GearCrave

Vacuum Tube Chess Set Makes Tesla Proud

Jared Newman — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:22 +0000

Vacuum Tubes may have been a cornerstone in developing electronics, but for our purposes here, they make a sweet chess board. The “Chess Set For Tesla,” by Paul Fryer, uses 32 vacuum tubes and 64 plugs to ensure that those pieces don’t tip over during play. And of course, they light up, sohwing the type of piece on top. As some Dvice commenters noted, this is probably an impractical board, as the tubes would likely get too hot to handle unless you’re playing in the northern reaches of Russia. That doesn’t make it any less awesome from afar. [Make Blog via Dvice]

How Italians Do “Barbecu”

Jared Newman — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:00:19 +0000

Southern Americans will tell you that the word “Barbecue” should never be used as a verb. What will they say about dropping the final “e” for a bit of European flare? Italian designer Piero Lissoni’s “Barbecu” does just that, with both a gas igniter and the ability to make any Southerner proud with charcoal. Best of all, a set of work tops accomodates all sorts of outdoor occassions, from the straightforward pit to the tabletop grill to the tall, rolling cart. There’s no assembly required, either. Look for the Barbecu at Panik-Design, via Alessi, in a matter of days. [Panik-Design]

Transformer Cufflinks, Just in Time for the Show

Jared Newman — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:00:52 +0000

On your way to see the most transcendant movie of modern times? Arrive in style with a pair of Transformer cufflinks. Each set includes one Autobot logo and one Decepticon emblem, and they’re both crafted with silver plating, measuring 0.78 inches by 0.59 inches. A black, PVC-covered cufflink box is also included. Not a bad deal at $20 bucks plus shipping, but there’s a problem. Like any Etsy offering that hits the blogosphere, Finkstudio couldn’t keep up with demand, so these awesome ‘links are sold out. Care to show up at Transformers: Rise of the Fallen with Batman cufflinks instead? [Wired]

The Football Carpet: Don’t Call it Soccer

Jared Newman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:00:17 +0000

At 31 inches by 62 inches, the Football carpet isn’t fit for staging any actual matches, but think of all the happy feelings you’ll get when walking through the door, if you’re a Soccer fan, that is. Designer Karin Mannerstål has created an approximation of a footie field with 100 percent, hand-tufted wool. Admittedly, we’re not familiar with the benefits of hand-tufting, but hopefully stepping on this carpet feels something like running around on fresh grass, fielding a header into the net and filling out your sails with the delighted screams of fans. It’s available in one color — green, of course — and sells for $190.43. Angry hooligans on the sidelines not included. [ScandinavianDesignCenter via Cool Material]

Sex Wax Skull Speaks For Itself (Not Really)

Jared Newman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:00:59 +0000

It’s not what you think, really. With the help of Mr. Zog’s Sex Wax, brothers Sean and Benjamin Anderson have created a series of multicolored sculptures constructed entirely of surfing wax. The two bros (or is that “brahs?”) are avid surfers and were “very excited to merge an icon of surf culture with the contemporary art world … and make it smell good.” As for the Sex Wax, Mr. Zog’s surf company is steps away from the Anderson brothers’ studio in Carpinteria, Calif. — a respectable spot for catching waves, we understand. The skulls will be on display at Rogue Wave, a surf art show scheduled for tomorrow, if you’re in the area. Otherwise, all seven of them are up for purchase through info@andersonARTcollective.com. Because nothing says “sexy” like a wax skull. [via Anderson Art Collective]

On-Time Clock Always Runs Fast

Jared Newman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:20:35 +0000

Finally, confirmation that other people set clocks ahead to avoid running late. The trick is to fool yourself into perpetual confusion, never quite knowing what time it really is. Fabrica’s Tak Cheung has designed a clock whose minute hand is always bent forward by a few minutes. One problem though: surf to On-Time’s product page and you’ll learn right away that the clock runs exactly three minutes fast, ruining the mystery. But what happens if you set this clock ahead by an additional amount? Total chaos, followed by a tear in the fabric of the space-time continuum. Maybe that’s why there’s no word on pricing or availability. [Fabrica via The Awesomer]

