ibis Paint X is like Photoshop for your phone (Review)

Overview:

ibis Paint X is a Photoshop-style art and photo editing app with some neat features for anime and manga artists.

Developer: ibis mobile, Inc.

Cost: Free (with ads, $4.99 premium)

Impressions:

ibis Paint X markets itself as a power drawing and sharing app for manga and anime fans. It offers some handy tools and settings geared directly towards artists who like to draw in that style and share it via social media or live stream.

The app, minus the specific features of anime and manga art, is like a “Photoshop lite” on your phone. It offers the essentials for photo editing and drawing such as layers, multiple brushes and drawing tools, and full RGB and HSB color palettes. There are a lot of different things you can do with Ibis Paint; unfortunately, I’m not much of an artist so I couldn’t use them to the best of their abilities. I do find that a lot of these features would benefit from a stylus or a tablet to have more precise and accurate strokes on the screen. Using your fingers on a small phone screen is just not that great for drawing especially if you want fine details.

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A few of the brush styles locked behind an ad wall

The manga and anime specific features are pretty cool. They allow you to do things like add frames, import reference photos or sketches, and add commonly seen filters from manga and anime scenes to your pictures to complete the look that you want for your creation. Using this app doesn’t make you a great manga artist overnight, but it does help if you already have some experience. Other cool features include the ability to share your creations to the community and social media and download other users work as well. Some of the artwork featured on the app is impressive and definitely worth looking at for reference or just because it’s awesome. ibis Paint X also allows sharing of a video of your drawings, which allowing for some awesome time-lapse videos. This feature especially is a standout for me as I can imagine it would make artists’ lives easier when they want to share their process and creations online easily.

ibis Paint X is a fairly solid art and drawing app with some killer features, and one crazy name. It is not, however, free from issues. The user interface is a bit cluttered when used on a phone, which I can understand given the small amount of space available and the amount of tools at your disposal. Thankfully, it looks much better on a tablet. Also, the app could stand to have a tutorial on the specific tool icons since not all of them are clear on what they do to a novice artist like me. The biggest issue I have is the developer’s use of ads. The ads along the top are harmless enough, but there are also ads that lock certain brush types and other tools behind a video wall that require you to watch them in order to use the tool. There is a five dollar premium version that removes this, but it’s a fairly odd and frustrating way to force users to sit through ads.

Conclusion:

Besdies the dubious ad policies, I’d say that ibis Paint X is a great tool for artists on the go. I certainly wouldn’t say use it as a primary art creation medium, however, as there are much better free options both on Android as well as on the computer. If you are an artist out and about or are interested in manga and anime styled art and want a cool app with some awesome community creations, I’d absolutely recommend this to you.

Download ibis Paint X from the Google Play Store

Ancient history meets modern technology: Lithomodos VR reconstructs the past

Why it matters to you

Archeologists are using virtual reality to resurrect and preserve ancient history.

Virtual reality became a $5 billion dollar industry in 2016. Some experts predict exponential growth for the industry over the next three years, with services like entertainment leading the increase. But VR also has potential to revolutionize education, finding applications from classrooms to museums, helping kids learn in new ways through immersive experiences.

An Australian startup hopes to take advantage of this potential by resurrecting ancient sites in VR environments and, as reported by Venture Beat, a new $679,000 seed funding round will help the firm do so.

Backed by an interdisciplinary team, Lithodomos VR develops archaeologically accurate renditions of ancient sites, such as the ancient city of Jerusalem and Paris’ Arènes de Lutèce as it would have appeared 2,000 years ago. The software can be used for digital tourism, education, and entertainment for the history buffs among us.

More: VR Museum of Fine Art lets you embrace some of the world’s greatest works

“Lithodomos VR was inspired by a burning desire to travel back in time and see the Greek and Roman worlds first hand,” Simon Young, Lithodomos founder and CEO, told Digital Trends. “VR gave me the tools to do it.”

Young has both a businessman’s stake and an academic interest in the project at hand — he recently submitted an archaeology PhD thesis to the University of Melbourne and suggested this focus on historical precision makes Lithodomos VR’s work so valuable. “What really matters is the archaeological accuracy of the reconstruction,” he said. “We aren’t just computer modelers. We’re also a team of archaeologists, obsessively checking and re-checking every detail to ensure accuracy.”Lithodomos said it has already been contracted to develop content for museum installations, and will also have a film featured in the Berlin Film Festival. A free app called Ancient World in VR is available to download on Google Play.

