Gizmodo: Lighting

Frellstedt Light-Up Bench: Illumination For Bums

Kit Eaton — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Kind of the inverse of the psychedelic LED effects we showed you earlier, this relaxing Light Bench is maker Frellstedt's idea of the future of seating. You know, the future where even garden furniture uses up electricity and contributes to global warming. Okay, it's stuffed with LEDs, so it only consumes 95W, but you know what I'm saying. With its shifting, selectable color patterns, it's way too nice to end up in all but the best municipal parks, where it'd just keep tramps awake in the wee small hours. Ed. note: In case you didn't get it, "bum" is a double entendre. [Trendir]

Mathmos Poplight, Ditches Lava for LED Color-Changing Cuteness

Kit Eaton — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:45:00 EDT

I've just installed a set of color-change lighting strips in my new apartment, but now I kinda wish I'd spotted these new lamps from original lava-lamp makers Mathmos first. The Poplights are cuteness exemplified: just six inches high, and in hand-blown glass. They've got a set of LEDs inside the central "bulb" and change between blue, purple, violet, magenta, red lighting, and you turn them on my simply pushing down on top, which I guess must be the "pop" part. Available now for $75. On second thoughts, I might buy them anyway... you can't have too much color-change moodlighting can you?[Technabob]

USB Hub/Paperclip holder/Fish Tank, May be Worst USB Gizmo Ever

Kit Eaton — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:51:00 EDT

A four-way, USB 2.0 hub. A magnetic paperclip holder. A fake fish tank. A seven-color LED illuminator. Mix them all together, and what have you got? Yes: possibly the worst USB gizmo ever. I mean, what's next? A USB hub with built-in electric dog-polisher? I don't know though: if you're a collector of USB naffness then maybe you'd prize this thing... available now for $20. [Gadget4All]

Picking The Right Compact Fluorescent Light For Every Room of Your Home

Sean Fallon — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EDT

We have all heard about how it pays to go green when you ditch your power guzzling incandescent bulbs for money saving, eco-friendly CFLs—but have you given any thought to what type of CFLs work best in a particular room? Wired has, which is why they came up with a guide that covers the best lighting solutions for reading, brushing your teeth and the all-important "business time." Hit the link for the full list. [Wired]

A Lamp Named Moo, the Song Johnny Cash Should Have Sung

AddyDugdale — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:50:00 EDT

There are a few reasons why I find myself strangely attracted to Moo. It's made by a Norwegian company called Northern Exposure. You can mount on both inside and outside walls. It reminds me of my brother, whose nickname is Moose. Light-up antlers, baby (although the designers could have put a bit more light at the tips, really). It's just a lot less messy than going hunting in the snow. [Dezeen]

Brando's Portable Disco Lights Do it Psychedelically with Lasers

Kit Eaton — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:41:00 EDT

Laser beams plus funky light patterns plus party: sounds like a winning combo. It certainly looks that way for this Brando gadget: the green laser light spewing from it can be tweaked into a number of impressive patterns (diffraction grating, anyone?) And though it doesn't look like it reacts to music, the shifting, changing light-show it makes can only be described as psychedelic, with a dab of Matrix. It's mains-powered, just 3.1 x 2.8 x 1.2 inches in size and comes with a stand that looks ripe to be modded into a motor-powered platform. Costs $65. [Brando]

Lightpipes Give Any Room That Cool, Radioactive Industrial Plant Look

Sean Fallon — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Looking for a new design element to tie a room together? Ever thought about spicing things up with a theme? These Lightpipes will give any space that swanky post-meltdown Chernobyl look that is so popular with all of the interior designers these days. And the best part is that no installation is required—just set it up wherever you need some spooky illumination. Just don't expect to get them for bargain price—each lamp will set you back around $612. [DaWanda via Technabob via OhGizmo]

Brando's Firefly Lamp: For Those Romantic Digital Insect-Light Moments

Kit Eaton — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EDT

A non-USB product from Brando, and one that's surprisingly cute? Good grief, I nearly fell off my keyboard. These Firefly jars are solar-powered, charging up during the day and adding a simulated bioluminescent insect-ass glow to wherever you pop them at night. The kitchen worktop, perhaps—perfect for lighting your way to that midnight snack. Standing 6.2-inches high, they glow in orange, but are they more eco-friendly than trapping a real firefly in a jar? Probably not... but at least its kinder to animals. Available now for $45. [Brando]

