Nokia Lumia 610: A Windows Phone 0

Nokia announced at the Mobile World Congress the much leaked Lumia 610. It is the budget Window Phones aimed for the ‘younger audience’.

Uniquerobots

Lumia 610 is the first phone to break the strict hardware requirements of Microsoft. It is running Windows Phone 7.5 Tango. It is powered by a modest 800 MHz single-core processor, 256GB of RAM and a mere 8GB of internal memory. It is also packed with 5MP auto-focus camera with LED flash, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB port and a 1300mAh battery. Not bad for a phone that is likely to sell for less than €200.

Microsoft apparently made restrictions on the performance of phones running on low amount of RAM to make it smooth and responsive. It turned off some of the background tasks like automatic upload to SkyDrive and Bing Local Scout. But users will still be able to play music in the background.

The Lumia 610 is expected to be launched in Q2 of 2012.

Nokia Drive 3 teased at MWC with commute alerts via live tiles 0

When the folks at Nokia took us aside and asked if we'd like a preview of the latest features slated forNokia Drive, we knew something good was in store. Our intuition wasn't wrong. The next version of Nokia's navigation software will focus on commutes -- aiming to make the daily chore easier by learning driving habits, identifying regular trips and providing users with live tile updates that estimate journey times and traffic flow. Nokia Drive 3 will automatically query this data 30 minutes before an established commute is expected to begin, and will also provide drivers with suggested quicker routes to their destination. The traffic data is gathered both from traditional navigation sources and other Nokia Drive 3 users -- we're told this latter bit is completely optional and, while the privacy policy is quite explicit, the company insists it doesn't personally identify users.

Nokia tells us the software interface isn't finalized, so what you see in the Flash demonstration may change before Nokia Drive 3 arrives in the coming months. You'll find a demonstration of the new My Commute feature, from the creator himself, right after the break.

High Speed Bus (mach) 0

Welcome to a new mode of transportation. With each day bringing new advancements to the way we live and work, shouldn’t our bus be advanced too? Meet the next evolution of mass transportation, MACH, designed to fit the 21st century lifestyle. Mach high speed bus is very fast, more luxurious and more environment friendly than any other bus on planet earth. The bus is designed aerodynamically to reduce air drag coefficient, which enables the bus to reach high speeds effortlessly with less fuel consumption. The bus construction is based on monocoque carbon fibre chassis, which has more strength than steel & weighs less than aluminum.

Designer : Abhi Muktheeswarar

MACH high speed bus is powered by hydrogen, which provide power to spin the electric motors mounted on each wheels. It has Active Push-rod Type Magneto-rheological Fluid Suspension System which provides a comfortable ride & good handling characteristics on any surface. As speed increases, safety decreases. So this bus is provided with all the state of the art active & passive safety systems for a faster & safer journey. The reinvented Bus is ready. Are you?

Robotic vacuum cleaner 0

Cleaning up a mess should be fun, perhaps this was what in this industrial designer’s mind when he came up with Scorio robotic vacuum cleaner. Cleaning can be so boring, especially when you hate this activity, so it would be great when cleaning activity as fun as playing a game. Inspired by scorpion, thisconcept robotic vacuum cleaner adds gaming factor in its mechanism, in fact, long term use of this unit can help release your stress.

Powered by lithium ion battery, Scorio is a remote operated vacuum cleaner so that you can sit comfortably and operate this robot just like any other remote control toys but this one cleans your room.

Designer : Anoop M

Scorio robotic vacuum cleaner consists of two brushes that move independently, you can clean any corner or difficult angles easily. The tail works as a blower, very handy when you use it to clean inside your CPU. It features 3L dust bag capacity and motor power of 1600W. During the cleaning process, this robot also indicates the amount of dust collected through its transparent glass placed on top of the body.

The future computer mouse 0

Once again Thermaltake teamed up with DesignworksUSA (BMW Group) to launch the next level of innovative gaming accessories. This design consultancy has developed Level 10 M Mouse as the first product which will be released in spring 2012. DesignworksUSA has worked with many industries with only one goal that is to transfer design know how between cultures, markets and industries in order to deliver the most innovative, forward thinking and consumer oriented design solutions. The first time Thermaltake partnered with DesignworksUSA was in 2009 when the design studio was asked to design the Level 10 high end gaming tower. The collaboration has triggered a lot of praise and won many awards for its revolutionary design approach to computer housing. Thermaltake wanted to take this collaboration to the next level by increasing the Level 10 experience to a range of gaming peripherals for Thermaltake’s e-sports division.

Level 10 M Mouse represents revolutionary thinking of these industrial designers when applying the Level 10 design language to additional products. This project’s goal is to bring the Level 10 gaming experience to the next level by applying the design language of Level 10 chassis onto products which by nature require ergonomic design solutions. DesignworksUSA design team came up with smart and innovative solutions to all pro-gamers that speak the same language as Level 10 with enjoyable and pleasant device for heavy use. Level 10 M Mouse is coming but we still don’t know the exact release date and price information.

