iTypewriter - Apple iPad

Hi everyone,

While doing my usual browsing through the infinitely massive entity that is the World Wide Web, I came across a little product called the iTypewriter.

Image courtesy of Austin Yang

The iTypewriter is basically just an accessory for the iPad which makes it feel more like an original, old-school typewriter. Your iPad slots into the top and when you punch the keys as you would on an ordinary typewriter, it doesn't put ink to paper but instead it physically presses the keys that are displayed on your iPad. This is a very simple concept for a product but seems to work.

Image courtesy of Austin Yang

With regards to who would actually buy this product, I am not really sure. When I first saw it I thought it was a ridiculously silly idea. However, having watched the video and seen it in action I have found myself liking the device and it is actually pretty cool how it is just such a simple concept. Saying that, I would never pay money for such a product which doesn't really add any functionality what so ever to an already expensive piece of kit.


Click here for the Youtube video of the iTypewriter in action


I will leave you to make your own decision as to what you think of the iTypewriter, we would love to hear some of your comments.

3D & Media
www.sovibrant.co.uk

The VFX Festival

Good afternoon readers. 

Today we bring you news of an up-and-coming event that we just can't wait for. Escape Studios VFX Festival brings together the world's greatest visual effects producers and artists.

Based at Escape Studios in London, the 4 day event consists of talks and presentations from leading artists on Wrath of the Titans and Prometheus, as well as the art of composting Prometheus.

Not only this, but seminars on ‘Small Talk, Little Money, Big Ideas’ as well as ‘Becoming a Visual Effects Supervisor’.

If you have a love of visual effects or you’re wanting to progress in this industry, we at SoVibrant recommend you join us and buy a ticket.

For tickets, prices and dates, follow the link below

http://thevfxfestival.com/

SoVibrant / Media Productions

McLaren P1 - stop press

McLaren have unveiled their latest supercar ahead of this year's Paris Motorshow. The 200mph, 0-60mph in less than 3 seconds, lightweight beauty is already being touted as the spiritual successor to the classic McLaren F1:

According to McLaren's press release:

McLaren Automotive will use its first ever international motor show appearance to preview its next generation ultimate supercar – the McLaren P1 – which takes much of its technological and spiritual inspiration from the company’s Racing division.  The McLaren P1 has one simple goal: to be the best driver’s car in the world on road and track.

At the Paris Motor Show, Mondial de l'Automobile 2012, the McLaren P1 is previewed as a design study. Next year a production version, which the company aims to put on sale within 12 months, will be revealed.

‘The McLaren P1 will be the result of 50 years of racing and road car heritage,’ says McLaren Automotive Executive Chairman Ron Dennis. ‘Twenty years ago we raised the supercar performance bar with the McLaren F1 and our goal with the McLaren P1 is to redefine it once again.’

‘Our aim is not necessarily to be the fastest in absolute top speed but to be the quickest and most rewarding series production road car on a circuit,’ says McLaren Automotive Managing Director Antony Sheriff. ‘It is the true test of a supercar’s all round ability and a much more important technical statement. Our goal is to make the McLaren P1 the most exciting, most capable, most technologically advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar ever made.’

When the McLaren P1 goes into production later next year, it will sit above the 12C and 12C Spider, in terms of both price and performance.

More information will be released following the McLaren Automotive press conference scheduled for 17.45 CEST (16.45 BST), on Thursday 27 September 2012.

Motor design at SoVibrant

www.SoVibrant.co.uk


Related Links:
Design Classic No.007: Aston Martin DB5 
Design Classic No.28: The Triumph Bonneville
Design Classic No.38: AEC Routemaster Bus
Design Classic No.234: Sinclair C5
Design Classic No.246: Ferrari Dino
Design Classic No.300: Mercedes 300SL Coupe
Design Classic No.325: Ferrari 512 S Modulo
Design Classic No.412: BMC Mini

 

Pons and Huot offices by Christian Pottgiesser

Although created a couple of years ago, a discussion in our studio the other day led to us re-familiarising ourselves with this unique office environment created for the Pons and Huot companies in Paris, by Christian Pottgiesser Architects.

An old 19th century warehouse was converted in to series of executive offices with an elegant, double height, open-plan working environment at its centre. It is here that the intrigue begins - the entire space is one giant, multi-level joinery item. The main plane is a desk-height slab of oak, meandering thoughout the space to create individual workstations (complete with perpex phone-booth-style enclosures), apertures to meeting spaces below and the framing of living trees.