Halo Lamp is Heaven Sent For Artists

Sean Fallon — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:40:00 EDT

As a guy who dabbles in the arts, I can sympathize with anyone who struggles to find the perfect light for their creative projects. The Halo Lamp by Sander Muller offers a seriously good looking solution to this problem with the Halo Lamp. Because there is a circular ring of light and no bulb, it minimizes any annoying shadows that might interfere with your work. The Halo Light is a custom job, so be prepared to shell out some serious cash for it—but if you have ever been into an art supply store you are already well acquainted with exorbitantly high prices. [Sander Muller via Yatzer via Yanko via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Yamaha's YST001 Home Theater Speakers Are Home Lighting Units Too

Kit Eaton — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:44:00 EDT

Yamaha has teamed up with lighting experts Koizumi to create these home theater speakers with built-in lighting. Each unit has three 25W halogen lamps that are remote control-dimmable down to 20% brightness, designed to reduce the contrast between your TV picture and the wall behind to "ease the burden on your eyes." So, a kind of one-color, non-reactive ambilight then, but the effect they produce is pretty subtle and saves you from installing moodlighting.

The 47-inch high units have a 70Hz - 35kHz response, and will cost around $1,250, but there's no info on availability. [Yamaha and Akihabaranews]

Torn Disguised Lighting Looks Like Slits into Parallel LED Universe

Kit Eaton — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:18:00 EDT

Designer Billy May has come up with his Torn Lighting concept as a discreet way of adding some light to your apartment. The installations conceal LED lights, and look like you've got some kind of weird space-time holes torn into your walls and leaking light into your room. Pretty neat, and a nice way of getting mood light from LEDs without the risk of you being dazzled by their exposed faces. Now if only there was a way to animate the walls to get a proper rippling effect... [Yanko Designs]

Space Intruderz Lamps Invade Our Hearts

Mark Wilson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EDT

I know what you're thinking. These Space Intruderz lamps look a lot like they're ripping off a certain classic video game. But contrary to popular belief, there were no aliens in Pac-Man. Those were ghosts. Ghosts. So these Space Intruderz lamps by Unison Idea Studio are a completely original, lawsuit-immune creation. Each lamp will run you about $50 and you'll have to email the studio to place your order, but at least that means your neighbor shouldn't have decor. [Unison via technabob and MoCoLoco]

Refined Cereal Light Fixtures: Fortified With Frosted Flakes and Fluorescents

Sean Fallon — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:30:00 EDT

You won't find any Grape Nuts or Fiber-rich Colon Blow on the Refined Cereal lighting fixture by the aptly titled Refined Sugar Studio. In fact, the light is meant as a nod toward our favorite sugary sweet breakfast cereals like Capn' Crunch, Count Chocula and Trix. The cereal images are made using ultraviolet-protected inks so they should stay bright for years—and the fluorescent light that shines through will undoubtedly cast a unique spectrum of colors around the room. Pricing is available upon request. [Refined Sugar Studio via MocoLoco]

Brando USB DJ Plasma Tube Light Dances To Your Tunes, Won't Slay Sith

Kit Eaton — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Brando's latest USB gizmo is an 8.5-inch high plasma tube that's an adjustable-brightness desk lamp. But flick a switch, and it pulses mesmerically in time to the sound of your music... or to the sound of you making "Vwummmm. Vwummm.... Cssshhsh!" noises as you sit there wishing it was four feet longer and had real cutting power. Sadly it doesn't, but this piece of desktop lighting fun is available now for $15, in blue, green or red. [Brando]

Get Creative With a Folding Origami Lamp

Sean Fallon — Sun, 25 May 2008 19:30:00 EDT

If you find yourself with some time on your hands during this long Memorial Day weekend, making your own folding origami lamp could prove to be a good time-killer while you wait for meat to cook on the BBQ. The design is as basic as it gets—all you need is a pre-scored 0.8mm sheet of stainless steel and some sort of lamp fixture. Then it is just a matter of bending the segments into an origami design that suits your tastes. As you can see from the image, the light shining through the steel makes for an unique decorative lighting solution. [Yanko Design via DVICE via The Design Blog]

Planilum Light Emitting Glass Can Illuminate Your Home For 20 Years

Sean Fallon — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:10:00 EDT

With fluorescents and LEDs making major headway in the market, energy efficient alternatives to the incandescent bulb are becoming big business. That having been said, the next big thing could be coming out of a partnership between Saazs and Saint-Gobain Innovations in the form of Planilum—the "world's first light emitting glass." Planilum is only 0.8-inches thick and is composed of four layers of special glass, a rare gas and serigraphed phosphors—which will give you 500,000 hours or around 20 years of normal usage.

