Monthly Archives: December 2014

The only Credit Card you will ever need

plastc-social-bgWe run just about Apple everything in the Canopy office and we aren’t shy about coveting just about all-things-Mac, but after all the excitement and now extended delays around Apple Pay we’re reluctant to admit, that it might be time to search for alternatives. Apple Pay is encouraging people to leave their credit cards in their wallet and pay for goods in stores using an iPhone, we found Plastc, a sort of electronic credit card that can do about just the same.

But how much technology can you fit into a 0.8-millimeter-thick credit card?

Well, a lot. Not only can Plastc store credit cards, it can also show loyalty and gift cards. How does it work? It is simple. It works with an app that enables you to quickly swap out cards, add new ones, and track your spending. Plastc itself stores up 20 cards but the app can hold an unlimited number. On Plastc, you can switch up card details through the e-ink touchscreen panel. And it is quite secured with PIN, photo ID, proximity alerts, and ‘Return Me’ mode and If stolen or lost, you can remotely wipe your data.  The card is rechargeable and last 30 days once fully charged but it locks in your default credit card if uncharged so you can still use it until you charge up again. So, if you are looking for a simple and elegant way to store your many credit & debit cards, loyalty and gift cards, access cards and more in a single, minimalist card, and say goodbye to your bulky wallet, Plastc could be the way to go. The card would be available in summer 2015. You can get more info on their website.

What Sparks our Fire: a credit card that gets a lot smarter.

Are you ready for the future of payments with Plastc? What are your thoughts on digital wallets

Gloves That You Won’t Take Off To Use Your Touchscreen

Screen Shot 2014-12-18 at 4.55.11 PMNow that the winter season has officially started, don’t let the cold weather slow down your productivity.  This winter, stay connected on all of your favorite devices while keeping your hands nice and toasty with touchscreen gloves from Mujjo. Most gloves designed for this purpose, are restricted to one or two fingers, but Mujjo redefines the touchscreen gloves promise letting you use all 10 fingers, or even the palm of your hand, without having to expose your hands to the blistery elements! They’re available in many colors: black, natural gray, lavender, coral pink and made from the finest Ethiopian lambskin, known for offering the best isolation properties of any kind of leather.  Beyond touch screen functionality, they keep you warm, are durable, with a comfortable fit and they look great. If this sounds like something you’ve always been looking for, the gloves are available from Mujjo’s site.

What Sparks Our Fire: high-tech meets fashion to come up with a useful item

Would you grab yourself a piece? Let us know below.

An Object Of Desire: Elemoon

10636749_264615793729578_2573413548389599085_oWearable tech bracelets are often known to be rather bulky and downright ugly but not this time. Meet Elemoon, the jewelry that combines technology and style. Elemoon is a techy and pretty LED bracelet for the fashion conscious. Elemoon changes color to match your outfit, notifications, has step tracking (like fitbit), displays time and you can even use it to find your phone by swiping the bracelet when sync and it will make the phone emit a sound alert. You can also design individualized icons that light up when various contacts call or message you. For instance, set a heart when your boyfriend calls. Isn’t it fabulous. Inside Elemoon are an array of 75 brilliant LED lights that helps the accessory be colorful and stylish. In terms of battery usage, the magnetically charged device can last from one day to one week depending on user habits. We think the concept of Elemoon opens up the wearable market to a more fashionable crowd.  So, if you think Elemoon is something you could benefit from, visit the website now to pre-order to benefit from great deals.

What Sparks Our Fire: customizable jewelry that syncs with you

Would you consider bringing stylish technology to your wrist everywhere with Elemoon?

A To-Do List With An Attitude

carrot-screenMaking a to-do list doesn’t necessarily mean that things are going to get done. The universe of GTD (Getting Things Done) is complex indeed. To get things done, we all need a bit of motivation. So, if just like most people you are still a good friend of procrastination, we found the perfect app for you: CARROT. Carrot app doesn’t just make things done fun, she makes getting things done addictive. Yes, it is a she. You can compare her to Siri but with more attitude. Carrot can be the perfect app for you if you are looking for something that really pushes you and forces you to get rid of the sloth in you and turn you into a productivity beast. In few words, Carrot is a To-do list with feelings. She has two distinct personalities:

  1. The happy Carrot takes joy in seeing you succeed, and showers you with praise for completing tasks.
  2. The angry Carrot hates you simply because you exist, and only takes joy in showering you with insults and petty sideswipes. Yes, a little rude.

No one expects to come across a rude, bossy app especially after you pay for it! But that’s Carrot for you. The premise is simple – you complete your tasks and Carrot is happy. You slack off and Carrot starts to get cranky.  At its core, Carrot is a minimal to-do list for iOS with barely any feature. Swipe down to add a new item. Swipe right to remove it when done. Swipe left to access the settings and options. That’s about it. You can’t even edit items you’ve created.  But Carrot  is as much about the personality as it is about the list and that makes her stand apart from the crowd.

Clearing tasks also entitles you to rewards as you climb up the levels. Initial rewards are simpler: like wisdom on how to prioritize tasks and not get overwhelmed with too much to-do. According to developers, there are nearly 300 unique rewards. And there are all different to the situation. For instance, reaching Level 15 could unlock mini-games. What is even more fun with carrot is that you can interact with her even if you have nothing on your list. For instance, in the text entry box you can type “Carrot I’m bored,” and Carrot will add a ridiculous item to your list.

What Sparks Our Fire: a task manager that blends a bit of fun with just the right amount of functionality

We are not going to spill all the beans. Get Carrot on the app store to kick off your productivity. Oh, do come back and tell us how you find this ‘really different’ productivity app.

Translate Any Text Using Your Phone’s Camera

camdictionary-476551-1319696805We’ve all been stuck at least once in our life in a totally unfamiliar language environment. At these times, even our smartest-smart phones are rendered useless, unable to type the word we needed to translate because we did not have the local language characters on our keyboard, leaving us feeling lost. Since we love to share useful apps, we found CamDictionary by IntSig Information Co.,Ltd, a snap translator on the go, and an indispensable travel tool. Believe it or not, your phone’s camera can translate. In few words, CamDictionary is a professional instant translator application for Android and iOS devises. It supports 36 languages that the app can translate on the fly instantly. All you need to do is snap a picture of the text you want to translate and the app will do the rest in real time and you even have the option to hear the pronunciation. Isn’t that magical?

What Sparks Our Fire: an ingenious app that makes our life easy by enabling us to quickly and easily translate languages.

Are you ready to never get lost in translation with CamDictionary? Let us know your thoughts on this app.