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Here’s yet another option to consider in your battle against messy cords. The tennis sized ball can hide (or “swallow”) up to 5 feet of cable, cutting down on all that extraneous cordage that most of us have behind/around our desks and media centers. Designed by Søren Refsgaard and manufactured by Bald & Bang.

Available in red, orange, pink, grey, blue, black, yellow, green, and white.

If your current travel bag is worse for the wear, consider the Spacepak™, as it’s currently on sale at MoMA Store. The tri-fold case has mesh pockets and compartments to organize your stuff easily and a built-in hook means you can hang it anywhere. If you don’t mind bright orange, it’s a good price for a durable travel toiletry bag.

Made of durable 100% nylon with a bright orange exterior and handle and a gray interior.
Hand-wash only.

Amateur or pro, this wooden tripod would no doubt become an heirloom in any photographer’s toolkit. Built in the same way for over 100 years in Germany by Berlebach, the tripod is made of sustainably harvested ash wood and extends from 2 to 6 feet. An aluminum core keeps it light at 6.20 lbs, meaning you can tote it around semi-comfortably at events or short hikes. Also, did you know that wood absorbs vibration naturally? So, less worries about shaky pics.
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Do you need yet another gadget for your iPhone? Maybe. This little guy makes your iPhone mountable on a tripod as well as giving you various viewing angles. It’s made from recyclable rubberized plastic and is small enough to fit in your pocket. Might make a good gift for a fellow photo-taking-iPhone-fan, perhaps?
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You’ve most likely seen or heard of the recently launched Tattly, a site offering decently designed temporary tattoos compiled by none other than Tina Roth Eisenberg, otherwise known as swissmiss. My favorites: Knucks by Frank Chimero, Tattone by Josh Smith, Cursors also by Josh Smith, and Rabbit by Marc Johns.

$5 for a set of 2 or all 15 for $35.
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If you travel to international destinations more than a couple of times a year, you might want to consider the Global Entry Program. It’s a trusted traveller program that allows speedy passport checks and customs declaration. Upon arrival, you’re able to go straight to the Global Entry kiosks where your passport is read, fingerprint verification is taken, and customs declaration is printed out, all of which takes about 3 minutes. You completely skip the long lines for passport checks, which are usually half an hour or longer (as you might know), and proceed directly to the baggage claim and exit.

I applied/joined last year, as I travelled back and forth from the UK to the US several times, and I fully recommend it. You do have to go through a background check and interview*, which most likely takes an hour total, and it costs about $100 for the application fee, but that quickly becomes well worth the time and money. It’s been incredibly convenient to skip right past the long line for passport checks, and I’ve noticed lately that airports are increasing the amount of kiosks as more people apply (even so, with airports that have two or three kiosks instead of a dozen, I’ve never had anyone in front of me). Interested? Global Entry: How to apply. Also, to check and see if your home city has enrollment centers and kiosks, see the kiosk & terminal maps.
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These minimal headphones look very similar to the Ashidavox ST-90, but have been reworked for better sound and comfort. Music to your ears, right?
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There were a couple of related price reductions I wanted to let you know about today. First, apparently the price in Keyport dropped significantly since the last time I looked into it. I’m all about streamlining my life…but the early adopter price for Keyport was more than I was willing to pay. Now at $49.00 it seems a little more in range and now it’s available in several colors. And today only, it’s available for $39.00 if you get the Azure color. Head over to Keyport to pick one up.

Second, there’s a new RFID blocking wallet by Ögon Designs which keeps your credit card numbers and personal information safe from identity theft. Ordinarily $49.00 but if you head over to fab.com today you can get a significant discount.

You must have used a key at some point to open a letter. I know I have, many times, mostly because I misplace the one letter opener I have, and I am too impatient to go and find it. This little guy lives on your keychain, at the ready for any envelope that comes your way.

Incase sent out their new iPad case for review, and honestly, I have a mixed opinion. On one hand, the padded back adds a strange bulk to the normally sleek and slim device, which is just plain odd, and takes a while to get used to (it feels and sounds just like a small bean bag). On the other hand, it’s a lot more comfortable to use the iPad when lounging (hence, ‘Lounge’), as the padded back can be adjusted on your legs/lap for various viewing angles. It also works well for the same reason on a tabletop, as you can immediately push the iPad to whatever angle you want, and it stays put. I took a quick video so you can see what I mean (below). Overall, I’d say it’s well suited for use at home or on a desktop, as it makes the iPad more comfortable to use.
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No, that cord is not photoshopped in the image above. It’s an xlSync Cable from CableJive. Measuring 6.5 feet (2 meters) long, it’s the (much) longer sibling to the super short iStubz. So, you can charge your iPad while using it on the sofa, talk on your iPhone while it’s plugged into your computer, or maybe just utilize a plug that’s farther away than a normal cable can reach. CableJive actually sent me a sample*, and it’s perfect for reaching a previously-too-far-away plug to charge my phone at night.

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I’ve posted the GRID-IT before, but this is the GRID-IT! Wrap, which has an additional neoprene sleeve on the back that holds your Nook, Kindle, iPad, or laptop, depending on the size you choose. The wonderful elastic system of the GRID-IT! keeps all your cords and accessories organized as usual. Nice.
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Here’s another great hand-made bag from Etsy. This one is waxed canvas with leather strap closures and has two expandable pockets and two smaller flat pockets on the side, and can also be customized by way of fabric or size.

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Yes, this is remarkably similar to Chris Brigham’s Bike Shelf. However, this version by Brian LaBarbera is significantly less expensive, which might be easier on your wallet.
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Another Kickstarter project to feast your eyes upon: the Red Pop is an accessory that adds a big, red button to the iPhone so you can take photos easier. Instead of tapping around on the iPhone’s screen, the Red Pop’s button brings back a little of the old camera feel, giving you a firm grip on the phone as well as less down time between photos. The goal has been met for 1st production, but you are still able to pledge $75 or more to receive one of the very first Red Pops. For more details, visit Redpop’s kickstarter page.
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