3D printing is innovating before our eyes! Every week there seems to be some new 3D printer or doodler. Now you don't even have to own one, you can just use the Dreambox.
They claim that it's easy to use, same day pickup, capable of satisfying unlimited number of end-users, you can print in ABS (engineering plastic), PLA (bioplastic), nylon, wood, metals, and more and that the cost is low.
Hopefully this is coming to a location near us! I have a very long list of things I would print, from functional to fun to wacky and outright crazy.
If you are like us, we all need a little hot coffee or tea to start the day. This adds a little fun to that morning cup. Check out the Morning Mug. Sleepy to awake with a hot beverage. Who knew your cup could be so interactive.
Back in March we posted a Blips about The Next Wave In Soda Packaging: AluminumBottles. Well, it seems to be a hot topic right now in beverage packaging. I'm sure you have all seen screw top wines popping up at liquor stores and restaurants. It used to something you would only find on cheap wines or on airplanes because the screw top could withstand the cabin pressure. Now with cork forests being depleted by the wine industry, aluminium is the next and best alternative. There is a trend to go "screw top".
A study by Wine Business Monthly found growing consumer acceptance of screw-top wines.
“The usage of screw caps continues to be boosted by an increasing impression among wine makers that consumers’ opinions of the closures are improving. And although natural corks remain the most widely used closure – 78% of responding wineries use natural cork for at least part of their 750ml bottles – alternatives are being used more for low- and mid-priced wines, and are now even being considered for use with wines at price-points of $25 and above.”
There are a number of reasons that ROPP closures are being applied in ever increasing numbers in the wine, spirits, soft drink, and beer industries. These include:
Greater shelf appeal through the wide variety of colors and styles – product differentiation
Improved product protection in terms of taste – superior barrier protection against oxygen ingress and carbonation loss
Tamper-evident protection provided through the integral pilfer band
Brand protection from counterfeiting through the use of non-refillable fitments
Price stability and assured supply versus the limited availability of high-quality natural corks
Flexibility – can be used for hot-fill, carbonated, or retort applications
Containers can be resealed – which cannot be done with crown closures or corks
So next time you are picking out a bottle of wine, don't be turned off by the screw cap, it's jsut as good if not better. And recycle the top and you'll feel even better about your buzz.
GigaOm's Kevin Tofel tells us a skeptic's story of UnderArmour's new fitness strap. For myself, I'll keep a more open mind. That might do a better job of measuring my willpower!
I like the sound of that! I myself think plants might already be acoustic, i.e. in Mr Akiyama's words, "make sounds". And I'm not just talking about the Venus flytrap or Stevie Wonder's wackiness. I mean noise and music at frequencies we can't hear without techno-help. After all, don't they already talk with each other?
Converse has a new collection out called "Well Worn Collection". They are made of a washed, slightly distressed canvas to give you the look of a "well worn" sneaker. But are we losing the authenticity here? I've always been a Chuck Taylor fan, but part of the experience is wearing them out yourself...and it really doesn't take long. Same with distressed jeans, I think part of the greatness of a "well worn" anything is doing it yourself. The memories and experiences that go along with that certain shoe or pair of jeans. What do you think?
I think I'll go for a classic Chuck Taylor and rough it myself. Thanks.
All right so I'm crazy, but this is all I see when I view Pepsi's new bottle:
And ergonomically, it doesn't make much sense either. Do most people grip from lower down the bottle? Maybe they do. I don't know. But it seems perfect for practicing your Oscar™ acceptance speech.
We recently tweeted about how BMW is using "sonic branding". BMW's every sound is strategically calculated - from the way the door closes, the seat belt clicks, to the rev of the engine. Not to mention, every aspect of their advertising, sound is a key component. There are BMW sound engineers that work solely on providing the best sound a BMW can make for its drivers. This is a really cool video about the sound engineers.
So it only makes sense that the BMW Group DesignworksUSA with Thermaltake have designed a high-end gaming headset which was to widen the Level_10 gamer’s experience. Since "2009, Thermaltake commissioned the design consultancy with a design concept for a series of innovative accessories for pro gamers which should take up and extend the computer design story."
"The Level_10 M Mouse was the first gaming accessory to be launched in 2012. The Level_10 M Headset project marks the third collaboration. The challenge was to translate the Level_10 design language into the headset design. In this way the gamer´s Level_10 experience was to be extended to the physical world through a product that is being directly touched and interacted with during the game."
This is not for your everyday gamer!
"The official product launch was held in March 2013 at Hanover, Germany in CeBIT 2013 exhibition. As of May 2013, the headset will be available at most major retail stores and online in the US, Europe and Asia.
Available in black and white. Sales price will be around 149.99 US Dollars."
Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 9:00AM 
