Author Archives: Gaurav Sood

Step into the Year of the Dragon with Ciga Design tourbillon watch that exudes dark appearance and true strength

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For those born in the year of the Dragon, 2024 is the year for you. While you sit back and wait for the wheels of fortune to roll in your favor, Ciga Design’s new limited-edition tourbillon watch instigates you to get up and unleash your inner dragon and let it roar with strength.

The $3,299 Ciga Design Tourbillon Chinese Zodiac The Year Of Dragon Limited Edition watch, as the name suggests, is designed to celebrate the year of the dragon in the Chinese calendar. Only 365 examples of the watch will be ever made in the avant-garde black dial that exudes true strength from mere appearance.

Designer: Ciga Design

The watch is arguably an instant attention grabber, but it’s the golden dragon over the tourbillon movement and the shiny natural diamonds on the hands that captivate you beyond the super black look and feel. The Tourbillon Chinese Zodiac The Year Of Dragon watch has a nice square case with circular corners and is made from agate, while its minimalist dial design uplifts its luxury and sophistication statement.

The dark color scheme of the dial carries on to the three-dimensional, rounded crown and its accompanying leather strap, which is made from Nile crocodile leather and mimics the texture of dragon scales for that detailed design. The dark black theme for the watch is essentially chosen so as to maintain the focus on the hands and the golden dragon tourbillon, even though the Ciga Design logo stands out prominently on the watch.

Undoubtedly then the dial is the most fascinating aspect. It comprises black-themed hands that strike distinct allure with seven natural diamonds on them. The hour hand has three diamonds, the minute hand has four. When they align, the two hands create a glowing beam of light that sparks inspiration, Ciga notes. When the eyes are overwhelmed by the diamond sheen, spare a thought for the custom-built golden dragon-shaped tourbillon bridge, just below, which enhances the watch’s artistic expression manifold.

The mechanical tourbillon movement is a caliber CD-06 that gives the watch a documented 40-hour power reserve. The Ciga Design Tourbillon Chinese Zodiac The Year Of Dragon Limited Edition watch is water resistant to 30 meters. It has a silver caseback featuring calligraphic engraving of the Chinese Huai Su sign and adding to the contrast in design of the dark-themed casing. The caseback can be engraved with a blessing or message you like for utmost personalization. It comes packed in a special gift pack that narrates the history of the Dragon and celebrates artistic brilliance just like the watch itself.

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World’s first Cybertruck patrol vehicle is a cool RoboCop Taurus successor in the making

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Taurus, the crime-fighting machine (a modified 1986 LX sedan) from the RoboCop movie was way ahead of its time. Not now though as a new-age RoboCop would demand something like a custom Tesla Cybertruck to take on the bad blood in the city.

This narrative holds merit for the world’s first Tesla Cybertruck police vehicle which will soon hit the streets. If the stainless steel exoskeleton MUV hasn’t already caught your eye, you’ll need to pull over if sirens beam in your rear-view mirror and the Tesla vehicle is right on your tail. Cybertruck is already famed for its futuristic looks, akin to a RoboCop first responder machine, and the robotic persona would catch eyeballs for sure.

Designer: UP.FIT

This patrol Cybertruck in a fitting skin is the work of UP.FIT which is a subsidiary of Unplugged Performance who have a host of modified Tesla EV versions to brag about. The good news is that the off-roading vehicle is all set to hit the streets later this year as the brand expects loads of orders coming in from the US and other countries that don’t compromise on city security in any way. Inside out the police cruiser vehicle will be fitted with a host of accessories and draped in colorways that beef up its intimidation quotient by quite a stretch. It’ll have sirens, an array of lights, fender-mounted spotlights, a PA system, computer systems, and an upgraded radio. Optional additions for the patrol Cybertruck riding on the 18-inch forged wheels come in the form of a front push bar, Starlink connectivity, and high-performance brakes and tires.

