The Sound Asleep Pillow - ultimate bedtime indulgence
The ultimate in bedtime indulgence, the Sound Asleep Pillow will soothe you to sleep or wake you up in the way you want via an inbuilt speaker cunningly concealed inside the soft, hollow fibre filling.
Whether you want to drift off to the gentle wash of waves on shingle, listening to winsome lullabies or the dulcet tones of Stephen Fry reading your favourite audio-book or even the sounds of Metallica thrashing their guitars, the variations are endless. Connecting to any music source, the Sound Asleep Pillow is compatible with MP3 players, iPods and radios.
There’s no chance of feeling a bulky protuberance sticking into your neck during the night either as the speaker is completely undetectable. In fact it’s a far better alternative to using headphones with the attendant problem of wires that become accidentally wrapped around your throat or of ear plugs embedded in your ears.
Nor is there any danger of your partner being disturbed by your favourite sounds as the noise is inaudible to anyone beyond the realms of the pillow. You won’t be woken once your music is finished as the sound pillow automatically stops playing.
Ideal for insomniacs who can listen to relaxing tracks or for sufferers of tinnitus who can use the pillow to create a distraction the Sound Asleep Pillow is also excellent for parents who want to persuade their children to stay in bed that bit longer or even for those who want to learn another language as they sleep – it’s also great for brainwashing secret agents.
Available in the original version made from cotton and polyester or as an ergonomically designed Sound Asleep Memory Foam Pillow that moulds to your head and neck, the connector cable is approximately 124cm long and the pillows are suitable for ages above 5 years. Prices are from £12.99 for the original version or £24.99 for the foam pillow.
Philips Moisturising HS8060 Shaver
The days of the Brad Pitt stubble are officially dead; for all you guys who want a face as smooth as a baby’s bottom, a new shaver from Philips has revolutionised the concept of grooming and skin care.
The unique Philips Moisturising HS8060 Shaver dispenses a conditioner directly onto the skin as you shave, supplemented with vitamins and chamomile to create a healthy and vibrant look. The Nivea for Men moisturiser has been specially formulated to create a comfortable and irritation free emulsion. It can be pumped into the shaver saving you time whenever you shave and lasts for up to three months. You simply press the shaving conditioner button until the optimum amount has been released.
The shaver is equipped with a unique flex tracker mechanism that tilts three head sections over the contours of the face, thus performing a smooth operation that cuts exceptionally close to the skin. Simultaneously, Glide Rings help to minimize friction as a dual blade system whereby the first blade lifts and the second cuts, giving a close and soothing shave.
The shaver is fully waterproof and can be used in the shower and rinsed under the tap to keep it clean and hygienic, but a small cleaning brush can be used to remove any remaining hair or dust. For a 40 minutes shaving time the shaver has to be charged for just 90 minutes. Complete with a charging stand, protection cap and shaving conditioner refill, the Moisturising HS8060 is also equipped with a travel lock.
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Opus Football Table
The football table of the future, this stylish table is a piece of furniture in its own right and would enhance any interior meaning you can play table footie to your heart’s content without offending anyone’s sense of style.
Made from light oak, ash, walnut and mahogany with etched glass and stainless steel, the Opus gives a new meaning to the beautiful game. Every table is custom built to order and uses a Doppelganger technology which means that the 3-D heads of each player can be hand-painted from photographs enabling you to have friends and family or Ronaldo and Rooney on your team if you want.
The Eleven Forty Company brought out a special edition version of this table called the Opus Good Versus Evil Football Table featuring players like Santa Claus, God and Flash Gordon on the good side and Lucifer, Macbeth and Hitler playing for evil.
However, since there were only 20 of these tables ever made, you might have to settle for your own totally original version. It might cost but it’ll certainly be a talking point.
Philips Actiwatch
Used formerly by sleep clinicians to monitor patients’ sleep patterns, the Actiwatch is used as an aid to improving sleep.
Looking remarkably like an ordinary watch, the Actiwatch uses data loggers that provide a sleep schedules, variability, quantity and measurement of daytime activity. The data is then transmitted to the PC via USB where it can be analysed and used to identify options available for treatment.
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Le Creuset Screwpull Corkscrew
For a corkscrew that provides effortless cork removal you need look no further than Screwpull by Le Creuset.
Screwpull is well known for its simple, stylish and high performance and has been bringing innovative products to the market place since the 1970s. This attractive lever action corkscrew specifically designed to remove synthetic corks is made of a high quality metal alloy with a satin chrome or black nickel finish.
A more comfortable arm action that involves four steps instead of six means that the Screwpul l has become the corkscrew of choice recommended by wine connoisseurs and waiters everywhere or just anyone who’s throwing a party with a few cases of wine that need to be opened.
You simply place the Screwpull on the bottle and life the lever up and over the bottle whilst holding it securely in the other hand, before returning the lever to its the original position.
Complete with foil cutter and leather presentation case and ten year guarantee, the Screwpull is well worth the investment and will probably last you a lifetime.
