NarcisMirandes

Ember recently launched a Cold Tumbler—a $150 smart cup that keeps drinks cold for hours. I like the concept but am surprised by its plasticky look and feel.

At this price, I expected premium materials: ceramic, stainless steel, or even glass. But after looking deeper, I realized there are technical reasons for Ember’s material choice—especially around wireless charging, signal interference, insulation, and safety.

For example: - Metal can block inductive charging and Bluetooth - Glass is risky for portable use - Stainless steel conducts cold (bad for lips), adds weight - Plastic (especially Tritan) is safer, lighter, and non-conductive

Ember actually does use ceramic coating in other products (like their Mug²), so the downgrade in feel here is noticeable. Still, it seems they optimized for function, not feel.

Strangely, there’s almost no competition at the premium level in this category. Most smart drinkware goes cheap and gimmicky. Ember is nearly alone in combining tech + aesthetics—yet even they didn’t go all the way with materials here.

To see the product: www.ember.com

Curious what others think: Is there room for a truly premium, materials-first smart cup? Or is this the necessary tradeoff when combining tech, insulation, and portability?

I like the the MacBook Pro. I have to decide about the color and want to know about the experience of people who have it.

- Is that color painted, or does all the aluminum have the same black color? When there is a small scratch, perhaps around the connectors, do you see the natural aluminum behind it?

- Do you have any regrets about fingerprints or other problems? If you had to repurchase it, would you choose that color again?

On the website, it says: "Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses." https://about.meta.com

This sounds very generic to me.

In an interview, Mark says he wants Meta to be the most important AI company. So, it is now an AI company? That is confusing. AI is the goal, not an instrument to reach another goal.

What is Meta? How would you define it?

What are your favorites? We can talk about some of the last batches or in the whole story of YCombinator. It is also interesting make any comment about projects in Show HN

It seems like an innocent question, but it is not so clear if you think about it. Some will say it is a chip "designer," but Jensen Huang probably will not agree, and he will say it is much more than that.

With all the last changes, how would you define Nvidia?

What are your favorite books on entrepreneurship and business? Books that helped in your project directly or indirectly

We can use the Apple Vision Pro as an external display for your Mac. If I understand the comments from people who have tried it, it seems that it is okay to use it occasionally, but it cannot substitute the Studio Display or the Pro Display XDR. Do you think that future improvements could make the Vision Pro a good alternative to conventional displays? What would you prioritize?

I absolutely love this display. I do not have one, but I dream about it. If you have one, what do you use and like as a camera for video conferences? If you are like me and enjoy considering the possibility of having it, what would be your ideal option?

Some products that I consider: 1- The iPhone. Is this enough as the only option? Have you any problems if you tried? I want your opinions 2- Opal. $300. Beautiful design and the appeal of a small project. Mix reviews. Please give your opinion if you have this https://opalcamera.com/ 3- Logitech. $200. Perhaps the best rational option. But I do not like it. The look and feel do not fit with Apple and much less with one of the most sophisticated and expensive products of the brand. www.logitech.com/en-us/products/webcams/4k-pro-magnetic-webcam.960-001292.html 4- Any other possibility?

Tell me about a project where HN had a big part in their success. For me, success is when a group of people pay for a product or service over a stable period. This group could be a small, specialized group.

Compared to other cheaper options, the Apple products has noticeably bigger bezels. It has fantastic design, build quality, sound, and image but bigger bezels. Why is that? Is there any technical reason? Has Apple had to compromise between those features?

I would love to have a MacBook Pro with M3 Pro chip. But is it reasonable to work with an Air M3, 512 SSD, and 16 RAM? I want to use it regularly with Xcode.