Ballooning Growth of Home Theaters – 5 Wicked Themed Rooms (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Now that we all have our 52 inch plasma Hi Def TV’s, what will separate us from the uber rich? The room we put it in. Instead of hanging on the wall across from the recliners, the uber rich design an over-the-top room that you only see when the lights are on. Which during a real theater experience i…

Will Ferrell smells like a turtle cage.

Semipro

Will Ferrell + Old Spice + Semi-Pro Co-brand + user participation = pretty fuckin’ awesome. Check it. You really gotta hand it Old Spice and WK. This is one helluva brand renovation that’s underway. Irrelevant and cheesy to irreverent and, gulp, potentially cool. One can almost drop Old Spice in the shopping cart without shame.

Viral Valentine – Candy Heart Generator

(TrendHunter.com) We all love to receive customize things, and there’s never been an easier way to send personalized messages than with viral internet greetings. Just in time for February 14, you can customize your own sweet Valentine with the Candy Heart Generator.

The site lets you create your own heart-shaped ca…

Rental Culture for Kids – Baby Plays

(TrendHunter.com) Trend Hunter has covered rental culture in the past; we’ve seen iPhone rentals, pet and garden rentals, EV city cars, the ability to rent designer ‘it’ bags and even luxury car time shares.

Last year we featured baby clothes rental, and now a similar concept, Baby Plays, allows for toy rental.

I…

Amazing GPS Sports Glove – Verva Vie Sports Gauntlet (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The Vie (pronounced vee, French word for life), designed by Du Tran Nguyen, is a sports glove concept that incorporates today’s latest technologies to enhance sports, active and social lifestyles via an innovative human-machine-interface. In addition to being a typical health monitor, The Vie al…

Art That Actually Watches You – Opto-Isolator (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) Have you ever looked at a painting or sculpture that had eyes that seemed to watch you?

You can try to convince yourself all you want that this wall mount isn’t watching you, but in this case, your paranoid instinct would be right.

The Opto-Isolator is the creepy invention of Golan Levin and Gre…

Secret Urban Fort – Car Tent (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) At first, and even second or third glance, this white object looks like a car covered in a protective auto blanket, but be assured, there is no vehicle hidden underneath.

The structure is actually hollow. It’s a car-shaped tent which makes a great secret fort for an urban setting. It would be idea…

Saatchis names Rowden as new Asia-Pacific chief

SINGAPORE – Saatchi & Saatchi has appointed Sydney-based marketer Ian Rowden as its Asia Pacific chairman and chief executive.

P&G wins Cannes 2008 Advertiser of the Year

LONDON – P&G has been named Advertiser of the Year 2008 by the Cannes Lions, in recognition of the FMCG giant’s innovative marketing and effectiveness efforts.

LED Ear Buds Blink With the Music – Bi-LEDear (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Unless you’re busting a move in front of the mirror, you won’t be able to see how cool these LED ear buds look, but those around you sure will. The earphones, compatible with just about all audio devices, blink with the beat of music.

The earpieces themselves come in pink, white and blue but the f…

Hot Or Not Sold

formats.jpg

According to TechCrunch, the novelty site turned dating community HotorNot has been acquired by Avid Life Media for a sum rumored to be in the neighborhood of $20 million. Not bad for the owners, James Hong and Jim Young, who started the thing seven years ago on a whim, sans ambition or vision. TechCrunch reports that the site’s annual revenue is estimated to be “around $5 million, with $2 million in profit.” Here’s Michael Arrington with the scoop:

I spoke with Hong a few moments ago, who confirmed the acquisition, which closed on Friday, but not the price. He says he and Jim will not be affiliated with the business on a day to day basis going forward. “We’ve been working on HotOrNot for seven years now,” said Hong, adding “It’s time to break up with this girlfriend.”

Ban on Patio Heaters – EU Committed to Energy Conservation (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) European environmentalists have proposed a ban on outdoor heaters, a feature many people have become accustomed to at public outdoor venues.

The heat lamps are often featured in restaurants and cafes with outdoor patios, and make for a very comfortable setting for nights out. Particularly smokers …

Paparazzi Inspire Fashion Campaign – Michael Kors Spring/Summer 08 (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) While we may argue about the decency and legality of paparazzis, we can not deny how they have become an integral part of our celebrity-obsessed culture. Fashion designer Michael Kors, famous for his jet-set styled ads, pays homage to the paparazzis with his new Spring/ Summer 2008 campaign. Photogr…

Future Vehicle Seats – 4NE1 is a Rollercoaster Ride (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) The future of vehicle seating looks like a rollercoaster ride! This new innovative design takes a whole new look at transportational seating arrangement and capabilities in the future. The 4NE1 is designed by Christopher Simmons, a student from Monash University, with the elderly and physically imp…

Robotic Toys – Inud the Robo-Dog

Did you ever want a dog that doesn’t pee on the rug? Inud the Robo-Dog by Segatoy is for you. He responds to human touch, voice commands, and movement, and will even let you shake its paw.

At $270, he will not shed or pee on the rug, nor will he put his snout in your guest’s crotch is an inappro…

Robotic Toys – Inud the Robo-Dog (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) Did you ever want a dog that doesn’t pee on the rug? Inud the Robo-Dog by Segatoy is for you. He responds to human touch, voice commands, and movement, and will even let you shake its paw.

At $270, he will not shed or pee on the rug, nor will he put his snout in your guest’s crotch is an inappro…

Nielsen to Track Online Video Use Through Its TV Panel

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — With more consumers starting to consider the idea of watching TV programs and other video online, Nielsen said it would "introduce measurement of TV viewing on the PC screen in our TV panel by the end of 2008."

Play while Working Out – Gamercize Exercise Pod

(TrendHunter.com) Are you one of those who get bored and lazy whenever you hit the gym? Gamercize is introducing The Gamercize Exercise Pod as a solution for people who suffer from boredom when working out. The Exercise Pods only provides gaming time while one exercises, so you HAVE to break a sweat to play. And if y…

No We Can’t.

Thanks to Neal Hughlett at Hill Holliday for this.

Unique Home Designs – The Lobster Chair (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Opting for a fresh and unique design, Lund & Paarmann designed the Lobster Chair for Verikon Furniture. I particularly like how they connected the chair’s body to the metal base in way that makes it look like it is floating in the air or water. It also looks very cozy and comfortable, to snuggle th…