Tech

We use a LoupeDeck+ in our daily workflow. Their Creative Tool is more compact, has 12 virtual touchscreen buttons, a dial control with a touchscreen display, and six knobs with displays next to them. It currently works with Ableton Live (v10), Lightroom Classic, Illustrator, Photoshop, Camera Raw, Premiere Pro, and FCPX (MacOS).

If you long for the days when the MacBook Pro had a good keyboard and plenty of ports, check out this Grade-A refurbished 13.3″ model, with a 2.5 GHz Core i5 CPU, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. This 2012 model has a Thunderbolt port, two USB 3 ports, and a Firewire 800 port. It’s just $699.99 in The Awesomer Shop.

Give your PlayStation 4 the extra storage space it deserves with Fantom Drives’ 2TB upgrade kit. The kit includes an external enclosure, a speedy Seagate Firecuda Gaming hybrid drive, a micro USB 3.0 cable, screwdriver, 16GB flash drive for OS transfer, and installation guide. Save 29% in The Awesomer Shop. (PS4 not included.)

DJI’s latest drone is simply tiny. It weighs about as much as a smartphone, is small enough to stash in a pocket, a backpack, or purse, but packs plenty of capability. It’s got a 3-axis gimbal, 2.7k video, and can fly up to 30 minutes using DJI’s smartphone app and remote controller. For more fly time and accessories, grab the Fly More combo.

Adobe shows off a slick new feature coming soon to Photoshop. The Object Selection tool uses machine learning tech to automatically identify objects, people, and animals to quickly select and separate them from backgrounds. We can’t tell you how many hours this would have saved us over the years.

You could spend hundreds on a fancy GoPro, or you could just pick up this 4K action camera for less than fifty bucks. It’s got a built in screen and Wi-Fi too. Buy a few, and capture the action from multiple angles. Includes a waterproof housing and a variety of mounts. Grab this bargain from The Awesomer Shop.

The latest version of Apple’s wireless earphones introduce active noise cancelling into the mix, using a pair of microphones to reduce unwanted sounds both outside and inside of your ear. They fit snugly in-ear and come with tips for various ear sizes, and are IPX4 water and sweat resistant. Available 10/30/19.

This unique projector packs a computer inside, as well as an RGB/IR camera, allowing it to automatically create depth maps. Combined with Lightform’s Creator software, anyone can create amazing projection mapping displays in small to medium sized spaces. Already have a projector? Check out the LFC.

Need an extra machine for the kids? Or something you can just toss around to check email and surf the web? This Grade A refurbished Dell Chromebook 11 should do. It’s got a 2.1 GHz Celeron CPU, 16GB of SSD storage, and an 11.6″ screen. Priced right around a hundred bucks, it’s a great bargain in The Awesomer Shop.

We spent a week in Tokyo, Japan learning all about Toyota’s plans for the future, as it expands its horizons from conventional cars, to providing mobility solutions for all. The future includes ultra-compact battery-electric vehicles, self-driving cars, and even cars that can adapt to your mood.

Jamstack’s compact amplifier and speaker combo clips onto the bottom of electric guitars and basses, providing big, clean sound for practice sessions and intimate performances. Its detachable smartphone dock lets you connect your phone inline and apply effects using 3rd-party apps.

Created by Pindar, Hunter, and Dante Van Arman, CloudPainter is a robotic system designed to paint original artworks, using artificial intelligence to help it make creative decisions. Like human artists, it continues to improve and learn as its database grows.

Lexus looks ahead to 2030. This luxury electric coupe concept is powered by four in-wheel motors, and packs autonomous and driver-assistance technologies. Its windows are dimmable, and it has an interactive ceiling display that floats above rear seat passengers. With an estimated 536 hp, it can zoom to 62 mph in 3.8 sec.

Remember when Excite!, Lycos, and Geocities were a thing? In one of its more fascinating moving bar charts, Data Is Beautiful looks back at the history of the Internet over more than two decades, tracking the biggest websites based on monthly visits. Yes, there was a time before Google, Facebook, and YouTube.

