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Brookstone declares bankruptcy after more than 40 years of business
Home retail chain Brookstone has filed for bankruptcy for the second time since 2014 after more than four decades of business. Barring 35 airport locations, all of its US outlets will be shut down.
Axent Wear's cat ear headphones are the stuff of anime dreams
New Yorkers have perfected the art of looking but not looking. You know, where you let your eyes glaze over someone as you pass, so you can take them in without making it obvious that you're studying them. For this reason I wasn't entirely sure if anyone noticed the giant glowing cat ears on my head as I walked down the street on my way home from work.
Fitbit's low-profile Alta tracker is up for preorders
FitBit announced on Wednesday that its newest fitness tracker, the Alta, is now available for preorder. Unlike the recently announced mid-level Blaze (which we weren't too impressed with) or top-end Surge -- both of which feature large displays -- the Alta is designed to discreetly track your activity.
Indiegogo and Brookstone want to deliver crowdfunded products faster
One of this biggest issues facing crowdfunded products is the amount of time between backing a project and when you actually receive the goods. Indiegogo is looking to do something about that with the help of the tech-minded retail store Brookstone. Aspiring startups and makers can submit ideas to a specific page of Indiegogo's site where the retailer will offer design, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, sales and customer support to selected projects. As you might expect, Brookstone won't just back any ol' idea, as the store is looking for items that fit its reputation for technology, wellness, home and travel wares. There will also be a "Funded with Indiegogo" section of the company's retails stores that'll include products like the Fizzics beer dispenser and Axents's Cat Ear Headphones. The partnership seems like a win for both companies as Indiegogo's inventors have the opportunity to tap into an established product chain and Brookstone can use the crowdfunded projects to stock its shelves with new items. [Image credit: LA Times via Getty Images]
3Doodler 3D printing pen coming to Brookstone stores later this year
If the only thing standing between you and a $99 3Doodler was the ability to mull the decision over in a nearby massage chair, 2014 is your year. Wobbleworks announced today that its 3D printing pen is finally getting a little retail distribution, namely Brookstone, which will be adding the peripheral to its offbeat gadget arsenal later this year. The 3Doodler's also extending its online reach, thanks to ThinkGeek, the MoMa Store and Maker Shed. The Wobbleworks team is apparently heating up even more retail partnerships, though it's not quite ready to offer up any information for the time being.
HAPIfork will tell you when to chew for $99 starting October 18th
The bossy utensil that got the mainstream media all worked up at CES will be available for purchase for $99 starting October 18th at the premiere purveyor of all things you didn't know you needed: Brookstone. HAPIfork, a Bluetooth-enabled fork that vibrates when you shovel food into your mouth at a pace that exceeds pre-programmed intervals, is already shipping to Kickstarter backers. Pre-orders start today, with direct purchases available exclusively from Brookstone online and in-store starting the 18th. If you're having trouble measuring your mastication, check out the press release after the break.
Nectar mobile fuel-cell power system now available for pre-order
On paper, the Nectar Power system is both awesome and ludicrous. This is essentially a keychain-dongle USB power solution for super-sized keychains. You carry it around and charge your iPhone or other USB devices as needed. Let's start with the ludicrous, which is the price. The unit is now available for pre-order from Brookstone and will retail for (wait for it...) US$300. Individual "power pods," used to generate the power, will cost $10 each. An extended warranty adds another $40 for two years, or $50 for three years. Gift wrap alone adds another $7. So why are we so ridiculously excited about this? It's simple. First, there's the technology. The Nectar is a butane-powered Solid Oxide Fuel Cell solution. It's like we really are living in the future. Each pod can supply power for about a dozen full charges, or as the product site says, about two weeks of power without outlets. Second, there's the size factor, which is impressively small. The gadget is a slick-looking chrome and black, with a satisfyingly Brookstone design aesthetic. But most important, the one thing that really makes this the device for any would-be James Bond type, is that it allows you to go completely off grid for extended periods of time without having to attach a solar grid to your backpack. Gilligan and the professor wouldn't have to make power supplies out of coconuts. The Nectar Power system looks like a sleek, slick solution for people who have the money and aren't afraid to use it as both a beautiful and practical toy. We can't wait to try it out. The Nectar ships Sept. 11, 2013.
