CASH-LESS

Why a cashless future is (almost) here, and why it will be about convenience and an entire new eco-system of payments, rewards and offers.




Sure, the cashless society has been popping-up in every trend list since 2005. And while 2012 (again) is not going to be the year that consumers en masse will forego coins and notes and just swipe their smartphones, it is going to be the year that major players like Google and MasterCard will actively roll out their cashless initiatives* around the world. For consumers, the initial lure will be convenience, but eventually mobile payments will create an entirely new data-driven eco-system of rewards, purchase history, deals and so on.

* Many of these initiatives incorporate NFC (Near Field Communication), which allows for encrypted data exchange between two devices in close proximity ("near field") to each other. For instance: a reader located next to a retail cash register. Shoppers who have their credit card information stored in their NFC smartphones can pay for purchases by waving their smartphones near or tapping them on the reader, rather than using an actual credit card.

Just a few of the CASH-LESS initiatives to keep an eye on in 2012:



•In October 2011, Google's free, NFC-enabled mobile payment system Google Wallet became operational at a selection of retail chains across the US. Licensing MasterCard’s PayPass technology, shoppers simply tap their mobile device on special terminals at points-of-sale to pay instantly. In participating stores, they can also redeem special coupons, participate in sales promotions or gain loyalty points, simply by choosing to pay with Google Wallet.

•In June 2011, US online payments processor PayPal demonstrated a mobile payments application for Android devices. Users install the app and activate the PayPal widget, and can then request to send or receive funds from another individual with a smartphone and PayPal account. Using NFC, the two users can then hold their devices together in order to instantly transfer funds.

•Square is an electronic payments service which enables users to accept credit card payments by using a card-reading portable device connected to their iPhone, iPad or Android device. Both the Square card-reader and app are free, although there is a 2.75% charge for each payment made. Once the system has been set up, users can accept payments immediately. In November 2011, Richard Branson and Visa became investors in the venture. In the same month, Square updated the app, allowing for a completely hands-free payment experience by simply saying your name.
•Launched in Sweden in June 2011, iZettle is a device that enables consumers to accept credit card payments while on the go. The portable chip and pin reader plugs into iPhones or iPads and uses an iZettle app, meaning that card transactions can take place instantly. Bills can also be paid or money transferred using the device. There's a facility to tag transactions with images, notes or location data, which users can post to Facebook and Twitter to share their purchases with friends.


Image courtesy of antimega


•In November 2011 Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s main rail operator, extended its Touch&Travel service to all its 320 stations. Passengers can either use NFC to pay, or take a photo of a barcode as they enter and exit stations.


in: trendwaching.com

Audi R8 GT _ "Super Sport of the Year 2011"

The Audi R8 GT was honored as "Super Sport of the Year 2011 'in' Production of Super Sports." In this tenth edition, the jury of the magazine "Auto Bild Sportscars» elected with this super-sporty premium brand with the four rings, appointment announced on November 24 in a ceremony held in the Hall of Essen.

Stephan Reil, Head of Development Department of quattro GmbH, accepted the award, one of the most coveted of the German car industry, for the Audi R8 GT to an audience of about 450 guests. About 70,976 readers of the magazine participated in the vote this year for the "Sports Car of the Year 2011".

The Audi subsidiary - quattro GmbH - is responsible for developing and producing the R8 GT. Its 5.2 liters V10 engine develops an output of 560 horses. The engineers reduced the weight by 100 pounds compared to the R8 5.2 FSI quattro.

All improvements, allow the R8 GT accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 320 km / h, while the average advertised is 13.9 liters per 100 kilometers.

The contest were 173 vehicles previously tested by the experts of the German publication in more than 300 tests, number of vehicles divided among 17 classes, which were subdivided into large production, tuning and limited production.
Besides the winner, five other Audi models were positioned among the top three of their class: the Q7 V12 TDI in the category "Production SUV", the RS3 in Sportback category 'Production Car Compact ", the RS 5 on' Production Coupe ", the Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TFSI quattro in 'Production Vans» R8 Spyder GT and in the category "Production Convertible."

