With the global user base of mobile phones approaching 3 billion people, more than a few music listeners and callers find themselves in a daily tangle of headphones/bags/jackets that might be avoided if Snik creator Rob Honeycutt has his way. His product line of zipper puller and cord grooves featured on snaps and buckles relieves pressure on the earbuds (athletes rejoice). “I believe there is a widespread need for this ‘interface’ between a person’s clothing and their mobile technology,” said Honeycutt, who would like the feature to become ubiquitous on clothing and bags over the next decade. For now, the small devices are available by the 6 and 12 pack–dangling cords be darned.
We’ve got a few Eye-Fi Wireless Photo and Video Memory cards to giveaway from our friends at Photojojo- they find the best photo shiz anywhere. If you’re unfamiliar, the bad ass Eye-Fi SD Memory cards allow you to wirelessly upload photos and video from your camera to your computer, transfer the images from remote locations right to file sharing sites, and geo-tag your images on the spot. We love them.
So, for the giveaway I’ve decided to try a Retweet (RT) contest on Twitter. Tweet the following and I’ll choose a winner randomly next week: RT Contest: I Want an Eye-Fi Video! http://su.pr/16MBDt #joshspear
Hypebeast has the scoop (via Leica Rumors) on a Safari Edition of their flagship compact point and shoot D-Lux 4. This special version comes in a green anodized aluminum body with a heavy duty water-resistant bag. Very bad ass and ready to snap shots of wild animals on the reserve. I’ve been switching between my own Leica and Ricoh GR II lately, but have been spending a bit more time with the Leica for the ease of use and back pocket fashion. Pre-order for (a whopping) $1300 here.
CLDFX has a good look at an interesting phone concept by product designer Fernando A. Robert, entered into the Core 77 Greener Gadgets Competition. The basic idea is about stripping a phone down to its minimum and critical functionality. Without all the additional stuff, there is way less waste produced. The end of life cycle is really fascinating too– when the consumer is finished with the phone, the internal circuit board can be sent back to the manufacturer and reused in future phones. Smart thinking. Check out more info and pictures here. Conceptual, but inspiring nonetheless.
For the past year, the urban vinyl community has relied on Face Your Manga for all our avatar needs. But now one of our own has stepped up with an app that renders our likenesses in Kidrobocolor. That would be the awesome Tristan Eaton, whose Thunderdog Studios just released the B-BOT app for iPhone. B-BOT is the closest you will ever get your mug to a Munny. You can create your own B-BOT and also customize your contacts. When you receive a call from them, their B-BOTs will show up on the caller ID (and vice versa).
B-BOT was conceived by Tristan Eaton and Peter Cortez while working together on the 2008 Barack Obama Campaign. It was developed by Greg Elliott, the creator of SynchStep.
It is almost a euphoric moment, a private instance when you let a faint smile appear on your face that nobody else notices. I had one of these moments when I played Last Cannon for the iPhone. It’s rare that a game, especially for the Apple mobile platform, has all the key elements that make up a perfect experience - gameplay, artwork/graphics, music, controls. This hits on all points flawlessly. The story, told through journal entries, is of an post-apocalyptic world. You are the last of your kind after the knurlings rained down and destroyed your world.
The developer counts Geometry Wars, Dr. Mario and Ikaruga among his inspirations and I can definitely see elements of each in the game. Last Cannon is available now in the iTunes store for just $0.99. Version 1.1 promises to bring online leaderboards which will definitely add another layer to the gameplay.
As a bonus for the readers of joshspear.com, the creator has given us four download codes to give away. Just leave a comment below on what elements you look for in a good game and we’ll choose four of you at random.
Any good green guy or gal knows that energy preservation is a huge part of being environmentally conscious. Increasing your awareness also goes a long way towards decreasing your electric bill. While you may think you’ve got a handle on the amount of electricity coursing through the wires in your home, you could probably stand to consume even less than that which is currently flowing. That’s where the Wattcher comes in. The simple yet sleek plug-in device designed by Marcel Wanders displays the amount of energy being utilized by all the gadgets and gizmos sucking at your sockets, giving those who typically eat up energy a great way to monitor and learn how much the simple act of turning off non-essential items can make a difference in the world around them and inside their wallet. Sexy looking, too.
