Titanic Needed This!

Danny Cheng: "YES, GPS are really important!"

One of the biggest fears while evacuating a sinking ship is the possibility of survivors being carried away by the tide, and people getting lost at sea. The Network Tube is a rescue tube with magnetic properties and aims to form a floating cluster, bringing people together via GPS. When people huddle together, they not only boost each other’s morale, but they also increase their chances of survival.

Network Tube is a 2011 Spark Awards entry.

Designers: Son Kijo, Joon Hyoung Seo, Uhm Hyung Woo, Choi JinYoung & Kim Junpyo

20 Best of Best red dot award : design concept 2011

As expected this evening here in Singapore has turned out to be magical! I know most of you are curious to know which designs bagged the Best of Best honors. So before I sign out for tonight, here are my pick of 20 Best of Best red dot award : design concept 2011. Congratulations winners!

Air-curtain Shower Cabin by Liu Yi, Luo Jing & Jiang Yuning

A’konkret Furniture by Tjiang Supertini Yuwono

ARROW by Prof. Jeon Sung-su, Prof. Kim Ki-Pil, Han Kyung-Chan, Kang Kyung-Rok, Kang Dong-Woo & Jeon Ji-Yong

Creative Helmets by Igor Mitin

Digimo, Camera for Creatives by Lee Sang Ik

FRIDA Concept Robot by Kenny Wong

GEM by Jarkko Saunamäki, Dr. Hannu Nieminen, Marko Luomi, Yan Qifeng & Heikki Naulapää

Kulou Cigar by Prof. Gao Liqun, Wang Jun, Zhang Nan, Li Yulin, Liu Rumiao, Ding Ning, Du YaNan & Wang Yancai

Little Explorer by Chen Liao-Hsun, Chen Wei-Ting, Tsai Hui-Jou, Dai Siao-Ying & Chen Jia-Wen

Magic Carp-pet Rug by John Leung

Mole’s Hide and Seek Bike Rack by You Song Young, Park Soyoung, Hong Sung Min & Hong Se Won

Nursing Kit by Lee Sheng-Hung & Chen Yu-Lin

Paper Chair-piao by Lei Zhang, Christoph John & Jovana Bogdanovic

Parking Guide by Shih Chang-Chi, Huang Shao-Heng, Wang Shou-Yu

Piling Eating by Lu Ying-Jung & Chou Ya Shang

Microbial Home by Philips Design

SoundsGood by Tang Peiqi

Tea-Time by Yu Pengtao

Topless Shoes by Prof. Ying Fangtian, Zhao Xiaoliang, Han Like, Liu Peng, Meng Qingbao, Ren Mingjun, Yang Xiao, Chen Xuan & Lin Lin

Wormhole Folding Seat by Igor Lobanov

Logitech Keyboard Case By ZAGG for iPad 2

The perfect companion for your iPad 2. The Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG for the iPad 2 has a thin, eye-catching design that gives your device durable protection, added functionality and style. You'll wonder how you ever used your iPad 2 without one.

The Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG for iPad 2 is made from aluminum with a high-grade finish, matching the design, look and feel of today's hottest tablets. Its simple yet innovative hinge provides multiple angles for viewing and typing in both portrait and landscape mode. A built-in physical keyboard allows for fast, responsive typing.

Sleek and stylish design with unique and useful features makes the Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG the essential accessory to buy for your iPad 2.

Mickey Light Bulb!

Probably the only time you’re going to get to screw Mickey is when you get this adorable light bulb. Simply called the Mickey Mouse Bulb Concept, this is a mouse that I want to bring home! Sign me up for three Mr. Lee!

Designer: Hong-kue Lee

Cool Air and More

Although we are heading towards winter, let’s not forget the folks from Down Under who are gearing up for their summers. I think escape from heat and reality should be more than just Kool Aid and popsicles; it should be funky like the Water Wave Air Conditioner. It features ambient lighting with moods like stars and water, matching sound effects and cool breezy air to lower your temperature. Now that’s what soothing summers should be like!

Designer: Min Seong Kim

Why Two?

Do we really need the tablet and the smartphone to be two different entities? If you ask these trio designers their answer is no! The Part is the coexistence of a smartphone and a tablet as one whole device. You can remove the phone for individual use, however together they tango even better!

Designers: Eunha Seo, Junse Kim & Yonggu Do

Nokia x Windows Phone 7 concept revealed!

