Cool things to buy – Get Into My Life

by Joey on June 18, 2015

Batteriser – makes any battery last longer.

Batteries never seem to last long, it doesn’t matter whether you chose the longest lasting batteries off the shelf. Unfortunately batteries have this problem that when their output drops below 1.3v they might as well be dead. The devices they are plugged into simply can’t draw power out of them anymore. This can leave up to 80% of the batteries reserve wasted. Enter Batteriser!

Batteriser is a clever sleeve that turns any standard batteries into the longest lasting batteries available.

Its secret lies in it’s thin stainless steel casing which has been lined with micro circuitry which keeps the batteries charge flowing longer. Suited for AA, AAA, C, and D batteries it’s 1 ml thick sheath easily fits back into most battery compartments. By increasing output by up to 8x that’s at least 7 times you won’t have to change the batteries.

You will be able to pick up a 4 pack for $10 in September.

Edit: After a very successful crowd-funding campaign Batterizer rebranded as Batteroo Boost.
The effectiveness of the device has raised controversy. Link has been changed to the wikipedia page.

by Joey on June 17, 2015

Turn your handwriting into a font

We live in a digital age now where good penmanship is dead, and touch typing is in. Now choosing your handwriting consists of scrolling through a bunch of truetype fonts listed alphabetically in a dropdown box. There’s no stopping it, but now there is a way you can save your own handwriting as a font, and preserve it for generations to come. MyScriptFont is an online tool that turns your writing into a vector based font that you can download for free. The process only takes about 10 minutes, however you will need the use of a scanner and printer. Once complete your new digital script is yours to keep. Make some ‘handwritten’ invitations, impress your workmates, and if it’s pretty enough maybe share it with the design community.

If you feel you want some step by step instructions, check out this tutorial by craft blogger Christine.

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by Joey on June 16, 2015

Flyte – the levitating lightbulb

Floating freely above it’s wooden base, the Flyte levitating light hovers as though by magic.

Seemingly defying Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation, flyte is actually following all the rules. In this science and art mashup, flyte takes full advantage of Tesla’s ‘magic bag of tricks’.
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How it works

In order to stay floating up in the air, tucked away inside the base is an array of electromagnets. An outer set of magnets attract the bulb’s metal base in order to stabilise the bulb, while the inner ones create a slightly stronger repelling force forcing the bulb to lift off and hover a few centimetres in the air.

Then, in order to function as a light, flyte draws it’s power through a wireless induction charger, which supplies enough electricity for the bulb’s low power LED’s to illuminate. The base outputs around 5 volts which means your smart phone can charge from it too.

Lastly, the light is powered on and off with a capacitor switch, which means you can turn it on by simply touching your hand to the base.

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The setup is available in a range of styles and is crafted in Sweden from sustainably sourced oak, ash and walnut.

Priced at $299, the shatterproof bulb is rated to last for 22 years, which means your paying $13.50 p.year to display your very own piece of science in your living room.

(fun fact: Nikola Tesla spent a brief stint working for Thomas Edison).

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by Joey on June 12, 2015

Staple Free Stapler – who liked ’em anyway?

This staple free stapler can staple up to ten standard pages without ever bothering you for a refill again. (80gsm) Which is good, because unless you are an avid stapling fiend, most people find that when you need to staple something the most, the more likely it is that your stapler is empty. And when not securely attached to your documents, loose staples have a way of hiding in carpet and at the back of drawers waiting to draw blood from their next unsuspecting victim (you).

Looking more like a humpback whale than stationary, the staple less design works by slicing lines into your documents, allowing the freshly cut dog tags to fold back and thread through the alternating cut.. okay it’s a little hard to explain, watch the overproduced japanese video to see how it works! which only leaves the question. If a staple free stapler doesn’t use staples is it really a stapler?

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by Joey on June 10, 2015

14 best bike lights from the future you can buy right now

We have rounded up the best bike lights you can buy right now. No more waiting for new technology, the future is now! With an emphasis on safety, these cool bike lights will light up your ride, and score you life points that should keep you alive a little longer. Here’s our list of the top cycling lights for night riding. [Read more…] about 14 best bike lights from the future you can buy right now

by Joey on May 29, 2015

Stikey – Cool Magnetic Phone Stand

This cool kick-stand for your phone uses neodymium magnets to let you attach it to any flat surface.

The design uses a wafer thin stainless steel tab (.8mm) that you attach to your phone with 3M’s incredibly strong VHB tape (The same tape is used to secure go pros to skydiving helmets). Once taped on, the neodymium magnet in the base of the key fob simply snaps on to the back of your phone, allowing it to stand up in both portrait and landscape views.

