Philips Shines Light on First 3D-Printed Smart Lamp

As 3D-printed objects and smart home technology become even hotter product categories, it makes sense that Philips is rolling out an app-controlled 3D-printed lamp.

Philips announced a collection of new products on Friday — from a new app-controlled light bulb to a kinectic-energy-powered light switch — but we're most entranced by its 3D-printed lamp line.

The lamp comes in two styles that work with the company's Hue line, the Entity (pictured above) and the Tempest (pictured below, in pendant form). Users can create lighting effects using more than 16 million color variations on the lamp and control the settings via an accompanying app. Lighting can also be programmed based on the time of day and personal preferences.

But the price of cool is hefty. The table lamps are $4,445 and the pendant edition is $4,135. The products are available for pre-order on Meethue.com, starting March 31.

Philips is also launching the Hue tap ($59), a product the company calls the first ever kinetic-powered, web-enabled light switch. If you don't want to use an app to control Hue bulbs, the light switch sticks to the walls and can be re-applied throughout the house. Users can also program up to four color sequences. It doesn't need batteries (it requires a bridge that plugs into a home Wi-Fi router) and can control up to 50 Hue bulbs. It will go on sale in North America and Europe this summer.

The light bulb line is also getting an update with the addition of the Hue Lux, an app-controlled light bulb that only emits white light. This option is significantly less pricey ($99 for two bulbs and a bridge) than the color controlled ones ($199 for three bulbs and a bridge).

Philips aims to make this the entry-level product for those looking to take their first steps toward creating a smarter home, but the Hue Lux still uses the Hue system so you can access third party apps, such as the disco app that syncs the light to music.

It's also compatible with the Jawbone fitness tracker, so it knows when you wake up and can automatically switch on the light another room. The Hue Lux will launch in fall 2014. 

Image: PHILIPS

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A Liquid That Makes Any Pair of Gloves Touchscreen-Friendly

Touchscreen gloves are an essential accessory for smartphone addicts battling the winter chill, but the options for consumers are fairly limited. Purchasing a pair of attractive, touchscreen-compatible mittens usually means paying a pretty penny or sacrificing aesthetics for something a little easier on the wallet.

Nanotips, which is currently funding on Kickstarter, proposes a third solution: Use a conductive, polyamide liquid solution to add touchscreen capabilities to any pair of gloves.

The project has received an enthusiastic Kickstarter backing, racking up more than five times its funding goal of $10,000 CAD, or roughly $9,070.

The solution uses conductive nanoparticles to mimic the electrical conductivity of human skin, just like a normal touchscreen glove. Creator Tony Yu claims the solution will work on any material, from pricey leather to canvas gloves, for construction, golfing, cycling, skiing and snowboarding.

Yu hit upon the idea after purchasing an expensive pair of motorcycle gloves without touchscreen capabilities. Rather than buy a new pair — "touchscreen leathers are expensive and they wear down really quickly," Yu says — he searched for a solution that would integrate with his current gear.

The resulting conductive liquid is applied to the gloves' thumbs and forefingers by swiping an applicator, not unlike applying nail polish. As it dries it soaks into the fabric or forms a conductive film on each fingertip, depending on the material.

"It wasn't so hard to get a product that would interact with a touchscreen device," Yu says. "The hardest part was making it last long enough."

The Kickstarter campaign offers two separate touchscreen solutions, Nanotips Blue and Nanotips Black. The Blue solution covers standard fabrics, such as knits, while the more durable Black treats leathers, rubbers and other thick materials. Each solution leaves behind a slight color residue, however. Blue dries to a translucent blue, while the more versatile Black is, well, black. Yu is still experimenting with creating a fully transparent solution. He also warns the Black solution may alter the texture of certain fabrics.

At $22 CAD (or $20) for a single bottle, the solution is fairly inexpensive, although consumers can purchase actual touchscreen gloves for roughly the same price. The solution lasts for a few weeks (Blue) or months (Black), depending on wear, and can be re-applied. Blue treats an average of 15 fingers, while Black treats up to 30.

The Nanotips Kickstarter campaign ends Feb. 25.