Because of their soft glow, Planilum lights only get about as hot as the human body, which means that there is no need for a shade or diffuser. They are also about 90% recyclable because the design is nearly all glass. For these reasons, the Planilum can be integrated into designs that make a break from traditional lighting fixtures. In fact, the plan is to develop furniture and other household objects with these panels to make more functional and attractive lighting solutions. With any luck, we could see products based on this technology sometime within the next few years. [saazs via Inhabitat via OhGizmo]

Ground Effects Lighting From Snap-On Makes Your Toolbox Look Fast

Sean Fallon — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:40:00 EDT

Sure a toolbox is functional, but it lacks aesthetics. My suggestion: paint flames on the side and add some ground effects lighting from Snap-On. The AC-powered lights come in singles or dual packs in blue, red and green colors—and they can be attached to any number of surfaces using magnetic clamps. Unfortunately, the Snap-on site is a little wonky with regard to pricing on these things, but we do know that the dual packs will set you back about $90 (which seems to be the same price for a single green). Way overpriced if you ask me, but that is what you get when you buy a big name brand. [Snap-On via Toolmonger]

Radiohead's Latest Tour Features LED Stage (As Well As Radiohead)

Mark Wilson — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Radiohead, wishing to alleviate the guilt of being a rich and famous semi-wielding touring band, has opted to use LED stage lights for their current tour. LED for such purposes is a relatively new phenomenon, as it's only recently that they've become bright enough to have any sort of eye-burning factor. The band is pleased to be wasting less power every performance, but bass player Colin Greenwood pointed out, "It's very exciting, but without the big Rock Lights it's going to be fucking freezing onstage." Though as we understand the rock world, that's what they make groupies for. [Word] Thanks Mike!

UPDATE: Radiohead's kit can be found here.

Tangled Wires are Ugly, But What About Tangled Wire Lamps?

Sean Fallon — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EDT

Exposed cables can be downright hideous or damn near artistic depending on the situation. Apparently, when South Korean designer Kwangho Lee sees a mess of tangled wires, he thinks "art." The concept behind these "lamp sculptures" was to strip lights down to the bare essentials and weave the exposed cable into intricate designs. Whether the final result can be considered art is a matter of opinion—but I can tell you that I won't be hanging one of these in my apartment anytime soon. [MoCo Loco via Gearfuse]

2CLight Hat: Solar-Powered Handsfree Lighting at Night

Kit Eaton — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:40:00 EDT

At first glance at the 2CLight cap you'd think "oh come on... who'd use that?" — but then you'd think about fishermen and other outdoorsy-types who'd benefit from some hands-free lighting, and maybe you'd reconsider. Its flexible solar cell charges a small battery up during the day, and gives out about 2 hours of max-brightness from the twin LEDs in the brim, or 36 hours at low setting. According to the website blurb it's "not a cap with lights," ohoho no: it's a "tightly integrated, highly advanced, microprocessor controlled solar lighting technology" system. Hmm. So, this cap with lights is available in three color schemes for $35. [2CLight via Talk2MyShirt]

Pole: Is This the Most Minimal Lamp Ever?

Kit Eaton — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:24:00 EDT

Designed to use a minimum of materials and components, the "Pole" lamp just looks very, very cool indeed. Designer Paul Cocksedge was trying to create the illusion of bending light, so made the acrylic and concrete design "to send rays of light on a journey of internal reflection." Simple: the bulb is in the base and light emerges from the giant fiber-optic at its top, providing a bright directional beam and an ambient glow. It's available from Established and Sons as either a desk lamp or floor lamp, for an unknown, but presumably high price. And you know, it would go perfectly with (what else?) the Ghost chair. [Dezeen]

Giant Chandelier Harnesses The Sun's Power For Electricity and Color-Changing Abilities

Sean Fallon — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:20:00 EDT

This chandelier design by Christoph Klemmt is truly the superhero of lighting fixtures. Besides the obvious aesthetic qualities, the segments that make up the structure itself gradually change from clear to brightly colored when struck by direct sunlight. It also gathers the power from the sun's rays and uses it to illuminate the LEDs scattered along the surface. The piece is currently on exhibit at the Milan furniture fair 2008, so I highly doubt that it will be available to place in your garden anytime soon. And even if it was, you probably couldn't afford it. Additional pic after the break.

