Now, gizmos to be girl's best friend

Coming onto the market worldwide in the next few weeks are data-storage sticks outfitted as glitzy jewellery.

Coming onto the market worldwide in the next few weeks are data-storage sticks and headphones outfitted as glitzy jewellery.

The Philips products are decorated with lead-crystal gemstones from Austrian-based jewellery manufacturer and retailer Swarovski.

They are aimed squarely at women consumers who have digital secrets to keep but would never dream of hanging nerdy gadgets on the body or spoiling elegant outfits.

Philips said the line would include 1-gigabyte flash drives styled as heart-shaped pendants so that the owner can keep her spreadsheets, holiday snaps or music tracks on a silver chain round her neck.

Also doubling as data storage devices are cute little stainless-steel padlocks encrusted with rhinestones, which can be hooked to a purse. Both memory products have a recommended retail price of 149 euros ($200).

The other part of the new range comprises decorative headphone sets, intended for use with ordinary MP3 players. In one, the neck-strap is lined with crystals, giving it a diamond necklace look, and in another, the earpieces look like gem earrings.

Philips executive Silke Hecht-Noelle said the launch around the time of the IFA consumer-electronics fair, which takes place August 31 to September 5 in Berlin, would be global.

Hecht-Noelle added that the 'Active Crystals' product line would be offered in Swarovski shops - that company says it has more than 1,150 retail outlets worldwide - as well as in luxury airport gift shops, but not in ordinary consumer-electronics marts.