CES 2013: Nectar's fuel cell pack claims to store up to two weeks of extra power
The Nectar mobile power system had its debut earlier this week at CES' Unveiled pre-show, and if nothing else, it's an impressive boast: The system claims to provide up to two weeks of power for your devices (including the iPhone) from a pack that fits very easily in a pocket. It's a pretty wild idea -- obviously, we haven't gotten a chance yet to really run the device through its paces just yet, but if the Nectar can do what the company says it can, it could be a very handy addition to your travel kit. The way it works is that you buy the core base unit for US$299, and then you can pick up extra fuel cell units for just $10 each. Use up the included fuel cell, and you'll have to replace it, but that much power should definitely be handy if you need it all while out and about. Other fuel cell tech like this can be heavy and bulky, but Nectar is designed to be both very portable and very powerful. The units will be available for sale at Brookstone later on this year, and we'll try to grab one then to see just how these claims stack up under trial. In the meantime, Engadget has a nice gallery of the unit showing just what it looks like in person.
Brookstone's Rover 2.0 iOS-controlled "Spy Tank" a blast to drive
With the holiday buying season just around the corner, we're starting to hear and see evidence of some fun iOS-related accessories to pick up this year. Brookstone has started off by supplying us with a Rover 2.0 App-Controlled Spy Tank (US$149.99) to test. Come along for a ride! The Rover 2.0 is a futuristic little streamlined tank powered by two treads, one on either side. A small WiFi antenna screws into the top, and six AA batteries are loaded into the bottom. Flip on the power switch and the Rover sets up its own WiFi network. It seems to take about a minute for a little blinking green LED to appear atop the tank, signifying that the network is up and running. Next, you pop into Settings and change your WiFi network over to the Rover's network, which is immediately recognizable by the word "Rover" in the SSID. Go to the App Store and download the free Rover 2.0 app. Once it's installed on your favorite iOS device, launch it and immediately you'll see a full control panel for the tank, dominated by the video feed from the Rover. %Gallery-168181% There are two ways to operate the tank. First, you have controls for the right and left treads that you can work in tandem. Sliding both controls forward moves the tank forward, sliding both backwards moves the tank to the rear, and turning is accomplished by moving one slider forward and the other to the rear. There's also a G-Drive mode available that uses the accelerometers in your iOS device to help you steer. I found G-Drive to be much easier to use for driving the tank, although your mileage may vary. Along the bottom of the control panel is a line of buttons. On the far left is a "Stealth" button that turns off the green LED and cranks on an infrared headlight, supposedly to allow you to sneak up on your cat or roommate. However, that's only going to work well if your cat is deaf or your roommate can sleep through hurricanes -- the motors on the tank aren't exactly quiet. Next is a Camera button -- tap it to display a slider to tilt the camera up or down. The Path Record button tracks and records a trip with the tank, while the Path Play button is used to repeat that trip with a tap. A Talk button is used like a push-to-talk button on a walkie-talkie, blasting your voice out of the speaker on the Rover. Volume lets you adjust the volume of the sound feed coming in from the Rover's microphone, and Brights turns on a set of four green lights around the perimeter of the Rover. On the bottom of the video image are buttons for Photo and Video, capturing still images and video to store in your Photo Library. Still quality seems pretty good -- the camera captures images at 320 x 240 pixels, and low-light sensitivity is great, even without the infrared light. Video streams at 25 fps, and can be quite blurry when the tank is turning. But enough of the specs and how this thing works. Is it fun? Heck, yeah! I enjoyed running the Rover around my office, into our master bedroom, and amusing the cat (she was more curious than afraid of the Rover). Like any good treaded tank or personnel carrier, the Rover has no problem going right over small obstacles. Check out the video below for an unedited silent view from the Rover -- in case you're wondering, that structure in the one room is a kitty condo... The range of the built-in WiFi network is about 200 feet in an unobstructed area (outside, for example) and 100 feet in the average house. I didn't test the range, although everything worked nicely at about 50 feet when I was operating the tank from upstairs while the tank was on the lower floor of the house. Any negatives? Yeah, the battery life doesn't seem to be anywhere close to the 2.5 hours advertised by Brookstone, and chewing up AA batteries six at a time is not only expensive, but irresponsible. I'd recommend getting some rechargeables, although I don't know how long they'd last in the Rover. Brookstone could also make some extra bucks by selling a rechargeable pack for the Rover (hint, hint). In conclusion, anyone who has ever wanted to drive a remotely piloted camera vehicle of some sort now has a reasonably affordable solution from Brookstone. The fact that it's a lot of fun to drive? That's just icing on the cake.
