Anki DRIVE. Hot Wheels With A Brain Take Gaming To A Whole New Level.

Anki DRIVE is a racing game like no other. It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics to take the best of video games and combine it with the best of physical games. It's a video game in the real world. It's real. It's tangible. You hold the cars in your hand, and the track rolls out on your living room floor.



The company was founded in 2010 by Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute graduates who sought to create new consumer experiences using technology that was once confined to robotics labs and research institutes. Its first product, Anki DRIVE, is now on sale in the United States and Canada.

Anki DRIVE was first introduced to the public in June at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), seen in the video below:


Named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2013 and featured on Fast Company, HuffPo, Mashable and Barron's, it's been heralded as a literal game-changer.



Anki DRIVE uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver the first video game in the real world. Each car has been engineered to think: It knows where it is, makes decisions, and drives itself. Using your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or iPad mini you can take control of a car to play against friends or AI cars. But watch your back. Anki DRIVE AI cars have been designed to take you out.


above: the $199.99 starter kit comes with the two cars shown above

To experience Anki DRIVE each player must have an iPhone 4S or later, iPod touch (5th generation) or later, iPad 3 or later, or iPad mini or later.


above: Anki DRIVE can be controlled with the iPhone, iPad, iPhone Touch and iPad Mini

With slight aesthetic and technological changes since last June, you can now play Anki DRIVE against your friends, or against an AI-enabled opponent. The more you race, the more points you earn, which you redeem to upgrade your cars' weapons and capabilities. Each one starts with unique skills. Your upgrade choices further customize the car to make it your own.



Highlights:
• You can play Anki DRIVE against your friends, or against an AI–enabled opponent.
• The AI cars own the road; they know your every move—and the more you drive, the more they evolve.
• Similar to a video game, your character evolves over time. The more you race, the more points you earn, which you redeem to upgrade your cars' weapons and capabilities.
• Up to four vehicles can play at once; you and friends use iOS devices to control one to four of the cars. AI controls any cars you don't control.
• Anki DRIVE includes a physical track that rolls out to 3.5 by 8.5 feet and is intended for use indoors.
• You can place the track on any flat surface, though flooring or a low-pile carpet works best.
• Anki DRIVE is suitable for all ages capable of navigating an iOS device.

WHAT'S INSIDE THE STARTER KIT:



• 2 Intelligent Cars + Charging Cases
• 3.5’ x 8.5’ Race Mat
• Fast Charger

To take control of a car, download the free Anki DRIVE app with one of the following:
• iPhone® 4s or newer
• iPod touch® 5th generation or newer
• iPad® 3 or newer
• iPad mini

$199.99, buy it here

Learn more about Anki technology at www.anki.com and stay tuned for more Anki DRIVE™ updates by liking them on Facebook  and following them on Twitter (@anki).

To get the free iPhone app and take a closer look at Anki DRIVE™, go to: www.appstore.com/ankidrive

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.

Retro Game Cases For The iPhone and Samsung Galaxy From Pure Gear.

Retro Gamer Cases are compatible with the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III or the Samsung Galaxy S4, these fun protective cases also allow for some interactive play.

The newly inspired product line from Pure Gear comes in three options:

Amazing: Navigate the ball through the challenging maze from start to finish:



Groovy: Maneuver the balls until all are in the center at the same time in a game of wits:



Undecided: Hold vertically and shoot the ball for a magically answer to your question



Although only available in the bright colors on their website, they also have more subtle versions in black and grey, but only on
Fab.com and only for the next two days!




The packaging:


•Buy them discounted on Fab through Sunday (if you're not a member, you can use this invite link)

•Pure Gear Website

The Alarm Dock By Jonas Damon Is Today's Technology Wrapped In A Throwback Style.

Remember those faux wood grain and plastic colored flip clocks that sat on every bedside table just a couple of decades ago? This Alarm Dock designed by Jonas Damon for AREAWARE is a throwback to the days of those bedside flip clocks.


above: Examples of popular bedside flip clocks from the 70s and 80s by General Electric, Krups and Sunbeam

The Alarm Dock uses a nostalgic product language to meet the progressively thin and disappearing profiles of consumer electronics. It is at once a critique and an accommodation to new technology. Made from sustainably harvested new growth Beech Wood, the Alarm Dock comes in 9 finishes:


above: Phone in photo not included. Dock does not have built-in electronics or speakers.

Place an iPhone or iPod Touch running a flip clock app onto the dock, and see an iconic and meaningful form return to your nightstand, mantel, or shelf. Your iPhone or iPod's dock connector can be pulled through it, allowing your device to recharge while docked.




Fits iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S. Does not fit iPhone 5.
Material: Sustainably Harvested New Growth Beech Wood
Dimensions: 6.75 x 3.5 x 2.5 inches



Extra US, UK, and EU cord/charger sets available. If your cord/charger set is from an older model, it may not fit the Alarm Dock.