Of course, the interested departments can add a host of their own customizations to make it more potent. According to UP.FIT if there is a keen interest in the vehicle, they can also modify it for military, tactical, and search-and-rescue operations by adding things like prisoner partitions, K9 enclosure and weapons storage compartments. We hope the police skin is a multilayer paint coating on the surface and not just a decal. But the question is whether the Cybertruck will be a reliable chaser in real-life conditions given its rusting issues and stability hiccups. Since we are talking about bystander safety, any driving misjudgments could lead to collateral damage. Will police authorities around the world choose the Cybertruck over a Lexus LC500, Ford Interceptor, Jeep Grand Cherokee or BMW i3? Only time will tell. For now, we’ll enjoy the larger-than-life persona of the Tesla’s MUV.

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Pulloof smartphone concept will live on as hanging speaker even when other phones are thrown away

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Concept phones are designed to showcase the working possibilities of what the upcoming version of an exciting lineup or an altogether a different smartphone would look and feel when launched. Deviating from this notion is this concept phone that rethinks the way mobile phones are used and disposed of the afterlife. This conceptual design draws some uncanny references to be more than a phone, a device that would survive – be useful – after the user chooses to upgrade, and doesn’t want to use the old phone anymore.

Designed keeping in mind the idea of integrating human behavior and sustainable design, the Pulloof: Smart Phone Concept is meant to survive after its lifetime, not just in memory, but as a device that is still fresh to the touch and use, besides its smartphone functionality.

Designer: Gisung Han

When presented with the question what happens when “the display disappears from a smartphone,” what would people use it for? Gisung Han long before clamshell phones took off because of their display real estate had visioned the Pulloof – inspired by a vintage B&Q radio – as a phone delivering on people’s music consumption through phone. He designed “a sustainable speaker by emphasizing the speaker” functionality of the smartphone.

The Pulloof as a sustainable solution is a dream object that remains valuable after its use as a smartphone as “something that people will keep wanting to touch.” This would be an environmentally safer option since people would stick on to their device even when upgrading to a new phone ensuring lesser electronic waste. People wouldn’t want to throw away a smartphone just because they are upgrading to a bigger screen.

Pulloof thus has a different design approach than a usual smartphone. It is a combination of pull and loop, a phone that features a hidden speaker accessible by pulling out from a round surface using a loop on the phone. With its properties and design, the designer believes, “Even if other phones are thrown away, ‘Pulloof’ will not be thrown away.” This phone will survive anywhere as a hanging speaker (from the loop), so it is usable in the bathroom or in the outdoors to keep you entertained.

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This smart desk clock boosts productivity, curbing your phone addiction for good

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Distancing from your smartphone is not that easy when you are barraged with constant notifications from apps. Productivity takes a major hit as you lose focus and the best antidote I staying connected without constantly looking at smart devices. A smart desk clock is the way to go as it helps in time management without going off the course.

According to independent research, people prefer working on their desktops and if they have a utilitarian gadget that prevents unwanted distractions while keeping you updated with the needed notifications, there’s nothing better. The PAL Desk Clock with added features like a dedicated widget space for the most needed apps is what’s going to keep you interested.

Designer: Mohit Joshi

This nifty gadget concept wants to take the heat to the likes of the Amazon Echo Show 5, Google Nest Hub, Lenovo Smart Clock and Loftie Alarm Clock. There are five main functions – time keeping, focus sessions, music playback and wireless charging. In addition to these, the desk clock has a calendar and temperature sensor. With the wide display, you can customize the widgets like weather, music playback and calendar schedules as desired. The desk clock has a wireless charging pad intentionally positioned on the back where your smartphone is out of the peripheral view.

With the dedicated focus button and the accompanying app, the phone goes into DND mode, so that the task at hand can be completed. The design of the smart desk clock is such that it goes with any kind of setup or other desk accessories. When you need some relaxing time, the music app can play audio directly with all the interface elements you would find on a music player app. This prevents you from opening the phone and going down the rabbit hole of unproductive social media apps.

