Odo

Presumably, the two "o"s in Odo represent the eye holes in Sony's daring if unconventional camera concept. What's cool about this is the environmentally conscious decision to utilize kinetic energy (read: Human power) to Spin n Snap those Kodak moments. To shoot, you have to poke a finger through each hole and give the whole gizmo a twirl to charge. This turns a dynamo, creating the power to take the next photo (which means you can forget about multiburst shots). Sliding the piece apart reveals a lens eye in the center. Style-wise, this is more Toy R Us than vintage Sony. But that said, we love the new spin it's put to cameras, including using recycled plastics.

Bigger image here

Via Impress Japan

Price: N.A.
Availability: Concept
Device: Digicam
Specs: N.A.

The Quartz Tele

This looks like something right out of Superman's Fortress of Solitude. Designer Tao Ma turns ye old telephone into a quartzy affair, with the dial pad now represented by large quartz crystals with built-in LED. The effect of this is soon obvious when each crystal shard illuminates in different colors once pressed. The base sports an LED screen which displays key info like incoming calls, dates, and contacts. Sheer eye candy, but hey where's the handpiece? Ouch! Found it.

Bigger image here

Via Yanko Design

Price: N.A.
Availability: Concept
Device: Telephone
Specs: N.A.

Compenium

Step aside, UMPCs. The Compenion, by designer Felix Schmidberger, might just be the mother of all slim-built, sexy, portable touchscreen notebooks. It's still a concept, but the idea of sliding OLED touchscreens that can be worked with directly in a form factor that's wafer-thin is simply irresistible. Interesting, the keyboard is built into the screen, so that's going to be some learning curve. Now if it ever gets built...

Bigger image here

Via Gearfuse

Price: N.A.
Availability: Concept, more info here
Device: Computer
Specs: N.A.

Carpet Alarm Clock

It's no Aladdin's carpet, but this beaut of an alarm clock concept by designers Sofie Colin and Gustav Lanberg effectively gets you out of bed. Designed as a carpet, the only way you're going to turn it off is if you get off your favorite horizontal position and step on it. Or have someone step on it. Of course, this also gives your siblings plenty of opportunity to secret it away some distance from your bed. No word on whether there's a cap to the weight limit before this clock starts sounding a different kind of alarm.

Bigger image here

Via Yanko Design

Price: N.A.
Availability: Concept
Device: Alarm clock
Specs: N.A.

Liika Ironing Board

Here's an idea that sucks. And we love it. Student designer Tony Zakrajsek's Liika is quite simply an ironing board with suction cups for legs. One presumes these are heavyduty enough to cling onto any non-porous surface, from windows to counter-tops, while you iron away on the boomerang-shaped board. Giving added flexibility are articulating arms that rotate and pivot. Speaking as space-starved dwellers of public housing in Asia, this is one household tool we Liika.

See it in use

Via Yanko Design

Price: N.A.
Availability: More info here
Device: Ironing board
Specs: N.A.

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our new blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (894)

» Digital Cameras (504)

» Notebooks (600)

» PC & Peripherals (666)

» Handhelds (319)

» Printers (47)

» Home AV (598)

» Music & Play (492)

» Gadgets (1107)

» Future Tech (214)

Previously...

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Subscribe to
Crave

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads