It's when a spider enters the room that I stand superior to nearly all other females. Why? Because I'm not afraid of spiders. In fact, I rather like the little critters and, being a bit of a freak-child, used to actively seek out live flies to fling into their webs (how I escaped the lure of gothdom I'll never know). Sadly, all this smug superiority goes out the window when a crane fly drunkenly lurches into my field of vision, at which point I start shrieking "AiiEE!! Don't let it get in my hair!! It's heading straight for me!!!" All thanks to a traumatic night time experience in my youth.

Sadly, I can't see this bug sucker doing much good against my ancient foe, since the stupid sods never sit still for more than a few seconds before resuming their shambling, mindless window-heatbutting sessions, but if you've opted for the more traditional spider phobia, this vacuum gun should keep you safe at night.

[Incidentally, you can tell a female crane fly from a male because the lady has a pointed bottom so she can poke it into the ground to emit her eggs. Why do I know this? It's important to know your enemy.]

$11.95 from Sharper Image [via TRFJ]
[update: John Lewis is selling a bug vacuum for £12.95]

Related: Venus Fly Trap

Funny, in the mobile world we live in, designers still go for completely corded analogue phones. Though, to be fair, it seems a lot less odd than trying to make land-lines look and behave like mobile phones.

This looks like something my dad should have in his 'play room' along with the original Sony Walkman and brushed-silver cassette decks. The brushed metal angular style is nice though - and the smart stand allows you to just push on the top part of the phone, pivoting the handset nicely into your palm. Clever.

Jacob Jensen has also designed for Bang&Olufsen and Jabra, though (maybe thankfully) not for Samsung's collaboration with B&O. [Sara Wallen]

Read

Related:
Jabra JX10 Headset
Samsung's B&O Phone
B&O BeoSound3 Wireless MP3 Radio

Motorola understands a thing or two about brand extension and cashing in on an iconic design. Good job too, or we wouldn't have such a plethora of pinkness (and blueness) to keep us topped up with squeals. The Motorola L6 (that's the cut price version of the SLVR in case you're befuddled by all these name changes) now comes to us in pink. That's about all there is to say about it really - other than that it's just a very skinny fashion phone.

The Carphone Warehouse has the exclusive on it till the end of March and then it'll be everywhere.

Pink RAZR
Gold D&G RAZR
Blue

Looks like the clever little goblins at Canon have been busy over the winter! We have three new IXUS cameras coming out for spring, along with five new PowerShot models.

Along with the usual in-camera silliness such as colour filters ("Grandma, you're all green! Tee hee!"), there are actually a couple of very good new features. All cameras now include photo-sensitivities up to ISO 800. This means you can take more indoor photos without the flattening of faces and ugly shadows produced by the flash, or movement blurs as the cam stays open, trying to grab as much light as it can.

Along with the higher ISO, the IXUS 800 and the PowerShot S3 IS both include Image Stabilisers to reduce blur caused by camera shake. With the IS and ISO working together, Aunt Flo might be more than a just drunken blur in the photos of the next wedding. [Sara Wallen]

Read

More Canon Goodness:
IXUS i, IXUS i5,
Camcorders,
IXUS 700

I once rented a one-bedroom flat that had previously been occupied by a young woman, her toddler, and a full-size sunbed. It's that kind of dedication - where a person is willing to cram herself, her son and her sunbed all into a tiny one-bedroom flat - that you've just got to respect in life. For those of you less inclined to give over a whole section of your living quarters to the pursuit of speeding up the wrinkle process, this smaller-sized Facial Tanning Sun Lamp could well provide a solution. Quite whether you can use it to do your whole body, a square at a time, is open to speculation.

A browner healthier-looking you is available for $100 from Gadget Universe

More tanning
Camcorder that makes you look browner
MyTan Intelligent Sun Lotion Dispenser

Looks like I'm stuck in the salle de bain this week; but there are definitely worse places to linger if one can follow their soak in a jacuzzi tub by wrapping themselves in a cozy, heated towel.  The MHS Stax towel warmer has five shelves for your everyday towel-heating purposes; which means you can take several relaxing soaks a day and still have plenty of toasty towels at the ready.

This bit of luxury will set you back £1263.71 (including VAT).  -[Star C. Foster]

Product Page (via Trendir)

Fact is, I'm rather partial to a nice power tool, and have a healthy selection of them at home which I use to wreak devastation and chaos on my flat at regular intervals. But while I may indulge in an ear-blistering squeal of delight at the sight of a pink mobile phone printer, when it comes to tools, I'm old fashioned enough to believe that they should be either green, orange or black. But if you feel you could pull off a lavendar power tool without feeling like a total fanny, good luck to you I say. Sadly, while you might be able to brazen out the pastel power tool, the reviews suggest that once you plug it in, you're going to like a mite foolish. I'd stick with the greenstuff if I were you - although it might be OK as an electric screwdriver.

Handy Mandy Drill £30 from Mayhem Online [via Popgadget]

More girly tomtoolery
Pink Toolkit
Pink Fishing Tackle

I think the Ministry of Sound have finally realised that small is beautiful! Judging by the size of the headphones on the product page, it looks pretty wee. The usual specs apply, about 8 hours playback, 1GB capacity (also available in 512MB) and takes up to 240 MP3 or 480 WMA files. It also comes pre-loaded with Summer Funk Classics 2006.

Looks rather sleek actually - most of the other Ministry players have been a bit odd-looking but this one has the kind of minimal style I like for this sort of thing, along with the now-customary OLED display. Pretty. [Sara Wallen]

Read - then buy for a tenner less at Argos

You could be excused for thinking this was an analogue camera - what with it's sleek retro-styled body and minimalism. I've always drooled over old SLRs at boot-sales, but the post-processing freedom and money saved by using digital is just too much for me to bother going back to film.

However! Look at this beauty. It even comes with a respected Leica lens. Its viewfinder is a 2.5" beast, it has a hot-shoe so you can fit a flash on a cord and avoid terribly unflattering front-lit shots, and it may last longer on batteries due to the low power consumption of it's 7.5MP sensor. [Sara Wallen]

So new it isn't online yet! Read about other Lumix cameras.

More Cameras at Shiny

I've had a secret fascination (ok, ok, jealousy) of the tabs my sister drops into my nephew's bathwater to turn it deep, fun colours.  Where is the brightly coloured bathwater that magically doesn't stain the skin for adults? I wondered.   Apparently, it's a Kohler.

Kohler's sok bath is designed with numerous relaxation-inducing features, including: whirlpool jets, a deep tub to shoulder and knee submersion, trickling water and "chromatherapy" lights; which is to say lights that change the colour of the water while you're bathing.  It sounds divine.  However, I fear the price tag ($8912.40) might be enough to shock all the relaxation right out of me.  I may need to look into those bath tablets instead. -[Star C. Foster]

Product Page (via Chip Chick)

Related:
A New Way to Get Wet
Bluetooth Smart Hydro Bath
Groovy Jacuzzi

   
Yes, yes, I know this isn't really in any way useful, and that if I want to print off photos from my megapixel camera phone I can use a lovely little Epson Picturemate (or similar) with a Bluetooth attachment, but I just can't help feeling drawn to this dinky printer. The Hello Kitty Fujifilm Pivi is teensy - about the size of a CD case - and will print off your photos from your phone using a wireless infrared connection. Bit slow to transfer if you've got a high power camera on your phone with large photo sizes, Bluetooth would have been better, but since this isn't actually available over here don't let it eat you up inside. Apparently Fujifilm sells plain photo paper for it, or you can special Hello Kitty or Disney character paper.

Fujifilm Pivi (Hello Kitty
Fujifilm Pivi (normal) [Via Popgadget]

If you haven't yet treated yourself to an iPod case, and don't fancy your chances of knocking out something as beateous as my crocheted laptop case, these das blau Versa cases offer a smarter alternative. The case not only protects your precious player, it also works as a stand, allowing you to check out videos and photos on your 5g video-friendly iPod. Choose from eight different styles, or alternatively, check out the Wrap cases for iPod nano.They'll cost you $46.99 till the end of tomorrow, after which you'll need to hand over $59.99 - plus shipping.

Das Blau (thanks Lisa!)

Fancy getting yourself a little Nintendogs stylus specially for your Nintendo DS? Well, lucky for you, then, that some kind soul has created one. It doesn't actually replace your current stylus, you stick the normal stylus inside the Nintendogs one for a larger and more comfortable screen tapper. Presumably that means it won't actually fit into the stylus holder any more, but what price cute plastic novelty add-ons eh? Yours for £6.99. Oh, and it comes with a dog tag as well. Geddit?! Apparently, it's sold out in Japan, but Anytoys.co.uk has some in stock for us Brits.

Anytoys

That's right, I was on TV the other day, chatting to the beguiling Suzi Perry about Gadgets For Girls - something the Gadget Show, which is aimed at 16-34 year old men, has previously ignored. It all went swimmingly, but if you missed the chance to hear me talk about Period Calculators, you'll be delighted to discover that it's repeated on Saturday at 12 Noon. If you can't do that, you can still check out some screen grabs over at the Gadget Show website.

