This article was originally published on March 6, 2012.
Resembling a futuristic visor, the $799 device is worn like a pair of chunky goggles and earphones in one. This head-mounted audiovisual system uses a pair of 3D-capable HD OLED displays and a set of virtual-surround earphones for a fully-immersive media experience.
With this system wrapped around your head, you can enjoy a new connection to PS3 video games, you can watch movies from your iPad or connect with other media in ways you haven’t experienced yet.
The HMZ – which stands for head-mounted display – displays footage that is crystal clear. It is equipped with two 0.7in high definition organic light emitting diode (OLED) panels.
With these two 1280×720 0.7-inch OLED panels mounted in front of each eye as well as 5.1 surround sound from headphones integrated into the Head Mounted Display (HMD).
The viewer can enjoy a more natural 3D video experience that is completely free of crosstalk since each eye has its own display.
It is not recommended for people 15 years old and younger because some experts believe overly stimulating imagery is not good for teenagers whose brains are still developing, according to Shigeru Kato, a Sony vice president.
Sony claims “an immersive experience,which is similar to watching video on a large screen approximating 150 inches from 12 feet away (750-inch virtual screen, virtual viewing distance approximately 65 feet away).”
The concept here was more about making a functional phone and sound quality was more important than some of the dazzle you’d expect in most modern mobile phones.
Among other things to mention are the world clock, alarm clock and currency converter. The menu provides eight languages. The phone is designed to work in GSM networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and is equipped with a 2-inch screen.
It places value on a unique user interface while championing the idea of craftsmanship. At the very first sight the mobile phone will remind you of a very luxury, extraordinary watch, which isn’t that surprising, as, after all, the device was designed from a jewel’s point of view.
The phones also include custom ring tones composed by the Master of the upright Bass, Chris Minh Doky. This decadent cell also holds a 5.2 talk time charge, lasts 220 hours on standby, is engineered for superior sound and displays 7 languages.
Yet the Vektor ‘phones are as much a fashion accessory as they are a sonic sidearm, refreshingly styled by the Diesel clothing brand. The geometrically-driven design wraps the ears in angular facets, while a glossy black band stretches around the wearer’s head.
They’ll be available for $279.99 in the months to come, a premium price that is justified by Vektr’s rare visual appeal. A scientifically backed assault on your senses, these Diesel noise division phones change the way you listen to music and even your perception of sound itself.
There’s no other headphone on the market that captures the international flair and glistening excitement of its startling multi-planar, tri-fold design. And thanks to Monster’s advanced technological expertise, it sounds as exciting as it looks with crystal clear highs, accurate mids and stunning bass.
Of course, it’s obvious just by looking at the Vektr on-ear headphones that they look ultra sleek. Monster is no stranger to great looking and great sounding cans, and given the company’s advanced technological expertise.
Artists who prefer to sketch on paper can do so again, yet a digital representation of their work can be tossed into Photoshop and Illustrator in moments.
You clip the receiver to the top or side of your paper or note and start drawing away. Each stroke is recorded separately onto flash storage on the receiver, and a button on its top allows you to separate series of strokes into layers.
To start a new drawing, you just turn the Inkling on and off, or just unclip it from the paper and insert a new page.
The files are quickly imported into Wacom’s SketchManager software, where they can be converted into layered bitmap images for use in Photoshop or Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, or as vectors for Illustrator or SketchBook Designer.
Pressure sensitivity in the pen means that the thickness of strokes is reflected in the digital artwork.
It uses standard removable ballpoint nibs that you can pick up from any art or stationary store, and changing them is a doddle using a hooked hole built into the case. It’s heavier than most ballpoint pens, and with a rechargeable battery in its top, its balance is a little top-heavy.
Its very user friendly, simple to use and very small. A ballpoint pen with a tracker in it that records your strokes to a small box you can carry with you, it’s been described as the ideal digital tool for artists who prefer real pens to digital substitutes.
Unlike portable storage, iTwin lets your data stay safely at home (or in the office). Wherever you then find yourself in the world, you can plug the portable end of your iTwin into any internet connected computer of either type and gain full, secure access to your office machine.
