Brando intros beefed up USB can cooler / warmer

Brando's previous attempt at cranking out a sufficient USB drink chiller / warmer was certainly commendable, but the excessive amount of exposure to the air left us desiring a more effective solution. Not one to disappoint, the company has indeed unveiled a new edition, complete with a wraparound design that totally submerges your canned beverage in a world of heat (or cold). This USB-powered gizmo even sports an in-line toggle switch to determine the temperature, and for just $32, how can you not consider this a road warrior must-have? More pics after the jump.

[Edward Townend @ Jul 14th 2007 5:50AM]

Now that looks more like a real can wamer/cooler.

[Streak @ Jul 14th 2007 5:54AM]

When do you ever come across a can of liquid you need to heat? I see how this would be a trivial feature to add from an engineering stand point, but it's basically useless for the user. Why possibly make this USB powered either, it's not like its something you'd want to plug into a laptop and use off the battery as heat pumps generally consume a significant amount of power (especially to effect fluids quickly enough to be worth bothering), and if your laptop is plugged in, you could obviously plug this in too. The cooling is neat though, I guess.

[sbrown @ Jul 14th 2007 6:06AM]

A can of soup!

[Streak @ Jul 14th 2007 6:12AM]

I thought of that, but that's not the right type of can. I belive that soup cans are generally smaller, and the air around it would prevent it from getting hot enough. Of course, if it did get hot enough, how would you remove it to eat it without further inconvenience?

[Dennis @ Jul 14th 2007 6:41AM]

In Asia they make canned coffee that people can buy warm or cold.

[mw @ Jul 14th 2007 9:38AM]

Its USB powered because otherwise the most expensive part of this is the AC/DC converter.

[tekdroid @ Jul 14th 2007 6:00AM]

a nice thermos seems a far better idea for keeping things warm. Not to mention it's wireless and easier to carry around.

Mmmmm...thermos. I feel like some hot tea now.

[Streak @ Jul 14th 2007 6:09AM]

Tea, why didn't I think of that?!
I agree a thmos is a much better idea, everything is better when it's wireless (I feel the need to make a fertility joke about radiation and heat, but I see no way of making it funny). Still I don't think I've ever run across tea in a can that wasn't meant to be drank cold (Iced Tea, as those in the know are calling it) although widespread adoption of this and similar devices could change that (It seems I've fallen into a cyclical hole, Oh dear!)

[yelohbird @ Jul 14th 2007 7:32PM]

Again, please realize that this device was made in Japan, which has various coffees and teas (milk teas, herbal teas, green teas) available in cans which can be served warm. In fact, many Asian 7-eleven's have warming cabinets (er..think of the opposite of a fridge) which allow customers to pick up a warm can in the morning.

[6453893 @ Jul 14th 2007 11:17PM]

@yelohbird

'Warm' has to be the understatement of this still very young century. On our trip to japan, I grabbed a coffee from a vending machine in Nakameguro, and it scalded my hand! I wonder if this can even heat up to those temperatures?

[MizuInOz @ Jul 14th 2007 6:41AM]

It uses a Peltier device to cool/heat - just change the flow of electrons. No big deal here. Nothing to see. Move on. Price point to amke your own... 10 bucks. Ahhhh the world of marketing and phoney news that you paid for putting on your website. Bleh!

[lassi @ Jul 14th 2007 11:45AM]

that it covers the can is a nice touch though..

maybe i should get one and switch the 226w pelt thats collecting dust into it(obviously no f'king way to run that one off usb)....

[Michael Leung @ Jul 14th 2007 6:46AM]

It seems like very interesting!

[Joe Smith @ Jul 14th 2007 9:41AM]

Ok, so it uses USB.
But, does it blend? and does it play doom?
Once you have a product that satisfies all three of these criteria, you'll have a winner.

[Richard Lamsdale @ Jul 14th 2007 10:31AM]

If I could fit a starbucks paper cup in there, the heating would be useful. Nothing worse than a cold latte.

[Brian @ Jul 14th 2007 10:48AM]

Could be a cheap mod for my car.

[linkman2004 @ Jul 14th 2007 1:29PM]

"A one that is not cold is hardly a one at all." - Strong Bad

[Luigi193 @ Jul 14th 2007 3:27PM]

awesome...no one likes a cold beverage!

[Luigi193 @ Jul 14th 2007 3:30PM]

Dangit, I mean no one likes a WARM beverage...

[BatteryAcid @ Jul 14th 2007 3:35PM]

But can it fit my super sized McDonald's cup?

Sweet, but I have a felling it won't be strong enough (as it is powered via USB).

PS. That is a sic Coke can.

[comet @ Jul 23rd 2007 12:03AM]

可做为水冷设备的冷凝器...