The company is now working on a reconstruction of the ancient city of Córdoba, Spain. “It’s one of our most ambitious projects yet, and we’re making sure it’s one of our best,” Young said. “But there are thousands of magnificent ancient sites around the world, just waiting to be brought to life.”

Everything you need to know about Android 7.0 Nougat

Why it matters to you

While updates aren’t available on all devices immediately, the Android mobile operating system paves the way for how more than a billion people will use their smartphones.

It’s been a few months since Android 7.0 Nougat dropped, but Google has already released Android 7.1.1 and a beta of 7.1.2.

The Android 7.1.2 update will not come to the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, as those devices have run their course of Android version updates. They will continue to receive Android security updates for another year. wHere’s everything you need to know.

More: Hands on: Google Pixel and Pixel XL

Android 7.1.2

As the name suggests, Android 7.1.2 is an incremental update that mostly focuses on “refinements, so it includes a number of bug fixes and optimizations,” according to the Android Developer Dashboard. The beta update is currently available to enrolled Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus Player, and Pixel C devices. If you want to sign up for the beta, you can enroll here.

One of the silent features introduced in 7.1.2 is fingerprint gestures — a Pixel feature that seems to have made its way to the Nexus 5X. Some Nexus 5X owners on the Android subreddit of Reddit claim they are able to toggle fingerprint gestures on in Settings.

The update will also make its way to the Nexus 6P soon, which will likely introduce fingerprint gestures as well. The Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9 will not receive the update, as they are past the two-year support window.

Android 7.1.1

Quite a few new features were introduced in the Android 7.1.1 update.

Notably, App Shortcuts are back. The feature, introduced during the Android Nougat beta program, was briefly scrapped, but it’s returned in fully functional form. App Shortcuts mimic the 3D Touch features introduced in iOS 9 — press and hold an app icon and you’ll get a list of specific actions. The Pixel Launcher, the default home screen on Pixel smartphones, supports the feature, and third-party app developers will be able tap in on smartphones running Android 7.1.1. Apps can have up to five shortcuts, according to the Android Developers website.

In other news, a restart setting has joined Android’s power menu. Now, when you press and hold the power button on the Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P, you will have the option of power cycling the phone instead of switching it off.

A new Moves menu in Android’s Settings menu includes a number of actions that can be initiated by gesture. You can launch the camera by pressing the power button twice, switch in and out of selfie mode by double-twisting your wrist when you are in the app, and lift your phone to quickly check your notifications.

More: Five Android Nougat problems and how to deal with them

Image Keyboard, another new feature, lets you choose and send content like stickers, emojis, GIFs, and pictures from your messaging app of choice. It’s supported within Google’s Allo, Hangouts, and Messenger, apps for now, with third-party support “on the way.”

Android 7.1.1 includes a brand-new camera app. Among the features are white balance presets, exposure compensation, Automatic Exposure and Automatic Focus locking, and viewfinder grid modes. Another, Smart Burst, takes multiple photos and selects the best one.

Smart Storage automatically removes old backed-up photos and videos from your device to clear up space. They’re backed up to Photos, Google’s picture-centric cloud storage service.

Among the emoji, speaking of, are 100 additions approved by the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee, the industry consortium that oversees the approval of new keyboard characters.

“Earlier this year, we announced a proposal to promote gender equality by adding new emoji that reflect the pivotal roles women play in the world, and represent a wider range of professions for both women and men,” Google wrote in a blog post. “We included gender counterparts for emoji that previously only had male or female representation.”

The new emoji collection comprises 11 new professions available in both genders and various skin tones and ethnicities, and new female and male versions of 33 existing emoji.

More: Goodbye, Google Cast! App gets rebranded as the more inclusive Google Home

A lead Pixel engineer tweeted that the devices have improved touch latency — which is also confirmed in the changelog. In plain English, that means the time it takes for your smartphone screen to respond to your finger should be much less. That’ll have the effect of improving responsiveness.

The method by which Android updates are installed is new, too. Phones will upgrade much like Chromebooks: updates will install in the background automatically, on a separate partition. When the device restarts, it’ll swaps partitions with the updated version — effectively performing the upgrade right under your nose.

