Easily digestible tech news... http://www.techdirt.com/ en-us http://www.techdirt.com/images/td-88x31.gifhttp://www.techdirt.com/ Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:00:00 PST Michael Ho http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100624/0917379947/dailydirt-cool-food-packaging-designs.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100624/0917379947/dailydirt-cool-food-packaging-designs.shtml Dhamra Initiative rations. Here are just a few examples of some interesting packaging designs that probably aren't going to hit the store shelves anytime soon, but it'd be cool if they did.

• If you've ever tried to reach into a Pringles can for the last chip, there's a better can design that transforms a can into a bowl for easier snacking. Once you pop, you can't stop -- because turning the bowl back into a can is like re-folding a map.... [url]
• WikiCells have nothing to do with anyone being able to edit a spreadsheet. WikiCells are a strangely-named form of food packaging that consists of an edible membrane filled with some kind of nutritious liquid or emulsion or foam or solid food substance. All the cool kids will be eating these in the future, but some people will wonder why we don't just eat fruit. [url]
• Really old soda cans had pull tabs that came off and posed a choking hazard. Current aluminum cans have push in tabs that are slightly better, but now there's an even better design (called a 'smart tab') that lets you re-close the can. Still, an even better design would prevent your soda from losing its carbonation, so watch out for the 'smarter tab' someday. [url]

If you'd like to read more awesome and interesting stuff, check out this unrelated (but not entirely random!) Techdirt post.

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]]> urls-we-dig-up http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20100624/0917379947 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:00:00 PDT Michael Ho http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110908/23434515858/dailydirt-nicer-packaging-stuff-we-eat.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110908/23434515858/dailydirt-nicer-packaging-stuff-we-eat.shtml

It took three years to develop a successor to the ubiquitous ketchup packet. Maybe they should have also designed ketchup dispensers for mini-vans that just attach to the back of the headrests. [url]

Someday kids won't know what a cereal box is -- because cereal will come in bags? And while cereal makers are trying to improve their packaging, how about making those bags compostable, too? [url]

Compostable packaging is supposed to degrade. This seems like a job for Mythbusters, but it would take some patience to verify that a SunChips bag actually decomposes over 13 weeks. [url]

To discover more food-related links, check out what's floating around in StumbleUpon. [url]  

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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]]> urls-we-dig-up http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20110908/23434515858 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:00:00 PDT Michael Ho http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090112/0801423370/dailydirt-all-little-things.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090112/0801423370/dailydirt-all-little-things.shtml

PUMA is selling shoes without a shoe box. The Clever Little Bag saves all kinds of energy and pollution, but does it really sell more shoes? [url]

Real wine enthusiasts probably aren't going to take a picture of a security code to make sure their wines are authentic. Call me when there's an iPhone app for isotope analysis... [url]

The illusion of cleanliness or freshness is a popular marketing gimmick. Everything seems fresher if you put a picture of a fruit on it. [url]

To discover more interesting advertising-related content, check out what's floating around on StumbleUpon. [url]  

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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]]> urls-we-dig-up http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20090112/0801423370 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:00:00 PDT Michael Ho http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110523/17135614403/dailydirt-food-fights.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110523/17135614403/dailydirt-food-fights.shtml

Food allergies seem to be on the rise for children in the US. But it's not clear if there's a cause for the survey results that show this trend. [url]

Globally, food is being wasted at an incredible rate -- at about 1.3 billion tons every year. Not surprisingly, the developed world throws away "edible food" while the developing world wastes food via poor infrastructure in harvesting, processing and distribution. [url]

Recycled cardboard for cereal boxes is getting some negative publicity for possibly containing toxic oils that could leach into food. Some cereal makers might switch to cereal bags like the kind potato chips are sold in... [url]

To discover more food-related links, check out what's floating around in StumbleUpon. [url]  

By the way, StumbleUpon can also recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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]]> urls-we-dig-up http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20110523/17135614403 Thu, 2 Dec 2010 02:09:20 PST Mike Masnick http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101201/00014612071/more-extremely-silly-trademark-lawsuits-mars-vs-hershey-over-totally-different-looking-wrappers.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101201/00014612071/more-extremely-silly-trademark-lawsuits-mars-vs-hershey-over-totally-different-looking-wrappers.shtml ton of people have been submitting variations on this story of how candy company Hershey is suing candy company Mars, claiming that Mars' new Dove brand of chocolate and peanut butter candies has packaging that looks too much like Hershey's Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Most of the stories I saw didn't have any actual images to show, but the link here has the following two images: And, similar to the recent legal spat we covered concerning beer cans, the wrappers look like they have two totally different designs. Given both of these cases happened in such close proximity, it does make you wonder if consumer goods companies are getting much more aggressive in trying to claim any package that has some incredibly superficial similarities now represents trademark infringement.

Update: As pointed out in the comments, Hershey's has a couple of newer packages that do appear a bit more similar, but still pretty different:

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]]> you-put-your-chocolate-in-my-trademark-lawyer http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20101201/00014612071 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:11:17 PST Mike Masnick http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20081117/0127152848.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20081117/0127152848.shtml more customer-friendly packaging -- specifically moving away from those impossible to open plastic clamshell bubble packs that have a way of encouraging excessive swearing (and injuries) from consumers trying to open them. The good news, however, is that many retailers and manufacturers all agree that it's time to end that practice and to move towards more reasonable packaging solutions. It's about time.

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]]> about-time http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20081117/0127152848 Tue, 4 Nov 2008 06:13:00 PST Mike Masnick http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20081103/1825162729.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20081103/1825162729.shtml This Holiday Season, All I Want Is A Package That Opens Easily, noting how annoying some consumer packaging is. We were especially critical of the so-called "blister packs" or plastic clamshell packaging that is a source of not just frustration, but injuries to many as they struggle to open them. Apparently, Amazon has finally decided it's time to do something about this and has announced a new initiative for "frustration-free packaging." As Jeff Nolan notes, this is an example of a company recognizing that what's good for customers is good for the company.

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]]> customer-friendly-policies http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20081103/1825162729 Thu, 4 Sep 2008 18:08:00 PDT Mike Masnick http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080904/0420312168.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080904/0420312168.shtml huge box with the actual laptop suspended in a styrofoam suspension system. More recently, I've seen laptops coming in much smaller boxes. However, Wal-Mart and HP have apparently decided to try ditching most of the packaging altogether, and letting you walk out with your new laptop in a messenger bag, rather than a box. Yes, there are still boxes from when the machines are shipped from HP to Wal-Mart, but the company can now fit 3 laptops to a box, significantly reducing packaging and making life easier on customers in the long run.

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]]> about-time http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20080904/0420312168