Monday, September 28, 2009

Yanko Design - Latest Posts

Yanko Design - Latest Posts

Link to Yanko Design

Take In The Whole 180 Degree View

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 12:56 AM PDT

Adding a new dimension to photography is the Intel Capture180 Camera. Taking a tangent from the mega-pixel war, and data storage issues, the Capture180 Camera brings in the news with its Virtual Reality imaging proposal. It uses a 180 degree fish-eye lens to capture 180 degree hemisphere and stores the information as meta-data within each shot, allowing the camera’s viewfinder, a digital picture frame, or your computer screen to come alive with the images.

The 180 degree fish-eye lens captures quite a wide view of the shot.

The warped photos are unwrapped in-camera into a hemisphere of image, and everything outside of the traditional picture frame is stored as meta-data. When viewing photos, position sensors allow the camera’s viewfinder to act as a window into a still moment in time. If it’s a photo of fireworks, you can point the camera over to the left see the faces of the people sitting next to you- it’s like the camera never left the place. The extra meta-data also means that photos can be recomposed long after they’ve been shot. Photos can be cropped down or up, and this pretty much eliminates the need for the user to point. The whole scene is captured with each shot, and one or multiple photos can be composed from the scene later.

Designer: Lucas Ainsworth

Intel Capture180 Camera by Lucas Ainsworth

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Pledge For Domestic Can Crushers

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 12:36 AM PDT

The Automatic Aluminum Can Crusher is designed as a battery operated, automatic, aluminum, can crusher for domestic purposes. It's a nifty recycler that works on an 18vdc power tool battery (and/or an AC adapter), and chomps on 40 cans on a full charge and yet hungry for more! Cans get crushed to 40% their original volume, and that's quite neat. Although what we see in the video is a very rough cut of what's to be expected, the project has made its way to Kickstarter and a pledge is going around for it. Maybe you want to chip in.

Designer: Doug Wehrly For Zertronix

Automatic Aluminum Can Crusher by Doug Wehrly For Zertronix

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Stereo Bluetooth Earbuds That Actually Work!

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 12:16 AM PDT

Sony approached me a few months ago about a stereo bluetooth headset. I had my doubts because I’ve used my share and the declarations never meet up with experience. The Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 however are all that and a bag of chips provided you have a fully compatible device. Hit the jump for my review.

The earbuds reside on a 20″ long cord with a built-in mic. Wearing it in front or wrapped behind your ear (sport is what they call it) is personal preference. The cord is rubberized and pretty thick so there’s no need to worry about accidentally tearing it apart. Like any bluetooth headset, pairing it with your phone or computer depends on the receiving device but to activate pairing mode on the earbuds, just press and hold the mic button on the cord until a you see an alternating red/green light.

They’re smart enough to know when to turn off and last over a day with full use which surprised me because the battery cell must be TINY. They’re hidden inside the earbuds and to charge them, you flip open the right bud’s cover. Inside is SE’s standard 2-pin charging port. Charging takes several hours tho which is the crappy part but I guess if you do it overnight, it’s not as bothersome.

In use they sound fantastic. Music was loud and clear. Phone calls seamlessly switch without a hiccup and the caller could not detect any unusual audio artifacts. These earbuds are excellent. The buds come with silicone caps to fit different shape ears too.

Why would anyone want these over the large selection of bluetooth headsets currently on the market? First off these guys are stereo and they fulfill two duties - handling phone calls and play music the way they were intended to be heard. $140 may seem pricey but when you consider those two factors, you’re actually getting a bargain. There are plenty of worthy headsets for phone calls only but all the wireless earbuds for music are terrible. These are by far the best ones on the market.

Now a note of caution. These are not fully compatible with the iPhone or iPod Touch. They pair just fine, calls come in, music plays but there’s no volume control. The touch-based volume buttons on the iPhone and Touch never appear leaving you stuck in volume limbo. It’s only a matter of a simple software update on Apple’s end but that has yet to happen and I can’t say when it will. It’s not anyone’s fault really - just a case of software oddities. I still firmly believe these are the best stereo bluetooth earbuds on the market.

What we loved:

  • Great design, compact case
  • Solid metal and plastic construction
  • Long battery life
  • Easy pairing
  • Noise canceling technology
  • Awesome sound, crystal clear
  • Snug fit good enough for exercise

What could be improved:

  • More color options
  • Battery charge time
  • Seamless switching between music and phone calls

Designer: Sony Ericsson ( Buy it here )

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Glassy French Press

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 12:10 AM PDT

If you’ve seen one french press, you’ve seen them all right? The art of the french press is in its simplicity. No complicated machinery or doo-dads. This french press is different because it’s molded out of a single piece of glass framed in metal. It’s not just a design aesthetic but for durability too. A single solid piece of glass is far more shatter resistant.

