TREND REPORTS
(Video) Transformers Reclaims Long-Lost Retro Appeal with Infobar Mobile Phone Project
[Product]
2017/02/07 10:55
The only thing cooler than intergalactic alien robots that transform into muscle cars and big rigs are ones that transform into outdated (but stylish!) mobile phones.A collaborative effort between phone company au by KDDI and toymaker Takara Tomy, this series of Transformers phones pays homage to designer Naoto Fukasawa’s Infobar cellphone for KDDI au, which debuted back in 2003.Known for its...
Hybrid Inclusive Mobility ? The Volkswagen Roller
[Design]
2017/02/07 10:55
The Volkswagen Roller, in fact, is a new-age roller skate. It’s autonomous, and hands-free. The design comes with two main hubless wheels and two retractable rear wheels. The rear wheels (almost like a plane’s landing gear) remain outside before and after the ride. However, while in-transit, they retract inwards, so that you ride using only the main hubless wheels on each foot. Think of it as...
(Infographic) Global Creative Trends That Will Shape 2017
[Design]
2017/02/07 10:55
Stock photo company Shutterstock has released an infographic that predicts cultural, design, video, and social media trends that will shape the creative world in 2017. These predictions were gathered from “billions of searches, plus expert knowledge” from their design, video, and music teams. Check out the infographic below to find out which creative trends will take over this year, or click...
(Video) iPhone 8 Concept - Transparent Screen
[Design]
2017/02/06 11:01
iPhone 8 with Transparent Screen Concept Sounds & Looks Like the Ultimate Smartphone from the Future Smartphone have come a long way, yet their basic shape and intent has remained the same. Whenever we think about a handheld device, we immediately picture a rectangular slab of metal or plastic with a screen slapped in front of it. But, thanks to many companies out there, we have seen a ton...
(PDF) BCG - How Batteries and Solar Power Are Disrupting Electricity Markets
[Business]
2017/02/06 11:01
The battery pack may be the least glamorous component in the electricity delivery network, but it is on the verge of transforming electricity markets worldwide.Solar power produces plenty of electricity on sunny days, but not during peak usage in the evening or when the sky is cloudy. Storage systems such as lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, combined with photovoltaic (PV) generation, can address...
Vetting Alphabet’s $4 Billion in “Other Bets”
[Investing]
2017/02/06 11:00
Regardless of whether the policy remains in place today, one of Google’s most famous management philosophies has been the “20% rule”. Legend goes that especially in Google’s earlier days, employees were encouraged to spend 20% of their time working on new initiatives that could potentially benefit Google outside of their regular workflows, teams, and projects. This meant there was time to e...
(Video) H&R Block with IBM Watson Reinventing Tax Preparation
[Business]
2017/02/06 11:00
H&R Block will roll out technology that incorporates IBM Watson at approximately 10,000 branch offices across the US.You might already be feeling the looming dread of tax time, but this year, the task could be a little less daunting thanks to Watson, IBM's versatile artificial intelligence system. IBM is teaming up with tax firm H&R Block to set the system loose on the colossal amount o...
Domino’s Now Lets You Order From Its Full Menu via Messenger – No Setup or Account Required
[Business]
2017/02/06 11:00
Domino’s is about to put its ordering bot, Dom, to a big test. Just ahead of Super Bowl weekend, the pizza chain is rolling out the ability to order off its full menu via Facebook Messenger – even if you haven’t already set up a pre-configured “pizza profile.” The update means it will be easier for more casual Domino’s customers to give the bot a try, as an alternative to ordering via the...
U.S. Smartphone Penetration Surpassed 80% in 2016
[Consumer]
2017/02/06 11:00
That’s because 2016 was also the year that smartphone adoption surpassed 80% of all mobile phone owners. This milestone was reached in July, and that rate has since inched up to 81% in December. While this statistic tells us what we already knew – that smartphones are everywhere – it gives us some perspective as to how prevalent these devices have become since they first began to gain adopti...