Danny Cheng: "Nokia drops the most biggest OS in sales and go with the most smallest OS? but I think this smartphone look nice tho, we'll see, Nokia :)"

DNC: "This is the first image you'll see anywhere of the early fruit of Microsoft and Nokia's budding new partnership. We have it on good authority that the technicolor phones on show are conceptual devices produced by the two companies. You shouldn't, therefore, go jumping to conclusions about retai...l hardware just yet, but hearts should be warmed by the familiarity of Nokia's new design -- the shape of these handsets is somewhere between its recent N8 and C7 Symbian devices and there is, as usual for Nokia, a choice of sprightly colors. The trio of keys adorning the new concept's bottom give away its Windows Phone 7 ties, but also remind us that the N8 and E7 are highly unlikely to receive any WP7 upgrade love. The best part about this whole discovery, however, might be that it confirms Steve Ballmer's assertion that the engineers of both companies have "spent a lot of time on this already."

WIN DJ Danny first debut album CantonTechno and 汽車大碟

fb: "Visit and like DJ Danny's facebook page, you could WIN DJ Danny's first debut album CantonTechno and 汽車大碟; DJ Danny is Hong Kong Electronic Techno Dance Music DJ, musician and record producer. he educated in England; Since graduating, DJ Danny had been to all the good clubs in London, Taipei, Tokyo, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Later on he established his own brand – DaXxX GrouP; Created his personal website and working on his first debut album CantonTechno :)

The album CantonTechno should reach number one on the record charts of six countries, accomplished positions within the top-ten worldwide, and topped the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart in the United States

Please click here for DJ Danny's NEW fb page"

Screen Grabs: BlackBerry Eyed PlayBooks & Monster Beats 2011

Danny Cheng: "Is that new Headphones by Monster Beats in the video too? So nice~~"

Engadget: "Whoulda thunk that the third time we'd see the BlackBerry PlayBook on video, it'd be in the hands of cube-headed dopplegangster Will.I.Shill? Not us, but we're terribly excited to see the 7-inch tablet show off its augmented reality chops in the Black Eyed Peas' latest music video. We're not really sure what alternate reality hijinks turned the musicians into 8-bit portraits nor pixelated their world, but the BEP sure look adorable as Xbox LIVE-friendly avatars. Watch it after the break, or skip to 2:12, 3:16 and 3:54 if you just want to get your tablet on."

"Angry Birds" & Evil Pigs & Peace Treaty = Destruction

Danny Cheng: "Angry Birds and Evil Pig look like the current situation of North and South Korea~"

mashable: "Have you ever wondered why the angry birds and evil pigs from Angry Birds can’t put aside their differences? A new YouTube video helps explain why.

Angry Birds have taken the world by storm. It is the iPhone’s most popular game (no longer the top-grossing one) and hugely popular on Android. For those of you who haven’t played yet, the story focuses around the angry birds trying to reclaim their eggs from the evil pigs.

In this short, two-and-a-half minute video (which is going viral as we speak), the angry birds finally sit down at the negotiating table with the evil pigs to end the struggle, “which has cost millions of innocent people their ability to concentrate in work.” However, things go wrong and not even the negotiator or the Angry Birds (Angry Birds) theme music can keep both sides from engaging in all-out war.

The video was created by Erez Nehederet (Hebrew for “Wonderful Country”), a popular live sketch comedy show in Israel, as part of a promotional campaign for its upcoming season. Originally the video was created in Hebrew, but after a lot of U.S. interest, the video’s creators created the English version that you see here."

The Beast M55 Bike

Danny Cheng: "love the Titanium, carbon fiber and likes the Hybrid drive “pedelec” system"

Yanko Design: "This is a fast bike. It’s called “The Beast” and it’s designed and executed by M55 Bikes and it goes 40 miles per hour. One charge on this electric bike and you’ll go as far as 75 miles even off-road. That’s impressive, yes? It’s made of custom parts created by M55’s seasoned engineers, using technology and materials used in Formula One cars and supersportscars alike. Titanium, carbon fiber, CNC machining, and a brushless motor mechanism, plus more!

Each of the non-custom parts on this magical machine are of the finest quality, chosen by the M55 crew to meet golden standards. It’s got a hybrid drive, making it an addition to your high-falootin human powers. Each time the sensor feels you need some extra torque, it packs a punch and blasts you forward, multiplying your power like one of those Japanese exosuits from the comic books. Such a monster.

M55 Beast
Hybrid drive “pedelec” system
Max speed 40 mph
Up to 75 miles potential range with one charge
Utilizing the finest materials and components available
Performance and luxury – no compromise

Features:
Frame: Monocoque 7075 CNC Aluminum & carbon fiber plates
Battery: Tenergy Polimer Li-Ion cells (20mAh)
Motor: EB-PC motor with 5.2 Nm torque"

Sony Google TV HDTVs and Blu-ray player launch details revealed

Danny Cheng: "Logitech Revue or Sony TV? Both are my favorite devices maker~ great move Google :)"

Engadget: "Straight from Sony's Google TV unveiling in New York we finally know the official details of its plans, which include four HDTVs (24-, 32- , 40- and 46-inch) with prices from $599 to $1,399, plus a funky white set-top box with built-in Blu-ray player for $399. The 24-inch is a CCFL backlit LCD, while the larger models all feature edge LED lighting, while all of them feature built in WiFi, so no need to go stringing any new network cables to the living room. The only custom app we're seeing among the preinstalled ones (Netflix, CNBC, Napster, Pandora and more) is a Sony Qriocity VOD player, for more you'll be waiting for the Android Market to hit in early 2011. If you want to be the first on your block with one, hit up the local Sony Style outlet when they go on sale this weekend, or Best Buy stores starting October 24"

New Planet Discovered 2010 Called Gliese 581g: Can It Sustain Life?

