Unplugged

Final Frame: Invisible Creature's Studio

2008-11-21T21:00:33+00:00

Invisible Creature interview over at Grain Edit.

Two New Ipod Docks: From Vacuum Tubes to WiFi

2008-11-21T20:30:33+00:00

iPod docks are a dime a dozen, but it's needless to say that we all need one, when we want to share our music with friends or take a break from the headphones. A good dock replaces a boombox and is perfect for anyone wanted to immediately play their music. With computers becoming more and more multi-functional, it's not surprising to see that a whole generation has come to embrace the iPod as their main music purveyor.

Marantz IS301 Marantz just announced the upcoming release of a new WiFi dock for your iPod. It comes with a sleeve that will piggyback on your iPod and transmit both the audio and video to the base station, where it will be relayed to a home theater system. The system is Bluetooth compatible. It's basically a wireless expander for your iPod. It looks interesting since you can be sitting around your place and change tracks on the fly, while not worrying too much about prepped playlists. What's cool is that it promises to rebroadcast not only music, but photos and videos as well. It will retail for about $280 in Japan. [via CrunchGear] Logic 3's Valve80 This isn't the first vacuum based iPod sound system, but it certainly is interesting. However this one is only for the UK market and it's made by Logic 3. The Valve80 includes a pair of 2-way bookshelf speakers, which are coated in a black lacquer finish. There is a swanky looking vacuum tube amplifier that punches out 40-watts per channel. It naturally comes with an iPod dock and the usual assortment of ports. It will retail for $450 in the UK. [via T3] MORE IPOD DOCKS Roundup: Tube Stereos, Radios, and HiFi For Your iPod Retro Clock Ipod Dock DIY Iphonola: How to Make Your Own iPhone Dock From an Old Record Player Vertical Ipod and Iphone Clock Dock

Good Questions: A Good Camera Wall Display?

2008-11-21T17:56:04+00:00

Looks like we're not the only ones that love old school cameras around here... Hi Unplggd! I stumbled upon your wonderful post about 35mm cameras yesterday and to be honest, you timing couldn't have been better! I'm looking for a wall display for show off all of my collected cameras over the past 2 years.. I have about 12 now.. and I thought I'd ask you guys to see if you knew a place where I could order one? Thanks!! -Amy

Well, it just so happens Apartment Therapy did a roundup not too long ago of wall display cases. We grabbed a few suggestions from there and included a few of our own. Enjoy! It looks like Gemo carries a variety of display cases and even customizable ones for your liking. The IKEA LACK wall shelf makes a comeback and continues to be one of the most versatile wall shelves we've ever seen. It looks like the Container store also provide a few stackable ones if you prefer not to hang it on your wall. [image from Alex Kerhead]

Compass 35 The Ultimate Tool: The iPhone of Multitools

2008-11-21T17:30:50+00:00

We all know that the iPhone is ubiquitous of our modern times. You can't walk a few paces before you see one. Everyone has one or wants one. This makes you wonder. What was the iPhone of the past? What was the gadget that you couldn't live without in the 30s or 70s? One thing's for sure, the Compass 35 comes close to being the ultimate gadget of all time. Just looking at this little gizmo makes me want to have one. The only thing that you might wonder is, what exactly is it? It's a compass, camera and a multitool. And guess what? It was launched in the '30s. Yep, the 1930s! Now, how cool is that. These objects are just so beautiful, it's almost scary. Everything has been compacted into a small size. To make things even better, it was designed by Jaeger LeCoultre in 1937.