YouTuber Phuc Nguyen shared this hypnotic video of an intricate image being engraved out of a thick disc of brass. He used a Woodpecker DP1212 CNC router, and a variety of different tooling bits to gradually increase the detail of the design.

The Q was looking for a way to power his plug-in gadgets while away from home. While he could have just bought a ready-made power pack, he decided to build his own, wiring together dozens of 18650 batteries, then connecting an inverter to convert the DC power into AC.

Canadian camouflage experts Hyperstealth Biotechnology has recently applied for patents on their technology which can bend light around an object to make it vanish from sight when placed in its sweet spot. The paper-thin screen could be used to hide military targets from ground-level threats. More on Vimeo.

An important part of learning a new language is conversation. HelloTalk is a chat app that pairs you up with partners around the globe, and includes tools for translation, pronunciation, transliteration, and corrections. VIP members can learn three languages at a time, and get improved visibility in the community.

Despite its popularity as a building material, wood is rarely used in the construction of PC cases. Bucking that trend, DIY Perks built a truly unique computer system from wood, with rope trim. We love how he incorporated the air cooling system as a sculptural design element.

Computers and other gadgets cram a ton of componentry onto ever more compact circuit boards. But not that long ago, electronic circuits were anything but efficiently packed onto a small green motherboard. Techquickie looks at how we got from there to here.

Artist Samer Dabra programmed Evil Mad Scientist’s AxiDraw v3 plotter to take photographic images and reinterpret them as twisty, turny, abstract line art. By overlaying CMYK inks, the images have an appearance of being in full color. More images on Instagram.

Electronic Alchemy’s unique 3D printer can output multiple kinds of filaments in a single print, including conductive, resistive, capacitive, and semiconducting ones, allowing it to print out objects with built-in electronic circuits. It’s got eight retractable extruders, so objects can combine up to eight different materials.

Upgrade your photos with this high-tech image adjustment software for Mac or PC. It uses artificial intelligence to selectively apply adjustments, and can improve colors, contrast, detail, lighting, remove noise, and much more. Save 57% in The Awesomer Shop, then upgrade to Luminar 4 when it’s released for just $49.

Volvo takes its already fun and stylish XC40 compact crossover, and makes it even more appealing, offering up a fully-electric model with an AWD powertrain, making 408hp, and zooming from 0-to-62 in 4.9 sec. It’s expected to have a range of about 248 mi, and can charge to 80% in 40 minutes on a fast-charger.

Give your Apple AirPods a fun new home with elago’s retro-look case cover, inspired by the original 1984 Macintosh computer. The silicone wrapper features the iconic “hello.” cursive lettering on its screen, and is done up in classic beige. Compatible with wired or wireless charging cases.

This new member of the Edifice line packs all the tech we’ve come to expect, but this one is super slim. Measuring just 8.9mm thick, the stainless steel chronograph includes stopwatch, alarm, lap timer, and calendar functions. It automatically adjusts its time via a Bluetooth smartphone connection, and recharges via solar power.

There are robots out there that can solve a Rubik’s Cube very quickly. But, while OpenAI’s design is decidedly slower, it works much more like a human, using its five robotic digits to maneuver and manipulate the cube with one hand, and learns to solve it using trial and error. Find out more about how it works here.

Say goodbye to productivity today. Thanks to the folks at the amazing Internet Archive, you can play thousands of retro PC games right in your web browser. Their extensive software library is packed with classics like The Oregon Trail, SimCity, Prince of Persia, Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, Leisure Suit Larry, and many more.

Scientists from MIT CSAIL have developed an incredible technology which allows for personalization of objects by using special photochromic dyes. By exposing the pigments to ultraviolet light, designs be “reprogrammed” by removing portions of their cyan, magenta, and yellow dyes to expose new patterns. More here.

This desktop device aims to democratize the creation of vinyl records. The Phonocut is designed to carve grooves directly into a 10″ wax disk, allowing for the creation of custom records at home. It’s makers are hoping for a 2020 release and will start raising funds on Kickstarter 10/15/19 at 4:20pm LA time.