Check-splitter by Google
22-10-2013
A group of Google employees have applied for a patent that describes a process for splitting bill. This application might indicate the development of an app where (restaurant) bills can be divided easily and mobile payments are tracked automatically.
Is this the solution for ‘Going Dutch’ in restaurants, or just an unnecessary gadget?
Clean and safe drinking water by Coca Cola
18-10-2013
More than 1 billion people don’t have access to safe drinking water and more than 2.5 billion to adequate sanitation, making billions of people around the world vulnerable to disease. To help these people, Coca Cola started a pilot from the project EKOCENTER™ in South Africa, in collaboration with DEKA R&D and other partners. EKOCENTER™ is a small kiosk made of containers and offers clean and safe drinking water to the local population. The kiosk also offers other services like wireless communications, electricity, vaccination storage and more. The goals is to open around 1,500 to 2,000 EKOCENTERS™ in 2015 in Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America to provide clean and safe drinking water to developing countries. The EKOCENTERS or ‘Downtown in a box’ provided with the Slingshot water purification systems will be managed by local women entrepreneurs.
Algae bubbles filled with syrup
17-10-2013
The German company Döhler has introduced bubbles based on algae at the Anuga fair in Cologne which can be used in dairy drinks or as a topping for ice cream. The tapioca pearls, we all know are made from starch and a bit hard, the bubbles created from algae are softer in texture and take the flavor of the syrup. These bubbles burst in the mouth causing more syrup to be released. They were developed in the flavors mango, strawberry and raspberry. Döhler Holland is currently looking for distribution partners to deliver the bubbles to the hospitality industry.
Watch movies on a smartphone during your flight
20-9-2013
The airline Virgin Australia has developed a new app that allows passengers to view movies and programs directly from their smartphone, laptop or tablet during a flight. Before the airplane leaves, passengers can download the app from iTunes or Google Play and get access for 300 hours movies and programs of Virgin Australia. At this moment the app is tested at 37 airplanes, both domestic and international flights.
Cycling for an ice cream
17-9-2013
At the ice cream parlor Peddlers Creamery in Los Angeles, customers can make their own ice cream by cycling. The ice cream parlor sells both dairy and non-dairy organic ice cream, made of local sustainable products. Instead of using electricity to make an ice cream, the motor is connected to the bicycle device that uses the energy to churn the ice cream. Customers can contribute to the production of their own ice cream. The focus at Peddlers Creamery is on sustainability, environmental friendly and local products.
McDonald’s mobile order app
16-9-2013
McDonald’s is testing a mobile order app. Customers can use the app to place an order and pay through their phone. The order can be picked up at the drive through or in the shop. The app provides special offers and a loyalty program. With the app McDonald’s wants to offer more convenience to place an order. At this moment the application is tested in Salt Lake City.
Android KitKat
12-9-2013
Google has launched the latest version of the Android mobile operating system in collaboration with Nestlé, named the ‘Android KitKat’. In 2009 Google started to give their new releases of mobile platforms names of sweet treats in alphabetical order. Like the ‘Android Cupcake’ in 2009 to the latest version ‘Android Jelly Bean’. Recently they introduced the ‘Android KitKat’. To celebrate the launch of the new ‘Android KitKat’ there will be a special KitKat bar in a Android package sold in 19 markets over the world. This package will bring the consumer to the android.com/kitkat website where they can win prizes. Watch the video about the Android KitKat here.
Smart Lid
9-9-2013
The ‘Smart Lid’ is a special disposable lid that indicates when a drink is too hot to drink. The Smart Lid slowly changes from a red color into a dark red color when the drink cools, so it is the right temperature to drink (under 48 Celsius degrees). The lid prevents people from burning their mouth and hands to the drink. Very useful for restaurants and cafés that sell take-away beverages.
Zeppelin hotel
9-9-2013
The Swiss architect Fredy Isela is planning to build a gigantic zeppelin hotel. This zeppelin hotel will be build on four piles of 30 meters high. The hotel should be 236 meters long, six floors and will have 500 suites. The hotel will also have several restaurants, a spa, conference rooms, shops and some luxury apartments. The hotel will be fully sustainable. The project will costs approximately 200 million euro, investors are still being searched.
Beer tap with built-in spray tap
6-9-2013
Through Twitter Café Valentijn (Schiedam, The Netherlands) told us about their special beer tap of InBev. The beer tap has a built-in spray tap, so the glasses can be rinsed quickly and easily. Café Valentijn is one of the first in the Netherlands that will use this installation. We wish them a lot of fun and succes with the opening on September the 12th.