The dash: wireless smart headphones. They’re Bluetooth in-ear headphones that also offer up performance tracking via in-built health and body sensors. With passive noise cancellation, pass-through audio transparency when you need it, and an ear bone transduction microphone, these really do seem like gadgets that take existing gadget real estate (everyone uses headphones at some point) and make the most out of it. Impressive concept, pitch and response. [ kickstarter ]
Mac turned 30 on 24 January. Few recall or know the rocky start that changed computing. The first public words from the Mac itself: ‘Never trust a computer you can’t lift.’ [ more ]
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Google Glass was really introduced without much thought to its use. Probably because it doesn’t have to worry making money out of the gate. As a result there are more skeptics than believers. 2014 should convert many to the promise of ‘enhanced POV real-time visualization’ that’s now in the marketplace. Example, I just discovered [ Recon Snow2 ]: Many, me, ski for the thrill derived from falling a little out of control but these glasses conjur up a different motivation to hit the slopes. Note the emphasis on motivation as in what motivates one to use a product. That’s why Glass is perfectly tied to fitness because fitness for many, me, requires a great deal of motivation, passion, competition and fun.
snow2
DesignApplause is not a fitness destination but folks, this is the last week of the year and we know how almost empty the health clubs are this week and then packed in January and February. By March much of the motivation to ‘work’ has moved on. But just maybe Glass will be a life-changer. Stay fit, my friends. Happy New Year.
[ glass ] [ trevor trowell ] [ glassfit ] #resolution14
The smartphone industry has provided all the now-inexpensive tech that is needed to go to the next level. What’s needed now is an adaptation of function and aesthetics. Creating smart gadgets that are wearable (good looking) will change real-time life as we know it and it’s here now.
[ shine fitness tracker ]
Shine creator Sonny Vu has pushed the envelope in this category. Shine does aspire and inspires. If you can do this to one category, we don’t have to say much more than that. [ misfit wearables ]
[ galaxy gear ]
The Samsung Galaxy Gear is a watch. You can customize the way it looks and how it tells you the time with several face options and the choice of ten pre-loaded clock types. So far so good. But what makes it smart? It notifies users of incoming messages, such as calls, texts, emails and alerts, delivers a preview of those messages and creates the opportunity for users to accept or discreetly ignore those messages.
In the past, some have seen Samsung’s design as plasticky and cheap, the Samsung Galaxy Gear is not. With an aluminum face and a rubber wrist-strap, it feels much more premium than the Pebble. It’s not small, with a 1.63-inch screen, 11.1mm thickness and a width of 36.8mm, some would call it chunky, but we don’t mind that in a watch.
galaxy 2 rumored to be released in spring 2014
[ recon snow2 ]
Recon Instruments, behind the world’s first consumer Heads-up Displays (HUD) for sports, has introduced the fourth generation of their heads up display for skiers and snowboarders, the Recon Snow2. As with previous versions of Recon’s snow HUD, Snow2 has been designed to work with goggles from the world’s leading manufacturers including Oakley, Smith, Scott, Uvex, Alpina, Briko and Zeal. The Snow2 is also available for sale as a stand-alone unit. You can go to the company website and at Apple.com and in Apple retail stores worldwide in partnership with Oakley and specialty ski and snowboard retailers in partnership with Smith, Oakley and Zeal.
for bikers there’s also reconjet
bodoni | tibor kalman
[ Projects ] Watches designed by renowned architects and graphic designers, iconic in design and recognizable worldwide. [ guggenheim ]
past present & future | daniel will-harris
reveal | daniel will-harris
reveal | daniel will-harris
till | daniel will-harris
witherspoon | michael graves
metro | rod dyer | 2012
I seldom lose a pen if it’s extra special. That’s one reason I love Acme Studios pens. And they seem to magically appear on special occasions. ACME Studios was founded in Los Angeles in 1985 by Adrian Olabuenaga and his wife, Lesley Bailey. Their roots quickly start with Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis Group. You can find Acme Studios products all over the world. Here’s five of my favorites. [ acme studios ] [ store locator ]
smudge stick | peter shire |
candy stripe | lella vignelli* | 2012 | *the original stiletto pen shape designed by johanna grawunder in 2007
linear | michele de lucchi |
eco pen | adrian olabuenaga | 2011
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about ron kovach
[ acme studios ] [ store locator ]
image: google/ matthew cruickshank
In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, Google London adds the Tardis to Google Street View. And 4,000 fans petition for a Doctor Who Google Doodle. WHO Wooda Thought: Google unveils its largest ever doodle. First episode: 23 November 1963. Tonight [ USA 9/8C ] #SaveTheDay
image: google/ matthew cruickshank
the designer: matthew cruickshank WHOse full-time job is leading a team designing doodles. [ full story > the guardian ]
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Here is something new from the designer(*) of the Nest thermostat. Meet the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. Burned the toast? Nest Protect won’t just start yelling at you. Before turning on a loud, howling alarm, Nest Protect gives you an early warning we call Heads-Up. Nest Protect lights up yellow and speaks with a human voice. It tells you where smoke is or when carbon monoxide levels are rising. This gives you an earlier warning if there’s an emergency, or allows you to silence Nest Protect if it’s just a nuisance alarm, like an overly enthusiastic toaster.
AND Silence alarms with a wave. No more frantically swinging towels at the smoke alarm to quiet it down. If there’s a nuisance alarm, just stand under Nest Protect and wave your arm to hush the alert. It does a lot more [ details ] Starting in November available for pre-order and will be available in 5,000 stores across the United States and Canada.
(*)Tony Fadell, 44, who turned his frustration with “unloved” domestic products into a mandate to “make them smart and save lives,.” Tony is now the chief of Nest. At Apple he led the team that created Apple’s original iPod and iPhone,
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europe closely watching u.s.inflight electronics approvals. faa finding many currently flaunt rules with no consequences. via guardian [RK]
motorola pins its hopes on being modular. project ara is betting on consumers who like to tinker. via washington post [RK]
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