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  BYB - luxury and smartphone rolled into one

  BYB Balance Cell Phone by Bence Bogar

  Balance is an authentic luxury-smartphone. Up to now, these two categories (luxury and smart) have diverged, and few well-executed alternatives exist. The choice of material (titanium and stainless steel) and its mechanism (a shell-slide solution) impart exclusivity to the phone, while its features satisfy the most exigent business and multimedia requirements.

  The 45 x 73.5 x 10.25 mm concept combines the advantages of shell- and slider phones; when placed inside a pocket, the phones two inner touch-sensitive screens are protected, its storage therefore requiring no special attention. Flipped over, however, the advantages of the slider can be fully made use of, while in desk stand mode, the phone can be used as a clock or a digital photo frame, without the aid of a separate stand.

  The phone can be operated in multiple ways, either via the touchscreen displays (main - 2.8 inch , 400 x 240 pixel, 262K TFT), or with the help of the buttons located around them. Furthermore, the MindPad - first introduced on account of the BYB MulTicket allows the user to draw characters and symbols using simply his/her finger, which are then interpreted by the device, thus allowing for rapid and simple input.

  The backside touts a 5.1 megapixel camera equipped with auto focus, 2x optical zoom, QuadLED assist light, concealed by an active optical safer. The phone is GSM/3G/HSDPA compatible, with WiFi, BT 2.0 and GPS connectivity. Furthermore, it is equipped with a 3.5 mm and a MiniUSB port, and its 512 MB internal memory can be expanded with the help of a MicroSD card.

  Designer: Bence Bogar [ Product Page ]

  

  

  

  Posted 13 Jun 08

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  Looks like Lego is due for a comeback...

  Interactive LEGOS

  LEGOS have come a long way from the simple building blocks I remember from my childhood. Today they can become a total engineering feat which is why I gave up on them. Designer Jin Woo Han wants to bring people back and he believes autonomous interactivity could be the next big thing.

  His idea? Electric LEGOS. You will still buy LEGOS in kits but this time, you’re not bound by what you see on the box. The main circuit board looks like an ordinary LEGO piece but each notch conducts electricity. By connecting and arranging LEGO pieces on the board, your creation comes to life - a living diorama.

  He uses the Simpsons as an example. Place Marge and Homer on the board and they’ll talk to each other. Throw Bart into the mix and the conversation totally changes. Place a TV in the setting and the characters will comment on what’s showing. The possibilities are endless.

  Designer: Jin Woo Han

  

  

  

  Posted 30 May 08

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  Brix - Another concept of 'screen real estate'

  Two Brix Are Better Than One

  We here at Yanko have seen tons of concepts that attempt to bridge the idea of sharing not only content, but screen real estate with other similar devices. Unfortunately most of those concepts fall flat because they don’t seem to understand the need for a minimalistic approach in order for it to work. The Brix is one of the few that does it right.

  First and foremost, Brix is a phone. The entire surface is a touchscreen, even void of a receiver. There is no bezel at all so you really get 100% screen real estate on the front. You have all your personal multimedia functions just like any other phone but here’s where it gets interesting. By stringing together multiple Brix, you expand the screen real estate. Suddenly video is bigger. A temporary virtual shared folder is created to merge content between the devices until they’re disconnected or one device can be designated as the media hub and interface.  The awesome thing is the ability to endlessly string together as many Brix as you want. You can easily go from a small media player to a big screen TV. Throw in an external audio jack, DVR functions, GPS and we have a wonder device - like for real.

  Designer: Seokwon Hong

  

  

  

  

  Posted 29 May 08

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  DMP: Dual Music Player

  Dual Music Player That Plays Your MP3 Collection & Your CDs

  You want to enjoy your audio CDs while traveling but you also have a huge MP3 collection at home that you want to take with you. The ideal solution? DMP, a portable music player that supports CD and MP3 files. Use the MP3 player as you normally would, hang it around your neck, clip it on your jeans or place it in your pocket. Otherwise open both sides and insert your favorite CD and you got yourself a CD player my friend. Now that’s music to my ears.

