PRESENT PERFECT

Once again, TOS is doing all the dirty work for you, you lucky stiffs. We tested the gift-ability of some new products to see which are worth your hard-earned cash this holiday season – and which are not

GIMME! Braun Epilator
For most women, not only is hair removal a hassle, but it can get pricey. Good thing there’s the Braun Silk-épil Xpressive 7781 – an ergonomically designed hair remover with a flexible head and built-in massage attachment. But what’s it like when it comes to pain? Luckily, it’s negligible, like tiny ant bites; though beginners should ease in by using the first speed and beginner cap. The hair that grows back is comparable to what returns post-waxing. My biggest complaint is it comes with too many attachments. With that said, would I buy it? For sure. It’ll certainly help during emergency stubble removal situations. Not sure if I would use it on my bikini line or face (both functions are applicable) though, but certainly for the underarms and shins.
$129.95, available at department stores. 
Hwei Ai

ON THE FENCE uCrown
Local company OSIM has always managed to cater to its customers’ deepest, silliest desires. Remember the ride-the-fat-from-your-stomach iGallop? The uCrown, an acupressure head massager, is also good for a laugh – slip it on and you look like you’re being prepped for a lobotomy. Knobs at the top and side allow for a snug fit, while pads gently massage the temples and base of the neck in three different modes. Chances are your reaction will be similar to our colleague’s: his eyes glassed over and within 30 seconds he was making sounds better suited to the bedroom than the workplace. Still, the uCrown isn’t perfect; for a device that is supposed to help you relax, the audible ‘farting’ and grinding sounds it makes as it expands and contracts are odd. Also, while pre-set music is a thoughtful gesture, most people would prefer setting their own playlist.
$268, available from all OSIM retailers.
Charlene Fang

GIMME! Ixus 980 IS
Don’t let the delicate look and tiny size fool you: underneath this camera’s curvy chassis lies a state-of-the-art photographic engine. Canon’s new Ixus 980 IS digicam packs a surprisingly capable feature set that includes a 36mm-133mm zoom lens for wide-angle and telephoto viewing, Image Stabilization (IS) for blur-free images during low-light situations, and a main menu that lets you shoot fully automatic or manual – in short, whatever your skill level requires. What makes this digital camera a real joy to use, however, are the little touches that make photography worryfree. There’s the face-detection function that instantly focuses and an ultra-quick startup time to ensure you don’t miss a photo op.
$659, available at www.canon.com.
Lester Ledesma

GIMME! Hang-out hammock
‘Concept boutique store’ Trolley specialises in lifestyle and designer products – hyperbole that’s essentially shorthand for ‘we sell a fluorescent pink hammock in a bag’. Although it’s not the sort you might see strung underneath a truck or at a construction site, the hammock is actually trendy and fairly durable. It’s made of nylon mesh and can hold up to 120kg, so one average-sized adult (or two smallish adults) can fit in. Still, it’s most comfortable when you swing solo. It also rolls up into a ball and comes with a handy bag that you can store in your purse or backpack, making that mid-afternoon nap in the park possible. I’m not kidding – that was one of the nicest lunch breaks I’ve had in a while.
$59, available from Trolley, 20 Amoy St (6220 2554).
Laura Dannen

NAHM Sennheiser MX W1
A pair of tiny (and wireless) earphones in shiny, steel grey and a portable docking station all wrapped up in one cool and snazzy package – what’s not to like? However, this was when my hopes died. Since when did turning on a pair of earphones get so complicated? To switch it on, you have to keep your finger pressed on the device till the blue light starts to blink. Then you have to get the transmitter working (watch again for the blue light), and fi nally the earphones (you guessed it…the blue light again). After all this, your music does pipe through – but when it does, the quality is on the hollow side. Maybe this is just me, but after two hours of continuous wear, I could feel a headache creeping in. For this price, I’ll settle for a pair of in-ear headphones (with wires) and a tiny MP3 player I can walk around with instead.
$799, available from www.sennheiser.com.
CF