As the official outfitter of the 2010 U.S. Olympic team, you'll no doubt be seeing plenty of the Ralph Lauren Polo Olympic Games Collection ($10-$425) over the next few weeks. Inspired by vintage designs but updated with modern materials and flair, the collection includes jackets, sweaters, polos, tees, vests, hoodies, boots, and hats, all decked in a traditional red, navy, and white color scheme that keeps things classy yet patriotic.
And so the DSLR wars continue. The Canon EOS Rebel T2i ($900) is the latest salvo from Canon, offering a number of improvements over the T1i it replaces. Highlights include 3.7fps shooting, ISO up to 6400, an 18-megapixel CMOS sensor, 1080p video at both 30 and 24 fps with full manual exposure control, an iFCL 63-zone dual-layer metering system, a 3-inch LCD, support for SDXC memory cards, and a 9-point AF system. If you're already a Canon shooter, or simply want to save some money, the T2i also comes in a body-only package for $800, giving you $100 to put towards a better lens than the middling 18-55 kit glass — in fact, it'll pretty much cover Canon's base 50mm f/1.8 prime.
Founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegün and Herb Abramson, Atlantic Records has come a long way in the last sixty-plus years, and the Atlantic Records Time Capsule ($200) chronicles the whole crazy ride. Compiled by a small group of Atlantic employees, the collection — housed in a custom metallic capsule box — includes The House That Ahmet Built on DVD, a 140-page full color book on the label, including exclusive quotes and stories from the artists and characters that make up Atlantic's past, over 200 images, vintage memorabilia and swag, and, of course, music: 165 tracks spread across nine CDs, covering artists as varied as John Coltrane, Death Cab For Cutie, Iron Butterfly, The Velvet Underground, INXS, and tons of other notable musicians.
It's not very often we cover a product that isn't going to be made anymore, but that's precisely the case with Creed Private Collection Tabarome ($405). Because the quality and quantity of natural ingredients needed to make this rich, peppery, citrus-y scent no longer meet the standards of the Creed family, no more Vintage Tabarome will be produced, making the remaining stock, taken from the private supply of Creed's President and encased in a shatterproof spray bottle wrapped in embossed caramel Italian leather, all the more desirable.
NASA's official night launches might be over, but you can recreate them with one of the remaining NASA Space Shuttles (roughly $28 million). Space Shuttle Discovery has already been sold, but Atlantis and Endeavour are both still available, representing not only a verified piece of human history but billions of dollars worth of government funded R&D. Plus, you know, it's actually been to space, not unlike a gigantic moon rock that you'll need more than just a little shelf space to display. [Thanks, Andrew]
We've been haters of traditional condiment packets for as long as we can remember, so we couldn't be more happy about the new Heinz Dip & Squeeze. Holding three times as much tomatoey goodness as a regular packet, the Dip & Squeeze offers two ways to open the bottle-shaped container: either lift at the top for squeezing the ketchup onto your food, or open at the bottom for dipping french fries, nuggets, and other finger-friendly foods.
Part of the company's new Signature line, the L.L. Bean Heritage Tote ($190) is a simple, stylish traditional bag. Measuring a roomy 17" x 15" x 7.25", the Heritage is made from genuine vegetable-tanned leather that will acquire patina and character with age, and features a straightforward vintage design and rolled leather handles.
Not content to let traditional books have all the digital distribution fun, Panelfly (Free; App Store Link) lets you purchase, download, and read digital comics right from your iPhone or iPod touch. With hundreds of titles available from some of the biggest names in comics — including Marvel — Panelfly's slick, well-designed interface makes reading each issue as easy as possible, and in case you're thinking the iPhone/iPod touch screen is too small, have patience — Panelfly for the iPad will launch alongside the device in March.
Made in Scotland from brushed shetland wool, J.Press Shaggy Dog Sweaters ($125) are a fine way to add layered warmth to your wintertime and spring looks. Available in 15 different colors, including persimmon, mauve, and sky blue, these warm sweaters feature ribbed collars and cuffs, and look great on top of both button downs and tees.
Who's in the mood for some pig and alcohol flavored suckers? Lollyphile is a San Fran-based company selling odd lollypop flavors (4/$10), like its first two creations, Absinthe and Maple-bacon. The Absinthe lollypops are made with real absinthe, and the Maple-bacon ones (also available in a caffeinated version) are made with organic, cured bacon and Vermont maple syrup. Seriously. Other flavors include The Dude-approved White Russian, Pomegranate Tangerine, Wasabi-Ginger, Chai Tea, Irish Cream, and Bourbon. Get 15% off with coupon code: uncraterocks.
If your Lucky Charms leave you short on energy before lunchtime rolls around, give Wheaties Fuel ($5) a shot in your cereal bowl. Developed with the help of Peyton Manning, Kevin Garnett, and Albert Pujols, Fuel packs 200 calories in each serving, with whole grains for energy, five grams of fiber to curb hunger, calcium and Vitamin D to help with bone growth, and 100 percent of five B vitamins to help your body release the energy stored in food, giving you a strong base on which to start your day.
With a legacy dating back to ancient times, Leather Vessels ($22-$200) are painstakingly-handcrafted cups, tankards, flasks, and bottles, each made with highest-possible level of detail and accuracy. A few more contemporary designs are available now, and will soon be joined by strict medieval reproductions of real-life vessels, some of which were studied by the creators at the Museum of London. So pick one up, fill it with some Mead, and toast to a time of kings, queens, knights, and shockingly bad hygiene.
Worried about radio waves from your phone melting your brain? The Pong Anti-Radiation iPhone Case ($60) is here to help. Designed for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, this unique accessory features an integrated Pong-developed Gold PCB module to redirect cellular radiation away from your head, while the silicone case protects your phone and ensures maximum signal strength thanks to its special silicone blend.
Using SurfaceSound technology, the new Tunebug Vibe ($70) lets you take a speaker with you basically anywhere you go. The Tunebug sports a stylish, triangular brushed metal body, an illuminated power button, and a standard 3.5mm input for compatibility with a wide range of audio sources, but the real magic is in the NXT-powered SurfaceSound Speaker, which turns nearly any surface — although hollow ones work best — into a makeshift speaker.
While we're not sure about its "background defocusing" feature — seems like opening up the aperture would do the same thing — the new Olympus SP-800UZ ($350) is a strong contender otherwise. It sports a 30x optical zoom, a 14 megapixel CCD sensor, a 3-inch wide-screen LCD, 720p HD video recording, CCD-shift image stabilization, SD/SDHC compatibility, Face Detection AF, and HDMI output, all crammed in a compact, stylish body.