Where to buy :
•Available for pre-order in black or natural beechwood for $35 at Areaware
•Available for purchase in orange, yellow, green, blue, pink or red for $30  and in natural or black for $40 at Bobby Berk
•Available for purchase in white for $30.95 at Architect Gifts Plus.

About designer Jonas Damon:
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Jonas Damon was raised in Germany and worked in Paris and London before establishing his design consultancy, OFFICE FOR DESIGN, in New York City in 2001. In London he developed furniture and lighting for Tom Dixon's Eurolounge, before becoming a Design Manager for the European retail group Habitat UK. Jonas Damon's collaboration with clients ranges from the design of specific products and product lines to shaping the design process as whole. His international client base includes: Dune, Habitat, Harter, Hold Everything, Ideé, Lenox, Lolah, Max Factor, Menu, Smirnoff, Tupperware, 2x4, Umbra, Uslu Airlines, Vitra, and Wedgwood. The work of Jonas Damon and Office for Design has been published and exhibited internationally.

AREAWARE

The Boodha USB Dock. Infuse Your iPhone and iPod With Positive Zenergy.

Diploo Studio Design of Poland has created this cute tabletop glazed ceramic figure with a built-in USB dock. Made of white ceramic clay and glazed in white, Boodha will only supply positive energy to you iPhone or iPod. He looks a little like the Stay Puft Marshmallow from the side and a Lion wearing headphones from the front, but his belly is all Buddha.






Color: white
Dimensions: 20cm x 20cm x 20cm
Material: glazed ceramics, usb dock
Tehnique: sculpture, design
Year: 2012
Designer: Diploo Studio
Weight: 1kg
Origin country: Poland
Shipping to: Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia
Additional info: USB dock included.

price: 130.00 €, Buy it here

iPhone Photo Cube Printer. No Software, No Computer, just pop in your iPhone and Print.

Despite the fact that most of us are digital photo people and share many images via cyberspace, they do still make picture frames (remember those?) and people still like to place an actual photo upon their mantel or shelf. For those folks, the iPhone Photo Cube Printer by Vupoint is the perfect gift for this holiday season.

The iPhone Photo Cube Printer.
This is the first printer that produces photo quality pictures directly from a docked iPhone, iPod touch, Android phone, iPad1 or iPad2. Requiring no computer or software, the printer is controlled from your iPhone via a free downloadable app. In less than a minute and without ink cartridges, it prints crystal-clear 300 dpi resolution pictures with vibrant colors, thanks to patented paper embedded with yellow, magenta, and cyan dye crystals.



The photographs are smudge- and tear-proof, fade- and water-resistant. The printer can produce one, four, or 10 images on each 4" x 6" borderless sheet. Occupying no more desktop area than a box of tissues, the printer also charges a docked iPhone or iPod touch. Also connects to Android phones (requires mini-USB cable), iPad, and iPad2.



Comes with one thermal paper cartridge that makes 12 prints. Plugs into AC. 4" H x 7" W x 6" D. (3 lbs.). replacement paper cartridges cost $24.95 each.

You can learn all the specs here

retails for $159. USD

Available at these online retailers.

Stylish Stainless Steel Artist Etched Plates For Your New iPhone - Luxe Plates.

Now that we know the new iPhone 4s is the same size as the previous iPhone 4, you don't have to wait to find a cool case or plate design to protect the world's most popular gadget. That said, I'd like to bring Luxe Plates to your attention.

These are beautifully etched stainless steel self-adhesive plates that fit the back of your iPhone 4 or 4S. They protect the phone without getting in the way of buttons or lens. They also work with other covers (fitting under larger wrap around covers) and they can be removed without residual 'gunk.'



With a varied selection by some of today's contemporary artists, designers and illustrators (Andreas Preis, Erich Ginder, Dan Funderburgh, Jesse LeDoux, Jared Nickerson, Richard Coward, Eight Hour Day, Verity Keniger and Notter & Vigne) you're bound to find something that fits your fancy and your phone. They also have a "Design Your Own" option which is explained further on in this post.



The designs are etched with a special photochemical process and are available as brushed stainless steel with black enamel inlay or as polished steel with the etched design.

Calder by Jesse LeDoux:

PNW by Jesse LeDoux:

Bouffant by Jesse LeDoux:

Plank by Jesse LeDoux:

LeDoux Ville by Jesse LeDoux:

Folium by Erich Ginder:

Creative Outlet by Dan Funderburgh:

Brush n' Stuff by Eight Hour Day :

London by Richard Coward:

Apples and Oranges by Jared Nickerson:

Skull by Notter & Vigne:

You're The Danger by Jared Nickerson:

Oh Deer! by Verity Keniger:

Leo by Andreas Preis:


And for those artists in the house, you can even design your own!





"Our coverplates protect and add character to your iPhone in a minimal manner. The etched stainless steel embraces the form-factor of your iPhone while making it distinctive. Luxe Plates are crafted with precision in Seattle." – Jay Dokken, Co-founder, Luxe Plates



Luxe Plates
310 South Washington Street
Seattle, Washington, USA