The cool thing about Stikey is at the base of the packaging is a second magnetic mount that lets you mount your phone to any flat surface and not just the key fob. So you can snap your phone onto a wall, the fridge, even the dashboard of your car.

Not content on just doing one thing well Stikey is as versatile as it is portable, It’s clip shape design also lets it double as a cord organiser so you can wrap up your charging cables and take them with you too. Made from soft-touch TPU plastic in a matte finish, the Stikey is available in a range of colors, and can be snapped up for under twenty dollars.

Stikeys keychain friendly design means you you’ll always have it on hand, or on wall, or on dash, or on..

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by Joey on May 27, 2015

Libratone Loop – The color swap speaker

Libratone is a Scandinavian audio company that makes speakers, and not just your regular plastic box speaker that you only buy in black or white.

The Loop is a stylish free-standing speaker with a portable circular design and with a mere diameter of 13 inches the loop has a surprising range of sound, from passive bass to a bright top end. Driven by two ribbon style tweeters and subwoofer, the speaker will have no issues filling larger rooms with decent volume as long as you don’t plan on hosting any angry dance raves.

Loop’s ‘play direct’(DLNA) technology allows it to stream internet radio, Spotify and Pandora, and integrates with supporting televisions, and home entertainment systems. The speaker also supports Ad-Hoc Wifi, which means it will run as it’s own wifi hotspot that you can connect to. The last generation of Loop chose not to include bluetooth in it’s offering, fortunately though Libratone is a progressive company that listened to their customers feedback and Loop now comes with BlueTooth 4.0 as standard, which without would honestly be a deal breaker.

The coloured felts adds a dimension to the speaker not seen by it’s competitor’s offerings. Matching the speaker to your homes aesthetics is as simple as swapping out the Italian wool fleece with another slip color of your choice and with a range of fourteen colours the speaker will suit any space.

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by Joey on May 22, 2015

Snap Legs – Make a table from anything

Looking for a table that fits wherever you want it? Snap let’s you turn any relatively flat surface into a free standing table. A colourful modular system that is as easy to pull apart as it is to put together. When it’s set up it can bear a load of upto 154lbs (70kg). Snap works best with flat boards that are between .4″ to 1.6” but you can snap the legs onto not so regular surfaces too ( examples Bike wheel, dart board ). Not that you plan on lugging a table around on a bike as shown in the video, it will however make chopping and changing your designs up a breeze.

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by Joey on May 20, 2015

Leaning loop – entry hall organizer.

With only two legs, this hardwood upright organizer is designed to lean. A perfect storage idea for an entranceway the leaning loop has you covered for your coats, keys, gadgets, and shoes. At eye level, the magnetic header is a great place to write or pin To Dos, reminders, and bills or if your less boring you could use it for quotes and love notes.

Built to order the leaning loop has some great custom options, available in ash, cherry, white oak, maple or walnut, while the magnetic header comes in a choice of chalkboard, whiteboard or mirror.

$ upon request

by Joey on May 19, 2015

The Penxo Lead Pencil.

The Penxo lead pencil is a sleek minimal design that reimagines the conventional mechanical pencil as we know it. With no moving parts, Penxo’s brushed metal design clamps around the point of a 2mm lead by creating pivotal tension, which secures the lead preventing it from sliding out. Lead can be released quickly by simply pushing the thumb between the lead window gap.

By simplifying the mechanical pen down to it’s core elements and function,
Penxo

Elimates finicky mechanical parts
allows lead usage monitoring
provides clear view of lead hardness labelling
gives easy access for lead replacement
quickly changes variable lead length

Already picking up the top red dot award for groundbreaking product design, Californian designer Brian Tong TAK saw the value of the traditional pencil in the designer’s toolkit and set out to pay homage updating it’s form while staying true to the principles of design.

the one tool that I come back to the most is the pencil. It is undisputedly one of the best tools for a designer.

With that in mind, I spent countless hours designing and refining the Penxo, hoping to inject some modernity while remaining true to its traditional form.

Penxo has been precision milled from the same aluminium material found in aircraft fuselage. The material was chosen for it’s durability and flexing properties. This allows the pencil to protect it’s 2mm lead cargo while still remaining lightweight.

Already passing it’s production goal, on kickstarter, Penxo pencil is available for $29 later retailing at $35

The 5.38” brushed aluminium pencil is available in four colors,

Rebel silver
Darth Black
Galactic Gold
Stealth Gray

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How it works

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