It's not the first Swiss watchmaker to decide to
get into the phone game, but Ulysse Nardin's upcoming Chairman could very well take both the "most like a watch" and "most insanely badass" crowns when it's officially unveiled at Baselworld later this month. Billed as a "hybrid smart phone," the handset -- which, we assure you, you can't afford -- will incorporate a visible, fully-functional kinetic rotor that will apparently assist in providing power, just like you might find in a mechanical wristwatch. Beyond that, we know that it'll be unlocked, will be limited to just 1,846 pieces, and that
Vertu should be feeling the heat right about now. Look for full details around March 26 when Baselworld kicks off, so in the meantime, get to work selling your car, your home, your children, and your soul, but not necessarily in that order. Depends on how deeply you love your car.
[Via
Hodinkee and
Timezone]
posted Mar 8th 2009 1:18AM
Despite probably being ridiculously priced for it's feature set, that is one awesome looking phone.
So you base your final opinion on a partially completed Photoshop?
I'd like to see your wife!
AHAHAH!
This thing makes Feces look attractive.!
At least it sounds like a properly crafted piece of machinery rather than a tarted up Nokia with a bunch of gaudy crap glued to it.. even if the style isn't your thing (and it sure isn't my idea of attractive from what I can see).
@Unix.. +++ exactly. This shows Nokia how it should be done, it's oozing quality in a way Vertu never did. Personally I love the style, too, though if I could afford it it would have to be my second phone next to the iPhone which I can't be without anymore, I am too addicted...
It seems rediculous and overpriced, but what if all phones and personal electronics were made like wrist watches? What if all gadgets were made to last more than 2 years, kept open and upgradable? Why not? DOWN WITH BETA CULTURE!!!!!
My wrist-watch has been fine for nearly 10 years, but it's not open and upgradeable... I don't think most of them are.
Yeah, I meant Kept open and upgradable in addition to being built like wrist watches. hell, I don't even own a wrist watch, I check time with my iPod touch :P
Yeah, I meant Kept open and upgradable in addition to being built like wrist watches. hell, I don't even own a wrist watch, I check time with my iPod touch :P
Do want? Looks awesome.
It better dial only one and only one phone number cause you aren't eccentric unless you have a super expensive phone that is almost useless
SteamPunk is a stupid fad for loser dorkus malorcussuses...
Sorry its true... get a real hobby.
AHAHAHAH!
Trolling engadget is a stupid fad for loser dorkus malorcusseuses...
Sorry its true...get a real hobby.
AHAHAHAH!
Beautiful, underspec'd and overpriced,...hmmmm, reminds of a certain very popular phone - which shall remain unnamed for *fear* of the irate of certain fanboys.
well I rated his comment up, cause you rated it down... and you're a douche.
Technically, he didn't mention the iPhone, did he?
Technically, iHenchman#1 is a douche, isn't he?
Which of the 6 devices for $500+ are you refering to exactly?
It never ceases to amaze me how certain people simply stare at the specs, and then determine whether some product is overpriced or not. There are more to things than mere specs. Like, how those specs are implemented.
iPhone has a browser. So does my Nokia E71. So are the two equal in that area, as far as specs are concerned? No. Why? Because the browser in the E71 is utter crap. I hate using that thing. It's an exercise in frustration. The browser on the iPhone is order of magnitude better, and I have noticed that I often browse with my iPod touch, even though my computer is few meters away from me.
Sure, iPhone IS missing some features. Like MMS and cut and paste. My E71 has both of them. At least I think it does, since I have never bothered to figure out how C&P works on the device, nor have I ever sent or received an MMS.
But still, we have loads of people who just stare at the specs and determine that E71 (or some other hi-end phone) is "better", because it has more "specs". Regardless of the fact that those specs are implemented so badly that no-one wants to use them. iPhone might have less specs, but those that are there are implemented in such way that the user actually wants to use them, as opposed to using them to tick checkboxes in comparison-sheet.
Lada has an engine, a gearbox and four wheels, so it has same specs as BMW has, right?
