Even water bottles can be reinvented with new technology. Platypus has done just that with their new, flexible SoftBottle. This reusable, BPA-free bottle is completely flexible. Stow it in a drink holder or pocket when full. When empty, just roll it up and pack it away. The eco-friendly SoftBottle weights 80% less than other water bottles and it comes in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Find out more at the Platypus website.

Since Apple announced its new iPad tablet device earlier this year, rumors have been swirling about when it will officially go on sale. The latest rumors are saying that March 26 will be the first date that the Apple iPad will be availabe in the Apple Store. According to Apple, the iPad without 3G will begin shipping in late March, with the iPad 3G version coming out 30 days later.

The iPad is expected to compete with Amazon’s Kindle in the e-book market.  It will also run apps for the iTunes App Store, like the iPhone Touch.  The iPad will play music and video with its built-in iPod.

The Doodle-Track Car is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but it packs hours of entertainment. This small toy car has the amazing ability to follow any dark line, either printed or drawn with a marker or crayon. You can design and print track layouts on the Doodle-Tracker website, or drawn freeform tracks. The Doodle-Tracker Car was named by Popular Science magazine as one of the best toys at the 2010 International Toy Show. It retails for $14.99.

NASA and GM have unveiled a joint a new dexterous humanoid robot called Robonaut2 (nickname R2). Developed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the robot is designed to work side-by-side with humans, either in manufacturing plants or on missions in space. In factories, R2 will be able to take over some of the repetitive jobs that cause long-term injuries to humans. In outer space, this robot can take over some of the more dangerous tasks. Vision sensors in R2’s head and pressure sensors in its fingers allow it to work with a high degree of precision.

See amazing footage of R2 in action in this YouTube video and read more details in the NASA and GM Press Release.

Just when every other TV is designed to be sleek, flat and minimal, here’s a new TV from LG with plenty of retro styling. This old school television is not a flat-screen in disguise – it’s an old-fashioned, bulky cathode ray tube TV. A rabbit ear antenna and chrome legs complete the look. Korean electronics maker LG is selling this retro TV for about $216. It’s currently only available in Korea.

Read more about this retro TV on Cnet.

Just one week before the anticipated announcement of Apple’s new tablet device, Amazon has announced the release of an SDK (Software Development Kit) for its Kindle e-book reader. The Kindle SDK will allow application developers to create apps for the Kindle device. Amazon seems to be emulating Apple’s hugely successful iPhone SDK, which has led to the development of hundreds of thousands of free and for-sale applications that are available for download from the iTunes App Store.

The Apple table device (rumored to be called the iPad) will most likely have an e-book reader capability and will probably also be able to play music and video (like an iPod) and run apps (like an iPhone and iPod Touch).  It may give the Kindle a run for its money.

The Nintendo DS Lite has revolutionized the world of hand held gaming devices. Dual screens and wireless Wi-Fi provide a whole new level of interaction. Players can connect wirelessly and experience multi-player gaming. Each of the two 3-inch screens can display a fully rendered 3D view. The bottom screen is also a touch screen. Best of all, no subscription is required for Wi-Fi communication.

See a video review of the Nintendo DS Lite on YouTube.

Ford previewed its new MyFord Touch at the recent CES 2010 electronics show. Developed in collaboration with Microsoft, the MyFord Touch system is built around a central 8-inch LCD touch screen. Bluetooth enabled devices can be plugged into the car speakers and USB drives allow additional types of media to be connected. Two additional 4.2-inch LDS screen are placed on either side of the speedometer and display information incuding engine RPMs and incoming caller id phone numbers. The Touch also controls ambient lighting. The driver can control the Touch via voice, touch or a steering-wheel mounted controller. Name a song and the Touch will find it and play it.

MyFord Touch is planned to appear in the 2011 Ford Edge and 2012 Ford Focus. Find out more on the Ford website.

As the year draws to a close, most tech experts are agreeing that one of the biggest tech trends of 2009 was the social network. Sites like Facebook and Twitter, once the domain of techies and teenagers, went mainstream. Millions of non-technical users plugged into social networking this year.

As more people became involved, the content of many social network sites improved. Those involved in a cause found these sites to be a ready-made forum for discussion. Middle-aged people discovered the communication tools that are built into social networks. Many businesses also began using social network sites as a way to establish their brand and communicate with customers. This trend could continue and grow in 2010.

The Escargot is like no vacuum cleaner you’ve ever seen before. Collaboration between Electrolux and Toshiba is responsible for this small wonder. Weighing less than 5 pounds, this vacuum features a brushed metal exterior and a silhouette that resembles a snail – hence the name. This handy machine is the size of a basketball, no louder than a hair dryer, and can be slung over the shoulder or dragged by its strap. The Escargot is currently only available in Japan, but hopefully will be available in Europe and the U.S. sometime soon.