A Portuguese Company: Vidago: Portuguese bottle wins 2011 Water Innovation Award

The Vidago brand, a Portuguese bottle-water company, won the Best New Glass Bottle at the Water Innovation Award 2011, to its 0,75 cl frosted glass bottle, launched in October 2011.

Promoted by British magazine FoodBev, the prize was announced at the gala dinner of the 8th Global Bottled Water Congress, in Rio de Janeiro, organized by Zenith International.

The new bottle presents itself in simple and very elegant lines, associated to the naturalness and purity of water, and was conceived to give a luxurious touch to any table.


Eighty brands, from 25 different countries, took part in the Water Innovation Awards 2011, competing for a total of 13 prizes in 11 categories.


The other two finalists for best new bottle in glass were Spadel, from Belgium, for its BRU glass bottle and Krusmølle Kilde, from Denmark, for its Krusmølle Kilde bottle.


Associated with its famous Vidago Palace Spa Hotel, Vidago is a town in the northern region of mainland Portugal, famous for its mineral waters. Vidago is 100% natural and pure carbonated mineral water known to be effective in the treatment of digestive problems. Vidago water, bottled since 1873, has won several national and international awards.



Source: Portuguese American Journal

BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

BMW's history is littered with roadsters, from the pre-war 328 and the beautiful 507, to the futuristic Z1 and the more recent Z3 and Z4 models. So it’s perhaps no wonder that the Bavarians are using the body style to give us a glimpse of its possible future in terms of technology and style.

The Vision ConnectedDrive occupies a place on BMW’s stand at the Geneva auto show. The two-door roadster’s "layered" appearance evokes the EfficientDynamics concept from 2009, while its asymmetrical layout brings back memories of 2001’s X Coupe concept. Just as the former previewed a wild, forthcoming production car and the latter ushered in the Bangle design era, the Vision ConnectedDrive provides a glimpse of BMWs to come.

Layered, Like an Onion

But rather than having a single plane of smooth sheetmetal or plastic covering up the functional elements of the vehicle, the concept employs different layers of material. The broken-up structures partially reveal the technology hidden underneath, and what you see changes significantly with every angle. The doors, inspired by the Z1’s, slide into the body, and the car can be driven with the doors tucked away.

The layered surfaces are enhanced with fiber-optic lighting effects that highlight the different functions and sections of the car. We’re not sure yet if we like it, but we appreciate the hard work: it certainly isn't possible to design a car like this with just a few pen strokes. And it is a remarkable and potentially trend-setting approach that is every bit as daring as the one taken by BMW design ten years ago with the X Coupe.

The windshield acts as the medium for a three-dimensional head-up display, and additional information is shown on the monitor behind the steering wheel. Tellingly, the layer that displays relevant driving information is christened the "safety layer," and it is fed by plenty of watchful sensors.









A larger zone that also encompasses the passengers is called the "infotainment layer," and it offers movies, music, and internet access. Passengers also get their own display with nav and music info, which can then be sent to the driver’s attention at the press of a finger.

The third layer is the entire vehicle, and falls under the touchy-feely term "comfort layer." It includes car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications; we hope the latter excludes car-to-cop shout-outs.

But underneath the layering, the concept seems fairly normal. It’s a traditional roadster, with a long hood, front wheels pushed far toward the corners, and an angry-looking front end that hews closely to BMW's current corporate look.

All-Seeing Future Tech

BMW is showcasing a bunch of new technologies in Geneva. They include connectivity with your smart phone, an AmEx Centurion–like concierge service, and automated self-parking. There also is an "emotional browser" that can, for example, download the music playlist of a café you’re passing, or provide architectural information on the surrounding buildings. It also includes an online purchasing function, so you can immediately buy what you see.

But the tech also highlights safety, of course. In the ConnectedDrive concept, sensors in the head- and taillights constantly scan the vehicle's surroundings, and a perceived danger is not only highlighted but also augmented with suggestions for evasive action.

