THE GOODS : You Are on the Receiving End
You’re the antenna with Sony’s unique Watchman color TV. Just hang the strap of the FDL-22 Watchman with Straptenna around your neck and watch the reception get better.
Sony has eliminated the usual telescoping rod on the tiny TV by inventing the Straptenna, which takes advantage of the human body’s capabilities as a natural radio receiver.
Since the human body has such a large water content, it is a conductor. The body becomes an extension of the antenna, thus making the antenna more efficient.
Watchman FDL-22 with Straptenna (suggested retail, $139.95) weighs only 10.2 ounces, has a 2.2-inch color LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, a built-in speaker and a carrying case.
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Getting Even: Shower Wave, a new microwave oven from Sanyo, is the first one that distributes the waves through a cone-shaped guide--instead of rectangular--to spread the microwave energy more evenly over a wider cooking area.
According to Sanyo, the company’s tests found Shower Wave cooks microwaveable meals, especially frozen entrees, “more thoroughly and evenly than ever,” heating thoroughly so there are no cold spots in the food.
Sanyo is offering the new technology in two new microwaves. The EM-S707W (suggested retail, $199.95) has 820 watts of cooking power and 0.9 cubic feet of cooking space. The EM-S807W ($229.95) has 910 watts with 1.2 cubic-feet interior.
Both also include other interesting features--a boomerang turntable that returns dishes to the oven front for easy removal, defrost by weight, a one-button automatic popcorn setting and a lock-out feature to prevent small children from activating the oven.
There’s also a Quick On feature that sets the oven for one to nine minutes on high power by touching just one button. The six-course direct access programming allows the user to choose the setting for one to four servings of a beverage, plate of food, frozen dinner, frozen vegetables or a casserole and simply press start. The correct cooking time and temperature are chosen automatically.
A hold warm feature keeps food warm and ready-to-eat without further cooking for up to 1 hour and 39 minutes.
The Sanyo Shower Waves can be purchased at electronics and appliance stores including Service Merchandise, The Wiz, Incredible Universe, Tops Appliance City, Best Buy, Adray, P.C. Richards, as well as QVC Network and Spiegel.
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Magic Wand: WonderWand is a new vacuum cleaner attachment that makes it easy to clean under sofas, beds, washers and dryers and most refrigerators.
Manufactured by IdeaWorks in Indian Wells, WonderWand has a slim half-inch design and extends to 36 inches so users can clean most hard-to-reach places. It also has attached magnets on the tip for catching metal objects before they get caught up in the vacuum cleaner.
The sturdy plastic tool fits all major brands of vacuums, and any vacuum with a 1 1/4-inch hose.
WonderWand (suggested retail, $12-$14) is sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens & Things and Lechters. Or you can order it from IdeaWorks, (800) 622-0089.
