Tag Archives: speaker

This Spotify Speaker helps Long Distance Relationship couples bond over music

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Long-distance relationships (LDRs) pose unique challenges, with 37% of couples parting ways within three months of becoming geographically separated. In response to this, the innovative product SoundMotion has emerged, offering a streamlined way of companionship specifically designed for couples navigating the complexities of distance. Unlike traditional communication technologies that focus on explicit information transmission, SoundMotion integrates music sharing, physical engagement, and subtle notifications to address the emotional nuances essential for fostering intimacy in LDRs.

Designer: Zhujun Pang

While researchers in human-computer interaction (HCI) have explored various technologies for emotional communication in LDRs, they often fall short of addressing the complex emotional changes and needs of long-distance couples, especially whose love languages include ‘physical touch’ and ‘acts of service’. SoundMotion takes a user-centered approach, focusing on implicit emotional communication through the combination of music sharing and physical interactions.

The beginning of SoundMotion involved a meticulous design process, starting with the identification of the need for a user-centered approach. The concept evolved through brainstorming, sketching, and the development of an inspiration board. The initial design involved integrating physical devices with a streaming service and creating a bespoke music-sharing channel for couples. The swinging motion was chosen as the primary means of physical interaction, signifying new messages and indicating the partner’s online status.

To enhance the user experience, the design underwent iterations, with feedback leading to adjustments in the placement of the screen and the incorporation of personification elements. The swinging motion, inspired by the movement of a bell, aims to strengthen the sense of companionship through anthropomorphism.

SoundMotion is a dedicated communication system facilitating seamless interaction between long-distance couples. Equipped with a device known as SoundMotion, each couple gains access to synchronized music listening and basic physical engagement. The tangible interaction design conveys the partner’s state through subtle, ambiguous cues, capturing attention without intrusiveness.

The SoundMotion device features a hat that acts as a switch, controlling Bluetooth speakers. Opening the hat to a horizontal angle activates the device as a music speaker, while fully opening it triggers the Couple Channel, displaying the screen. The swinging motion of the hat serves as a notification, indicating the partner’s status during music playback.

The development process included prototyping, where an electromagnet initially drove the swinging motion. However, due to limitations in the magnetic field range, a servo motor replaced the electromagnet for more effective performance. This user-friendly adjustment highlights SoundMotion’s commitment to refining the user experience through practical testing and improvements.

SoundMotion employs the ESP8266 as its hardware platform, establishing a connection with the Spotify server. This connection allows the transfer of emoji feedback data generated during user interaction, enabling Spotify to analyze the data through the Spotify Web API. The result is personalized music recommendations, enhancing the overall experience for long-distance couples.

SoundMotion stands at the forefront of technology designed to address the emotional needs of long-distance couples. By combining music sharing, physical interaction, and subtle notifications, this innovative product offers a unique and user-centered solution to the challenges faced by those navigating the complexities of a long-distance relationship. SoundMotion not only bridges the physical gap but also fosters emotional closeness, making it a promising development in the realm of human-computer interaction for intimate relationships.

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Samsung Music Frame turns your speaker into a work of art

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When you have a speaker in your house or in your office, it’s easy to see that you have a speaker. Most are designed to be aesthetically pleasing but still you know that they are speakers. But then there are also speakers that can masquerade as something else, in case you wanted something that would blend in with the look of your room. Samsung announced at the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show 2024 that they will be launching their newest “incognito” device, The Music Frame, which may soon be the latest addition to your wall.

Designer: Samsung

The Samsung Music Frame is a music speaker that can also camouflage as a picture frame for aesthetic purposes. It comes with a physical frame where you can place your photo or painting to hang on your wall and you can just surprise people that audio will be playing out of the frame. Unlike some of the similar products in the market, there is no digital part in the flame so the print that you’ll display is fully analog and can be changed whenever you want to since the notches that secure the print are easy to remove and attach.

