The first is when you decide to go with your typical folding chair and separate beach umbrella. The second is if you’ve purchased one of these Super-Brella Chairs and are now laughing at the shmucks who still haven’t gotten one for themselves.

As you can see, this chair has got everything: an umbrella to shield you from the sun or protect you from the rain, comfortable armrests, and a holder where you can put your drinks in. It’s also extremely portable, so you can just fold everything up and carry it around in the shoulder bag that it comes with.

Perfect to take along with you to the beach, to concerts and other outdoor events, to fishing, for lounging around in your backyard, and perhaps any other activity that’s done outdoors. You can get one in Europe from the Pro Idee Concept Store for £49.95 (~$82 USD). In the U.S., for a extra few dollars ($99.99), Hammacher Schlemmer sells a version which includes a foot-rest too.

[via Gadgets Matrix]

I love to hit the beach when the weather’s perfect and it’s just the right kind of sunny. You know, the kind that doesn’t feel like you’re being roasted alive because of that huge gaping hole in the ozone layer; the kind of perfect weather where you can just lay around on your beach towel and plug in your headphones and let the music carry you off far away from where you are.

Then the battery runs out. I’ve experienced this once or twice and I’m usually all settled in by the time that happens, so I just forego the music instead. However, with this solar-powered bikini, you don’t have to.

Designed by Andrew Schneider, the solar-powered bikini can pump some electric juice into your gadgets while looking like a bikini that typical girls would wear to the beach. Charge up your iPod while you soak up some rays via USB connection. The bikini is fitted with photovoltaic strips that are held together with conductive thread. Of course, you shouldn’t go for a dip while you’re in this suit.

The solar bikini doesn’t store any of the energy it absorbs. Rather, it just passes on the electricity to your gadgets while you’re under the sun. A male version of this suit has also been announced and will be coming soon.

Each suit is custom made, so you’d have to send an email off to Solar Coterie to ask for a quote. We’ve heard that prices are around the $200 area, which is on the pricey end. But hey, at least you’re being eco-friendly while having a grand old sunny time.

[via inhabitat via Gadgets Matrix]

EMILY uses its sonar to detect “underwater movements associated with swimmers in distress”. EMILY also has a camera and a speaker, so that onshore lifeguards can talk to the person in distress to calm them down and give them instructions. The robot has an electric impeller that allows it to go as fast as 28mph, and it can go as far as 80 mi on a single charge.

For now, EMILY is remote-controlled. But Hydronalix, its manufacturer, will start selling an autonomous version next spring for $3,500 (USD). I wonder if robots think EMILY is hot.

[via PopSci]

The new AquaTune Nano 4G provides a durable waterproof case for your Nano 4G, while pumping sound out of a pair of high-output 1W speakers which can also handle the wet stuff. The polycarbonate shell is sealed with a watertight O-ring to keeps the H2O out, and your delicate electronics nice and dry.

Don’t have a Nano? Then the AquaTune v2 is right for you. While not as svelte as the Nano 4G, the V2 works with almost every non-touchscreen iPod model under the sun (and in the water), and ups the audio ante with a pair of 3W drivers.

They’re perfect for the beach, swimming, a rainy day, floating in the tub or to accompany your off-key singing in the shower.

No word on when the AquaTune will turn up stateside, but they’re available in Japan with the Nano 4G model selling for ¥10,800 (appx. $118 USD) and a rather pricey for ¥15,800 (appx. $173 USD) the V2.

Hang this remote-controlled picture on your wall, and you can swap between eight different scenic vistas from the comfort of your Aeron chair. Working sort of like those motorized image-flipping ad displays you see in shopping centers these days, the panorama can change between a variety of tranquil locales with a simple press of the remote. It even can play sounds of nature or new-agey music to help set your mind adrift. The box measures in at about 39″(w) x 3″(d) x 19″(h) and hangs easily on your wall.

Sure, it won’t actually give you a tan, but you can always run to the strip mall for one of those, right? While you’re there, you can grab a Piña Colada flavored slushie from the Orange Julius. You can get your fake vacation started over at Taylor Gifts for just under $100 bucks.

It’s got a backlit grey-on-black LCD screen that uses a pixel graph to show the current height of the surf. Also along for the ride are alarm, day/date and dual time zone functionality. It’s also got a countdown timer and chronograph for timing your athletic feats. Plus, the Lodown is water resistant to 100 meters, so it’s perfect for play at sea.

It’s available in black, silver and off-white/blue poycarbonate finishes, and will set you back about $90 from Nixon’s online shop.

Maybe it’s watching all those episodes of HBO’s John from Cincinnati that had me thinking about surfers… or maybe it’s just got me confused.