Have you come across The Swap-O-Matic yet? It's a vending machine art project that travels around Brooklyn, allowing users to exchange goods without exchanging money. Its utopian sense of "value" is similar to websites like Thingheap—only with a neat retro '50s logo! Check out a promo video below. more ›

Last year school bake sales were out, and new healthy alternatives were brought in via vending machines. While there's a battle to actually give schools a cut of the proceeds going on in the background, the NY Post reports on the #1 selling items—like Sensible Foods roasted edamame, cinnamon pita chips and Kashi's Cherry Dark Chocolate granola bar. At the top of the list: a fresh pineapple spear on a push-up stick. Over 700 vending machines are now in place at middle and high schools around the city, selling only low-fat, low-sodium, whole grain snacks. Of course, after the bell rings they go home and eat spaghetti tacos. more ›

The first bike part vending machine in Williamsburg—and the first in NYC, for that matter—is now in service 24/7 on South Sixth Street. Stationed outside Baruch Herzfeld's Traif Bike Gesheft (Yiddish for non-kosher bike shop), the machine is stocked with bells ($2 to $10), locks ($5), inner tubes ($6), lights, bicycle tire patch kits ($2), pumps, brake pads, etc. Watch the maiden voyage of the machine, narrated by an exultant Herzfeld, below: more ›

Graffiti accessories have received the vending machine treatment! Animal reports that the "Smart Crew have come up with a great way to parlay their love of graffiti, piss off public paint hating politician Peter Vallone, and make some money in the process: vending machines that sell fat caps for spray paint." more ›

Why go to one of the many Apple stores in New York for your iPod when you can go to...Macy's? Racked is reporting that the department store is installing Apple vending machines, holding everything from iPods to Canon digital cameras to various accessories. (Perhaps the Macy's Pirate was looking to score some iPod booty in the Apple treasure chest last weekend.) more ›