Technabob » Design

Tiled Vespa Flower Pot Gives Plants a Ride to Nowhere

Conner Flynn — Sun, 27 May 2012 14:00:02 +0000

In general, it’s pretty hard to find a flower pot that stands out from the crowd. They all look the same to me. You can either go to Home Depot and get one like everyone else has, or if you happen to have a dead Vespa lying around you could always put some tiles on it and put a plant in it. Yeah, this is a much cooler flower pot than most.

It’s a great idea and a Vespa covered in tiles looks pretty awesome. It’s a work of art that is also functional, though no longer as a bike. Too bad they can’t take it on the road. It doesn’t run anymore. That’s why the people at Hotel Enfrente Arte took this ’55 Vespa, and gave it a classy makeover.

It would be awesome to see a tiled Vespa like this on the road though, plant or no plant.

[via Make: via Neatorama]

Thor Single Malt Scotch Whisky Will Help You Get Hammered

Conner Flynn — Sat, 26 May 2012 15:00:25 +0000

When you line up those shot glasses, prepare to shout, “By the power of Thor!” Is that a Thor saying? I haven’t read the comic in years. Anyway, if you want to drink like a mighty God, there is only one beverage that will quench your thirst.

This Thor single malt whisky comes from Highland Park, based in the Orkney Islands. Clearly, they saw a void in the superhero booze market and rushed to fill it with the Valhalla Collection. Thor’s hammer is nicely embossed on the bottle, which is cradled in a carved wooden display case that looks like the bow of a Nordic ship.

A bottle of the limited-edition whisky will cost you $245(USD) if you have a void in your liquor cabinet that needs to be filled with a the nectar of the Gods.

[via GeekAlerts via Thats Nerdalicious]

iPhone Idostand Swings Both Ways – Landscape and Portrait That Is

Range — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:40 +0000

The perfect iPhone stand is hard to find, especially since there are so many choices out there and not all of them are that versatile. That’s why industrial designer Allan Ospina developed the Idostand, which is basically a case that doubles as a stand, working in both portrait or landscape position.

The Idostand has two rotating arms that allow for the optimal positioning of your iPhone. There are no additional parts, and the case/stand has a hinged system that allow the arms to snap into place whenever they’re not in use. The case is minimal but does protect your phone as well. Hopefully, it won’t have some of the antenna interference issues that other metal cases have had, or the final design will be made out of another material.

The Idostand will soon be raising funds over on Kickstarter, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re interested in getting one.

[via designboom]

Medicine Jet Injector Less Painful, More Awesome than Needles

Lambert Varias — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:00:11 +0000

If Ian Hunter and his team at MIT have their way, the serial killers and torturers of the future will have one less tool to brandish and freak out their victims. Hunter and his colleagues have engineered a jet-injection system that can administer drugs with less pain and more accuracy compared to syringes and hypodermic needles. Hunter also engineered a formidable mustache.

The prototype injector uses an electromagnetic actuator to propel fluids at up to the speed of sound. I know that that actually sounds like more pain, but actually the injector’s nozzle is only about as wide as a mosquito’s proboscis, and mosquito bites are far lower in the pain scale compared to needle injections.

Another advantage of this device is that the velocity of the delivery of a drug can be adjusted by controlling the current applied to the actuator. Meaning it can ~~be turned into a weapon~~ be adjusted depending on a patient’s skin.

Head to MIT News to inject more data into your brain.

[via DVICE]

Marvel Should Steal This Avengers Helicarrier Blu-Ray Case Concept

Conner Flynn — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:32 +0000

Avengers is a massive box office hit, having already grossed over a billion dollars worldwide. People really love superhero flicks – so much so that some people are already thinking ahead to the Blu-Ray release. And for a hit movie like this, you know they are going to have a special collector’s edition.

Amazon.com already has a placeholder for a Limited Edition Collector’s Blu-ray Set which is rumoured to be a 6-10 disc set. Sadly it won’t be nearly as cool as this concept from Dave Delisle.

This is NOT official concept art for a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Avengers set, but this is everything we would want from such a set. Dave’s concept envisions a giant 26″ long model of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s flying Helicarrier, with storage for not just the current Avengers flick, but extra disc trays for future releases. In fact, Dave says the Helicarrier could hold somewhere between 30 and 50 discs when fully outfitted.