The frame itself measures 12.9 x 12.9 inches but the space for the print is 8 x 8 inches. It is able to hide six speakers inside of its frame, including two woofers, two tweeters, and two midrange drivers. There are also waveguides included so the sound can be spread out in a bigger room. These speakers use intelligent audio processing so you get “premium audio experience”. If you pair it with Samsung TVs and soundbars, the Q-symphony technology will be able to give you surround sound. There is of course a thin power cable to connect it to an outlet but otherwise, there are no other wires needed as you connect it to your source device through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

This isn’t the first time that Samsung has brought a device that can double as decoration. They previously released the Frame TV which has customizable bezels, a matte screen, and artwork that can appear on the screen when you want to use it as a display. There are no other details released yet like release date or price range but already there is a lot of interest generated after the announcement and demo at CES 2024.

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Rugged smartphone with a 5W speaker on its back looks out of this world

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Although most smartphones are made to survive simple accidents (or should be), there is a certain class that takes durability to the extreme. Rugged smartphones are targeted at users who often venture into unknown territory, either for fun or for work, and need a partner that’s just as adventurous as them. These rugged phones are unapologetic in how they look like tanks ready for battle, but there have been a few that tried to break the mould and adopt designs that piqued interest without sacrificing what makes them special. That seems to be the inspiration behind what could be the weirdest rugged phone we’ve come across, built and looking like an alien or futuristic device, thanks to the rather large and very visible speaker sitting on its back.

Designer: Oukitel

Most of the time, you’d see large camera enclosures on the back of phones. To some extent, that’s also true with the Oukitel WP33 Pro, but in reality, its cameras are actually so small that they don’t take up much space. Instead, the biggest element center of attraction is 5W speaker. Yes, this phone 36mm diameter “pro-level” speaker that’s advertised to get as loud as 136dB. That’s plenty loud, especially for a smartphone.

Rather than the industrial work settings that most rugged phones try to target, the Oukitel WP33 Pro favors more fun and adventurous activities like camping, trekking, hiking, or even wildlife photography. The speaker is then used to set the mood for parties with friends or even for your lonesome self, though the loudspeaker is probably something you shouldn’t use around wild animals, especially at night.

Oukitel wants that latter to be one of the use cases for its latest rugged phone, especially with a 20MP Sony night camera vision. The main camera is a 64MP shooter, so it should at least be decent, while a 2MP macro might satisfy your extreme nature close-up urges. Part of the reason for the phone’s size is its humongous 22,000mAh battery, which you can use to charge the regular “main” phone you might have in your other pocket.

The rest of the Oukitel WP33 Pro’s specs are on par with late 2023 mid-range smartphones, so don’t expect record-breaking performance, especially for mobile games. Of course, the real value of this phone comes from its durability, with IP68 dust and water resistance rating joined by IP69K resistance against high-pressure water jets. It’s not going to win design awards, but it will definitely get you plenty of attention, especially when you start blasting out music from your rugged tank of a mobile device.

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Space-inspired everyday products prepare us for a zero-gravity future

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Many people these days dream about living on other planets or at least inside orbiting space stations, but few actually consider how very different life would be outside the Earth’s gravity. Of course, Hollywood tends to romanticize a lot of everyday life, but as astronauts will testify, living in space, even if just to reach the Moon or Mars, is no walk in the park. Even the simplest activities like drinking water can be awkward and disorienting in zero-g, at least if you consider using Earth-bound objects to do so. That’s why this trio of designs tries to reimagine some of the most mundane products we use in daily life and transform them into objects that are ready for our space-faring future.

Designers: Subin Kim, Jagyeong Baek, Jaeyeon Lee

Most of us understand that without gravity, things tend not to stay down, but few actually envision the ramifications of that fact. Products designed on Earth naturally presume an amount of stability, and the way they are handled or controlled is limited in the same manner. For example, a lot of everyday things only have handles on one side or work in a single direction, a presumption that doesn’t make much sense or even becomes counterproductive when the objects are floating in space.