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Polestar HAMMER x Hot Wheels is a sharp muscle car that deserves a real life rendition

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This year’s Polestar Design Contest 2024 is themed on unconstrained dreams inspired by nostalgic aspirations. Out of the numerous entries, the winner will have the opportunity to get their design recreated as a 1:64 Hot Wheels version. Yes, a purchasable Hot Wheels Polestar that’ll adorn the living room shelves and desk space of many enthusiasts.

Out of the finalized designs, the ones that impressed me the most are the Polestar Legacy by Robinson Mancaux, Polestar RoboToyRace by Anton Kulakov, Polestar Barchetta by Travis Yang, Polestar Crocus by Trystan Malbranque and Polestar LNR Space Runner Anand Namboodiri. That said we’ll not talk about any one of them here, because there’s one Polestar Hot Wheels design that didn’t make it to the final cut but gets my vote for the winner’s podium.

Designer: Siddhartha Dutt

This is the HAMMER Hot Wheels x Polestar that stays within the imaginative realm while still being futuristic looking. Imagining this as a Hot Wheels version is even more erotic. Inspired by Thor’s mighty weapon Mjölnir, this electric muscle car envisioned for Polestar comes with a booming performance platform that’s good enough for a real-life muscle car. Even though it’s a scaled-down version of a concept electric muscle fusion vehicle, the temptation to ride someday is undulating.

The typical Hot Wheels design on the front sets the tone for the sharp design aesthetics that follow aerodynamically to the rear. No curves here, indicating a futuristic DNA meant for the pure fun of driving on freeways. The designer keeps things toned down as far as stuffing muscle on the sides and the rear section goes. Still, he has managed to extract a very intimidating character out of this Hot Wheels. The wheels and the rims radiate a matching theme that’s highlighted by the silver and matte black inserts.

Just have a look at these renders that have a semblance of the Night Rider vehicle (a modified 1982 Pontiac Trans Am) but with a modern sharp appeal. Should this be just another concept that fades away or do you vouch for it to come to life one day?

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Fractal Design unveils maiden gaming chair and over-ear headphones

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At Computex 2024 Fractal Design has unveiled its first-ever gaming chair and pair of headphones that should have you interested. There’s a belief around the tech community that the best gaming chair isn’t a pure gaming chair – thus, your quest for the endgame chair for playing games should end at the Refine.

Keeping things to the basics with ergonomic comfort and intuitive controls at the helm, the Refine gaming chair brings the assuring comfort of high-end office chairs to the fore. According to Fractal Design, the gaming chair has mesh fabric and Alcantara finishes to get you through long gaming sessions without any discomfort. Refine is going to be available this summer in five different variants – ranging from $550 up to $890.

Designer: Fractal Design

Secretlab fans will write off this one just at first glance since the chair seems to be from the Herman Miller clan. But there are subtle design distinctions that will entice gamers into buying this one. The tall mesh seatback (Fractal is also offering a variant with solid padded fabric) and the ergonomic freedom of an office chair (something I love) are a good fusion of both worlds.

There is adjustable lower back support, supportive head cushion, impressive lumbar support and 4D armrests with a four-point adjustment system. This gives the user freedom to adjust the forward/back position and height rotation too. For maximum body comfort, Refine can be tilted and locked in 13 different positions. The mesh version will cost $550 and the most premium Alcantra variant will set you back $890.

Talking of the Scape headphones, the USP is the included wireless charging stand. Quality of life features such as flip-to-mute microphone that’s detachable should tilt the buying decision in the brand’s favor that’s if they manage to provide quality audio drivers and decent battery life of around 30 hours. Although the details of the drivers is not known, Fractal confirms the over-ear headset supports Bluetooth 5.3 and connectivity via a low-latency dongle. The headphones will come with ambient lighting and audio presets that can be tweaked. The audio accessory will be available later this year in two color options for $200.

