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We initially blew right past the "Origami TV Remote Control" headline at Trendhunter because we'd rather waste our UMPC's pathetic battery life on something more vital than controlling our TV. But a closer look revealed that this remote control had nothing to do with the Origami Project and everything to do with actual origami--as in, folded paper.

On display at the Design Interactions Work in Progress Show in London, the paper remote control looks like the "fortune teller" you no doubt encountered in middle school. But rather than inaccurately predicting the name of your … Read more

Did you know the average person spends 11,862 hours out of his or her lifetime in the bathroom? That's equal to 1 year, 4 months and 5 days in what's usually a boring room, absent comforts like TiVo, video games and a stocked fridge.

Roto-Rooter is coming to the rescue! (Thanks to BoingBoing for pointing it out.) North America's largest provider of plumbing and drain-cleaning services is offering an online sweepstakes for its "Pimped Out John," a bathroom throne for the gadget junkie.

The fully loaded Kohler commode comes with a Philips 20-inch LCD … Read more

Yup, just in time for summer. It's all of 12 degrees Fahrenheit here in Manhattan, which is a big improvement over the 8-degree temperatures this morning, but still not warm enough to be thinking about outdoor barbecues. Nevertheless, this contraption on ProductDose is worth a nod, in my opinion: it's a balcony barbecue that allows you to fix a mini charcoal grill onto the edge of a balcony and use it to prepare burgers, fish, steaks, shish kebabs, or what-have-you. It looks as though it was somewhat inspired by flower boxes: there's a lower space to hold … Read more

Denon is getting into the headphone business. The company, best known for it home theater products, has announced five headphone models ranging in price from $50 to $700. With the exception of the DN-HP1000, a $160 model in Denon's professional DJ audio line, the new products are the company's first foray into the consumer headphone market.

At the top end of the new lineup are two high-end, over-the-ear (circumaural) models, the AH-D2000 ($350) and the flagship AH-D5000 ($700), the latter model boasting a real wood mahogany housing that is said to deliver superior acoustics. While those full-size models … Read more

Yeah, I thought so. This little appliance from DiVapor, featured on BornRich (naturally), will provide your bathing facilities with both an 8-jet steam shower and a personal sauna unit. Called the Utopia Steam Sauna, it'll only set you back $6,800.

The only beef I have with the design: it looks like you have to step out of the contraption entirely to go from the shower to the sauna or vice versa. But then again, I'm sure nobody who owns this thing will have much of a problem with freezing cold bathrooms to begin with. (Wirelessly controlled thermostats, … Read more

Once we're done with the basic construction of our bunker, this could make an excellent finishing touch. GE's "SmartHome IntelliCorder" is touted as an "intelligent surveillance system," but we like Popgadget's description better--"a video peephole for your front door."

The IntelliCorder automatically records images of whoever comes calling, friend or foe, but its motion sensor ensures that the video runs only as long as the person is there so you don't end up with endless footage of your doormat and potted plants. And if any monkey business ensues, the … Read more

Maybe it's our midlife crisis taking over again, but we have a serious crush on Amadana, the Japanese company that created the bamboo-clad DVD player and other gorgeous products that reflect its zen-like design philosophy. If Amadana had a retail outlet, we imagine it would look like a cross between an Apple store and a Buddhist monastery. (We just wish the company would change its logo, which looks way to much like Amana's.)

Amadana's all-in-one audio system is a perfect example of the company's devotion to clean lines. Krunker.com says its 7-inch-sided cube has touch-sensitive … Read more

There's another blogger here on Crave who is trying to convince all our readers that I am unhealthily obsessed with penguins. Not true. Yes, I think they're cute. Yes, I think the occasional penguin gadget is kind of cool. But come on, Mike. First, it's not an obsession. And second, the market has become so saturated with the penguin motif that I'm ready to say: I'm over it.

I mean, check out this penguin humidifier that's available in Japan. Way overkill, even though it would probably be easy to mod into a nice device … Read more

Most of the so-called multimedia furniture pieces we've seen are unsightly contraptions that seem to treat their media components as an afterthought. Not so with the "Sonic Chair Boom Box."

This piece of digital furniture also has brains to match the beauty of its Austin Powers-era design. Uber-Review says its insulation reserves the soundwaves for the person sitting in it, without disturbing others nearby: "The speakers are encased in a carefully crafted body that creates sufficient volume for powerful bass tones, while two body-focused sound generators, in the seat and the backrest, further augment the lower … Read more