2013
Moto X to have fast camera
Motorola pupblished an interesting tweet Either this kid is really fast, or today’s phones are really slow. #AlmostGotIt pic.twitter.com/mdMEOGqfhr — Motorola Mobility (@Motorola) July 13, 2013 We'll have to wait and see how "fast" the new Moto X camera really. If Google Motorola really want to make this a winner, it has to be a truly revolutionary device and not the same old same old with useless add on functions (like many features from the Sansung Galaxy S4).
Denture Bracelet : the ultimate in personal expression?
As you finally accept the weirdsness of the general population, people find new ways to get weirder. Now I present to you the denture bracelet. You too can have this "original" braclet for only $160 from an ETSY shop called ConcaveOblivion. This "original" thing is handmade from dental acrylic.
Reusable e-ink luggage tag
Airlines are constantly looking for ways to cuts to increase profitability and an an often overlooked cost is the humble luggage label (the barcoded piece of paper that makes sure your bags are sent to the right place). "Once checked in, customers just need to hold their smartphone over the electronic tag, which automatically updates with a unique barcode containing their flight details and an easy-to-see view of their bag’s destination." This e-ink bagtag probably won't be used in the real world anytime soon (because of cost) but it is exciting to see airlines leveraging various technologies.
Skyview Travel Seatback Mount is the ultimate airplane gadget
Last week was a long travel week where I flew : Montreal to London London to Belfast Belfast to London London to Berlin Berlin to Frankfurt Frankfurt to Montreal Some of these flights didn't offer any in-flight entertainment and the others offered horribly bad movie options. So what is a traveller to do? enjoy your own hand picked entertainment using the new Griffin Skyview Travel Seatback Mount. This is a special mount that uses a special connector that latches to the seat back tray table or as a stand on your lowered tray tablet.
Make a Tetris sandwich
It's time to make sandwich time a little more exciting with the Bites and Pieces Sandwich Crust Cutter which converts your plain old sandwich into a Tetris inspired eating game. Finally a great reason to play with your food. You can check out the product and buy it here.
The Kii is the always with you iPhone charger
There a hundreds of tools you can hang on your keychain (USB drive, multi-tool) and now I would like to recommend that you add the Kii to your keychain. The Kii is a creative way to make sure you always have a charger with you all the time. It looks like a small USB drive with a USB connector on one end and dock connector or lightning connector on the other end. The product is made of a durable soft plastic
New Google Maps coming to IOS soon
Google is the sultan of search and the master of maps. To ensure it keeps its number one position in maps, it released a completely refreshed maps interface for Android devices a couple of days ago. If you are on an IOS device, you'll have to wait just a little bit longer. What's new? A clean new location browsing interface which makes it easier and more visually appealing to find restaurants, retail stores and more. The new version will also bring a WAZE-like traffic condition identification and rerouting system.
Dropbox competing with iCloud
Dropbox held its first developer conference and surprised attendees by announcing that they have 175,000,000 users. The real big news is something called the DropboxDatastore API for developers. The introduction paragraph in the announcement blog post says: "Today, we're excited for you try out the beta release of the Datastore API — simple databases for your apps with Dropbox sync built-in! Use datastores to save your app's data — settings, contacts, or any other content that users create — and Dropbox will take care of all the syncing for you.
What info does Rogers shares with the Government
With all of the hoopla around Prism in the US, many Canadians may be wondering what Rogers' policy is about sharing customer data with the government. Here is their position: @ekiledjian we'd only share information about a customer if a warrant has been issued 2/2 — Nicolas @ Rogers (@RogersNicolas) July 9, 2013 I've reached out to Telus, Bell and Fido & am waiting for their responses
Single Malt... toothpicks?
Its time to stop picking at your teeth with your fingernails. There is a better way to get those food remnants out from between your teeth with something called a toothpick. But toothpicks have always been so boring: being a small, flat and flavourless piece of wood. Now Danesonhas finally released toothpicks worthy of being called exciting. Daneson sells toothpicks soaked in expensive, tasty and glorious single malt scotch. As you keep these adulty toothpicks in your mouth, the wonderfully delicate taste of the scotch slowly releases into your mouth where you will hopefully be refined enough to enjoy its valuable gift.
