Brought to you this week by three cans of baked beans mixed in a bowl of raspberry jelly and Bob Seger’s Greatest Hits, 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
Screw You Vase – If you’ve been saving up all your plastic screw-top bottles for something, then consider this 3D printed vase from Layers. Ah yes–the Screw You Vase is a clever use of the PET bottle screw top that creates a web of 12 bottle caps connected together to create a 12-vessel vase. Check it out at LayersInDesign.Com.
Nest Protect – By now you’ve probably heard of the NEST Thermostat—you know, the Smart Thermostat designed by ex-Apple designer Tony Fadell? Well, Fadell is at it again and this time he’s tackling the Smoke Alarm with a new product called NEST Protect. With features such as a wave-motion sensor to turn off a warning, a Siri-like human voice control, ambient directional lighting, and an integrated iOS app, you’ll almost want to burn that lemon chicken on purpose. Nice! Check it out at Nest.com
APPS
iKettle – If getting out of bed in the morning to turn on the kettle for tea is too much effort for you on Sunday mornings, be sure to check out the iKettle. The iKettle is the world’s first WiFi-enabled tea kettle that boils water from your smartphone anywhere in your home. Embrace your laziness–or not– and satisfy your tea cravings at the same time. Get it for $160 on Firebox.com.
VROOM! – If you’re embarrassed that your Mini-Van doesn’t make the same engine noises as a V8 Muscle Car, worry no more! The Vroom! app aims to make your everyday driving experience more enjoyable by replacing your sad and sorry engine sounds with those of a Pontiac Trans-AM and others through your car stereo. Check it out for $1 on iTunes!
DIY
Digital Dudz – Well, it’s that time of year again where we’re only weeks away from halloween and your local halloween store will probably be sold out of that Iron Man costume you’ve been eyeballing. Fret no more! Digital Dudz are the smartphone and tablet-integrated latex skins that you can place under a ripped shirt to give the illusion of a beating heart or other terrifying images. Available for $30 bucks at MorphSuits.com
Blind Minder – As we step into the Fall season, chances are you’ve been paying more attention to keeping your house warmer at night. Consider saving some pennies by using your window blinds as a method for room temperature control with this Mini Blind Minder project. Powered by an Arduino microcontroller, this handy little device features a sensor that monitors the desired temperature of your room and opens or closes the blinds to control the ideal temperature. Yep! Check it out at MakeZine.com.
ROCK AWESOMENESS
The Science Kitchen – If you’re going to be in Berlin in the near future, be sure to stop by the Science Kitchen to try out one of their new Kyl21 Molecular Popsicles. Yes, unlike other popsicles these are frozen with liquid nitrogen ensuring less sugar and FAT. Not to mention, the multi-faceted designs look more like a modern italian sofa than a popsicle. Check them out at the-science-kitchen.com.
Type:Rider – And finally, if you ever wanted to learn about the history of typography but don’t want to read stacks of boring books, be sure to check out the new game TypeRider. Yes with each level split up by decade, learn the history of various typefaces by running over them in a semicolon bicycle! First five levels are free over at Typerider.arte.tv …. buy the full game over at iTunes for or Google for $3.
What’s on cadjunkie?
We’re still rockin’ that SolidWorks 101 series, so if you haven’t checked that out yet be sure to do that! We’ve also got a modo 101 series in the works as well as the SolidWorks 201 coming out shortly. 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 talked with a guy whose hairstyle is up there with the best of em’—Design Engineer and Founder of Design Modelling, Mr Jude Pullen! We’ll talk with Jude about the importance of using your hands for modeling in the digital age and how it gets that fancy hair style. 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.
