Archive for February 19th, 2006
This 3D mechanical puzzle challenges the physical dexterity and mental capacity of any one aged five and up. The goal is to achieve a single-color configuration, out of six possible, for all the spheres, which when moved spin together in either the x or y direction. Designers addressed many problems when executing the concept. In order to integrate six colors on each of the spheres they used individually molded segments instead of labels or printing. The mechanical problem of each sphere being part of both an x and y row was solved by inventing spherical gears that act as gears when three spheres are spinning as a row in one direction and act as pivot points when spheres are spinning in the other direction. The success of this puzzle, the first product for this company, has funded the creation of Puzzle II, which is in development.
Silver 2005 Consumer Products
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February 19th, 2006
Timberland developed a new concept to address the common dilemma travelers face when deciding how many and which shoes to pack. Often, the shoes they bring with them are not adequate for all the activities they engage in; and what they do bring can consume a significant amount of valuable suitcase space. Timberland Travelgear is a revolutionary, modular approach to footwear. By separating the aesthetic (shell) and core function (chassis) of a shoe and making them interchangeable, wearers have access to many more style and function options that can fulfill a range of footwear needs, from hiking to business meetings and dining out to rainy weather. Three pairs of TravelGear shells, when combined in various ways with two chassis and one waterproof hydrosok, are equivalent to twelve pair of ordinary shoes. Plus, the components pack flat in about half the space of most ordinary shoes.
Silver 2005 Consumer Products
February 19th, 2006
Regular infoSync World readers will know I rarely lavish praise on products that have yet to come to market - but every now and then, something turns up which has the potential for greatness. Such is the case with Siemens’ DVB-H concept, a communicator device shown here at CeBIT which merges mobile functionality with a DVB-H digital TV receiver atop a Linux platform.
Impressively, the device would also allow users to record live broadcasts either courtesy of the 128 MB of built-in memory, or alternatively by means of MMC expansion cards.
The tuner interface provided by Siemens also held other features, such as an interactivity concept not unlike that of Nokia’s Visual Radio, which allows users to send messages to broadcasters. Relying on either SMS or GPRS for communication, one concept demonstrated was the familiar one of voting for a music video channel’s playlist.
In addition, the device also offered telephony through running the software of Siemens’ first Megapixel camera phone, the popular S65, in an emulator. As with DVB-H reception, telephony features also proved to be of high quality, and as a Linux-powered device the concept would have great potential as a more fully developed communicator device with a complete suite of PIM applications and web browsing capabilities - particularly when considering the size as compared to Nokia’s 7710.
Despite the production-quality state the device appeared to be in, Haubold said Siemens has no immediate plans to market the device in its particular state. However, the company aims to bring DVB-H technology to market in time to coincide with the launch of such services in the German market, which is currently slated for 2006.
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February 19th, 2006
From the Snake Collection… a serpentine necklace made from black coral and sterling silver and set with 28.233 carats of rose-cut diamonds. The eyes are set with Burmese rubies, and pear-shaped citrines enhance the design. The serpent coils seductively around the neck and secures in front with a hooked clasp. About Lotus Arts de Vivre: The exquisite designs of Lotus Arts de Vivre are inspired by the religions and cultures of Asia. Each piece is handcrafted, and all work is done by artisans living in remote villages in India, Nepal, Indonesia and Burma. Working with 18 karat gold, ebony, pearls, diamonds, rubies and emeralds, the pieces reflect the ancient techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation by these extraordinarily talented craftsmen. Lotus Arts de Vivre designs are instantly recognizable collector’s items that are cherished by patrons such as the Royal Family of Thailand, Princess Michael of Kent, the Rajmata of Jaipur, the Queen of Spain, Elizabeth Taylor, Roman Polanski, Goldie Hawn and Sharon Stone.
Price: $22,560.00
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February 19th, 2006
The royal totem, hand-carved in ebony wood and decorated with 18 karat gold, pearls, emeralds, rubies and full-cut diamonds. To wear as a brooch or as a pendant.
About Lotus Arts de Vivre: The exquisite designs of Lotus Arts de Vivre are inspired by the religions and cultures of Asia. Each piece is handcrafted, and all work is done by artisans living in remote villages in India, Nepal, Indonesia and Burma. Working with 18 karat gold, ebony, pearls, diamonds, rubies and emeralds, the pieces reflect the ancient techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation by these extraordinarily talented craftsmen. Lotus Arts de Vivre designs are instantly recognizable collector’s items that are cherished by patrons such as the Royal Family of Thailand, Princess Michael of Kent, the Rajmata of Jaipur, the Queen of Spain, Elizabeth Taylor, Roman Polanski, Goldie Hawn and Sharon Stone.