The effect is stunning, totally unlike a traditional, individual furniture-based workstation environment. It's the sort of place you'd want to go an explore as a visitor, like a child in a castle, making sure to double back and check you've not missed any secret spaces...

Design at SoVibrant www.SoVibrant.co.uk

Related Posts:

Hidrosalud Headquarters Offices By Cuartopensante Arquitectura

SoVibrant's design for the first office occupant in Broadgate, Leeds

iPhone 5!

Wednesday 12^th September 2012 was a date that was in many of our diaries ... The iPhone 5 launch!

 

 

 

After a blog a few months ago now, I told you I was excitedly holding out for the release of the brand new iPhone 5 however I’m not sure I was justified waiting for what was hyped up as the smart phone event of this year.

 

Reading several articles and watching the news on Apple’s latest product, I can’t really see that many differences to what Apple have brought to market previously.

 

Some of the iPhone 5’s new features include the following:

 

The new screen

 

Offers a 16:9 ratio, matching that of widescreen televisions, however its 4in (10.2cm) size still remains smaller than rival displays used by Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, LG, HTC and Sony's flagship models.  The problem is that the new iPhone won't really give you much more screen than the old one!

 

The camera

 

An eight megapixel model - the same as in the iPhone 4S, and a lower specification than LG and Sony's most recent devices. 

 

The new “Google Maps” ... Flyover

 

Apple have chosen not to use Google Maps but to create a similar system called Flyover.  This app allows you to find your way from an aerial view however, isn’t this really just what Google did all those years ago and many have already bought into?

 

Re-skinned ITunes...

 

WOW! Thanks. Much needed but not that exciting and certainly not worthy of finishing the keynote on.

 

WORKING Siri

 

....Or so we are told.  I’m still to be convinced that this functions as Apple says it does however I won’t strike them off just yet until I know for myself.

 

There appears to be a few more evolutions that many of us don’t appear happy with such as the new adaptors that all users will have to purchase to plug the device into existing speakers and other equipment, just because the 5 has a “brand new” 9 pin adaptor!  There’s an additional £25 we weren’t aware about. The lack of a real styling overhaul now leaves Apple with an aesthetic that hasn't really changed for over 3 years.  Even more concerning for Apple, perhaps we are all starting to become a bit more cynical about their new products. It could be judged that Apple have made a rod for their own backs through the relentless innovation and the expectation that creates. It may be an excellent device, but I think people just expected that one big Wow factor feature that didn't really materialise.

 

Apple also has become a “copycat” in the now crowded tablet marketplace. Jobs once said the iPad's 9.7in screen was the perfect size, and smaller tablets made no sense. Then the Android camp had success with 7in tablets like Amazon's Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7, and now Apple supposedly will announce its own smaller iPad in October. Are Apple losing their leadership in trend setting in the market place? 

 

SoVibrant were particularly excited about the new product but today we’re feeling deflated.  Some good advice for potential 5 buyers ... maybe don’t jump on the bandwagon this time!

 

 

 

SoVibrant’s TOP 3 smart phone alternatives...

 

Samsung Galaxy S3 (Android)

-       Aesthetically amazing (“Boss” in the words of our very own Peter Pringle)

-       Screen size: 4.8" (larger than the new iPhone  5)

-       Operating system is Android

-       Camera: 8MP

-       Extremely light weight

 

 

HTC 1X (Android)

-       HTC's first true smartphone

-       Customisable & fast

-       Camera is great quality

-       HTC Car app is fantastic

-       Contains the tegra3 processer so phone graphics have high quality output

 

 

 

Sony Experia (Android)

-       Weighs a tiny 139 g, 4.8 ounces

-       4.6" touch screen – scratch resistant (larger than the new iPhone  5)

-       13MP Camera

-       Operating system is Android

-       Up to 16hours music listening time

 

 

 

ONE TO WATCH:

New Nokia Lumina 920

-       4.5” Screen (larger than the new iPhone  5)

-       8.7MP Camera

-       Nokia pure view camera

-       10 hours maximum 3G talk time

-       400.0 h Maximum 3G standby time

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

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mages courtesy of Google Images

www.sovibrant.co.uk

Design, iPhone 5