Brought to you this week by 3 field mice singing mariachi songs while sitting in a hot tub and drinking strawberry milk jiggles, be sure to check out the all new episode of Cool Tools of Doom n’ Stuff! By the way, we love our SolidSmack readers! Have something cool you’ve come across and want to share it on SolidSmack? Don’t hide it in your neck skin! Send it on in to smoth@www.solidsmack.com. Kick it!
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The SolidSmack Cool Tools of Doom n’ Stuff is GO. This short video features some of the coolest finds we’ve discovered on the web this week.
This week we look at:
DESIGN
The Whoopdeedoo – The Whoopdeedoo from Vancouver-based designer Greg Papove aims to make riding your bike to work just a little more fun. Yes this bright and playful ramp design can be placed along existing bike paths to make an ordinary bike lane slightly more enjoyable and safe for all ages and skill levels. With the tagline “Have Fun at Your Own Risk”, you’ll be reminded first thing in the morning to make the day an enjoyable one. Check out more at GregPapove.com
Apple iOS 7 – It’s finally here ladies and gents; industrial designer Jony Ive’s first foray into user interface design has arrived in the form of the much-anticipated iOS 7 for Apple’s mobile devices. Featuring a new parallax-inspired layout, the design aims to focus more on the content while stripping away the classic skeumorphism seen in previous iOS releases. Get it for free through iTunes.
APPS
Shadow Sleep App – The Quantified Self has seen an upswing in interest driven by sales of the Nike Fuelband and other body tracking devices. The latest comes in the form of a dream recording app by the name of Shadow. By answering a series of short questions the moment you wake up, the app tracks your dream patterns and in-sleep experiences. It’s already surging in popularity on Kickstarter—get your copy reserved for various smartphones for $8 on Kickstarter.
Virgin Air In-Flight Entertainment – Virgin Air is the first airline to realize that we’re living in the year 2013 and people just aren’t accustomed to tiny screens with fuzzy reception in the back of a headrest for an 8 hour flight. No we’re not! Their newly-released Virgin Viewing app allows passengers to view movies and programs directly on their high-definition smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Check it out on iTunes for free.
DIY
Bent Plywood Chair – Been wanting to make a bent plywood chair but don’t know where to start? Then be sure to check out this Ramified Armchair project from Instructables user ‘ALEPALAN’. Using just 7 pieces of wood, this ‘two birds, one stone’ Instructable takes you through the basics of bending your plywood and creating a high-design chair. Available on Instructables.com
$10 R2D2 Costume – Well, the candy corn has been stocking up at your local grocery store, and we all know what that means: Halloween is just around the corner. If you or Junior are looking for a cheap DIY-inspired costume idea, consider this R2D2 Costume for Under $10 project. Using basic school room supplies such as pipecleaners, posterboard, and white glue, this project will ensure that you get Princess Leia’s undivided attention. Also on Instructables.com.
ROCK AWESOMENESS
Compressorhead – Been dying to hear some of your favorite heavy metal hits played by a band of robots? Then you’re in luck my friends! Compressorhead is the heavy metal band that is made up of actual pieces of heavy metal with names like Fingers and Stickboy. Check out their riffs over at CompressorheadBand.com.
Grafik BS – And finally, for those who appreciate a bit of Design parody, be sure to check out the Grafik BS project from graphic designer Amy West. Yes Amy’s project consists of a made-up design studio that creates meaningless messages and runs the current state of today’s design commenting through the satirical wash cycle. Check it out on Behance.
What’s on cadjunkie?
This week we’ve unleashed the all-new modo Zen plug-in geared at making modo a little easier to navigate for product designers. We’ve got some other stuff coming too, so keep an eye out and as always, be sure to head over to cadjunkie.com for a free membership!
What’s on Engineer vs Designer?
What’s on EngineerVsDesigner? This week we talk with the man behind the all-in-one 3D printer, laser etcher and mill, Mr. Jeremy Fryer-Biggs of Mebotics! Check it out on EngineerVsDesigner.com! Rock!
Ask SolidSmack
And there you have it! Send your cool tool finds to smoth@www.solidsmack.com, sign up for our newsletter there in the sidebar or ask us a question in the comments or via email about diy, design, tech or anything else. Smoth would love to help.
