You know how it is when you're driving to a new place - you write the address on a scrap of paper and hit the road. When you think you're getting close, you pull out your note to check details, while trying not to crash the car. A few minutes later, you've forgotten the address, so you get the paper out again, but by now you're so worried about running into a lamp-post, you forget the address as soon as you look at it. And so on. What you really need is the new CQ-RD575 stereo, which can record your voice for up to 20 seconds. To play it back, just hit the button.CQ-RD575: from £379. Panasonic UK: +44 (01344) 853 938.
With Sharp's new QA-1500 LCD projector, putting ona multimedia presentation is easier than ever. You can even leave your laptop at home: this spruced-up slide show projector has a built-in PCMCIA slot, ready to accept extra memory or hard-drive cards. Using the remote control, you can then click through up to 100 hi-res images from five separate presentations. Or if you want to wow 'em with movies, the QA-1500 will accept video inputs and play back audio through its built-in speakers.QA-1500: £4,795. Sharp Electronics (UK): (0800) 262 958.
You've upgraded to a titanium frame, drilled out your chain wheels, opted for a wind-resistant helmet, and shaved your legs. Of course, you wouldn't even think of carrying the extra weight of a kick-stand or a water bottle. So why are you still chugging around on those old spoked wheels? The Ultralight Compostie Wheel uses three broad spokes with superb aerodynamics - wind-tunnel tests show that racers using them might be able to pare 10 minutes from a 100-mile trial.Ultralight Composite Wheel: £399 for the front, £499 for the rear. Specialized Bicycle Components: +44 (01372) 740 084, on the Web at www.specialized.com/bikes.
Remember when putting the top down on your convertible didn't require the assistance of an onboard computer? The Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder VR-4 uses a 64-Kbyte computer to make sure the handbrake is on and the car is in neutral before the hardtop retracts and folds itself neatly away in the boot. Once the top is stowed, hop in and get off on the kick-ass performance (maintained, of course, by a furiously busy little microprocessor).3000GT Spyder VR-4: US$64,449 (no UK launch planned). Mitsubishi Motors (US): +1 (800) 779 3371.
Colour printers are two-a-penny these days, but most of us can only dream of owning a colour copier - they always seem pricey and need servicing often. So, at last somebody's introduced an affordable, plain-paper colour copier. Leveraging the success in printing and scanning of its OfficeJet, a copier-printer that produces high-quality colour copies for just a few pence per page.CopyJet: US$2,495, CopyJet M W/PostScript: US$3,199 (expected UK launch in Feb '96). Hewlett-Packard: +44 (01344) 369 222.
Long-distance runners from Kenya's Rift Valley start their training in bare feet. They have a hard time adjusting to running shoes because their toes get bunched together. Now Nike has introduced the only running shoe in the world with an articulated big toe. The Air Rift shoe allows the big toe to work independently of the other four, providing comfort and flexibility - enhanced by Nike's cushy Air-Sole, a breathable mesh upper, and adjustable Velcro straps. Stock up on Rift Socks too, or you'll end up with a vicious wedgie.Air Rift: US$85 (no UK launch planned). Nike US: +1 (503) 671 6453.
You wouldn't use a joystick to drive your car, would you? (Just imagine what it would do for your insurance.) So, why play driving games with a stick? The Arcade Racer for Sega Saturn is the first steering wheel peripheral for the next generation of video-games. It uses analogue tech - just like arcade driving games - and comes with eight action buttons. Currenlty compatible with Daytona USA and Cyber Speedway, the Arcade Racer will also work with games scheduled for release further down the road.Arcade Racer: £49. Sega UK: +44 (0171) 244 2525.
Spice up your office life with the air-powered Burp Gun, re-created from the 1950s original. Trigger-happy baby-boomers on a nostalgiaa trip or console kids giving their controller thumbs a break can load (the Burp Gun holds 15 ping-pong balls) and fire in single shots or explosive rapid bursts. Perhaps best of all, though, every time you fire off a round, the gun emits its deeply satisfying braap! Arm your entire zaibatsu and start an entertainment war.Burp Gun: US$19.95. Burpco: +1 (616) 327 6331, fax +1 (616) 323 1518, on the Web at www.branch.com/burpco/burpco.html.