Sphero releases a new slate of games, more coming this year
Sphero is the little robot ball that you can control with your iOS device (or other mobile device), and the company behind the toy has announced that it's releasing a new series of games for Sphero. There are already a few out there, but this new lineup will include more titles with different types of gameplay, as well as a few sequels to previous games with better interactivity and smoother features. You can play Tag with your Sphero, or ColorGrab, which requires you to pick the ball up when it flashes a certain color. There's also an updated version of the Golf game, and a brand new controller app with more options to connect and more ways to use the cute little ball. Sphero's got an app catalog set up to show off the apps that work with the ball, and you can buy the device itself at Brookstone or an Apple Store near you (the MSRP is $129.99). Sphero says it's aiming to get up to 20 more apps out before the holiday season is over, so we'll expect to see even more titles available soon.
Brookstone fuel cell USB charger to keep phones powered for two weeks, Engadget editors happy
If there's a pain that Engadget writers know all too well, it's running out of battery life for a smartphone when we need it most. Say, at a major trade show. That's why we're enthused to hear of an upcoming fuel cell USB charger that Lilliputian Systems is developing for Brookstone. The lighter fluid-filled tank should provide up to 14 full charges for your phone before you need to spend a few dollars to top up, or two weeks if you power up daily -- we'd call that about two CES' worth in our lingo. Better still, using a solid oxide membrane on silicon not only makes a long fuel cell runtime possible, longer than we've seen for methanol, but makes the phone-sized pack safe to carry on the airliners we ride entirely too often. Pricing has yet to be sorted out, but with Brookstone stores likely to start carrying the fuel cell before the end of the year, it should be ready just in time for our next big trip to Las Vegas.
Brookstone's Pocket Projector, Big Blue speakers perfect for movie night
Gadget retailer Brookstone has taken to iOS devices like a baby duck takes to water, and the company supplied TUAW with a trio of review products last week that are perfect for hosting a movie night at your home or wowing a client with a presentation at their office. The Brookstone Pocket Projector for iPhone 4 (US$229.99) and a pair of Bluetooth speakers from Big Blue -- Big Blue Studio ($149.99) and Big Blue Live ($99.99) -- are useful and well-designed products that work just as well at home or in the office. Brookstone Pocket Projector for iPhone 4 I have to admit that I was dubious about this pocket projector, but it far exceeded my expectations. The Pocket Projector is basically a small iPhone case that you slide your iPhone 4 or 4S into. It has a 2100 mAh battery built in that not only powers the projector, but can serve as a backup battery for your iPhone as well. The Pocket Projector is thick enough (about .88") that your friends or co-workers will be wondering if you're happy to see them. The surprising thing is that the Pocket Projector only adds 3.6 ounces to the weight you'll be carrying. %Gallery-153390% The projector isn't particularly bright at 15 lumens, so you'll want to make sure that you are in a well-darkened family or conference room before switching it on. Once it's on, you can use the projector to show your Keynote presentations, movies, or slideshows to anyone in the room. The device projects images up to 50" diagonal, so it's almost like having a big flat-screen TV in your pocket. I was able to use the projector for about two hours before it shut down. The battery still seemed to have some juice in it as I was able to turn the projector back on in a while, but it appeared that the shutdown was due to overheating. There is no way to run the projector from an AC adapter, so you are definitely tied to the life of the non-replaceable battery. There's a focus adjustment for making sure that the image is sharp, and there's even a built-in .5 Watt speaker to supply sound. Frankly, you'll want a Bluetooth speaker like one of the Big Blue models I'll talk about later in this review. I watched some short segments of movies, some presentations, and a slideshow or two using the Pocket Projector, and for the most part I was happy with the results. However, this isn't a replacement for a much more capable projector for one very big reason -- the native resolution of the device is only 640 x 360 pixels. While the images seemed fairly sharp and colors were bright, small text suffered. However, as you can see from some of the photos included with this review, screen text was very easy to read so your mileage may vary. I think the best use for this device would be for showing images; giving slide shows to friends or clients, watching home