now that may well shock you: I'm pretty partial to pink things. Yes, it's a surprise I know, but I felt I had to get it out in the open. Actually, while we're on this whole "opening up" vibe, I might as well tell you that in fact I'm a sucker for colours in general. Which is why I'm feeling both elation and disappointment at the same time right now. Gear4's leather iPod case (£20) comes in pink (yay!) and black (boo!). But, sadly, there are currently no other colours to choose from. Grateful as I am for the pink (yay!), it's not really a catch-all solution to female needs is it? More colours please, Gear4.

Gear4

Phew, it all got a bit hairy there for a while, but that's what happens when your master of the dark arts and all round tech head goes off to Japan. Hopefully everything is now back in order, so let the gadget news commence.

Oh lookie here. Terribly familiar, isn't it? It's a bit more muted than the Pama blinged up effort (if bubblegum pink could ever be considered a muted colour), it's a more familiar brand (Cable & Wireless), and it doesn't look *quite* so... Paris Hilton.

So what does this one have over the last one? It's less bling-bling, innit man. You can talk for longer (up to 9 hrs vs 5). It's on standby for longer (up to 300 hrs vs 200). It's lighter on your ear (by about 2 grams). It's over a tenner cheaper! [Sara Wallen]

Read and/or buy at Argos

More:
FrostFrench Pinktooth headset
Bling Bling
Hello Kitty
Jabra JX10

Depending on the situation, that statement could mean a number of things. But for those of us who use lipgloss, the "lip status" is a constant worry. I have to admit, I don't belong to that lipgloss camp, even when I'm in short-hair-phase. Getting half my barnet stuck to my mouth wore right through my patience very quickly, even at age 14.

So what does it do? On a date with someone new, you don't want to admit that your beauteous glossy pout isn't exactly its natural state, never mind asking whether it's all rubbed off onto your wine glass or fork! So when he next goes to the bar, whip out the Liparazzi. It has a mirror! It lights up! It is... a lipgloss with a mirror and a light! Handy not only for checking your lips, teeth, concealer or hair status, but also for illuminating the inside of your handbag or waving in the air at concerts. [Sara Wallen]

Read -available in VIP Red, Crystal Clear, First Night Pink, Suite Toffee and Poolside Peach

More lip-related goodness:
Earphone Lipgloss
Naughty Lipstick
Lippy-Disguised USB

What's got a cable, plugs into your USB port, looks like a mouse, but isn't a mouse at all?  The Plush Mouse Flash Drive, available from Cyberguys.  It might be a cute way to carry 128mb of data around on your backpack or keychain, but if someone asks you to pick up a hot swappable USB mouse at the store, this probably isn't the kind they mean. -[Star C. Foster]

Product Page (via Gizmo for Geeks)

More cuddleable accessories:
Furry Flash Drives
Furry Mice
Tamogotchis go fuzzy

There's a good chance that you've already noticed the *slight* problems we're having on Shiny Shiny right now. We're working hard to get it all back to its usual Shiny self, but in the meantime, please chat amongst yourselves.

Samsung is releasing the SyncMaster Magic CX718T, a 17-inch LCD Monitor whose base can be folded to double as a carry handle.  Described by Aving.net as a "Tote-bag type monitor", photos on their site demonstrate it being carried like some kind of high-tech handbag...the only problem being that it doesn't provide a place to store so much as a lip gloss. 

I know LCDs are much lighter than CRTs, and for a monitor it is quite fetching with its glossy white finish and pale gray accents (it would look GREAT with my iBook), but WHY the marketing emphasis on female users in these photos?  LAN party attendees are the only market I can see for a feature like this, and women are no doubt a very tiny minority.  Maybe Samsung is hoping game geeks will buy one under the false assumption that an attractive female is included with every monitor? [ChicGeek]

Read.

Just sat down to watch the first episode of Channel4's new sitcom offering, The IT Crowd which is now airing online, a week before its TV debut. From what I have seen, it's very "Upstairs, Downstairs" with the upper floors being full of busy, sexy, important businessmen and women busily having affairs with each other, and the basement houses the three-person IT team.

As always with a new sitcom, the first episode seems a bit strained as they are limited to setting the scene and introducing the character types to the audience. So far, we have one keyboard warrior, one hyper-nerd, and a manager who knows nothing about computing, but knows a good pair of Manolo shoes when she sees one. Sounds a bit contrived so far but I'm willing to watch a few more to see how the characters evolve, I'm secretly hoping for lots of deliciously geeky in-jokes! [Sara Wallen]

Read More TV News and Reviews on Shiny Media's TV Scoop.