Each engine/wing would even snap off to provide access to a subset of the discs. If only this were the set that we were getting. Oh well, we can dream. Anyway, I’m sure this would cost a fortune. Still, I know that I would be willing to pay.

[via Geeks Are Sexy]

FYLM Foldable Speaker: Ultimate Portability

Range — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:00:50 +0000

Speakers come in all shapes, sizes and colors, but this is one of the first that I’ve seen that completely folds down flat, making it extremely portable, especially if that’s the kind of thing you need to share your tunes. FYLM is the perfect size to fit in a bag or notebook and it won’t take up much space.

FYLM unfolds and attaches to itself using a magnetic latch. It uses a film speaker that’s less than 0.25mm thick, allowing it to be a lot less cumbersome than other portable speakers. It’s supposed to deliver full and rich directional sound, but that claim needs to be tested. The FYLM speaker needs no battery, as it’s powered by your music device’s 3.5mm audio jack – which means it’s unlikely to be very loud.

It will come in several different colors, each with matching cables. It was created by the Design Affairs Studio. No price nor availability has yet been set as the product is still under development.

[via Looks Feels Works]

Quirky Ions Magnetic LED Lamp: Light Where You Need It

Lambert Varias — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:00:14 +0000

The problem with repairing stuff is that I don’t how to do it. But if there’s one thing I do know about repairing, it’s that whatever it is you’re working on is bound to be dimly lit. That’s why the world needs something like Ions, which are tiny magnetic LED lights. The world also needs stuff to not break, but I guess that’s beyond the scope of current technology.

Currently a mere concept, the geniuses behind Ions dream that their invention will have a magnetic base, a pivoting hinge and possibly a dimming function.

You can help make Ions a real product by going to ~~Kickstarter~~ Quirky and answering a short survey regarding its development.

[via Fancy]

Quirky Converge Docking Station: One Dock to Rule Them All

Range — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:00:45 +0000

How many mobile devices do you need to charge up every day? The answer is probably more than one, as most of us carry between 2 to 4 devices with us these days. Quirky’s new docking station takes care of juicing up to four devices at once. That’s convenient, since my own charging spots are all over my apartment.

The Converge has four USB outlets and the wires can be neatly tucked away thanks to its “Stash” cable management system. The main platform is curved so that it can cradle your devices safely. It looks like it will fit a tablet as well as a couple more devices without any problems, and its design is generic enough to look good with just about any gadget you can set on it.

Quirky states that it will charge most USB devices, though the Blackberry Torch, Curve and Barnes & Noble Nook aren’t compatible. The Converge sells for $39.99(USD) over at Quirky.

[via Ubergizmo]

Need Help Identifying That Thing? There Are Plant Tags for Urban Objects Now

Hazel Chua — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:41 +0000

Okay, so these plant tags aren’t really for identifying what these common urban objects are, but they sure add a lot to the flavor of the town or neighborhood.

At least, that’s what the folks from Carmichael Collective are doing in Minneapolis. The tags they’ve placed beside objects you can pretty much find in every other lawn are slightly larger than the ones you’ll see beside plants in pots, but they pretty much contain the same elements: the common name of the object, its “scientific” name, care instructions, and the object’s placement.

As you can see, there’s one for hydrants, one for mailboxes, as well as No Parking and STOP signs. Be sure to check out the full collection over at the Carmichael Collective.

[via Laughing Squid via Neatorama]

CordLite Illuminated iOS Cable: A Simple Solution for a Very Simple Problem

Lambert Varias — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:30:07 +0000

This is how much technology can coddle us: someone’s come up with a charge and sync device for iOS devices that has built-in LEDs to make it easier to plug it in in the dark. I usually just use my iPhone’s own light or feel which end is which, but why go through such arduous processes when you can buy a solution right?

But even though I think the CordLite is overkill for its intended purpose, I see its value if I treat it as a Swiss Army cable. It’s a cable and a flashlight!

Pledge at least $30 (USD) to CordLite’s Kickstarter fund and you’ll be one of the first to own one if it goes into production. I suggest you order a backup CordLite for when you can’t find the first one.

