Not being an audiophile, it takes a lot to impress me when reviewing a speaker system. I didn’t think much of reviewing Aperion’s new sound bar style speaker as it seemed like a pretty straight forward device. The idea of a sound bar (soundbar) style speaker is to offer an external speaker when using many of today’s flat panel television sets because the native speakers they have usually aren’t very good or get very loud. Rather than getting a more complicated and space intensive speaker set, a sound bar offers a total package in a thin speaker strip. At least that is the idea. Usually these compact devices have serious drawbacks in the interest of being small. What I found however is that Aperion loaded the Signature collection SLIMstage30 with a ton of features and options to make it one of the best and most comprehensive speaker systems I have ever used - all in a one-piece device.
Spain-based industrial designer Stefan Radev has given the $60 million Gulfstream G550 private jet a makeover, including cool iPad controls à la P. Diddy’s Solemates superyacht. From the exterior livery to the seating arrangements, Radev’s design scheme is simple, elegant and ergonomic. It’s also full of eco-friendly touches like bamboo woodwork.
Natural light is emphasized in the airy interior design with oversized oval-shaped windows and neutral tones complementing the bamboo in an open-plan layout equally suited to working or lounging. iPads and iPods also control the various climate and entertainment functions for the passengers. It’s just a concept at this point, but easily made real with enough money.
Spring is here and with it backyard barbecues and weekends spent lounging on the patio. The audio experts at Altec Lansing would hate for you to miss out on hearing any of your favorite tunes while you’re out and about, so the inMotion Air was created to be an ultra portable and easy-to-use mobile audio solution. It uses Bluetooth technology to stream music wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad, smartphone, or other stereo Bluetooth device and if you use the included USB transmitter the range is more than 300ft.
I was able to try one out personally and found it to be a sleek and lightweight compact speaker system. After charging it for a couple hours pairing it to my cell phone via Bluetooth took just a few seconds and music playback started as soon as I hit the play button. Pairing it with my laptop via the USB transmitter was also quick and simple — just plugged the transmitter into a USB slot and adjusted the computer audio output settings to USB.
In terms of sound the speaker puts out crisp, full audio with deeper bass than I expected considering its small size. Battery life is excellent — once fully charged it played for an entire evening without missing a beat. I was also surprised at how loud it could get when I cranked up the volume (or more accurately when I accidentally turned it with the volume all the way up!).
Other features include a handy and comfortable carrying handle on the back, options for wired access to non-Bluetooth/non-USB devices, and a remote control (accesses basic functions in most music players, iTunes included) that tucks neatly into a slot onto the back of the speaker so it won’t get lost. It’s also small and light, which means it’s easy to tote around (it almost fits in my handbag) and can fit into tight spaces like a bathroom.
The Altec Lansing inMotion Air is an excellent option for portable audio when earbuds and headphones just won’t do. Available online for $199.95.
Canadian luxury phone maker Mobiado is in Switzerland this week for the BaselWorld watch and jewelry show with the new CPT002 concept phone. Designed in collaboration with Aston Martin, the CPT002 is comprised of a fully transparent sapphire crystal capacitive touchscreen display suspended between two platinum bars that house all the electronics and battery.
Striking though it is, the CPT002 is more than just a pretty face. The tie-in with Aston Martin comes into play as the phone is designed to interface with the car’s infotainment system, wirelessly interfacing with social media sites to help you locate the people you’re meeting up with or updating them automatically on the progress of your road trip or day at the race track. The built-in accelerometer will also alert the car itself in case of an impending crash, preparing the car’s safety systems for the imminent collision.
Impressive stuff, though strictly a concept for the time being.
Riedel stemware are beautiful “tools” (in the words of CEO Maximilian Riedel) to help you get the most out of your wine varietal or spirit of choice. But they also come with a seven step “Cleaning Guide,” which is about four to five more steps than I want to perform when doing dishes. The solution came from high-end German appliance maker, Miele, who overcame Riedel’s skepticism to become the first automatic dishwasher approved by the 250-year-old Austrian glassmakers for cleaning their products.