The Compass 35 was advertised in 1938 as the ultimate embodiment of scientific systems in miniature cameras. It's built like a watch. It's also a finely-machined aluminum body camera, incorporating a large number of features in a tiny space. It was developed in part by Lord Noel Pemberton Billing, British aviator and inventor. The original sold for about £30. It's constructed out of a large number of interlocking pieces and has a fully functional camera and tools. Now, that price would translate into something like $2000. To us it looks like a Swiss Army Knife was included into the concept, which is even more cool. Compass, camera and multitool, now that's a great combination. Naturally, this little baby doesn't take digital pictures, it takes them on 24x36mm negatives. Pemberton-Billing began work on designing the Compass around 1930 and it was finally patented on 16th May 1936. The Swiss company Jaeger LeCoultre was chosen because of their skill in watch making. The manufacturing required setting up and the camera was finally launched in March 1937. There are two different versions of the Compass. The Compass II had the folding focusing magnifier on the ground glass back. There were only about 150 Compass I cameras made. There were probably between 1000 and less than 4000 Compass II made. A surprising number can be found on auction sites. [via NotCot]

Mini Roundup of Home Tech from Apartment Therapy House Tours

2008-11-21T17:00:00+00:00

We hope you're already an Apartment Therapy reader across all of our sites, because even though the focus over there veers away from home technology, you're bound to see many great ideas of integrating home tech with home decor from many of our inspiring house tours. Here's a small round up home tech setups that caught our eyes in the last week (from top left to right clockwise):

Vase Router Does More for Shelves than Sit Behind DVDs

2008-11-21T15:30:00+00:00

Sitting in front of us on our Ikea Expedit bookcase right behind our collection of DVDs (the blue ones, arranged by color as per an AT suggestion), is our standard antenna-adorned black box of a wireless router. It serves it's function just fine, delivering wireless internet access to us and anybody who can decode our password, so we can't ever say we've wished it would do more. But with this router that doubles as a vase, we could put our little lifesaver right in the middle of the table....

As the press release will tell you, STC's Router bridges the gap between lifestyle and technology (just like Unplggd!) with its flower vase functionality. But of course, we have take a pause at the idea of filling a router with liquid. What do you think, Unplggd? Features include wireless internet, Voice over IP, land line telephone and wired DSL. [ Via Dezeen ]

"KAZE TO DESKTOP" Will Blow You Away

2008-11-21T15:20:27+00:00

On a scale of 1 to 10, we're gonna say the "KAZE TO DESKTOP" is a 9.875, and will certainly be added to any future cool screen saver roundup (free to try, $8 to buy). Words don't do it justice...the screensaver takes control of your desktop, blowing away all your icons and open windows depending upon the actual wind conditions of your own city's weather. You just have to see it in action or install it yourself...

OS : Windows XP/Vista with .NET Framework 1.1
CPU : Intel Pentium 4, Intel Centrino, Intel Xeon, or Intel Core Duo (or compatible) processor
MEMORY : 512MB or Higer
HDD : At least 5MB of Available Hard-disk Space
INTERNET ACCESS :DSL / CABLE / FTTH

Download or preview Kaze to Desktop in action here.

Re(al)view: iZap Toothbrush, Clean UV Revolution

2008-11-21T15:00:00+00:00

Most sheeple don't realize that their toothbrushes are not immune to germs and filth. They wax on to waiters and waitresses about the little spots on their flatware and never think twice about sticking the same piece of plastic into their mouths for over a year. Would you use the same fork for that amount of time without cleaning it? It is time that we stood up as a population and said "I am not a Dirty Brusher! I am a Revolutionary!"

