Gizmodo: Charms

Infinite Edamame Cellphone Charm Provides All of the Fun, None of the Flavor of Soybeans

Adam Frucci — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:49:17 EDT

Remember that fake bubble wrap cellphone charm from Japan? Well, if you're more into soybeans than packing material, say hello to Mugen Edamame. Simply push on the pod and the beans will pop out showing a random face each time. It's not as delicious as normal edamame, but it sticks around a lot longer. [Product Page via Trends in Japan]

Plug It Phone Charm Contains Cunningly Disguised Data Cable

Haroon Malik — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:05:00 EDT

If you thought the phrase "useful phone charm" was inherently oxymoronic, please meet Plug It's phone charm offering. It looks like a hunk of plastic junk, until you split it open to reveal a complete data cable.

As you can generally charge your phone via your data cable, the Plug It phone charm is fantastically useful. Retailing at only €7.95 ($12), most of the major phone brands are supported, excluding Sony Ericsson, who will be getting some USB charm love in the coming months. The Plug It charms are available in various colors and designs, and whatever you do, avoid the awful company website like the plague. (Either that or be forced to listen to their theme tune; #Plug it in, plug it in, baby!# My ears feel abused.) [Product Page]

Japan Only: Solar Charger Cellphone Charm

Haroon Malik — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:25:00 EST

Strap-Ya has accomplished what we thought was impossible; they've created a useful cellphone charm: a small solar cell that retains energy for when your handset is out of juice. Simply clip it in, and it will give you the vital power boost in your second of need. If the sun is playing away from home, the solar charger even comes with an AC adapter that allows it to be charged up and used as a spare battery. Alas, it is merely a concept for us. The charger works with just a handful of Japanese handsets. [Product Page (Japanese) via Tokyomango]

8 New Kewpie Doll Cellphone Charms Crank the Weirdness to 11

Sean Fallon — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:20:03 EST

If you recall some of the previous Kewpie cellphone charms, you know a special blend of creepy weirdness is par for the course. The latest installment keeps the tradition alive with 8 new figures that are guaranteed to make you feel uncomfortable. Each doll will set you back around $6 — so collect them all (you sick freaks). Hit the jump for an even more bizarre promotional video.

[Product Page via InventorSpot]

Kewpie Bondage Cellphone Charms Give Us Utterly Horrific Nightmares

Matt Buchanan — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:00:05 EST

These are about the creepiest cellphone accessories we've ever seen: Androgynous babies tied up S&M style dangling from your cellphone. The disturbingly satisfied Kewpie Dolls are available with five different rope colors for about $6. If you wanna feel really icky, check out the promo shot after the jump, which makes the orgy above look PG: There's fire, drugs and Kewpies. Seriously.

[Strapya World via Inventor Spot via Spluch]

Hello Kitty Earphone Charm - Wait, What?

Jason Chen — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:00:51 EDT

Apparently cellphone charms aren't enough for the Japanese now, as evidenced by these Hello Kitty iPod Earphone Charms. You read that right, Hello. Kitty. iPod. Earphone. Charms. Let's repeat. Hello. Kitty. iPod. Earphone. Charms. Our heads asplode at its uselessness. [Kittyhell via Techie Diva]

Phone Charm Provides Life with No Responsibilities

Adam Frucci — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:30:00 EDT

I'm not a huge fan of cellphone charms, as I feel like the point of slick little gadgets is to take up as little space in my pocket as possible. Sure, a cigarette-smoking baby wearing a cowboy hat is kind of awesome, but not so awesome that I want it cluttering up my pockets.

If you feel otherwise, this here Bio-Tech Living Charm might be up your alley. What's cool about it is that it's got a real-life plant inside (albeit a pretty minuscule one), but you never have to water it. Instead, the plant survives off the fancy goo it's placed in, living for what's sure to be weeks before wilting away and turning into a constant reminder of your crippling laziness. Hell, maybe cellphone charms aren't so bad after all. –Adam Frucci

Product Page [StrapYa]

Japan Loves It Some Wacky Cellphone Charms

Adam Frucci — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:15:00 EST

Wired and Gizmodo's Lisa Katayama gathered up some of the strangest and most fun cellphone charms from Japan all in one place, proving once and for all that nothing defines the land of the rising sun better than a tiny, cigarette-smoking baby wearing a cowboy hat.

Here are some of our favorites. Check the full article for all the fun. –Adam Frucci

Japan's Hottest Cell Phone Straps [Wired]

Pill Box Cellphone Strap: Practicality in a Charm?

Mark Wilson — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:55:36 EST

Cellphone charms are not meant to be practical, unless you've found a function for that golden poo (and if so, hit the tips email asap, please).

But this pill box cellphone strap is bursting with functionality, be it curing headaches, alleviating gas or preventing unwanted pregnancies (that are ironically some fault of your cellphone in the first place).

For $6.50 you never know. It Might Just Save Your Life. – Mark Wilson

Product Page [via tokyomango]

Fast Food Charms: Good for the Influential

Mark Wilson — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 09:08:52 EST

While we would never bastardize the cold, black steel of our cellphone with accessories of any type, eventually we will probably find ourselves mixed up in some sort of cult. The leader of said cult (possibly Lam) may require us to tag our electronics with a mark of identification. Since he enjoys fast food (we're not sure if Our Herald actually does), we will suggest purchasing these food charms.

Unfortunately, there is no word on price or availability. This is more of a "check out my awesome charm collection that you know you want for your gadget cult, bitch" sort of posting.

Hit the jump for more yummy plastic cellphone charms.

– Mark Wilson

10 Fast Food Cellphone Accessories [via spluch]

RC Car Cellphone Strap

Jason Chen — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 21:15:00 EDT

Keep yourself entertained while you're waiting at the courthouse for your animal endangerment hearing with these IR-controlled cellphone charms. These mini "RC" cars can be controlled over infrared with the buttons on the Fairlady Z tire (350Z for us) and come in various colors. They can even be controlled by your actual cellphone if you've got a DoCoMo phone, but unless you're in Japan that's unlikely. Available there for $8. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Rakuten via Tokyomango]