Riedel, along with Miele USA CEO Nick Ord, convened at Miele’s Manhattan gallery to announce the partnership, which they said went beyond brand synergy and represented an old-fashioned European alliance, sealed with a handshake. Ord said the goal of achieving Riedel’s imprimatur was a personal, as well as, professional challenge for him, as he owns Riedel glassware and naturally uses a Miele machine at home. Extensive and rigorous testing ensued with an emphasis on Miele’s patented water hardness-adjusting GlassCare function and the basket design of the G 5000 series (Riedel is especially sensitive about his glasses being placed too close together).
Satisfied that their Museum of Modern Art-worthy wine glasses were in good hands, Riedel gave its blessing. When used properly, Miele owners can expect their Riedel glasses to last 1,500 washing cycles, or about 20 years on average, according to Ord. That sure beats 20 years of the seven step method.
There are some pretty striking electronics designs out there — whether they’re from the iHome Studio Series or Bang & Olufsen. While talented industrial designers toil away at making our gadgets more beautiful, few have tapped into the pool of the world’s most renowned designers. Names like Yves Behar, with whom Denmark’s Aesir has teamed up for this latest top-of-the-line mobile phone.
Munitio earphones just might be the Cadillac of earbuds. Annie Scott called the 18k gold version “double-take worthy” and now I can personally vouch that the SITi S Nine Millimeter Earphones are even more drool-inducing.
Encased in extreme industrial grade titanium for natural noise canceling and beauty as well as its high level of durability and safety (it’s the same stuff NASA uses in high performance applications), the earphones feel surprisingly heavy in the hand (a little like actual bullets) but they all but disappear in the ears — once sizing is adjusted of course. The sound is crisp, deep, and beautiful, which is presumably in large part due to the custom tuned AccousticSoundFlowSystem[TM], BassEnhancingChamber[TM], and SiliconeHollowPoints[TM] technology, as well as the 9mm speaker drivers with rare earth neodymium magnets for superior dynamic range and quick recovery. And it’s probably worth mentioning that since I got my review unit they’ve released a new BLK version that comes with a microphone.
Gadgets are great and I especially love the ones that fill a legitimate need instead of being a gadget for gadgetry’s sake. Take our camcorder. As much as I love my iFlip — the camcorder that’s the size of a smartphone and is just as easy to use — I’ve missed the ability to check my shot. The iFlip’s viewing screen is less than two inches square and in sunlight is rendered unusable by the glare. I have no idea whether I’ve loped my daughter’s head off at the Halloween parade (I did) or caught my son sliding into home base (I didn’t).
The Shoot ‘n Share Camcorder Projector, which retails for about $300 plus a memory card through Hammacher-Schlemmer, provides a nifty solution. You can instantly project what you just shot on to the nearest wall or flat surface, zooming in to check facial expressions and zooming out to check backgrounds.
This is my third Herman Miller chair and I am beginning to notice a trend - Herman Miller makes pretty darn good chairs. I am not exactly the don of places to sit, but I have sampled an awful lot of chairs in my life. So why is it that I put chairs like those that Herman Miller offers on a pedestal? Well the reasons are pretty simple actually. They want their chairs to be well-made, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing. Does that sound like a simple formula? It is, but at the same time chairs are one of the most complex pieces of furniture to make - especially an ergonomic desk/work chair. As I spend more time learning about good chairs and how they are designed, I am impressed by the ingenuity and details that is taken into consideration when designing something new. This is despite the fact that chair designers have so much to look to for inspiration. There are also a lot of really bad chairs out there, so that is something to think about when planning where to plant your rear.
This is the Sayl, and it is Herman Miller’s newest family of work chairs. I say family because in addition to being available in various colors and trims, the chair itself is literally available in a lot of different styles with various options, etc… What each of the Sayl chairs share is the “suspension” style chair back with the “Y” frame design. This design is based loosely on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco where chair designer Yves Behar lives. I too live in San Francisco, and wouldn’t have seen the design connection unless you explained it to me - but now I see it, and smirk at the similarity between the back of the chair and the curve of the cables from the bridge’s suspension towers.
According to Element Case, the Vapor Pro is the most expensive non-designer iPhone 4 case available. This version is masculine looking and made in aluminum. Rather than snapping on to the iPhone 4, it is screwed on (with a supplied tool). The ports to all the buttons and connectors on the phone are easy to access, while the case further gives the iPhone a more ergonomic shape for holding. There is even a polymer section over the antenna to prevent signal issues. Element cases offers the Vapor Pro iPhone case in a number of colors and finishes. Retail price is $149.99, and you can enter to win one below.
