'Phablet finger' goes on sale in Japan so owners can use gadgets in one hand

Stick on contains a stylus, and can extend thumb by 15mm Comes as Apple is preparing to unveil big screen iPhone

By Mark Prigg

It may be one of the oddest phone accessories ever made.

But with the growing trend towards big screen phones, this fake finger could be a lifesaver for those with small hands.

The $14.50 finger has just gone on sale in Japan, and can extend a users thumb by 15mm.

It measures 49mm long by 25mm wide, and the internal width is 20mm according to Ratoken, which is selling the gadget.

Inside is a stylus so the finger will work on any touchscreen.

The gadget comes as makers are increasingly moving towards larger phones.

In September Apple is expected to release a new, bugger version of the iPhone, with two models - a 4.7inch screen and 5.5inch screen version rumoured.

The rumours come amid claims Apple suppliers around the world are gearing up to produce the larger screens.

Japan Display, Sharp, and South Korea's LG Display have all been tapped to make the panels, and its thought they have already begun mass production.

If the rumours are true, both iPhone 6 screens will be larger than the current 4-inch panels on Apple's iPhone 5S and 5C models.

Samsung also offers the Galaxy Mega phone - the biggest smartphone on the global market - which boasts a 6.3inch screen.

Samsung have described it as a hybrid that combines the portability of a smartphone with the immersive experience that a tablet offers for movies, books, music and games.

The thumb-stylus went through a lot of rigorous testing and changes to the shape, size, and positioning, until they came up with this beauty, according to Ratoken.

. At one point they thought they almost had it, but it looked too much like a zombie finger - they'd been so concerned with how it worked, that they'd forgotten to think about the colour! The finished product is now a more alive-looking natural skin colour (so long as you're not dark-skinned). Then there's the stylus that runs through it, which is the part that you actually touch to the screen, and makes it look like you've hammered a nail through your flesh. It may not really be fooling anyone but hey, if it works, it works.

Extend your thumb by 15 millimeters! Why? So you can use your phone more easily! With its completely life-like design, no one will even notice! Rakuten is currently offering this stylish thumb made by Rare Mono for just 1,480 yen (US$14.50). It could change your life.