By Sam Jemielity FOR REDEYE. SAM JEMIELITY IS A REDEYE SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR.
Colorful cutting-edge RAZRs, a remote-control mp3 muscle car, a PS2 DJ sim. RedEye checks out the latest tech mix.
Motorola RAZR V3i Colors
PRICE NOT SET, HELLOMOTO.COM
Pink RAZR? Yawn … that’s so last week. The truly trendy will clamor for the new RAZR V3i Colors phones, with newly streamlined units in dark blue, maroon and violet that will hit the market sometime this spring. On the slim chance you care how it actually works, the V3i comes with a color screen, digital still and video camera with zoom, an mp3 player and Bluetooth capability.
2006 Merriam Webster Pocket Dictionary for iPod
$9.95, IPREPPRESS.COM
You’re jammin’ to your Radiohead album and all of a sudden, the band drops an SAT word that stumps you: “Myxomatosis.” Riiiight. Thanks to the iPod pocket dictionary (which you simply load on your unit), you don’t have to wait to figure out what the heck Thom Yorke is talking about. Just scroll to M, then through alphabetical word groupings to the right spot, and voila. You find out it’s a viral disease transmitted to rabbits by mosquitoes. Hey, Thom, maybe a song about bird flu is next?
2006 Dodge Magnum Remote Control Car
$129, WWW.GOODS.DODGE.COM
This 2-foot long, 3-speed radio-controlled ride is an mp3 player on wheels. Plug your mp3 player into the audio input on the chassis, and you have a mobile boombox for … well, we’re not really clear what it would be for. If your favorite Megadeth album blaring at high volume isn’t enough entertainment, crank on the flashing lights and horn for added excitement. But be careful: You don’t want the neighbors taking a baseball bat to it.
AK Rocker 200
$79.99, AK.COM
Can’t get to that next level in Tomb Raider: Legend? Maybe it’s not your hand-eye coordination. Maybe you just don’t have the right chair for the job. AK Designs has just released the second-generation of its so-called “gaming chair,” a Formula 1-style rocking, reclining model with an ergonomic, padded bucket seat. Personalize your chair with removable “skins” ($19.99).
Beatmania
$59.99, KONAMISTYLE.COM
Fancy yourself the next Jam Master Jay? Put your money where your mix is with this cool video-game DJ simulation. Beatmania comes with a specially designed DJ controller–complete with turntable for true scratch simulation–and easy controls mean even rookie DJs will quickly be spinning like a White House press spokesman. Mix any of the 50 club-quality tracks (pop, techno, trance, house and other genres) in real time, and flip on two-player mode to take on any challengers in a turntable battle. Your pad will soon become one of Chicago’s coolest clubs–so start charging your friends $8 a beer.
