By Andrew Liszewski

If something’s worth doing, it’s worth going out and buying an expensive new tool to do it with. So if your weekend to-do list includes ‘cutting paper’ in addition to other tool-friendly tasks like mowing the lawn, cleaning the gutters, or trimming the hedges, you’ll appreciate the Line Handy Paper Cutter currently available from the Japan Trend Shop.

It replaces your trusty, always ready-to-use, X-ACTO or hobby knife with a mouse-sized device that features a spinning cutting blade that can be raised or lowered at the touch of a button. I suppose it would make cutting curved lines a bit easier for those with poor knife skills (I understand not everyone grew up with the ’shiv or be shivved’ mantra of suburbia like I did) but the fact that it requires batteries that will inevitably need to be replaced, and a $40 price tag means it will probably only appeal to the most hardcore of scrapbookers.

[ Line Handy Paper Cutter ]

Sony Japan today announced [JP] a new digital camera that’s specifically geared towards women. Technically speaking, the DSC-W530D isn’t really a new device (it was unveiled earlier this year in Japan and is available for $200 in the US, too). But Sony changed the design to (possibly) make the Cyber-shot more appealing to female customers.

Just to quickly cover the basic specs, what Sony is selling here is a 14.1MP digital camera with 4xoptical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD, Smile Shutter function, face detection, 720p HD movie recording function, a USB 2.0 port and an SD/SDHC slot.

This special version will be available in two colors, “Jewel Pink” and “Precious White”, with some crystals adding to the cute factor. Buyers will also get an extra pouch (see below).

Sony plans to start selling the DSC-W350D (in Japan only) on April 23 (price: $290). If you live outside Japan and insist on looking cute while shooting photos, I suggest you contact import/export specialists such as Japan Trend Shop or Geek Stuff 4 U. And while you’re at it, you might want to think about getting this cute video camera, too.

Are you constantly in danger of falling asleep while working or driving? Alarm clocks, watches or your cell phone are of no help? Then the oddly named Nap Vieeb Plus II [JP], offered by a Japanese company called Takanoha, might be the right thing for you. The Nap Vieeb Plus II is a simple earpiece alarm gadget whose first version was released about four years ago.

Takanoha claims that first version found over 180,000 buyers in 17 countries. The new model works basically the same way: Once placed behind your ear, the device automatically detects you dozing off when your head passes a pre-set, “critical” angle. It then starts vibrating and setting off an alarm to keep you awake, just like a regular alarm clock.

Weighing just 15g, the Nap Vieeb Plus II is relatively discreet. Takanoha says because the ear loop is made of flexible silicone rubber, even people wearing glasses can use it. Apparently, the president of the company started developing the gadget after he was involved in a car accident caused by drowsy driving.

The Nap Vieeb Plus II costs around $30 in Japan. Contact specialized stores Japan Trend Shop, Geek Stuff 4 U or Rinkya to get one shipped to your country (I searched around, but couldn’t find it in any Non-Japanese online store).

Via The Nikkei [registration required, paid subscription]

By Andrew Liszewski

When you’re fighting the battle of the bulge, your weight as determined by a scale isn’t always the most accurate way to tell if you’re winning. Your body fat percentage actually gives you a better idea of how fit, or horribly unfit, you really are. So carrying around this pocket-friendly metabolism checker is the perfect way to let you know if you should have that third eclair, no matter where you are.

After you’ve told the device your weight, age, height and gender, you simply touch a couple of electrodes which passes a mild electrical current through your body, allowing it to calculate your body fat percentage. Up to 8 users can be registered on a single device, for keeping the whole family fit, and like pretty much every device on the planet with an LCD display, it also has time and alarm clock functions. $25 from the Japan Trend Shop.

[ Pocket Metabolism Checker ]

Japan and its alarm clocks. Most of these devices force you to wake up through an extra-annoying noise (or by moving away from you), but this new one, the so-called Twist Alarm Clock [JP], makes you solve (simple) math problems.

The way it works is that when the alarm starts ringing in the morning, the clock uses its two displays and two rotatable parts to create a math problem, for example 8+2=?. It won’t stop ringing until you give it the right answer. 5-4=2, as seen in the picture above, won’t work. Maker D-Forme says the main idea behind their clock is to force buyers to activate their brains in the morning.

Sized at 13.5×6.3×7cm, the Twist Alarm clock is available only in Japan (price: $30). If you’re interested, I’d suggest contacting import/export specialists like Japan Trend Shop, Geek Stuff 4 U or Rinkya.

Are you a woman? Are you sick of seeing all those manly USB sticks around you every day? Then these four new models announced [JP] by Buffalo in Japan today might be right for you.

Aimed specifically at “mature women”, each model is available with 4GB or 8GB of storage. Color-wise, buyers can choose between Rich Brown, Shiny Coral, Royal White and the inevitable Glossy Pink.

Buffalo plans to start selling the pretty sticks in Japan at the beginning of April. The 4GB version will cost $28, while the 8GB sticks will go for $40. Buffalo is active outside Japan, too, but didn’t say anything about international sales. If you’re interested, I’d suggest contacting import/export specialists Japan Trend Shop, Geek Stuff 4 U or Rinkya.