What’s even better is the entire thing is dish washer safe and BPA free. LOVES IT. If you’re interested, check out the three links below.

http://www.chris-woodward.com/
http://www.innovationlab.eastman.com/InnovationLab/inspiration/inspiration_moap.htm
http://www.innovationlab.eastman.com/InnovationLab/Tritan/index.html
Designer: Chris Woodward

One Piece French Press Coffee Pot by Chris Woodward

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The Ultimate Flat Iron, KQC Turbo Review

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 12:05 AM PDT

A flat iron review? Are you serious? Yes I’m TOTALLY FOR SERIOUS. The KQC Turbo Generation II isn’t just any flat iron. It comes with a slew of promises from faster, safer heating to protecting your hair while straightening it. Any of you privy to the experience of professional irons know there is a huge difference between a $200+ iron and a $30+ iron. Hit the jump and I’ll explain why this $200+ iron is a must have for anyone who regularly straightens their hair.

Straightening hair is damaging. Hair is strong but it wasn’t meant to be heated up at over 100ºF over and over. All irons have the same basic construction - a tong shaped tool with two metal plates that sandwich hair between them. The KQC Turbo II is different because the plates are ceramic and tourmaline. Ceramic performs as well as metal but creates a reaction when in contact with protein - the chief compound of hair. The resulting negative ions seal in moisture and protect the hair shaft, two benefits you can’t get from metal plates. Tourmaline is a mineral gemstone that evenly conducts heat preventing static which is a huge problem with cheaper irons.

Since I’m Asian, my hair is pretty straight. I only straighten it to produce certain styles. To put the KQC Turbo II to the test, I asked my friend Manaja to be my test subject - or rather her hair. Manaja’s hair texture is dense and curly. She’s straightened her hair before but avoids it because it breaks easily. I had already used the iron on myself so I gave her my assurance.

This iron is a dream to work with. It’s incredibly lightweight (thanks to ceramics) and heats up insanely fast (also thanks to ceramics). All I did to prep was brush Manaja’s hair and mist it with a heat protectant. As soon as I clamped the iron down on her hair, none of the sizzling or steaming prevalent in cheaper irons appeared. In under 20 minutes her thick hair was straightened. It would normally take her close to an hour with a regular iron. Her hair came out extremely silky and shiny and to her surprise and relief - no breakage.

What we loved:

  • Ceramic and tourmaline technology unique to KQC
  • Quick to heat up, quick to cool down
  • Comes with safety stand and pouch for travel
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Affordable considering cost of other professional irons
  • Easy to clean
  • Multiple heat settings

What could be improved:

  • Longer cord

Designer: KQC ( Buy it here )

Dancing Vases

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 12:01 AM PDT

I like these vases. They are an exploration of the latest laser sintering technology and illicit childhood memories of spinning tops. Each of the 5 vases is a snapshot of a top from the point of spin to a wobbling stand still. I love the design and what it stands for. They’re currently on exhibition at the London Design Festival but I’m crossing my fingers that these will go into production.

The sizes of the vases are 96 x 96 x 90 mm, 123 x 123 x 91 mm, 130 x 130 x90 mm, 96 x 96 x 88 mm and 192 x 129 x 90 mm (l x w x h)

Designer: Robin van Hontem

Dancing Vases by Robin van Hontem

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Volcanic Ash Furniture

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 12:01 AM PDT

As I’m sure you’re already aware, the word “tephra” derives from a Greek word meaning “ash.” The title of this project is Tephra Formations so I’m sure you can see where this is headed already. I hope you’re gonna like going there. We’re about to totally go there. An armchair, pouf, low-table and the mother or all chairs, the Irregular Bomb.

Tephra can be all sizes and shapes, scary and dainty, simple and deadly. Volcanos produce some wild stuff. Large fragments ejected from a volcano during eruption still in a semi-solid state are called “bombs.” Each one of these bits of furniture is a “bomb.”

Manufactured like such: each bit of furniture is upholstered in black leather with tufted details, sort of like a Chesterfield sofa. Then you sit on it, Potsie, and you’re good to volcano go!

Designer: Studio Robert Stadler

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Tephra Formations by Studio Robert Stadler

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