VanMoof's premium line of stylish e-bikes just got sweeter with the new VanMoof S3 e-bike ($1998), featuring upgraded tech and a much lower price. A new four-speed automatic electronic gear shifter and works without the motor being engaged. The motor gets improved to a 350W peak unit, and new hydraulic front and rear brakes help stop the increased power. The app lets you change things like shift points, riding modes, and even the horn sound, while VanMoof estimates a range of up 90 miles using the economy setting. Details like brake lines and wiring all pass inside the frame and comes with an integrated anti-theft tech, keeping the look extremely clean while guarding your e-bike. With a long list of improvements and a reduction in price, this might be the best e-bike on the market.

Looking to create your tracks on Vinyl, then this is for you! Created in collaboration with designer Yuri Suzuki, the Easy Record Maker ($82+) from Japanese firm Gakken is able to both play vinyl records and record them. It has a mini audio jack that can accept input from a phone, computer, or any other sound source, as well as a cutting arm that permanently etches the incoming signal onto five-inch vinyl discs. It took five years for the project to become reality; the player supports both 33 and 45 rpm and arrives with 10 blank records as well as a magazine detailing its design and background. It's vinyl records also come in 4 different colors.

The current situation dictates that the majority of us stay home. While that makes ideal conditions for you know - binge-watching, that also means you might not have anyone to binge with. Enter Netflix Party. This Chrome extension lets you create private "parties", complete with chat rooms, that allow you to invite friends to enjoy Netflix shows and movies together over the Internet in real-time. Not as fun as meeting up in real life, but certainly better than getting sick risking a trip to make that happen. It only works with Chrome browser and Extension installed.

If you're looking for other streaming sites/extensions like Netflix Party see below:

Scener: https://scener.com/ - Works with Amazon Prime and can see webcam reactions
Metastream: https://app.getmetastream.com/ - Youtube and Hulu
TwoSeven: https://twoseven.xyz/ - Amazon Prime, HBO Go and Youtube.

I'm not going to lie. I lose my keys a lot.  I just lost them a month ago, however I did find them. So the Orbitkey's X Chipolo Key Tracker ($35) would be a great way to carry all my keys and other small essentials in an organized way. That organization also means it's more compact and thus easier to use. This tracker, built in collaboration with Chipolo, makes it equally as easy to find. Made to pair with the Key Kit, it has a loud ringer that can be activated from the companion app, and it functions as a remote camera shutter button for your smartphone. It also attaches to standard keychains and comes with a tassel that makes it useful for tracking bags, cameras, or anything else likely to be misplaced. Check out more products on Orbitkey.

Welcome to the new Playlists on The Collective Loop. The Collective Series 010! Spring is right around the corner. So why not put a spring in your step with new music by Lauv, Louis the Child and Yoste.

If you want to check out any of the other older Playlists then click on TCL Playlists in the menu. You can also find the playlist on Spotify and Google Music.


Cover art by: Damion S. 

Tracklist

Captivating views and beautiful design the architect and CG Artist Bartosz Domiczek visualizes a modern abode overlooking olive slopes. The dwelling is designed within an old farm storage building with its former facade restored as an ancient shell for the interior's contemporary suites. Rooms are arranged around a central courtyard while original arches around the perimeter frame in views of the adjacent mountains. Above on the hilltop, a natural basin is converted into a swimming pool with sweeping panoramas of the rustic landscape. I would even take the car seen below as well as this house.



Photos: Bartosz Domiczek

For many of you out there, The Oregon Trail was one of the first computer games you played in school. This Oregon Trail handheld game ($23) puts the '80s classic in the palm of your hand. It has a color screen and speaker housed in a fittingly chunky beige box, finished with over sized gray buttons that cover the essentials: arrow keys, yes, no, mute, and Enter. I'm a fan of the look of this handheld and the retro of the design choices, it also runs on just 3 AA and not a lot of floppy disks.

It is now 2020 and with that comes new landscapes of the ambient sounds of Tycho. Tycho just released a new single "Outer Sunset" for the upcoming new album Simulcast, which is out on February 28th 2020 and is available for pre-order now.

This new album is like a companion to their latest album Weather, which recently was a Grammy-nominated album. Here is what Tycho had to say about the new album Simulcast:

"A Simulcast is the transmission of a program across different mediums and in different languages. With these two albums I wanted to present the same ideas in two languages, one more literal and the other more open to interpretation. Simulcast expands on the concepts laid out in Weather but shifts into the abstract with instrumental soundscapes in place of lyrics opening up a visual space and translating the message into a new language."




I'm sure a lot fans out there are looking forward to this new album just as much The Collective Loop is, however their is even better news.  Not only do you get a new single and an upcoming new album dropping next month you also get a tour.  Check out the new single below and check the tour dates to see if he is coming to your area this year.

Looking for a new smart lock that is smaller and Wifi enable? August who was one of the first companies to offer a smart lock. With this Wi-Fi Smart Lock by August ($TBA), they've finally perfected the formula. It has a Yves Behar design, yet it is 45% smaller and 20% slimmer than the prior Smart Lock Pro. Built-in Wifi lets it interface with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri without the need for the Connect bridge, while also letting you manage access from anywhere with just the Internet. DoorSense technology makes sure that the door is securely closed and locked, and it installs over most single-cylinder deadbolts in about 10 minutes.