To enter, leave a comment on this post sharing why you’d like to win this case. The giveaway ends on March 18th at 8:00pm PST. See additional rules below.
* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before March 18th, 2011 at 8:00PM Pacific Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive one Element Case Vapor Pro iPhone 4 case valued at $149.99.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.
Hands-free trash cans are great. What’s not so great is if you have to do a wild hand-waving dance to get them to open or if, even worse, they slam shut while you are putting things in. Design-centered home goods brand simplehuman says that “innovation only makes sense if it’s in sync with your needs” so they promise their sensor trash can won’t unexpectedly open or close on you.
A little something called multi-sense technology keeps the can from having the drop on you. The trigger zone is a focused space directly above the lid which is precise enough to avoid false triggers. Once the lid is open, the bin enters task mode and the trigger zone extends to become more sensitive to activity, so the lid won’t close before you’re finished. After three seconds of continued activity, the lid automatically opens wider and switches to a 30-second stay-open mode. A natural charcoal filter is in the lid to help neutralize odors. The can will run up to 12 months with 6 high-quality alkaline C batteries, not included), or plug the can in with a power adapter which is sold separately. The 40L can is $225, the 48L recycler is $275 and the 55L is $275.
Holy crap most Bluetoothheadsets are awful to be seen in public with. Seriously, if you see someone wearing a Bluetooth headset who isn’t on the phone, please smack them (for legal reasons I need to remind you not to batter or assault anyone!). Unfortunately, Bluetooth headsets are a necessity for many people. Either you need to drive while talking, or you just don’t have enough free hands (I have four of them). So when you must use a headset, it should be one that offers a pain-free experience and doesn’t look like you have a techno-parasite hanging off your ear.
Watch brand Parmigiani makes Bugatti labeled watches and now inventor and “world’s most complex” belt buckle maker Roland Iten, has teamed up with Bugatti for a special belt buckle - and it is almost as complex as the Veyron.
The belt buckle is hard to explain if you haven’t had experience with Roland Iten. I have a little video and some hands-on information with a similar Roland Iten belt here. Basically the buckles are designed to preserve the life of the belt, to offer smooth operation, and micro-flexibility in size and adjustment. The Bugatti edition belt buckle is based on the Roland Iten Mk.I-22mm. It offers precise micro-adjustments for the perfect fit and does so in the neatest of manners. This belt will fit your exact waist - and adjust to when that size changes….
The iPad may have forever changed the wine list. Now instead of providing their guests with a book-length wine list they can hand over a slim tablet. But the iPad adds more than mere portability, part of the appeal is that the iPad can also serve as an educational tool to learn more about the wine as you choose. Tech-savvy wineries who are already using multimedia platforms have a jump on this technology. One of them is Jordan Vineyard & Winery which has created a winemaker tasting note video series, created for iPad wine lists, as well as smart phones. The ready-made videos of winemaker Rob Davis offer taste profiles for specific wines. Chicago Cut Steakhouse was the first restaurant to premiere a video on its iPad wine lists in February, which features the winemaker discussing 2006 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon and signature Chicago Cut dishes.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery has invested in technology, becoming the first family wine estate to create an in-house department for high-definition web video production. The winery began integrating video into all aspects of its sales and marketing beginning in early 2010 and is ready to provide custom videography services to key restaurateurs and retailers. The ready-made digital wine list videos are two-minute vignettes where the winemaker briefly describes the style and taste profile of the wine, as well as cellar life span and suggested food pairings. Custom videos of similar length include subtitles to accommodate restaurant noise levels and can be tailored to suggest specific restaurant dishes that would pair with Jordan Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon.
When I first learned about this new case/grip for the Apple iPad I was stoked - it seemed to be exactly what the iPad needed to be more more usable in a lot of instances. I don’t hide the fact that I think Apple designs pretty piss poor items from an ergonomic standpoint. The iPhone is like a slippery pebble, and holding the iPad with one hand and using it with another causes wrist and hand strain after prolonged use. Basically, the iPad is like a heavy piece of paper, with nothing to really hold on too. They just sort of deferred usability to the world of accessory makers that happily come to the rescue.
