ORA Speaker Wraps Around Your iPad to Give You Surround Sound – Literally

Thanks to it’s less-than-stellar internal speaker, there are a lot of iPad speakers to choose from in the market. Personally, I’ve got my sights set on the ORA. It’s the first of its kind that I’ve seen, and so far, I like what I see.

ora ipad speaker case

It’s basically a speaker that surrounds your entire iPad. Actually, I stand corrected: there are actually eight speakers surrounding the iPad.

Ora Speaker

Now it won’t give you surround sound even though the speakers are all around your tablet, but it will give you decent audio so you and a whole bunch of other people can gather around and watch a movie or two. It also functions as a case for your iPad, and offers an optional front flip-cover that works like Apple’s Smart Cover.

The ORA Speaker is currently up for funding on Kickstarter, where a minimum pledge of $99(USD) will get you one, while $129 will get you the speaker along with the matching cover/stand.

[via Cult of Mac]


Watch A Wind-Powered Child’s Toy Evolve Into A Low-Cost Minefield Clearing Machine

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It costs $1,200 to clear a single landmine. But Afghan designer Massoud Hassani has created a device that costs just €40 (roughly $51 U.S.), needs only wind power to operate, and can clear two or three mines in a single trip. In the video above, you can see how his elegant design for the Mine Kafon was inspired by a childhood spent navigating minefields in Afghanistan, and how a simple child’s toy acted as the catalyst for an invention that could change the world.


This All Wood Stool Is Still As Comfy As a Cushion

The next time you find yourself lost in the woods and need a comfy place to sit while you wait for rescue, remember designer Mary Dickerson’s clever Ash Cushion stool. More »

This Brilliant Business Card Transforms into a Tiny Chair

Catalogs might work well for Ikea, but as a way to advertise a modern upscale furniture store they’re a little low-brow. But a brilliantly designed business card that transforms into a miniature version of the furniture you sell? That’s pure genius. More »

Artful Dodger Collects Your Loose Change While You Rock

Apparently, rocking chairs are pretty hot commodities nowadays. Following fast on the heels of the Rocking-Knit chair and the iRock  is the Artful Dodger. Doesn’t sound like something you’d name a rocking chair, but designer Sam LOmingshum (no, that uppercase “O” isn’t a typo) did so with good reason.

You see, the Artful Dodger isn’t just a rocking chair. It also happens to be a thief. Well, sort of.

Artful DodgerIt’s never a good idea to sit and rock on a rocking chair if your pockets are full. If you’ve tried doing so with change in your pockets, then you know what I mean. Sam and his artfully dodgy chair are also well-aware of this fact.

So when you start rocking and your coins start falling out…

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…the Artful Dodger will take care of collecting all your loose change. It’s sort of like any automatic piggy bank – for the owner of the chair, that is.

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[via Chair Blog]


The Seven Deadly Rings

If the Seven Deadly Sins were somehow transformed into rings, then these would be them. Presenting Stephen Webster’s collection of rings that are so sinfully bad that they’re good:

seven deadly rings

A description of the rings:

Envy is, of course, a representation of the green eyed monster lurking under a lush green peridot while for Pride a purple tanzanite is surrounded by a ruff of peacock feathers. Gluttony are wide-open cherry red bejewelled lips with glossy white teeth just waiting to chomp up anything edible. Wrath shows a woman’s hands clutching a chalice of poison.

Greed looks like a pile of gold coins topped with diamonds, while Sloth features an aquamarine set lazily in a plush red cushion. Lastly, Lust is a tangle of arms and legs surrounding a gorgeous, deep blue stone.

They’re extremely limited too, since only seven of each of the seven Deadly Sins rings will be made. Which sin is your favorite?

[via Habin Design via Neatorama]


Would You Eat With These Bizarre Mouth-Massaging Utensils?

Silverware is boring. Always the same purely functional shapes. Glorified mouth-shovels. Bleh. These utensils designed by Jinhyun Jeon are intended to shake it up a bit. The bumps and weird-shapes are designed to try and stimulate the sense of touch, emulating all the best parts of synesthesia, which is admittedly a really cool disorder. More »

Impress Prospective Clients and Employers with Some Star Wars Business Cards

If you fail to make an impression in person, then your next chance at doing so is with your business card. Business cards can make or break what your prospective boss or business partner will think of you. Case in point: who’d want to hire a guy with a sloppy-looking card?

If your line of work requires you to be a geek, then might I suggest getting cards made up like these Star Wars-themed business cards?

Star Wars Business CardsApparently, these were fan-made cards that were popular in the 1980s. Because Star Wars is so awesome, these cards are still making the rounds over twenty years later. Check out the gallery for the full series of cards.

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What character would you want on a business card? Which one is your personal fave?

(Oh, and here’s just the case you need to carry these in.)

[via Jay Mug via Bit Rebels]


Rain Shield Shelters You from the Rain and Protects from Splashes

Regular umbrellas shield you from the rain falling from the sky, but they don’t do anything to protect you from water splashing from the wheels of cars speeding through puddles in front of you.

It’s annoying but unfortunately, there is little you can do about it. Until now, that is, thanks to Lin Min-Wei and Liu Li-Hsiang’s Rain Shield.

Rain ShieldIt’s basically an umbrella with an extension on one side that shields you from splashes coming at you from the side.

rain shield

When you’re safe and dry indoors, just fold the entire umbrella up into a 180-millimetre-diameter disc and store. Pretty convenient, huh?

The Rain Shield was presented at the red dot award: design concept ceremony in Singapore.

[via Yanko Design]


Withings WS-30 Wireless Scale Slims Down

I’ve known for the last couple of years that my home scale is a bit off, so I wonder if an expensive digital scale will do better. The idea of a smartphone-connected scale isn’t something new, but Withings new scale looks pretty spiffy and it’s supported by plenty of apps to help you keep track of your weight.

withings ws 30 scale

The Withings WS-30 Wireless Scale is thinner and $30 cheaper than than the original model. It also adds Bluetooth 4.0 in addition to 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, in order to track your weight and Body Mass Index (BMS) via the free Withings app – or you can shuttle data to the other 60+ fitness apps that support it. Each time you use it, it automatically syncs and uploads your data. It also automatically calibrates itself when you’re away, and offers position detection for highly-accurate measurement.

withings wireless scale ws 30 iphone

The Withings WS-30 sells for $129.95(USD) and will allow you to keep to a fitness or weight-loss program easily.

[via Uncrate]