Hello Kitty
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PSP Fan Art Fridays: Mega Man
Do you want to share your PSP-related fan art? Send us an e-mail. A new piece of fan art will be shared every Friday. We really enjoyed the Mega Man remakes that hit the PSP. They had beautiful graphics to accompany the classic gameplay. Unfortunately, their poor sales killed any chance of future Mega remakes. Fred Andrew Urzua seems to have come up with a way to sell Mega Man: combine him with Hello Kitty. After all, there could be a Hello Kitty branded plague and Kitty fans would line up to get infected. It's impressive that this piece of art retains the cuteness of Hello Kitty, while still having all the distinct features of Mega Man. All that's left is for Capcom to give Sanrio a call, and make Urzua's vision a reality. If you like the above fan art as much as we do, surf on over to Urzua's deviantART page to see his other work. That, or you can let Urzua know what you think of the art in our comments section. %Gallery-3450%
The Hello Kitty LaVie: is this really "the life" NEC?
Egads NEC, show some pride... a Hello Kitty LaVie? Say it ain't so! Your LaVie series of laptops were already totin' some serious Alice-the-housekeeper frump, and now this? What can we say, that puss dominates Japan like a pink, mouthless Godzilla... really, what could poor NEC do. Available now for ¥199,500 or about $1,645 with plenty of pasted-on Swarovski nuggets destined for the recessed folds at the pit of your man-bag. Sure, you'll buy it for your daughter but we know who'll use it... sissy. [Via Impress]
Sanrio offers up Hello Kitty body fat meter
For those of you still itching to get in on the Wii Sports exercise regimen, but are without any way to measure how many pounds you'll actually melt off, Sanrio's got you covered. Sure, you could waltz right into just about any retailer and pick up a vanilla scale, but the Hello Kitty body fat meter weighs your body in a whole new dimension of cute. Available in a trio of versions ranging from digital to analog to an actual "cooking" version, the device doesn't actually function any differently than the non-adorable varieties, but who wouldn't be motivated to shed a few pounds and have Hello Kitty smile back at you in celebration? The BF-071-KT scale (pictured) should be available in Japan soon for a price (¥6,000; $49) that only the passionate could appreciate.[Via UberGizmo]
Hello Kitty takes a dip in USB-powered aquarium
You might wonder why a cat would enjoy being trapped inside a container of water, but as you should already know, all rules are thrown out when it comes to Hello Kitty. The USB-powered aquarium features a couple of oh-so-cute Hello Kitty mermaids in a snow globe / fish tank fantasy land, and while we're sure the hordes of fanboys and girls just adore the idea, this one could actually satisfy those on the other end of the spectrum as well -- fess up, it's not too often that you get to satisfy your SO and take pleasure in holding your (least) favorite feline underwater for an indefinite period of time, right?
Hello Kitty gets her own crock pot
Unfortunately, the Hello Kitty crock pot arrived a tick too late to be considered for any snazzy kitchenware awards, but we're sure it's a real winner in the hearts of fanboys and girls everywhere. Aiming to take the difficulty out of cooking and give even the culinarily-challenged a surefire way to concoct a solid round of soup, the HK slow cooker should handle your roasts, veggie soups, and chowders with ease, and what better to season such delicacies in than a pot full of cute? Sadly, we've no word on price nor where to purchase this fine piece of countertop cookware, but giving your future meals the ability to simmer in cheerfulness is priceless indeed.[Via CNET]
Hello Kitty car-based iPod Charger
The role of Hello Kitty in electronics is a strange one. Just when you think there are things that couldn't possibly be branded by the cute little Sanrio icon, you're proved wrong. Hello Kitty can be branded on absolutely anything. Case in point. Observe this Kitty-styled iPod car charger. It offers in-car power for your iPod. It provides an FM transmitter so you can listen to your iTunes on your radio. It's stem is long enough to allow you to use it with a floor-level cigarette adapter and yet it's still pink enough to please any 8- and 10-year-old girls in your vicinity. If the pink so takes you, you can also purchase Hello Kitty iPod speakers, Hello Kitty stereo clocks with iPod docking, Hello Kitty iPod cases, or an actual iPod engraved with the Hello Kitty logo.
Hello Kitty -- now in iPod car charger / FM transmitter form
It looks like Hello Kitty's rampage through the gadget world isn't showing any signs of letting up, with an otherwise unremarkable iPod car charger / FM transmitter the latest device to get its irresistible stamp of approval. Compatible with 3G, 4G, 5G, Photo, Mini, and nano varieties of iPods, the device will plug into your car's cigarette lighter and pump tunes straight to your car's radio at the same time, promising a minimum amount of distortion in the process. We have to say we're a bit skeptical of the stated 3 mile operating range, however -- that seems a stretch even with the mighty Hello Kitty behind it.[Via Hello Kitty Hell]
Hello Kitty keeps your air feline fresh
It's not the first Hello Kitty air purifier, it won't be the last Hello Kitty air purifier, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks, Sanrio, for bringing sunshine to our life.