This TV is sure to catch a lot of eyes and a lot of money. The screen-to-body ratio of nearly 99 percent, Samsung's flagship Q950TS QLED 8K TV ($TBA) effectively blurs the lines between the TV and its surroundings. It's not just the bezels that are thin, either, as the set is only 15mm thick across the entire display. Despite its svelte design, it still offers a next-gen Quantum Processor 8K with AI for improved up-scaling, smooth streaming, and Object-Tracking Sound which matches the movement of the audio with on-screen objects. It will be available in 65, 75, and 85-inch sizes; pricing and release info has yet to be announced.

Every year Pantone reveals the color of the year and this year it is: PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is the official 2020 color of the year with its deep blue shade that’s at once comforting and relatable. A timeless and enduring blue hue, the Classic Blue is elegant in its simplicity. Suggestive of the sky at dusk, the reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

Find out more about this color and past on Pantone's site.

You've heard of whiskey stones, but few carry the ancient history that these Lithologie Granulite Whiskey Stone set ($50) possess. The stones are dark granulite Hornblende: a 940-million-year-old stone from the Trois-Rivieres area in Canada. Each stone is deep black and finely crystalline with a dark green translucence and bursts of coppery colors. They're perfect for keeping whiskey cold without watering down your dram and arrive as a set of four stones in a walnut case that is made in Quebec and coated with oil to protect the wood.

This is for all the cat lovers with Google Mini's. Odd-on Industries just launched Caat ($20) - a cute cat shaped silicone skin for your Google Home Mini. Caat is a new and fun accessory and transforms your smart speaker into a customizable pet friend for the home and is available in multiple colors - white, black and red.

This E-Bike combines a sleek look with plenty of speed, this e-bike aims to transform everyday commutes into a customizable experience. Spinciti's Amsterdam E-bike ($1,299) features a 500W motor and 8 gear speeds and a range of 50 miles on a full charge. It comes in two different frames, and also integrates your commute into your health program due to compatibility with a variety of third-party apps. This gives you the power to track and sync progress and learn from actionable data that has accumulated during your ride. One of the most affordable e-bikes on the market, the supercharged transportation option, the Amsterdam is ready for your everyday commute.

Those that have a passion for record players, this one is for you. Even though it is a concept this creative bathroom sink and faucet is designed to look like classic record player. The concept design was done by Pato Casa.  Would you put this in your bathroom?

Now this would be a sight to see in your travels.  Its just North of the Arctic circle and rests on the Norwegian island of Andøya lies Andenes. Known for its high population of migrating whales, the location is a prime spot for viewing the marine mammals and to celebrate the creatures, Dorte Mandrup designed The Whale. The upcoming arctic attraction is located on the island's rocky coastline. Its rolling roofline integrates itself into the shore while also resembling one of the breaching giants. Its interior will be occupied by exhibition spaces, offices, a cafe, and a store aimed at bringing awareness and protecting aquatic wildlife through art, science, and architecture. While roaming around inside, visitors will also experience dramatic views of the landscape along with glimpses of the passing whales. The pavilion is expected to open in 2022.






Photos: Dorte Mandrup

Welcome to the new Playlists on The Collective Loop. The Collective Series 009! Colder day's and holiday's are upon us. So why not heat up the floors with some new music! New music by ARIZONA, Phantoms and FRENSHIP.

If you want to check out any of the other older Playlists then click on TCL Playlists in the menu.
You can also find the playlist on Spotify and Google Music.


Cover art by: Damion S. 

Tracklist

The most iconic cell phone from the distant past has returned with some upgrades. The 2019 Motorola RAZR ($1,500)  shares a lot with its pre-smartphone ancestors, including a flip-open design, pronounced "chin", outward-facing screen, this time touch-enabled for quickly responding to messages and controlling music, and even the same radii on the curves. But instead of a keypad and tiny screen, it opens to reveal a 6.2-inch plastic OLED panel running Android 9 Pie. Its specs aren't overly impressive — it has a Snapdragon 710 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a single 16mp front-facing camera, and a fingerprint reader. The specs are nice but the world can't bring the joy of flipping the thing closed to end a call. For the truly nostalgic, it also has a "Retro RAZR" mode that apes the original's interior design, from the interface and boot sequence to the iTap text entry. It will be available exclusively on Verizon in the US and will start shipping in January 2020.

Named for its ethereal presence, the Ghost House is a striking contemporary dwelling in England's Warwickshire. The home inspired by the work of architect Tado Ando and features a concrete construction that was cast in-situ concrete. Its simplistic form frames in floor-to-ceiling steel windows on three sides. At night, the glazing gives off a celestial glow that creates a hauntingly beautiful effect as it mirrors off the reflecting pool that spans across the roof of the lower ground floor. The monolithic facade is left exposed to the interior continuing the sleek, minimalist design while a floating steel staircase adds a sculptural element to enhance the aesthetic. Find out more information on the Ghost House.





Photos: Felix Mooneeram / BPN Architects