Advertorial content: Anybody who has bought a SIM card in Europe can attest to the ease and freedom of the “pop it in, top up and go” kind of model found there—and in many countries around the world. Signing a…
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Like many of you, I enjoy the convenience and fun of owning a smartphone. However, I detest loud, obnoxious ring tones. It’s jarring to be in a room with someone whose phone suddenly begins blaring a Metallica riff. My iPhone shipped with several options for ring tones, and several are acceptable. But, there is still much to be desired.
I had an opportunity to review Cleartones, which are non-obnoxious and downright minimal ringtones and alert sounds for the iPhone and Android. (Thanks to Cleartones for letting me give these a try.) After a week of testing these sounds, I can safely say they’re the least annoying ringtones I’ve heard.
When I’m picking a ringtone, I’m looking for three things:
With these points in in mind, here’s what I found from Cleartones.
The company offers two sets of tones, each with three packaging options. The original set is Cleartones Classic. These are mostly electronic-sounding tones, each super brief. The one called “A Clear Tone” is literally a single, electronic “ping” that repeats every six seconds. It’s like the Cleartone developers were reading my mind when they designed this one. Others, like “Loud & Clear” sound like an old ’90’s portable phone, while “The Friendly Tone” fades in and out quickly. The “Classics” set contains 50 tones for $10. Likewise, the Classics Notifications set offers 50 sounds to use with sms, email, voicemail and other alerts. It also sells for $10. Or, you can buy the lot — 100 sounds — for $17.
The other set of sounds is called Cleartones Organic, which feature acoustic instruments exclusively, like metal bells, glass bowls, a vibraphone, and more. This is my favorite set. “Hello There Wood” is very nice, as it’s three sharp raps on a wooden block, but my favorite is “Gamelong:” two quick taps on a glass bowl that repeats every five seconds. It meets all my criteria.
Just like the Classic set, Cleartones Organics ringtones and notifications sets (50 each) are available for $10, or you can buy all 100 for $17.
I should mention another company that sells pleasant ringtones called iRingPro. Their site was recently hacked, unfortunately, but you can still access their web store. iRingPro focuses more heavily on nature sounds.
They’re all worth checking out and, in most cases, are more pleasant and uncluttered than whatever shipped with your phone. Also, if you have another favorite set of uncluttered ringtones, please share your finds with everyone in the comments.
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MagPen is a magnetically driven pen interface that works both on and around mobile devices. The device introduces a new vocabulary of gestures and techniques that redefine the way we use our current standard capacitive stylus. With this new pen we can explore ranges like detecting the orientation the stylus is pointing to, selecting colors using locations beyond the screen boundaries and more.
MagPen recognizing different spinning gestures associated with different actions, it even infers the pressure applied to the pen, and uniquely identifies different pens associated with different operational modes.
As the designer explains, These techniques are achieved using commonly available smartphones that sense and analyze the magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet embedded in a standard capacitive stylus. This paper explores how magnets can be used to expand the design space of current pen interaction, and proposes a new technology to achieve such results.
Designer: SungJae Hwang
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Yanko Design
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(Magnetically Driven Pen was originally posted on Yanko Design)
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by Stephen Pulvirent Japanese design powerhouse MUJI has released a new water-resistant speaker for your smartphone. Though this is an entirely new design, MUJI is far from a newcomer to the world of practical audio equipment. Back…
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A perfectly simple aluminum stand, Mika is a new accessory from Bluelounge that offers convenient reading across all portable devices. The height of the stand can accommodate everything from smart phones to oversized tablets, cradling them snugly between rubber ends. The angle is meant for reading or typing on…
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When you own one of the most beautifully designed smartphone, the iPhone, in your hand or use the intelligent Samsung Galaxy Note series, you want to ensure you treat it right with the best accessory possible. red dot award-winning studio LAB.C has a range of options, but today I want to focus on three of them; the USB Case Lineup, the Smart Wallet Case Lineup and the +D Project Lineup. My favorite is of course the +D Project.
