Thanko
by Serkan Toto on November 25, 2009

Infamous USB gadget maker Thanko can’t be stopped, it seems. They gave us USB-powered shavers, USB-powered neckties and even USB-powered boob warmers. And today the Tokyo-based company started listing the USB eye warmer [JP] in their online store. As you might expect, it warms your eyes.

by Serkan Toto on November 16, 2009

Tokyo-based Thanko has brought us many USB-powered crap gadgets in the past. But in the last few days, the company has rolled out not one but four of those gadgets in rapid succession: A USB shoe dryer, USB eyelash curler, USB toothbrush sanitizer case, and a USB blanket (all links in Japanese). And you can get all of this stuff even if you live outside Japan.

by Serkan Toto on November 12, 2009

OK, now the USB gadget craze gets really silly. Tokyo-based crap USB accessory maker Thanko has been selling USB-powered slippers and gloves that are supposed to keep you warm in the past, but the new model, Dinosaur foot-shaped slipper(s) [JP] (of all things), is probably the silliest.

by Serkan Toto on November 9, 2009

My first reaction – when I saw today on Thanko’s web site that the notoriously silly gadget maker from Tokyo is selling USB-powered gloves with built-in heaters [JP] – was: Who actually buys this kind of stuff? I mean Thanko is a real company, they have brick-and-mortar stores in Tokyo (two of them), they have employees etc. But they have been surviving for years now, even though they closed their English online store last month.

by Serkan Toto on November 2, 2009

Following the GPS watch introduced last week, Tokyo-based USB gadget maker Thanko is selling another product that actually makes sense. The so-called AV Bank [JP] is being marketed as a versatile media player that can be used as a music player, photo frame, video player and voice recorder. And it’s relatively cheap, too.

by Serkan Toto on October 30, 2009

Tokyo-based Thanko, famous for its plethora of USB-enabled gadgets that make no sense whatsoever, has announced a GPS-enabled watch [JP] today. And this device has a USB (2.0) port, too. It’s compatible with Windows XP and Vista.

by Serkan Toto on October 9, 2009

Tokyo-based crap gadget maker Thanko is rolling out another USB device, but this time the gadget (kind of) makes sense. It’s a USB mini camera [JP] that can be used for a variety of activities, including shooting pictures and videos underwater. It’s water-proof up to a depth of 20m.

by Serkan Toto on October 5, 2009

I don’t know how and I don’t know why they do it. But Thanko, the Tokyo-based maker of gadgets no one needs, is now selling a USB-powered soldering iron [JP]. Alternatively, you can use the thing with a 9V battery.

by Serkan Toto on September 30, 2009

Japan’s No. 1 crap gadget maker Thanko surprisingly announced a new device today that doesn’t look too crappy: The DIGITAL MP4 AudioPlayer AV [JP], a portable media player that houses a digital camera. The device comes with 8GB of built-in memory (miniSD cards are supported and works only with Windows XP/Vista.

by Doug Aamoth on September 17, 2009

After some initial investigation, I can’t figure out how you skip tracks on this thing. Can’t figure out the volume either. Shuffle function? Not sure. There seems to be but a single button. Perhaps everything is controlled via a cryptic series of multiple button presses a la the iPod shuffle. Whatever the case, this is the “MP3 Micro Sport” from Thanko.

by Serkan Toto on September 4, 2009

Weird, weirder, Thanko. The Tokyo-based gadget makers are unstoppable when it comes to USB stuff, including household products. They already gave us the USB-powered boob warmers, the heated USB wrist band and the USB lunch box warmer. And today it’s time for the USB-powered shaver [JP].

by Serkan Toto on September 4, 2009

Every once in a while, Tokyo-based crap gadget maker Thanko does release a gadget that’s not completely silly. This new USB record player [JP] for use with a Windows PC (XP and Vista) or Mac (OS X) is not really that exciting, but it’s one of them.

by Serkan Toto on September 1, 2009

It’s Thanko time again. Today the Tokyo-based crap gadget company released another of their weird inventions, the Shoubenkozou [JP], a cupid-like mini figure that for some reason is able to “pee”. And needless to say, the thing can be connected to your computer’s USB port.

by Serkan Toto on August 7, 2009

Tokyo-based crap gadget specialist Thanko is usually known for selling USB stuff nobody needs. Their newest hit product doesn’t feature a USB port, but the target group for their Catgirl Earphones [JP] should be quite small, too. Marketed as a gadget for the Cosplay crowd, the earphones are supposed to turn your girlfriend into a cute catgirl.

by Serkan Toto on July 31, 2009

Does your dental plan suck? Are you afraid of the dentist? If yes, then the Dental Microscope [JP], offered by Tokyo-based crap gadget specialist Thanko, might be the right choice for you. Similar to its lightoscope released back in April, this new microscope is a combination of a microscope and a light. Needless to say, there’s a USB port, too.

by Serkan Toto on July 27, 2009

USB gadget specialized Thanko strikes again. This time, the Tokyo-based company gives you a small portable camera [JP] that can be attached to your bike or helmet, for example. The so-called Action Camera is similar to a device Thanko released in May, but this new model isn’t waterproof.

But it can record video at 30fps (in 640 x 480 VGA), weighs just 80g and stores video on MicroSD cards (up to 2GB, the internal memory is 32MB only). Charge the battery for 2.5 hours and you can use the Action Camera for up to 2 hours. Needless to say, there is also a USB 2.0 port (this is a Thanko product, after all).

by Serkan Toto on July 15, 2009

Yet another USB gadget from Thanko: This time the Tokyo-based company surprises us with a USB can cooler and heater [JP]. That’s right, you basically get two practical devices for the price of one (a simple switch does the trick).

Plug the gadget into a USB port and it will keep your beverage warm in the winter and cold in the summer. Thanko says this is usually the case for about 4 hours (after that, the cooling/warming effect wears off). The device features a temperature range of between 7 and 50°C.

by Serkan Toto on July 10, 2009

Following the spy button camera that just came out last week, a USB necktie with a built-in camera and a camera watch, Tokyo-based gadget maker is now offering a pen with an integrated micro camera [JP]. The so-called Super Slim Video Pen isn’t as spectacular as previous spy gadgets from that company but comes with a decent price, at least.

by Serkan Toto on July 8, 2009

Tokyo-based crap gadget maker and USB specialist Thanko has a weakness for PC mice. In the last weeks, they gave you the “mid-air” mouse, a mouse with insects in it, a heated and a cooling mouse. The last one, a “silent” mouse that makes almost no sound when using it, seems to be a perfect fit for Thanko’s newest invention: a silent keyboard [JP].

by Serkan Toto on July 2, 2009

Thanko, specialists of all things USB, brought us many good things in the past. Camera-wise, the Tokyo-based company rolled out a water-proof mini camera, a USB necktie with a built-in camera, not one but two video watches and (just recently) an HDV camera.

But these fantastic devices had one flaw: They were small, but not small enough. Reason enough for Thanko to announce the video camera button today [JP]. Needless to say the camera comes with a USB port (this is a Thanko product), 4GB of internal memory and the ability to shoot video in VGA at 15fps.

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