iCufflinks
For geeks with Bond-esque style, Adafruit Industries have created iCufflinks. They're electronic cufflinks crafted out of machined aluminum with the standby or power symbol, International Electrotechnical Commission 5009, engraved on it.

That symbol, better known as the Power Button Logo on Macs, doesn't just light up on the iCufflink; it pulses like the sleep indicator on recent Macs.

The company didn't just emulate any pulsing LED, either. Adafruit reverse engineered Apple's sleep indicator, a technology Apple actually patented. Apple found that the by mimicking human breathing for their sleep indicator, it was more "psychologically appealing and superior" to other waveforms.


The iCufflinks are currently sold out due to initial demand, but Adafruit hopes to have more in stock soon. They are available from Adafruit's online store for $128. The cufflinks are also open-source with source code, circuit board files and schematics published online.

Top Rated Comments

Helghast Avatar
186 months ago
Spinning basketball of death cufflinks would have been way cooler

Spinning beach ball of death? Never seen it called basketball of death before.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TMar Avatar
186 months ago
what the hell is a cuff link?!?
EDIT:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cufflink (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cufflink)
OK.... That's weird.

You can't seriously not know what cuff links are...
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dawnrazor Avatar
186 months ago
Spinning basketball of death cufflinks would have been way cooler
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsmurf Avatar
186 months ago
Spinning beach ball of death? Never seen it called basketball of death before.

New in Lion.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
42streetsdown Avatar
186 months ago
I do not know about you all but my Dell from 2006 has the same p[power button on the tower and the monitor. I believe this design is not exclusive to Apple but may be universal for moist computers

the symbol isn't unique, but the aluminum plus pulsing light is very apple.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Anonymous Freak Avatar
186 months ago

The company didn't just emulate any pulsing LED, either. Adafruit reverse engineered (http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2010/08/26/reverse-engineering-the-mac-breathing-led-2/) Applessleep indicator, a technology Apple actually patented (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6658577.PN.&OS=PN/6658577&RS=PN/6658577).

So, uh... I hope they licensed it from Apple, if Apple patented it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Coming Next Week: Eight Reasons to Upgrade

Thursday September 4, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023. By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...