The recyclable Powerbrella features solar panels on the top of the umbrella and outlets on the bottom to gather that beautiful sun and use it to power your gear. We're not really sure how much juice it could really provide, but it should definitely be enough to power, say, an iPod speaker dock. It's a great idea and one we'd totally use. [via Treehugger]

Joel has a great writeup on Boing Boing Gadgets about the non-new gadgetry he uses on a regular basis that's a pretty entertaining read. [Last Year's Model via BBG]

I mean, what cat doesn't deserve all the best human toys—Rock Band controllers, Wiimotes, Gameboys, Rubik's Cubes and even cans of Slurm? It's as if one Etsy store has distilled everything good about life and reconstituted that substance as a collection of sub-$10 plush toys safe for pets.

These people deserve to be rich, famous and maybe even have a cat scratcher or two erected in their honor.

[Etsy via GeekSugar]

Gore-Tex is about to take another step forward in its dominance of artificial wet weather skin. Now, they can fuse together outer layers with foreign inner layers, to two great results.

Gore-Tex's most capable shell materials have always had to be stand alone, making them a little bit like wearing a crinkly sheet or garbage bag (without the sweat build up, of course). They're taking their 3 layer shells and bonding them to interesting inner liner materials in an extension of their "comfort mapping" tech. So, if the chest and back need insulated, they can attach a piece of fleece there; or padded armor on elbows and shoulders; or antimicrobial liners on armpits. The sub brand isn't new, but before, comfort mapping involved sewing, opening up the potential for unsightly seams and water leakage. Now they heat press the new layers in, so that there are no extra punctures in the outer layers, and things like pockets can be sewn now into the inner materials without causing punctures, either. The materials will be breathable, but not as breathable as the naked Gore-Tex layers we're used to now. But it would be nice to have a jacket while peeling off a few undergarments. (I'll take some pants with built in butt and knee padding, please.)

The other tech is called X-trafit. Most multi-layer gloves get some parts turned inside out when you take them off. Also, multi layer gore gloves have reduced mobility, grip and finger feel because of the slipping of each layer against another. X-trafit gloves fuse the inner and membrane together, while a grippy material between the inner liner and the outer shell makes the entire thing feel as if it's one piece of material. The only downside is that these gloves are not going to be as warm as those with many different components.

Just as an example, the players that butt heads in the Rose Bowl will receive a package that includes:

# Sony DVD camcorder
# Commemorative Fossil watch
# Commemorative Ogio backpack
# Commemorative New Era 5950 fitted hat
# Commemorative plaque
# Commemorative autograph football
# One-year subscription to ESPN the Magazine

And the title game between Florida and Oklahoma? Try a $300 Sony Gifting Suite (player's choice up to $300 in Sony electronics), a Tourneau Watch, and a Blockbuster video movie rental subscription. Even the lowly Poinsettia Bowl, which I hadn't heard of until today, nets players an iPod touch and some Best Buy gift cards.

Oh, how I hate my decision to go into journalism. All I have to show for it is a drinking problem and the ability to toss anonymous snark around the Net with the grace of a disgruntled gazelle. Sigh. [FOX Sports]

After showing the bottle off at a defense conference in the UK, Pritchard sold all 1,000 of his $385 bottles in under four hours. Defense experts were impressed with the fact that it could filter 4,000 or 6,000 liters before the filter had to be replaced. An innovation such as this could have a significant impact if it ever reached the consumer market, not only being used as emergency gear, but for camping and travel as well. [The Register]

Normally, she told us, the slot houses a little plastic arm that prevents the paper from dropping onto the floor. But it's a fragile little piece, so the bods at Samsung decided to remove it just in case any clumsy IFA-goers (ie me) snapped it off. Not that interesting, really because, given the looks, the peephole should hide microscopic laser guns that go "Pew-Pew-Pew-Pew" if they spot a typo. Just a thought.

UPDATE: I've got you some prices for you to get you some printer love. Most of the numbers at IFA are given to us in Euros, but Samsung told us to expect virtually the same price stateside as in Europe. The ML-1630 will cost 229 ($312) and the SCX-4500 349 , or $476.

Powered by a custom version of Linux named Transmission, a 500MHz processor, and 256MB of RAM the Trinity DAW comes loaded with a variety of soft synths, sequencers, and audio editing programs. The workstation has 802.11g Wi-Fi, a 40GB hard drive, and is controlled by a touchpad and two buttons. It also has an USB input for controlling the soft synths and a set of XLR (big, three-pronged connector) and TRS (big headphone connector) inputs and outputs for interfacing external gear.

Sure, you wont be running 15 pieces of equipment at once, but that's what all the software is for, right? No price or release date has been set.
[Create Digital Music]

Product Page [Contemporary Heaven via Coolest Gadgets via Oh Gizmo via Boing Boing]

Jack Bauer Gear [uncrate]

The Words Gear has a six-hour battery life, an e-Sensor to control the device with a finger, and a price of around $340. It should be released sometime later this year, but most likely won't be available outside of Japan. – Jason Chen

Panasonic "Words Gear" book reading device [Tech Japan via Slashgear]

Now go forth, artisan. Roll 1D0 for your chance of getting a girlfriend with this Bag of Holding. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [ThinkGeek]

Audiophile [ilikejam - Get ready to slam this poor guy's DSL line via BoingBoing via BackupBrain]