Also in tow with Android 7.1.1 is Daydream VR, Google’s virtual reality platform. Circular app icons like the ones on the Pixel smartphones make an appearance, too.

Ultra Mobile’s $19 calling plan includes data, texting in more than 60 countries

Why it matters to you

Global carrier Ultra Mobile now offers international data and calling for $19 a month, connecting friends and family around the world.

Ultra Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that sells cellular service atop major carriers, has operated largely under the radar. But it’s angling for disruption with The New $19, a dirt-cheap plan that includes international calling, texting, and data in more than 60 countries worldwide.

There’s no catch to speak of. Starting today, $19 a month on Ultra Mobile nets you 100MB of 4G LTE data in the aforementioned 60 countries, $1.25 in international calling credit, and $5 in one-time international roaming credit. The new pricing takes effect in Brazil, India, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Mexico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and more. Ultra Mobile says The New $19 plan covers almost 4 billion people around the globe.

More: Ultra Mobile introduces data-saving “Data My Way” voluntary throttling

Coinciding with the launch of The New $19 plan is DataXtra, a plan benefit that provides up to “double” the amount of high-speed data on Ultra Mobile’s unlimited plans. When the 4G LTE data runs out, customers get free-of-charge access to 3G speeds, and gratis international coverage lets them make and receive calls and texts in any one of 135 countries.

DataXtra follows on the rollout of Data My Way, an optional feature that let Ultra Mobile subscribers choose up to three different data speeds in order to extend their 4G LTE data without changing their usage habits.

“DataXtra is really about understanding what our subscribers need and how to best optimize the data available to us,” Chris Furlong, head of product, told Digital Trends. “Every carrier is looking at ways to stretch our data network. DataXtra allows subscribers to listen to music and stream video without getting into an unusable crawlspace — it’s a nice middle ground for data optimization.”

More: Your Google Fi connection is about to get 10-20 times faster internationally

Ultra Mobile’s next frontier is SMS and texting services. Premo, an Ultra Mobile service that provides a virtual phone number to subscribers, crossed 2 million downloads earlier this year and has 800,000 monthly active users. It’s especially popular in the Persian Gulf region, Furlong said, where expatriates use it as an affordable way to keep in touch with loved ones.

“Phone numbers shouldn’t be tied to physical devices,” he added. “When you get a number from a carrier, your phone has to go with you. But with an app like Premo, you’re reachable across multiple devices — you can travel from primary device to table to laptop.”

Furlong pointed to T-Mobile’s Digits service, a benefit that allows subscribers to receive and make calls and texts via smartphones, tablets, computers, and even smartwatches, as an encouraging sign of a burgeoning trend. But he stressed that any sort of universal, intercarrier number platform is years off.

More: The stickers are taking over: Line to launch Line Mobile MVNO in Japan this summer

“We’re entering a message period in communications. It’s fractured.”

Ultra Mobile’s grown to more than $100 million in sales over the past three years. It generated more than $118.2 million last year, and was named Ink Magazine’s Fastest Growing Private Company for 2015.

Vertu Constellation: Our first take

All the luxury and exclusivity you’d expect from a Vertu phone, but without the overly dramatic visual punch or the crazy price tag.

If you’ve looked on with envious eyes at the Vertu New Signature Touch with its outrageous “gull wing” style door feature on the back, and decided it just wasn’t subtle enough; then the new Vertu Constellation may be the perfect compromise between style, luxury, and subtlety. If you’re still undecided, perhaps the lower price of the Constellation will eventually sway you. We’ve had the chance to try the phone out, and like all Vertu phones, it left quite an impression. Here’s what we thought.

The last time we heard the Constellation name, it was back in 2013, and the phone to which it was attached had the same mission: Give people who either didn’t want or couldn’t justify the cost of the company’s flagship phone a chance to join the family. The new 2017 Constellation will cost less than the New Signature Touch, but we came away from using the phone, thinking we may prefer it over one anyway.

More: The oldest name in luxury tech is ready to ride the wave it created

Its subtlety shines through the longer you examine the details. The pillow — that’s the section where the speaker is hidden above the screen — is slim and unobtrusive, yet still a beautiful aspect of the design. The front of the Constellation is dominated by an expanse of 6th generation sapphire glass, which covers a 5.5-inch, 2,560 x 1,440-pixel resolution screen. Sapphire glass has a slightly different look in comparison with Gorilla Glass. A highly polished, deeper sheen brings out the best in this display. It’s the first time Vertu has gone beyond 1,920 x 1,080 pixels on its screens, and it’s a welcome addition.

