Swarovski decorated Mickey Mouse digital player

A few years ago, Swarovski crystals were considered too cool for school. Everyone wanted one and it was tacked on to anything and everything you could think of. With Swarovski’s well past the saturation level and currently experiencing a “been there, done that” reputation, it was a natural move for it to pair with another brand that has acquired the same feel — Disney characters. The 1GB Swarovski encrusted Mickey Mouse inspired MP3 player comes from the creative minds of iRiver Japan and is a part of a five-design collection.

The player will come in either blue, pink, black, white and silver and can even be worn like a pendant. There’s no denying though that anyone who gets this should also have “cheesy” tattooed on their forehead.

Samsung releases dedicated VoIP displays

VoIP has really taken the world by storm, so much so that different devices that take advantage of the technology is being developed at a steady pace.

Take for example this new device from Samsung that is really an ingenious way of taking advantage of VoIP. The new device joins together an internet VoIP phone and a regular computer monitor as a means of saving up space and yet maximizing VoIP’s potential.

The SyncMaster 220TN and the 225UW are both 22 inch displays that can run a version of Windows XP without any CPU. Each display has a500mhz CPU attached to it. It also has a 2 megapixel webcam, a microphone, speakers, and the necessary software needed in order to chat online through a plugged in network cable. The main difference between the two models is that the 22TN is operated through a proprietary VoIP software while the 225UW can use Skype and other VoIP applications.

PSP to be offered in Red

The new slim PSP could be one of the hottest gifts this coming Christmas. The new svelte look for the Sony PSP really suits it well and makes it a sleeker looking gadget. The new colors (blue, silver and pink aside from black and white) are also making it a more visually desirable product.

But now you can also add red to the color offerings for the PSP. The new color — officially called Deep Red — will become available this December 13. With new peripherals and uses being given to the PSP (cameras, GPS, TV tuners) the PSP may just have a few more years added to its lifespan.

Panasonic releases first Viera-branded phone

When Sony-Ericsson released its first mobile phone which carried the Cybershot and Walkman brands, I knew that intra-company cross branding will become more and more prevalent.

Panasonic has now taken a page from Sony’s marketing book by launching mobile phone that features technology that the company uses for its TV screens that result in high quality video displays. The P905i will be Panasonic’s first mobile phone that will also carry the Viera brand. The handset will be able to receive an exclusive digital TV broadcasting system that is widely available in some of the major cities in Japan. The system is called one-seg broadcasting. The phone can also be operated in both W-CDMA and GSM mobile networks and will also possess bluetooth and GPS features.

The Panasonic P905i will be distributed by leading Japanese mobile provider NTT DoCoMo.

Hello Kitty digital camera

Call it ingenious marketing or aggressive consumerism, but one of the most iconic images of Japan is of Hello Kitty. Show anyone that classic Kitty face and you’ll be sure people will immediately think of Japan. Sanrio, the makers of Hello Kitty, had inadvertently created a virtual ambassador for their country. And It is not only Japan lovers who have come to appreciate the charm of Hello Kitty. All over the world collecting Hello Kitty merchandise has become an obsession. It has also turned into a billion dollar industry that is helping fuel the Japanese economy.

Here’s one more merchandise that Hello Kitty collectors will surely want this Christmas — a Hello Kitty Face digital camera. This high tech gizmo can shoot 5-megapixel pictures and even has a nifty anti-blur function. The form factor of the camera is what sets this apart. It actually has the face of Hello Kitty.

No worries for collectors in other countries, Sanrio plans to release this camera in other countries as well.