The Zik headphones include a capacitive touch panel (holy crap!) that’s controlled by intuitive gestures. Swiping up will increase the volume, down will decrease it. Swiping forward and backward will navigate through your tunes. These headphones also feature active noise control, dialing down external noise, which is really nice to have when you are out and about in a busy city.

It’s NFC-compatible, and the headset will sync with smartphones via Bluetooth. A bone conduction sensor detects jaw movement, so the set is able to optimize sounds for clearer calls. A motion detector determines if the headset is being raised and in use, as opposed to being worn around your neck. The headphones will even deactivate Bluetooth and turn your music playback off within a second when you put them around your neck.

This all sounds pretty amazing, and while the chunky design won’t please everyone, the tech sounds quite advanced. I haven’t seen any mention on how they sound, because that is for me the number one reason why I’d buy some headphones. The audio specs sound pretty solid, though, with a frequency range of 10Hz to 20kHz and 110dB sensitivity.

Pricing and a release date for the Zik headphones hasn’t yet been announced.

[via designboom]

Created in collaboration with audio manufacturer Parrot, the oddly-named Zikmu (bless you!) speaker system features a pair of 2.5-foot tall black columns each reminiscent of the business-end of a trumpet. As a matter of fact, Starck ships the system in a recyclable package that’s designed to look like a certain brass musical instrument’s carrying case.

The Zikmu system offers not only iPod and iPhone docking, but can stream music from any PC or Mac over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth A2DP wireless technology too. The whole system can be operated by an included RF wireless remote, so line of sight isn’t required for operation.

Sound is pumped out using flat membrane NXT speaker elements, and are designed to radiate out a 360-degree sound field regardless of where you place the speakers in the room. While this is something you might want for listening to music, I don’t know if you’ll want to play The Dark Knight through these if you want to preserve the originally-intended sound imaging. The class-D amplifier is rated at 100W RMS, and the speakers can output frequencies from 50Hz up to 20kHz. So while the highs and mids should sing, don’t expect a really deep bass boom.

That said, a traditional sound profile wasn’t Starck’s intent. “We were not aiming to create just another speaker,” says Starck. “Our design focused more on making the air vibrate. There is actually a three-dimensional feel to this vibration, meaning that the air is palpable, almost humanlike in presence, like a fragrance.” Of course some perfumes are best left on the shelf. You hear me Drakkar Noir?

Priced at $1600 (USD) for the set, the Zikmu system definitely isn’t for those on a tight budget. The design sensibility and audio aspirations strike me as something that would look great in a high-end boutique hotel room more than the average living room. The Zikmu is available for pre-order now over at both Parrot and The Conran Shop, and should start shipping later this month.

For more on Philippe’s outspoken design sensibilities, here’s a brief clip of the designer shot by Fast Company during the Zikmu press roll-out:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Despite its name, the Crystal Clear actually sports an red face, not a clear one. The watch features a smooth black polyurethane band and a large LCD display which shows through its transparent ruby red face. A stainless steel bezel does a nice job offsetting the display from the band.

And if black isn’t your thing, it also looks like there’s a white version of the watch in the works too.

Who says design is dead? The Crystal Clear watch should start shipping on or about 10/25/2008 over at the Fossil website for $125 USD.

Look closer, and you’ll notice that the minute hand is actually replaced by the Starck logo on the watch’s slightly ovoid face. Then, a single rectangular block displays the current hour.

I was able to find these watches from Fossil in a men’s black ($125) and women’s white model ($110). With a little digging, you might be able to grab the hard-to-find, but oh-so-cool silver and orange version if you Google around a bit.

Starck’s new Wrapped watches feature an electroplated face which conceals almost the entirety of the watch hands. A small sliver of the hands shows through an open ring in the face, so all you see are little dots indicating hours and minutes, and a thin line representing seconds.

Each minimal watch offers a durable stainless steel case, and is available with either a mesh metal band ($125) or a grey leather one ($110). Both models available now from Fossil.

The new (as yet unnamed) digital features a unique segmented design, which splits the time display from the day and date into two separate windows. Each one is stacked onto a leather band with some spacing to create extra visual interest. The strap conceals a hidden closure mechanism behind the displays to create a seamless design. In addition to the dramatic stainless on black model, the watch will ship in a traditional brown leather, and a modern orange color ways as well.

Fossil expects to release these new watches for $125 each in the next couple of months. Be sure to keep an eye on the S+ARCK Collection shop for more details.

[via VOLO|BLOG]

From what I’ve heard, the metal of the inner part of the display has been cantilevered out into a clear section of the metal case to produce a dramatic face that you can see right through. A textured leather band provides a nice contrast to the ultra-modern watch face.

Pricing hasn’t yet been revealed for these latest Starck watches, but I’ve been told to look for them on the Fossil website this Fall.

[UPDATE 8/28: These watches are now available here. The square version is called the Starckore and the round version is called the Satelitum, and they range in price from $150 to $160.]

His Veiled Watch cleverly conceals an analog watch face behind a specially electroplated crystal that looks like a continuation of the stainless steel watch band. The entire design is perfectly flush with the case, creating a striking illusion that the watch is just a continuous metal bracelet.

Even the time-setting crown pushes flush into the back of the case, eliminating any distraction from the clean lines of the watch.

French online retailer Objectsby offers both men’s and women’s versions of the watch for $247 USD each.

[UPDATE: Technabob reader Mr. Mojave reports that the watch is available from Fossil for just $150 USD. Now that's a deal!]