The USB Case for the iPhone 4 / 4S and iPhone 5 is quite an interesting cover. The mobile phone case features an integrated USB stick that is only 2.4mm. It is the thinnest USB and you can easily attach and detach from the case. The case holds your transportation card, credit card, or any other cards that you use frequently. If you are worried about the electromagnetic waves from interfering with the card, no worries because Lab-C has created an anti-electromagnetic card that blocks it.
LAB.C Smart Wallet Cases features pockets for your cash, credit card, and other cards that you use frequently. You can also use this case as a stand for your phone in 90 and 180-degree angles. People generally assume that magnets could be harmful to our cell phones, but after going through their special evaluation, LAB.C created a case that is not affected by the magnetic rays.
Available for: Galaxy S3 (3G/LTE), Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note2, iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5
My absolute favorite, because this project promotes the individual creative works of select designers, the +D Project Lineup is super cute and absolutely the best! The LAB.C +D Project phone cases include matching home button stickers and a free wallpaper application, so that you could match everything. You can download the +D Wallpaper App for free for both Android and Apple app stores.
Available for: iPhone4/4S, iPhone5, Galaxy Note, Galaxy S3 (3G/LTE), Galaxy Note 2
Designer: LAB.C [ Available Here ]
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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Yanko Design Store – We are about more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the YD Store!
(Perfect iPhone And Samsung Cases From LAB.C was originally posted on Yanko Design)
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Announced today, the new HTC One is one of the most exciting releases in recent memory from the Taiwanese manufacturer. At first glance, the flagship phone features an understated, yet premium form with its 4.7″ edge-to-edge HD display set seamlessly in to a unibody aluminum shell. The device feel…
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The latest ways to enhance game play with your smartphone or tablet
With additional reporting by James Thorne
Realizing that competing with the popularity of smartphones and tablets is a game they’ve already lost, toy manufacturers are finding ways to incorporate apps and devices into their product experience. New options range from simple tactile cases to QR codes and elaborate augmented reality board games. We’re really impressed by the breadth of the examples we discovered at the 2012 Toy Fair in New York City this week, even if more often than not the concept is more impressive than the execution. This is a space in which we expect to see a huge amount of innovation, and look forward to seeing how large companies and startups jockey for position in the growing market.
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case
Designed for babies, this easy-to-hold iPhone case is used in combination with apps that teach basic vocabulary and motor skills.
TheO
The simple foam design of this ball opens the gaming experience to loads of new opportunities. By combining motion sensors, app-based games and TV visualization, the toy from Phyiscal Apps is able to dramatically expand the capabilities of your smartphone simply by securely wrapping it up in a foam ball. Experience bowling by watching the game on your TV and roll the ball against the wall to simulate bowling, for example.
Hasbro Zapped Editions
A range of games from Hasbro slated to appear this year are swapping out traditional game boards for iPads. Old favorites like Life and Monopoly are among the ranks, although we were most excited by the company’s plans for Battleship. The strategic two-player game has come a long way since pegs and model ships ruled the board. The game leverages an app and is supplemented by placing battleship pieces on your iPad’s screen. For the game of Life, significant “moments” trigger relevant videos, from graduations to wedding ceremonies.
iBounce
iBounce is reminiscent of treadmill televisions, giving kids an interface to play along with as they engage in physical activity. Currently accompanied by an eBook, the story prompts children to jump along with RompyRoo on his adventures. Apps are already in the works.
Jacked Up
Age-old card games like Hearts, War and Solitaire aren’t left out of the appcessory world. The standard decks are enhanced by QR codes on some of the cards, which can be ignored offline or scanned to instigate new ways of play. For example, one scanned during Hearts may say to draw more cards, or to throw cards out. It’s a simple, clever way to engage those who are interested without modifying the game experience for those who aren’t.
iBuku Pets
Touted as “huggable learning”, these adorable smartphone holders give children something to grab on to as they learn through educational app play. The stand also serves as a charger.
Duo Plink
This quiz game app and is created for family play, and leverages a dish that holds and counts tokens, and shields your screen-based entries from other players. Answer questions displayed on the screen by putting your colored pieces in the corresponding dish. Correct entries are then collected in the basin below without the need to manually tally responses. The company makes several other appcessories, including game show style buzzers for question-based games.
