A Driveable Truck Made Of Ice Makes For One Cool Product Demo.

Here's a product demonstration that will leave you cold...  -49°C to be accurate. Canadian automotive parts retailer and manufacturer, Canadian Tire, constructed a completely drivable truck made of ice on the frame of a Chevrolet 2500HD to test the limitations of their MotoMaster Eliminator AGM battery. The truck was then used in a Canadian television commercial (shown at the end of this post).



They froze this battery to -49°C (-52° Farneheit) , then used it to start up the ice truck built out of more than 11,000 lbs of ice.





The project had numerous challenges. To put 14,000 pounds of ice on a regular truck frame, it had to be welded rigid because if it moves even a fraction of an inch it will crack the ice. And while your ice cubes at home may have a white center because of the air trapped inside, they had to remove all that air so the blocks were crystal clear.




The Canadian Tire Ice Truck even has an ice engraved vanity plate:



And an ice sculpted rear view mirror with an Ice Pine Tree Air Freshener hanging from it:


And ice sculpted side-view mirrors:


More pics:




The television commercial that aired in Canada:


And a look Behind The Scenes:


The tools that went into constructing the Canadian Tire Ice Truck:


Once it was all said and done, the ice truck had to be melted, which required a blow torch:


And here's an artsy time-lapse video (in reverse) of the ice truck....
Melt Video of the Canadian Tire Ice Truck (Extended):


Learn about the car batteries here

information courtesy of Canadian Tire;

Looking For Great Tech Product Design and Packaging? Go Full TYLT.

above composite image by if it's hip, it's here

Every once in awhile a new brand comes along that has it all going on. Impressive product design, packaging, branding, even a well designed website with functioning e-commerce, good photographs and plenty of useful information. That's the case with TYLT, a California wireless accessory design and development company that has combined innovation with style. Their current product offerings include power products, audio products and protective cases.



above: examples of the package design for TYLT by NewDealDesign

Established in 2011, TYLT focuses on the world of mobile devices, providing you with about 20 convenient products for your mobile phones and tablets. Like many of you, I'd never heard of TYLT until they sent me three of their hip products to review with the understanding that if I did not deem them worthy, they would not be featured on this blog. No money was paid to me in exchange for a review, and believe me, none was necessary. A big thank you to TYLT for the three awesome products reviewed later in this post.


above: TYLT's home page

When the POWERPLANT portable battery pack, the YCHARGE, a dual USB Car Charger and TUNZ, a rechargeable bluetooth speaker arrived at my doorstep - one look and I knew they were gonna be blog-worthy. Once I got past the beautiful packaging created by NewDealDesign LLC, and tried out the products, my enthusiasm only increased.

I'm not alone, TYLT already boasts 3 CES Innovations Award winners at CES 2013 including: the Y-CHARGE Car Charger, the BAND Car Charger and the BAND Travel Charger. And reputable tech blogs such as Engadget, Slash Gear, CNET Asia and Tech Crunch have all lauded various products from TYLT.

The POWERPLANT:


Small (smaller than my iPhone), portable, lightweight (just over 5 ounces) and stylish, this is a 5,200 mAh battery back-up charger that has the capacity to fully charge your smartphone twice.



And with multiple ports (Universal USB and either Apple Lightning, Apple 30-Pin, and Micro USB versions available) it can charge more than one device simultaneously.



It packs the power it claims to and works with all Apple mobile products and Android mobile products. The appearance and functionality of the TYLT Powerplant do not disappoint.

Tylt Powerplant video:

Prices $69.99- $89.99, buy it here

The Y-CHARGE (2.1 AMP):


This little lightweight device is intelligently designed to charge two smartphones at once (or one tablet) in your car. The split Y-shape places the USB ports on each side so that the driver and passenger can each easily plug in their mobile phones and charge them simultaneously.



The silicone covered device weighs less than an ounce and comes in the four colors (bright apple green, bright red, bright blue or black) that appear on several of TYLT's products. The Y-CHARGE is also available in a 4.2 version and with a two foot Syncable.



TYLT Y-CHARGE video:

Price $24.99 Buy it here

The TUNZ Rechargeable Bluetooth Speaker:


A nice looking compact wireless Bluetooth speaker equipped with two x 3-watt drivers and a passive radiator for exceptional bass, TUNZ has a built in noise cancelling microphone making it perfect for phone calls as well as music. The 2800 mAh battery takes about 6-7 hours to charge and can chat or play music (with the volume at 50%) for 20 hours -that's 10 hours more than the Jawbone Jambox. The design allows you to seamlessly switch from music to hands-free calling and the touch-free controls for Volume, Play, Pause, Answer & End Calls are very convenient. The speaker comes with three different colored (black, blue and red) vibration-cancelling silicone bands that also function as an attractive stand. And with a 1Amp output Universal USB charging port you can use it to charge other external devices.



