The gadget world is full of "why didn't I think of that?" discoveries - and some "why is anyone thinking of that?" finds as well. From November, Marubeni Infotech would like to sell you the CMFC-001 "Fragrance Case for Earphone". It's a little round aluminum button that you pop open, fill with fragrance-scented cotton, and snap onto the "Y" portion of your earphones. Whereupon it acts as an earphone accessory that emits pretty smells. Harmless enough, true, but still... Anyway, designed by CEMENT Design, it comes in white, pink, or black and costs JPY2980.
More info (Japanese):
http://www.monodo.jp/comonodo/product/f_e/

Office workers! RISO and Olympus are warming up the world's fastest copier, the ORPHIS X9050. It'll spit out 150 copies per minute, or 2.5 per second - fast enough for you? JPY4.3 million from February 2009.
More info (Japanese):
http://www.riso.co.jp/release/20081014.html

Take the "intelligent" car key, a wireless fob which allows unlocking your car and starting the engine by simple proximity to the vehicle. Build that functionality into a mobile phone. That's the innovative gadget convergence which Nissan, NTT Docomo and Sharp, stumped for a catchy name, have dubbed "Mobile Phone with Intelligent Key". As long as you've got your phone with you, the open road belongs to you and your Nissan. Simple as that. The companies are rushing to put the concept into production.
More info (Japanese):
http://tiny.cc/6x1SU

At Photokina in Germany last month, FUJIFILM announced its upcoming "FUJIFILM FinePix Real 3D System", an all-new combination of two-lens 3D camera, 3D photo frame, and even 3D printing, all with no funny glasses required. Both the camera's display and the photo frame share "light direction control module" technology controlling image transmission to the viewer's left and right eyes; the print technology appears to attempt something similar with a "fine pitch lenticular sheet". While we'll have to expect major limitations ("Don't tilt your head!"), it'll be interesting to see what develops from this concept when (or if) planned commercialization transpires in 2009.
Intro movie (Japanese):
http://finepix.com/jp/#/theater/real3dsystem/

Product recalls and other goofs:

Who: Fuji Film
What: Battery chargers (BC-50) with lot numbers WCAA and WCAB, for the FinePix F100fd and F50fd cameras
Why: Breakage
What to do: Call 0120-611-277 in Japan
More info (Japanese):
http://fujifilm.jp/important/20080919/

Who: Apple Computer
What: USB power adapter for iPhone 3G, in North America, Japan, and several Latin American countries
Why: Prongs can break off in power outlet
What to do: Follow online instructions
More info (English):
http://www.apple.com/support/usbadapter/exchangeprogram/?sr=hotnews

Kitty is moving up in the world of floor-cleaning devices! Previously, she appeared in a special edition of the RoboMop, a low-cost, low-tech cleaning "robot" (essentially a randomly-rolling ball topped by a floor-dusting "hat"). Now she's hitting the big time, gracing none other than the famed Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner. Based on the standard Roomba 530, the "Hello Kitty model" is offered by American manufacturer iRobot and Japanese distributor Sales On Demand Corp. The first Roomba to sport a character theme, the model shows Kitty holding an apple against a red background. 500 units go on sale September 30. JPY84,500.
More info (Japanese):
http://www.irobot-jp.com/kitty/index.html
Hello Kitty RoboMop (English):
http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/03/robomop

Another oddball USB gadget from Thanko: to complement its fan-equipped mouse and keyboard for cooling your hands, Thanko also has a fan-equipped seat for cooling your... er, seat. The "USB Cooler Cushion" straps onto your work chair and, taking power from a USB cable to your computer, sends cooling air upward through pores in the cushion. With a USB adapter for your car's cigarette lighter, it'll keep you comfy on the road too. Says the company's English page: "No more sweaty nasty seat for me!!" JPY4800 (JPY5280 with car USB adapter).
More info (Japanese):
http://thanko.jp/usbseatair/
(English):
http://www.raremonoshop.com/us/product-information/usb-cooler-cushion.html
USB Cooler mouse and keyboard (English):
http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/07/usb_cooler_mouse
http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/08/usb_cooler_keyboard