bltd

Well, the time has come*. A desktop 3D printer is now available for sale for just over $2 grand from MoMA Store**. By all accounts, we should be prepared for a global meltdown in the retail sector in the next several years as 3D printers find their way into our homes, as we’ll be able to print out anything we want with just a simple CAD file. So, will you be one of the first to own a Replicator®? Details below.
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This thin, silvery box and accompanying cable might as well come with a top hat and wand for what it promises. An HD film downloaded in 30 seconds? A year’s worth of music synced in 10 minutes? Huh? Oh yes, it’s all the magic of Thunderbolt™ technology. Thunderbolt™ moves data on two bidirectional 10Gbps channels, which means that it’s 20 times faster than USB 2.0 and 12 times faster than FireWire 800. The Thunderbolt™ Cable ($39) does the actual magic, and this dock allows for you to use “a single connection to create high-speed, reliable transfers between your laptop and up to eight other devices, including FireWire, Ethernet, USB, and daisy chaining multiple Thunderbolt™ devices.”
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Remember ReFleece, the company making cases from recycled fleece? Well, as luck would have it, they now have a Kickstarter campaign with a few new offerings, and you can send in your old fleece for a personalized version. Did you read that properly? Your favorite old fleece can now be immortalized and protect your device all at the same time.
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A super-bendable charging cable that doubles as a tripod? Uh, yes, please. The Une Bobine is a two-foot-long cable that can charge your device (available in iPhone or micro USB versions) and act as stand or tripod- feel free to flex it or loop it around to suit your needs. No need to worry about your phone’s battery if it’s plugged in, so it would be perfect for longer video chats or time-lapse photos.
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Here’s a very simple solution to keep your cords in order: a leather wrap with slots for your plugs and wrapped cords. I’d be tempted to make my own (I’ve several leather remnants from abandoned zip pouch projects), but if you’re not the crafty I-can-cut-leather sort, you can purchase directly from thisisground’s etsy shop.

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A self-generating digital camera? That means it’s capable of self-generated power by its own solar panel or charged manually with a hand crank. Don’t worry though, you can manually charge it via USB if you’re lazy and there’s no sun. It can take still shots and video with sounds and has many modern functions with a retro look. Pretty intriguing, to say the least, and some might even say necessary for documenting whatever the future might bring.
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If guitars, drums, violins, and many other instruments are made of wood, why aren’t most headphones? Wood offers more resonance than plastic or metal, so it makes sense to incorporate them into a listening device so near and dear to our ears. And, with every pair you purchase, LSTN sends the proceeds to charity partners for the deaf, so that one child gets medical attention and a custom fit hearing aid on your behalf. A win/win situation, I believe.
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Just when you thought your smartphone had enough wizardry, it goes and upgrades your car’s capabilities. The Automatic Link uses your smartphone to ‘talk’ to your car’s onboard computer, learning your driving style and scoring you on gas efficiency. What else? It can detect crashes (and immediately report it to 911 and text your loved ones), help you understand what the ‘check engine’ light means, and will always remember where you parked. That, in itself, might be worth the cost alone for some of us.
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Just in case you need another stand for your iPod/tablet, the Facet Pyramid offers three different viewing angles- 35°, 55° and 75°. Magnets embedded within the Facet grip to your device, which makes for minimal fuss, and the surface area gives stability on a variety of surfaces.
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I now feel as if it is my personal mission to appraise you of any and all decent styli that hit the market, if only to arm you with information should friends/colleagues discuss the lack of acceptable options. The Balance Pen and Stylus is just that- both pen and stylus- so you need not fumble between two implements when you switch from digital device to paper.
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Say sayonara to leaving your wallet behind with another handy tracking device. The Wallet TrackR is about the size of a credit card, and when used with the app, it’ll keep you from losing your wallet. When it’s separated from your iPhone or iPad, the app will alert you, simple as that. If for some reason you don’t hear the alert, the app also takes a GPS snapshot of where you left your wallet behind.
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Minimalists, do not despair, for your iPad/Macbook Air 11”³/Galaxy Tablet need not go without protection in your bag or desk drawer. There’s a super simple felt case for your precious device, and don’t worry, it’s not too terribly expensive. Various pockets keep your smaller items organized and one inside pocket even serves as a mousepad if you need it. Designed by Cloud&Co for 11+.
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Oh, Cosmonaut, where have you been? Whoops, wrong idea, let’s try that again.

Oh, Cosmonaut, where have you been? It’s such a pain researching styli (or, as you might call them, styluses). Various opinions and reviews send a lesser person into a tailspin, fit to swear off any device-writing-implement for the foreseeable future. However, there’s this simple, dry-erase-marker-like stylus that saves us from relying on our clumsy fingers. A comfortable rubber grip means it’s easy to handle by adults or kids (with or without gloves, mind you), and it’ll work on almost every capacitive touch screen device.
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Queuger, whaa?? Exactly. The Queuger is apparently for any use you can find for it. It’s a flexible elastomer wire with aluminum core, so you can bend it or twist it any which way you want. Maybe you’ll use it to keep wires organized, or to hold cabinet doors closed, or to help ease uncomfortable handles on a heavy bag… those suggestions are based entirely on the ‘ideas’ picture shown below, but you’ll think of many more.

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You might have heard the 10,000+ steps a day suggestion, but it’s not until you strap on a pedometer or one of the other recent tracking devices that you actually know if you meet that minimum. I’ve posted the Fitbit before, as I currently own one and find it very helpful as motivation to move around more, but I’ve heard from friends that the $99 price tag seems a bit steep for a teeny tiny thing that counts your steps (and calories burned, flights climbed, sleep cycle, etc.). Coming in at $40 less, now there’s the Fitbit Zip. It does the same- tracks steps, distance, calories burned and syncs it to your computer- except it won’t be able to track your sleep cycle. It’s also a wee bit wider/larger and has a replaceable battery instead of a charger.

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