wooden
Latest
Weave Mirror neglects glass, stuns onlookers
Rest assured, we've seen some pretty fancy mirrors in our day, but Daniel Rozin's Weave Mirror ranks pretty high up there. This zany installation relies on "768 motorized and laminated C-shaped prints along the surface of a picture plane that texturally mimics a homespun basket," and as curious mortals approach it, it "paints a picture of them using a gradual rotation in greyscale value on each C-ring." We know, you're probably still confounded at how this thing actually wows anyone, but give the video (posted after the jump) a peek and clarity will be yours.[Via WeMakeMoneyNotArt]
iPhone, encased in leather
Michael sent us news of yet another iPhone case, this one made by Noreve. It looks pretty nice, and it's interesting that they created a flip that goes down instead of up-- they say that the camera is still usable with the case on, which is super nice. The colored cases aren't selling yet, apparently, but the black cases are in stock at €42.99.And while my personal choice is probably to go with one of those cool wooden cases, if you really want leather, you'd be crazy not to take a look at the Vaja cases. Like TUAW's Dave Caolo, I've got a nice one on my iPod, and it is excellent. Like the Noreve cases, they're a little pricey but if you're going go all out and buy an Apple cell phone, you might as well go all out on the case, too.
Wooden Supercar takes to the streets
We've seen a smorgasbord of unusual ways to get back and forth to work, and while you could certainly catch us aboard a real-world Mario Kart or jet-powered scooter, traversing the 101 in a completely wooden automobile isn't exactly within our realm of acceptable risk. Nevertheless, the Sada furniture company in Japan has crafted such a vehicle, and the president of the firm has even driven it into a news studio just to show it off. Reportedly, the vehicle can actually reach a top speed of just under 50 miles-per-hour, but considering it would cost you around ¥3,900,000 ($32,819) to take one of your own home -- not to mention the implausibly high insurance rates on a flammable vehicle -- you're probably better off just living vicariously through the videos after the jump.[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Marubeni Infotec knocks on wooden input peripherals
While we doubt a vast majority of you have gone and purchased a wooden PC just yet, a natural tower isn't necessary to enjoy the stained goods that Marubeni Infotec was showing off at Computex. While details concerning pricing, availability, and construction were all but nil, AVing's crew did manage to get its camera up close and personal with some of the wares. On display was a USB keyboard (complete with Scrabble-influenced keys), a number of colorful USB 2.0 flash drives, a multicard reader, and a four-port (we agree, the fourth port is hiding) USB hub. Click on through for shots so close, you can smell the sap.
Classy wooden router literally gauges network utilization
Although Sprint didn't mind showing off its snazzy new router earlier today, a crafty DIY'er has concocted a classic of his own to balance things out. Admittedly, homegrown routers aren't exactly common, but this step back in time really puts the modern day approach to shame, as its wooden construction, curvaceous shape, and tasteful use of analog equipment would tempt even the neatest of neat freaks to keep this one outside of the networking closet. Granted, this certainly isn't the most simplistic of projects we've come across, and it will require quite a bit of handiwork beyond the usual steady hand, but if you're feeling courageous and want a dash of class to counter the rat's nest of cabling behind your rig, click on through to the read link for all the minutiae.[Via Slashgear]
Asus EcoBook touts bamboo casing
Green is most definitely in, and while LG is out crafting environmentally friendly big screens, Asus is stretching for the eco-minded set with its dashing EcoBook. Getting a bit of hands-on action, CNET was able to grab hold of Asus' bamboo-clad laptop long enough to catch jungle fever, but sadly, we've absolutely no idea what type of potency lies beneath the forest hood. Of course, with such a conservative message, we fully expect a ridiculously long battery life and a ULV processor, and true road warriors should probably invest in a decent humidifier to carry along in your laptop bag. It was noted that a good bit of thought went into the design, as the enclosure features interchangeable (and biodegradable) panels (pictured after the break), silver keyboard / trackpad, and a nifty PowerGear performance button, and considering all the experience Asus has in coating portables with materials other than plastic, we're sure the final product will be up to snuff whenever it decides to land.[Via Techie Diva]
LG readying 60-inch wood-framed plasma display
