Shared Articles
In this page I share some interesting articles I find from time to time. If you know about any other interesting feeds please let me know!
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- PlugBug: A Simple USB Power Solution by Twelve SouthSource: Core77
South Carolina-based Mac accessory company Twelve South recently unveiled their latest design, the "Plugbug," an iPad/iPhone travel charger that piggybacks on a MacBook Power Adapter. The design is about as intuitive as it gets, at least as far as Mac users are concerned: The ingenious PlugBug connects to all MacBook Power Adapters. Simply snap PlugBug onto a MacBook Power Adapter, in place of the adapter's AC plug, and you now have one handy device that charges MacBook and iPad or iPhone at the same time, using only one wall outlet. This can be a real lifesaver when you need to charge both before a meeting or—even more stressful—between connecting flights with only one outlet available.
Perhaps the most salient aspect of the design is its crimson hue, the only colorway offered by Twelve South.
So why is PlugBug red? Noted author and original Mac Evangelist Guy Kawasaki gets credit for the color. When shown an early prototype, Kawasaki insisted PlugBug should carry a show-stopping hue viewable from across the room—or airport. The "Kawasaki Red" PlugBug was born.
I, for one, find the color appropriate, if a bit loud: while the form factor is identical to that of a MacBook charger, the color is a nice twist on the grayscale palette we've come to expect from minimalist peripherals.
The namesake of the color stars in their promo spot:
(more...) - Bad Weather Gear: Uberhood Umbrella for BikesSource: Core77
"There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear" ...or so the saying goes. Bike Snob NYC recently brought my attention to a new-ish cycling accessory that is perhaps more an example of the latter than a measure against the former. The ambitiously-named "Uberhood"—BSNYC notes that some might mistake it for "the new name for Williamsburg, Brooklyn"—is a handlebar-mounted umbrella for the semper paratus cyclist, purportedly equally useful in rain or shine. Either way, Uberhood has you covered:
Rain: When skies are grey, the Uberhood always provides a silver lining. Elongated design and aerodynamic shape means rain is repelled; wind resistance is low; and you STAY DRY.
Sun: Think of it as SPF 20,000. With the Uberhood special silver lining reflecting the sun, you won't just look cool, you'll BE COOL anywhere and everywhere you ride.
Well, in terms of staying dry in rainy conditions, fenders—conspicuously absent in the majority of their product photography—should be the first order of business. (A helmet could also be considered a necessity when traversing slick streets with reduced braking power; the fact that it covers one's head is just a bonus.)
Metacommentary aside, I find that I literally face a substantial amount of, um, frontal drenching when riding in the rain... though perhaps the Uberhood provides sufficient drag to preclude this problem.
For what it's worth, the quasi-aero form factor loosely resembles another (handheld) umbrella design we've seen before, though I'm skeptical as to how it would hold up in the gusty conditions that characterize moderate to heavy storms here on the East Coast. (Curiously enough, none of the product photography shows riders in any sort of downpour...)
One of my colleagues (who shall remain unnamed) pointed out that the assembly video features quite a bit of suggestively-positioned thigh:
(more...) - One Bottle Yields Dozens of Objects: Sarah Bottger's Juuri GlasswareSource: Core77
Germany-based designer Sarah Bottger keeps it modular with her nifty Juuri series of glassware. By taking one basic bottle shape, making dozens of them and making cuts at eight different locations, Bottger cleverly yields a myriad of containers, from jars to glasses to decanters and everything in between.
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- New use for an old technology brings touch input to... almost anythingSource: EngadgetImagine, if you will, a world where everything from the clothes on your back to the glass in your hand was a touch-enabled device. We're not there yet, but thanks to researchers at the University of Munich and the Hasso Plattner Institute, we're closer to just such a touchy-feely future. Those German scientists are now able to tell when and where your fingertip touches (or gets close to) a wire using time domain reflectometry, or TDR. It works by sending electrical pulses through a wire and measuring the time it takes for the pulses to return. See, the presence of a finger reflects some of the pulse, and by using an oscilloscope and a computer to view and analyze the resulting waveform, researchers can pinpoint where the touch occurs. TDR has been used for years to find faults in underwater cabling, but only recent advances have allowed its application over the short distances used in consumer applications. In its current form, the equipment isn't quite ready for public consumption -- those pulse generators and detectors need to shed a few pounds first -- but given how quickly silicon's shrinking, it shouldn't be long before our truly tactual world is real.
Continue reading New use for an old technology brings touch input to... almost anything
New use for an old technology brings touch input to... almost anything originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hasso Plattner Institute | Email this | Comments - Moglue Lets Anyone Make A Children’s Book For TabletsSource: TechCrunch
The rise of the iPad (and, to a lesser degree, other tablets) has led to myriad new kinds of apps that are flourishing. And, as someone who still enjoys flipping through a good Dr. Seuss book from time to time, there are few trends I enjoy more than the rich, interactive children’s books that are catching on.
These books typically feature music, sound effects, some animation, and other nifty niceties that make books more fun for kids to play with (and can also supplement learning). And there are plenty of people out there who can pen and illustrate a good book, but don’t know much about programming in Objective C. That’s where TC Disrupt finalist Moglue comes in: it lets just about anyone create children’s books, using a simple and straightforward UI.
Obviously your book isn’t going to look amazing if you’re not so good at drawing, but for all of those artists looking to make the jump to the tablet — or anyone who wants to craft a custom story book with family photos for their kids — this seems perfect. Text and images can be dragged and dropped onto the screen, then animated using one of many different effects.
These apps are built using clients available for Mac and Windows, and can be ‘one-click’ published to iOS and Android. The builder is free to use, and Moglue will make money via a rev-share for users who publish their books.
For a look at how the app works, check out the video above.
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