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Moen's voice-activated faucet gives cooks precise amounts of water
Moen, one of the biggest faucet companies in the US, was last spotted at CES showing off its shower "concierge," but now it's turning its attention to more traditional sink fixtures. This year, it announced the U by Moen Smart Faucet -- a voice-activated faucet that helps you do everyday kitchen tasks hands-free. From preparing a baby's bottle to filling a pasta pot, just tell the faucet how much water you need, and at what temperature, and it'll dispense it on command. You can set unlimited personalized presets for specific cooking tasks, and activate water flow through voice control, a wave sensor, or via a good old fashioned button. Moen hasn't announced pricing for its latest addition, but it's likely to cost a substantial amount more than old-fashioned mechanical faucets.
Kohler's new showerhead is also an Alexa-powered smart speaker
Morning showers aren't usually thought of as a time for entertainment, but if you're really determined to make use of every minute you could try out Kohler's new showerhead with a built-in smart speaker.
Moen makes Alexa and Siri your shower concierge
Our bathrooms are about to get a lot smarter, if the latest technology being unveiled here at CES 2018 is any indication. Moen, which released its U by Moen smart shower system last year, is adding Alexa and Siri voice control capability to the series this year. With the new skills, you can tell Alexa to turn on your shower at a desired temperature or to a customized setting. Siri compatibility is coming later this year.
The shower of the future will save the planet, but at a high price
Aside from building a coal-fired power station, the thing that activates your brain's climate-guilt gland the fastest is taking a luxurious bath. Unfortunately, using a shower isn't that much better for the planet, which is why Dutch startup Hamwells has built the ultimate in eco-washing facilities. The company is showing off its first-generation e-Shower here at TechCrunch Disrupt, and the device does for showers what Dyson did for vacuum cleaners: makes it an object of desire. There's just one downside, and that's how much you're going to have to spend to own one.
Crapgadget: holidon't edition
What's that? You weren't sufficiently inspired by our last Crapgadget guide to gift misgivings? Good news, with the holidays rapidly approaching, the Crapgadgets are coming fast and furious, and we've got some great selections for the frenemy or enefriend on your list, including a telephone shower head and, as always, plenty of cringe-inspiring smartphone cases. Read - Borrowing from Steve Jobs's already-borrowed tagline was a nice sentiment, but doesn't change the fact that this knockoff Magna Doodle iPhone case is, perhaps fittingly, called the iFoolish. Read - Not important enough to have your shower wiretapped? This giant red phone shower head is surely the next best thing. Read - Apparently landline nostalgia is all the rage, and the unfortunately named Mofone can help you get on board, by removing all of that pesky portability from your smartphone. Read - Remember that Dick Tracy strip where the yellow trench coated police detective traveled to a future where everything was kind of crummy? Us either, but if that ever happened, he was probably wearing one of these.%Poll-71482%
H2O Shower Powered Radio blasts the Biebs by way of micro-turbine
Forget the tablet, 2011 is the year of the shower radio! Last week we reported on Toshiba's wirelessly connected water-proof song box and, just as our nerves began to settle from the excitement, someone came along and dropped this eco-friendly, shower-ready gem on us. Not only is the H2O Shower Powered Radio waterproof, but it actually uses the water from your shower to pump out the jams. The thing connects directly to your shower hose, and uses the flow of water to set a micro-turbine spinning, thus charging an integral battery and eliminating the need for disposables. As the video below points out, the radio "doesn't just offer 80s classics -- it has the full spectrum of FM," and its creators say it's compatible with 99 percent of showers, but what we really want to know is: how well does it crank the Ke$ha? Video after the break.
Bodysof shower apparatus injects cleanser into your water, loves your lazy side
Yeah, you probably thought those wall-mounted cleansers at that 5-star hotel in Ushuaia were hot stuff, and we aren't ones to disagree. But the bödysöf ($70 to $140) might just have that topped. Put simply (or as simply as possible), this aftermarket shower tool is installed in-line within your own personal glass case of emotion, and once you've added your favorite liquid soap, shampoo or moisturizer, a gentle tug on the handle enables cleanser-infused water to flow from that rainfall head you splurged on. You heard right -- this thing actually injects cleansers upstream of the showerhead, leaving you free to never squeeze another plastic bottle of goop while showering ever again. Well, until the bödysöf itself needs a refill, of course. And if you're wondering, it seems the primary benefits here are 1) quicker showers, 2) showers with better pH balance and 3) energy savings, which is undoubtedly linked to the first reason. If that's all the convincing you need, there's a pre-order link there in the source; otherwise, a glorious promo vid awaits you past the break.
Haier's heat-exchanging Power Pad promises to make long, hot showers a little more efficient
Major appliances are major energy drains, and if you have a traditional, tank-based hot water heater it can be a major factor in your monthly utilities bills. Haier's Power Pad promises to make those things have less of an impact on people's finances -- at least when it comes to showers. It's a heat exchanger that you stand on whilst washing that man right out of your hair, water running off your toned body and through the vanes in the Pad, warming the cold water that's pumped through it. That water is then deposited into the hot water tank, which now has a little less work to do. Haier is hoping to get this to market in China within the next two months for ¥4,000 (about $600) and, by that time, boost its efficiency to 30 percent. That's still 10 percent lower than the EcoDrain we spied last year, but we have a more practical concern: what happens when that thing gets clogged with hair and various bathing products? It doesn't look particularly easy to clean.
The Queue: In your city, stealing your mailbox
Welcome back to The Queue, WoW Insider's daily Q&A column where the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft.Today's edition of The Queue is going to be short and sweet, but it's a Sunday and nobody really has much to say on a Sunday! So let's dig right in, starting with actodd's question...Can you explain armor penetration a bit? Is it designed more for tanks or DPS (or even heals)? Where should it fit into the 'hierarchy' of stats say, a feral tank has?