Owning an iPhone isn’t exactly a sign that you march to the beat of a different drummer, but the apps you choose certainly can go a long way towards showing that you slide through life at your own tempo. The new Drum Meister app by Seung yi Lee can help illustrate that tempo, as a realistic drum kit application that allows you to recreate whatever rhythmic pace you feel suits you. Users are provided with an impressive interface where they can arrange their own set and bang the skins to their hearts content and even record and playback their fine percussive work. So whether you’re slamming the cymbals on a solo or slapping around some snare action you’ll never be at a loss to prove that you indeed have got the beat. Drum circles just got a drastic makeover.
The iPod has come a long way since 2001. So why hasn’t someone come up with an answer to getting the wires all un-tangled for ear bud headphones? I’ve gone through so many pairs because of wire tangles wrecking them alone. Ji Woong has come up with a solution, but it’s still in concept phases. His YI earphones work like a zipper, making the wires into a thick strand when they are ‘zipped’ up. Even better the zipper itself has a volume control on it. Pass this on to your friends at electronics companies, because this needs to exist. Good work Ji Woong, we’re glad to see someone is looking after our wires. Hit the jump for a few more conceptual pictures.
With the immense popularity of photo sharing sites such as Flickr and Shutterfly, some might be inclined to say that they need another image sharing URL like they need a hole in their head. Well, once they’re introduced to the new iPhone-centric picture sharing application from Okimok.com, they might want to rethink that stance. This fresh spot for photo exchange allows users to instantly display their current state of being as captured on their pet electronic device and stream it to their friends via a superdeluxe slideshow. So whether you’re across the street or across the sea, you can remain visually apprised of the stunning picturesque whereabouts of your many significant others.
If a vintage suitcase featuring city stickers, a scavenger hunt, and an iPhone 3G were combined, the result would be location-based travel game Gowalla. The recently launched game from Texas-based “digital collectibles” company AlamoFire invites users to collect virtual stamps at the places they visit, hide icons for friends to find, and earn pins of glory, the granddaddy of Gowalla achievements awarded for completed trips. Austintonians and San Franciscans are currently the only app purchasers who can participate in the full experience, but other cities nationwide are being added and partially guided by the recommendations of user-added hot spots. Who doesn’t want to be rewarded for visiting extraordinary and everyday places with phone in hand?
The future is here! In this utopia we don’t have to use toothpaste and our toothbrushes are solar powered — two huge leaps for mankind. A Japanese company has developed a toothbrush that uses ions to remove plaque and cleans teeth with water alone. I want to say this is like an air ionizer for your mouth, but that’s probably wrong. Here’s a very scientific explanation of how it works:
“When light is absorbed by the embedded solar panel, and you begin to brush your teeth, electrons are transmitted through the water to your teeth via the titanium oxide semiconductor.”
Make sense? If you need visiuals to understand the next step in dental care, they have pictures on the site. But our question is: what about that minty fresh feeling?
We’re no strangers to Rivet gear. With their usual style of simple and functional design, Rivet gives us a couple of sleek new carrying cases for your Apple products. The Horizontal and Vertical sleeves, stitched from durable fabric and vintage leather, fit your 13″ or 15″ MacBooks. Of course, there’s something brand new for your iPhone as well: the Rivet Soft Sleeve, a slick gray number to protect your most valued pocket item. In addition to the new cases, Rivet is still innovating on the clip that gave them their name. Check out the whole line-up at rivetnow.com.
We’ve blogged about Parra almost as many times as he’s created products for Apple. Now that he’s released his own iPhone app, we can declare our love official. It comes as the latest piece for Incase products curated by Arkitip. The application includes some very basic games like memory, follow the leader and Simon, all sprinkled with Parra’s lightning and clouds design. It seems like great fun for kids, but really attractive for adults. And Parra’s app is free (no ads or pop ups), so no complaining. Here’s a link to the iTunes store. Now go and teach your children about good design.
For all of the store bought umbrellas that buckle under the slightest breeze, you’d be better served investing some extra coin in the Davek Golf Umbrella, which was designed to keep the rain from putting a damper on your outdoor experience even during extreme conditions. Tested in winds of up to 60 mph at M.I.T. (ooh, scientific) its 190 thread dual canopy system works to ensure each test is a dry run. It also comes with an anchor spike should you face some drizzle on the back. Davek’s unconditional lifetime guarantee also assures this is the last umbrella you’ll ever buy. Until you leave it on the subway.
With the immense popularity of photo sharing sites such as Flickr and Shutterfly, some might be inclined to say that they need another image sharing URL like they need a hole in their head. Well, once they’re introduced to the new iPhone-centric picture sharing application from 
We’ve 