Spatio is a collection of these everyday objects that have been redesigned with zero gravity in mind. Or to put it more simply, it doesn’t make presumptions on where and how it will function, making it work both on Earth, on Mars, or in the International Space Station. Aqua, for example, is a water bottle that replaces a traditional cup that has a single handle on one side only. In contrast, this bottle has four extrusions in cardinal directions that act as handles and a cover that lets you drink by sucking rather than sipping from the lip of a mug.

Sonus is a wireless speaker that really defies the traditional design of speakers. Inspired by the moon’s spherical shape, each of the “craters” on its surface pops up a tiny omnidirectional speaker when pressed. The more units that pop out, the louder it gets, acting is an unconventional form of volume control. The important difference is that you don’t have to shift or move the speaker to one side or the other just to reach those controls.

And then there’s Lumia, a star-shaped flashlight that can shine in any direction. Simply turning the central wheel switches the direction of the light so that it works regardless of how you’re holding it. While these products were designed with space living in mind, it’s not difficult to imagine them working just as well on Terra Firma, proving that truly accessible design benefits everyone everywhere, even if they’re living in outer space.

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Portable Battery-free iPhone Speaker for Immersive Music Anywhere

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The ubiquity of smartphones has made these communication tools the perfect portable media players as well, allowing owners to enjoy their tunes, podcasts, and even videos at any given time or place. But while smartphones are great for private listening, even the most powerful smartphone speakers have limits, especially once the sound starts to distort at maximum volumes. Speakers can help spread the sound, but only as much and as far as their batteries or power cords take them. This distinctive smartphone speaker, in contrast, harnesses the laws of physics to take your tunes farther and immerse you and your friends in moving sounds, all without using any power and looking quite handsome to boot!

Designer: Ooi Masato of Pit-A-Pat for Shimawa

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At one point in time, there was a breed of speakers that boasted requiring no electricity, no batteries, and absolutely no power at all to operate. These accessories acted as echo chambers to naturally amplify sounds, offering a simple and sustainable option to common speakers. Most of these, however, used plastic or at most wood to avoid the effects of vibrations, leaving their aesthetics and textures much to be desired.

The speaker is an innovative and unique take on this kind of no-power smartphone speaker that, unlike the rest of its kin, uses metal to offer a product whose value goes beyond its function. It uses Duralumin, a type of aluminum alloy that’s used in the aviation and aerospace industries because of its vibration-resistant properties and durability. Thanks to this, all you need to do is insert your smartphone into the speaker and feel the sound envelope you from all sides.

The choice of metal for this speaker’s material also gives the battery-free speaker a unique aesthetic you’d be hard-pressed to find in similar products. With a minimalist and retro industrial style, the speaker adds some character to any surface or space it is placed on. This elegant design is achieved through the use of the famed golden ratio to create a more natural proportion of the form’s shapes, particularly the different sizes of the speaker holes. Whether standing on its own or holding your smartphone, the speaker easily grabs your attention without being dominating or distracting.

And if you want to give the speaker a little more oomph, figuratively and literally, there are custom accessories you can screw into the holes to tweak the experience a bit. Reminiscent of airplane engines, Jet focuses and delivers sound in the direction the attachments are facing. Bloom, on the other hand, diffuses sound along the curves that try to resemble a blooming flower. Enjoy an immersive audio experience with this electricity-free smartphone speaker that requires no power to use and looks captivating anywhere you place it.

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Futuristic Bluetooth speaker concept is inspired by electric cars

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Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen these days, but the majority of them share one particular trait. They’re designed with aesthetics to fit inside the house, sometimes looking like elegant pieces of interior decoration even. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but they do imply or even explicitly state that these speakers should not be taken out of the house. There will always be times when you wish you could bring your trusty wireless speaker along with you, but at the same time don’t want to take out what looks like a military weapon out of your bag or car. This Bluetooth speaker aims to strike a balance between durability and bold design, and it does so by taking a few pages out of an electric vehicle’s design book.