[Project Or via Klemmt via The Design Blog]

Lamps Designed Like Medical Gizmos Chill Our Blood

Kit Eaton — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:45:07 EDT

Designer Andrew Aloisio's lighting designs, dubbed Somewhere in between were apparently an attempt to combine the work of the homeware and labware manufacturing divisions of plastics-maker Kartell. So the aluminum lamps are dotted with test-tube racks, retort stands, burette clamps and more. But by using striking red metal tubing and cables, what did Andrew actually achieve? A set of lamps set to induce shivers, medical gadget nightmares and attacks of the heebyjeebies in all who look upon them, that's what. Thankfully they're a one-off artwork. [Dezeen]

Jet-Setter Lite Is Wall Lamp-Uplighter For That Airplane Feeling

Kit Eaton — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:46:59 EDT

Ah, there's nothing better than sleeping all twisted up in an airplane seat, with the gentle glow around the edges of the little plastic window shutter interrupting your snooze-time. Oh wait a minute— that's rubbish... bed is way better. But clearly designer Charles Cha prefers the airplane effect, since that's what his Jet-Setter Lite is all about. It's a selectable wall-lamp or uplighter that re-creates that window lighting in your home, controlled by a lever that adjusts the direction of the light cast by its LED lamps. It even looks like a plane window and comes in a swish "1950's jet age" polished metal frame. Weird, and thankfully just a concept. [Yanko design]

Senslux SLD Desklamps Try to See Off Your Winter Blues, Acne

Kit Eaton — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:51:01 EDT

Senslux's new SLD range of desk lamps will light your stuff with LEDs for low power-consumption eco-friendliness, and come in three types. The SG-1500 model appears to be just a plain ol' desk lamp, but the SF is apparently a "full spectrum" lamp, presumably to give more natural light to combat the dim winter sun. The last, SA model, claims to be a light therapy for acne. Brilliant. Available in Korea for around $150, not sure if or when they'll make it over here. [Aving]

Toshiba's New Light Bulbs Have a 12,000 Hour Life-Span

Sean Fallon — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:50:00 EDT

Toshiba's new Neoball-Z Real Pride bulbs are actually fluorescent lamps that ditch the hideous corkscrew shape in favor of a more traditional design. However, the big news is that their life span is rated at 12,000 hours. That's 1.2 times better than similar existing products and about 12 times better than an incandescent bulb. Power consumption has been rated at a money-saving 10 watts and it will be available in warm white, day white and daylight flavors starting on July 1st. No pricing information has been announced. [Tech On]

Perspektiva Lamp: For Anyone Who Dreams of Being Stalked By the Paparazzi

Sean Fallon — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:20:00 EDT

According to the designers at Transparent House, the idea behind the Perspecktiva lamp was "to integrate an iconic object into modern day life while maintaining the qualities of art and function." In this case the "iconic object" was a vintage camera inspired by the classic Leica design. The result is a work of art that should appeal to just about anyone—especially Hollywood hopefuls that dream that they too will one day have to file a restraining order against a paparazzo. Too bad it is only a concept at this point. Video after the break.

[Transparent House]

Flower Filament Lamp, Lights With a Bloom. Not a Boom, Fool

Kit Eaton — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:49:15 EDT

Hey ladies— I wanna show you my lamp. No, no, really: it's just a lamp. It looks like a light bulb, and only lights up when you put a flower inside. See, I can be tremulous and tender too. Say what? There's a bug on the flower? I'll squash that bug, man! Squash it good! *SMASH*. Uh ... Hey Ha-Na Yeom, designer person, can I get another? [Yanko design]

The World's Largest LED Chandelier Sips Electricity, Champagne

Mark Wilson — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:05:00 EDT

This 7000lb behemoth chandelier has a 35-foot diameter of steel, glass and acrylic. It features 328 lights. And it only uses 1120 watts of electricity. Constructed by Meyda Tiffany for the e Stanley Theater in Utica, New York, the opulence of a gigantic piece of lighting art is unquestionably more palatable when it's not eating our coal, killing our dolphins, etc. Bonus shot after the jump.