Designer : DesignworksUSA

Top 10 Technologies of Future Cars 0

No.10 Organically Grown Cars

Biome, the new Mercedes-Benz concept, could merit an entire Top 10 feature itself.  We’ll limit ourselves to highlights, like its bio-fiber cloth body. The plan calls for panels harvested from organically-grown, genetically-modified trees. Cool stuff in theory, but even our horticultural illiterate imaginations question the ramp-up time and sheer volume needed for full production without depletion. Our guess is by 2050, adaptation could include trim pieces and limited body panels on existing models for better weight distribution and a lowered center of gravity.

No.9 Transparent Instrument Panels

OLED technology is currently an expensive tech with unique applications, but as with most technology, the cost goes down exponentially with time. The Kia Pop concept takes a unique approach to the dashboard with a transparent OLED panel that gives a better range of vision (obviously -- you can see through it) than other dashboards. This is the kind of technology that is usually exhibited on halo models first and then trickles down to mass-produced compacts and sedans. Given the rapid improvement in OLED technology, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this tech in new cars by 2015.

No.8 Electric rickshaw

This seems the result of a Mercedes designer with Seinfeld on the brain. Kramer and Newman’s idea of the homeless pulling rickshaws has evolved into the Maybach DRS concept for personal transportation. We should probably be grateful it wasn’t based on "The Contest" episode. Anyway, this "urban sombrero" seems like a nice blend of personal city transportation and isolation. On the other hand, it would be a two-wheeled coffin if a taxi ran a red light and T-boned you. While corporate lawyers fret over this, don’t expect to see one before 2075.

No.7 Vegetable-based components

Honda’s Air concept is not the only air-powered idea out there, but its vegetable-based body panels give new meaning to “organic design.” Reduced weight would be a major benefit, especially when combined with other weight-saving features like airless urethane tires and glass-reinforced seating panels. These would be great technologies to see on any Honda or Acura model, just probably not on the Air itself (too bad, because it looks like it’d be a blast to drive and the division desperately needs a sports car). If Honda can refine the practice for optimal strength and shape retention, we’d expect to see at least limited production use among existing vehicles by 2030.

No.6 Turbine-electric hybrid power

Jaguar’s C-X75 supercar concept, like the marque’s current lineup, is stunning. What sets this car apart from the rest of the brand -- and most other automobiles -- is revolution in design. An electric motor is at each wheel, drawing from a central lithium-ion battery pack. The C-X75’s party pieces are twin gas turbines. Summon their power and Jaguar claims 3.4-second 0-60 mph blasts and a 205 mph top end. If they can find a way to dissipate the turbines’ massive heat without melting cars behind the C-X75 in traffic, we’d love this car or a green version of the XK to employ this tech by 2025.

No.5 Pure oxygen emissions

Another future vehicle tech highlight of the spacey-but-cool Mercedes Biome is not what it has, but what it doesn’t have: nasty emissions. In this case, all it spews back into the atmosphere is pure oxygen. It’s almost as if the trees used in the car’s body panel construction live on. As hopeful as we are -- and as much as they’d dig it in Los Angeles -- we can’t imagine it in production Benzes before 2050.

No.4 Energy-producing body panels

The world is full of odd couples, incomprehensible pairings that somehow seem to work. Toyota believes enough in such matches that they’re putting their name on it: the Nori (Japanese for seaweed). And unlike Audi's unintended French double-entendre with the E-tron, Toyota’s naming is deliberate. Seaweed is used in the conjoined carbon fiber body/chassis, which is also embedded with solar panels. The combined body and chassis format is incredibly strong and light, and with the addition of the solar cells, actually generates supplemental power. We doubt the Nori will be parked next to Corollas in dealer showrooms, but we bet a derivative of this technology could reach future Prius models by 2020.

No.3 In-wheel magnetic drive system

Future vehicle tech suggests tomorrow’s electric vehicles will feature multiple motors, even one at each wheel. Concepts like Jaguar’s aforementioned C-X75 have this, but the Nissan iV is unique. Look beyond the spider silk and ivy composite body (hence, the iV name) and witness the concentric hub-less motors in each wheel. This patented Nissan technology also handles steering and suspension duties. Weight and moving parts are cut down in the process -- very good things indeed. The 2035 street-date mentioned in the vehicle description seems plausible for the feature, even if the iV itself does not.

No.2 Interchangeable carbon fiber body panels

Co-winner of the L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge with the Cadillac Aera, the Smart 454 WWT (Weight Watch Technologies) overplayed the cutesy card with endless references to their Smart Granny Robots (SGRs) knitting the carbon fiber body and chassis. Carbon fiber itself is not new, though you’ll pay dearly for a car with any significant amount. Smart aims to make it affordable and features interchangeable body panels to reconfigure the car as needed or desired. If Smart survives and crash testing passes, we bet this could be yours by 2020.

