Design Seen: Shock of the New
Robin Lee
March 1, 2007
We pounded the pavement and went nose-deep in pixels and plasma so we could find
the most cutting-edge offerings in home technology. We went to demos, stood in
line, tried out and toyed with remotes and controls—even played, I mean tested,
the new Wii game system from Nintendo. Conclusion: Everyone needs a 103-inch
plasma screen for viewing pleasure and an automated home system capable of
telling us what time the kids really come home.
Top: Axiom’s Epic 80/600 Home Theater System, which combines their new EP600
subwoofer and Epic 80 audio system, bringing undistorted theater-quality
sound to your living room, $3,809, 866.244.8796, www.axiomaudio.com. Bottom: Fast Track’s Home
Greeter welcomes you by name, turns lights on and security systems off, and
announces new voicemails, e-mails and any goings-on within your home, $7,990,
206.935.1100, www.fasttrackteam.com. (Click images to enlarge)
Bang and Olufsen BeoVision 9, a 50-inch television (bottom) that rests on a motorized stand, allowing for 180 degrees of equal sound through its
unique
built-in center channel speaker. The television supports a 7.1
sound system,
enabling you to connect up to 10 BeoLab speakers and two
subwoofers at once.
More than one screen in the room? BeoVision9 can
automatically reconfigure
speakers and adjust to a different viewing
setup by assigning speakers new
surround sound roles. Choose from six
different color combinations and BeoMedia,
a perfect way to organize
your digital media files and browse the net. $21,900
with built-in
media, 866.520.1400, www.bang-olufsen.com. (Click images to enlarge)
Top: RTI T4 wireless touchpanel controller, ideal for managing
home theater as
well as most electronic systems throughout your
house. The ergonomically designed controller has access to the
Internet, streams video and
includes flexible hardware and customized
software, $2,499, 952.253.3100, www.rticorp.com. Bottom: Nintendo Wii, which reminds
us that video games have come a long way since Pong. Using Bluetooth
technology,
Wii’s motion-sensing console and wireless remote give
players freedom for more
action, $250, 800.255.3700, wii.nintendo.com. (Click images to enlarge)
Ego Diamond notebook, with 358 diamonds set in 18-karat white gold on black
leather, is a limited-edition luxury computer that may look and feel
more like a
handbag, but thankfully this is a case of function as well
as fashion. Ego
notebooks feature voice recognition software, a webcam,
integrated Bluetooth and
WiFi, a 12.1-inch WXGA LCD widescreen and
interchangeable outer skins in
designer prints, fabrics, colors and
finishes. Each Diamond notebook comes
numbered and handcrafted by
master goldsmith Laurent de Beer, $350,000,
+31.736.802.050,
www.ego-lifestyle.com. (Click images to enlarge)
Top: Bang and Olufsen Serene cell phone,
designed with
mature minimalism in
mind. Serene features 64 ring tones, e-mail and
Bluetooth capability, a built-in
camera and a sleek, polished aluminum
charging/docking station, but sorry, you
won’t find any games or
downloads here. $1,275, 866.520.1400,
www.bang-olufsen.com. Bottom: Panasonic
103-inch plasma television, one of the largest in the world, with full
HD pixel
resolution of 1920 by 1080, tech talk meaning this is the TV
for the
ultimate home movie experience. Owners also receive a
three-year, in-home
warranty, a first in the industry.
$69,999,800.332.5368, www.panasonic.com. (Click images to enlarge)
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