MP3 Players just got sexier...

And this baby is beautiful. (You wonder how come Apple's designers are always one ahead of the rest of the crowd. There must be something in that milk they're drinking.)

It's 42 grams, and wafer thin, and sports a brilliant 16-bit LCD screen for photos and such.

It has its faults. Average battery life, still no FM radio, and 8 gigs of memory isn't fantastic at S$350+. But you're buying a lifestyle, not just a gadget.

And cased in fabulous black or pure white, it's a fashion statement. So either ride the first wave of this slick shick, or wait for un-Creative to come up with Muvo ninny, the exact duplicate.

Perhaps it started in Japan. That seems reasonable, what with their toasters that can double up as chopping boards and beds which you can shower in.

Considering the price of living there, convergence makes sense. But today, convergence is also about looking cool. So when Oakley announced the creation of its latest model Thump, no one was surprised. But it certainly impressed. Shades that can pour music into your ears? WOW.

Coming in only one form factor, there are two memory sizes , 256 and 512 Mb, with different designs to choose from. The 512 Mb pair comes with the option of polarised lens, so the Thump isn't just a MP3 player with a really unique style, it really does protect your eyes.

XYZ Optics, Oakley's original patented technology offers you distortion free sight from even the extreme angles of your field of vision. The best thing is, if for some strange reason you ever decide to put these pretties under a car tyre, you'll be able to pick it up and keep grooving. Which is more than I can say for my iPod, but that's another story for another day.

Still, the first thing that popped into my mind was, how comfortable is it? At 52 grams, it isn't heavy at all, and is big enough to fit over your spectacles. Petite ladies do not have to worry though, there is a ladies' version for a smaller frame.

Read more: Oakley Thumper