Pilotfish's Ondo music editing mobile concept puts new twist on smartphones

It's been nearly three years since the Onyx tickled our imagination, but Pilotfish is looking to completely melt our brains with its latest concept. The Munich-based industrial design firm has just introduced its Ondo music editing mobile, which is half cellphone, half music mixer and thoroughly amazing. In theory, the phone would boast a small mixing panel, three removable recording sticks with internal memory and a bendable center to give music lovers the ability to insert pitch bends and relieve stress. Essentially, the trio of OLED-infused sticks serves two purposes: when installed, they're the main phone panel, and when removed, they can be clipped onto instruments for recording purposes. Afterwards, they can be swapped with other Ondo owners or edited on the fly right on the device itself. Needless to say, there's a better shot at you winning the lottery than seeing this thing hit mass production, but you can feel free to dream by checking the full release, Q&A and demonstration video just past the break.

Gallery: Pilotfish's Ondo music editing mobile concept puts new twist on smartphones

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Pilotfish Launches Ondo Music Editing Phone Concept

Play it, mix it, rock out to it! Ondo enables a more flexible and physical
experience in mobile phones

MUNICH, Germany – April 20, 2009 -- Pilotfish, a progressive industrial design
and product development studio based in Munich, Amsterdam and Taipei, today
introduced Ondo, a dedicated music editing phone concept. The Ondo concept
enables OEMs to visualize a new form of user interaction for mobile phones.

User
The target user for "Ondo" is the music enthusiast who seeks to interactively
capture and edit sounds. Going beyond software-based solutions of other
products, it is specifically designed to effectively collect pure sounds and is
specially constructed to create a tactile sound editing experience.

Music Editing
Made from form-sensitive flexible materials, "Ondo" allows the user to modify
recorded sounds by physically twisting and bending the device. Like a guitarist
pulling on a whammy bar, users can feel and hear the musical effects as they
create them.

Jamming
Another innovative feature of "Ondo" are the three removable display "sticks". In
their normal state, the "sticks" act as a unified touch display for the mobile
device. When removed, each can be separately clipped onto a musical instrument
or person to capture live sound. Like a portable recording studio, "Ondo" makes
mixing tracks easy, because each "stick" picks up isolated sounds from each
individual instrument. The recordings can be immediately sent via MMS (Multimedia Messaging) around the globe allowing musicians at different geographical locations to jam together.

Mixing
In party mode, "Ondo" works as a digital mixer enabling the user to create
seamless transitions between songs. This is made easy with interactive touch
functions combined with integrated software support.

Market Opportunities
The advantage of such a device is that a range of services and accessories can
accompany it in order to enhance the sound capturing and editing experience.
From a business perspective, most of the players in the mobile world can benefit:
for example, content creators - by providing sound libraries or musical games
for download; operators - by facilitating increased user interaction; and device
manufacturers - by producing accessories such as input devices, Bluetooth
instruments, etc.

For more information on the Ondo concept, visit www.ondo-phone.eu
For more information on Pilotfish, visit www.pilotfish.eu.

About Pilotfish
Pilotfish is a progressive design and innovation consultancy with offices in Munich (head office),
Amsterdam, and Taipei/Taiwan. Founded in 2000, we are a team of more than 25 industrial,
graphic and user interface designers, engineers and manufacturing experts catering to
international brands worldwide. Our vision is to create unique user experiences, by combining
industrial design with an intuitive user interface. We act as an innovation hub for companies and
technology providers looking for the right partners to realize these concepts in meaningful ways
for end users.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ondo - Music Editing Phone Concept by Pilotfish

