PCalc for iOS is a perfect companion or students, programmers, engineers or nerds looking to have a full-featured calculator on their iOS device. Complete with extensive unit conversions, a paper tape, an RPN mode, engineering and scientific notation, as well as support for hexadecimal, octal and binary calculations, PCalc is in a different league than anything else. PCalc for iOS is currently…
While Apple's built-in apps for the iPhone and iPad get the job done for most people, some of my favorite apps for the platform are those that take existing functionality and improve upon it greatly. Rise is one such app. It's a simple, clean, beautiful alarm clock. Setting an alarm is as simple as sliding up and down the screen to the…
The Neu Year 2013 Calendar started as a Kickstarter project, and after being funded, is now for sale for $30. The calendar is two-in-one: it can fit on almost any desk horizontally, but can be used vertically to hang on a door. With no space between months, it focuses on the week, with plenty of room to write in events and deadlines.…
Made from 100% leather, with a snap storm cover over the heavy-duty zipper and deep pockets, the A-2 Flight Leather Bomber Jacket is the real deal. With an American flag sewn in the inside, you're just a mustache and pair of aviators away from saving the world. The jacket is on Amazon, starting at $149.
If you're looking for a special gift for the guitar player in your life, the Three Little Pixies Boutique on Etsy has you covered. For $21, they will ship you a brass guitar pick with a custom message engraved in the brass. Sterling silver is available for an additional charge.
The Vool Wooden Laptop Stand is a far cry from the angular, aluminum laptop stands we've linked to in the past. While those products certainly have their place, this thing is far more ... warm. The Vool stand is handcrafted from hand-picked pieces of pine from the Finnish-Russian border. Its height makes it far more ergonomic than using a notebook sitting on…
If your desk looks like mine, you have cables going everywhere. If you need to add some USB ports to your setup, but want things to look nice and clean, check out the Satechi 4 Port Aluminum USB Hub. Built with white plastic inlays set in to aluminum, this hub will match your Apple gear perfectly, and with a 9.5-inch cable, it…
Ever wonder what happens to cities that build giant complexes to host the Olympics after the games are done? What comes of those massive stadiums and complexes? The Olympic City is a new book on Kickstarter that documents this very phenomenon. $10 will get you a digital copy, with a 200-page hard copy book heading your way for $85. The Kickstarter project…
With a minimalistic design, high-definition custom made titanium transducers, the Aedle VK-1 Classic Edition headphones deliver high-quality audio in a handsome package. The lambskin pads should be comfortable for hours of use on end, and with an additional cable and a 6.5mm adaptor in the box, the VK-1s come ready to rock, no matter what your setup. The VK-1 Classics ship in…
We've looked at a lot of iPad keyboard docks in the past, but the Zagg MINI 7 and Zagg MINI 9 are a couple of the first docks we've seen just for the iPad mini. The Zagg MINI 7 is smaller than the 9, with a more compact key layout. On the other hand, the 9 houses the company's regular keyboard, but…
Lots of people have a love for vintage tin toys, and this drum-playing robot would be a great addition to any robot-guarded bookshelf or desk. You can pick this little guy up on Etsy for $18.
Beckel Canvas in Portland makes some wonderful hand-crafted canvas items. The War Bag is the largest size bag allowed as carry on on most flights. Made from 20 oz Canvas and a 2-inch cotton webbing with reinforcing leather, this bag can take a beating, all while carrying a ton of stuff. In fact, at 11" x 11" x 23", the bag boasts…
I'm currently using an old Apple IIGS to keep my Cinema Display up at the correct height. However, there are far better options. The Lifta Desk Organizer is a fine-looking stand that not only keeps things ergonomically correct, but even offers a place to store peripherals. Available in early 2013, the $95 desk accessory can be pre-ordered in plywood, oak, or (my…
The Silverlit Bluetooth Porsche remote control car lets you use your iOS device as a controller, with gesture control, force feedback and sound effects. The remote app is free, while the car itself is $66 from Amazon. Riding in style has never been so affordable.
The Transparent Speaker is pretty much what it sounds like. A 6.5-inch subwoofer provides the bass, while two 3-inch full range drivers provide crisp highs and mid-tones. The speakers, digital sound processor, controls and wiring are all exposed within the speaker's glass chassis. It packs to AUX-in jacks, a powered USB port (with additional Bluetooth and Wi-Fi dongles) and a slot to…
The Sketchnote Handbook is a in-depth guide to how to use sketches to capture and share information. The book includes guides to draw faces, shapes and simple objects easily and without the fear many people have of drawing. This edition includes access to 70 minutes of video tutorials where viewers can see the author demonstrating drawing techniques discussed in the book. Homework:…
The Leatherman Wave with Black Oxide Finish is a stainless steel multitool that comes the following tools: Wood/Metal File, Diamond-Coated File Large Bit Driver, Small Bit Driver, Large Screwdriver Needlenose Pliers, Scissors, Regular Pliers, Ruler (8 inch/19 cm) Wire Cutters, Bottle/Can Opener Hard-Wire Cutters, Wire Stripper Clip-Point Knife, Lanyard Ring Serrated Knife, Phillips and Flat Tip Eyeglasses Screwdriver Saw, Phillips #1-2 and…
Both Shawn and I rely heavily on OmniFocus in our work. As with most things that we look at and use every day, we both wish it was a little bit nicer. Icons & Coffee is here to help with this very problem. The group is offering a set of 50 (!) icons to be used to define Perspectives within the app.…
While this isn't the coolest or most fun app we've ever come across, Google Maps is back for iOS, as a free app. iOS 6 famously included Apple's home-grown Maps, and to be frank, they aren't always awesome. While Google's offering isn't perfect, either, it will be nice to have both when out and about.
The cleverly-named OCDock is an iPhone dock that is designed to reduce clutter and cables. It works by sitting against the foot of your Apple display or iMac, held with a piece of ultra-thin, re-usable tape. The dock's integrated Lightning cable is paper-thin, and runs underneath the foot of the display for a clean look. The dock is available in an anodized…