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Heineken to track shipping containers via GPS
We're not exactly sure why Heineken needs GPS to monitor the location of its beer shipments, but they probably know more about global shipping logistics than we do. According to RFID Journal, starting this month, the Dutch beer giant will begin the first test of its "Living Beer Plan," tracking 10 shipping containers of beer from Heineken headquarters in The Netherlands to the United Kingdom and the United States. Customs data, such as whether or not the containers' doors have been opened, will be available online to British and American customs officials, (as well as the researchers monitoring the project at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) even before the cargo ships reach UK and American ports. Heineken claims it will save on the 30-odd pages worth of printed customs forms and other documents by using GPS and online tracking instead. Surely with the money saved on not printing up documents, Heineken wouldn't mind sending its friends at Engadget a free case of brew? Pretty please?[Via Brandish]Read - VNUNetRead - RFID Journal
College students: iPods better than beer
Kids these days. When I was a college man, my pals and I spent many an evening tying one on getting to know the locals socializing. According to Student Monitor, which conducts market research of student life, the iPod was rated as being more of an "in" thing than beer when the company recently polled 1,200 students. Granted, it was a close call (the iPod nabbed a rating of 73% while beer brought in 71%), but still, I was quite surprised. I love my iPod and all, but I'm not going to turn down a (properly poured) Guinness.What's your take, students: Your brew or your iPod?[Via Blogging Stocks]Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Bungie's Master Chief bottle opener
How does a battle-hardened Spartan soldier kick back and relax after fragging Covenant all day? With a crisp, cool, refreshing New Mombasa Ale. And how does s/he open it? No, not with their teeth, but with their authentic Bungie.net Spartan keychain! Sure, it looks like a regular keychain with a Spartan helmet on it, but our in-house beer-ologist (me) has confirmed the dimensions are indeed correct for maximum beer-opening functionality. Other Bungie Store updates include a Halo cup (to pour your beer in), and a Spartan Messenger Bag (to carry your plasma grenades in...and also beer). *Kids, please replace all references to beer with root beer. Thanks! [Thanks, hooters; store update via Bungie.net]
Miller to introduce self-cooling beer cans next year
We're always keen on technology that improves our beer consumption experience, whether it be coasters and pitchers that signal for help when you need a refill, or mugs that let you share a drink with distant friends. Obviously, then, we were understandably excited to learn that Miller will be the first domestic brewer to utilize Tempra's self-cooling cans for dropping your drink's temperature a minimum of 30º F on command. Self-cooling, and self-heating, technology have been around for awhile, but save for the homemade Peltier Beer personal beverage cooler, this is the first method we've seen to cool down your suds long after the ice in your cooler has melted. Tempra's I.C. Can works by drawing heat out of the beverage with a natural desiccant (drying agent), through a water gel coated evaporator, and into an insulated heat-sink container, once an internal vacuum-seal has been broken. Miller's self-cooled offerings should begin showing up in finer distributors nationwide starting sometime next year, and as you can probably imagine, a sixer of these high-tech brews isn't going to come cheap.
The Peltier Beer personal beverage cooler
Once in a while a homemade device comes along that is so darn handy that it's destined for mass market distribution. The Peltier Beer personal beverage cooler is one such device. Basically a drink holder attached to a cooling plate, a thermometer, and some batteries, this contraption cradles a pint glass and keeps your refreshment of choice chilly even in the hot sun. For now you'll still have to build your own (unless someone knows of a commercial product that does this), though luckily Per Oyvind Arnesen takes you through the build step-by-step if you follow the link. We're excited about this product, but we'll wait around for one that is USB-powered, you know, just cause so we get bragging rights while we drink at work. [Via Cnet]