Find the differences between Quickspot and this new San-X game
Hint: there aren't many. San-X no Chara Sagashi Land (San-X Character Searching Land) offers the exact same kind of gameplay as Quickspot, with San-X trappings. San-X, for those of you who don't follow the Adorable Junk scene, is a sub-label of Hello Kitty creators Sanrio whose characters are ... different enough in some inscrutable way to be separate from the main brand. So, instead of getting to look at two nearly-identical Katamari Damacy images (sigh) and drawing circles around the differences, you'll be scrutinizing Tarepanda the sleepy panda, Kogepan, the anthropomorphic bread who has depression, and others. And for your troubles you get a gallery of mascot images. Of the same characters you were just staring at.We don't mean to sound down on the game-- we're actually really surprised at what new genres the DS design is encouraging. There may have been 'look at two things at once and spot the differences' games before, but the DS is absolutely perfect for them.We've included a few precious screens after the break.
Hello Kitty embraces warming blankets, gets fired up via USB
If you think we were baffled after seeing Hello Kitty USB foot warmers, you probably can't imagine the speechlessness we all feel when seeing the USB-powered lap warmer. Considering that anyone who would actually toss out their hard-earned dollars on feline feet heaters would likely not have the will power to resist this mat, it's fairly to say to say that this is a must-have for hardcore fans braving the tail end of winter. No word on just how large this thing is, nor if poses any eruption capabilities like one of its siblings (clones?), but judging by the mat-to-USB-connector ratio, this kitty ought to warmly cover a litter or two at least.
Hello Kitty USB-powered keyboard cleaner sweeps and creeps
We know, you're probably already a proud owner of the Hello Kitty Desktop Vacuum Cleaner, but just in case that sucking action has dwindled a bit after months of constant usage, here's yet another alternative to freeing your keyboard of all those germs. The Hello Kitty USB-powered keyboard cleaner gets all the juice it needs from one of your lonely USB ports, and features two separate cleaning heads to get all the nitty gritty out from between your QWERTY keys. Furthermore, the cleaning utensil resides nicely on the back (photo after the jump) of an included Hello Kitty figurine when it's not surveying the deep, dark crevice between the left and right bracket keys, but we highly doubt the bristles are machine washable. Per usual, we've no idea how much toy sellers plan on charging for this somewhat useful (but entirely de trop) keyboard sweeper, but we're confident that the hardcore fans out there will find a way as they always do.[Thanks, Jeffrey]
Hello Kitty USB foot warmers? We don't know what to say
Oh, wow. We... we'd like to thank Sanrio for making this possible. And mom. Thanks mom! Also, Thanko, a true inspiration to superfluous USB usage. You guys rock! There are just so many people to thank, we don't want to miss anyone! Brando, for selling all that Thanko crap. We... we promised ourselves we wouldn't cry! ... *sniffle* ... so much for that. We've just never been more proud, to live on an planet where beautiful things like Hello Kitty USB foot warmers can happen. A true achievement for mankind. Oh no, the orchestra is playing -- so many more people to thank -- thank you world!
Hello Kitty gets its own iPod docking station / stereo clock
We all know by now that Hello Kitty goes everywhere and gets everything she pleases, and when that sassy feline demands an iPod speaker dock that doubles as an alarm clock, well, she gets it. The KT4560 Hello Kitty Stereo Clock Radio handles more multitasking than most non-cute devices of its stature, and aside from eliciting countless grins from the pink and sparkly paint job, it also acts as an iPod docking station for dock-connecting units, channels video / pictures from video iPods onto your TV, sports the ability to wake you with tunes from your 'Pod, and there's even an aux input for those "other DAPs." As expected, the LCD-faced clock also features an AM/FM radio, alarm functions, rotatable volume control, oh-so-loveable snooze button, and an iPod-totin' cat atop the device. While we're not sure how much you'll end up laying down for this multifaceted gizmo, we can't help but give props to the practicality.[Via Chip Chick]
Sega Sammy to adopt Hello Kitty
Sega Sammy and Hello Kitty toymaker Sanrio have agreed to form a "strategic alliance" that will likely re-introduce the anthropomorphized feline to video game platforms. To date, Sanrio has worked with a mess of game publishers -- ranging from Namco and THQ to lesser-known companies like ValuSoft and Typhoon -- to release a haphazard catalogue of Hello Kitty titles. The partnership with Sega Sammy will likely spur a more aggressive and consistent campaign that could also include a line of pachinko machines. While Hello Kitty remains a globally recognizable brand, its popularity has no doubt diminished since the late 90s. With an uninspired history in the games medium, Sega Sammy's gonna have to spend some solid hours submerged in the think tank before attempting a jump-start.