BMW, by the way, doesn't say anything about the ConnectedDrive’s powertrain. Could it be BMW’s naturally aspirated inline-six, the traditional engine for the company’s roadsters? We somehow doubt it. And in all honesty, with this concept monitoring and second-guessing your driving, we’re not quite sure whether the statement that "the engineers of the BMW Group are working incessantly to turn this into reality for series-production vehicles" should be classified as a promise or a threat.

KICKSTAND DESK ENABLES CYCLISTS RIDE THEIR BIKES WHILE AT WORK

It is a common belief that great ideas are born out of frustration. For Dan Young who runs his own mobile app development company in Cleveland, Ohio finding time to devote to his cycling passion was difficult. His long hours spent at his desk got him longing for breaks where he could go out for a bike ride. Then he got an idea, why not find a way to combine both activities. What he had to do was find a way to merge his desk and bike. The result is Kickstand Furniture, a new company Young started which makes specialized desks under which you can park your bicycle and pedal while you work. Fresh Water Cleveland spoke with Young who describes why he chose to start another company.

The real mission was to build a line of furniture geared toward the avid cycler. I love bicycles and if I had my way I’d be riding them every day. Now I can.

The Kickstand Desk is designed so that bikes of various sizes can fit underneath the work surface. The top is height adjustable to offer a comfortable work position for each user. Sliders at the base of each leg allow the desk to be easily positioned. Each of the desks are made in Cleveland and can be customized with work surface and finish options.

Young is hard at work at broadening the Kickstand line. He plans to introduce more bike friendly pieces and furniture accessories like stools in the near future.

via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/11/kickstand-desk-enables-cyclists-ride-their-bikes-while-at-work.html#ixzz1d2gCwtJs

Mercedes Benz Concept Car

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the automobile with the debut of the new F125! emission-free luxury concept. The F125! is a plug-in hydrogen-electric hybrid car with electric motors located in each of the four wheels. Mercedes considers this concept to be within the realm of reality around the year 2025. Many of the vehicle controls are operated through speech or gesture commands. The lightweight gullwing doors for instance can be opened and closed with the wave of a hand.

QR Codes Give Mixtapes a 21st Century Update

Remember mixtapes? The time and care it took to collage together a series of songs to express a very specific emotion to a very special someone? It was one of the most iconic symbolic gestures of courtship throughout the 80s and 90s. Especially when blank CDs made it easier to copy music, the idea of spending so much time putting music onto a cassette, showed you really cared. As the moribund technology of cassette players becomes increasingly rare it becomes harder to appreciate the tapes.

New innovations in sharing, listening and streaming excavate this lost art into our contemporary digital culture. UK collective Stupid have created a series of QR Code adorned greeting cards that when scanned will send the receiver a Spotify playlist. The playlist is compiled and synced to individually designed QR Codes that visually communicate the intentions of the gesture.

With sharing such an important part of digital culture, bolstering it with romantic gestures such as this makes sense. The overlap of compact discs with cassettes made them a less viable option since they required less effort. With the ubiquity of mp3s making them one of the only ways people really listen to music anymore it there could be a resurgence in music related gifting of tailor made objects. The inclusion of a physical object such as a card also makes the music itself less ephemeral and more lasting. This is something that is important when considering the immateriality of something such as music in digitalized culture.

Playlist Cards
http://vimeo.com/28587602


via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/10/qr-codes-give-mixtapes-a-21st-century-update.html#ixzz1caDUTHRq

Touchscreen Gloves

These touchscreen gloves from MUJI are great for controlling your smartphone or tablet in the winter months, when you don’t want to keep removing your gloves and getting your hands cold. They feature a conductive material interwoven into the thumb and forefinger of each glove that seamlessly works with all touchscreen devices. The unisex wool gloves are available in eight different colors for $24.95 a pair. You can purchase them from MUJI’s online site and it has four stores around New York; in Times Square, Chelsea, Soho and JFK airport.



via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/11/touchscreen-gloves-let-you-use-your-smatphone-in-the-cold.html#ixzz1caCsldhW

Future in 2050

Technology evolves exponentially; the rate of technical progress itself is accelerating, so expect to see 20,000 years of progress in the 21st century, about 1000 times greater than the 20th century

Say goodbye to cancer and heart disease within 15 years, and hello to living way past 80. And try to survive until the year 2029, which according to Kurzweils mathematical models, represents 25 turns of the screw in terms of doubling the power of information technology in every aspect of our lives.

