gadgets – Page 9 – DesignApplause

Carbon dioxide scrubber.

Jan 21, 2009

It is cool to be green these days, and David Keith and his team think the Carbon Dioxide Scrubber could be the next big thing. This device is supposed to capturing CO2 straight from the air and purify it, making our air much cleaner.

Also known as the eCO2, this personal scrubber unit aims to help an individual reduce or even erase his/her personal carbon footprint throughout the day. How does it do this? Fashioned after a futuristic looking wristwatch, it relies on kinetic energy to power it, pulling in air via intake vents to collect CO2 and expelling clean air through its exhaust vents. We wonder whether wearing five of these on each arm will help us offset more than our fair share of carbon footprint. As an added bonus, the eCO2 also doubles up as a timepiece, and we think it has plenty of potential when used with a Wii while you’re busy trying to knock your opponent out in Wii Boxing.

Designer: james kershaw & Chad Garn

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CONCEPT? — comment below.

ECCI TrackStar 6000

Jan 21, 2009

Speed freak racer controller. The ECCI TrackStar 6000 is simply the best PC steering wheel and pedal set available in the world. If you can afford it, you’ll never regret buying one.

We’re talking a two-tone leather steering wheel, fluid damped steering which emulate the feel of tyres on pavement, fine tuned customizable steering resistance, high precision USB electronics and a shock absorbing desk clamp. Matching pedals also available. That’s enough for us, we’re sold. Now where’s that copy of Colin McRae’s rally from 1992?

Unlike most wheels that are circular in grip section, the 6000 Talladega wheel is deeper than it is wide in frontal profile. This creates a more natural grip shape for the hand. The grip contour at the nine and three o’clock positions is ideally suited to actuate the close fitting shift paddles behind. Lock-to-lock road course racing is a snap, but it is large enough in diameter to offer the incremental control critical to oval
track racing.

An all-new breakthrough design, the 6000 features true automotive ergonomics with a top-pivoting hang down pedal mounting. This is mated with a heel rest offering a stable platform for pedal operation.

Unique to the new 6000, all critical pedal geometric relationships are fully adjustable to uniquely suit each user. These include: pedal angle from vertical; heel rest angle and distance from pedals; pedal height from heel rest; pedal to pedal lateral spacing; and individual pedal resistance rate.

Priced at USD$989 with the tricked-up 6000GT and clutch-pedal packing 6000GTS models at $1198 and $1398 respectively.

Producer: ECCI

Juice pack.

Oct 28, 2008

The All-New mophie ‘Juice Pack 3G’ is designed to more than double the time you can rock, talk, surf and send with your iPhone 3G

This is the first Apple certified ”Works With iPhone” attached battery in the world!

The Juice Pack is a rechargeable lithium polymer battery in the form of a non-slip, soft grip case. It extends the time that you can use your iPhone 3G in these ways (additional hours):

* Standby Time – Up to 350 hours
* Talk Time – Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 12 hours on 2G
* Internet Use – Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 7 hours on Wi-Fi
* Audio Playback – Up to 28 hours
* Video Playback – Up to 8 hours

via mophie

Apple Netbook(?)

Oct 23, 2008

Many people are trying to decipher the latest comments by Steve Jobs. The rumor out there now is a new product. Think MacBook Nano or iPhone Slate? Or is it the coming of the NetBook?

Remember, the iPhone was spotted online in Web traffic blogs. So many this is going to be the real deal.

Gizmodo hypothicizes what we might expect:

“Instead, if this is indeed a new unannounced Apple product, here in Gizmodo we are thinking about an iPhone HD with an updated 800 x 480 pixel display, probably coming in 2009. That resolution is something between the iPhone’s 480 x 320 pixels and MacBook’s 1280 x 800 pixels, which is completely reasonable: Other phones—like the HTC Touch HD—already have these ultra-sharp screens.”

Jobs says, “we don’t know how to build a sub-$500 computer that is not a piece of junk”, and this is believable. So rule out the computer. Maybe ramp up the iPhone to another level because Apple has sold more iPhones than computers this year.

“Although Apple said it sold more Macintosh computers than in any other quarter in the company’s history and more iPods than in any other non-holiday quarter, it is clear that the iPhone is quickly becoming its golden goose.

Sales of the iPhone accounted for 39 per cent of the roughly $7.9-billion (U.S.) in revenue Apple posted in the quarter.

Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., has now sold more than 13 million iPhones this year, easily eclipsing the company’s stated goal of selling 10 million in 2008. Apple raked in $1.14-billion in profit for the quarter, or $1.26 per diluted share.”

New York Times reporter, John Markoff, adds to the mystery with this bit of information:

“UPDATED: That would seem to confirm findings that a search engine company shared with me on condition that I not reveal its name: The company spotted Web visits from an unannounced Apple product with a display somewhere between an iPhone and a MacBook. Is it the iPhone 3.0 or the NetMac 1.0?”

Whatever. Expect Apple to introduce a “new category” product sooner than later.

via new york times new york times gizmodo report on business

Utilo lemon squeezer.

