If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Last time we saw animal-shaped ear buds was almost 3 months ago: the Buta pig buds from Japan.

Now they’re back, with more models on an US-based website. The Animal Ear Buds come in 4 models: pig, ladybug, fly and duck. They’re standard headphones compatible with a 3.5mm socket, so they’ll work on the vast majority of mp3 players and computers.

You can’t expect top-notch quality from them, but if you’re not fussed about that just enjoy the stares you’ll get. Could make a great inexpensive gift for a kid too. They’ll be the envy of the class with ladybugs in their ears.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $15 on FredFlare.com.

Via GearDiary

I think religion is one of the last things people would associate with an iPod… unless they use it to listen to sermons. But since some fanboys seem to worship Apple, perhaps an accessory like the iPod Hymn Book Cover has an audience.

Unlike most cases, it needs to be opened to operate the player, which makes it uncomfortable to use. And the “hymn book” association is probably too much even for the most devout fan… but it could come in very handy for bored teens who are forced to go to church. “No, mum, it’s just the hymn book!”

The next step: figuring out how to hide the headphones. Maybe make them look like a rosary?

How much under $29.99?
A little: ~$29.50 on Gobaz.com.

Via FoolishGadgets

What’s the deal with singing in the shower? I never got the hang of it, but since so many people love it I suppose that’s why shower radios are such a hit.

This one, the Tap Radio, comes in a cunning disguise that should make it look like it belongs in the bathroom. Only “should” though, because a second tap sticking out of a tile under your shower would still look pretty dodgy. The good thing is that it uses suction cups; no permanent damage and you can remove it whenever you want. It’s waterproof (of course), has a scan function and the tap handle acts as a volume button, making it easier to operate while scrubbing yourself.

So if you’re one of those people who spend at least an hour for each shower… I bet you get bored, so a little music is in order.

How much under $29.99?
A little: ~$24 on IWantOneofThose.com.

Via TechieDiva

Back in the day, when I didn’t live my life in front of the computer, I used to do athletics. But when the only available choices were walkmans or maybe portable CD players… running while listening to music wasn’t a possibility.

Now it’s much better, mp3 players don’t skip if they bounce around. The only remaining issue is figuring out the best way to carry them (especially since sports gear sometimes lacks pockets). There’s the armbands and clip cases, but the iStik Case for iPod offers something different: it uses magnets to attach to clothing. It’s very simple. The set has 2 pieces: the case with a magnetic back and a piece of plastic with 4 magnets. By inserting the piece with the magnets under a shirt and placing the case against it, the iPod stays stuck to the clothing. And if it sounds too good to be true… this review on Gear Diary, done by a runner, will prove it’s not.

Ah, technology, why weren’t you there when I needed you…

How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.95 on GoiStik.com.

Via GearDiary

If you’re such a big Star Wars fan you even liked Clone Wars, you’re the perfect (and only?) buyer for the ISpeaker.

This iPod speaker features Captain Rex from the animation and has a quite nice design overall, clone captain aside. But, while it’s not ugly or anything, all in all it’s just a regular battery-powered speaker, so I doubt anyone but fans would want to own it. And given the success Clone Wars had… the fan base might be a little thin.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $18.99 on StarWars.com.

Via SlipperyBrick

If you can’t get enough of the Olympics and you think the Bird’s Nest stadium is fascinating, you can have a replica right there on your desk in the form of a speaker.

The Bird’s Nest USB Speaker has all the features you’d expect from a product like it: it can be powered/recharged via USB, can be plugged into a PC or any music player with a 3.5mm jack and it’s light enough to make it very easy to carry around.

Of course, you won’t be getting more than that: the design is not spectacular and the sound probably isn’t crystal clear, but then what were you expecting for $12? The Olympics are going to be over anyway and you’ll get bored with it, so might as well spend as little as possible.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $12 on USBGeek.com.

Thanks to Joe who sent this tip via the contact form!

Although Engrish usually puts me off anything, I have to say that, bad product description aside, the Teddy Bear 1GB Mp3 Player is… kind of cute. If you’re very young, at least.

It looks like just the thing for introducing the world of digital music to a kid. A. It’s an adorable teddy (unlike most animal-looking gadgets, this actually looks like a toy). B. It’s not expensive. A child doesn’t need a wide variety of music (hell, one tape kept me entertained and my parents annoyed for months) and a teddy is much (young) user-friendly than most mp3 players. The controls are on the paws and the buttons are larger than usual, therefore easier to operate.

You’re going to need to buy it batteries before Junior can use it, but I imagine that’s a small sacrifice. Just make sure you’re ready to stand the result: kiddie music coming out from the ursine speakers all the time.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $27.49 on Uxcell.com.

Via ChipChick

People like to listen to music everywhere. I understand. But when people want to inflict their music on everyone’s ears, that’s where my understanding stops.

The basic idea of the Stroll-a-Tune is admirable: if you’re out with your baby, you want to be aware of the environment and avoid potential danger. But the solution is… a pair of speakers mounted on the stroller handle?! Why doesn’t turning your headphones lower work? If the singer is not screaming in your ears, you can hear everything around you and, get this, no one can hear your music. I’m happy for you that you have a fun day out with your child and I’m sure he likes the music, but please, save it for when you’re at home. Think about the others for a little and don’t assume they will love your tunes.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.95 on Amazon.com.

Via RedFerret

Can your bookcase play music? Wait, what?

The Sonic Impact Stick-On Speaker SoundPads can turn any surface with high density and thin walls into a speaker. They only need to be attached to a door panel, ceiling tile, bookcase or anything that fits the description and connected to an audio device.

However, there’s one important thing to keep in mind: once attached, they stay there. So the location should be taken into consideration carefully, otherwise you might end up with an unwanted type of decoration.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on Amazon.com.

As far as music goes, house, techno and their family never did anything for me. Why a repeated beat or a poor vinyl being scratched qualifies as pleasant sound… no idea. Give me guitars and keyboards anyday.

However, DJs do have throngs of fans (who are probably swearing at me if they’re reading this). When you’re done being disgusted by my lack of taste, read on about the Plastinkus Pocket-Size DJ Scratch Pad from Art Lebedev. The concept: you can’t carry a vinyl with you, but if it was the size of a credit card…

The Plastinkus can supposedly produce the same sound as a real disc, but if you watch the video on the product page you’ll see it’s more annoying. I listened to a minute and a half of scratches and already I wanted to punch the people making the noise. And it looks like nothing more than a piece of ridged plastic with an image underneath. How’s that for innovation, eh?

I really hope these never catch on. At least they’re cheap and you can buy another one after I shove it up your throat. They might sound decent with some real music in the background, but never ever use them alone.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: ~$4.27 on ArtLebedev.com.

Via Engadget