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October 29, 2007
Want A Black iPhone?
No I'm not going to give you run nor am I running a contest. Sorry to disappoint but if you're still interested then read on.
via MoCo Loco
CITIZEN is getting ready to sell a very limited edition all matte black iPhone. Matte black is the color of choice when it comes to all things Tobias Wong and his seal of approval will be monogrammed on every iPhone. I like to think of him as the opposite of Starck. CITIZEN doesn't mention whether or not these are unlocked phones but I assume they aren't. No word on pricing but the fact that there are only 50 should give you an idea of how uber expensive they'll be$2,000. Can you believe that sh*t?!?!>.
Posted by tranism at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
October 25, 2007
Manholes Making Sewers A Little Prettier
The next time you're in Japan, pay attention to sewer openings and manhole covers. It's easy to miss but you'll be glad if you stop because they're really nice.
No two manholes are the same with some depicting history while other are a bit more kawaii in nature. Regardless of design, they're intricate and are yet just one other fascinating tidbit about Japan.
And FYI, that is not a Swastika. That is a Buddhist symbol that was used long before the Nazis. In fact, many ancient cultures have used that symbol.
Check out this manhole flickr pool
via Pink Tentacle
Posted by tranism at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
i MIEV Sport, I Like It Now
When I first saw the Mitsubishi i MIEV, I immediately dismissed it. I'm tired of the cliche cab forward bubble car designs but now that I've had more time to ponder, I think I like it.
If you think about it, eventually most cars will sport cab forward proportions. We only need long hoods to house big engines but the advent of fuel cell and electrically powered motors has allowed miniaturization to really take hold. In the case of the i MIEV, the motors are in the wheels themselves. This leaves the entire frame of the car to be nothing but passenger and storage space. Mitsu is the only big automaker to continue pushing in-wheel motor designs and I hope they keep at it. The i MIEV looks quirky but damn those wheels are to die for! Hit the jump for pics.
via Autoblog
Posted by tranism at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 23, 2007
LEGOS I'd Totally Go For
I'm not as clever as I use to be and I blame age. When I was a kid LEGOS were a cinch. I would assemble all the pieces together just like the picture on the box with ease. Now that I'm 27 LEGOS seem like an engineering feat to me. It feels like work with little fun. Designer Jin Woo Han decided to change that with his Electric LEGOS.
He envisages a kit where interactive dioramas could be created simply by arranging and plugging in pieces onto a powered circuit board that looks like an ordinary LEGO piece. He uses the Simpsons as an example. Each piece contains clever but simple robotic components. If you place Homer and Marge on the board, they receive power thru the board, detect each other's presence and begin to interact. Throw Bart into the mix and the conversation totally changes. Pop in a TV set and things change again. You can imagine the endless possibilities with this kind of setup.
More pictures after the jump.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
October 12, 2007
Honda Shares Its Utopian Vision
If Honda's predictions of life in 2057 are correct, we're in for a doozy. Talk about a paradigm shift. But Honda is a company about changes and to adapt to this new life, Honda created the 124 concept.
Honda believes in the future, people will abandon cities for suburbs. The 124 concept is actually 4 cars communally shared between 4 owners. The cars can merge together to take advantage of HOV lanes. Each passenger is still in their own pod so you don't sacrifice privacy. Pretty radical huh? But what events take place between now and 2057 prompt such a different way of getting around? Hit the jump!
According to Honda:
In a fit of desperation back in 2025, the people of Earth decided to incinerate their overwhelming amount of garbage by hurtling it at the sun. Aside from freeing up new real estate that once was occupied by landfills, this solution also created sunlight that provides a lot more energy than it did back in 2007 with the added bonus of leather-like tans taking all of five minutes. This has made solar-powered vehicles a reality (finally!). Unfortunately, the municipal cost of launching trash into space means humanity is poor from paying exorbitant taxes. As such, a single family can only afford 1/4th of a real car and must travel in HOV lanes with strangers.
Posted by tranism at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
October 11, 2007
Aquatic Light Show
I saw a cool aquatic light show at Sea World but it has nothing on this concept by Seung-Jin Lee. His design calls for a series of floating tubes embedded with computer controlled LEDs. The entire installation floats on the ocean surface. You can add as many tubes as you want so essentially if you had the time and money, your canvas is only limited by the size of the oceans.
Man I bet this would look so hot from space. Somebody needs to string them all across the world and choreograph a global light dance. Ha! That'll give them aliens something to talk about. Hit the jump for another picture.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Shotgun Chair
The Fully Loaded chair is currently available for purchase but you better hurry. Designer Alexander Reh only made 30 of them.
The cool thing about this is the designer has taken materials outside the realm of its intended use and created something completely harmless. The chair is made from 450 .12 gauge shotgun shells which feel more like a massage chair when sat on. The brightly colors shells contrast the frame nicely giving it a modern feel. If you want one, contact Alexander Reh for pricing. Hit the jump for another picture.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 10, 2007
Split That Light
Here's a novel but cool idea - the Split Lantern designed by Kristian Aus. Tote it around like any regular 'ole lantern but when multiple lights are needed, just pull it apart. Nice indeed.
Posted by tranism at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
I'll Race You In One Of These
Toyota keeps pumpin' out those personal mobility concepts. First there was the i-Unit. Then there was the i-Swing. Now behold the latest, the i-Real.
