Tag Archives: environment friendly

Fairphone: Above Average Phone, Above Average Values

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It’s no secret that some, if not most of the objects we buy were made under less than ideal conditions. The gadgets that we lust for may not have been made without oppressive labor conditions, irresponsible processing of natural resources and other immoral practices. One company wants to make a difference by making what they call the Fairphone, a “conflict-free” Android smartphone.

fairphone android smartphone

In terms of hardware and software, the Fairphone is not that impressive. It will run on Android 4.2 aka Jelly Bean and will have a 4.3″ 960×540 touchscreen, 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage, 8mp rear camera, 1.3mp front camera and a 2,000mAh battery. Not bad, but the company behind it wants us to support it mainly because of its transparent and fair manufacturing process. The company aims to ensure that the employees involved in making the Fairphone are treated fairly and that the resources used in making the phone are gathered and processed in responsible means.

fairphone android smartphone 2

The Fairphone itself will supposedly embody these people- and environment-friendly principles as well. For instance, its battery is user-replaceable and its operating system will be rootable out of the box. If the Fairphone takes off, the company says they will strive to create a smartphone that is completely recyclable.

You can pre-order the Fairphone for €325 (~$420 USD) at its official website. Their target is to reach 5,000 orders before going into production. As of this writing they already have 2,174 orders. Of course, the goals and dreams behind the Fairphone won’t be realized overnight, but I really do hope they succeed.

They should make a more informative website or a documentary that shows concrete examples of what they’re doing. If they’re the real deal, I’d be happy to donate money for such a cause even I get nothing in return. I’m sure I’m not alone.

[via Freshness]

Filabot Recycles Plastic, Prints 3D Printing Material

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Even though they’re much more awesome than conventional printers, 3D printers still need “ink”, or what is known as filament. While this can come in many forms – sand, chocolate, living cells – most projects require plastic filament. There are many companies that sell filament, but wouldn’t it be awesome if you could just make your own?

filabot plastic extrusion filament maker by tyler mcnaney

That’s the idea behind Tyler McNaney’s invention, the Filabot. According to Wired, Tyler got the idea to make Filabot because he wanted to dive into 3D printing but didn’t have a lot of money to buy filament. What the Filabot does is reduce the process of making filament into a small, personal scale. It melts various types of plastic – including commonly used ones such as PET, HDPE and ABS – extrudes or forces the molten plastic through nozzles and flattens them to the users’ desired diameter using rollers. This way you can turn plastic bottles, packaging and even old or failed 3D printed objects into filament.

Tyler already raised $32,330 (USD) from a recent Kickstarter campaign, where he sold Filabots for as low as $350 (USD) each. For now you can sign up for an email notification on the Filabot website to know when you can turn your little brother’s LEGO into a 3D printed turd. Just kidding. It’s inevitable though.

[Filabot via Gajitz via Reddit]

 

Solar Panel Snowboard: Shred & Charge

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Signal Snowboards has invented one of the most fun ways to charge a gadget: juicing up while snowboarding. The company made a one-of-a-kind snowboard that’s topped with solar panels (and most likely a battery), letting it act as a solar charger even while being used.

snowboard solar cell charger by signal and powerfilm

The unique charger was made possible by PowerFilm Solar’s paper-thin, tough and waterproof solar panels. And whatever the hell is holding the gadget that’s being charged.

A charger that’s portable and rideable? Gnarly.

[via NetworkA via Inhabitat]

Transparent Speaker Being Transparently Funded on Kickstarter

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If you’ve had your eye on People People’s clear-cased speaker, you’re in luck. The Swedish design studio have started a fundraiser for their beautiful minimalist and modular speaker.

transparent speaker by people people

The updated production version of the speaker has a 6.5″ subwoofer, two 3.5″ drivers, an amplifier with Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and a powered USB port so you can attach a Bluetooth or WiFi dongle to it. People People also think that their speaker pairs well with Apple’s Airport Express – giving it AirPlay compatibility – so they’ve also included a slot for the device.

