LEDUBE LED Lego-like building blocks

If you had as many Legos as I did when you were a kid, and you love LED lighting as much as I do, the LEDUBE from Sankoflex should satisfy you to no end. We came across these at the Japan Shop Expo last month and got a peek at how they work as well.

LEDUBEs are LED cubes that can be stacked on each other to create any shape that you desire, including massive structures such as the display booth Sankoflex was using at the expo. Each cube can create 2.1 million colors and, while working together, display amazing moving graphics and video.

All of the content is created on a PC with software, and then loaded into the system with an SD card. Quite simple for the effect produced, but the LEDUBE don’t come cheap either. While they aren’t available for sale yet, the entire display system shown here costs about $4,800 per day, plus $2,400 in programming costs.

Be sure to check out the LEDUBE homepage to get more info. In general we came across a great deal of very innovative LED lighting solutions for both home and retail, from floor displays that play video to incredibly thin tiles that can be used in walls. Japan has always been ahead in LEDs, but there’s a lot going on right now that will change the way we light all of our spaces.

Luxury toilet from Inax plays music, illuminates

If it is possible for a toilet to be sexy, this one just might be. The Regio from Inax, planned for a June release is designed to grace the dressing room or powder room of the most discerning consumer.

Completely silent, except for the soft relaxing music that plays when the seat lifts, this tankless toilet uses a combination of water and air power for soundless, water-saving flushing. Jazz pianist Yoshiko Kishino contributed an original compositions for the toilet, um, soundtrack.

Of course the Regio comes with all the standard washlet functions, like the bidet and bum cleaning sprays from hidden nozzles, that have made Japanese toilets world famous (and made toilets a suitable subject for the travel photo slideshow). Other premium features includea mechanism that emits germ killing ions (courtesy of Sharp), an illuminated toilet bowl, and an extra wide seat for increased comfort.

This sports car of a toilet sells for a cool ¥462,000 (brilliant white) or ¥556,500 (noble black). If you consider, however, that most Tokyoites use the toilet far more than they would a car, its not a bad choice.

HomeStar Spa planetarium from Sega Toys

UPDATE#2: JapanTrendShop now carries the Homestar Spa.

UPDATE: The even newer Homestar EX!

It’s been awhile, but we’re finally getting a nice update to the immensely popular Homestar “Home Planetarium” series from Sega Toys.

After the original Homestar became so popular, the much-improved Homestar Pro and the portable Homestar Pure hit the market. However, aside from some special editions, there hasn’t been an update in over a year.

Coming soon, the Homestar Spa is a home planetarium for your bathroom!

Homestar Spa is combining elements of popular ambient and bath toys for adults (JapanTrendShop has tons), with waterproof design and additional projection elements such as “flowers” and “kaleidoscope“.

While not yet out on the market, HomeStar Spa will be debuting at the upcoming Tokyo Toy Show, and we’ll be there as always for in-depth coverage of this year’s latest gadgets and toys, including plenty of photos and video.