In the Unplggd bathroom, we take our toothbrushes seriously. To keep them clean, we usually soak them in hydrogen peroxide after use. This is probably unusual and it isn't super easy to do because it means you need to remember to come back to rinse the toothbrush off after letting it soak for a few minutes. As a revolutionary, you don't have time for such trivialities. Brushing is no longer a game, as we may have once believed. The establishment is not going to overthrow itself; you must grab the future by the handle and BRUSH. Our friends over at Violight are pulling off a coup that free citizens will sing about for generations. Utilizing the spiritual light that permeates the ultraviolet spectrum, they have put together a portable system that kills 99.9% of bureaucratic incumbants in the supplied toothbrush. We have been using the iZap for about a month... after procuring the necessary AAA batteries via the La Flour Dans le Noir (underground resistance, translation: "The Flour in the Darkness"). In these trying times, triple 'A's are hard to come by and we are sincerely grateful to those who risk and give their lives to keep Americans clean. The life of a smuggler is fraught with danger... but also creativity: This may look like an ordinary toothbrush case, but hidden in the top is a secret UV lamp that comes on only when the lid is closed. This lamp will illuminate the bristles for several minutes to effectively destroy all bacteria from the current, crumbling regime. When the new Utopia is brought into existence, it will be moments and fabulous products like these that will be the subjects of refrains for our anthems (of hope and justice). We of Unplggd implore you; do not sit idly by while germs of the old republic fill their coffers with the fruits of our toils. Brush away the old, and usher in the new, clean mouths of Freedom. Related Links: Re(al)view: Oral-B Pulsonic Power Toothbrush Computerized Toothbrush Makes Brushing Teeth a Game Sonicare Elite Electric Toothbrush

Good Idea: Medicine Chest as CD Storage

2008-11-21T13:30:57+00:00

Now we know owning CDs is a bit retro these days, but hey, some of us don't trust the lasting effect of digital audio formats. For those albums you just can't live without, it's a good idea to own a hard copy, but where do you store these jewel cases? Found on Design*Sponge, Jenny Sauer keeps her discs in a vintage medicine chest and we love it. Tucking them away makes them less of a focal point than keeping them on a wall shelf, but the glass door reminds you that, hey, you own music! Now of course, this solution is for those who don't own thousands and thousands of albums. For those who do may we suggest ripping your collection, filing them in a binder with sleeves, and using your jewel cases to make a chandelier. But for those who want to recreate Jenny's storage idea we looked through eBay for you and found some cool chests...

Buttercup Yellow Antique Medicine Cabinet

Vintage Pie Safe/Spice/Medicine Cabinet

Vintage Style Remedies Cabinet

Bath Soap Cabinet

top photo: jenny sauer

Boombench by NL Architects: Ghetto Blaster Meets Seating

2008-11-21T13:05:02+00:00

What you're looking at is a bench that can play music transmitted via Bluetooth from your cell phone, a conceptual exploration of seating and interactivity that was displayed at Urban Play 2, an event put on by the imaginative Droog Design team. Watch how it works underneath the jump...

boombench from michael schoner on Vimeo.

In order to boost the capacity the Boom Bench features eight 60-watt co-axial speakers and two subwoofers that can be accessed through Bluetooth. The Boom Bench in a way is a super-sized Docking Station. Connect your player to the amplifier and take control. Now you can play your music with 95 dB high quality sound. A Bass Shaker in the seat transforms the deep sounds into vibrations that enhance the physical sensation of your tunes.

[via Dezeen]

Can You Guess This Computer Mouse's Secret?

2008-11-21T12:00:00+00:00

Multi-tasking with tech is always a good thing in our book. (We mean like having gadgets that do two or more things at once, like this 3-in-1 USB flash drive laser pen, not like using your laptop on the loo.) This seemingly innocent mouse is hiding a secret. Depending on what you do, it might not be something you use everyday, making it just the kind of thing you'd want built-in to your mouse, taking up no desktop space and always ready to go...

This USB Optical Mouse has a built-in a SDHC card reader, making it oh-so-convenient to transfer data from SD or microSD cards to your computer without those "OMG where is my card reader?" moments. Available here for only $15. We'd have to assume the mouse isn't exactly top-of-the-line, but well worth losing a little specs to have such a handy little gadget combo.

Roundup: Our Picks for Best High Definition Projectors of 2008

2008-11-21T11:17:58+00:00

Projectors have always been right there in the middle between value and practicality. For one, it allows easy movie watching for crowds larger than 4-5. Toss up a screen and you're immediately set to watch a movie on screens 62-inches and up. On the other hand, it's almost impossible to recommend them for day-to-day watching, especially if your house has lots of natural light during the daytime. Still, we love them as they really bring the "movie-watching experience" right into your living room, and while they look expensive, the screen size to value ratio is pretty much the best there is out there. What are you waiting for? Click through for the roundup!