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Slappa Velocity Spyder Pro
This bag may look like Batman’s lunchpack but it’s one mean machine capable of protecting your laptop from danger.
Especially suitable for hikers, bikers, deep-sea divers, astronauts or anyone who needs to safely transport their laptop from a to b with least hassle, the Slappa Velocity Spyder Pro is tear resistant and waterproof with a strong moulded rubber EXO skeleton casing.
It’s big enough to accommodate a 17” laptop in its padded storage compartment and a special STAYCOOL lining that will keep things at the optimum temperature with three layers providing protection for digital equipment. And there’s enough room left over for a change of clothes, accessories or even your bat cape. Surprisingly soft to touch, and comfortable to wear for long periods of time, the Slappa Velocity Spyder Pro combines stylish, state-of-the-art design with practicality.
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Risk Balance of Power - a boardgame of reward and consequence from Hasbro
Do you have what it takes to play this classic boardgame, Risk: Balance of Power, Hasbro’s two-player war-game, now relocated in the combat zones of Europe where you lock head to head with your opponents in an intensive and fast-moving battle?
You’ll have to summon up all your resources of tactical cunning and subterfuge to defeat the enemy and hold on to your capital city whilst achieving three goals revealed to players at the beginning of play. The map of Europe is divided into six regions made up of 30 territories. Like the original Risk game, your army grows in number in accordance with the amount of territories, regions and cities that you occupy.
With two modes of playing – Basic Training and Command Room decided by your skills and victories, you will need to earn Risk Rewards by conquering a territory in order to raise additional army units which are denoted by small, flat arrows. At the same time you will also need to defend your capital city and take command of your troops, directing them through punishing terrains and challenging weather conditions.
The ultimate challenge in strategy with rewards and consequences, as well as being a work-out for the brain, the game is educational too. Risk: Balance of Power is for anyone over the age of 12 and has an SRP of £19.99.
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Concept 2 Model E
The Best rowing machine ever made just got a makeover!
For a start it looks stylish with a sleek light metallic gray finish, accented with dark blue. But don’t let its style belie the toughness and stability of the Concept 2. Air resistant, it sits 20 inches off the floor for ease of access – of essential importance to anyone with back or mobility problems. It also is fully enclosed and incorporates a stainless steel track and nickel plated chain and effectively emulates the smooth sensation of rowing on water.
Another great thing about the Concept 2 is that it comes with a wireless compatible PM4 performance monitor, featuring Suunto heart rate technology that can be easily reached on the extended console arm. With automatic operation and an easy menu operation you can accurately monitor your heart rate, track distance, speed, pace, calories and watts with five display options. Several motivational features are available including an option of rowing against a virtual rower so you can learn about techniques, rowing challenges and a training forum. It’s also possible to pre set workouts and review past ones with a multiple language facility available.
But in case you’re worried about fitting all this technology into your house, the Concept 2 Model E Rowing Machine only requires an area of 9×4 feet with a 500 lb capacity. It’s easily assembled and can be separated into two parts should you want to store it or transport it anywhere, plus caster wheels make it fully mobile. It has a fully rechargeable battery pack and increased memory capacity If you’re going to buy one rowing machine in your life, make sure it’s this one.
Firestar 3g Sachet Energy Crystals release date
A revolutionary energy stimulating drink has just blasted on to the market in the form of Firestar Energy Booster and could provide a well-needed injection of vitality for many people.
Aimed at the adult market, the manufacturers Firestar Energy say that the new product, which is the culmination of two years R&D, uses pharmaceutical knowledge to develop a special Time Release Technology. The energy drink can be taken in crystal form without the need for water and has a slightly bitter after taste that places it in the health food bracket rather than confectionery. It’s also available in a nifty sachet that conveniently fits into the pocket or wallet.
Containing the equivalent caffeine of 4 espressos or two cans of energy drink, the Firestar Energy Booster packs a fair punch but is one of the safest products on the market due to the fact that the chemical compound is released over the period of four hours thereby eliminating the peaks and troughs associated with some energy drinks that often cause headaches and nausea.
Nor, according to the manufacturers, will the Firestar Energy Booster lead to diabetic or dental problems due to its low sugar content. It’s particularly suitable for adults working long hours, such as medical staff on night shifts, long-distance drivers who need to stay alert, sports enthusiasts who don’t want a load of high calorie liquid swilling around in the stomach when exercising, or indeed, anyone who has to burn the midnight oil.
One of the main attractions of the drink is the fact that it can be taken discretely – a wastepaper bin full of energy boosting cans sitting next to the desk could signal connotations of fatigue and overload to work colleagues whereas a slim sachet is more easily concealed about the person and swiftly taken. Plus, the Firestar Energy Booster’s very portability means it can be taken any time.
The Firestar Energy Booster can be bought by the sachet for £1.50 each. For retailers, there’s an added advantage; a display carton containing 40 sachets with a RRP of £60 weighs less than 150g and its base area of 8×10cm leaves more space for additional products like …er … cans of energy drinks?