The sound is impressive, delivering volumes up to 80dB. It's also NFC Enabled - includes Tagstand NFC launcher App for Android. TUNZ is priced less than the MSRP for the comparable Jawbone Jambox, a $180 speaker that helped create the portable category the new Beats by Dre Pill, a $200 model from the popular headphone brand, making it even more desirable.

Tylt Tunz video:


Price $149.99, buy it here.

All in all, TYLT products are well-designed small, lightweight and portable, but feel substantially made. Both the packaging and the product design are visually appealing, and the products feature the latest in technological innovations and compatibility. Priced neither outrageously nor dirt-cheap, they receive consistently favorable reviews from tech gurus. You can find several video reviews on youtube, almost every single one of them favorable. Therefore, my advice is to go full TYLT.

Here's a peek at a few other beautifully designed and packaged products from TYLT (shown in green for consistency):



TYLT is dedicated to shifting consumer expectations through best-in-quality accessories which innovate briskly to stay a step ahead of the fast-paced smart product launches. They have several more products including the impressive Energi Backpack.



See more and shop for these fine products at  TYLT.

Gimme Power iPhone & iPod Chargers Extend A Hand To Charity

GIMME POWER has an un-wired past: originally conceived a remote control holder for the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point, California its new incarnation as a charging station for iPhones and iPods is the brainchild of Ana Piscuskas, daughter of York Street Studio principals, Linda Zelenko and Stephen Piscuskas. Ana recognized the hand's potential as a wired unit and her follow through brought the unit to life.




"Gimme Power" iPhone Charger


The sculpted ceramic hands hold, charge, and sync your iPhone® or iPod® while plugged into your computer. Dimensions: 5.25"W x 3"D x 7.75"T. USA.


Available in all white for $180.00 at Neiman Marcus


Or in a silver version (aluminum over ceramic) for $250 from York Street

The History of Gimme Power

Every year GIMME POWER will extend a helping hand to a designated charitable organization. In 2010 a percentage of the net sales from GIMME POWER will go to the McCarton Foundation.

Take Charge: Affordable (and not so affordable) Charging Stations

Take Charge!

First cellphones, then digital cameras, then ipods, then rechargeable batteries, then Blackberrys. And now, the iphone.

So many things to charge. And recharge. Again and again.

It's true that many companies make 'charging stations' nowadays and more and more creative minds are coming out with ways to hide those wires, but if you've ever searched for them at Frontgate or Levengers, you'll find they they run upwards of $150.00!
Not at Kangaroom Storage where they have some options that look very expensive but are amazingly affordable.
Kangaroom Storage is the anal (and frugal) computer geek's dream.

Check out these functional and affordable products:

PHONE PDA CHARGING STATION in Navy Blue or Black ($35.00 USD):


We’re all proud of having the latest (and smallest) electronic gadgets to organize our lives. But what good are they if we can’t find them or the uncharged battery dies right in the middle of a conversation? With our Charging Station you can say good-bye to multiple chargers and their unsightly electrical cords snaking all over your desk. You can corral up to three items and neatly tuck a 10” power strip out of sight behind the sliding door. No room on your desktop for the 13" long Charging Station? You can also mount it to the wall as easily as a clock with two dry wall screws (included). The Charging Station is available in black or navy.

Dimensions: 13”L x 3.75”W x 5”H


THE 2 POD CHARGING STATION ($20.00 USD):


Let your electronics sit in the lap of luxury while charging. This sleek faux leather two pod charging station allows you the space to store and charge up to two of the following: cell phone, digital camera, mp3 player, or PDA. Unsightly cords are hidden by feeding them through bottom and out the back of the unit. Available in black, green or red, these charging stations can be a great color accent to any room and make a great gift for friends, family, and students.



Available in black, lime, or cherry. Dimensions: 6.5” x 5.125” x 4.75”

THE BLACK BOX CORD ORGANIZER ($60.00 USD):


Until electricity is wireless, tangled masses of cords will need to be hidden. Our Black Box Computer and Media Center Cord Organizer sits on the floor and keeps cords out of sight behind a sliding access door. It has two shelves to accommodate modems and adapters, room for a standard or large size surge protector (not included), nine prongs to neatly wrap excess cord, and convenient left and right side openings. Made of flame resistant black acrylic. We covered the ventilation issue by cutting 5 ventilation strips in the back, and 4 2" x 2!2" rectangular cut outs (for cord feed).