A keyboard’s just a keyboard, right? Some may have extra features or a more ergonomic design, but what if you’re looking for a little bit of extra style? This could be your answer, but only if you’ve got $2,800 to spend on a computer peripheral.
Inspired by the Chrysler Building in Manhattan, the New Yorker Art Deco keyboard is a modern celebration of classic New York style. It’s made of aluminum and polished brass, with keys that look like they’d be at home in a classic skyscraper’s elevator. It could be that perfect touch for a richly decorated office where the usual array of sleek or just plain boxy keyboards would look out of place.
Did you hear? Those pathetic white earbuds are out in favor of actual headphones that don’t destroy your hearing (as much) and sound a lot better. Actual headphones also give you the ability to show off cool designs. You can look like a DJ from any era with what is available out there. For our loyal readers I’ve got one pair of new V-MODA Crossfade LP headphones available to win (in your choice of color). With a name like the “Crossfade LP” these headphones have a name with two disc jockey terms! That must mean something good, right? They do actually look neat and offer actual memory foam ear cushions for extra comfort. The long cord has a controller on it to control the volume as well as controlling playback (with compatible devices). You can get these Crossfade LP headphones in one of five colors. and they retail for $199. To enter for a chance to win one, see below.
Here’s one for the ultimate baby boomer game room. Stern Pinball has announced the Rolling Stones pinball machine. While playing the game, you collect famous record albums, ride Rolling Stones ramps and advance through four decades of rock and roll. The machine plays 13 Rolling Stones favorites during game play, including “Brown Sugar,” “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll,” “Start Me Up” and many more classic Stones hits.
It’s never too early to start thinking about outfitting your beach house, so might I suggest that The Regent Grand Hotel in Bordeaux, France, offers an idea worth copying.
If you love to eat those delightful sea crustaceans, and who doesn’t, you will want to do like the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Pressoir d’Argent, and acquire a lobster press.
There aren’t very many of these devices in the world — it’s 90 pounds, made of silver, and looks like a cross between something Willy Wonka might dream up and a torture device — but it’s also shiny and adorned with lovely lobster sculptures as it’s meant to be used tableside.
The idea is similar to a duck press — after removing tail and claws, the rest of the lobster is inserted into the press, where a two-person team works the device to press out the lobster juices. (See the gallery for an action shot.) The result: lobster jus, much stronger in flavor than you’d get from the most developed lobster stock. At The Regent, the chef adds the jus to bearnaise sauce, and serves that on top of roasted lobster meat.
The lobster press is are custom made by Christofle, and take 150 hours of labor by ten master craftsmen to create — they cost 30,000 Euro, just or around $40,700.
Or you can just book a table at the restaurant, and after such grand meal, you’ll certainly require a room. It’s hard to beat the view at the Royale Suite, which has a terrace jacuzzi — but I like the Prestige Suites, which come with their own private wine bar within rolling distance of (the very comfy) bed.
Which, come to think of it, is another fine idea for your beach house.
If you’re driving a Lamborghini sportscar, you might as well pick up a Lamborghini laptop computer to go with it. But what do you do if your Lamborghini laptop doesn’t have enough storage capacity? Why, you get a Lamborghini hard drive, too!
Like the branded Lamborghini mobile phone and the aforementioned laptops, the new external hard drive is made by Taiwanese electronics company Asus, and features a design inspired by the exotic supercars. It will be available in 500GB and 750GB sizes, with either high-speed USB 2.0 or SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connectivity. But with prices starting at around $120 for the 500GB USB 2.0 version, they cost nearly twice as much as a competing device without the supercar styling.
Aperion Signature SLIMstage30 Speaker Bar Review originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 12 May 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Riedel
Gadgets are great and I especially love the ones that fill a legitimate need instead of being a gadget for gadgetry’s sake. Take our camcorder. As much as I love my iFlip — the camcorder that’s the size of a smartphone and is just as easy to use — I’ve missed the ability to check my shot. The iFlip’s viewing screen is less than two inches square and in sunlight is rendered unusable by the glare. I have no idea whether I’ve loped my daughter’s head off at the Halloween parade (I did) or caught my son sliding into home base (I didn’t).
