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| B&W Zeppelin iPod Speaker Review Posted: 16 Sep 2008 05:35 AM CDT There are few companies who evoke experience and know-how in speaker design as Bowers & Wilkins do. The company has over 40 years of history creating some of the best sound experiences for consumers and audiophiles alike. I had the opportunity to review their Zeppelin Speaker for the iPod. It’s been getting rave reviews from customers and won a Gold 2008 IDEA award. Kudos to Native Design. Must be good right? Let me preface by saying I’m not audiophile. Give me good bass, clear sound with easy controls and I’m a happy camper. Now on to the review. The Zeppelin’s elongated football shape looks like an aesthetic feature but it actually helps disperse sound waves over a wider area filling up the whole room. There are only two controls on the unit, a power button and volume. Everything else is done via a small pucky remote. Pictures don’t do its size justice. It’s big, over 25 inches long and weighing at least 15 pounds. Color me surprised when I realized the iPod dock wasn’t a handle. The way it was packaged, it was totally beckoning my hand to grab it and pull it out of the box. Only then did I noticed the instructions clearly cautioning such foolishness. Thankfully the entire unit is very well constructed so nothing broke. Just an FYI if you decide to purchase one. Turn the box over and let gravity do the work for you. It works with every iPod, iTouch and even the iPhone with a few caveats. Just seat your device onto the dock and the unit automatically turns on. It’ll also charge your device so that’s a win in my book. Navigating via remote was a cinch. Play/pause, next/previous, volume controls, main menu and power all arranged in a cross layout. Navigating an iPhone however was difficult. You could only move thru a current playlist since the iPhone’s iPod function is organized slightly different. This is of no fault of the Zeppelin since it was designed specifically for iPod and iTouch devices. What you really care about is sound. I was super delighted. My only other big iPod speaker investment was the ill-fated Apple Hi-Fi. It’s comparable in size and I thought it sounded fantastic but the Zeppelin is leagues ahead. The sound was so crisp and life-like. I kept pumping up the volume to see if I could hear distortion - only at the upper limits which is fine since nobody in their right mind listens to music that loud. There aren’t any treble or bass controls but I supposed using the iPod’s built in equalizer is adequate. The rear of the unit is almost entirely chromed out with the logo beautifully engraved flanked by two large port holes. Just above the rubberized foot stand are a bevy of ports, perfect for extending the unit’s capabilities to a TV, computer, or a non iPod MP3 player. Let me just say this. The Zeppelin, plus LCD TV, plus the Playstation 3 = HEAVEN. At $600, the Zeppelin is priced at the very upper eschalon for iPod speakers. Really the only competition in that price range are from Bose and none of their units look as sleek or sexy. I would argue you could buy a really nice multiple speaker entertainment system and get an AUX cable to interface with the iPod for less than $600 but that takes space. If you’re looking for an all inclusive unit, pick up the Zeppelin. You won’t be disappointed.
Features
Specifications
In the box
Designer: Native Design [ Buy It Here ]        |
| Posted: 16 Sep 2008 03:45 AM CDT I fail at managing laundry. I have way too many clothes. When I am ready to wash, it’s an all day affair dragging heavy baskets to and from the washer/dryer. I’m not saying I’m too busy or lazy. I just want a simpler solution and I think designer Guopeng Liang is on to something with his iBasket concept. It’s a hamper/washer/dryer. After you fill it up, an automatic wash and dry cycle initiates. It’s even Wi-Fi enabled to help you monitor it remotely. Once it’s finished, it’ll alert you via email or text message to your phone. Guopeng Liang doesn’t say what method of washing it uses, tho there are spillways for water so that must mean you have to be near a hose, a sink - some sort of outlet. It also doesn’t solve the problem or sorting. I wouldn’t want two separate units for colors and fabric types. But for now I’m happy knowing somewhere, sometime in the near future - my life will be one step closer to the Jetsons. Designer: Guopeng Liang        |
| Trigano Coffee Table, DO WANT! Posted: 16 Sep 2008 03:35 AM CDT The Trigano Coffee Table designed by Michael Laut is an architectural piece of modern living for any space. It is made with a large piece of acrylic bent 90 degrees, suspended in place by a wooden brace. The innovative and dramatic design provides for expansive foot-room as well as a striking visual statement. The transparent top makes anything placed on the table look “suspended” just like the table top itself. The Trigano has been produced in the transparent finish as well as a frosted alternative to help compliment its surroundings. I hope Michael Laut finds it in his heart to send Yanko Design his beautiful creation. Designer: Michael Laut        |
| Luminodot, Don’t Call it a Lite-Brite Posted: 16 Sep 2008 03:27 AM CDT I had a Lite-Brite growing up. The idea of sticking colored plastic nibs into a backlit board was so simple yet I remember sitting on the floor for hours on end, hypnotized by my juvenile creativity. Fast forward 20 years later and I’m getting that feeling again. Bandai has a Lite-Brite like product called the Luminodot. Same concept but for the 21st century. The design is sleek like an HDTV which in my opinion a good idea. Those of us with nostalgia wouldn’t want a toy in our grown up living rooms now would we? The backlit system is brighter and there’s accompanying software to help your creativity and to share templates. If you’re real creative, you can even program backlit animations. As usual Japan gets all the fun stuff. $100 is a little steep but I don’t think Bandai is targeting kids. In the meantime, we can play with their Luminodot simulator. Designer: Luminodot [ Via: Gizmodo ]        |
| I’ve Traveled Each and Every Highway Posted: 15 Sep 2008 08:57 PM CDT And more, much more than this, I did it My Way. And thanks to Signce Studio, you can do it your way with My Way too. This handheld device makes it possible not only to use a Get-There-Quick method, but a Smell-The-Roses method as well! Take note of the excellent integration of similar devices and innovation that makes My Way a new one. Signce Studio puts it like this: “Discover a new two mode navigational experience. Often you need to get from A to B as efficiently as possible. “Target Mode” covers those situations when time is of the essence and navigation has to be unmistakable. [On the other hand,] sometimes you are lucky enough to have some unexpected spare time. Your would prefer to roam around and discover new places rather than just go straight from A to B. “Cruise Mode” helps you arrange your trip so as to make spontaneous discoveries along your way.” I hope it would work like a GPS system and have pictures like Googlemap’s Street View also, not to mention the fact that it wouldn’t be long before someone made an application for use on the iPhone or a similar device. But let’s not split hairs! My Way is wide open to networking possibilities and opportunities for businesses to reach out-of-town visitors. Not only that, the graphics on the device are already hot! Right out of the package. And for people who travel by plane but don’t carry laptops (people still do that!) this device would be just fine for finding one’s way around. Myyy way. Designer: Signce Studio        |
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