The winners of Good Housekeeping's 2nd Annual VIP (Very Innovative Products) Awards solve problems in exciting ways and are just plain cool.
These five winners stood out from among the 1,650 items that the Good Housekeeping Research Institute evaluated. For more winners, check out the February issue of Good Housekeeping .
Coolpix S1000pj Camera from Nikon, $430 » Forget teensy camera screens, this point-and-shoot camera is the first to include a built-in projector, capable of casting images that measure up to 40 inches diagonally.
Features such as 12.1 megapixels, 5x wide-angle zoom and image stabilization (to keep shaky hands and moving objects from ruining shots) help capture enlargement-worthy photos.
Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer from HP, $399 » This printer doesn't need a computer because it uses a wireless Internet connection to access a variety of specially designed Web applications (such as Google Maps and USA Today ) through its touchscreen control panel.
Once you find the info you need (say, grocery coupons or movie tickets), just print and go. The machine also scans, faxes, produces high-quality photos and, of course, speedily prints documents from a computer.
Dolby Volume from Dolby, price varies » Annoyed by blaring TV commercials, deafening movie-action sequences or hushed dialogue that's impossible to decipher? The folks at Dolby have developed a way to even out sound levels and eliminate noise complaints for good.
The technology is built into most Toshiba Regza TVs ($1,300 to $2,400), but it's expected to become the standard in home-entertainment audio (along with versions from competitors SRS Labs and Audyssey).
Frizz Therapy Straightening Iron from Remington, $50 » To help tame curls even in humid situations, try this flat iron by Remington, the only one that has conditioning polymers covering the plates.
These frizz-fighting substances coat and smooth hair as the heat straightens it. In tests, kinky locks stayed sleek for up to 15 hours.
Perfect Flush from Brondell, $79 » This simple system is the first to turn nearly any toilet into a water-saving, dual-flush unit, for a fraction of the cost of buying a new one. Installation takes a half hour or less, and the device could slash up to $100 per year off your water bill. The two-sided button sits atop the tank or can be mounted to the side with double-stick tape. Press one side for a small flush, the other for a full flush.
On another matter » Active video games can help your child burn 90 calories in half an hour, report University of Oklahoma researchers. Good Housekeeping researchers had youths 10 to 16 test the latest crop. The winner was EA Sports' Active Personal Trainer ($60, Nintendo Wii). Players try to beat personal records on 30 sports and drills. More top-rated games include Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2010 ($30-40, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS); The Beatles: Rock Band ($60, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox 360); and Wii Sports Resort ($50, Nintendo Wii).