Designer: Billy Ernst

Electric vehicles or EVs are touted to be the cars of the future, mostly because of their more eco-friendly mode of operation and advanced electronics, but there are some EV makers that take that identity beyond just internal components. Rivian’s adventure vehicles, for example, employ a combination of angular and muscular elements, sharp lines, bold proportions, and distinctive lighting that make the EVs look like TRON vehicles come to life. It’s no wonder, then, that the RIFT Bluetooth speaker concept gives off that same futuristic vibe, demonstrating a design that looks great not just outdoors but indoors as well.

Unlike regular speakers, RIFT comes in an oval ring shape that leaves its middle completely hollow. With the speaker mesh that wraps around the exterior surface, it almost looks like the tread of a tank. Although it comes in different colors, the options are limited to earthy tones that match the EV maker’s own selection, including Glacier White, Rivian Blue, Compass Yellow, and Midnight Black. The LED lighting on the rim serves as a unique accent that brings a sci-fi aesthetic while also providing functionality as a battery level and pairing indicator.

There aren’t too many details in the design that distract from the overall appearance. There are only four control buttons for power, volume, and pairing, and they’re mostly hidden from view on the inner surface of the loop. The more visible button on the top serves both as pause/play control as well as branding. Other than these, the entire body of the speaker is one unbroken ring, giving it a unified and bold appearance while also evoking a sense of stability and reliability.

Given the shape of the speaker, there might be some concerns about the direction that the sound will travel because of the positioning of the speakers. There’s also mention of any dust and water resistance that is a must-have for any adventurous pieces of electronic equipment. Of course, these are just implementation details that wouldn’t really affect the core concept of a bold and daring speaker that can accompany you on your adventures, even if that means just staying at home.

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Lush’s Bath Bot brings the bath bomb to a digital level

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Taking a bath is a functional experience that we all have almost every day. There are of course people who get bored when in the shower or in the bath tub so they do something else like singing in the shower, listening to music or podcasts, or even having a mini dance party just to relieve the routine. If you have a bathtub, adding a bath bomb every once in a while can make you feel like you’re at a bubble party. What if you could have all of these experiences using just one device?

Designer: Lush

Lush is a brand that you wouldn’t normally associate with gadgets or devices but it is closely co-related with taking a bath. They are set to release their very own “digital bath bomb” called Bath Bot which will be able to give you a “custom light, sound, and colour experience” whenever you take a bath. Basically it’s the same size and shape of their bath bombs but is actually a water-proof speaker that you can put in the bathtub with you or on the sink near your shower if you don’t have a bathtub.

The Bath Bot will give you a 180-degree sound show so you can play your favorite music or audio book or podcast while enjoying a bath. If you want more of a colorful mode, you can also get full-spectrum multi-directional lights so you can have your very own spa or rave experience, whichever end of the spectrum you want. There are several colors available including lavender, pink, red, green, blue, etc. You can also have tiny bubbles fizzing across the speaker if you want even more of a multi-sensory experience.

The devices themselves are just available in two colorways: white or black. But you have several modes available like Rave Mode, Fun Mode, and Sleepy Mode, all of which you can adjust in the Lush app which also has podcasts and playlists. I don’t get bored when taking a bath but this just take my bathing experience to a whole new level.

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Vox Aeris harmoniously merges an air purifier + speaker in a Teenage Engineering-inspired aesthetic

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In the bustling rhythm of urban living, there’s one constant that often goes unnoticed: the air we breathe! Indoor air pollution, an invisible enemy, can stealthily impact our health, we know; yet, it is a low priority for most of us. A visionary designer is orchestrating a new tune in air purification, harmonizing it with the melodies of music through the interesting idea of Vox Aeris.

Vox Aeris, designed by Selene Sarı, is an ingenious device that comprises an air purifier and a speaker. Based in London, Sarı has ingeniously woven together two vital aspects of our daily existence – air quality and music – into one harmonious symphony. To the accord, Vox Aeris, by merging these two functions, can reach a broader audience, giving more people the gift of purified air to breathe at home.

Designer: Selene Sarı

The Vox Aeris’ genius lies in its triple-play design – encompassing a cleaning mode, a listening mode, and the remarkable Vox mode, which ingeniously purifies the air while delivering melodious tunes to keep you entertained instead of sitting there ideally like other air purifiers. Further, existing air purifiers bear a hefty price tag and use non-recyclable filters. Vox Aeris breaks free from this mold and is making air purification at home accessible. It uses affordable fabric filters that are both effective and environmentally conscious.

