Sky Pen brings missing piece to Smart Pens

For several years now, consumers have used Smart Pens for notes in class, and well, that's about it.
Before the release of Livescribe's Sky Pen, users were not able to view their notes on any other device, unless they manually downloaded the information from the pen itself.

The Sky Pen brings a sort of iCloud feel to digital note taking.  After connecting to a local WiFi network (a new addition in the Smart Pen world) anything recorded or downloaded onto the Sky Pen will be automatically saved onto any digital device via an Evernote account.  Evernote is an online notetaking platform that will file the notes away into its Cloud type platform.  The notes can then be accessed through any digital device that supports Evernote's web-based Apps.


Sounds pretty cool, right?  Too good to be true almost.  The pricing is the major drawback.  The pens run from $119 to $250.  Until Livescribe can bring production costs down or other companies find ways to compete with Livescribe, the pricing will unfortunately stay fairly high.

Roomba...for your phone?

Introducing the Roomba, for your phone!  This nifty little device resembles a self-automated vacuum or dish scrubber, only the Roomba is a sturdy self-automated cleaner for your cellular device!  

The Japanese company Takara Tomy, created its product, the AutoMee S to resemble the vacuum-like Roombas.  Instead of suction, the AutoMee will cruise around on your phone, buffing away scratches and cleaning the screen.

The Roomba-like device runs on one AA battery, weighs a little less than 3 ounces, and comes in four colors: white, blue, orange and pink. It will retail for 1575 Yen, or nearly $17, when it goes on sale in Japan at the end of March.  

Apple Smartwatches

Apple has been reportedly experimenting with creating Smartwatches.  The watches would be made with curved glass, and operate using Apple's iOS platform.

Apple has still declined to comment on specific details of its plans for the wearable computer.

The NY Times reports that such a device is inevitable.  Ever since the days of James Bond, computer watches have been a figment of human imagination.  But Apple's supplier of glass - Corning, reports that it has developed a type of glass that can bend without shattering.

Printing in 3D

You want your morning coffee.  But damn, you forgot to do dishes.  Why not just print yourself a new  Coffee Cup?  Or maybe have a new house printed out, you know, to save money by not hiring a contractor.

3D printing is quickly becoming a reality for everyday items.  You can print virtually anything!

While for now, the high price tag of 3D printers (most range in the thousands of dollars range, however you can find small versions for around $600) is keeping them out of mainstream consumer hands, several companies like Shapeways are now making it possible to order online.....nearly anything you want printed in 3D.  Shapeways and companies like it are making it possible to order personalized items - like an iPhone case - for under $13.

To use a 3D printer, you must first create a model of what you want to print on your computer.  The image will be in 3D.  The printer then begins to make your model using a hard plastic substance (usually at extremely high temperatures).   In a matter of minutes (or hours, depending on the size of your model) you will have a real life version of whatever you created on your own computer.

A small scale version of 3D printing.

 Time Magazine reports that Staples in the Netherlands have announced they will begin carrying 3D printing services for consumers in its stores this year.