1. What is Ondo?
Ondo is a conceptual mobile phone for the music enthusiast who seeks to
interactively capture and edit sounds.
2. What makes Ondo unique from other music phone concepts?
Going beyond software-based solutions of other products, Ondo is specifically
designed to effectively collect pure sounds and is specially constructed to create
a tactile sound editing experience. On a small scale, it allows the user to modify
recorded sounds by physically twisting and bending the device.
On a grander scale, it creates opportunities for interactive musical creation
among users at different geographical locations.
3. Why did Pilotfish develop this concept?
Pilotfish has more than 10 years of experience in designing professional music
editing equipment and mobile devices. We have been actively pursuing a means
to combine our knowledge of both into a single portable device. Our aim was to
bring intuitive physical interaction to a mobile sound-editing device. The result is
Ondo.
4. How much time did it take to develop the Ondo concept?
The fundamental idea for a music-editing phone was presented in 2006 at a
Cambridge Wireless Alliance Conference. Since that time, we have created
several design iterations, exploring many possible solutions in order to capture a
more tactile experience in a portable device. The final design in its current shape
took four months to complete, including intermediary prototypes to test the
validity of the concept as well as usage scenarios.
5. When will Ondo hit the market? Will there be demo units to review?
Ondo is a design concept. Demo prototypes may be created in order to help
demonstrate the benefits of the device. We at Pilotfish would be delighted to
push this concept into production with interested partners.
6. Could this concept be produced from a technology standpoint? What type of
materials could be used?
The technologies proposed for its construction will be available for massproduction
in the near future. For the three removable "sticks" that create the
main display, Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) in combination with flat sheet
power and storage would be used. For the housing that allows physical
interaction through bending and twisting of the phone, flexible materials with
piezoelectric properties would be employed to accurately capture and transform
the physical alteration into sound effects.
7. How would music be transferred from one Ondo phone to another?
The three removable recording "sticks" have internal flash memory. This would
make it possible for owners of Ondo devices to easily exchange them, allowing
for convenient sharing of sound libraries. Additionally, music files can be
transferred wirelessly or by using a USB cable.
8. Do you envision an ecosystem for a device like Ondo?
The advantage of such a device is that a range of services and accessories can
accompany it in order to enhance the joy of sound capturing and editing. From a
business perspective, most of the players in the mobile world can benefit: for
example, content creators - by providing sound libraries or musical games for
download; operators - by facilitating increased user interaction; and device
manufacturers - by producing accessories such as input devices, Bluetooth
instruments, etc.
9. What type of market is there for a device like Ondo? Why is Pilotfish
launching Ondo now?
The target user for the Ondo is the music enthusiast who seeks to interactively
capture and edit sounds. Going beyond software-based solutions for generic
phones, it offers the mobile world a sound-dedicated tactile experience, inspired
by traditional music editing equipment. The technology is now at a level to allow
our vision for a tactile sound-editing experience in a mobile phone to reach
market implementation.
Corporate
1) What is Pilotfish?
Pilotfish is a progressive industrial design and innovation agency specialized in
electronic products. We focus on creating unique user experiences on both the
emotional and rational level. Since our founding in 2000, we have grown into a
multinational team of more than 25 designers, engineers, marketing and
manufacturing experts catering to international brands worldwide.
2) What makes Pilotfish unique to other industrial design firms?
Our vision is to create unique user experiences by combining industrial design
with an intuitive user interface. We act as an innovation hub for companies and
technology providers looking for the right partners to realize these concepts in
meaningful ways for end users.
3) What other concepts has Pilotfish developed?
- Onyx gesture-based touch screen phone in partnership with Synaptics –
released before the iPhone, in 2006 it was the first handset prototype to
introduce a fully adaptive user interface that eliminated the need for mechanical
buttons and allowed for gesture-based input.
- Flexible display phone in cooperation with ITRI (Industrial Technology Research
Institute) in Taiwan – released in 2008
- Vision Notebook, with customizable input interface for an enhanced multimedia
experience – released 2005
4) What products has Pilotfish designed for customers?
- Consumer and Professional Electronics: mobile phones, PDAs, music-editing
equipment, mobile navigation, notebooks, remote clients, TVs, digital cameras,
headphones, etc
- Medical: hearing aids, intensive care patient monitors, mobile and stationary
heart monitoring devices, pulmonary function laboratory, blood pressure
monitors, etc.
- Transportation: scooters, in-car interaction solutions, built-in user interfaces,
etc.
5) Who are Pilotfish's customers?
Clients include Asus, Avaya, BenQ, BMW, Logitech, Heineken, HTC, Native
Instruments, Mini, Siemens, Synaptics, etc.
6) Why do customers want to work with Pilotfish?
Pilotfish delivers a professional integrated service, creating a meaningful
experience for users. Pilotfish offers the complete range of industrial design
services, from user research to concept development, 3D modeling, prototyping
and batch production. Next to award-winning design, the company also provides
mechanical engineering, project management and on-site quality control for
tooling and production.
7) What is Pilotfish's vision for the future of design for consumer electronics?
Despite its recent advances, technology is still intimidating and not fully
accessible for some users. We see a future where technology is more adapted to
human needs and desires, more intuitive to use and more in-line with the
environment.

[handyguy @ Apr 20th 2009 3:04AM]

this is awesome actually bending it but i personally wouldnt waste my money on that and oh yea... FIRST POST??

[Dan Derksen @ Apr 20th 2009 3:07AM]

the pictures look amazing! I can't get the video to work though :( . it just says private video

[tortilaman @ Apr 20th 2009 3:22AM]

Like Dan said, the video isn't working.

[superhobo @ Apr 20th 2009 3:37AM]

I think the shaver phone addresses a more urgent need.

[wolf @ Apr 20th 2009 3:48AM]

I don't understand why a device like this has to be a phone, or why every new device for that matter is

[Calvin @ Apr 20th 2009 4:23AM]

It's so when you need to mix music on the go, like if there's an emergency or something, you don't have to carry both a phone AND some oddly shaped/colored music mixer in your pocket

And to answer your other question, if a phone was just a phone, your pockets would be stuffed with your phone, PMP, MID, calculator, GPS, Music mixer, camera, flashlight, dictionary, pen and paper, brick, paperweight, mirror, phonebook, etc.