Eye Know
The original Eye Know card game has been enhanced with a free app component. Scrambled images gradually become clear, and players win points depending on how fast they can guess the person, place or thing coming into focus.
Game Changer
Featuring several different games, this triptych board by Identity Games uses the iPad as the central interface surrounded by two panels for real-world movement. Several two-sided inserts are included with the game board. Play is enabled by rotating the die in the holder, each face corresponding to a different game. Character pieces help keep kids involved as the integrated apps track progress, keep score and provide instruction. A version for smartphones is on the way, too.
App Crayon
The world of tablet styluses is given a natural kid-friendly counterpart with this “crayon” styled stylus by Dano. While not a game, it facilitates both drawing and game play. The triangle-shaped stylus teaches correct grip as users draw on the screen of the tablet, engaging with their app of choice.
Keep your digits cozy and usable this winter with touchscreen-friendly gloves
The latest Freehands gloves are now available just in time for winter to come blowing in. As the resident glove of choice here at CH, Freehands was born out of collaboration between our founder Josh Rubin and his father—expert glove manufacturer Stanley Rubin. New for 2011 are a handful of styles featuring new materials and upgraded tech with the same touch screen friendly design, including two new knits and a redesign of the top selling soft shell.
Particularly noteworthy is the new leather collection, with a style for men and women each. These supple leather gloves sport a sleek design lined with a soft knit blend of cashmere, wool and nylon. Like most Freehands gloves, the leather collection features a foldable tip on the thumb and forefinger to allow the wearer free use of touchscreen devices or simply find the right key in your pocket.
Also new is the youthful Hearts and Stripes glove for women. The playful knit is made with a cozy wool and acrylic blend and comes in black, purple and red color combinations. Dots on the palm help keep your phone from slipping and foldable finger tips hold back by magnets to allow for easy texting. Made of the same knitted blend and grippy palm detail, the new Solid Knit has conductive silver thread woven into the index and thumb—instead of the usual caps—for device usage without exposing any digits. Plus it’s available in bright pink and benefits the National Breast Cancer Foundation with each pair sold.
As an update on their top seller, the Soft Shell for men has been redesigned with a “swipe and flip” feature. This hybrid solution has conductive material on the forefinger tip that allows you to swipe to answer with the finger caps on, but still can be folded back for texting or other things that require a bit more accuracy.
Prices range between $18 for the simple knit to $75 for the leather collection. For more details and to see the entire line head to Freehands online.
Sleek satchels that pack some serious power
Fit for arduous travel schedules and lengthy commutes, the recently released luggage line from Powerbag features an on-board charging system to keep you on the grid no matter how far from an outlet you may be. Each bag’s removable and rechargeable power source comes equipped with an Apple device connector, Mini and Mico-USB cords, and a standard USB port, putting out enough power for up to four devices at once. Most importantly, the smart charge system diverts power to the devices that need it most, preventing your tablet from hoarding all the juice.
On the outside of each bag you’ll find a small button that illuminates to display the current battery level of the internal power source. The bag’s deliberately subtle design—charging level is momentarily displayed at a touch of the adjacent button—allows you to safely carry expensive electronics without drawing attention.
The Business Class Pack is a basic backpack with all the highlights hidden on the inside. We love the the number of compartments and velour-lined pockets, preventing your gear from getting all scratched up. Its most notable claim is a “checkpoint-friendly” zipper that opens to lie the bag flat so you don’t have to remove your laptop from the rear compartment for airport security screenings. Life changing.
Much like its over-the-shoulder brother, the Instant Messenger bag is defined by its subdued design and tech-driven inner workings. With a padded laptop sleeve and numerous zippered pockets, this sling bag has more than enough room for long-distance travel or the everyday commute.
Outfitted with a removable 6000mAh battery, the bags offer enough juice to fully charge an average smartphone up to four times before the power supply needs to be refilled. Both packs feature a small AC adapter plug on the outside that connects to any wall outlet for easy recharging. The Business Class Pack and the Instant Messenger bag sell for $180 each directly from Powerbag online. Other styles are also available, and smaller chargers are available at a lower cost.
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