[via Zagg]

Lit Motors C-1: Electric Scooter with a Roof?

Range — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:33:29 +0000

I’ll admit that if you live in Asia, cars aren’t very convenient, though the trend for super-minis is starting to catch on in Europe and slowly in North America. This prototype vehicle takes things a bit further by taking away a couple of wheels and using gyroscopic stabilization so that it remains upright.

The Lit C-1 is a small, single-seat electric urban vehicle, combining the size of a motorcycle with the apparent safety of something bigger. The C-1 uses electronically-controlled gyroscopes to remain upright even in the case of an accident. However, you’d best be careful if you’re driving this, because the makers have dubbed it the “Rolling Smartphone” because of its extensive connectivity to mobile devices.

It can be charged up in six hours, has a top speed of 120mph, and the battery provides enough autonomy for 150 to 220 miles. It will be available in 2014 and will sell for $12,000 to $16,000 (USD).

[via designboom]

Plugbook Hides Spare Outlets on Your Bookshelf

Technabob — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:00:35 +0000

If you frequently find yourself needing a power outlet strip or short extension cable, and are looking for a way to tidy up your act, you might want to check out the Plugbook. This cleverly designed outlet box is designed to look like a book, and hides away on your bookshelf when not in use.

Each Plugbook has a pair of outlets on its side, and a built-in retractable cord, so it all stows inside the Plugbook until you need it. A push of the button on the spine of the Plugbook neatly coils the 10 foot-long cord inside.

In addition to either US or European outlets, the Plugbook has a pair of handy USB ports built in for charging your gadgets.

About the only thing I wish is that there were a way to actually use the Plugbook while it was hiding away on your bookshelf (for instance if the outlets were mounted on the back edge. Still, it’s kind of a clever design, and certainly looks better than most cheap outlet strips out there.

The Plugbook is currently raising funds over on Kickstarter, and a pledge of $25(USD) or more will get you one of the first Plugbook outlets in either white, black or a color to be voted on by buyers. There’s also an “encyclopedia red” edition for $35, and discounted prices for multiple Plugbooks.

TARDIS Watch Can’t Travel Through Time But Can Tell It

Conner Flynn — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:06 +0000

There is no shortage of cool geek watches out there, but few are as stunning as this simple TARDIS watch, with its simple and elegant design. What else is a Timelord going to wear?

What I love about this watch is that they managed to capture the TARDIS design so perfectly, while still retaining its functionality as a watch. The strap is blue of course, with a nice “Police Box” detail near the clasp and the watch face is the white design on the TARDIS door proclaiming that it is free for use of the public.

I think they have hit a homerun with this one and it isn’t super expensive either, at just $49.99(USD). You can find it at Entertainment Earth. It is available for pre-order now and it will come in August. Best Doctor Who watch ever!

[via Geek Alerts]

Horizontal Shower: Lie Down and Hose off

Range — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:12 +0000

Have you ever wondered how it would be if you didn’t have to stand or sit while showering? Check out Dornbracht’s Horizontal Shower, that allows you to lie down completely while a series of six high intensity jets massage your body.

The Horizontal Shower looks pretty cool, even though it takes up a lot of space and would steam your bathroom up instantly. While the way that Dornbracht has presented is fraught with problems for the average consumer, I can see that the concept could be improved upon if it were optimized.

I don’t know if this would work well to get you going in the morning, but it’s probably fabulous right before going to bed or after a workout. The hard slab of concrete must also get uncomfortable, but you get the idea of how relaxing it could be – especially if they added some sort of soft liner to the part where you lie down.

There’s no word on price, but chances are it’s quite expensive. If you can afford one, it would certainly make an interesting addition to your mansion.

[via Ubergizmo]

Osaka Station City Water Display Draws with Water

Range — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:00:17 +0000

Did you ever think that a fountain could be used to tell the time or to display pics? Well the Japanese sure did and this latest kind of display is pure awesomesauce, as it can even display artwork.

This mesmerizing water display was created by Koei Industry and it’s located in the South Gate Building in the Osaka Station City shopping mall in Japan. Flowing sheets of water act as a shimmering canvas, as the display is part waterfall and digital printer rolled into one. The water streams are lit up to display an ever-changing array of patterns and designs.