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Custom-built inside out, ModRetro Chromatic is the ultimate tribute to the Gameboy

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Gameboy was a cultural icon in the 1990s when I was growing up. Almost every video game enthusiast in my close circle had his handheld from Nintendo, which meant that before being discontinued from production in 2003, it was arguably the best-selling console ever made. Since, then there have been many iterations of the popular handheld console trying to revive the lost era of portable gaming, but none has been as identical as what Palmer Luckey’s ModRetro may have achieved with the Chromatic.

Combining nostalgic charm with modern tech, the ModRetro Chromatic inherits the Gameboy DNA to give enthusiasts the most realistic experience of the classic handheld console in the blood and body of the new-age device. It’s a result of seventeen years of endeavor to make the ultimate device to play Gameboy games as they were played on the original console.

Designer: ModRetro

According to Luckey, the Chromatic is his best tribute to the Gameboy. Designed and constructed to be the most “authentic, highest quality” device to mimic Gameboy, Chromatic is an heirloom quality piece of retro-futuristic art “that would last for generations.” To that accord, this cartridge-playing Nintendo Gameboy will retail for $199 and can be pre-ordered now at ModRetro.

Compatible with Gameboy and Gameboy library, the Chromatic is 100 percent custom-made. It has a one-to-one LCD with an identical pixel structure to the original Gameboy. To maintain authenticity and closeness to the real, the device alongside its Gameboy-like 160×144 pixel backlit display features a similar layout, resolution, and size. Its sapphire screen is scratch-resistant and it is housed within a magnesium-aluminum alloy molded shell topped with durable PBT buttons and D-pad.

ModRetro Chromatic measures 5.2x3x1.2 inches, and weighs feather light at 6.2 oz. For connectivity, the device has been provided with a USB port and 3.5mm headphone output, and to celebrate its launch, it will come preinstalled with good old Tetris, free of charge. The custom-designed lithium-ion battery, rechargeable through console, provides the Chromatic 24-hour battery life, which can be enhanced on the move with 3x AA batteries.

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This lightweight camper for mid-sized trucks has auto expanding pop-top mechanism to maximize headroom

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Adventure Manufacturing has been delighting adventurous souls with their truck campers ever since the 2020 pandemic under the brand Scout Campers. With the success of the hardtop shell Tuktut camper for 4×4 trucks, the new addition to the lineup focuses on all-weather and lightweight design, making even more sense.

Designed for mid-sized MUVs like Toyota Tacoma, Ford Raptor and Jeep Gladiator, the pop-top camper dubbed Yoho Pop Up is ultra-lightweight at just 976 lbs, and is super easy to set up. Thus, making it ideal for vehicles that can be prepped for an adventure trip by the morning time, and then, trimmed down back to their native utility by the night. This all-weather camper doesn’t eat up much of your range which makes it an even better choice for electric MUVs and electric off-road trucks.

Designer: Scout Campers

The brand is targeting midsized truck users who don’t want to compromise on fuel economy and crave a solution that hits the right balance of protection and practicality of use. Yoho Pop Up is made out of composite panels with an aluminum exoskeleton and a single-piece monocoque composite roof. The cabinets are made out of recycled paper and feature bamboo countertops. Scout Campers is confident that the pop-up camper sleeps three people and a dog or a small kid, but to be safe we’ll say, two adults and a dog or small kid is what the pop-top will be comfy enough on extended trips.

It has a total height of 69.75 inches which can be expanded to 79 inches for more headroom even for the tallest of people. The expanding function can be initiated with the built-in pop-top mechanism (called Early Rise) that allows you to leave your bedding in place even when the top is down. The automated feature comes in handy when traveling solo, or weather conditions are not in your favor. Designed to mimic the look of a hardtop shell camper, the Yoho Pop Up has larger doors for easy access.

The maker has fitted the Pop Up version with an 18.5-liter Lifesaver Jerrycan Filtration-ready water canister with a 3,000-W Goal Zero power station. A stainless steel sink, dual 100W solar panels, a 5-lb propane tank, and exterior lighting also come standard with the model. If you want to go for more, there is the optional 45-L Dometic CFX3 fridge, Kammok Crosswing awning, portable indoor/outdoor gas cooktop, portable toilet, and 7.5-L RotoPax canister to increase the freshwater capacity.