  Designer: Yong-Seong Kim

  

  

  

  Posted 28 May 08

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  A computer in a coffee cup

  Cup of Java Script

  Technology and scaled down computers are finding their ways into more and more ubiquitous items in our lives. From RFID clothing tags and eBooks (Kindle) to running monitors (Nike/iPod) and even cars that respond to your voice (Ford Sync). Why not get a daily does of information stimulation while you have your morning brew? That’s what the designers of “The Cup” have in mind. They envision a cup that literally pours information in waves of holographic images for your daily consumption. Have a big creative meeting? Then spill your thoughts onto the conference table. Found a lot of racy pictures of your girlfriend on the internet? Then pour your finds all over her head and let her know your a just a little annoyed.

  Designer: Hyuh-Jin Lee & Hyeroung Choen

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Hyeroung Choen, Hyuh Jin Lee

  Posted 28 May 08

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  REALLY Small DVD Player

  Portable DVD Player That Plans On Using Flexible Full-color OLED

  This is a very similar concept to the VERY popular DMP (Dual Music Player) which we published a month ago. Instead, PDP (Portable DVD Player) act as a DVD player by twist opening the candybar like shape and inserting your favorite DVD. As for the display, designer Yeon-shin plans on using the Sony full color flexible organic electroluminescent display that is thin & lightweight.

  Designer: Yeon-shin Seung

  

  

  Posted 27 Apr 08

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  A light controlled by hand movements

  Airswitch Light - On & Off by Moving Your Hand

  A new typology of wall mounted light that doesn’t require a permanent mounting. Airswitch Z is an easy to install wall mounted light. Many conventional wall mounted lights requires several holes to be drilled into the wall, and an electric cable that runs inside the wall itself. This often requires an electrician and results in a permanent solution. Only a nail or a screw is required to hang the light from the slit running down the back of the shade. The light uses the AirSwith technology from Mathmos and appeals to both ends of Mathmos’ market people who consume from gadget shops, and people who consume from design shops. The wall mounted light creates an amusing effect of a floating object suspended to the wall that can magically be switched on and off and dimmed without touching it. Although it is design primarily to be used in the bedroom and living room, it also works well in corridors, public spaces and restaurants. Produced in polypropylene by a single-shot injection moulding process, the shade goes straight from the machine to the box. Surface finishes and the coloured edge are integrated in the moulding process. The cable is coloured and treated with a gradient to help the user visualize the area on the wall where they would use the airswitch.

  Designer: Robin Bigio & Oliviero Zanon [ Via: Mocoloco ]

  

  Posted 27 Apr 08

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  lol Curved iMac

  Curved iMac has your back…

  Many things come to mind when I imagine new features that might be useful on my Mac; a touch screen, integrated 3G connectivity, pop-out remote control, integrated LCD projector, and maybe even a ninja bear defense radar system… I had an incident, let it go. Designer Nuno Teixeira believes every computer should be two faced and with more curves. I dated that girl for a while and it was a hot nightmare, but his “iView” iteration of an Apple’s iMac definitely has a lot more appeal. Taking a cue from the 1950’s CINERAMA wrap-around movie theatre screens, this iMac iMock-up features a giant curved screen(for better orientation to the natural curvature of the human eye) and a second built in LCD screen on the back(useful for students and graphic designer.) While shooting for the stars, Nuno also included two webcams(front and back). The likelihood this will ever be made? 0%, the likelihood I would really like one of these? 100%

  Designer: Nuno Teixeira

  

  

  

  

  Posted 27 Apr 08

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  Dek's dream come true -or- Beautiful Laptops

  

  Posted 27 Apr 08

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  An office you can take with you

  Spherical Mobile Office

  Michiel van der Kley, has been producing designs since 1987. His latest design, Globus shows van der Kley’s creativity and imagination. Globus is a multi-functional mobile office with a twist, or sphere more like it. Closed, Globus will attract the most curious of spectators, and open, it reveals its’ real, creative function. Half of Globus is a comfortable swivel, seat, while the other half is a usable, adjustable table which can be used for a laptop or whatever the need may be. With hidden wheels to make Globus mobile, once opened up, the wheels are locked into place. Globus is available in a variety of shades and colors.

  Designer: Michiel van der Kley [ Manufacturer: Artifort & Gispen ]

  

  

  

  Posted 27 Apr 08