CoolBusinessIdeas Newsletter Issue 11

CoolBusinessIdeas Newsletter Issue 11: 14/02/05 – 06/03/05
New Business Ideas/Opportunities Featured In This Issue:
GADGETS
Microsoft Child Surveillance Toy
The idea behind this plush toy is that it will be able to follow the movement of the child round the room, turning its head and allowing parents to spy and instruct their child.
Archimedes: Chia Pet Meets Tamagotchi
“Oribie Navi Land” is a GPS school bag for tracking kids. Japanese school bag manufacturer Kyowa and security systems and services company Secom are collaborating to release this product+service package this November.
Hugms: Hugs Over SMS
Another great thesis from ITP, Hugms sends a text message when you squeeze your Bluetooth-connected, light-up sensor.
Intellimug – Warm Beverages In Your Car
The Intellimug plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and warms up tea, coffee, soup and any other liquid food or drinkstuff you care to mention!
TECHNOLOGY
Trash With Solar-Powered Compactor
New York is testing a trash can that uses solar power to sense when it is full and automatically compact the garbage inside.
Pro Podcasting
The primarily amateur Internet audio medium known as “podcasting” took a small, hopeful step on Friday toward becoming the commercial Web’s next big thing.
USB speakers
iFun, Jazz¡¦s latest USB mobile theater, is especially designed for women and young-aged notebook users.
Personalized Toys
Personalized electronic toys, which make a child’s play more interactive and personal, are among the products manufacturers are betting on to help them reclaim sales.
QR Code Chocolate
Nippon COMSYS Corporation and Mary’s Chocolate co-developed a technology for printing 2D barcodes (QR Code) on the surface of chocolates.
CONSUMER GOODS
Racing Fishes
The Goldfish Racetrack has an “infinity shape” so your goldfish (said to have a memory of 7 seconds) will think they are exploring the seven seas!
Super Trainer Bicycle Treadmill
The Super Trainer simulates a patch of road with far more clarity than the so-called streets in New York.
You’re Warned
A new prototype coat features warning strips of fur that become electro-statically charged when the wearer feels threatened.
AUTOMOBILES
Easy Driving
Nissan’s Smart Cars: cars that swerve back into lanes on its own and a video system that makes parking a breeze.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Milk At Its Finest
Thanks to a trendy, throwback image and higher price tag, a family farm business has managed to survive in the market despite competition from modern, corporate dairies.
Premium McDonald’s Coffee
McDonald’s is testing premium-quality coffee in select markets across the U.S.
Branded ingredients: the Path to Growth?
Number one drinks giant Coca Cola has linked up with Tate&Lyle’s Splenda sweetener in a new branding venture that could signal the beginning of a new wave of ingredient – manufacturer tie-ups.
Ice-cream that won’t drip…
A Russian dairy company has created a new ice cream brand called UFO whose extra-terrestrial name reflects its ‘unearthly’ ability to avoid melting.
Froehlich’s Pickled Green Pear Tomatoes
Enjoy your martini (or a bloody mary) even more with these pickled green pear tomatoes from Froehlich’s.
ENTERTAINMENT
Real-world Gaming
A young medium called “alternate-reality gaming” that blends real-world activities and a dramatic storyline has proven irresistible to many.
MARKETING & ADVERTISING
Targeting the Teens
When it comes to marketing to youth, it’s usually worse to aim at the demographic and miss, than it is not to advertise at all!
SERVICES
Presents of Mind
By filling a sleek, plastic box with treats including brainteaser games, mints and other cool, fun items two friends decided to make a business out of it together.
Yahoo! Sends Driving Directions To Your Phone
Hit the “Send to Phone” link on their Yahoo! maps page and you’ll get the data via SMS, with images also available with your data connection.
Sparschwein Financial Investment
Munich-based Sparschwein (German for piggy bank), is a new direct seller venture encouraging Germans to go on a domestic treasure hunt!
Doing the Laundry
A night out – plus clean clothes! The Brainwash Cafe serves up food and live entertainment along with a Laundromat.
ONLINE
Soulmates Online
Lycos is making it easier for lonely hearts to find their soulmates online.
MOBILE
Sony Ericsson’s Mobile Kiosks
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is readying a series of multimedia kiosks that it hopes will save operators, retailers and users time and money when it comes to fixing common phone faults.
RETAIL
Nike’s Pop-up Store
The latest incarnations of the pop-up store: Nike Runner’s Lounge. It allows the core audience of runners to interact with the brand, through a relevant experience.
BRANDING
The Celebs Affair
Over the past several years, a cottage industry of professional gifters has capitalized on the union between award shows, product placement, and celebrities, giving birth to an enormous and growing marketing opportunity for brands big and small.
WIRELESS
RFID for Hospitals
Patient safety will drive the use of the next generation of active-RFID (radio frequency identification) location tags from Radianse, Inc. used to locate and associate equipment and people in hospitals.
Dolls That Get Sick, Curable By RFID
Bandai announced a new toy doll for kids that responds to RFID’d objects.
DESIGN
Attractive Toilet
Kohler will use its sponsorship of Olympus Fashion Week to introduce the new Purist Hatbox toilet.
View this issue of the CoolBusinessIdeas Newsletter by clicking here. Subscribe for free (bonus gifts included with subscription) by clicking here.