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Bic aims to give you a better shave via its connected razor
Bic wants to design better razors via a new prototype of a connected wet shave called the Next Bic Thing. It looks like a normal five-bladed shaver and handle, but it can capture tons of shaving data, including temperature, humidity, hair density, shaving speed, number of strokes, time spent shaving, blade dullness and even water use. Using this data, Bic will build next-gen shavers that are "perfectly adapted to today's users based on these advanced consumer insights," the company said.
The best electric razor
By Dan Koeppel This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to electric razors.
What we're buying: Philips OneBlade shaver
Men don't get much when it comes to the bathroom-gadget oeuvre, and Engadget usually deals in two kinds of them: established devices given a new twist, and extreme futuristic-use cases for the future of our bathroom -- typically aimed at women. Not so in this week's IRL. Bureau Chief Mat Smith's recommendation is for our more... hirsute readers. It's an electric shaver/beard trimmer from Philips. Don't roll your eyes so quickly because things are a little different this time, and for the scruff-loving, sensitive (skinned) Mat, it's game-changing. Calm down with the hyperbole, Mathew.
Diamaze diamond-tipped razor blades can literally split hairs (video)
At last, a sign that we're advancing from our caveman heritage into a brave new world. Gone are the days of rough-hewn blades, the world of modernity does its cutting with "plasma-sharpened" implements polished off with a layer of synthetic, industrial-grade diamonds. Okay, we're not quite there yet, but we're en route, thanks to a small German outfit named GFD, which has recently debuted a diamond-tipped, tungsten carbide razor blade that promises to retain its sharpness 1,000 times as long as regular steel and to be precise enough to slice a human hair in half. Hell, that latter bit isn't even a promise, it's a fact, which you can verify in the video after the break. GFD is looking for a manufacturing partner to bring this ingenious prototype to market, and given its years of experience applying the technology to industrial uses, we reckon it has enough of a pedigree to stand a decent chance of success.
Race to shave your face with Magnetic Shaving Derby
Magnetic Shaving Derby serves as both a homebrew game and a cautionary tale for those of you out there intending to shave your face using nothing but a razor blade and a U-shaped magnet. Razor blades are only good for two things -- slitting your wrists and cutting lines of cocaine -- not shaving.According to programmer Nyarlu, you score points in MSD for each hair you cut, but you also lose points for cutting yourself or if your beard starts to regrow. Apparently, there are also pimples you can pop to reverse the polarity of your magnet and earn double points, just like in real life.What really makes this game, however, are the victim's anxious eyes as he watches the blade drag across his cheeks, threatening to draw blood and carve off a chunk of flesh without warning. You can't see it in the screenshot, but his lips, two plump hot dogs pressed against each other, are trembling.[Via DCEmu] Wacky Japanese games, emulation, DS Fanboy's recommendations, naughty homebrew: our recent week of homebrew coverage had it all. Don't be put off if you're a beginner, either -- we have guides and a glossary for the newest of newbs.
Art of Shaving Fusion Power razor costs $150, sports flashlight
Granted, today's newfangled razors and their associated disposable blades are pretty pricey, but if we're to pay $150 for a shaving tool that doesn't come with a lifetime supply of refills, there had better be some value-added features to pique our interest. Well specialty retailer The Art of Shaving may have done just that with its Fusion Chrome Collection Power Razor, which is essentially a vibrating metal handle for the latest five-blade Gillette offering that also happens to sport -- wait for it -- a built-in flashlight! That's right, never again will you show up for work all cut and bloody after the electric company has cut off the juice and you're forced to shave in the pre-dawn darkness. Forget about that family of fleas who have set up camp in your goatee: they'll skulk in the shadows no longer. And no more embarrassing trips to the hospital after an "oopsie" while trimming your bikini zone. Yes, friends, this is truly convergence at its best.[Via Shaving Stuff]
Philips patents razor light technology to zap hair growth
While most folks aren't exactly fond of going bald on their noggin, eliminating the pesky hair on faces and legs doesn't sound half bad. Aside from the gazillion topical treatments scams available at your local Wally World, there's always the uber-expensive "laser hair removal" option, but Philips seems to think it has a less costly, less intrusive solution. The firm has recently patented razor light technology, which utilizes "low doses of electromagnetic radiation" to kick active follicles into the dormant catagen phase. By sending pulses "between 1 and 100 milliseconds" apart just above the skin, it offers up a relatively safe, easy, and (hopefully) pain free experience to putting a halt to shaving every other day (or more). Obviously, the method isn't aimed at immediate hair removal, as plans are to implement numerous treatments over "two week intervals," but it could slowly eliminate the regrowth of hair once treated. So while we're not exactly sure when you'll be replacing that bag of disposables with a newfangled light gun, a little help in the hygiene department is never a bad thing.[Via NewScientistTech]
Accenture Technology finalizing persuasive mirror, behavior monitoring systems
Pretty soon our homes will not only be staffed entirely by robots of all varieties catering to our every need, but we'll have mirrors that pull triple duty as surveillance cameras and best friends. Accenture Technology, the folks behind the elusive "persuasive mirror," is edging closer to a finalized product that can survey your facial features, love handles, and overall girth in order to communicate the honest truth about what you should (or could) do to improve your deteriorating image. The mirror operates by inspecting your body via cameras on each side of the panel, and displays "after" portraits on a monitor to give you a futuristic glimpse of what you'd look like should you shave, trim your bangs, hit the weight room, or start a DDR exercise routine. No longer will you have to doubt the integrity of your "close friends" when it comes to making personal hygiene decisions, as the persuasive mirror apparently feels that honesty is the best policy, even if it rattles your self-esteem. Moreover, the firm has crafted a prototype monitoring system that utilizes memory sensors to determine if subjects are deviating from "normal patterns of behavior." Current implementation ideas are to watch for meandering thieves in a parking lot, straying employees, and mischievous baggage handlers at airports. While the company is currently testing the technology out in France, you might want to think twice before venturing too far from the daily norm, although we aren't exact certain of the consequences should your lack of conformity set off any "abnormal" alerts.