But go ahead, and tick those checkboxes. Because that's what devices like these are all about, right? A bunch of checkboxes. The device that has most of the checkboxes ticked, wins. Right?
I was just thinking the other day about how fantastic it would be to have a phone done up like a mechanical watch, perhaps even one with a mechanical movement that you just wind once a day to power instead of worrying about batteries. I don't know if this one works this way, but I do know it's the closest anyone has gotten (or, sadly, is likely to get).
yeah, the problem is that sillicone chips rarely work with a mechanical movement.
And the amount of power require to run even a basic phone would be unattainable by a kinetic rotor working on it's own.
Those things are true, but I can always hope for some kind of invention that could make it work...if not to power the phone entirely, then at least to help generate power for the battery.
I think I'd settle for a mechanical movement that just looked suave on the back of my phone would be enough for me.
But then again, that would add a decent amount of thickness for no real purpose.
I'm on a Boat and
I'm going fast and
I got a nautical themed Ulysse Nardin
F**k Vertu I got a kinetic rotor Motha F**ker!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7yfISlGLNU&feature=related
I am so sick of steampunk.
Here Here...
This is just like that stupid fad of Bling Bling... or slapping on 50" Chrome rims on a car
or covering electronics with fake rhinestones...
it's cool but also very pretentious!
Steampunk is just like all other things: some is good some is bad, some very bad some even very good.
In small doses and in the right environment I often find it fascinating.
Well, sometimes.
It's "hear hear", not "here here".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear_hear
Everyone is trying to be like Vertu...please stop!
It's alright but it's no iPhone.
You got that right.
This appears to be precision built, and would probably last longer than a year.
And the iPhone isn't?
nope
Seriously, to have the name of this company and Prius in the same sentence is stupid. A Seiko Kinetic is like a Prius, at least they're in the same price bracket.
Anyone who wants to invest in a small phone company that makes very exclusive and over priced average phones PM me.
You bet!
If it would be an iPhone it would cost 10 bucks unlocked, or, if you're unlucky, you might find it in your chocolate egg next Easter.
They could've thought of a better name.
Hey, I thought everybody said that Steampunk was dead?!
It appears that the style is quite alive. And when rendered by a master designer as shown here, it blows us all out of the water.
Kudos.
Did everyone forget that other swiss watch manufacturer that got in to phones?
http://www.theapplecollection.com/iMac/iStore/SwatchTwinPhone.html
Swatch's Twin Phone is two phones in one... you can talk on the headset like a regular phone, but another person can also pick up the base (say, like at a slumber party) and also talk on the line.
what about this is remotely "steampunk"?
i think everyone's frustration with steampunk is that the term is way overused for stuff that really doesn't even classify.
How can anyone make a comment about the price when none has been published?
And to make a sound judgement about the form or function is also a wee bit early.
I'll let you know, I signed up to purchase one. It might be a good collectable.
And that is what a few people thought of the Betamax... heh!
We shall see.
I prefer this watch: http://professionalwatches.com/2008/08/jaegerlecoultre_amvox2_dbs_tra.html#more
and the car that comes with it will be sitting in my driveway soon!! I will post a url with photos!
I'd truly prefer a "77" but can't really see spending $2,000,000 AUD on a car! Phuque!
Cheers
No please, go on! I love it when you gloat.
No worries, Mate...
It only took 40 years to become an overnight success...
;)
We are also following the story at Perpetuelle.com - a new online community for watch owners, collectors & enthusiasts. All are welcome!
The quality is one of the best. Lets be honest, Vertu never had the know how to make high end products. Top of the range watch makers, have this knowledge for hundreds of years. There is only one problem. As their watches cost 10000 US dollars to .... - however they are timeless. Patek will always be Patek. This does not work with phones. Most of us change their phones once a year.
This is not "steampunk"
Nor is it a Prius.
BiGOD Chis, you call yourself a Journalist? How dare you take liberties with your writing?
This article title should have read: "Ulysse Nardin's Charman is a Phone With a Mechanical Movement, Similar to Watches, Embedded In It."
Now THAT is honest journalism.
Question is.... Will it blend??
Answer is: I hate you.