Cultural icon or not, boomboxes were annoying when their owners used them to subject the rest of us to their questionable musical tastes back in the '80s, and it's highly unlikely they'll be any less irritating today. Still, that hasn't stopped designer Dirk Winkel (is that name begging for some teasing, or what?) from cranking out an updated take on those invasive portable stereos.

I'm big enough to give credit where credit's due, though, and Winkel's Nu Blaster is certainly a lot more eyecatching than any other updated ghetto blasters I've seen. The horn-shaped device cradles nicely over the shoulder without that awkward balancing act inherent with the old boom boxes, and it includes a strap that allows it to be carried on the hip like a purse. The fat end houses a high-end bass speaker, while the narrower end acts as what Winkel calls a "bass-reflex tube," theoretically helping enhance the thump-thump of the bass. No word yet on whether there are plans to commercialize the Nu Blaster.

I understand that Winkel was going for some kind of iPod allusion here, but when I look at his creation, I can't help but be reminded of one of those funny alphorns that were used to such comic effect in the old Looney Tunes cartoons. Yodel-ay-hee-hoo! — Tony Kontzer

Dirk Winkel, via Gizmodo