No.1 Air propulsion

There’s nothing wrong with making internal combustion engines more efficient, and efforts to advance EVs are commendable too. Cadillac (yes, Cadillac) goes further still with air propulsion, as proffered on the Aera (Aero + Era). The 2+2 lightweight won the L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge, due in no small part to its style and air propulsion, leading to a theoretical range of 1000 miles on compressed air before refueling. As much as we love today’s hedonistic CTS-V cars, we’d really love to try a Cadillac with the Aera’s future vehicle tech by 2030.

ExerciseBOts Personal Trainer Robot Promotes Healthy Lifestyle and Healthier Weight 0

Presented at ICSR 2011 design award, Gymbot Personal Trainer Robot drew attention from many practitioners. Massimo Battaglia has come up with interesting scenario for the year of 2020 where obesity in developed countries would still be a big issue. Adults and young people do not maintain good balance between their body and food, they don’t actually care about their well being regardless they are aware of the problem. They don’t have the willpower to at least try to regain control of their lives, they prefer to use shortcuts which in the end are usually proven ineffective. Overweight is not only a health problem, it can also be an issue when it comes to social and working relationship.

There are solutions that promise you instant result, however nothing beats the strong will to have a healthy lifestyle. You will need a trainer that help you to control and correct your bad behaviors, give you the courage to keep your exercise routine to stay healthy and fit.

Designer : Massimo Battaglia

In the future, thank you to electric automotive industry, there will be great improvements in lithium batteries. They will be a lot smaller, durable and economic, thus making the robotic technologies become more advanced and affordable. Gymbot Personal Trainer Robot stays with you, 24 hours a day to teach you how to take a good care of yourself, on both food and physical side.

When you feel lazy, Gymbot Personal Trainer Robot will encourage you to do physical activity, just like a real personal trainer. This robot tracks your health record to tailor a physical activity program that suit you best, this robot will show you how to do the exercise properly. This robot is more than just your personaltrainer, Gymbot evaluates your pulse and health in real time to prevent any undue stress.

Gymbot Personal Trainer Robot has the ability to quantify your progress and is able to understand what and how much you should eat in order to give advice on proper diet. This robot is an innovative approach to prevent many health issues, it can help you to tackle your laziness, it corrects your bad habits.

Click above image for bigger view

Click above image for bigger view

Gymbot Personal Trainer Robot technical description:
Gymbot is a humanoid robot with articulated joints that mimics any human movement with ease, speed and precision. Behind its helmet-viewer there’s a 3D video camera with scanner function and thermal camera. Using a directional microphone, this robot can measure heart rate, and consequently blood pressure.

Fat mass index is calculated using two sensors of electrical impedance present on the hands of Gymbot. On the chest there is a touchscreen through which Gymbot can show the exercises to be performed, the results achieved and whatever else you want.

Gymbot Personal Trainer Robot is voice activated and can interact smoothly in different languages. It has a dynamic design to evoke its function of personal trainer, the humanoid form was an obvious choice because Gymbot must be able to perform any movement when accompanies the user during exercises.

Nike+ FuelBand Fitness Track 0

Now, it’s possible to measure your progress toward your goals with Nike+ FuelBand Fitness Track. It doesn’t matter if you are at beginner or advance level, athletes at all levels of fitness would be able to take advantage of this cool gadget to compare their progress with other people. This innovative device tracks movement on daily basis, it’s been designed to motivate and inspire its users to be more active by combining physical and digital worlds. Just like Nike’s motto, each of their products has always been about inspiring athletes and this gadget will motivate them in a cool, fun and intuitive way.

Nike+ FuelBand Fitness Track captures your progress and displays four different metrics: time, calories, steps and NikeFuel (this is the new metric that will become the ultimate measure of your athletic ativity). How NikeFuel works? It utilizes Nike’s patented technology to measure your activity through the movement of your wrist, there’s a score that motivates you to do more activities or movements in order to compete with other athletes. The more you move, the more NikeFuel score you earn, you can play basketball, running or maybe just throwing a Frisbee. Just do it.

From : Nike

The NikeFuel algorithms are designed with the help from world’s top experts in science and sports, they are based on oxygen kinetics. They won’t be the same as calorie counts which vary based on someone’s gender and body type, the algorithms of NikeFuel reward you equal scoring for the same activity regardless your physical structure.

When you wear Nike+ FuelBand Fitness Track, your movement will be translated into NikeFuel, so that each day, you can set a goal for activity and NikeFuel level you want to achieve. You’ll know if you are getting closer to your goal as the 20 LED lights on this gadget will go from red to green, it motivates you to keep up the good works to hit your goal and even exceed it. All your experiences won’t end on your wrist because all these data from Nike+ FuelBand Fitness Track can be synchronized to Nike+ website through its built-in USB or wirelessly through Bluetooth to a free iPhone app that will record your progress.