We will see reverse engineering of the human brain, and computers that will combine the subtlety and pattern recognition of human intelligence with the speed, memory and knowledge sharing of machine intelligence. The marriage of nanotechnology and AI will bring us a killer app-- nanobots that can keep us healthy from the inside.

These will also enable full immersion virtual reality from within nervous systems and expand human intelligence, facilitating brain to brain communication.

Productivity Future Vision (2011)

Watch how future technology will help people make better use of their time, focus their attention, and strengthen relationships while getting things done at work, home, and on the go. (Release: 2011)

Steve Jobs last project...

iPHONE 6

Audi Urban Concept

Audi is once again opening up new horizons: the Audi urban concept is a 1+1-seat, ultra-light car for congested urban spaces. The technical study being presented at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt does not fit under any of the conventional categories - the Audi urban concept combines elements of a racing car, a fun car and an urban car into one radical new concept. In addition to a Sportback model, Audi is also presenting a Spyder variant.



The Audi urban concept is not based on any previous model - its development is solely oriented on the strict principles of lightweight construction, efficiency and reduction. The result is a concept car with no unnecessary weight, and one that concentrates on the pure essence of sporty motion.



The Audi urban concept has a sleek body. The wheels are free-standing, their surrounding protective plates feature blinking strips of LED lights. The highly concentrated look of the technical study, with its forward-urging lines, is dynamic and emotional - it lends Audi's design language a completely new impetus.



On board there is room for two people, their position slightly staggered and at a sporty, low level. All controls and materials are subject to the dictates of ultra-lightweight construction in order to ensure that the sensory experience they convey is unique and compelling. The driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals to his own body measurements. Characteristic features of the Spyder include its low, continuous window area and its doors that open diagonally to the top.



The technology in the Audi urban concept reflects the full capabilities of the brand, especially when it comes to ultra-lightweight construction. The cockpit consists of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which integrates the undercarriage of both seats. The Audi urban concept rolls on wheels with a 21-inch diameter.



Two e-tron electric motors provide the propulsion - providing the ultra-light Audi urban concept with the ability to accelerate powerfully. A lithium-ion battery supplies the energy - ideal for extended city tours.



For more information, please visit http://www.audi.com/com/brand/en/company/news/company.detail.2011~08~the_audi_urban_concept.html

Que tal enviar uma lata de sopa personalizada a um amigo doente?

O Outono está a chegar e, com ele, as descidas de temperatura e os dias mais cinzentos e chuvosos, propícios ao despontar das típicas constipações. Para “suavizar” esta questão, a marca de sopas Heinz está a desenvolver no Reino Unido, através do seu perfil de Facebook link externo, uma iniciativa que permite aos consumidores enviar aos seus amigos que se encontrem doentes uma lata personalizada, com desejos de rápidas melhoras.

Para participar na campanha, intitulada “The Get Well Soup”, os interessados devem ser fãs da insígnia na rede social. Criada pela agência londrina We Are Social, como informa a revista Contagious citada pelo Marketing News, a iniciativa dá aos internautas a possibilidade de escolher um sabor - creme de frango ou creme de tomate - , e incluir na lata o nome do amigo doente. Entre três e quatro dias, o amigo em questão receberá a sua lata de sopa, com o rótulo personalizado. O custo do serviço é de 1,99 libras (2,30 euros).

