This weekly roundup takes a look at the practical and sometimes quirky aspects of tech products.
Ribbon streams music
How many times have you been in an airport or been walking down the street and seen someone strutting around with a Bluetooth device affixed to their ear? If you'd like to use the same technology and not look like a robot from a sci-fi flick, the BlueAnt Ribbon Stereo Bluetooth Streamer might be for you. Designed to clip onto your clothing, the ribbon-shaped device can stream audio from the phone in your pocket to earphones plugged into its audio jack. Using the ribbon's controls, you can easily adjust the volume and switch tracks without touching your phone.
When plugged into an ordinary speaker or dock, the ribbon also functions as a Bluetooth bridge, allowing you to stream music from a Bluetooth device to a non-Bluetooth speaker.
Available for about $70 this fall, the device will ship with earbuds, an AC charger, a 3.5mm stereo auxiliary cable and a USB cable.
Origami Jacket shapes up
If you're going to use a sleek modern device like an iPad, why not accessorize it with a sleek add-on that draws upon the ancient Japanese paper-folding art of origami? The Origami Jacket, a slim and flexible case with a magnetic screen cover, can be shaped to prop up your iPod in various viewing positions. Magnets hidden inside the cover "wake' your iPad when the case is opened and also help secure its various folded positions. The Origami Jacket from Incase costs $70.
Holder boosts sound
You like listening to music on your iPhone. You like football. Why not combine the two? That's more or less the idea behind the Meggaphone Football, a palm-sized silicone football that doubles as a holder for your iPhone. The main feature? The Meggaphone's design uses acoustic tunneling to amplify the iPhone's sound naturally, allowing you to boost the audio a bit without relying on any wires or power. The holder also has a slight indention, allowing you to connect a charging cable to your phone. Available in a variety of colors, a model that fits the iPhone 4/4s costs about $25. A version for the iPhone5 is also in the works for the same price.
Table programmed to expand, shrink
Wallet alert! The following item is pricey, but if you are someone who aspires to have a cool, functional piece of furniture that can be converted from a coffee table to a larger dining table and vice versa, the Rebus might be for you. In essence, the Rebus is an electric-powered table that allows you to simply push a button and raise it from a coffee-table height of 14 inches to about three feet, then extend its length from three feet to over seven feet.
As the table opens up, it reveals three hidden leaves. Once the table is fully expanded, four corner legs fold out, providing additional support for a gathering of up to 15 people. The table comes with a removable cord that can be plugged into an outlet for charging purposes. A four-hour charge delivers enough power to expand and contract the table about 50 times. Currently available in the United States through Milano Smart Living, the Italian-made table goes for about $10,000.
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