Price: $7,000.00
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February 19th, 2006
This MP3 player integrates a high-end personal digital music player with a digital camera. The device’s design needed to maintain the identity and compactness of the client’s previous model (a digital music player only) and integrate the camera. The camera’s optics are housed inside a cylinder, which is able to slide into the body of the player when not in use. The cylinder also rotates 180 degrees for taking self-portraits. Its prism shape and the placement of the buttons allow users to handle the iRiver more comfortably. High-strength plastic casings and chrome-plated surfaces enhance its appeal and durability. It was designed for people attracted to the ability to be able to take digital photos anywhere and listen to music anytime. Since its release, company profits have doubled.
Silver 2005 Consumer Products
February 19th, 2006
OnTour is a sophisticated portable sound system that will play music from any source using a headphone jack, including all iPods, MP3 players, laptops and DVD/CD players. To achieve portability, the design needed to be compact with a long battery life. However, in order to be successful, aesthetics could not be compromised. The pocket flask—with its timeless appeal, portability and upper crust connotations—became a metaphor for the design. This is most evident in the device’s curved profile. When closed, the electronics are protected like a turtle shell underneath the integrated lid, and its slightly curved shape fits comfortably in your pocket. When the lid is opened, the curved silhouette is deepened and the speakers and user interface exposed. Other quality details like inlaid metals and precise fit and finish make OnTour a very elegant sound piece. OnTour has increased JBL’s bottom line by 15 percent.
Silver 2005 Consumer Products
February 19th, 2006
This line of strength building machines was developed to appeal to the trend of health clubs that are investing heavily in the visual and emotional impact of their facilities. Existing product lines clash with this goal, especially with their hard lines and industrial character. Additionally, users find them overwhelming and difficult to understand. This innovative design solution used a balance of scale, proportion and form to create a solid and powerful machine that was still very approachable. An aesthetically sensible form has been given to each and every detail of the over fifteen different iterations available in the series. This attention to aesthetic detail, as well as to all parts requiring user interaction and adjustment, eliminates the level of intimidation other machines impose on users.
Best Product Design Silver 2005 Consumer Products
February 19th, 2006
The ZARA 3 rolls all of a child’s transportation needs for their first three years into one product from an infant car seat/carrier to traditional stroller and finally a toddler car seat. Its all-in-one composition saves parents money and its minimal complexity makes daily use and transitioning between stages easier. Designers eliminated all superfluous elements to increase functionality. The compact chassis makes lifting and stowing in the trunk easier. Textiles became the means for the client to differentiate the ZARA 3 by giving users broader aesthetic choices with ability to change the fabric elements at will throughout the product’s life and substituting some mechanical parts with textiles. For instance, the stroller can adopt two positions through regulation of the back and foot stand, which is achieved through textiles by way of zips, Velcro and clips.
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February 19th, 2006
HP iPAQ hw6915, hw6910 communicators do Windows Mobile 5.0
Sporting a redesigned thumbboard and Windows Mobile 5.0, HP’s successor to the hw6500 series is among the first to include the MSFP pack which enables push e-mail with Exchange.
Having scored a world first with its introduction of the GPS-enabled iPAQ hw6500 communicator in 2005, Hewlett-Packard today announced an updated version of this device sporting a redesigned thumbboard and Windows Mobile 5.0. Dubbed the iPAQ hw6900, the device is also among the first to feature Microsoft’s Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP), which enables true push e-mail functionality and improved remote device management when used in conjunction with Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2.
In other respects, the iPAQ hw6900 remains mostly identical to its predecessor, featuring quad-band GSM with EDGE support; Wi-Fi 802.11b; Bluetooth; and antenna-less GPS connectivity. Furthermore, the series harbours a 3-inch display with a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels, a back-mounted 1.3 Megapixel camera (exclusive to the iPAQ hw6915), and a miniSD card expansion slot. Its memory architecture, however, has been altered due to the arrival of Windows Mobile 5.0, and now reads 64 MB of RAM and 45 MB of user available, non-volatile storage.
The HP iPAQ hw6900 series will be available in April 2006, with the hw6910 to sell at €700 EUR and the hw6915 priced at €730 EUR. Availability will follow in the US later this summer, according to HP. HP iPAQ hw6915
February 19th, 2006
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