videos or product videos. It's definitely doesn't have high enough resolution to be used as a projector for classes or meetings, but still a fun and useful product in the right use cases. Big Blue Studio and Live Speakers We get a lot of Bluetooth speakers here at the TUAW Labs, some of which are high-end units and others that are cheap. The Big Blue line seems to hit the middle ground, with a big speaker that's more reasonably-priced than some smaller devices like the Jawbone Jambox. The Studio Speaker comes in a white polycarbonate shell with a metal grid covering the front, dominated by a big blue "eye." There's a hefty looking AC adapter with a thin cable that powers the unit. The speaker has a total 30 Watt output, with two full-range 2.5" drivers, a 3" subwoofer driver, and a passive radiator. The Studio Speaker supports any Bluetooth 2.0 or higher device with A2DP, GAVDP, or IOP compatibility. %Gallery-153391% The Studio Speaker is definitely made to be left in one place, as you do not want to carry this monster around. The portable member of the family is the ten-ounce Big Blue Live Speaker, which can be easily toted around to wherever you need to push out some tunes. It has an output of 4 Watts (2 Watts per channel) and runs off of a rechargeable 1150 mAh battery for up to four hours. You can be up to about 33 feet away from the Live Speaker, which supports any Bluetooth 2.0 or higher devices with A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, or HSP compatibility. While the Studio Speaker is designed for music or movie soundtracks, the Live Speaker also has a secret life as a speakerphone. I tried it out with my iPhone 4S and was pleased with the voice quality of the incoming call, and the person I was talking to said my voice seemed clearer than usual. The Live Speaker would be the perfect companion on business trips where you might wish to have a conference speakerphone and a way of listening to music in a hotel room. The sound quality on both Big Blue speakers was very good. The Studio Speaker really took the prize, though, both in terms of raw sound power and how well it reproduced sound. The Live Speaker wasn't as powerful or as accurate, and seemed to lack punch in both bass and in highs. I think Brookstone has a winner with the Big Blue speakers, and you can see them at Brookstone stores around the country. For a portable movie viewing or presentation setup, the Live Speaker and Pocket Projector are a perfect pair of accessories.
Brookstone's WiFi cufflinks let you discreetly share data, internet connections
If you somehow aren't satisfied with your growing collection of Nintendo, PlayStation, Game Boy Color and steampunk styled cufflinks, Brookstone just might be the Q to your Bond. In addition to rocking the USB-storage trick we've seen in other technological shirt links, this sleeve fastener also promises to act as a WiFi hotspot when paired with a hard-wired PC. Rounding out your technologically augmented wedding attire with these 'cuffs will set you back $250 -- unless you're working with Her Majesty's Secret Service, of course, then they're probably just standard issue.
Use iConvert to scan documents directly to your iPad
I saw quite a few document scanners for iOS devices at CES last week, but this is about as elegant as they come. Brookstone is offering a scanner called iConvert, which uses your iPad as the receptable for anything you scan with it. Not only does it scan your documents with a 300 dpi scanner, but it even does a very nifty graphical representation of the document showing up on the screen. The iConvert is US$50 cheaper than the popular Doxie Go at $149, but of course this scanner is specifically built for the iPad or iPad 2 and offers fewer features than other scanners. There are also a few apps out there (including Scanner Pro) that will let you use the iPad's camera to pull in documents without extra hardware. Those don't work nearly as well, though. If often bring drawings or forms into a digital format, you'll want something more reliable. The iConvert seems like a solid option, and the fact that it's completely based on the iPad means it should be simple to port around. Brookstone is offering it for purchase next month. [via Dvice]
Rover App-Controlled Spy Tank gives your cats another reason to hate your iPad (video)
If the only thing standing between you and the purchase of an iPad is the existence of a large, remote controlled spy tank, we've got some rough news for your bank account. Brookstone is offering up the Rover App-Controlled Spy Tank, an iPad / iPhone / iPod touch-controlled toy tank that can capture audio and video and send it back to your iOS device. The tank can be controlled at distances of up to 200 feet and works around walls. The app is available as a free download and the tank will run you $150. That price includes six AA batteries, but apparently won't cover therapy for distressed house pets.
