Pebble Time — video (update)

Pebble’s original smartwatch set records on Kickstarter, & now there is a new Pebble setting records.

Retaining the best features of the original, including:
● 7 day battery life
● readable-in-the-brightest-sunlight e-paper display
● compatibility with existing Pebble apps & watchfaces

Pebble Time adds:
● new user interface
● colour
● slimmer case
● microphone
● Gorilla Glass face, among other new features.

After opening on Kickstarter just a few hours ago, Pebble Time is already oversubscribed many times. When I last looked, the counters were updating every few seconds.

Kickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-time-awesome-smartwatch-no-compromises/

Pebble web site
https://getpebble.com / colour color e-paper smartwatch up to 7 days of battery new timeline interface important in your day new watch called Pebble Time new timeline interface color e-paper display microphone responding to notifications battery life water resistance customizable customizability Pebble Time fully compatible 6,500+ existing Pebble apps watchfaces watch face colors Kickstarter shipping in May extra special engraving original Kickstarter backers support us again the world’s first real smartwatch Kickstarter community early adopters support worldwide movement overwhelming support feedback Pebble Kickstarter wearables exclusive access to our newest product more info at a glance new color e-paper display easy to read always-on displaying incoming notifications watchface LCD OLED power consumption minimized industry-leading battery life up to 7 days awesome watch easy to read always-on displaying incoming notifications Pebble Time 20% thinner ergonomic curved design fits comfortably stylish durable lens is scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass bezel stainless steel water resistant run rain water-balloon battle swim personalize soft silicone band all standard 22mm watch bands will fit quick-release pin swap bands DIYers accessory makers advanced customizers publishing 3D data create amazing straps, covers docks smart accessory port enabling hardware developers build sensors smart straps connect directly to the watch three colors black watch case silicone black PVD stainless steel bezel silver PVD red watch case /

Coffee — you should be drinking more — maybe

Credit: Inhabitat

Coffee has lots of benefits:

http://www.inc.com/peter-economy/coffee-5-surprising-reasons-why-you-should-be-drinking-more-of-it.html

Or … maybe not:

http://www.inc.com/travis-bradberry/caffeine-the-silent-killer-of-success.html

Which brings us to the real problem with coffee — lack of good, authoritative, consistent information. / improved improving improve performance cut down on caffeine coffee drinker ability manage your emotions remain calm under pressure direct link performance research top performers emotional intelligence skilled managing emotions high stress remain calm and in control good feel more alert improve mood studies study research caffeine improves cognitive task performance memory attention span short-term participants caffeine habits new research Johns Hopkins Medical School performance increases caffeine intake short-term reversal caffeine withdrawal control controlling caffeine caffeine-related performance improvement nonexistent caffeine withdrawal coming off caffeine reduces reduce reduced cognitive performance negative impact mood back to normal new heights performance back to normal adrenaline triggers release adrenaline fight-or-flight response survival mechanism rational thinking emotions overrun behavior irritability anxiety emotional effects caffeine negative effects increase increased raise blood pressure stimulate the heart rapid shallow breathing deprives deprive brain oxygen thinking calm rational ugly sleep brain memories storing discarding dreams wake up alert clear-headed self-control focus memory information-processing speed sleep feeling rested brain cycles reduce reducing caffeine intake caffeine six-hour half-life caffeine negative effects increasing makes it harder to fall asleep caffeine disrupts quality sleep reducing rapid eye movement REM sleep withdrawal stimulant physiologically psychologically addictive lower caffeine intake guidance qualified medical professional researchers Johns headache fatigue sleepiness difficulty concentrating slowly taper espresso stimulating improving memory cancer Alzheimer's extending life longevity negative stress sleeplessness good news Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee academics scientists advise U.S. government agencies Food and Drug Administration FDA Department of Agriculture good for you drink between 3 5 cups full benefits Dutch long-term health risks reduces risk of heart disease lower heart stroke risk factors arrhythmias type 2 diabetes sugar protect against Parkinson's disease study 40 percent lower risk healthy diet brew /

Pon punctureless push pin – update

Credit: Pon/Design Milk


Credit: Pon/Design Milk

Have something you want to hang on a pin board, but don’t want to damage it?

Saved by Pon the punctureless push pin!

Works with pin-proof objects like coins too (see link below).

Have to respect good design.

Update: Kickstarter project has ended, but you can still buy them at https://www.ponitup.com/

Pon has comfortably passed its $10,000 goal on Kickstarter. You can still get on board for amounts between $5 for 20 Pons to $130 for 800.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/markweiser/prevent-picture-puncture-with-pon

Thanks to design-milk.com for this item. / Pon display suspend push pin wall tack for design unique patent pending geometry coil head hug objects stab Pon easy slide display inside the coil special angle coil allows for objects to be inserted without crumpling flexible spirals maintain full grip hold thick objects coasters album jacket layers of small objects reminder notes heat-treated stainless steel spring steel spring back original shape expand expanded small same size ordinary normal standard regular thumb tack strong versatile display things prototype prototyped fine tuned tolerances optimised made in the USA experienced local manufacturer imaginative feeding creativity imagination Jenna Blazevich Vichcraft collaborate calligraphic message rewards risks challenges manufacturing package ship environmentally responsible project is fully funded patent pending geometry /

Solar power for Tesla Supercharger stations

Tesla has always planned to power its Supercharger stations with solar, but to date they have been powered from the grid. This doesn’t mean they are powered solely from unsustainable sources. Modern grids are powered from a mix of sources, including solar & other renewables. In Norway, this means that the 6 Supercharger stations (as of August 2013)* are 98% renewable**.