Designer approved pen fits in any room
Every desk has a coffee cup with a bunch of pens that ruin your carefully manicured decor. Wouldn't it be great if you could keep your pens readily availble and make them visually pleasant? Your prayers have been answered with these functional yet somewhat ZEN looking glade of grass pens (called Pooleaf). The pens comes in 3 beautiful shades of green. Each pen is $5 so be prepared to spend $70-$100 to make your grasspens to look like a nice bunch in that vase.
Apple App store giving away lots of premium apps for free
To mark its 5th aniversary, the Apple iTunes AppStore is giving away a bunch of (normally) premium IOS apps. Get these while the getting is good. Traktor DJ Ipad Traktor DJ for iPhone Infinity Blade II Tiny Wings for iPhone Tiny Wings for iPad Badlands Where's my water Day One Journal Barefoot World Atlas Over
Nokia to stream its 41 million reasons event July 11
Nokia has announced that it will livestream its big new york 41 million reasons event. I expect this event to be the worldwide lauch of the much rumored EOS Windows Phone with its massive 41 megapixel PureView sensor. I love smartphone photography so this is very exciting news. I just wish (unrealistic I know) that Nokia would release this with Android. Nokia's blog post is here.
CIBC may lose Aerosplan program to TD
Aeroplan started as Air Canada's frequent flyer program and has matured into a full featured loyalty programs with hundreds of partners. CIBC has been the banking partner for many years which means it can offer its customers Aeroplan points for using a credit card, getting a mortgage, etc. The CBC is reporting that CIBC may be looking to create its own loyalty program and that TD may have bid $100M to become the new Aeroplan banking partner. Source
Amsterdam is home to the only one person restaurant
Humans are social creatures and we dread eating alone (unless you are on a business trip of course). A new restaurant in Amsterdam called Eenmaal was designed [from the ground up] for single person dining. “Eenmaal is a restaurant like any other restaurant, but one thing is totally different: you only find tables for one person here. Eenmaal is an exciting experiment for those who never go out dining alone, as well as an appealing opportunity for those who often eat alone at restaurant.
Dell Promoting Windows 7 PCs (instead of Win 8)
It's funny how Dell is promoting Windows 7 PCs instead of Windows 8. I guess they know what is likely to sell more
84% of Kickstarter projects ship late
Kickstarter is the most popular crowd-sourcing site and since its inception of 2009 has funded $376 million dollars for 34,000 projects. For product inventors, Kickstarter is the promised land where you they can fund their dreams quickly. CNN Money conducted a review of the 50 most popular Kickstarter projects and found that things get ugly, very very ugly. 8 of those 50 projects meet their delivery commitment deadlines 15 of those 50 projects had not shipped yet (very very late) 27 of those 50 projects were delivered late (usually 2 months but some were as late as a year) Unfortunately it seems Kickstarter is more interested in taking its 5% cut and moving on rather than helping project supporters get fair treatment.
Carbon Monoxide detection iPhone case
We all know its a good idea to protect your iPhone with a good smartphone case. We all know Carbon Monoxide is bad and can kill you (its colorless, odorless and very deadly. Someone has had the idea of combining both into one product. The case detects carbon monoxide and can alert you via sound and vibrations. I love everything new and shiny but this is where I draw the line. Source: here
Air Canada iOS app now supports in-flight streaming entertainment
Air Canada released an update to its IOS app (iPhone and iPad) to add its new low cost carrier (Rouge) and customers will be able to stream in-flight entertainment to your device on selected Rouge aircrafts when you connect to the planes on-board WIFI network. Introducing player, Air Canada rouge's In-Flight Entertainment System Air Canada rouge is redefining the way you experience in-flight entertainment with player. You can now stream movies, TV shows and music directly to your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch!
Clean your smartphone with your shirt
We all know that the 2 certainties in life are death and taxes. We can now add a third certainty and it is screen smudges. Now high end VoyVoy brand Oxford shirts with a specially designed microsuede patch built into the front shirt tail. Can you think of a better feature a shirt can offer? You can buy the shirt from the Voyvoy website here.