__ Fetish __
__ Get Ready to Rumble __
Imeron game gear is designed to give you literal seat-of-the-pants thrills. Unlike the full-size Intensor LX 350 chair, the 5-pound Intensor fx can be toted anywhere. Attach it to your console, take a seat, and play - you'll feel the reverberating power of each explosion from left and right speakers and the bass driver in the middle. Wear the optional Tactovest to further amplify the body blows. Intensor fx works best for players who put less than 150 pounds in the saddle, according to Imeron, a company that's clearly keeping its eye on your bottom line. Intensor fx: $99. Tactovest: $39.99. Imeron Immersive Technologies: (800) 274 5227, +1 (919) 467 4800, www.intensor.com.
__ An Eye for an ID __
Forget your password and gaze into PC Iris, which gatekeeps your computer by recognizing your peepers' unique patterns. Setting it up is as simple as installing two PC boards and connecting the scanner wand. Once you've registered your eyeprint, you log in by holding the wand 3 to 4 inches from your face and clicking. PC Iris verifies in three seconds, and there's less than one chance in a million for error. PC Iris: $995. IriScan: (800) 333 6777, www.iriscan.com.
__ Robocup __
At the push of a button, Capresso's C3000 does just about everything an espresso jerk does: grinds the beans, pumps the coffee, fills the cup, froths the milk, and dumps the grounds. But unlike most Starbucks baristas, this professional-quality espresso machine works two cups at a time, whether you're ordering up an americano or a double decaf latte. And the milk dispenses automatically, after which the C3000 shuts off. It can't smile at you like the friendly folks at the coffeehouse, but it also won't remind you that "tipping" isn't a city in China. C3000: $2,395. Capresso: +1 (201) 767 3999, www.capresso.com.
__ Stormy Weather __
Pity your spurned stereo when you play beautiful music with your computer? (Never mind your TV's feelings about those QuickTime quickies.) Panja restores domestic harmony by putting the PC back in its place: The Panja 1000 system, via cable or DSL modem, sends decoded Net tunes and pictures directly to your stereo and television. And with various Panja 2000 upgrades, the remote can be made even more universal, controlling less entertaining electronics from the dishwasher to the alarm system, and displaying Internet content like weather, sports, and news. Panja 1000: $2,495; 2000 upgrades from $250. Panja: (800) 222 0193, www.panja.com.
__ Bowled Over __
Zako's ZM99 speakers look like this for a reason: The spherical shape bounces sound throughout the interior, avoiding distortion-causing resonances while producing mellow sounds. And unlike bass-deadening wood speakers, these wax-lined ceramic cabinets reflect frequencies uniformly. Zako uses coaxial drivers, with concentric cones generating lows and highs from the same location. That arrangement, popular in car stereos, saves room and reduces interference. Be warned: Despite the lane-ready look, these orbs weren't made for bowling. ZM99: $1,271 a pair. Zako Speakers: (888) 838 7807, www.zako.com.
__ Wintergreen Lifesaver __
Statistically, the deadliest part of an avalanche comes after the fall, when your breath and melting snow form an ice mask that blocks your air supply. But visitors to the high country can breathe a little easier, thanks to the AvaLung. Just bite the mouthpiece when the mountain starts to tumble, then wait for the snow to settle; the tube takes in fresh air through the vest's front and vents your exhalations safely behind you - no ice mask, no rapid death. Just relax, so to speak, while your buddies follow your beacon signal and dig you out. You did remember to bring your beacon, didn't you? AvaLung: $198. Black Diamond Equipment: +1 (801) 278 5533, www.avalung.com.
__ Casual Specs __
Rather than risking high-five damage to your pricey field glasses, take Bnox's Slim to the game. The pocket-ready binoculars give you 7X magnification and surprisingly good optics for the price, and the wide-angle rectangular image feels more natural - and televisual - than a circular field. A quick tug adjusts the fit; you focus with a simple lever on top. And if you spike your Bnox after the game-winning touchdown, you won't break your salary cap. Slim 7x18: $19.95. Bnox: +1 (212) 605 0410, www.bnox.com.
__ Key Player __
Rather than spitting out clinically dissected audio samples, Yamaha's new S80 simulates a musical instrument's entire physics. Compare a sax played on an ordinary synth - striking a key soft, medium, and hard generates the same basic sound at three volumes. With the S80's virtual acoustic module, by contrast, you hear a breathy whisper, a normal note, and a Coltrane-climactic squawk, just like when you blow the real thing. Another swappable module mimics old analog synthesizers like the Moog, and yet another processes vocal input to add harmonies, change voices from "male" to "female," and perform other sleights of sound. S80: $1,995 (without modules). Yamaha: (800) 889 2624, +1 (714) 522 9011, www.yamaha.com.
__ Quarter Pounder __
Qualcomm's Thin Phone is 4.23 ounces well spent. The five-line LCD lets you access a 99-number address book, and the device supports paging, messaging, email, and microbrowsers with a compatible carrier service. An internal battery runs the 800-MHz dual-mode (CDMA/analog) handset for two and a half hours of talking, and you can snap on external batteries in mid-conversation. Like a fast-food burger, this non-ostentatious little package pulls more than its weight in convenience and available energy. QCP-860 Thin Phone: $149. Qualcomm: (800) 349 4188, www.qualcomm.com.