No gull wing door madness or builder’s signature

The Constellation is wonderfully comfortable to hold. A machined trench sliced down the aluminum side panels ensures it nestles in your palm and avoids the sharp, angled edge that runs along the top side. It’s interspersed with the power and volume keys, plus Vertu’s trademark ruby button to activate Concierge. This is Vertu’s 24/7 personal assistant service, and it’s a massive part of the phone’s appeal. It joins Vertu Life — where exclusive offers and services are available to Vertu owners — plus secure calls through Silent Circle, anti-theft services, and other benefits.

It’s beautifully made, feels strong as an ox, and we adore the more subtle design and styling.

Examine the sides closely and you’ll notice a traditional SIM tray cut into it. This is a real departure for Vertu, which in the past has hidden the SIM behind a spring-loaded door, making it a talking point. Part of the reason is the decision to use a dual-SIM system on the Constellation. The dual-SIM slot increases its versatility, adding another connectivity feature to the 34 international bandwidths for true global network support, but removes one of the things we always adored about Vertu. A little bit of unique madness you didn’t find on any other phone. It also means the Constellation doesn’t have somewhere to hide the signature of the person who built the phone, unlike most other Vertu devices.

However, the lack of a crazy SIM door makes the phone less fussy, which follows with the rest of the design. There are three colors at launch: a pinkish berry, a blue-grey octane, and an earthy walnut. All the colors are brought to life using leather sourced from an Italian tannery. Simpler lines, strong colors, flatter panels, and fewer visual flourishes mean it’s less dramatic than the New Signature Touch, but the phone is all the better for it. It could be argued the disappearance of the SIM door and the signature of the builder does away with some of the character that’s so important in a Vertu phone, though.

Tech lags behind

Choosing a Vertu phone has rarely been a decision based on the device’s technical prowess, but there are several welcome new additions on the Constellation. The higher resolution screen is one, along with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (not the newest Qualcomm chip, but still a good performer), 4GB of RAM, 128GB of internal memory and for the first time, a fingerprint sensor on the front. This, along with NFC, means Android Pay is supported. The sensor worked well in our quick tests. It’s a shame Android 6.0 is installed, which is well behind the latest software version, but the security patch was listed as January 2017.

We can’t judge the camera yet. It takes pictures at 12 megapixels, and has a large pixel size for better low-light performance. The software, which is Vertu’s own, was fast to react and the app has a handy shortcut. Press the sleep/wake key twice, and it opens instantly even when the phone is locked.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Vertu will put the Constellation on sale in mid-February, but the price is still to be announced. While it’ll be cheaper than the New Signature Touch, we’d expect a budget of at least $6,000 will be required. Yes, all the same old arguments apply. Yes, you can get more technology for less, but you won’t get even close to the degree of luxury and air of exclusivity provided by a Vertu phone.

More: Our review of the Vertu Aster

It’s beautifully made, feels strong as an ox, and we adore the more subtle design and styling. It’s a Vertu phone for every day, but that said, we’re a little concerned some of the Vertu character has been lost with the Constellation, and that it won’t feel quite so special to use. The New Signature Touch gives you the full Vertu experience, while the Constellation eases you into the company’s exclusive, luxury tech world much more gently.

Highs

• Beautifully styled
• Bullet-proof build quality
• High-resolution screen
• Concierge service included

Lows

• Old version of Android
• Behind the tech curve
• Special Vertu touches missing

Google’s experimental Hands Free service ends; wider release may follow

Why it matters to you

Although Hands Free is over for the moment, the future of payment using your voice is just around the corner.

Hands Free, Google’s, well, hands-free method of mobile payment, is riding off into the sunset. The service, which launched in March exclusively in South Bay, California, will be shut down on February 8 — though the company is reassuring users that this likely won’t be the last they hear of it.

According to the website, Google is now working “to bring the best of the Hands Free technology to even more people and stores,” which hints that aspects could make their way to Android Pay down the line. Hands Free worked nothing like Google’s flagship payment platform, as it utilized a combination of Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, location detection, and voice commands to function, instead of merely NFC.