If the glossy black, matte silver, or brushed aluminum looks are simply too played out for your next HDTV, LG is hoping to spruce up your options by offering up yet another forest-inspired offering. Details are admittedly scant on the forthcoming 60-inch 60PT1, but we do know that this beast of a PDP will rock a dark wooden frame that could hang in perfect harmony in your kid's pimped out treehouse. Additionally, it seems that LG will only be loosing 1,000 of these limited edition units worldwide, and that folks in Korea (well, not North Korea) will get first dibs when they finally appear. Of course, meticulously crafting such a beauty apparently takes time, as you won't be finding one of these for sale until "March at the earliest," but that should give you enough time to sell off a car or two in order to finance this presumably pricey luxury.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Hulger offers up pricey wooden Ziricote*PHONE
If you thought these newfangled Treos were pricey, well, you're probably correct, but they don't have nuthin' on the likes of the Black Diamond, Gresso, and Hulger's Ziricote*PHONE. Following the mantra that regardless of price, someone will buy it, the firm has given its retro-styled PIP*PHONE a wooden makeover, thrown in some preserving wax, and jacked the price sky high. Built from that oh-so-coveted Ziricote hardwood, this handset comes in its own collector's box (also made from wood, go figure), rocks built-in Bluetooth, and "can be linked to all mobile and VoIP devices." This "one of a kind" gizmo will be on display at the Digital Wellbeing Showroom and can be picked up soon for £2,000 ($3,923) directly from Hulger.[Via Slashgear]
LG planning eco-approved 52-inch wooden HD plasma
Environmentalists take heart, as LG Electronics is out doing some good in the world, and their forthcoming 52-inch HD plasma provides that widescreen beauty you adore with a sense of tree-luvin' satisfaction to boot. While we've seen gizmos encased in wood before (including Hannspree's own HDTV), this particular piece goes one step further by incorporating wood throughout the entire set. While rummaging through the secret lairs of LG in Seoul, CNET UK caught a glimpse of the mysterious set, and while they weren't allowed to film / photograph it, they rendered a look-alike and assured us that the "bezel was made of compressed wood (derived from renewable forests) and finished in white water-based paint." Of course, no piece of AV equipment would be complete without a hint of silver, so LG added an aluminum trim to go along with the "lead-free / low-lead internal components." While the company would lend any clues to its future release date nor pricing information, we were told that it would eventually be "commercially available," but similar components will probably be found in more peon-friendly models (like the LG LX70) before too long.[Via CNET]
Suissa Computers offers up custom wooden PCs
What better to match up with that legnatile wood notebook and elm mousepad than a stay-at-home desktop counterpart that wraps nature's best around the sweetest components available? Suissa Computers is targeting the anti-treehugger in us all by offering up a lineup of custom made PCs geared specifically for gaming, entertainment, or home office use. Sporting unconventional, artsy designs, these computers can be encased in a myriad of woods including maple, walnut, oak, goncalo alves, lacewood, leopardwood, paduak, mahogany, zebrawood or purpleheart. Hidden within is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ / 5000+ dual-core CPU, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, nVidia GeForce 7900 / 7950 graphics card, 600 watt power supply, liquid cooling system, and essentially any other option your mind can envision (and wallet can afford). Each model is only replicated 100 times, when it's then replaced by another freshly-chopped design, so if you see a flavor you dig (and have the $6,150+ to cover the cost of ownership), you should probably snap one up before it hits Suissa's endangered species list.[Via CNET]
Strange wooden velvet-lined case for iPod nano
Occasionally strange iPod cases surface (no not that pink knit case your great-aunt made you last year). Take for example this wooden velvet-lined iPod nano case engraved on the cover with the To-fu Oyako character found by Popgadget today. I find a few things wrong with this case, beyond the fact that a cartoon tofu guy is on the front: there is no access to the iPod controls nor, from what I can see, access to the dock connector when the case is closed.I think we may have reached saturation on iPod cases folks. Feel free to post your favorite wacky character that should appear on an engraved iPod case in the comments. I vote for Trogdor (the Burninator) on a metal slip down iPod case.[via Popgadget]