Elsewhere, the situation is not so bright, but improving everywhere.***

And Tesla is taking steps to deliver on its solar promise: its first solar powered Supercharger station is almost ready:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1096926_teslas-first-solar-powered-supercharger-store-service-center-is-almost-ready
__________

* Mark Kane: “First Six Tesla Supercharger Stations Up & Running in Norway; ~ 120 kW of Power” http://insideevs.com/first-six-tesla-supercharger-stations-up-and-runing-in-norway-120-kw-of-power/

** “Tesla Model S electric taxis in Oslo”
http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/tesla-model-s-electric-taxis-in-oslo.html

*** Wikipedia:” Solar power by country” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_by_country / electric car vehicle EV maker Tesla Motors rapidly opening Supercharger DC fast-charging fast charging stations USA U.S. North America country providing solar-generated solar generated electricity sites Superchargers electricity conventional power grid change Tesla batteries consumers home energy electricity storage Rocklin California Sacramento location single location Tesla showroom new cars displayed Service Center row Supercharger fast-charging stalls a massive array photovoltaic solar cells power entire site another Supercharger site Roseville Galleria Mall freeway access immediate direct added eight additional Supercharger stalls Interstate 80 exchange Sierra College exit solar Power Boom grid parity work local company Phil Haupt Electric of Roseville previous experience electric vehicle supply equipment EVSE installation and maintenance installation all local employees sourced purchased all of our materials locally solar power plant roof solar photovoltaic panels PV shade /

New Pebble watch, Tuesday 24 February

Original Pebble
Credit: Pebble/Forbes

With over a million watches shipped, Pebble is about to announce something new on Tuesday 24 February:

"We’ve found a new framework to use as an interaction model on the watch … It doesn't look like what we have today, & it doesn't look like what's on your smartphone.” — Eric Migicovsky, Pebble founder & CEO

Sign up to “be the first to know”, or just check out the count down timer:

https://getpebble.com/

Other coverage:

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/34422/20150221/countdown-on-pebble-site-suggests-new-smartwatch-debut-heres-what-we-expect.htm

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/new-pebble-release-date-2015,news-20479.html

http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/2/7947799/pebble-1-million-smartwatches-sold-new-hardware-coming

http://www.cnet.com/au/news/pebble-more-than-1-million-smartwatches-shipped/ / smart watch smartwatch smartwatches indie Kickstarter project Pebble improving product selling watches CEO Eric Migicovsky one millionth Pebble price cuts new feature boosted sales figures Google Android Samsung Galaxy Gear new products new software platform Google Apple smartwatches app smartphone smart phone Pebble's new software new framework interaction model apps main focus platform Pebble Steel investment year webOS TV tasked new software platform launch Apple Watch Google Android Wear platform second third generation Android Wear smartwatches third-party developers web-based emulator developers build test apps install software 6,000 apps watchfaces watch face current platform hardware software wrist /

Sony just unveiled the stupidest product in the history of the Universe

Credit: Sony/BGR

"Stupidest product in the history of the Universe"? Big claim, but a microSD card that promises, “Premium Sound”, has to be a contender.

http://bgr.com/2015/02/19/sony-premium-sound-memory-card/

http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/19/8068465/sony-memory-card-premium-sound-sr-64hxa

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/02/19/sony-to-offer-premium-sound-memory-card/?mod=WSJBlog / seriously wrong Sony single stupidest tech product in history $155 memory card promises deliver premium sound memory card delivering premium sound claim claiming new SR-64HXA memory card produces less electrical noise when reading data card delivers premium sound less noisy other memory cards worth $155 SR-64HXA Class 10 microSDXC card more reasonable $90 Samsung price falls $50 USA US amount speed storage $30 golden-lettered for Premium Sound micro SD SDXC /

"A watch that guaranteed I would never get laid"* (video)

Credit: Cathode Corner

Woz demonstrates his own Nixie Watch (with a bit of commentary on how this thing might be viewed by airlines):



And only $495. Shipping is $15 within USA, $85 to ship anywhere else in the world.

Thinkgeek have a clock kit for $399:


__________
* “If I wanted to buy a watch that guaranteed I would never get laid, I certainly wouldn't have to spend that much on it.” — comment on Slashdot — http://tech.slashdot.org/story/05/12/15/019206/science-meets-style-in-this-cathode-tube-watch / Steve Wozniak Woz wear Apple Watch smart watch smartwatch Nixie Watch clock clocks Nixie tubes hours minutes seconds sequentially set up the watch teach adjust angle hold your arm view the time tubes will light up automatically display the time lift your arm to that angle case black anodized 6061-T6 aluminum mineral crystal face sealed O-ring keep out water dust dirt 2.2″ in diameter 0.79″ thick 20mm band powered by CR2 disposable battery source code firmware page reprogram the watch yourself Cathode Corner Nixie Watch spare Nixie tubes available $15 each video displays the time nixie tubes cold-cathode tube neon mercury argon atmospheric pressure vacuum tube-based Sumlock-Comptometer Anita Mk VII 1961 two-digit wristwatch /