As the Swedes promised, the speaker can be ordered fully assembled or just as a kit sans the glass case. The modular design of the speaker means it will be easy for owners to replace or upgrade its parts for further customization.

If you’re interested in getting a Transparent Speaker I suggest you head to Kickstarter ASAP because early backers can get a significant discount. As of this writing you can get the kit for as low as $360 (USD) and the fully assembled version for as low as $490 (USD).

Transparent Speaker Being Transparently Funded on Kickstarter

Posted on by

If you’ve had your eye on People People’s clear-cased speaker, you’re in luck. The Swedish design studio have started a fundraiser for their beautiful minimalist and modular speaker.

transparent speaker by people people

The updated production version of the speaker has a 6.5″ subwoofer, two 3.5″ drivers, an amplifier with Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and a powered USB port so you can attach a Bluetooth or WiFi dongle to it. People People also think that their speaker pairs well with Apple’s Airport Express – giving it AirPlay compatibility – so they’ve also included a slot for the device.

As the Swedes promised, the speaker can be ordered fully assembled or just as a kit sans the glass case. The modular design of the speaker means it will be easy for owners to replace or upgrade its parts for further customization.

If you’re interested in getting a Transparent Speaker I suggest you head to Kickstarter ASAP because early backers can get a significant discount. As of this writing you can get the kit for as low as $360 (USD) and the fully assembled version for as low as $490 (USD).

Evil Controllers Rechargeable Xbox 360 Controller Kills AA Batteries (for Good)

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Still not living up to its name, Evil Controllers is back with another invention that should be very beneficial to Xbox 360 gamers. The company has come up with an Xbox 360 controller with a built-in rechargeable battery, just like the PS3′s controllers.

evil controllers rechargeable xbox 360 controller

I’m actually surprised that Microsoft hasn’t released a controller like this, although to its credit it has released external rechargeable battery packs that can last for an entire day of gaming. But as Evil Controllers mentions in its Kickstarter video below, a controller with an internal battery is more environment-friendly and much lighter. Plus, Evil’s version is a long-lasting Lithium-ion battery, so you can play for up to 10 hours straight without recharging. You can skip to about 1:10 in the video for the meat of the pitch:

Here’s a quick look at the controller:

If you watched the Kickstarter video then you know that Evil Controllers is very considerate with their reward tiers. Pledge at least $80 (USD) and you get an Xbox 360 controller with their custom backplate built-in, or just pledge $50 to get a DIY kit so you can install the backplate on your own controller. You know where to go.

[via Joystiq]


Transient Electronics: This Gadget Will Self-Destruct

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Scientists at the Tufts School of Engineering and at the University of Illinois have created simple electronic devices that harmlessly dissolve after a set period of time. The scientists call their invention transient electronics, devices which could have a huge impact on medical devices and on the environment in general. Future computers could melt in your mouth and in your hand. Or anywhere else for that matter.

transient electronics by tufts school of engineering and university of illinois

The devices were made using silicon components that are only “tens of nanometers thick.” These components are then encased in sheets of silk protein. This silk casing can be tweaked to determine the lifespan of the device, and the scientists say the range could be anywhere from minutes to years. Here’s a short video showing how these circuits could dissolve in water.

This breakthrough could lead to medical devices that can be safely left in a patient’s body (and eventually decompose) as well as consumer devices that eventually dissolve instead of piling up in landfills.

[via Tufts Now via Inhabitat]


Green House Lantern Runs on Salt Water to Defeat Blackest Night

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Lamps, flashlights and lanterns frequently run on batteries or solar power, but the Green House GH-LED10WBW lantern only needs a drink of water with a dash of salt mixed in, and it’s good to go. It’s all thanks to its power source, a consumable rod that is filled with magnesium and carbon. Salty water facilitates the flow of current for up to 8 hours. The rod will need to be replaced every 120 hours.

green house GH LED10WBW lantern

Even better, it can also charge USB devices, although it can only output 4.5V so it can’t charge tablets and other power hungry gadgets. No word on its price, release date or availability though. I wonder if you can power it with tears. Or urine.

[via Green House via Akihabara News]