More: Google’s Hands Free app lets you keep your phone in the pocket at the cashier

Thus Hands Free was quite complicated under the surface, but theoretically simple in practice. Once the phone determined it was in a supported retailer, it would listen for a triggering command, like “I’ll pay with Google.” The clerk on the other side of the counter would verify the user’s photo ID that they uploaded themselves through the Hands Free app, and the deal was done.

Google was pushing Hands Free quietly, and locally. Last July, it encouraged individuals to try the experimental service through a promotion with McDonald’s, where customers could get a free meal at one of the fast-food chain’s 47 restaurants in San Jose, California.

At the time, Google said it was working on ways to speed up the identification process — namely, using in-store cameras to automatically verify users’ appearance and keeping their credit card data on file for instant transactions. While that may have been too invasive for some, Google stipulated at the time that all data kept by Hands Free terminals was sandboxed from its own servers as well as those of the merchant, and deleted immediately post-purchase.

On the Hands Free website, Google says it has “learned so much from [its] early adopters” since launching the service last spring, and invites users to “enjoy quick, easy checkout with Android Pay” as it prepares the next step.

WordPress fixes huge security vulnerability, all users instructed to update

Why it matters to you

Millions of websites large and small are built with WordPress, and users who ignore this update run the risk of a severe security breach.

A serious zero-day vulnerability has been discovered in WordPress, and fixed as of its most recent stable release. All WordPress users are encouraged to make sure that they have updated their installation to version 4.7.2, as otherwise their site could be hijacked.

It’s thought that the exploit could give attackers the ability to modify the content on any post or page that’s part of a site built with WordPress, as per a report from Tripwire. Obviously, this lends itself to garden variety vandalism, but there’s also the threat of a much more troubling form of attack.

The vulnerability could be used to introduce harmful links into otherwise benign content. These links could take users to sites that install malicious software on their computers, or even be utilized as one element of a larger phishing scam, using the WordPress site as cover.

More: WordPress brings encryption to 25 percent of the web

The problem was discovered by researchers at security firm Sucuri, which notified WordPress on January 20. The vulnerability was kept quiet at the time, because a fix had to be developed, and making the issue public could potentially have allowed malicious entities to take advantage.

Major WordPress hosting services and security companies were notified about the vulnerability ahead of its existence being disclosed to the public. Data from these organizations showed no indication that attackers had been able to exploit the issue.

However, now that the problem has been made public, it’s possible that criminal entities could use the vulnerability to target WordPress installations that aren’t up to date. Version 4.7.2 has been available since January 26, but users that don’t have automatic updates activated will need to initiate the process manually.

That means that if you have a WordPress site set up that you haven’t looked at in a while, it’s time to make sure it’s running version 4.7.2. It only takes a moment to check that you’re up to date — but if hackers manage to exploit this vulnerability on your site, you’re in for a much bigger headache.

Score 76 percent off this Anker Wireless Charging Pad — only $17 on Amazon

From offices to hotels one of the latest trends in standard electronics is wireless charging pads. It’s not that they’re brand new. It’s more that they’re convenient, eliminating the hassle of searching for a charging cord and base. Wireless charging pads range in price with most hovering around the $50 mark, but right now you can score an Anker Wireless Charging Pad on Amazon at a 76 percent discount, as the device is marked down to only $17 for a limited time.

The Anker Wireless Charging Pad is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge Google Nexus 4, 5, 6, and 7, LG G3, Optimus G Pro, HTC Droid DNA, 8X Motorola Droid Maxx, Droid Mini Nokia Lumia 920, 928, and 1020. The device provides a faster, and arguably safer, charge than your standard cord-and-plug charger.

More: 15 best wireless chargers to free yourself from cables

To use it, simply set any Qi-enabled (or equipped with a Qi-compatible cover) mobile device onto the pad and charging begins. To get an even quicker charge, you’ll want to remove any nonessential protective covers. An anti-stick rubber coating is included to make sure your mobile device stays put on the charger, preventing any breakage from accidentally knocking into the charger or your mobile device during charging.

The charging pad features an LED charging pad indicator that displays when the charger is ready to charge with a red light, is currently charging with a blue light, has completed a charge with a both red and blue lights illuminated, and when a device isn’t supported, in which case the LED lights will begin blinking.