This looks pretty cool. I wonder if they’ll end up making HDTVs that will fit in water fountains someday.

[via NOTCOT]

Powerbreather Sealed Snorkel Optimizes Swimming

Range — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:14 +0000

This device might look a bit odd, but I wonder why no one created it before now. It basically allows swimmers to stay completely submerged during their laps, which is pretty cool. With the Powerbreather, you don’t strain your neck or come up for air at all.

The Powerbreather seeks to improve your swimming efficiency, and reduce pressure on your neck caused by turning side to side to breathe. Using the Sealed Snorkel, fresh air is inhaled through a valve that’s located behind the head. There’s a second valve near the mouth which pushes out exhaled air.

It’s supposed to make learning how to swim easier for children, and basically anyone who’s had problems with neck strain no longer will have any thanks to its centralized breathing system. While I wouldn’t say it’s fashionable, it’s definitely an intriguing device if you love swimming.

[via Hi Consumption]

Arduino Grande, Because Size Matters

Conner Flynn — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:00:13 +0000

Arduino microcontrollers can do so many things and can be found in robots, video game hacks, you name it. The small size and programmability of these boards makes almost anything possible. But what if you want a huge Arduino… for reasons unknown and unfathomable?

Well, John Edgar Park, writer for MAKE magazine, has just what you need. You can now make a huge Arduino, six times the size of traditional microcontrollers. It’s called the Arduino GRANDE. No you can’t order one at Starbucks, but it will put old timey hair on your lip.

It is more macrocontroller than microcontroller, but it is fully functional. This large and in charge Arduino will be shown off at the upcoming Bay Area edition of Maker Faire. If you happen to be there, you can see how it was designed with 3D modeling software and then brought to life through laser-cutting.

It won’t be long before we see this beast in some crazy creations, I’m sure.

[via The Verge via Geekosystem]

Ö Case Winds Earphones and Cleans Screens

Hazel Chua — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:00:57 +0000

Most iPhone owners have two pet peeves: not having some sort of earphone winder to keep their cords and earbuds in order, and a screen cleaner to keep the touchscreen free of greasy fingerprints.

This is the reason why I think the Ö Case concept design by Löytö Esineiden is such a good idea. It’s probably going to be a huge hit, too, since I know a lot of people who are looking for something exactly like it.

Aside from keeping your phone safe and secure, it comes with a screen-cleaning slider that will get rid of all those annoying fingerprints and grease marks, just by swiping it up and down the screen.

It also has two slots at the bottom where you can hook your earphones through it after you wind it over your device, so you can finally say goodbye to messy and tangled earphones. Pretty neat, huh?

[via Yanko Design]

Iron Man Helmet Pillow Conceals Tony Stark Underneath

Conner Flynn — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:00:55 +0000

Iron Man is hard and tough. He is wearing armor after all. Now check out the softer side of the man. This adorable pillow from Red Hair Gold Boots is super soft and comfy no doubt, even super cute, but just like Iron Man’s armor, there is more to it.

Like the fact that the helmet lifts up. Underneath, you will find Tony Stark’s face complete with soul-patch. It’s very well done and just plain adorable. She created this Iron Man version after she made a cute Loki pillow, and now I guess she intends to make all of the Avengers in pillow form.

Since the helmet flips up you can rest your head on either Iron Man or Tony Stark. It all depends who you want to cuddle with I guess.

[via Albotas]

Timeless Capture LCD-Less Camera Concept: Bringing Back The Analog Feel to Digital

Range — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:42 +0000

If you’ve used film cameras before, then you know that there’s a bit of magic involved whenever you finish a roll of film and have it developed. This kind of feeling is absent from modern digital cameras, which is why Brian Matanda decided to create his Timeless Capture concept camera.

The wood and aluminum camera is wirelessly mated to a digital photo frame, to which you can send your images when the camera is nearby. This is the only way to view the photos since the camera has no LCD viewer of its own – just an analog viewfinder. The camera only has a small amount of storage, so you’ll be forced to send your photos wirelessly to the frame frequently.

Brian is a design student at the University of Dundee in Scotland, and he wrote a series of posts about how he came to his design over at his blog, and more details on the build here.

[via Yanko Design]