No power? No problem. The Soulra, another smart product developed by the hypergeniuses at Etón, is a solar-powered dock and speaker system compatible with handheld Apple devices. With a space-spaving design that makes it easy to pack, the Soulra captures the sun's rays to power your music wherever you go. If you're poolside or at the beach, the Soulra offers an......read more
The AirCurve is a cleverly-designed acoustic amplifier that turns your iPhone into a no-power-drain alarm clock on your nightstand, or a mini sound system that never needs batteries or adapters. AirCurve looks like a simple, elegantly minimal stand for your iPhone. But inside is a coiled waveguide "horn' that collects the sound from the built-in speaker of your iPhone, amplifies it (by about 10......read more
There's not much to like about an early morning alarm, so you may as well have a bedside clock that looks good. This wooden LED clock works the the earthy-tech aesthetic to nice effect. The birch block contains a crispy clear LED digital display that projects the time through thin veneer. Also contained within are two internally powered speakers, positioned at 180 degrees, for......read more
There are few things more annoying than a tangled mess of cords. Designer Naoto Yoshida offers up a simple solution with the wrapwrap, which allows you to adjust the length of your cords when they're in use and wrap/store them when you're finished. Made of pieces of scrap wood reclaimed from a furniture manufacturer, the wrapwrap works nicely for iPods, iPhones and phone chargers. ...read more
Here's a simple and beautiful form with a decidedly 21st century function. Designer Jonas Damon's Alarm Dock allows you to recreate the classic and iconic bedside alarm clock by placing your iPhone or iPod Touch in the cradle. Download (for free) a flip clock application for authentic alarm clock flavor. Says Damon, "Augmented by a flip clock app, this dock returns meaningful form to......read more
Need something to hold that fresh new iPad you got for Christmas? Killspencer's iPad case is made from water repellant black filter twill, originally designed and manufactured in 1837 as a military-spec fabric. Also features padded neoprene lining and an water-resistant "aquazip" zipper. Perfect for creative, Mac-nerd types, the case fits an iPad, iPhone, large Moleskine, and a handful of......read more
Tembo Trunks make use of good old-fashioned horn technology to eliminate the need for powered portable speakers. A collapsible design made entirely of petroleum-free silicone rubber, Tembo Trunks attach onto your iPod or iPhone earbuds to amplify your tunes up to 80 decibels. With no moving or electrical parts, Tembo Trunks are completely waterproof and virtually indestructible. The earbud......read more
Paul Nosa makes "sustainable art" using a sewing machine powered by his bike. You give him an idea in five words or less, and he sews a piece of art for you. Not just any idea, though. I tried "baby punched in face" and he politely declined. How rude....read more
For all the excitement over low cost solar power, much of it is still in the development stage backed by government resources and has yet to prove that it can compete on the market with cheap fossil fuels. However some private investors are starting to bet on low cost solar in a big way. Among them is tech specialist Len Batterson, whose startup NextGen Solar is kicking into gear. NextGen......read more
Damn you, solar energy. How badly we want you to power our homes. How clearly we don't have the tens of thousands of dollars we need to make it happen. Renewable, abundant solar energy may power the future but for now, only green-minded millionaires can afford it. Or so we thought. In fact, Photovoltaic panels are getting smaller, cheaper, and more efficient. Installation costs are declining......read more