Danny Cheng: 'Gliese 581 is located 20 light years away from Earth? May be we need F-rocket~~"

Dots Period: "New Planet Discovered 2010: Gliese 581g aka Goldilocks Planet – Among the planets in our solar system, our planet Earth is the only one which can sustain life. Scientists have been exploring the universe for quite some time now in search for another planet which can support life. One of the most studied planet is the red planet known as Mars because of the possible presence of water. However, based on further research, the lack of a magnetosphere and its extremely thin atmosphere pose great challenge to life’s sustainability.

A recent study conducted by a team of planet hunters from the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz, and the Carnegie Institution of Washington led to the discovery of a new planet using the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. Accordingly, the new findings are based on 11 years of observations of the nearby red dwarf star Gliese 581. Gliese 581 is located 20 light years away from Earth in the constellation Libra.

The new planet discovered is located in the Gliese 581 star system, in the so-called “Goldilocks zone” or an area where planets can can support liquid water on their surface. Hence the new planet discovered was named “Gliese 581g” or the “Goldilocks Planet”. Reportedly, this new planet has a mass of three to four times that of Earth and orbits its star in just under 37 days.

There’s one more interesting fact about this newly discovered planet called Gliese 581g. Since it is tidally locked to the Gliese 581 dwarf star, one side of the planet is always facing the star and is in perpetual daylight, while the side facing away from the star is in perpetual darkness."

Hong Kong PSi Tower, way out of scale with the other buildings in Hong Kong?

Danny Cheng: "What's that? is he trying to block the entire skyline here in Hong Kong? lol~~"

Dezeen: "British Hong Kong based designer Michael Young has been commissioned to develop building project strategies for Wanchai Cultural District. The first concept PSi Tower has been developed as an office complex with luxury apartments for business users and executives overlooking Kowloon district. Conceptually the project, based visually on the essence of ancient Chinese building techniques, has been carried forward into the 21st Century with its multi facetted surfaces that change according to weather and light conditions.

The 5-hectare site will include a ground level internal atrium for public art and pedestrian use, containing outdoor restaurants with outdoor seating. The upper central interior section also boasts a native plantation that encloses an outdoor theatre area.

Having lived in Hong Kong for several years, Young wanted to design a building that could be both understood by local residents and also be compelling on an international platform. Young, who has humorously stated he wanted to pickle Fosters Gherkin at the unveiling in Wanchai cultural centre today, admitted it was a great pleasure to work on such a large scale after watching great architects challenge the furniture industry over the years, and that finally the industry was becoming symbiotic a natural evolution of technology and engineering.

Detailed information on the project will be unveiled at presentation and public exhibition during 100% Design Shanghai in early November at Nanjing West Road.

Project: PSi Tower Hong Kong
Client: PSi Partners & PC Building Corp China
Design: Michael Young Projects Ltd
Place: Hong Kong, China 2010
Planning and consultant: Porbic Partners
Local Architect: Arnold Woo & Partners"

Nokia hires Peter Skillman, former Palm Design VP, as MeeGo user experience chief

Danny Cheng: "Sweet, this is good news, good move Nokia :)"

Engadget: "Now this, this is what we call exciting. Nokia has managed to scoop up Peter Skillman from the wreckage of the HP/Palm merger. One of the many senior VPs to leave Palm upon its assimilation into the HP empire, Peter spent 11 years with his previous employer and was in charge of the design team that produced the deliciously curvaceous Palm Pre. Now at Nokia, he'll be heading up the user experience and services division for MeeGo, which means that if you weren't excited for the platform already, you've now got a very good reason to be."

Business brothers: Nick and Christian Candy bought the site for £150m in 2004 before developing it into luxury flats - One Hyde Park

Danny Cheng: "One Hyde Park looks just like my halls of residence at Aston University, which called Lakeside; so, can I rent and live there for £75 per week?"

Mail: "The £140m flat: World-record price earns mystery buyer boasts a penthouse view over Central London, a private wine-tasting facility and an underground passage to a Heston Blumenthal restaurant.

There is also a tunnel to the neighbouring Mandarin Oriental Hotel – where TV chef Blumenthal will soon open his first London restaurant – to allow residents access to 24-hour room service, while the performance car-maker McLaren is opening a showroom on the ground floor.