De referir que a Heinz não é a única a embarcar na tendência de personalização de embalagens. Também o braço australiano da Coca-Cola lançou no Facebook uma campanha em que utiliza no packaging da bebida os nomes mais usuais nesse país. A Heineken, por sua vez, criou uma aplicação que permite aos fãs do perfil da marca no Facebook fazerem parte da nova embalagem, a que a insígnia deu o nome de “Your Heineken Facebook”.

Microsoft Turns Your Body Into A Touchscreen

Microsoft Research has revealed a technology that allows for any surface to be turned into a ‘touchscreen,’ including the human body. Referred to as the OmniTouch, the gadget was presented during the UIST 2012 symposium in Santa Barbara, USA. The OmniTouch combines a laser-based pico projector and a depth-sensing camera.

Hrvoje Benko of the Natural Interaction Research group at Microsoft said the team ‘wanted to capitalize on the tremendous surface area the real world provides.’ The device would essentially turn tables, notebooks, palms and walls into a touch screen surface.

See a Demo:
http://youtu.be/Pz17lbjOFn8

via PSFK

BMW 650i Convertible

BMW has long offered fine driving cars for every luxury budget, though most have been high on door count. The BMW 6 Series coupe and convertible are for those seeking Bimmer performance with two-door style in a high-end package that's a bit more extravagant than the company's other offerings.


When reborn in the mid 2000s, the 6 Series featured a controversial, avant garde design, along with agile handling, a composed ride, strong engines and a well-crafted cabin. The current car now boasts more traditional styling and slightly beefed-up proportions, but its many dynamic virtues have largely been maintained or enhanced.

Be it new or used, the BMW 6 Series coupe and convertible are among the more interesting luxury two-doors on the market. They have faults, to be sure, and several very compelling competitors are definitely worth consideration, but then having to decide between high-end luxury coupes and convertibles is hardly a situation where you can really go wrong.

Current BMW 6 Series
The current BMW 6 Series was completely redesigned for 2012. An all-new, aluminum-intensive structure based on that of BMW's 5 and 7 Series sedans lends greater structural rigidity and keeps weight down. It keeps it light, but not svelte, as this new 6 Series also grew in size. The biggest changes are to the styling (which is toned down to be less adventurous) and to the engines. The new twin-turbo V8 is now almost as quick as the old V10-powered M6.

As before, the 6 Series is available as a coupe and soft-top convertible in a single trim level known as the 650i. The convertible is significant for its clever soft-top roof design, which features a separately controlled rear window. Lower it with the roof up for added ventilation, or raise it with the roof down for use a wind deflector.

Under the hood is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Every 6 Series is rear-wheel drive and comes standard with an eight-speed automatic, though a six-speed manual is still available.

Take A Ride On The Heathrow Pod

From yesterday you can checked out the new automated vehicles that they have introduced earlier at London’s Heathrow airport. These wheeled little unmanned cars follow a set of tracks around the airport and to the surrounding car parks. From a station at each location, travelers can use a screen to call their own pod to ride on. They indicate the location they’re traveling to and then a pod is summoned to a kind of loading bay where the traveler and up to four others can get on. After the ‘start’ button is pressed, the pods travel a series of sky bridges around the airport.

The pods intelligently move around the tracks knowing where other pods are so as not to bump into them and also knowing the best route to take. Sometimes they wait to get out of a bay so others can pass by them. Currently the pods run from Terminal 5 and two parking lots but we are sure this scheme may be extended. They are quite a remarkable sight as they dash across the skyline.

Check out some of our camera phone shots of the Heathrow Pod experience







via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/08/psfk-takes-a-ride-on-the-heathrow-pod.html#ixzz1VH6QJsKy

Virtual Tablecloth Visualizes Menu Selection

London’s oriental fusion restaurant Inamo St. James integrated a virtual tablecloth into its tabletops enabling patrons to visualize items on the menu as they appear projected onto the plate in front of them. Using overhead projection technology, the e-table engages customers with a touchscreen-like experience as they scroll through items on the menu to view them in real-time, offering an interactive dining experience where patrons can browse and order meals all from within the digital platform.