Altec Lansing’s Expressionist Plus Speakers, With ‘Woofer

Jared Newman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:00:24 +0000

Consider yourself blessed if you can’t tell the difference between low-end speakers and Bose or Bang & Olufsen, because this sexy Altec Lansing setup will only cost you $100. The Expressionist Plus includes a pair of 2-inch, 4-watt speakers with adjustible bases for directing the sound, plus a 5.25-inch, 20-watt desktop subwoofer that can be stashed virtually anywhere. An auxiliary in jack makes it easy to connect iPods or other portable players in case the party tires of your music collection. As for sound quality, you’d have to hear it to be the judge, but if looks and price were everything, we’d call this system a keeper. [via Altec Lansing]

Find Fresh Food with FarmFresh NYC iPhone App

Jared Newman — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:30:24 +0000

Shopping for produce and other fresh foods, especially in New York City, can be a crapshoot, but Thinkenhaus removes some of the guesswork with the FarmFresh NYC iPhone App. The guide points professional and amateur cooks to local farmers markets selling in-season fruit, vegetables, fish and shellfish. There are 90 products in all and 50 participating farmers markets. Updates are automatic, and you can even create a grocery list or track the seasonality of individual items. That sounds a lot more appetizing than wading through piles of mushy tomatoes at the local bodega. FarmFresh NYC is available from the App Store now for $3, and versions for San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New Orleans are on the way. [via Thinkenhaus]

Get Ancient With HunterGatherer Apple Cases

Jared Newman — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:58 +0000

Onlookers may already be impressed with your stable of sexy Apple products, but perhaps its time to replace those bland blacks and grays with something more meaningful. HunterGatherer’s InCase products for the iPhone and and 15-inch MacBook Pro are “a purposefully fake version of something natural,” according to designer Todd St. John. “I also enjoy seeing it as a wrapper for a concentrated brick of technology.” How poetic. For the MacBook, the $60 sleeve is simply a clutch for safekeeping, while the iPhone’s $50 slider case is a new skin in its own right. And if your friends still aren’t jealous, tell them HunterGatherer has worked for Nike, VH1 and the New York Times. If pure technology doesn’t fill them with envy, name-dropping surely will.

Solar Concept Tent Provides All the Comforts of Work

Jared Newman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:00:29 +0000

Arguably, the best part about camping is the escape from eye-scorching computer screens and carpal tunnel-inducing keyboards. But hey, Orange knows it’s hard to get away. The company’s Glastonbury Solar Concept Tent uses photovoltaic fabric to charge a flexible LCD screen and wireless Internet, presumably provided by a 3G data subscription. But that’s not all: “Glo-cation” technology allows campers to find their site via SMS messaging or RFID signal, lighting up the shelter like a beacon. Winter campers will delight in a ground sheet that heats automatically when temperatures fall below a certain level. Roughing it, this is not. [Orange via Gizmodo]

Wooden iPod Mini, Retro in More Ways Than One

Jared Newman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:00:06 +0000

The iPod Mini is an outdated model, so it’s only fitting that Jozaeh’s MP3 player is encased in the wood of a stately old Australian red cedar tree. Camphor Laurel comprises the click wheel, and brass plates and screws hold everything together. Says the creator: “I was given a new iPod Mini for Christmas and I just couldn’t leave my trusty old mini to sit unused somewhere.” Sounds like it was his first stab at a wooden iPod mod, and we say he did an admirable job. Sadly, it’s only a matter of time before the battery kicks the bucket and this wooden iPod becomes a true antique. [Flickr via BB Gadgets]

2UNFOLD Laptop Bag Folds 8 Ways

Jared Newman — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:44:28 +0000

Road warriors know that toting a laptop bag can be a tedious game of switching shoulders to prevent fatigue. Depending on how you look at it, Hard Graft’s 2UNFOLD laptop bag, with its eight possible configurations, is either a blessing or a curse. The Italian leather bag has a strap for slinging 17-inch laptops over one or both shoulders and a fastener to hold that strap down when using handles instead. For laptops 13 inches and smaller, part of the bag can be folded over to a courier style, with either leather or canvas exposed. With the strap tucked away, this smaller configuration becomes a clutch that tucks under the forearm. The 2UNFOLD costs 349 Euros (roughly $483) direct from Hard Graft. [Hard Graft via BB Gadgets]

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