Physicists rebuilding early video game from scratch
Unsurprisingly, tenured physicists at the Brookhaven National Laboratory are capable of creating some pretty radical science projects. A group of lab technicians and physicists led by Dr. Peter Takacs are currently working to restore one of the first video games ever created: fellow Brookhaven physicist Dr. Willy Higinbotham's 1958, oscilloscope-based Tennis for Two. Sure, the project may lack the high-definition graphics and ... um, visible rackets of more modern tennis titles, but you can't help but respect its gumption. Check out the video after the jump to learn more about the physicists' pet project -- unless you want to continue operating under the assumption that, no matter what anyone says, Halo 2 was the first game ever made. Dummy.
Universal remote arrives within a pillow, makes channel surfing hip again
It's a pillow. And a remote. And if your powers of observation are anywhere near "strong," you've probably deduced by now that you're looking at a universal remote control... albeit one that's wrapped within a pillow. We've seen similar creations come around in concept form, but leave it to the folks at Brookstone to turn this thing into a reality. Purportedly, this unit can be programmed to work with over 500 devices, and there's a power-saving auto shutoff feature that'll definitely be overrode by your incessant squeezing. We wouldn't count on this thing actually working well, but for $29.95 (in addition to the cost of two AAA batteries, of course), we highly doubt you'll find a more fashionable, lovable cube of cotton.
Parrot AR.Drone now available for pre-order at Brookstone
Good news, everyone! The long-awaited Parrot AR.Drone (as seen being crashed into one of Parrot's PR reps by yours truly) is finally available for pre-order over at Brookstone. And as promised back at E3, the iPhone-controlled quadricopter will be available for US $299. It's available in a couple of different color schemes, comes with a free "flight bag" (if you're within the first 300 orders), and requires a shipping fee of $10. Unfortunately, there's no shipping outside of the United States, and of course, the iPhone or iPod touch is sold separately. According to the pre-order page, orders are "expected to ship" on September 3rd, 2010; that's just over a month from now. The $299 sticker price is a little steep if you ask me, but then again, if you have a need for an iPhone-controlled quadricopter with not one but two cameras on board, you probably have a couple hundred bucks to put into it. If you do order one, be sure to keep us updated on when it ships, and let us know what you think of the device. Happy flying!
Parrot AR.Drone now available for pre-order, shipping September 3rd
Been itching to get your hands on the Parrot AR.Drone ever since it first took flight at CES way back in January? Well, you can now finally get your $299 pre-order in to ensure it ships to you on the September 3rd launch date. What's more, Parrot has also announced that the Drone will be exclusively available at Brookstone stores in the U.S., where you'll be able to try it out first-hand through October 31st. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and be sure to check out our recent hands-on if you need a reminder of the iPhone-controlled shenanigans possible with the device.
Dance Dance Remote Control adds a few steps to your TV experience
Crazy us, we thought that a remote control was meant to keep you on the couch -- it does seem rather counter-intuitive to build one that makes you leave your seat and jump around within arm's reach of the TV set. But when this guy saw an over-sized novelty remote at Brookstone, he knew that he had to have it. Not only that, but he had to best it -- by fashioning a controller for Windows Media Center so large that one would need an entire appendage to get any use out of the thing. Our intrepid modder achieved his goal by stitching together two PS2 Dance Dance Revolution mats, a PS2-to-PC controller converter box, and some homebrew source code. What can we say about this one? Well, it certainly does seem to work... but we'll be sticking to the tried and true, thank you very much. Video after the break. [Via Hacked Gadgets]
