Gulf News Web Sub-Editor Morven Philp ventures into Gitex Technology Week 2008 to bring you the real story.
Happiness is an electric cigar
There are very few aspects of everyday living that haven't been touched by technology - we have electric toothbrushes, electric fences, I even know somebody with an electric needle-threader. But cigars?
Yes that's right, coming all the way from China, Ruyan Group has developed a cigar that offers a tobacco-free alternative to the normal smoking implement.
At a cool $150 there is also a model that comes with added tobacco, which I guess kind of defeats the purpose. But it didn't stop a bevy of people from surrounding the stall, desperate for a sample.
As a non-smoker, I found the musty smell quite comforting and loved the whole novelty factor, but ultimately, it really is quite pointless. Still, I guess you'd save money on cigar cutters!
Fruit and vegetable stalls
With a lot of the food stalls at Gitex being packed to the rafters with starving patrons, it seems that a great number of companies have taken to teasing the hungry masses.
Everywhere I looked I kept seeing vegetables! It would appear the best way to flog a new television model is to keep showing clips of fruit and vegetables.
Green peppers and red strawberries on big screens must have kept many tummies rumbling; I even saw one stall set up like the fruit and vegetable aisle of a supermarket. Unfortunately, these tasty treats were all plastic.
Blue-ray of light
One stall I could have spent plenty of time at was the cosy little den advertising Panasonic's new Blue-ray DVD player. Hidden away, this snug room offered a comfy white leather sofa, dimmed blue lights, and a selection of action movies blasting from a giant screen.
Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and a host of other muscle-tastic action stars entertained on the big screen the lucky few who managed to get a spot of respite at this tiny stall.
Sandwiched in
At first glance, I did wonder why Samsung had branched into manufacturing grilled sandwich machines. This kind of thing is best left to George Foreman.
But on closer inspection I realised that it was actually the company's new portable DVD player, scheduled to be released next autumn.
Available in white and black, these sleek square-shaped machines are touch sensitive and a very stylish way to watch movies on the go. Just don't try to stick a tuna sandwich inside it!
A bunny kind of thing
First there were Tamagotchis - digital pets you could fit in your pockets, didn't have to venture outside to walk, and never have to clean up after. Now, there is the nabaztag:tag.
A strange name indeed, but this is a small plastic rabbit with colourful ears, who, unlike the real thing, has the added benefit of being able to connect you to the internet. Made by the company Violet, this little wi-fi device reacts to everything you do on the internet.
While the most noise a real rabbit makes is the little crunching sound when it's gnawing on a carrot, the nabaztag:tag can speak 20 languages and gives you any info from the net by speaking it out loud and moving its electric ears. All this, and you don't even need to buy a hutch!