And should the residents feel the need to venture outside, the local ‘corner shops’ include Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

Throw in security measures a James Bond villain would be proud of and a ‘panic room’ in case things go wrong, and you would expect to pay a high price.

But even estate agents could not contain their amazement yesterday as a London property was on the verge of being sold for £140million – making it the most expensive flat in the world.

The previous most expensive flat was valued at £115million in a rival Central London development at St James’s Square in 2008.

Trevor Abrahamson of estate agent Glentree Estates said of the latest sale: ‘This is a huge price. In the last six months we have sold more trophy properties than we have in the last two years.

'One minute there was an over-supply and then there was a shortage. Prices are high.’

While the identity of the new owner is shrouded in secrecy, the usual super-rich suspects of Russian oligarchs and Arab billionaires are in the frame.

In all a quarter of buyers in the block are Middle Eastern, while one third are European.

Around 65 per cent of all the properties in the block – due to open later this year – have been sold. The average cost is, comparatively speaking, a mere trifle, at £20million.

The £140million price tag is seen as a sign that the top end of the property market has been untouched by the recession as the world’s financial elite continue to flock to London, taking advantage of the weakness of the pound.

The property, designed by architect Lord (Richard) Rogers’s firm, Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, is being marketed by developer brothers Christian and Nick Candy.

They bought the site, formerly occupied by a grim 1950s office block, for £150million in 2004.

Candy & Candy refused to comment on the sale of the flat, citing client confidentiality.

The Candys hit the headlines recently over their efforts to redevelop Chelsea Barracks after the Prince of Wales complained to their Qatari backers about the design.

Nokia Responds to Steve Jobs' iPhone 4 Antenna Press Conference

Danny Cheng: "Steve Jobs, Shame on You! It is a shame that Steve Jobs has to bring Nokia into Apple's problems.. I have never seen this sticker on the back of my Nokia phone ever. He was taking responsibility until he mentioned Nokia! Next time he should make sure his research is a 100% when trying to prove a point... So where are the pics from the web? If he didn't want to show it at the press conference, than he should post them on the Apple website/blog... Also Steve Jobs why bring other companies to your mess apple !"

Nokia Blog: "Steve Jobs held a press conference today about the iPhone 4 reception problems. It resulted in free cases for iPhone 4 owners and waived return fees for unsatisfied buyers. He also claims left-handed "death grip" bar-dropping problem on the BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris, and Samsung Omnia II, and also mentioned Nokia during the conference by saying, “You can go on the web and look at pictures of Nokia phones that ship with stickers on the back that say ‘don’t touch here’.” A couple of hours after the Apple event, Nokia released a statement.

In short, Nokia says antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, but they design their phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases. If they are ever in conflict, they prioritize antenna performance over physical design. Read the full statement below.

"Antenna design is a complex subject and has been a core competence at Nokia for decades, across hundreds of phone models. Nokia was the pioneer in internal antennas; the Nokia 8810, launched in 1998, was the first commercial phone with this feature.

Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying human behavior, including how people hold their phones for calls, music playing, web browsing and so on. As you would expect from a company focused on connecting people, we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.

In general, antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. That’s why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design.""

Study: OMG, Facebook's Ending Tomorrow! What Do You Do?

Danny Cheng: "If Facebook ending, I should buy their domain name, hehehe~~"

Fast Company: "What would Facebook's 500 million active users do if the world's largest social network were to be shut down? Better yet, what would you do?

That was the topic covered in a study conducted at Stanford by Andreas Weigend, the former chief scientist of Amazon, who asked respondents to imagine a scenario where Facebook were shut down and all its data destroyed. Can we live without the service? The results provide insight into what matters most to users of social networks.

According to the study, approximately 40% of respondents would back up photos, compared with the 38.7% who said they would back up contacts, which suggests that pictures are just as important to social networking as having contacts. "Photos are a very important way to maintain richness in social relations," says Chuanyang Chee, who helped Weigend conduct the study. Indeed, the study attempts to show how social networks are important in creating a "collective memory," and how its features, such as photo albums, help contribute to "each individual's online autobiography." About 38% of respondents said photos were Facebook's most important feature, whereas only 28% said the newsfeed was its best feature.

Of course, a smaller percentage of respondents provided a refreshing answer to the question: They would do nothing if Facebook were ending. Chee says that this small segment actually didn't care about whether their Facebook account were deleted, but only because they either "already backed up all their contacts or because they use another program to store all their photos."

Still, there were some--an unfortunately tiny fraction of respondents--who would not be concerned if Facebook ended, even if meant losing all their data. "These are people who are in touch with their close friends--they already have all their necessary information," explains Chee. "So it's not as important to them to stay in touch through Facebook."

Wait, friends exist outside Facebook?