Champagne Parachute

First off, this won't work if your ceiling is too low. So it's advisable not to try this in your HDB flat unless you fancy potholes in your ceiling. But all in, we just love its utter silliness, which makes firing that cork into the air (after giving that bottle of bubbly a good shaking) just that much more fun. Instead of ducking, your guests will applaud you when that parachute opens and the cork comes drifting gently down to planet earth. Best of all, it's reusable. Cheers to a flight of fancy that's found its true flight path!

For a closer toast

Price: US$7.18
Availability: I Want One Of Those
Device: Airborne device
Basic specs: Reuseable champagne parachute, rocket 9 x 7 x 3.5cm, extended chute 23 x 21cm

Six-Sided Harmonica

Like The Most Incredible Knife, renowned instrument company Hohner has taken the harmonica to the the max. If the standard issue Harmonica is passe to you, get blown over by six harmonicas combined into a single instrument. The end result is the largest tonal range available, giving the Tremolo Sextet 24 double holes and a total of 48 reeds per harmonica. Fortunately if you're out of air, this player can be dismantled for individual play.

For a larger image here

Price: US$299.95
Availability: At Hammacher Schelemmer
Device: Music instrument
Basic specs: 11 x 3.5 diameter, 1lb

InstantMoto

The rest of the world still has a long, long way to catching up with Japan's vending machine culture. But we're slowly getting there. Going under the Zoom Shops franchise, Motorola is leading the way as likely the first cellular device vendor to retail its products via vending machines. Coming under the InstantMoto label, these automated outlets are due to open at 20 locations throughout the US, from airports to malls, starting November. These unmanned stores will carry over 25 Motorola products including the RAZR and Bluetooth-enabled headsets, with payment most likely to be via credit card. And no, the InstantMoto shops won't be heading our way, given the prolific number of neighborhood mobile phone stores.

Check out a larger image

Price: Depends on mobile device purchased
Availability: The US, in 20 locations, from November
Device: Vending machine
Basic specs: N.A.

NanoNuno Umbrella

Egads. Here's an umbrella that sounds like it came right out of Mary Poppin's magic carpet bag. The NanoNuno Umbrella, however, conjures its own kind of wizardry--using technology to mimic a lotus leaf. The result: A microscopic, rough nanostructure where dirt and water can't stick, but simply roll off. So simply give your brolly a good shake, and voila, good as dry. If this weathers well, no prizes for predicting that we'll be finding NanoNuno attire sitting on shelves real soon.

Click for umbrella | closeup of nanostructure

Via coolest-gadgets.com

Price: £49.95 (US$93.92)
Availability: At Pro-Idee
Device: Umbrella with nano technology
Basic specs: 88cm full-length umbrella, wooden beech handle, automatic mechanism, eight-part aluminium and fibreglass shaft and ribs, canopy of 96cm diameter, 100 percent polyester, 560g

Rechargeable USBCells

Simply one of the best and more practical USB ideas we've come across. When the whole review team starts clamoring to get one, you know it's a winner. Just too bad that the USBCells are sold only in the UK presently. These AA batts look ordinary at first glance, until you pop the top. Once uncapped, the NiMH AA cell reveals a built-in USB connector/charger that can plug into any nearby USB port, be it laptop, game console, monitor or USB hub, to power up. The only gripe. A full charge apparently takes 5 longish hours and it holds only just 1,300mAh of charge. But that's a tradeoff for the portable convenience of using these like normal batteries and then simply recharging by plugging into any USB port. And we're hoping Moixa Energy will up the charge to a more current 2,500mAh in its second-gen USBCells. Next up, USBCells in AAA and 9V formats, as well as versions for a range of major phones, BlackBerry and portable devices. Hurry it over to Asia.

Check out a larger image | recharging in an Xbox | recharging in a laptop | the package

Via CNET News.com blogs

Price: US$24.50 for a two-pack
Availability: Online
Device: Rechargeable batteries
Basic specs:1,300mAh for AA

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our new blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (955)

» Digital Cameras (556)

» Notebooks (685)

» PC & Peripherals (744)

» Handhelds (350)

» Printers (49)

» Home AV (638)

» Music & Play (523)

» Gadgets (1179)

» Future Tech (239)

Previously...

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Subscribe to
Crave

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads