Archive for June, 2006
Precision, reliability, prestige and performance: the new “Monaco Grand Prix Historique” chronograph from Chopard was designed to meet the demands of devotees of automobile and horological mechanical engineering. In tribute to the 5th edition of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, this limited series of 500 in steel and 100 in rose gold nurtures legitimate ambitions as it revs up on the starting line.
Produced in a limited series, the new “Monaco Grand Prix Historique” chronograph houses a mechanical self-winding movement with a 40-hour power reserve.
The sunburst charcoal grey dial displays the hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph functions and the date at 4.30.
It is equipped with 30-minute and 12-hour counters and a small seconds counter at 6 o’clock featuring the prestigious emblem of the Automobile Club de Monaco.
Embodying Chopard’s characteristic concern for details, the winding-crown is adorned with a raised steering-wheel motif. Available in a technical version in steel that is blackened by a high-tech DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) process, or a more sporting-chic variation in 18-carat rose gold.
The 40 mm-diameter case is water-resistant to 30 metres. Alligator strap with overstitching and a pin buckle in blackened steel or 18-carat rose gold.
Produced in a limited edition of 500 in steel and 100 in rose gold, this collector’s object is available exclusively from Chopard Boutiques.
June 17th, 2006
For six months, 25 Industrial Design MA students from London’s CSM College of Art and Design have been working to create concepts for a premium but mass market mobile device capable of providing 4G or 5G multimedia services.
The students worked for a cash prize and, more importantly, for the chance to work side-by-side with Nokia’s design team during a summer placement at the Nokia design studios.
The winning design, was also made into a dummy handset for an exhibition in London’s Air Gallery this week.
One of the designs, the Nokia Scentsory, is superb, partly because it reminds us of the paper clackers that we used to make many, many years ago in the innocent days of our childhood. In Closed mode you use it like a slim candy bar phone, in open mode you can use the screens and keyboard. But the real piece of resistance is the Scentsory mode that uses scent detectors that “allow you to see, hear, feel and smell your caller’s environment”.
The winner of the competition is the Nokia 111 by Daniel Meyer, and this is where the New Age speak goes into overdrive. The phone looks - to our eye - like a candy bar with a hinge in the middle, but it is, apparently: “Inspired both by the advent of video calling and the traditional practice of carrying pictures of friends or family members with you. The handset is designed to sit as a picture frame wherever the user is, serving the dual purpose of communications device and a comforting familiar focal point; at home, at work or in a hotel while away on business.”
“This concept means to encourage new behaviours. As a piece of electronic furniture the user creates a new relationship to the product and treats it differently. Pieces of furniture belong somewhere, unlike the mobile phone which belongs nowhere. This encourages people to find favourite places to leave the device. It is not only a portable phone but also a piece of home that you can carry around with you. It’s an emotional object that creates a comforting effect by reminding you of a favourite place or special person.”
The Future of Mobile Design exhibition will run from 13th - 16th June 2006 at the Air Gallery, Dover Street, London W1S, open daily from 10am until 6pm.
June 16th, 2006
Six years into the new millennium and 23 years after he guided Ulysse Nardin into the upper echelons of high watch making, you would think that Rolf Schnyder would be content to rest. The idea of resting is simply not part of Schnyder’s genetic blueprint. His desire to reach new levels of performance, his relentless search for new answers to ancient questions and his perennial passion for advancement billow the creative sails of Ulysse Nardin and propel it through the deep sea of human imagination towards its destiny as one of horology’s brightest one.
While Ulysse Nardin already dazzled us with high complications that challenge our intellects and strike a resounding emotional chord, in 2006, on the year of the Manufacture’s 160th anniversary, the curtain lifts on Ulysse Nardin’s first totally in-house conceived and executed self-winding base caliber. Moreover, this movement, like a comet blazing across the night sky, points the way forward for Ulysse Nardin.
At first look, it is a self-winding caliber with big date in a double window with a quick set corrector in either direction, a small second on the second wheel and a fifty-hour power reserve.
Not all small seconds indicators are created equal. Visually, the Caliber 160 features a small seconds indicator similar to that used in the Marine Chronometers which initially garnered the Manufacture its repute. Yet this indicator also expresses the Manufacture’s focus on functional movement design. In the new movement, this small seconds indicator is ‘direct drive’. This translates into zero loss of precision for this indication. In addition, the Caliber 160 is a hack seconds movement, meaning that the balance wheel is stopped when the crown of the watch is pulled out to set the hands. This allows the hands to be set precisely without having to compensate for a continually-running seconds hand.
Limited Edition to 500 pieces.
June 14th, 2006
The famous Flower Clock at Bürkliplatz, presented to Zurich by Beyer in 1985, has been given a fascinating, new summer attire. To mark the 75th anniversary of Zurich’s Succulent Plant Collection, this summer the five-metre wide clock face is decorated with a wide variety of succulent plants.
The face represents the waves of the lake, while the palm tree evokes a breath of sea air. This year too, the Flower Clock promises to be a popular photograph subject for tourists.