Additionally, customers can also access live footage from the kitchen or hail a cab using the interactive display.

Inamo St. James, 4 – 12 Regent Street, London, UK


via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/08/virtual-tablecloth-visualizes-menu-selection.html#ixzz1VBEeiZt4

Top Ten Most Expensive Cars in the World

There are several car companies that pride themselves on manufacturing only the highest quality luxury vehicles on the market. Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, and so many more go head-to-head to be the best of the best in a highly competitive industry. But who's putting out the most expensive luxury cars? Check it out...



#10 | Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead
At $447,000 the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead comes in at the number 10 spot. Built as a less formal alternative to the classic RR model, it boasts an aluminum V12 engine, 453 horse power and maximum speed of nearly 150 mph. Chief Stylist of Interior Design for the Phantom Drophead, Charles Coldham explains, "The occupants are surrounded by the finest natural materials, evoking the experience of being on board a yacht."

#9 | Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV
For $455,400, the sleek body of the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV is offering even more power under the hood. With a V12 engine, 670 horse power and top speed of 210 mph, there is no way you won't be noticed in this flashy, fast-moving super sportscar.

#8 | Ferrari SA Aperta
If you have $520,000 to spend then you got yourself one of the sexiest sportscars on the market. Hurry up and make your purchase, though, because only 80 of these beauties will be produced, with 15 of them going to Europe. With a 670 horse power engine going from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds, they're literally going fast.

#7 | Leblanc Mirabeau
$728,000 will get you this go-kart for the street by Koenigsegg. Flying to top speeds of 230 mph, this V8 Supercharged engine was definitely built with the spirit of the race track in mind.

#6 | SSC Ultimate Aero
Coming in at #6 is Shelby Supercars' SSC Ultimate Aero. Going 0 to 60 in 2.78 seconds and reaching a top speed of 273 mph, this speedracer is yours for $750,000. The SSC Ultimate Aero has been taking to the track to really define the word "aero" and break records in the motor industry. They're well on their way with this one.

#5 | Hennessey Venom GT
This futuristic looking vehicle, going from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, will cost you a mere $895,000. Car enthusiasts love this 1,200 horse power supercar for its amazing aesthetic and impressive performance.

#4 | Huayra Pagani
Now this is a showstopper! Even when the Huayra Pagani isn't moving it appears as if it's soaring. It makes sense considering it's V12 engine flies to over 200 mph. If you were worried about the practicality of this low-rider, you'll be pleased to know the ride height actually increases at low speeds so you can smoothly pull into any parking situation. For nearly $1.4 million I'd say that's fair

#3 | Maybach 62S Landaulet
This gorgeous vehicle openly states, "The ultimate in luxury means physical exertion is not necessary." Maybach really means it when their doors close automatically behind you. There is also a parking assist feature, rear refrigerator, fold-down tables and two sterling silver Champagne flutes with your $1.4 million purchase. Oh right, and it has a top speed of 278 mph with 604 horse power. Money well spent.

#2 | Koenigsegg Agera
This $1.5 million supercar is going from 0 to 60 in nearly three seconds and WOWing car lovers along the way. Named for the Swedish verb "to act" this beauty helped celebrate 15 years in the industry for the company. But act fast because their production is limited to 16 to 20 per year


#1 | Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport
At $1.86 million dollars this is only a mere toy for the millionaires of the world. With a top speed of nearly 250 mph it is the second fastest car in the world but the most expensive at the moment. Production of these luxury favorites began only two short years ago making car enthusiasts excited in anticipation of what's to come for the Bugatti brand.


IN JUSTLUXE.COM

Architecture: Loft 24-7 - Sao Paulo, Brazil

Ideally, wouldn't we all like to live in a climate where outdoor living is possible year-round? And wouldn't we love to live in a space where the divide between indoors and outdoors is non-existent? São Paulo-based Fernanda Marques achieved this idealistic balance in her Loft 24-7 residence, presented at the CasaCor exhibition in São Paulo, Brazil.



