the sniffer

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this podcast, Cathi Bond tells Nora about “plushies” only to be told that Vanity Fair had a piece about it six years ago. She also points to a deal Wendy’s has made with the Rhapsody digital music service to distribute a free mp3 with your purchase. Is this smart marketing or over-extending the brand? What do you think?

Meanwhile, explains the high tech workings of the Litter Robot to deal with pesky litter (via wired. Cathi alerts Nora to the question of whether clumping cat litter is harmful to cats or not. This ASPCA article lays out some of the information. Anyone have hard evidence? Also, Nora doesn’t recall where she heard former PM Jean Chretien as a ’street fightin’ man’, but the tough ol’ scrapper seems like a good nickname for her cat!

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young picks up on the ‘princess culture’ as it spreads from little girls to grown women. According to Newsweek, Disney is extending its ‘princess’ line into grown women’s wedding dresses.

Meanwhile, Cathi Bond picks up on a trend thesniffer spotted a long time ago: ways to make the tiny screens and keypads of mobile devices more usable. Myvu are special glasses designed to be worn with music/video players, so that the screen looks bigger and the image is private. Cathi says the new models are supposed to be terrific.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In the podcast, Nora Young talks about HarperCollins publishers striking a deal with Myspace to publish an environmental book featuring tips from Myspace users. Is this more of the move by Myspace towards becoming a media company? It’s certainly another example of books publishers getting hip to digital marketing. Nora also mentions Penguin UK’s Spinebreakers site. You should be able to read more about it in the days ahead at CBC’s Words at Large site.

Cathi Bond tips us off to good news in fashion from Paris Fashion Week. Say goodbye to girlie girl fashion in favour of sleek lines (via JC Report)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this podcast, Nora Young talks about her ‘facebook fatigue’, and in light of Facebook’s new advertising model, refers to this post over at PSFK about the delicate balance that any social network–or advertiser–has to strike to make ads work.

Meanwhile, Cathi Bond is very excited about this watch that offers an early warning of potential impending earthquakes (via Gizmag).

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond discovers the Crown Seven, a new smokeless cigarette. The question is, will non-smokers let smokers use it in their homes, even though it gives off no smelly or harmful smoke?

Nora Young talks about the AI Light written up by New Scientist magazine. It’s a responsive lamp that changes its level of brightness based on the amount of light available from other sources. Nora says it’s another example of the growing trend towards responsiveness in electronics, and home gear.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this podcast, Cathi Bond, tips us off to Steve Case’s new baby, The Revolution Card. It’s a credit card that uses a PIN instead of your signature. An added side feature is that it also allows you to load it up with money from your bank account (up to $15,000).

Meanwhile, Nora Young talks about the Puyo, a new, fuel cell concept car unveiled at the Tokyo Car Show. What’s caught Nora’s eye is the marketing. In North America, with few exceptions, brand new, cutting edge tech doesn’t get marketed as ‘cute’

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

On this technology podcast, Cathi Bond talks about the move by Linden Labs (the Second Life people) and IBM to design avatars that you can take between virtual worlds.

Nora Young picks up on Cathi’s previous thoughts on niche tourism in Japan with chat about a recent New York Times article on two new kinds of niche pop culture tourism there: the Goth Loli tour of the Victorian/Goth girls of Harajuku, and tours for fans of Yaoi, graphic novels for straight women about gay men.