Energy efficient bulbs are always a good idea, but they’re also very bland and almost painfully eighties. Also, that straight, narrow design doesn’t really fit in areas where we need a lightbulb shaped like…well…a bulb. Fortunately, Solovoyov Design has our back with this brain-shaped bulb.
So, you’ve got a favorite scotch; a robot bartender, or at least an automatic liquor dispenser, for your favorite tipple; a fine set of glasses to pour it into; and you’ve got a tiny little robot forklift to pick up your drink and carry it to you, all you need are the coasters to go with it. Finally, somebody has seen this crucial market and is actually catering to it.
Southern Americans will tell you that the word “Barbecue” should never be used as a verb. What will they say about dropping the final “e” for a bit of European flare? Italian designer Piero Lissoni’s “Barbecu” does just that, with both a gas igniter and the ability to make any Southerner proud with charcoal. Best of all, a set of work tops accomodates all sorts of outdoor occassions, from the straightforward pit to the tabletop grill to the tall, rolling cart. There’s no assembly required, either. Look for the Barbecu at Panik-Design, via Alessi, in a matter of days. [Panik-Design]
As if the new iPod Shuffle isn’t tiny enough, designer Alexei Mikhailov has some ideas of his own for the iPod’s future. The appropriately-named iStick folds the aesthetic of the iPhone and iPod Touch into a finger-sized dongle. All four sides of this conceptual gadget are touchable, allowing for plenty of interface tinkering in a tiny package, at the expense of a little carpal tunnel from all the wrist-twisting. The silver cube on the end is a scroll wheel, which would presumably allow for easy volume adjustment without a glance at the interface, but I keep envisioning a USB cover instead. To complete the dream device, the earbuds are wireless — and just like the Shuffle, it would probably cost extra to buy compatible third-party headphones. [via Industrial Design Served]
Several toilets in ski resorts across Japan recently received a makeover, appropriately as part of marketing campaign for Georgia Max Coffee. Advertising messages are written on the toilet paper and the back wall, and the subtext — that caffiene gives you a thrill, albeit with side effects — is brilliantly executed. I would fill the rest of this page with more jokes, but Dvice took them all. “Looks realistic enough to almost be scary for those of us afraid of heights. That could be beneficial in this setting,” they write. Get it? Because you poop your pants from nervousness. Good show. [Coloribus via Dvice]
Though the details are a bit fuzzy, these solar panels from start-up Veranda Solar are a promising new product that could revolutionize the concept of solarizing your home. Sure everyone wants to go solar…in theory. But who actually goes the full mileage and procures the funding, installs all the equipment and gets their house producing its own energy from sunlight? Not seeing a lot of hands. Now, hanging a panel out the window and plugging ‘er in– that sounds like something the average American could actually get into. Unfortunately, there seems to be no indication of how much power you’ll actually be able to produce with this $400-600 investment. To be fair, Veranda is still in the production stages, so there’s plenty of time to fill us in. These panels seem to be a solid step in a realistically sustainable direction. Kudos. [Crunch Gear]
The kre-8, a new cell phone concept by designer Jose Tomas DeLuna, is the first phone aimed specifically at music lovers. No, not another MP3/phone hybrid, this one’s for those that actually create their own music. The phone features a touchscreen, accelerometer and three separate music modes: instrument , record and mix. Music could also be shared with other Kre-8 users over the 3G network for play or adaptation. Like the pad and pencil beside the bed of the writer, the Kre-8 could clearly serve as a useful tool for musicians who simply can’t control the timing of their creative flow. Back to reality, this is just a concept so that’s about as much as we’re likely to hear about it. [Mobile Crunch]
Imagine sitting in your home, watching the sun set onto the ocean through your picture window. As the light finally retreats into the horizon and your view turns to black, your window suddenly comes to life and enthralls you with a dazzling light show. Personally, I would never leave that couch. This scenario might sound slightly ridiculous by today’s standards, but in a few years it could be reality. Of course, you’ll still need to save a few bucks for that oceanfront mansion–so get back to work.
Several players in the OLED market including Philips and The Research Institute for Organic Electronics have been showing off some transparent OLEDS. At the Big Sight lighting fair in Tokyo, both companies have been displaying their own versions of transparent OLED technology. A clear favorite is RIOE’s screen window display (above) which provides 70-75% transparency. Individual OLED panels then create different patterns when turned on at night. Alas, this technology is another 3 to 5 years down the road. [Wired]
Oasis of the Seas is a wave-devouring monstrosity. If you tend to feel cramped on your average cruise, kick back on the 1181-foot long passenger vessel and relax a little. You’ll be propelled through the ocean waters by 20-foot propellers strapped to 8 v12 engines, each pumping out the equivalent of 17500 swimming horses. Your room will be among the 2700 located in the two 6-story towers that are separated by a beautiful courtyard dubbed “Central Park”, where you can lay out and enjoy some rays or play a game of football. Congratulations Royal Caribbean you secured the title of world’s largest cruise ship with this $1.2 billion beast. Enjoy it for another year or two before the next one comes along. [DVICE]
