The XP-38 Vid-Pod is the newest generation of the vid-pod device. Released in 2508 to critical acclaim, sales of the XP-38 were driven primarily by its enhanced array of features. Among them were:

1. a proto-plasma tube array for high-definition holographic content;
2. a standard light percolator for transmissions made under any challenging light conditions;
3. VibraBoss® waveform technology for transmissions made under any challenging sound conditions;
4. sonar-laser scanning for emergency medical diagnoses
5. A legal clause that guarantees the XP-38 Vid-Pod will not be obsolete for at least three cycles

Released in 2506 to critical acclaim, sales of the XP-35 Vid-Pod were driven primarily by its enhanced array of features. Among them were:

1. NightVision® for transmissions made in low light levels;
2. A standard invertoscope for transmissions made in low gravity environments;
3. Kelior® audio and video, allowing the user to block out other users and receiving devices from either hearing or seeing your feed;
4. X-ray scanning for emergency medical diagnoses;
5. A bright red button that should not be pressed.

Though they only recently became a dietary staple, food cubes have been in existence for nearly three millennia. Invented by an unknown Chinese cook, they were originally called tofu but over time became known as tofu cubes, ‘fu cubes and finally food cubes. Made from curdled bean paste which has been injected with a vitamin solution, food cubes became a necessary dietary supplement when most solid foods were banned in 2275. Coupled with the liquids available from a DrinkPod Basic, no human need ever be undernourished again.

Food cubes are available in nine popular flavors – chocolate, butterscotch, peanut, almond, coconut, salamaroni (with or without chongo), all dressed and musk – and one not-so-popular flavor – plain.

The XP-18 Vid-Pod is a weathered generation of the vid-pod device. Released in 2450 to incredible hype, its initial success was in large part due to the fact that it was packaged in multiple colors and came included with a cute but legally non-binding ownership certificate.

While it was a huge success by any measure, the XP-18 device was not without its flaws. After long periods of usage without maintenance, the XP-18’s memory core begins to experience storage entropy; the result – transmissions to or from the user may incur audio or video drop out, audio/video desynchronizing, color flares, decreased image resolution and memory blurring which can cause previous vid-pod entries to feedback into current entries. Eventually, the vid-pod will be unable to record any message longer than a few seconds. Then, the XP-18 will require replacement and upgrade to the most recent generation of vid-pod.

Though the XP-18 was the most basic of vid-pods, the unit’s distribution level was so high that some minimally managed stations still use this vid-pod as their communications method (in such remote places as Alice Springs and relatively unimportant parts of the Moon.)

The Van Allen Radiation Umbrella is not, as most humans believe, named after the ring of radiation that encircles the Earth. It was in fact named after Herbert Van Allen, the founder of the company that invented the device. That company is Van Allen Technocrati.

Though Herb died billions of quarter-seconds before his namesake was even conceived, he would have been proud to know that the development of the radiation umbrella was shrouded in as much secrecy as any of his company’s previous successes. The VARU is currently in widespread use on the surface of the moon and sales have increased on Earth wherever there has been the threat of an ozone outage.

The umbrella is designed to shield up to 2 meters around the user from harmful solar radiation in any negligible atmosphere environment. Some celebrity robots have even been spotted accessorizing with a VARU, including Cindy-6, Teflar-185 and classical oboist Toyfarm M-G-T.