By the way, I'll thank you all not to mention the dreadful intro with me lying on the floor, surrounded by pink gadgets, looking extremely embarrassed, with a terrible double chin. Let us never speak of it again.

Personally, I always thought bathtime was a time for navel contemplation - metaphorical and literal (who knew so much debris could gather in such a tiny hole) - but if you just can't get enough of your favourite shows, maybe its time to get yourself one of these Videospa TVs.

The Videospa is a water resistant TV for bathrooms and kitchens designed for both homes and luxury hotels. The best bit is the built-in heater that prevents the screen from fogging up when you're steaming in the tub. And if you're pondering the safety of having an electrical appliance so near to your wet, electricity-loving nudiness, never fear - it runs on something called "Phantom Power" for safety's sake. It also has a water resistant remote control which saves you having to limber up your toes. If you want one, they retail for around £1,850.

Videotree

So I was idly browsing this site with the usual "ahh geeks, what will they think of next" thought in my head - when I clicked on the AtariBuckle link and honestly - in the lonely quiet of my bedroom - I Laughed Out Loud. And tittered. For quite a while actually. And that's before I even remembered the word "Joy Stick" - so then I tittered some more.

The NES Buckle, you can just about get away with. Just. A mate commented it looked like something from Star Wars (can't quite see it myself), so there's got to be some retro-chic there. But I'd leave the Atari Buckle to fancy dress. Or at least to events where you definitely won't be queueing. [Sara Wallen]

Read (via Critical Gamers)

Ooh look! A DAB radio which doesn't look like it came from a) the 1950s or b) the 2050s!

This bridges the gap nicely, it can receive DAB or FM stations, it can be powered by mains or batteries (whose lives it will strive to conserve for you), and uses "innovative G-PROTM sound technology" with its two 5W speakers to enhance sound quality and stereo-ness to make your kitchen resonate beautifully (seeing as these radios always seem to end up in the kitchen, don't they?).

It comes with all the usual alarms and presets, for (just) under £80. [Sara Wallen]

Read and/or Buy

More DAB Goodness:
Wind-up DAB
DAB & MP3
DAB Cube
Cheapy DAB

These days, mobile phones can do just about anything: broadcast television shows, play music, send text messages or, as in this case, fire four .22 calibre rounds when users dial, "5,6,7,8." 

It's not really the most practical bit of surreptitious self-protection I've seen.  Aside from being illegal, it's also a bit chunky and old-fashioned, can't send messages or download custom ringtones..and it can't actually be used to make telephone calls. Which is probably for the best, really, as the consequences for dialling a wrong number with this could be more dire than simple embarrassment. -[Star C. Foster]

Read (via OhGizmo!)

Related
Pepper Spray Mobile

The new Google idea (following on from other very successful Betas such as Google Local, Google Mail/GMail, Google Video and many more) is rather like like the other Google spin-off, Blogger. You choose the look of your site from many ready-built (and admittedly rather nice) templates, and then you get this interface (right) to edit text and add images to your heart's content.

You see exactly what you're going to get every step of the way, and the structure of the page is very nice - you don't seem to be able to add anything where it'll end up falling off the side of the page by accident.

It had already chosen a very pinky-purple template for me to start with. I think it knew I was coming. Here's a sample of what my faffing-about produced.

It's not so great if you're fairly familiar with HTML like myself and feel a little restricted by the choices given - okay, it's not designed for people who can code their own sites, but trying to build something from scratch that looks equally pretty would take all day. Definitely a good effort-production ratio! [Sara Wallen]

Try it here: Google Page Creator

"Eh?" I hear you cry. And you're right to - a phone that looks like a landline but is actually a mobile phone is crazy talk, even more crazy than yesterday's BT landline that looked like a mobile phone. If you're feeling faintly confused, it's not just the fault of my clunky sentence structures (although that plays its part). The Burnside Desktop Mobile Phone is a home phone that uses a SIM card and mobile service provider to make calls. Stick in your SIM and you'll be able to make the most of your cheap tariff, making calls and typing up text messages. Great idea for anyone who doesn't want a fixed landline - especially if you've got a good cheap mobile phone deal. It's just a shame they made the phone look so dull - surely something similar to the Zenith Flip Phone would have been more suitable (and desirable)? You can pick one up for around £175 (ouch!).

Burnside Telecom