Hello Kitty gets ritzy, dons platinum outfit for the holidays
We've seen Hello Kitty hit the low-end, the mid-range, the high-end, and everywhere in between, but this here rendition has to be some sort of record. In a feat that's sure to be outdone relatively soon, the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo will be selling a 21-ounce miniature rendition of the cat donned in platinum. The shiny feminine feline reportedly comes with seven different hair ribbons made of "diamonds, rubies, and other precious gems" that can be worn by Hello Kitty or used as a pendant. This hope diamond of Japanese cuteness can be snatched up (if it hasn't been already) for a mere ¥18.9 million ($164,291) if you so desire, but we can think of much more practical uses for all that extra disposable income to be quite honest.[Via Hello Kitty Hell]
Tink Pink X Hello Kitty DC571 brings a touch of class to digicams
Someday, after we're long gone and buried in our networked graves, future archaeologists will no doubt go digging around to get a sense of life in the 21st century. After wading through McDonald's wrappers, cigarette butts, and piles of discarded Zunes (sorry, Microsoft, it seems that not a whole lot of people were feeling "the social), it's quite likely that they'll uncover literally millions of everyday objects adorned with a strange, simply-drawn kitten, and come to the conclusion that this precocious little feline served as some sort of deity to the simple folks of old. And, well, they'd be partially correct , wouldn't they? While we certainly don't genuflect to Ms. Kitty before bed, nor do we ask for her Pinkness' help in times of trouble, there's no denying that we feel a special connection to the universe and our fellow man every time we encounter a gadget like the Tink Pink X Hello Kitty DC571 digital camera. Besides the nauseating name and blinged-out Kitty face, this model is quite similar l to the DC500 also made by KFE Japan -- they share a five megapixel resolution, 32MB of internal memory, and an SD slot for storage, but the DC571 delivers a 2.4-inch LCD and somewhat stuttery VGA video at 20fps (or QVGA at 22fps). You do get USB 2.0 support as opposed to the 1.1 action on the previous model, but let's face it: if you're in the market for a 25,000 Yen ($217) pink camera with colored crystals arranged to resemble a small cat, specs and functionality just really aren't all that important. [Via Spluch]
Hello Kitty's DC500 digicam
Let's face it: Hello Kitty has been losing a bit of gadget cred lately, what with that recent "spontaneous combustion" recall, along with a general move to the fluff. Well, Her Pinkness is back on track, feeding our specification lust while keeping to the pink and narrow. This new Hello Kitty DC500 digital camera sports a 5 megapixel CCD, 2-inch LCD, 32MB of built-in memory, an SD card slot and video support up to VGA resolutions. At 1-inch thick, it's not thinnest cam around, and only manages USB 1.1 transfers, but we'll take what we can get.[Via Image-Acquire]
Perfectel's Hello Kitty Skype phone
Hello Kitty is slowly, cutely, and cunningly infiltrating nearly every aspect of the technological realm, and yet we just keep succumbing to its overwhelming (albeit deceiving) innocent looks. While Hello Kitty phones certainly aren't new, the cuteness has seemingly made the jump to Skype, and while little is known aside from the manufacturer (Parfectel), hardcore Kitty fans probably won't care anyway. Sporting the token pink packaging and a typically untrustworthy "Plug and Play" label, the adorable handheld is accompanied a Skype software disc and feel good quotes. Curiously enough, the phone is slated to hit 7-Eleven stores throughout Hong Kong and Japan this week, and will run you just HK$128 ($17) -- if you outrun the fanboys (and girls), that is.
Wacom's Hello Kitty Favo graphics tablet
There's nothing we hate more than a mismatched desktop set, so now that we've got a Hello Kitty keyboard, Hello Kitty mouse (with matching mousepad, naturally), and Hello Kitty mini-vacuum all hooked up to our Hello Kitty Epson Endeavor laptop, our dull grey graphics tablet stands out like a sore thumb. The nice thing about being a Hello Kitty fanatic, though, is that you never have to wait too long for your favorite peripherals to get Kitty-fied, and sure enough, Wacom has just made all our dreams come true with its new HK-adorned Favo tablet. Although the A6-size tab doesn't provide enough workspace for the serious graphic artist, those of us who use these input devices solely for drawing mustaches and devil's horns on our photos should find it more than adequate, and of course the pink pen and plastic, Kitty-shaped pen holder are just icing on the cake. Chances are good that you'll have to get your import on if you want to scribble all over Kitty's face each day, but if you're as obsessed with appreciative of finely-crafted Kitty swag as ourselves, nothing can stop you from adding this feline-friendly Favo to your collection.
Uncanny Valley 2: Hello Kitty edition
We've been freaked out quite well enough by the original Acroid DER bot, but now Kokora, a Sanrio Group company (yes, that Sanrio), is busting out Acroid DER2 with skinner arms, better hair, and a snazzy little inter-Sanrio shout-out in the form of a Hello Kitty tee. The Hello Kitty fembot, as this uncanny specimen shall be henceforth named, also includes a wider repertoire of expressions, which are supposedly smoother, making it more likely that innocent bystanders will be fooled, and hardcore robot/Hello Kitty enthusiasts like us will have haunted dreams. If you're man enough to navigate the uncanny valley, you can rent the HKfb for events for a mere 400,000 Yen ($3,389 US), which gets you 5 days with the fembot, though we suppose delivery costs to the US won't be cheap, and "choreography" charges do apply as well.
