Snap happy
The Epson PictureMate 500.
Epson PictureMate 500, $400
Photo kiosks that let you print your own photos are mushrooming as people become more used to digital cameras. But dedicated photo printers for the home are another popular option. Epson's PictureMate 500 has a six-centimetre colour LCD screen, which allows you to inspect images before printing them. The screen is an important addition as photo printers are more suited to those who don't have a computer or aren't comfortable using one. This unit's portability (it has a handle and lithium ion battery) gives it an edge over desktop PCs. Prints can be made directly from digital cameras, most memory cards and storage devices. An optional Bluetooth module is available.
Dirty work
Black & Decker Cordless Power Scrubber, $25
If you don't have a dishwasher, this battery-powered scrubbing brush may at least save you from dish-pan hands. But if you have a dishwasher, it's handy for small loads or if you need a pan cleaned in hurry. The pistol-shaped scrubber has a rotating cleaning head that does all the dirty work. It comes with four cleaning attachments: heavy-duty scour pad, scratch-free pad, small bristle brush and a long brush for reaching into glasses. Although the scrubber does away with much of the elbow grease, its motor needs a bit more oomph to get dishes spick and span.
Baby talk
Buddy Bear Phone, €130, $A200
How far off is the day when children will pack a mobile phone with their drink bottle for kinder? Not far enough for some - this stripped-down dual-band GSM handset from the Netherlands, called a Buddy Bear, is aimed at preschoolers. Images of nippers glued to their mobiles catching up on playground goss, plus metre-long phone bills may be enough to deter most parents,so the makers have restricted the phone to four programmed numbers or an SMS message to four people. With simple buttons - snout for calls, paws for programmed numbers and an SOS on each side of the head - and ears that flash for incoming calls, the Buddy Bear can also double as a baby monitor and can be controlled remotely.
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