Samsung SP-A800B: While it looks more like an alien spacecraft than a projector, it's received one of the highest marks from Cnet and other review sites and continues to be our pick for best projector in its class ($4500). Sony VPL-VW60: Like Sony's Bravia brand, it kicks major butt in everything from contrast radio, blacks, and features ($3500). Panasonic PT-AE2000U: An excellent package with tons of value - you get great levels of black, tons of options, and a slew of connectivity to turn your living room into a high-definition sanctuary. ($2010). That's all for this year folks. Come back later and we should have more roundups for this year's hottest tech items! [images from Cnet]

In Case You Missed It: What's In This Closet?

2008-11-21T10:30:00+00:00

At first, we thought that this might be another example of a shower hidden in the closet. Well it's not, because a shower in a closet would be a bit weird on unplggd. Instead, Lise from AT SF shows us something that's a little more relevant....

Carving out a cozy and private office space if you are blessed with a huge bedroom closet....and it has a window! We like how everything, including the chair, can just get tucked inside and closed up nice and neat. A supersized version of Cindy's closet office, and some of the other fantastic hidden office solutions we have seen, like Jenn's office below.

What we would do for a closet that big. Check out some more pics here.

Tech Tour: Danish Modern Beach House in Santa Cruz

2008-11-21T10:00:00+00:00

Name: Sophia Brueckner & Rich Cannings Location: Santa Cruz, CA Years Lived In: only 5 months! Size: The entire house is 1858 sq. ft. This includes the 1 bedroom apartment we rent out in the back. We live in the front which is made up of the big open space with the kitchen and living room, 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms. >> Enter Slideshow Today we're stepping into the home of Sophia and Rich in Santa Cruz. They bought their new beach house only five months ago and have already beautified the place to the nines. Sophia, who writes her own design and décor blog, the smartestfish, has really put her own touch on the couple's media room, along with her office. When figuring out what to do with their TV for example, Sophia wanted to avoid the obvious -- placing the flat screen on the fireplace mantle. Instead she got some inexpensive Ikea shelving, cut it down to the right height, and painted it white. Now, while the TV isn't on the mantle, it does line up with it, creating a nice balanced line in the living room. After the jump we take a deeper look into the beautiful renovations this couple has done to their cute Santa Cruz beach house, which is a work in constant progress... Do you have an idea for a tech tour? Let us know!

