Cute.
(via Core77 and Scholz & Friends)
Vehicle Key Fob Design - A Follow-Up
Earlier this year I posted about the incredibly flawed design of the Lexus key fob. Fortunately, I stumbled upon the antithesis. Last week I rented a Nissan Altima, and this is its key fob:
Lock, un-lock (with little bumps to feel for in the dark), trunk (hold to open), and panic. Simple, straightforward, no ambiguity.
Battery Hand Wall Clock
Really clever, if somewhat unfeasible, idea for a wall clock. Use the batteries as the hour and minute hands:
I question how fast the batteries would run down if they have to power the weight of their own rotation. Regardless, an elegant idea.
(via Gizmodo and The Wrong Objects).
Spotted at a drug store. Didn’t catch who makes these, anyone know? I dig it.
Simplified Privacy Controls on Facebook
I’m digging Openbook’s proposal for simplifying privacy controls on Facebook: place a “Privacy Slider” on every user’s homepage, ranging from completely private to completely open.
Clicking on the slider invokes a popup which breaks down the privacy settings and allows for more granular control (if desired). I think this is a nice, transparent solution… and probably nothing like what Facebook will unveil on the coming weeks.
(via Wired).
Via curvedwhite: “Hold On Tight” book shelf designed by Colleen & Eric.
The $0.69 iPad Stand
Bought a wireless keyboard today to eventually replace the iPad Keyboard Dock I ordered online with my iPad. One really should try out a product before buying peripherals. But what I was really looking for was a stand that kept my iPad upright in either landscape or portrait. Neither the Keyboard Dock nor the iDock does this… granted, those do charge the iPad while docked. And I saw Griffin’s A-Frame: Tabletop Stand for iPad in stock at the Apple Store. But at $49… it’s ridiculously expensive.
Then I went to Office Depot and found this: Business Card Holder for $0.69.
Of course, this isn’t made for the iPad. So don’t expect the stability you’d want from rough handling or turbulence on a flight. And when used in tilt mode for on-screen keyboard typing, the curved top and smooth surface don’t really give enough traction to prevent from the occasional slippage. I ended up putting some gaffers tape to improve the friction.
But it’s less than a buck. And it keeps my iPad screen tilted enough for easy viewing. That’s what I need while writing on a wireless keyboard. Oh… a mouse would be nice. But more on that later.
BTW, I twittered last week that I found another device that can tilt the iPad for easy typing: my iPhone.
I’ve tried this out and it works splendidly. I would team up with some friends if you plan on ordering online, however. The stands are $0.69 but shipping is 10 bucks, even if you buy just one.
Just look at that image on the right. It looks like a laptop from the future.
