A new kind of sensory and storage experience Editor's take: The number of peripherals designed to release fragrances at computer desks is growing at a curious pace. To that end, Taiwanese company Apacer claims that external SSDs can provide an augmented sensory experience if a few drops of essential oil are applied to their surface. Asus introduced the Fragrance Mouse earlier this year, aiming to bring a fragrant, almost synesthetic experience to the otherwise metallic world of computers. Now, another Taiwanese manufacturer is embracing the same concept while adding a touch of environmental friendliness. Apacer claims the AS712 is the world's first SSD with an essential oil diffuser, designed for tech workers who deserve to dream of a more relaxed lifestyle while battling unreliable machines and confused corporate users. The portable solid-state drive comes with a fixed "cradle" and a diffuser stone, both made from sustainable materials includng natural bamboo and reservoir silt. While the cradle isn't strictly required – the SSD can connect to a PC via a USB-C cable – it is essential for getting the full sensory experience. [...]

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[–] 11 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

God this would be hell in an open office plan. It would drive me insane with just 1 of those but I imagine this company dreams of selling to as many “tech workers” as possible.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    How the hell is this better than "unreliable machines and confused corporate users"? Seems it's for nothing more than sneaking a diffuser into environments where it's rightly restricted. Every single time I'm feeling remotely okay with such non-sense...

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    This might be the dumbest product I've seen in a decade (excluding NFTs, of course).

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Someone's getting desperate for new ideas.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    We've kinda reached a point where no one has needed a new computer part for like 10 years excluding AAA gamers and video editors. Even then video games haven't really changed appearance very much they are just way more poorly optimized.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    Absolutely, we are coming out with new versions of RAM and PCI express and hardware that won't take advantage of those specks for years. I built a mid tier to slightly lower end pc in 2016, and it can still play most games at max for 1080, which is fine. I built a newer higher end one near the end of 2023, and I fully expect to use this for the next 10 years min. Gone are the days of innovation where year to year would bring something crazy. I like that. Buying something that won't be outdated in 3 years is perfectly fine by me.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    Wtf

    This smell shit is getting out of control. Already hard enough to find unscented shit now they pull this on computers? What the hell. This is stupid.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    If I wanted my PC parts covered in oily substances, I would just smoke inside.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    Sure why not

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  • 23 comments in c/nottheonion@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 24 points 1 year ago (9 children)

    Of all the shit nobody asked for.

    Well. At least it's not actively harmful like most things these days. (Cough COPILOT cough)

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  • [–] 13 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    One person asked for this. It has been an obsession of Adams' (PCWorld) since he started sniffing the exhaust of steam decks. There was one vendor at CES selling scented thermal paste. I find the whole thing hilarious.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    Quite disagree that it's harmless. Fragrances in the workplace are morally wrong (or at least kinda bad and should be discouraged). There is one hall near where I'm at that every desk has competing air fresheners and plug in stink bombs /shudder.

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  • [–] -2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Possibly harmful in the sense it promotes habit-forming rituals. But we're already addicted anyway, so maybe net zero effect other than brand loyalty

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Since when are habit and ritual innately harmful? You've genuinely got me curious.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    I didn't say it was innately harmful. If it's a feature no one asked for, there's a good chance marketing is taking a shot at getting you hooked on something beyond performance/functionality specs. So, an extreme opinion, but we are surrounded by addictive designs that extend beyond the expected functionality.

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  • [–] 12 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Add it to your waifu build with the scented GPU.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    I never thought I'd want a waifu build, but I want that graphics card now. Can we have lilac fragrance? More of a giant bush than a flower in most gardens I've seen it in, but it's one of my favourite smells. I think I'm planting lilacs next year.

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  • [–] 11 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    This feels particularly old-school in the category of nonsense accessories for your computer lol. Like I'd see it at a local surplus store with a label telling me it's "Windows ME" compatible

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Thus seems like one of those engineering decisions that make you question if some people have a different model of physics and chemistry.

    You're going to use CASES of contact cleanet if anything goes wrong and cans when they go right.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I'd have thought the essential oil diffuser should be part of the video card so that it can release different fragrances depending on the colour palette of what's being displayed.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago*

    That definitely exists. GamersNexus did a review of a card from (I think it was) Yeston a few months back that was covered in waifus and emitted an Ocean™ scent

    Oh thepantser posted an image of it a few comments down lol

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    it smells like we can't compete and run out of ideas

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    Overheating is now a feature.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    It's strange, but not a terrible use for the excess heat a pc gives off I guess.

    Seems like the kind of thing you'd find as a random 5.25" bay accessory though (where a dvd drive would go).

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    Could you not just sit a little sponge on the warm top of the unit and add a drop of fragrance now and then?

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  • 5 comments in c/hardware@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 9 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

    They already smell nice (at least when they're new). Gotta sniff that factory new scent.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    Can it be as bad as adding AI to everything?

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    If it smells too nice, too fast, know that something is burning.

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  • I don't know why but for some reason this makes me think of one guy like 18 years ago who sprayed the motherboard of his Compaq desktop with WD-40 because "it was runnin' slow" and then brought it to me when that didn't fix it.

    I gave the motherboard a nice bath in electronics cleaner and replaced the hard drive (which was the actual problem). That PC definitely had a 'nice' smell afterwards.

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