Oct 8, 2008

Value item: Here is an innovative, quirkly little product that may make a big (lemon) splash. The UTILO, Lemon Squeezer designed by Nicole Schaffert. Just insert spout into your lemon and squeeze for quick and easy seed-free juice. Made of stainless steel.

Producer: Blomus was established in 2001 to innovatively manufacture stainless steel items utilizing modern design. Blomus offers a great selection of kitchen accessories, fireplace accessories, bathroom accessories, office accessories and waste bins. Inspired by premiere European designers and created by German craftsmen, each and every Blomus product, whether a contemporary stainless steel mirror, kitchen accessories, bathroom hardware, bar and wine tools or a modern styled set of candle holders, Blomus offers only the finest quality of stainless steel kitchen accessories today.

Seen at allmodern.com

Google G1. Android.

Sep 24, 2008

Google offers up a new vision of computing and it isn’t about desktops or laptops. It’s mobile. The Google phone has arrived. The phone shots are T-Mobile’s G1. But this is a design resource and the phone is not our focus. It is the software named Android.

What is Android if you already haven’t heard?

On November 5th, 2007 leading technology and wireless companies came together to announce the future development of a truly open platform for all kinds of mobile devices – Android. Leading this development are Google Inc, T-Mobile, Intel, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola along with many other companies under the umbrella of the Open Handset Alliance – a global alliance between technology and mobile industry leaders.

The Open Handset Alliance’s common goal is to foster and develop a new breed of innovation for mobile devices allowing a far better user experience than today’s current mobile platforms. The OHA will provide a far greater degree of openess that will enable developers to work and collaborate in ways never before seen, Android will greatly improve and speed up the process in which new and innovative mobile services are development and made available to the end user.

The following screenshots will demonstrate the value – added of open source development and the first batch of applications.

BioWallet: Not all of the innovative apps are map based. BioWallet uses your phone’s camera as an iris scanner to lock down sensitive information like account numbers and passwords on your phone, or even the phone itself. Handwriting-based IDs can also be implemented, all processed on external servers and sent back to your phone with a pass/fail reading.

CompareEverywhere and GoCart: Both capture photos of product UPC codes to then tie into online databases for comparison pricing, product availability, and shopping list compilation.

Cab4me: Takes your current location and feeds it into a database of nation-wide cab companies, allowing you to order a cab pickup instantly with your current locations. Google Maps overlays also show areas of cities where you’re likely to hail a cab off the street.

So Google has followed Apple’s lead by introducing a completely innovative look to the mobile phone. We knew someone would. Apple and Google, you have our attention.

via gizmodo talkandroid google/android

iPhone. 2008 Creativity Award.

May 28, 2008

In a highly extraordinary example of creativity and high-design, the iPhone captures the 2008 Creativity Awards Grand Prize Winner. Why so unusual? This event is judged by the advertising community where ad campaigns and 30-second spots typically rule.

A POV from one of the judges: “The iPhone. Iconic design or iconic brand? Simply put Apple leads the way as an iconic brand, but importantly it uses iconic design to express this in everything it does. People often confuse the two, but Apple has both, and this is what makes it connect with niche emotional intensity to a mass global market. (more…)

Belkin. Conserve.

Mar 17, 2008

Here is a product to help your house go green. As you know, even when your giant plasma screen is dark it is not turned off. It’s never off but on standby silently sucking energy. Many other products to the same: the phone, phone charger, the stereo. A neat feature with this surge protector is it comes with a giant ON/OFF switch—that comes with a magnetic wall mount! As for why its good… two of the plugs are permanently on, where the rest of the plugs can be turned off with the giant switch to save energy.

Here is what Belkin says…

The new Belkin Conserve is an 8-outlet surge protector that makes it simple to eliminate wasteful standby power to your electronic devices, helping you reduce energy consumption, save money, and lower your overall impact on the environment. (more…)

Powerstick.

Mar 17, 2008

Simple idea that seems so obvious after it becomes available. A portable power source for your mobile devices.

Charge the Powerstick from any USB port anywhere, anytime; free yourself from wall sockets, converters, adapters and chargers. Travel overseas without converters or need for a power outlet.

Handy handy handy!

“Simplicity drives the purpose and form of the Ecosol Powerstick, . . . the Powerstick is ultra-portable . . . monitoring the Powerstick’s energy status is a breeze.” Core 77 via Powerstick

Macbook Air update 1.

Mar 3, 2008

Apparently, the Macbook Air is selling well enough to be unavailable in many stores and require a 5-7 day wait for online orders. Despite the high price, the super-thin laptop is often selling out the day a shipment arrives at an Apple Store according to research done by Ars Technica. Of course, without knowing just how many Macbook Airs Apple is manufacturing, this could just as easily be a case of Apple not making all too many in the first place, making demand seem higher than it really is. What do you guys think, have you seen lots of them out in the wild or is this just a case of distorted perceptions? (more…)