Our Style: Danish modern beach house fusion >> Enter Slideshow Inspiration: I am very inspired by jeu de paumes books. I also like to look at pictures of real people's houses on design blogs and flickr. Favorite Element: Our back neighbors, Roye & Lane. They rented the studio behind the house we used to rent. When we moved, we brought them with us and now they live behind us in our new house. We love them! What Friends Say: That our house is very unique and feels full of light. Proudest DIY: Probably the Ikea shelf we cut down to size and painted white for our TV in the living room. It really took forever, but it is exactly what we needed there and was free. Biggest Embarrassment: Our yard. We've been focusing on renovations, and haven't done any landscaping. It's all mulch and there are no plants. Our house looks terrible from the street! Landscaping is going to be our next big project. Biggest Indulgence: Our biggest expense was removing the load-bearing wall between our kitchen and living room. I was nervous to do it, but Rich convinced me that it was worth the extra cost. It was worth it definitely...it completely changed the house! The house feels huge and full of light now. The huge open space in the front with the kitchen, dining area, living area, and my office is absolutely wonderful for hanging out. One of our other splurges was a frameless thick glass shower door...expensive but it really makes a small bathroom feel big and luxurious. We also splurged on the bamboo and marble counter tops in the kitchen. Even though our cabinetry is Ikea, it all feels high end because of the really nice counter tops and good quality lighting. >> Enter Slideshow Philosophy on Integrating Technology Into Your Living Space: Technology should be useful and blend in. I really didn't want to have a huge TV on top of our mantle dominating the entire room! I also try to keep my computer setup subtle by keeping all the computers on the floor and hiding as many of the wires as possible. I like to invest in furniture I want to keep forever, but I never invest in furniture meant to hold TV's or computers because electronics go obsolete or get upgraded. We always go for the cheapest solution that works like making custom shelves from bricks and boards or cutting down Ikea shelves to size. My computer desk is also an Ikea table that I've already cut down twice to fit the space where I lived. My favorite addition of technology to our house is installing electrical outlets in our island. I love being able to plug in my laptop to look at recipes when I'm cooking. Rich's philosophy is pretty different than mine...he thinks the more monitors you have, the better! Best Advice: Find a good contractor! Get at least 3 bids from different contractors. Check all their references, check their license, check any online reviews about them, and make sure you can communicate well with them. If you can find someone with a lot of experience in construction to give you names, that's even better. You really can't be too careful. Our first contractor was really horrible, and things were a painful mess. We got another contractor who was easy to communicate with and just amazing overall. Life was much much better after that. Favorite Sources: We try to buy as much as possible on Craigslist. It's so much cheaper, the quality of the furniture is often much higher than what we can afford new, and it's nice to have something unique. Almost all of our mid-century and danish modern furniture came from Craigslist. We bought the vertical shelves, cubitec shelving, and min bed from Design Within Reach because all three are really easy to take apart and move. We got our Blu Dot dresser and nightstands from Design Public, and our counter stools are from Room & Board. Our rugs are from Anthropologie. We got some smaller pieces of danish furniture on eBay, and I also found some amazing vintage danish lighting on eBay like that brown pendant light over our dining table. Most of the artwork is my own but some I got on etsy. The photographs are all old climbing photos of Rich taken by his friend Andrew Querner, who is an amazing photographer! Biggest Challenge: The biggest challenge in arranging our house was finding a place for the TV without putting it on the mantle. We really want to put a big piece of artwork over the mantle and have the art be the focus of the room and not the TV. We still wanted to be able to see the TV from everywhere in the front area though. I rearranged the furniture in our living room many times before I found something that felt right. I looked on so many websites looking for the perfect piece of furniture for our TV and never found it! Nothing fit in that corner without sticking out too much. We ended up taking some Ikea shelves that we already had and cutting them down to the right height. I painted the shelves white so they would blend in better, and then we put the TV on that and the DVD player and amp on the floor beneath it. I'm very happy with how it turned out. You can still see the TV from the kitchen, my office, and all the seating in the living area, and the TV doesn't stand out too much. The price was right too! >> Enter Slideshow

photos: Sophia

More Tech Tours

Spongebob's Eyeballs Make a Great Gift for iPod-Toting Kid

2008-11-21T09:00:00+00:00

I am about to provide you the service of being your holiday personal shopper. Buy your mom a beautiful flower arrangement. Buy your girlfriend diamonds. Buy the kid in your life (son? niece? neighbor?) this iPod dock and speakers. Because if I were a kid, I would love to hear the soothing jams of Miley Cyrus pumping through Spongebob Squarepants' eyeballs...

The coolest thing about Spongebob's Eyeballs? When you place the eyes on a flat surface, they dance back and forth, rocking like a 14 year old during a Jonas Brothers concert ballad. The Spongebob Speakers also have a great Sponge dock on top to hold an iPod or other MP3 player. The Spongebob Speakers are available at Toys ‘R’ Us for $39.99. They apparently come from a line of Spongebob Squarepants technology. Pick up the Spongebob digital camera ($79.99) or AM/FM clock radio ($29.99), too. (Admittedly, we love the look of the radio! We'd probably buy it for ourselves if it didn't have to sit right by the bed for optimum embarrassment by—ahem—bedroom visitors.)