The Di Grisogono Meccanica mechano-digital watch is indeed amazing, but I’m almost as impressed with Duncan Shotton’s Digimech clock (maybe it’s because it looks like I could afford it). The UK designer has crafted another take on mechanical-digital timepieces, with sliding black-patterned bars that comprise the individual seven-segment displays. And actually, that description does nothing for the gizmo—you should check out the video to see it in action.
There are a few reasons why I find myself strangely attracted to Moo. It’s made by a Norwegian company called Northern Exposure. You can mount on both inside and outside walls. It reminds me of my brother, whose nickname is Moose. Light-up antlers, baby (although the designers could have put a bit more light at the tips, really). It’s just a lot less messy than going hunting in the snow. [Dezeen]
Sometimes you just want to shut the world out and tackle the next level of your fave game, don’t you? The Ovei isolation pod, launched this week in the UK, will let you do just that. For the sum of US$100,000. And before you fall about laughing, that cash will get you a unique capsule, designed by Lee McCormack and made by Mclaren Applied Technologies (the Formula 1 guys, yes). It’s custom-built exactly how you want: media centre, gaming rig, interior and exterior…the sort of bespoke stuff you’d expect for 100 grand. The rest of us will have to settle for the traditional laptop-under the duvet, earphones jammed-in isolation when the house is too noisy. [PocketLint via Born Rich]
According to the seller, the Remote Buddy “stylish vertical remote holder has four seats to store your most used remotes in one convenient location. Also has a handy cup holder for one drink.” It also has four buttons to locate lost remotes (although sadly no buttons to locate lost drinks), as well as many many other uses. Yes. That many.
The city of Sakai in Japan is going to have a glittering new “green” addition in 2010, when Sharp and Kansai Electric Power build two massive solar-electric power plants there. In a bid to make Sharp’s factories more eco-friendly, the two plants will generate 10 megawatts and 28 megawatts of electricity and reduce CO2 emissions by 10 kilotons yearly. Apparently the “Sakai City Waterfront Mega Solar Power Generation Plan” will be among the biggest like it in the world, and is part of a bid by Sakai to become a leading eco-friendly city. Smashing, and means Sharp gadgets can be bought with a clearer conscience. [Crunchgear via Dvice]
Right back in January we brought you news that JVC had worked out some magic for making super-slim LCD TVs, and now they’re official products. The 42-inch LT-421L89 and the 46-inch LT-46SL89 measure up at just 3.8cm deep (7.4cm at the centre) and let JVC say they’re the “world’s thinnest tuner-equipped LCD TVs.” The tuner-equipped part distinguishes them from skinnier Aquos TVs, which dump the electronics to a separate box. They’re full HD, and will be available July for US$1,899.99 for the 42-inch and US$2,399.99 for the 46-inch. Press release below.
I’m not entirely sure how I missed this the other week – maybe I was sleeping – but TomTom have launched their MapShare function in their Australian satnav products.
For those not aware, MapShare lets you update your maps on the fly - incredibly useful if there’s a road closure or a roundabout has been replaced with a set of lights – and then share your updated maps with other MapShare users through the TomTom Home software.
TomTom actively checks and validates MapShare updates before they’re pushed down to other users, and the information is shared with Sensis for the next iteration of their mapping software.
Since it was launched in July 2007 in Europe and July, over 1.5 million changes have been verified by TomTom. Sort of makes you think that mapping software companies are falling behind the 8-ball.
But the best part of this is that you can change any aspect of your map for your own pleasure – for example, changing “George Street Sydney” to “Gizmodo Road Sydney” or the “Pacific Highway” to “Nick Owns This Highway”. It will never be approved for other users, but hey, who cares? I’d buy a TomTom just to be told that I own the road – wouldn’t you?
Apple’s coverage has gone overboard in the past few weeks, especially with the opening of the Sydney Store and last night’s discovery that iTunes is now selling TV shows.
But let’s not forget that the biggest focus for Apple craziness at the moment is the iPhone 3G and its impending arrival.
So, with that in mind, I’d like to remind you that Giz AU readers have the opportunity to win one of their own iPhone 3Gs, courtesy of iWorld Australia. All you have to do is answer some form of questionnaire (which shouldn’t be too hard for your brilliant minds).
So if you haven’t already, click the link and go and enter. You could become the proud new owner of an iPhone.
We all saw Nokia’s Dark Knight themed handset out of the US site a couple of weeks ago, and the good news for Batman fans down under is that they’re doing the same thing down here. The difference is that instead of a 6205 handset (pictured above), we get an N82 with a pre-loaded copy of Batman Begins to watch on the tiny mobile screen.
On top of Batman Begins, you get a selection of wallpapers, a trailer for the new film, character profiles and ringtones, plus the N82′s standard GPS, Wi-Fi, 5-megapixel camera and MP3 player built in.
The cost for such comic-book entertainment on your new Nokia mobile? $799.
[Nokia]
Italian architect David Fisher is building his first skyscraper, the Dynamic Tower, and it happens to be one of the most ambitious construction plans since the Pyramid of Khufu. Every floor of the 80-story self-powered building rotates according to voice command, and nearly the entire construction of the US$700 million structure is pre-made. I caught up with the architect in New York, and he blew my mind again and again.