With smart temperature controls that activate at 107 degrees, you can walk away knowing the charger won’t overheat or cause damage to your mobile device. Additionally, the smart temperature controls help to ensure no energy is wasted with the built-in idle mode. The slick, modern-looking charger is buttonless and compact, so it seamlessly blends into any desk or nightstand setup.

The Anker Wireless Charging Pad normally retails for $70, but right now you can purchase one for only $17 on Amazon, giving you a $53 discount.

$17 on Amazon

Nvidia now stops you from selling games tied with its hardware bundles

Why it matters to you

If you often resell game keys when you get them free with a new graphics card, you’re out of luck with Nvidia.

Nvidia announced that any new games it gives away with its graphics cards will not be allowed for resale moving forward. To combat that, it will be tying game codes to hardware, so whether you want to or not, trying to resell that key will not be viable.

One of the most popular ways to encourage gamers to buy the latest generation of graphics card, is to bundle a new game or two with them. Nvidia and AMD take part in that promotional system, but people don’t always play those games. Maybe they already own them or aren’t interested, but some would gift the game to friends, or sell the codes to help pay for their new hardware.

To make sure that doesn’t happen in the future, Nvidia’s GeForce Experience, where gamers must register the code, will perform a hardware check to see if they are using the card the game was given out with. As Ars Technica highlights, it’s not clear right now if the game will be connected to individual cards, or just the same product range — which would give a little wiggle room on the resale angle.

More: Nvidia GeForce Now gives PC and Mac users access to a cloud-based GTX 1080

However, game keys are also being region-locked, so you can’t register it elsewhere and your account will need to be of an appropriate age for the game in question.

All of this means that you will need your graphics card in place before trying to redeem the code. While this is likely to be the case for most buyers of new graphics cards, hopefully Nvidia makes this obvious at the point of redemption, as otherwise it could be faced with a few eager gamers unable to use their codes because they decided to register before installing the card.

As some have pointed out, this may not be a move designed to combat key resale but one that pushes people to install the GeForce Experience application. The app allows for quicker and easier driver updates, as well as in-game streaming and promotions.

Looking at Nvidia’s terms and conditions for its key bundles, it’s worth pointing out that if you already own a game with a promotion and it’s linked with the appropriate account on Steam, Uplay or Origin, you won’t receive one as part of your bundle. Make sure you take that into consideration when buying a new card.

Centrifugal food processor misses target on Kickstarter, will still enter production

Why it matters to you

The trend toward releasing home versions of devices previously restricted to professional use is on full display with this food-oriented centrifuge.

Centrifuges have all sorts of uses, including in high-end cuisine, where they can help produce oils, liqueurs, and purees, but they are traditionally rather expensive. The Spinzall was designed to fix all that and its creators launched a crowdfunding campaign for the device in November 2016. Unfortunately it didn’t quite meet its target, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to be made.

The Spinzall works in a similar manner to most centrifuges, whether they’re used for culinary reasons or otherwise. It spins up whatever liquid or puree you put in it so that its contents experience hundreds of times the standard force of gravity, forcing the denser particles to sink, while those of less density rise. This leads to a separation of mixtures, which is where you get all sorts of interesting concoctions.

While scientists or medical staff may use such a system to analyse parts of a person’s blood, when it comes to food, the firm that developed the Spinzall, Booker and Dax, wants people to make fancy vegetable oils or purees of their favorite fruits and vegetables.

More: Ready to change the way you cook? Four appliance trends from KBIS 2017

The point of the Spinzall is to bring this commercial-grade centrifugal technology into people’s home kitchens. Typically culinary centrifuges cost either thousands of dollars and are oversized for a home kitchen, or are too small to offer much in the way of liquid output. The Spinzall can process up to half a liter per batch and thanks to its pump tube system, that can be expanded exponentially.

Initially priced at $800 (for the non-early-bird version) on its crowdfunding page, the developers managed to sell 674 of them, but that wasn’t quite enough for it to hit its target of $700,000.

Fortunately though, the Chinese manufacturers have accepted a lower minimum order amount, so Booker and Dax is now able to offer the several hundred units it sold to consumers later this year as planned. The first orders were originally slated to be delivered at the end of July, though we’ve now been told that the developers are waiting to hear from the manufacturers as to whether that date may slip in light of the slightly lower number of orders.

We’ll need to wait and see if this goes on sale again in the future, but for now, getting hold of a Spinzall for everyone is a waiting game.