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LittleBits introduces Internet of Things enabled Smart Home Kit

Nov18
by on November 18, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Design & Dev, Gadgets, Insider, Product Launches

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The Internet of Things (or connected home) is pretty sweet. You can turn on lights from the couch or across the country. You can start a delicious stew in a crook pot on your way home. All of which are great, as long as you buy the products that actually do those things. So if you want to do something out of the ordinary, there’s littleBits. The company launched its cloudBit device back in July to let users add virtually anything to their connected home via the littleBits hardware and the companion app. Today it’s introducing its Smart Home kit with 14 bits including…

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Ad-free social network Ello turns to branded t-shirts for revenue

Nov18
by on November 18, 2014 at 2:43 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

When people wondered how Ello would make money without ads, this is probably not what they had in mind. The company today announced a partnership with Threadless to sell Ello-themed shirts designed by independent artists. The Threadless store will cycle through new designs on the 1st and 15th of each month – the custom designs will only be sold for 14 days each. The first design was created by Chuck Anderson, a Chicago based commercial artist, and costs $35. Although the custom designs are limited edition, Threadless will be selling standard black and white shirts for $25 indefinitely. Artists whose designs are featured will be compensated 20…

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Microsoft launches Office 365 Video to help companies create and share videos more easily

Nov18
by on November 18, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Product Launches

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Microsoft has launched a new feature for its Office 365 productivity suite called Office 365 Videos that promises to make the process of disseminating business info and updates via video clips far easier for Office 365 customers. Announced in a blog post today, the feature is being introduced through what Microsoft is calling its NextGen portals for Office 365. These portals, the company said, will leverage the Office Graph to deliver relevant information to users and will have social and mobile functionality baked into them from the start. As such, Office 365 Video allows users to create clips via the Web interface…

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Petcube to start shipping its crowdfunded pet camera in time for Christmas

Nov18
by on November 18, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Product Launches

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Kickstarter-backed Ukrainian startup Petcube has announced the beginning of shipments of its combined HD webcam, speaker and laser pointer that lets pet owners play with their furry (or sometimes hairless) friends remotely. Starting from today, the device is available for order on Amazon, Fab.com, and the startup’s own website for $199. “The first run of shipment is pretty big, much bigger than the number of pre-orders on Kickstarter,” Petcube CEO Yaroslav Azhnyuk told The Next Web. Explaining the problem solved by its gadget, Petcube cites research showing that 60 percent of American households own a pet, while 20 percent of them…

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Square begins offering customizable gift cards

Nov18
by on November 18, 2014 at 2:00 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

Square and its little white card readers have helped many a coffee shop handle transactions through mobile devices, but it can still be hard for small businesses to match the perks offered by larger corporations, like gift cards. To help remedy this, Square is has has introduced physical gift cards of its own for businesses on its platform. Sellers can use Square’s Register app to offer, redeem and track the cards directly. To use them, you just swipe them like a regular credit card, and the balance on the card will automatically update. Customers can also choose to reload a card if they wish….

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