It pretty much does what all its predecessors do except with each incarnation, expect more power, more energy efficiency, better controls, and in the case of the i-Real, close to production level build. The i-Real is sorta like a souped up Segway except you sit down. The tripod set wheels can spread to provide better road adhesion when traveling at high speeds or contract inwards and bring you up almost vertically for greater maneuverability.
Would you laugh if you saw me comin' down the street in one of these? More pictures after the jump.
Posted by tranism at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
If Lonely, Get A YABO
They've got robots for fighting, seniors, children; might as well design one for lonely people. Meet YABO, a robot with a permanent sweet disposition that expresses emotion thru a series of head turns, lights, sounds, and colors. YABO responds to your voice and touch via sensors galore. If that weren't enough, YABO also cleans the air and keeps it at the right temperature and humidity.
Umm, HELLO! I want one now.
Posted by tranism at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 9, 2007
Soft Squishy Honda PUYO
Honda unveiled its 2nd concept today in Tokyo called the PUYO. The concept eschews traditional sheet metal for a soft bodied gel-like substance which they claim is safer in collisions. The material is dense and strong but flexible enough to absorb more impact and because it doesn't crunch, is much easier to repair. The tiny wheels are pushed to the very far corners for stability and in doing so, allows the PUYO to spin 360º in place.
Now I know what you're thinking. It isn't very sporty looking but I would gladly give up sport for something with that much space inside. But if you REALLY need sportiness, check out those scissor wing doors. Kinda sporty right?
Another pic after the jump
Posted by tranism at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
October 8, 2007
Short On Workspace?
Go get you a CI Desk. Damn that was really bad grammar. It's basically a lapboard on steroids. You've got your work area, rest pad, and tons of storage all on wheels. When not in use, just close everything back up and use it as an end table. Not exactly sure when it'll be on the market but hopefully soon. I really need something like this.
via Treehugger
Posted by tranism at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
October 6, 2007
When Dyson And Issey Miyake Get Together
The Wind is created. Probably one of the most unexpected collaborations to form but definitely one of the most interesting - a clothing collection? We know Dyson as those cool $500+ vacuums that cleans like no nobody's business and Miyake to be Japan's most avant garde fashion designer. The end result is a collection called The Wind. Fashion inspired by every part of a Dyson vac, but built using Miyake's patented textile manufacturing processes and design chops. The year long exploration culminated in a theatrical fashion show with moving air tubs and fans blowing. Look at it not just as clothes, but as an art project that explores the possibilities of performance fabrics able to withstand the harshest elements on Earth.
Watch the promo video.
This is what a Dyson vac looks like broken down to its individual parts.
CEO of Dyson, James Dyson and Creative Director of Issey Miyake, Dai Fujiwara discuss initial concepts.
The Issey Miyake design team explores different textiles utilizing their patented APOC technology. This method of production creates clothes out of single tubes of cloth you just cut out when ready.
The inspiration and initial mock-ups.
Computer model of the catwalk design.
Building the catwalk.
The show, October 2 2007.
Posted by tranism at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 5, 2007
The Elephants Are Coming!
To celebrate Charles Eames' centennial, his family put together a little stop motion short starring the molded plywood elephant. You may have seen the elephant in magazines but they were never in stores, unless you have one of the imitation knock-offs. That's because Charles Eames never sent them into production after he designed them in 1945. To compliment the film, the elephants are now in production for a very limited run. Get 'em while they're hot!
Watch the short film here.
via Notcot
Posted by tranism at 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
100 Channels
Those nutty peeps over at artlebedev decided what we as TV watching mass consumers are missing is a remote that has as many buttons as there are channels. Thus the Pultius TV remote was born. I like the pretty colors and the minimalist design but one question. I technically have 250 channels. What then?
via Notcot
Posted by tranism at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
A Robot In A Car, Thanks Pivo2!
Nissan wants us to know the future is not only high-tech, but also extremely cute. The 2nd generation concept Pivo2 sure did turn heads and I mean literally.
Like the first generation, this car can maneuver into almost any spot because of its ability to turn 360º in place. What the second gen Pivo adds is a super cute R2D2-like robot on your dash. The robot not only helps you drive but also answers any questions you might have, like where the nearest Starbucks is. Seriously, I'll feel like Driving Miss Daisy, circa 2030 in this thing.
More pictures and video after the jump.
Posted by tranism at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
October 4, 2007
Now That's A Tonkalicious Suzuki
There's something about the Suzuki X-HEAD concept that makes me wanna relive my Tonkalicious glory days as a young lad pushing yellow trucks around. Everything from the cool grill to the matte charcoal tailgate is just fun to look at. Inside reminds me of the Toyota FJ Crusier except for the glowing LEDS and the X-MEN seat belts. I want one.
More pics after the jump.
Posted by tranism at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Scoopin Dog Poo
Oh thank baby Jebus and the crafty designer who created The Swoop. As anyone with a dog knows, picking up hot fresh poo is gross. The Swoop eliminates some of the grossness by making things a little less muss and fuss. You simply wrap a plastic bag around the claws which grabs the hot stinkin' poo and then turns the bag inside out. Genius, this is 10x better than the pooper scoopers in stores. I needs it now.
via Core77
Posted by tranism at 3:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
October 3, 2007
The Dream Door
I absolutely love this original take on the fold-up bed! Someone please turn this wonderful concept a reality, and get me one!
"This door will lead to anywhere you want."
Via Pan-Dan
Posted by twisted at 2:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)