In the 250-square-meter (about 2,700 square feet) space, Marques has erased the barriers by using "outdoor" elements inside and "indoor" elements outside and creating easy visual links between the two. Limestone, rough stone, steel, glass, wood paneling and furnishings that speak to the architect's modernist style, all create a harmonious, seamless environment where you are never quite in and never quite out.

Why Cars From The Past Are The Way Of The Future

We are wondering why it is that car manufacturers are tripping over each other inventing boring and redundant “super modern” and “high design” cars, when the end result is a sea of lookalikes. One can no longer recognize a “premium” make from a lower-end car, certainly not by distinctive and recognizable design features.



They are unimaginative, uninspiring and suffer from a serious case of follow-itis. As opposed to being leaders and, in particular, design leaders. We see design tweaks and add-on features advertised as if they were a revolution when in fact, there’s nothing really significantly new or exciting. No wonder so many are giving up cars altogether. Why spend all that money to get what?



Our hopes are up a bit with a sighting of the carbon fiber-bodied “Bella Figura” Bugnotti. It is Delahaye USA’s tribute to Ettore Bugatti’s son, Jean, and it was inspired by the 1937 classic Type 57S. This retro beauty will debut at the Retro Auto at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Aug. 13-15 in Monterey, CA.



We are all for going back to the basics, to looking at the best and most beautiful models of the past and resurrecting them. For example, there is nothing to add to the iconic design of a classic Saab. It was designed for minimal drag and that was partly the reason why the Saab was such a hot ticket as a rally car in the 1960s. And they had 3-cylinder engines, too.



Imagine if we could again drive cars this cool? Of course, they’d have the relevant and useful modern technology and electric power as well. Why is that not possible? - Bill Tikos


In the Cool hunter

THE CHARGE BOX

In a world that is obsessed with mobile phones, PDAs, iPods and the like, we are perpetually draining and recharging our batteries. In-home refuelling is a cinch, but the same cannot be said for public places where electrical outlets are typically guarded against unauthorized recharging.

The ChargeBox offers a solution, which consists of 6 small lockers, each with 4 unique chargers that can power 90% of our mobile devices. Users simply plug in to the charger that corresponds to their device, make payment with a coin or via SMS, lock their box and return when charging is complete. The ChargeBox will top up your battery for 40 minutes at a cost of £1. Already a big hit in parts of East Asia and the UK, it's only a matter of time before ChargeBoxes spring up in a mall, airport, or coffee shop near you. by Harold C via Springwise

Disk+Mouse Concept Fits Your Optical Drive

By Don Michael Acelar De Leon on August 1, 2011


In the age of thumb-drives and sending files to the cloud, we barely get to use the optical drives mounted on our laptops, if at all. Created by designer Seung Han Jung as an entry to the 2011 Sparks Concept Design Awards, the disk+Mouse concept is an attempt to make use of space that previously exists in your computer to store your mouse for easy transport. The pointer stores flat but pops up into a cone-shaped mouse. Thinner and more portable, the disk+Mouse seems to be a potential alternative to wireless mice that require a separate carrying container.




via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/08/diskmouse-concept-fits-your-optical-drive.html#ixzz1TrgcFQxR
via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/08/diskmouse-concept-fits-your-optical-drive.html#ixzz1TrgVB4tR

Department Store Eases Check Out Lines With Mobile Technology

Nordstrom recently rolled out 6,000 iPod Touches at 116 of its stores in an effort to reduce check-out wait times. The US department store chain already uses Apple iPads in its Personal Styling Department. The new iPod Touches will be able to read credit cards and bar-codes. Consumers with credit cards will be able to walk up to a store representative, purchase an item on the spot, and receive an automatically e-mailed receipt. Retail associates will also be able to obtain inventory information by scanning item bar codes. The retailer plans on distributing equipped iPods to all of its stores, as well as expanding the capabilities of these devices.

Nordstrom



via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/08/department-store-eases-check-out-lines-with-mobile-technology.html#ixzz1TrexEjr9