Image: Nanotips

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3D Printed Food: It's What's for Dinner

Although squeezing out food, layer by layer, from a 3D printer may not yet be particularly efficient — nor sound that tasty — companies are already testing how the Jetsons-esque technology can transform the way we eat. Such old favorites as chocolate, candy, and pasta will take on groovier, sculptured forms when extruded from food printers, and the machines will allow the cooking-adverse to prepare "homemade" ravioli at the push of a button. That should free up more time to watch a tech-fantasy film like Her while the food printer is hard at work preparing dinner. Here's a look the 3D printing concepts on the menu at a range of companies:

Chocolate

This month, 3D Systems announced a development agreement with candy maker Hershey "to explore and develop innovative opportunities for using 3D printing technology in creating edible foods, including confectionery treats." The printers could allow manufacturers to create candies in new shapes and customized designs. Hershey isn't the first company to see 3D potential for chocolate: U.K.-based Choc Edge offers a printer for $4783 and a pack of syringes and chocolate for $25 that create what are essentially chocolate illustrations (pictured above).

Pizza

Because the health and happiness of astronauts is paramount, NASA granted contractor Systems & Materials Research $125,000 to develop a pizza printer. The prototype uses shelf-stable powdered food and oils, offering nutrition while minimizing garbage on board a space vehicle. It first prints a layer of dough onto a heated plate that bakes the dough and then lays down a tomato base that has been stored in powdered form and mixed with water and oil. Last comes a printed "protein layer."

Ravioli

Natural Machine's Foodini ($1,400), to launch later this year, can make many kinds of food. Here's how Mashable explains the ravioli printing process: "Prepare the dough and the filling, load them into the machine's food 'capsules' and select 'ravioli' on the printer's iPad-like interface. Foodini will then print the ingredients in the shape of fully-formed ravioli, and the only thing left to do is cook them."

Chickpea Nuggets

An additional Foodini recipe: vegetarian nuggets made of chickpeas, bread crumbs, garlic, spices, olive oil, and salt. Natural Machines co-founder Lynette Kucsma says the machine has also printed quiche, hash browns, cookies, crackers, brownies, and "upscale/designed" fish and chips.

Corn Chips

Cornell Creative Machines Lab built a printer that can create a swirly, flower-shaped corn chip, using masa dough. It can also make hamburger patties with layers of ketchup and mustard.

Sugar Candies

Looking for inspiration in sugar cubes? 3D Systems' Chefjet (one color, about $5,000) and Chefjet Pro (multi-color, about $10,000) — both available later this year — can print uniquely shaped sugar confections in flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, mint, cherry, sour apple, and watermelon. They can also print custom cake toppers — presumably in the likeness of the guest of honor.

This article originally published at Businessweek here

IMAGE: ROBYN BECK/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

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Dyson's DC59 Vacuum Runs 5 Times Faster Than a Race Car

Dyson is getting back to its roots. After messing around with space heaters and radical concept sinks, the UK-based company is rocking the vacuum boat again, this time with a powerful handheld model and its first vacuum that will only be available in the United States.

The Dyson DC59 is the latest iteration of the company's handheld product, which the company claims is as powerful as an upright vacuum. It looks similar to past versions, but it's been redesigned with a different kind of motor, an easier-to-remove filter and an upgraded battery.

The DC59 motor now uses four electromagnets instead of two, which makes it 50% more powerful than the previous DC44 at 350 watts. On top of that, the revamped battery has more capacity than before, so battery life is increased to 26 minutes. On the downside, the new batteries are incompatible with previous vacuums and chargers.

DC59 is considerably lighter than the last model, too. Dyson senior engineer Rob Green said this is mainly because the design uses a lot more carbon fiber, which gives the structure the sturdiness it needs to withstand a motor spinning at 110,000 rpm (about 5 times faster than a race car engine).

Dyson also unveiled a new upright vacuum for the American market, the DC65. The new vacuum is specially designed to perform on both hardwood floors and carpets, Dyson said, with a more gentle brush head that can keep rotating on a hard floor without potentially damaging it (you can still shut it off for extra caution on the Bolivian Rosewood, Mr. Rockefeller).

As with anything Dyson, a relatively extreme price tag is attached. The DC59 is $499.99 and the DC65 starts at $499 for the "Platinum" model, although models with more accessories for picking up pet hair and cleaning difficult spots (like stairs) will run you $599 and $649.

Both vacuums are available starting Jan. 19, although the DC65 upright will be exclusive to Best Buy.

Image: DYSON

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