TurpsterVision: Goodnight Sweet Prince
Every Tuesday you used to think "T" for Turpster and you took the "a" in "day", capitalized it, removed the little bit in the middle, turned it upside down and you got a "V". When you put the two together you had TV for TurpsterVision -- the best Internet video podcast on Massively! (Never mind that business about it being canceled by Massively...)Good day brave adventures! I use the term "Good" in the loosest sense possible, for today is far from it. Today sees the single brightest flame on the interwebs extinguished. Unfortunately due to an on going libel suit from the makers of RuneScape I am unable to comment further, though I have managed to negotiate a time to express my thanks to you all and ask you to read on after the break to read how I truly feel about the situation.
Around Azeroth: Zangarmarsh showers
Player Cosmokramer of the Vanquish guild on Kul Tiras realm was slogging through the fens of Zangarmarsh when he spied this waterfall. Being a gnome, he knew it he had to take his opportunities to bathe where he could get them. Do you have any unusual World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? Because we'd love to see it on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next! Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. We prefer full screen shots without the UI showing. And please, no more sunsets. This means you. I'm not kidding, yours is not the exception. No, really. Sigh.%Gallery-1816%
Euphonia headphones feel at home in bathtubs, rainstorms
We're not exactly sure what makes the Euphonia headset better than all those other waterproof alternatives out there, but if you've found yourself immediately hooked by the photo above, here's the skinny. These wireless cans reportedly shun water like it's their job, though we wouldn't recommend plunging into a pool and expecting them to work unimpeded. Supposedly, they sync up with Bain Ultra's wall-mounted MP3 player, but there's not a whole lot of details beyond that. The Euphonia is set to land on December 1st, and while pricing information has yet to be disclosed, we've got a sneaking suspicion this won't be cheap.[Via ShinyShiny]
Kohler, Polk team up on SoundTile in-shower speakers
It appears that the art of singing in the shower is full comeback mode, as not only do you have the option of picking up a speaker-infused shower or bathtub, but now you can retrofit your current one with SoundTiles. Co-developed by Kohler and Polk Audio, these music makers are designed to "perfectly match the shape, profile and finish of the WaterTile bodysprays and showerheads," but we don't see any reason why a slimmed down, waterproof speaker won't work just fine in your current arrangement. The device sports a "marine certified" coaxial speaker in a four- x four- inch escutcheon, a stainless steel front grill, and can be controlled by Kohler's DTV II or wired into any vanilla sound system. The SoundTiles will only be sold in pairs, but should be offered in a variety of finishes for $295 when they land in May.[Via ElectronicHouse]
MTI Whirlpools' Stereo H2O throws tunes in the tub
We know, you're already skeptical about this one, especially considering all the dodgy material that's already floated your way, but unless someone at MTI Whirlpools is blowing hot steam, this one is for realz. The Stereo H20 bathtub actually does manage to integrate audio-blastin' equipment into a container full of water without guaranteeing any sort of unexpected electrocution along the way. Touting the soothing benefits of "full-bodied sound," the tub rocks several acoustic transducers on the shell's exterior near the waterline, which should theoretically create a bucket of sound to "envelope" the bather in question. Additionally, the digital amplifier that powers said speakers includes provisions for your iPod (or any other DAP, we presume), CD / DVD player, or even an eight-track jam if you can find the correct adapter. Unsurprisingly, there's no word yet concerning the pricetag on this unique piece, but if it's anything like the musically inclined Aquagate shower, it'll probably be reserved for the more affluent set anyway.[Via OhGizmo]
Tekken girls get real... and naked [Update 1]
Oh no, PSP Fanboy is using sex to promote its site again! It's true... they say that sex sells, and the people behind Tekken know it. For a Maxim photo shoot, they had some models dress up (or down) as Tekken models. Taking some inspiration from Dead or Alive, the photographers then placed those models under running water. The following video won't disappoint you... unless you're at work and your boss realizes what kind of pevert you are. So, I'm giving this an EXTREMELY NOT SAFE FOR WORK notice. Enjoy![Update 2: New PSP-compatible video and newly hosted video after the cut. Sweet, huh? (Streaming video coming soon. Sorenson isn't working, drats!)]
Villeroy & Boch's Aquagate integrates tunes into your shower
For the person who has everything, including a million dollar floating bed to roll out of, the Aquagate should probably provide the touch of class you've been yearning for when you hit the bathroom. Villeroy & Boch's glass rectangle comes in two sizes, 90 x 100 cm and 100 x 130 cm, possibly for those planning on throwing small get-togethers within the confines -- but hey, who wouldn't want to show off their MP3 / radio-playing shower with touchscreen displays on both sides of the glass? You heard right, this box lets you control the ambiance with waterproof control screens and built-in speakers, and gives you a myriad of options when deciding how the water will be dispersed. Steam baths, mists, and even streams of water that vary in temperature based on your desires supposedly make for a blissful experience for the "bath enthusiast" (bathusiast?). There's also pre-selected settings for "waking up," "cooling down," and an "aroma and light therapy" that reportedly replicates the lush feeling of a tropical sunbath (though we aren't exactly certain what that feels like). The "central gate" is available in teak wood, pure Italian limestone, and aluminum (presumably for the Mac lovers out there), and while pricing is not mentioned, we assume the usual rule of thumb here: if you have to ask, the pricetag will probably hit you like a cold shower -- and besides, can you imagine the Windex required to keep this thing clean? [Via Sci Fi Tech]