[SABRAGE @ Apr 20th 2009 4:17AM]

Cool concept. Probably would be REALLY FUCKING AWESOME for about 20 minutes, and then get old and worthless in light of actual recording equipment after that. Also, how would you dial a number? (I didn't read that ridiculous wall of text, so forgive me if that was addressed)

[Ryan @ Apr 20th 2009 4:21AM]

WOW. That's a really really really REALLY cool idea. I wish I could see the video, but just from the pictures I would love to have one of these.

[Emidio Sacramento @ Apr 20th 2009 4:40AM]

So painful to read that some people are just unable to see beyond the pictures of a concept...

A shaver ? Cool Procter&Gamble should/will be happy ;-)

Why having phone functions on a recording device.... stupid huh ? Playing/Recording with your guitar anywhere in the world and being able to share it with your folks over the air ??.... so OLD fashion huh ??!!

Flexible device ??? Useful ? Yes/No, I think you've never sited down on a chair with your mobile device in your rear pocket !!!!

Ohhh but i just remembered one thing !!! When Pilotfish published a concept named ONYX people were having the same reactions no ? Then when Apple "copied" ONYX PilotFishs concept, then it was the best device in the world ?!!!!!!

Sometimes I love phone industry....... or maybe not ! Comment me, hate me, but don't kill me :-D

[chrisk1590 @ Apr 20th 2009 4:57AM]

While this might be cool on its own, integrating it into a cellphone seems silly to me. It looks kinda ugly for a phone and a bit awkward and large to keep in your pocket all the time.

[SimonRichards @ Apr 20th 2009 5:48AM]

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0jkNxmviL8

[JHKS @ Apr 20th 2009 5:56AM]

Nathan Barley anyone? seriously...

http://www.trashbat.co.ck/t12/index.html

[joshua @ Apr 20th 2009 9:31AM]

I thought the same thing when I was reading.

[PeteC @ Apr 20th 2009 6:42AM]

I love pretty pictures as much as anyone, but this, like so many other "concepts" published these days, is a pretty picture design from an arts house, not a technology prototype. It exists as artists renditions and, at best, a dummy piece of plastic. There's been no real design done, not even to the point of laying out technological components within the case or block-level circuit design.

In other words, it has exactly the same level of "design" as an 8-year old's scribblings in the back of a schoolbook of a flying car, a spaceship and a mecha-battle suit. Not that that doesn't have a certain worth, but it's the same worth that any sci-fi prop has - it's to prompt a "ooooh, cool!" reaction and maybe give people ideas.

There is a huge difference between a "concept" car that actually drives and a "concept" rendering in a 3D modelling program. Engadget doesn't really make it clear normally that many of the concepts it shows are really just flights of fancy, often without any idea on how to make the technology work.

[Sisyphus @ Apr 20th 2009 7:57AM]

TWIST it.

SHAKE it.

BOP.. aww shit I dropped the call.

[irenics510 @ Apr 30th 2009 9:45AM]

cool!!!!!!

[Bouillestfu @ Apr 20th 2009 9:11AM]

Nice! Now I don't have to carry around my recording studio with me in my pocket anymore!

[Mike @ Apr 20th 2009 10:37AM]

nice. but what are the chances this will become real?

[KBrunjel @ Apr 20th 2009 10:46AM]

This is more akin to a student project than a design house offering..
It's just tryin to be cool for the sake of it....definatley nathan barley ....sad.
Dissapointing consideration of any reality.....just cool image candy and no real design.

[rale @ Apr 20th 2009 11:22AM]

Umm.. "ondo" means semen in Hungarian :D

[[e-mail] @ Apr 20th 2009 12:24PM]

Love the concept. Cool design with the detachable audio recorders as well. I'm sad that we probably will never see it in stores but hopefully some other company will run with it and make it happen if this one doesn't.

[ran @ Apr 20th 2009 3:07PM]

Bop It, anyone?

[yrag @ Apr 20th 2009 7:59PM]

SABRAGE nailed it for me when he wrote:

"Cool concept. Probably would be REALLY FUCKING AWESOME for about 20 minutes, and then get old and worthless in light of actual recording equipment after that."

He's right—It's like the upteen music apps i bought for my iPhone, rarely if ever to be played again. fortunately for me, many were free or no more than a couple of bucks. A cell phone with monthly fees is still a (somewhat) major financial commitment for a 20 minute thrill no matter how cool the technology.

[Chamil @ Apr 21st 2009 1:48AM]

Wow... this is amazing. Looking forward to the next 10 years for sure ! :)

[Dan @ Apr 21st 2009 5:52AM]

Niche, niche, niche - great idea. This tackles the regular complaint about mass consumer phones being mediocre at everything (music, photos, web surfing) and master of nothing.

Just like the Blackberry is still the default phone for business, this concept phone underlines how ripe the market is for other 'niche' or specific audiences, namely semi-pro and professional musicians.

I'd like to know more about this so any news, visit: www.twitter.com/cimex