For air purification, Vox Aeris employs a process called agglomeration, which is a process of particles grouping together like snow in a snowball. This scientific choreography is created by a mesmerizing dance of turbulence and acoustics. Vox Aeris’ internal fans create a vortex of turbulence, while its speaker reverberates with low-frequency sounds, both working together to encourage particle agglomeration. These particles are then trapped in a recyclable, laser-engraved filter.

As Vox Aeris resonates in homes or offices, it serves as a melodious reminder that breathing clean is an essential symphony for a healthier future. While in outdoors, it can be used as a portable speaker courtesy of its battery-powered design. The device has both purifier and speaker functions on its façade. Positioned on the left is a screen displaying the air quality of its surroundings. In the middle are the air purifier and speaker buttons, while on the right is a dial that provides precise control over the auditory experience, allowing us to fine-tune both tone and volume.

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Merging Analog and Digital, This Wireless Speaker Resonates With Your Music and Mood

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In a world where digital technology dominates our everyday lives, ‘Mark’ sets out to challenge the norm by offering an audio experience that seamlessly blends the analog and digital realms. Mark Hi-fi Premium Audio is not just another speaker or music player; it is a meticulously designed masterpiece that aims to captivate your senses in every possible way.
At the core of Mark’s design philosophy is the idea of expressing an analog form filled with digital sources. The designers have masterfully incorporated a motif that highlights the beauty of dots, lines, and surfaces in three dimensions. The result is a visually stunning device that effortlessly catches the eye and sparks curiosity.

Designer: Mark Choi and Scott Yeom (mark&draw Design)

MARK HI-FI consists of three primary elements: looking (display), listening (sound), and touching (controller). It seamlessly integrates with various internet media, apps, and sound sources, allowing for easy connectivity and access to a vast library of audio content. The inclusion of a large, heavy wheel on the right side of the device adds a touch of magic to its usability. By turning and pressing this wheel, users can control and fine-tune their desired sources, sound sources, volume, and tone, all with intuitive ease. The main body of MARK HI-FI, referred to as the “main display,” can be used in conjunction with the controller or separated as a sub-display on the wheel. This versatility allows users to customize their audio experience, adapting it to their preferences and creating a more immersive environment.

One striking aspect of MARK HI-FI is its cold metallic quality, which contrasts beautifully with the warm tones it produces. The designers have skilfully balanced the visual aesthetics with the audio output, resulting in a harmonious blend of form and function.

The addition of an organic LED at the bottom of the device takes the audio experience to another level. This responsive LED not only enhances the visual appeal but also adds an emotional dimension to the sound transmission. As the music plays, the LED reacts, creating a mesmerizing display that amplifies the emotional connection between the listener and the sound.

MARK HI-FI aims to stand out in the crowded market of speakers and music players. It challenges the status quo by introducing a unique and singing shape that sets it apart from the competition. The device is not merely released; it is unleashed, with an unyielding desire to captivate and delight its users.

Flexibility is another key feature of MARK HI-FI. The display can be angled anywhere from 20 to 90 degrees, allowing users to find their preferred viewing position. With simple touch movements, various graphical user interfaces (GUI) can be accessed and customized, ensuring a personalized and user-friendly experience.

To enhance convenience, MARKHI-FI supports wireless functionality through a C-type charger. This means you can enjoy your audio experience without the hassle of wires and cables. The designers have gone the extra mile to ensure seamless usability by incorporating a magnetic charging terminal, making it even easier to rotate the side wheel.

MARK HI-FI Premium Audio is a testament to the possibilities that arise when analog form meets digital sound. With its meticulous design, versatile functionality, and captivating visual and audio experience, MAR HI-FI stands as a unique offering in the ever-growing market of speakers and music players. Prepare to be enthralled by its magical usability, as it brings your audio dreams to life in ways you never thought possible.

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