COMPUTER CORD STORAGE & ORGANIZER ($27.50):


Four bottom compartments can accommodate large transformers while the top tray holds five accessories and lots of cords. Customizable labels are included.

The way it works is that it is a double decker unit that has two zippers, one to access each level. They remain attached on one side even when it is completely unzippered. What is great about this product is that there is a separate compartment and label for each charger.The bottom level has deeper compartments and can hold up to 4 more cords or chargers for larger things like laptops, computer accessories, transformers, earphones, etc..

For tech savvy people, it is always a challenge to keep all the chargers and extra batteries straight, especially when you are talking about a family, and each kid has a range of electronic devices that all have different chargers! This is the only product of its kind on the market and I think it really addresses a big need of what to do with all those cords.



Available in black or blue nylon, or brown faux leather.
Dimensions: 13”L x 12.875”W x 3.25”D


CELL PHONE CHARGING STATION & MORE ($30.00 USD)

Cell phones and Blackberrys and iPods — oh my! — each with its own charger. Tame tangled "octopus cords" with our unique Charging Station. Individual compartments accommodate 4 devices, leaving the cords neatly tucked away beneath a removeable tray. Perfect for the multi-cell phone family or one multi-device person. Available in black or brown faux leather with blue accents. Comes with pre-printed labels or create your own.




The way it works is by laying the electronic devices in one of the four beds (of varying widths for cell phone, Blackberry, small camera, etc.) and running their charging cords through the slot to hide it. The slot opens to a wide space where the accumulation of cords can sit without having to be seen. This area is accessable as the top shelf (for keys and other small loose ends) is removable. There is also a subtle, length-wise opening for the major power connection in the back, hidden from view. So even though they'll never make all your cables the perfect length, at least now you don't have to look at the mess. Surge protector sold separately.
Dimensions: 11.5" x 6.75" x 4.25"

Visit Kangaroom by clicking here

And now some more affordable ones from other sources:

From We Love Macs

The 20150 iPod/iPhone/Cell Phone/PDA Centralized Portable Charging Station (Now on sale for only $24.95 USD!):



Now you can charge 3 devices while you drive.
Transformers are hidden in the back of the unit so no wires to get tangled.
You need only plug the Power Station Traveller into your cars lighter socket or in your home with (optional DC/AC adapter) to get power. Circuit protection guards against voltage/surge overload. Deep well inside has plenty of room for tall transformers, and for excess lengths of cord.

Dimension: Length 11.1" x Width 7.5" x Height 4"
*To order the optional DC/AC adapter please order part number 20155 from we love macs

Regular price: $39.95 pad
Sale price: $24.94 pad


And this family charger from SmartHome for only $19.99:



Now of course, if money is no concern, there are some tragically hip charging stations that are

Not so affordable :

The $180.00 Ebase from A+R store seen below:




Or the MultiPot:

MultiPot Table Lamp and Charger, Design by Dante Donegani and Giovanni Lauda, 2005
Imported from Italy.



MultiPot belongs to a new generation of lighting objects and is the first of Rotaliana products to combine lighting with other functions. This hybrid, multifunctional lamp combines an LED ambient night light with multiple sockets, along with a space to keep cables neatly stored. MultiPot provides new comfort levels, both in the home and the the office by catering for both old and new requirements: our habit of emptying keys and other personal items, from pockets into containers, with new requirements to manage our increased use of rechargeable mulitmedia equipment, home computers and the transformation of televisions into home theatres. With its familar looks, lighting function and translucent finish (to filter the light while masking the electrical cables), the MultiPot is a picture of elegant functionality.
On sale now from $352.50 to $235.00 USD here.


Or the Contactboxen from sweden in a tabletop , floor or wall mounted versions:



Measurements:
•The Box 15/42/14 cm (h/b/d) including feet. Weight approx 3 kgs
•Big Box: 28/42/15 (h/b/d) including feet Weight approx 4 kgs
•Cabinet: 42/16/10 (h/b/d) Weight approx 2, 5kgs

The box is made of black or white laquered steel,
Feet; Black rubber. 1 cm and removable
Top; Oiled solid oak with ten holes for cables
There are holes on one side for wall mounting.



The cabinet is white with front in red, white or solid oak with elasticated cord.

Power board especially manufactured with enough space for six large transformers. The space between each point is bigger and is parallell with the bar itself. No more 45° angles limiting space! The power board has an on-off-switch which we recommend you use for fire-safety reasons.

You can buy the Contactboxen here.