Zurich’s Flower Clock comprises a 70 kg, remote-controlled movement with a cast casing, set in a raised concrete bed.
June 10th, 2006
At the time of its 100th birthday, the Montblanc mark presents a world innovation at the SIHH 2006 of Geneva which will impassion the cosmopolitans as much as unconditional small wonders of the technique: a stop watch designed for the future or more precisely for the 100 next years. In addition to does the traditional functions, this innovation have a stop watch with advertisement GMT 
coupled with the one of the most sophisticated complications which was born in clock making industry: The everlasting calendar. The automatic movement certified by the Swiss Official Control of Stop watches (COSC) comprises in fact three complications. The protected crown allows the precise adjustment of the second time zone and the date. The model birthday of the Star Stopwatch GMT Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100 with a bracelet alligator makes hand, available in solid gold white, yellow or pink is limited to 100 specimens in each version. The most invaluable alternative, the Star Stopwatch GMT Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 3 out of platinum, with its rotor Art nouveau is marketed only in three specimens.
The case is composed of tantalum, metal shining an extremely robust of bluish color. This material of high technology is rare, twice heavier than steel, extremely hard and corrosion resistant. A metal which, because of its melting point raised, is very difficult to work but also very resistant to the physical constraints. Does the tantalum case of the model Sport Tantalum Automatic Limited Edition 100, limited to only 100 specimens, with its valve automatic helium, resist a 1906 m depth, another reference to year of creation of the company. This certified automatic watch COSC adopts a resolutely sporting pace until in its least details. The bluish reflection of the case and the revolving glasses contrast on the one hand with the black dial equipped with luminous indices and a date and on the other hand.
June 10th, 2006
Samsung may try to unofficially claim the throne as the king of slim, but their fellow Korean companies aren’t going to give up without a fight. One of their biggest competitors, in the cell phone market anyways, is LG Electronics, and it seems that LG wants a big piece of the ultra-thin pie for themselves. The Korean manufacturer has just unveiled a new TFT LCD display that is a mere 1.48mm thick, or about 0.058-inches for those of you who aren’t metrically inclined.
Showcased in both 2.0 and 2.2-inch sizes, this new display will handle QVGA resolutions without a hitch, and they’re proposing various applications. I’m sure you can guess a few of these, like portable gaming machines, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and multimedia players. If integrated into a new batch of mobile phones, along with some other slim stuff, Samsung may have quite a battle for themselves when it comes to maintaining that they also have the “world’s thinnest”.
No word on when the TFT LCD’s will be available, and whether they plan on selling the technology for other companies’ uses.
June 7th, 2006
Kyocera K822 A perfect phone for audiophiles — the Kyocera K822 is a stylish, feature-rich handset that delivers a high-quality music experience, whether listening to digital music on the music player that supports MP3, AAC/AAC+ and WMA/Windows Media DRM technology or tuning in the FM radio on the phone’s built-in stereo speakers. Expandable MicroSD memory, with cards available up to 512 megabytes, accommodates hours of music, whether at the gym or on the road. Bluetooth wireless technology enables wireless stereo headsets and numerous other wireless accessories announced by Kyocera Wireless at the CTIA Wireless trade show.
Extending its entertainment value, the K822 offers video record and playback and a large, vivid TFT display ideally suited to music videos, gaming, photos and more. An external color display supports photo caller ID with images loaded onto the phone or taken with its 1.3 megapixel camera with a dedicated camera button, integrated flash and digital zoom. Kyocera will offer the phone with either BREW(TM) 3.1.4 or JAVA(TM) MIDP 2.0, allowing users to easily download a wide selection of music, games, ringers, contacts and more. The phone’s extensive productivity tools include room for 500 contacts, loud and clear speakerphone, and easy file transfer via USB or serial cable. Measuring 3.5 x 1.8 x 1 inches, and weighing 4 oz., the K822 has a talk time of up to four hours and standby time of up to 163 hours and is scheduled to launch with CDMA carriers in Q3 2006.
Kyocera K320/K340 Series Understanding the diverse needs of carriers and consumers alike, Kyocera Wireless introduced several options in mid-tier camera phones. The Kyocera K320 Series, with two distinct industrial designs, is perfect for the multitasking family member seeking a stylish, affordable, easy-to-use camera phone. This sleek color clamshell offers true convenience, with an easy-access speakerphone, side volume controls and a full array of productivity tools. The K320 Series features Bluetooth wireless technology, a VGA camera with a dedicated camera button, external caller ID and a larger internal display that is ideal for Kyocera’s renowned pinwheel user interface. Its small, compact styling and internal antenna make it easy to drop into a pocket or backpack. Kyocera Wireless will also make available a version of the K320 Series with push-to-talk walkie-talkie capabilities, including a dedicated push-to-talk button. Measuring 3.54 x 1.81 x .92 inches and weighing 3.4 oz., the K320 Series has a talk time of up to 3.5 hours, standby time of up to 165 hours and will be available in Q2 2006.