The pricing of Yoho Pop Up is more than the hardtop version at $27,000 which is surprising. Also, we have to keep in mind the fully proof weather-resistant design of the hardtop model. While most of the hardcore adventurers will lean towards the Tuktut, this pop-top version is made for people looking to have the option of a low drive profile while traveling. Those interested can make a $500 deposit to book their unit with availability promised in a few months.

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This handsome three-wheeled EV boasts advanced tilting tech to keep it from toppling over

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Three-wheeled electric vehicles mostly targeted for city driving are a practical option instead of four-wheelers and a safer bet than exposed two-wheelers. There’s a downside when compared to cars though, they are not as safe as you would expect them to be, since they can topple over if driven rashly.

This was the main focus for the French nonprofit electric mobility group, SIREMS Association, who’s developed one of the safest three-wheeled electric vehicles with advanced safety features to prevent accidents. The placement of the two wheels on the rear delivers more traction and the shift of center of gravity with the semi-reclined feet forward positioning helps produce more torque.

Designer: SIREMS Association

So that the rider is confident of cornering at high speeds, the rear wheels tilt depending on the tilt of the body. The maker has developed Mobile Lateral Elements (MLEs) which are a pair of advanced doo-hickeys on each side of the front wheel to eliminate any chance of toppling over. They act like a counterbalance to prevent the inside from hitting the road and outside MLEs to keep the EV from going off balance. Just in case the speed is too high and the toppling over action cannot be prevented (laws of physics remember), these MLEs force the vehicle to prop up.

Collisions are also a probability, so these MLEs help absorb a frontal impact. There’s a triangle-shaped structure called Programmed Restraint Device (PRD) just behind the cockpit that dissipates the energy of the collision and also keeps the rider from going over the handlebar. The crumble zones of the vehicle act as a cargo storage space which is as added benefit. In case of a rear impact, the wheels detach and the frame disintegrates to prevent the driver from being crushed if the vehicle flips over.

For now, founder Philippe Girardi plans to have the finished prototype ready for testing by the end of 2024. The vehicle will hit the roads in 2028 at a speculated price of $32,500.

 

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This functional tiny camping trailer from the ’80s can be hauled by cars as small as the Mini

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Once upon a time, there was a company called Island Plastics, not many of us have heard of and chances are not many would hear about it after this either. But one person/family can take home an available footprint of this company, its standard trailer camper available for grabs in the US. Reportedly, only 200 of these campers called Romini were ever built between 1985 and 1990 and are unfortunately out of production now.

The little camper, made from fiberglass panels sandwiching foam in between for insulation, is laid out with a bed and features requisite gear inside for a good time on the road. Owing to its petit size, 9.8-foot long and gross weight of 750kgs, the little camper is designed to be hauled by cars as small as the original Mini, making it the ultimate companion for tiny camping.

Designer: The Autopian

Through the years, the American trailer market has flourished with hefty options, then the tide shifted toward teardrops and those willing to trail these little ones for a short trip on the road would love to check out the Romini. The interior of the camper is pretty similar to the Romahome C15 micro motorhome but the layout is different.

Romini has a sleeping arrangement that’s across the interior instead of in length, which is the norm. The seating arrangement by the day here can transform into a double bed for the residents. The bed is only 6 feet across, so if you’re taller, you may have to pass this trailer. Otherwise, look on for the other features and you will be awestruck how all that is really stuffed in this small form factor.

A Romini back in the day came fully equipped with a kitchenette featuring sink, stove, fridge, and storage. The dinette cum bedroom had a skylight above, while a chemical toilet stowed away from sight. The camper was even provided with an awning for sitting outside in the shade. The one for sale is a standard model from ’85, so the features are limited to seating, bed, and kitchen essentials including a grill and a porta potti under the seating.

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