Well, bang goes my hope of getting a cheap robo-doggy one day. Sony announced yesterday that they are closing off their entire robotics unit, and hence the production of Aibos (and those slightly-freaky humanoid Qrios). Typical, now they'll all be hideously expensive forever as they will become more and more hard to come by.

Apparently, they will sell until the end of this quarter (March 31st), and continue after-sales support a while longer for the dodgy ones that begin to foam at the mouth.

Have to admit a metal dog is a poor substitute for a real dog, but then what can a jet-setting (heh!), busy-networking, rent-dwelling upstart girl do? Oh stuff it, I just want one. Oh well, I suppose I'll just wait for one of the new Taiwan-/Chin-/Japan-ese design houses to come up with one twice as clever at half the price... [Sara Wallen]

Read more: BBC / Register

Shiny's Robot Minions:
Creepy Cat
Talking Robot
Hello Robo Kitty

These Giant Microbes have been around for a while but I just caught a look at them today at ThinkGeek, and was pleasantly surprised by several new additions to the, er, petri dish?

You never really thought flu, or acne ('pimple') could be cute (click that link, it's truly awwwwwwwwwe-some), could you? A couple of years ago a friend of mine ordered a couple of the ebola toys - and they really were nicely made, and fairly... poo-like.

I'd love to see a few super-sized versions. I'd like a 12" pox/syphilis on my bed to scare the bejesus out of the boyfriend! "What's that, it's really cute, is it a snake? No? Oh, er, right... I'll take the sofa..."

If you don't fancy the postage from the states, Firebox.com have them for sale in the UK. [Sara Wallen]

Read

Behold the Slanket: a fleece blanket fitted with loose sleeves so that you can stay bundled up and still channel-surf, text your friends, use your laptop or what have you without your shoulders getting cold.

It does seem cozy option for the gadget-loving couch potato, although I envision mighty battles for the Slanket sleeves taking place in the much way they often take place for control of the TV remote.  Once they're restocked, you can pick one up for $64.95.  For myself, when I need something warm with sleeves to wear about the house, I'll stick with a sweater. - [Star C. Foster]

Slanket (via)

Remember the Hello Kitty Robo? Well, whereas I may have been a bit hasty in suggesting a robot army of Her Royal Cuteness would soon be invading our streets, Kitty Robos are soon to be infiltrating the workplace.  According to Retuers,  PeopleStaff, a Japanese employment agency, will be sending the Hello Kitty Robo out on receptionist assignments.  (They will also be sending out the equally adorable Ifbot, geared towards senior care, to nursing homes and health care facilities).

All this time I've been worried my job would be taken over by a trained monkey.  Now I've got to watch my back for Hello Kitty, too. (Sure, it's just a reception job now - but she's got "Corporate Climber" written all over her.) - [Star C. Foster]

Read (via Engadget)

Show the world who's naughty or nice with these playful phones from Taiwanese company, Okwap. Since I don't speak the language, I couldn't even begin to tell you what the specs are, but with phones as cute as these, quite frankly, who cares? [ChicGeek]

(via Akihabara News and Phone Daily)

The Otoizm is a digital pet whose growth and well-being depends on the music you expose it to when you hook it up to your music player.  Due out later this year, your Otoizm not only responds to your musical choices, but will compose music for you and engage other Otoizm it encounters in "dance sessions."

Is it wrong of me that I envision feeding an Otoizm entirely on a diet of West Side Story, so that when it does come across another Otoizm it might feel compelled to fight them...with dance? (Really - there's no need to answer that question.  I already know.)  - [Star C. Foster]

(via Gizmodo)

More Virtual Pets:
i-Box Crazy Animal Fridge
Tamagotchis go fuzzy

Chicago (the band, not the city) once asked , "Does anybody really know what time it is?  Does anybody really care?"  The designers of the Talus About Time digital watch seem to think the answer to both these musical questions is "No." 

The watch (currently in the concept stage only) would allow the wearer to display either the specific time or the approximate time; so at 6:42 your watch might read "6:42" (if you're the particular type) or  it could simply say "Quarter to 7" if you move at a pace that's more footloose and fancy free. 

It does seem a practical way of dealing with the question of time. After all, there are few moments in life when there's any discernible difference in my day between  9:03AM or 9:05 AM or  simply "slighty after 9"  - either way you put it means I'm late for work. Of course, this watch would make synchronising your watches (you know - for any military manoeuvres or madcap schemes you might have up your sleeve) a bit tricky. -[Star C. Foster]

Talus Watch (via)