And although it’s an outstandingly simple system to use, with no subscription charges or other complications. The security is extremely sophisticated. Only the two halves of the iTwin know the key to speak to each other and they generate a new key each time you pair them.
iTwin doesn’t store any data on itself. It just enables a secure connection between two computers. Your remote data can only be accessed if you have the physical iTwin with you.
Additionally, you can set up your iTwin to require a password. iTwin is a secure USB device providing Two-Factor Authentication (hardware device + password). It includes a feature that allows you to remotely disable the connection if you lose your remote iTwin half. So you can get assured that your data is safe, even if you lose your iTwin device.
If you’re into electronic music, the skull-shaking bass offered by the Atomic Floyd SuperDarts will give you endless hours of pleasure with their bright red cable and shiny metal bits stuck on the end, bullet-like tips are back, complete with aggressive grooves.
Settled in the top half of the left-hand cable you’ll find an in-line remote made from more of that tough metal.
The remote is placed so it dangles just below your chin, which makes it better for picking up your voice than some headsets we’ve used, and makes it easy to find when you have to quickly skip the songs.
The SuperDarts use dual drivers, meaning you have two speakers pumping out music in each ear. The dual drivers handle low and high frequencies separately, with the purpose of providing a more defined sound than headphones that rely on one driver for everything.
The attention to detail has been so great that even the cable has been designed so that it doesn’t get tangled in knots when tucked away in your pocket. But, although these headphones are good, ultimately it all comes back to the price as it costs around £199.
The Celsius X VI II Papillon Tourbillon Mobile Phone features a tourbillon, front-and-center within its sleek black case. It is used to tell time with the precision only a mechanical watch could offer, but built into a mobile communications device.
This cell phone merged with a tourbillion watch featuring a patented Remontage Papillon mechanism, heralds a new generation of objects with high emotional value.
The successive design sketches reveal a quest for perfect elegant – skilfully contoured lines, fine materials and subtle details – through a functionalist approach, beauty without excess.
The quality of the manufacture hints at a fine watchmaking influence. The pieces of the case are of the best workmanship, and most of the roughly 547 mechanical components are hand-finished.
Packing 61-point High Density Renticular Autofocus and up to 6fps continuous shooting, the EOS 5D Mark III also steps up its HD video game, capable of capturing 1080/24p, 25p and 30p as well as 720/60p half hour long clips with H.264 compression and a headphone jack for real-time audio monitoring, a first for an EOS model.
Lower noise and higher sensitivity are promised from a gapless microlens design, with an eight channel readout doubling the speed the sensor can shuttle data to the imaging processor. The end result is better quality RAW, JPEG and movie.
6fps burst-mode shooting is great for capturing fast-paced action such as sports or event photography. In-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR)–Shutterbugs now have the ability to capture the same scene in three different exposures and combine the images in-camera resulting in an evenly-exposed image.
This enables users to select Picture Styles, capture multiple exposures and access the HDR shooting mode. 5D MKIII is capable of recording and merging three shots to produce a high dynamic range image.
You can then record your melody on the included 4-track recorder which works just like old-fashioned analog tape.
You can sample a sound from another song, something you say or sing, or even something off of the built-in (and totally awesome) FM radio.That recording capability (and the FM radio) make this little stunner a serious synthesizer.
Add to it that it’s fully portable (and capable of 16 hours of use per charge) and you have reason to celebrate. It can connect to PC/Mac/Linux systems via USB for greater control and to transfer completed songs to and from the device for storage.
The Skiff Reader pushes the e-reader standard by featuring a full touchscreen display spanning 11.5-inches. The “silicon thin-film-transistors” technology is a bit more esoteric.
In short, the technology used in the Skiff Reader makes it flexible– meaning it can bend and warp on a whim, giving it a more durable and rugged build in contrast to those crackable Kindles.
The Skiff uses a metal foil design that merges with the thin film transistors to fit into a low-profile shape, in this case just a quarter-inch in thickness. The Skiff Reader has overtaken the as the largest e-reader on the market, but its size isn’t what makes the Skiff so special.
It provides a new, finger-friendly world of navigation as you flip pages, highlight and select content modules and skim through your favorite ebooks.