For those looking to step up to an even more feature-rich phone at an affordable price-point, the K340 Series is made for those who crave convenience with some extra high-performance mobile features. The stylish, color clamshell design builds on the K320 Series by offering the same array of features plus a 1.3 megapixel camera with video record and playback and a color external display for photo caller ID. The phone’s camera includes a number of advanced photo-taking options including multi-shot adjustment, auto focus, self timer, resolution adjustment, white balance, color effects and fun frames. The feature set is rounded out by advanced voice recognition, speakerphone, a WAP browser, BREW 3.1.4 and more. Measuring 3.54 x 1.81 x .92 inches and weighing 3.4 ounces, Kyocera K342 has a talk time of up to 3.5 hours, standby time of up to 165 hours and will be available globally with CDMA carriers in Q3 2006.
The Kyocera K352, built for international 800 MHz CDMA markets, is an ultra-slim, bar-style music phone for the young, urban set seeking an affordable, feature-packed handset. A music player with dedicated control buttons and 256 megabytes of onboard memory mean hours of music at the user’s fingertips, while USB 2.0 support makes it a breeze to manage the play list from a PC. The phone will ship with a hands-free stereo headset, a $25 retail value. Rounded out with a VGA camera, large 1.8-inch display and full data capabilities, the K352 is just what the hipster on a budget needs. Measuring 4.13 x 1.71 x 0.6 inches and weighing just three ounces, Kyocera K352 has a talk time of up to 170 minutes and standby time of up to 121 hours. It will launch with international CDMA carriers in Q3 2006.
June 7th, 2006
The SonyReader offers a new and convenient digital reading experience. It boasts an amazing screen with technology that rivals text on paper. Weighing less than 9 ounces and at only ½” thin, it’s more compact than many paperbacks. Plus, it comes with software that seamlessly allows you to search and browse thousands of electronic book titles from the Connect eBookstore and then easily transfer from your PC to your Sony Reader. With built-in memory and multi-format support, you can take many of your favorite titles and documents with you. So compact and convenient, you’ll want to take it everywhere.
The Sony Reader offers a unique, on-the-go reading experience. With a very compact and lightweight design, you can take it almost anywhere. More compact than many paperbacks, it weighs under nine ounces and is less than ½” thin. You can easily hold it in one hand while sipping coffee with the other. You can bring multiple titles to read while traveling without adding weight and bulk to your luggage. And with its rechargeable battery, you can turn approximately 7,500 pages on a single charge. Bring more, pack less… it’s the perfect solution for people on-the-go.
June 7th, 2006
White’s been “the new black” for yonks, and its reign appears to be everlasting as vendors embrace the colour more passionately than sixties teens embraced rock music.
The O2 Xda Atom is the latest device to be given a white makeover, with the new version being dubbed the “Xda Atom Pure (Limited Edition)”. It offers the exact same feature-set as the original Atom, with aesthetics being the only differentiating factor.
Clearly marketing the device towards the iPod generation, O2 says the Atom Pure “will give the fashion-conscious and young mobile professional the opportunity to be stylish and co-ordinate their wardrobe without having to compromise on the functionality of their mobile device.” The fact that handheld devices are so ubiquitous that they now have an impact on our personal image and sense of style is chilling, but few can argue with the Atom’s good looks.
It’s not all form and no function, however — some of the Atom’s more distinguishing features include a 2-megapixel camera, FM tuner, 2.7″ QVGA touchscreen, O2 Media Plus multimedia playback software and the Microsoft Office software suite.
According to O2, “only 1,000 units of the limited edition Xda Atom Pure will be available in Australia from end-April at a recommended retail price of AUD$1,229, inclusive of GST and a one-year local warranty. They will be available at Harvey Norman, Harris Technology and all major IT and phone retail outlets.”
June 4th, 2006
Given its absolute preview in Milan, in the prestigous setting of “Eurocucina” 2006, “Absolute Classic” is Scavolini’s latest kitchen in the top-range classical sector; a highly sophisticated product, intended to meet the most demanding requirements. A “classy classic” designed for the occasion by the architect Gianni Pareschi, a model that oversteps the old dictates of conventional style to adopt new design shapes, taking on the mantle of a great cultural heritage.
A new frontier in classical kitchen design for the third millennium, “Absolute” by Scavolini is the ideal combination of a love of tradition and contemporary lightness; it plays a sophisticated game between the certainties of cosmopolitan luxury and the shapes of modern design and surprises with its wealth of features and details, ready to become the undisputed protagonist on the domestic scene and a representation of style for those who live their kitchens to the full.
And since the classical may find different means of expression, this unique, exclusive kitchen also has a variety of faces. Gloss lacquered doors (available in the elegant colours white, lac red, English green, blue, black and dark grey) for the “Baccarat” version, where the keynote is “joie de vivre”; doors with cream oak, natural oak and dark oak finish to underline the charm and harmony of the “Grands Relais” version; and lacquered doors combined with total black work-tops, and striking neoclassical mouldings, brass trims and plinths, for the “Hyde Park” version, perfect for setting the scene for the international jet set.
Three different characters for a kitchen that reinterprets classical style in the light of a cosmopolitan language, and opens new trajectories in the creation of a totally distinctive room of absolute quality.
June 4th, 2006