[Meyda Tiffany via Gizmowatch]

Brain Lamp is New Gizmodo Leader, Future Galactic Emperor

AddyDugdale — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:56:43 EDT

When I saw this come up in my RSS feeds, I thought it said Brian Lam, and so I got rather excited. I was, however, (as I so frequently am) wrong. This lamp is the brainchild of Alexander Lervik, who had an MR scan done in Stockholm of his own grey matter, before printing up the results on a 3-D printer. "Yes," he says about his creation. "It is bright." Oh, no one loves a smart arse, Lervik. [Lervik]

Brando USB Light Show Stick: Wave Your Words in the Air

Kit Eaton — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:00:42 EDT

This may be our favorite Brando gadget: a USB programmable LED message wand. It's got room for a message that's around 85 characters long, and its 32 LEDs mean surprisingly good resolution. It even supports banner-style images, has scrolling effects and an optional blue backlight mode. We reckon it's useful when you'd like to get a message to someone from afar, perhaps at a concert, or for dumping your girlfriend while staying out of slapping range. But that's where our imagination runs out. Suggestions, guys?

Measuring 11 x 1.4 x 0.7 inches, and weighing 0.2 pounds, the gadget takes AA batteries and plays nicely with Windows XP and Vista. Available now for a mere $22. [Brando]

Luxim's 250W Tic-Tac Sized Bulb Blows Away 400W LEDs

Sean Fallon — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:00:17 EDT

Luxim's new bulb may only be the size of a Tic-Tac, but this little bugger can crank out way more light at 250 watts than a traditional 400 watt LED. It can achieve this feat thanks to gas that is heated inside the bulb via electrical energy delivered to it by a "puck." As the gas turns to plasma, the bulb is illuminated. However, since most of the energy is not lost to heat, the light can reach a high level of brightness. In fact, it can produce up to 140 lumens per watt which is twice that of an LED and around 10 times that of a standard bulb. Impressive. Hit the link to see the light in action. [CNET and Luxim]

Mobile Light is Solar Powered

Haroon Malik — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST

The Kyouei Design house has come up with the fantastically titled, Mobile Light, which incorporates a small solar panel bed at one end and a light at the other. Activation is automatically instigated once the ambient light levels fall below a certain threshold, which ensures the stored energy is put to good use quickly. Sure, it may not output enough of the bright stuff for you to make it down the stairs safely, read a book in bed or take a piss without dribbling all about the floor/toilet rim, but that's what the main lights are for.

The Mobile Light says you are sophisticated, environmentally conscious, as well as being hot on interior design. The only reason you would want to portray these qualities is because your over-styled bachelor pad has seen more lonely nights than you care to remember, and you're hoping a hottie will say, "Gosh, you're stylish, want to have sex?" It's not gonna happen. [Kyouei Design]

RelaxStyle Lamp: Like Tripping at the Bottom of the Sea

Sean Fallon — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:30:51 EST

Need to unwind? The RelaxStyle Room Palette Effect lamp can transport you to a tranquil undersea world at the push of a button. The lamp projects light onto walls or ceilings that resemble undulating waves—giving users the feeling of being submerged in shallow water, looking up into the sunlight. You can even set a timer that will automatically shut the light show down after 120 minutes. That way you can blissfully set adrift into sleep and peacefully pee your pants in the middle of the night. Available for $69. [Japan Trend Shop via Crave via DVICE]

Shoe Chandelier Marks Your Suburban Gang Territory

Sean Fallon — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:30:13 EST

Sneakers hanging from telephone lines has long been an iconic image of urban life—which is why it inspired designers Peter Pracilio and Oscar Lopez to develop this Shoe Chandelier. Why they chose to make a light out of it is unclear, but it has a very compelling weirdness about it. The good news is that all signs point to this design becoming a real-world product (in both chandelier and tabletop versions) sometime in the near future. Additional pic after the break.

[DesignGo and The World's Best Ever]

Banpresto Skyrium Lamp Brings Northern Lights, Psychedelia to Your Living Room

Kit Eaton — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:05:20 EST

Banpresto's new Skyrium lamp might be just the ticket for those who like to enhance their trips to psychedelic dreamland with some whacky ambient lighting. Its diffusing lens and nine multicolored LEDs project ethereal cloud patterns onto walls and ceilings, with selectable themes to match your ~~drug of choice~~ mood. The whole thing can be run either from the mains or batteries, and it even has a battery-saver mode in case you get too zoned out to care. Available from April. [Kilian-Nakamura]

Night Before Christmas Mobile Light Comes Out 299 Days Early

AddyDugdale — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:59:09 EST

I'm not sure whether this Night Before Christmas mobile night light will work for Tim Burton fans who are scared of the dark. Switch the $21.99 light on and little silhouettes of Jack Skellington and his chums will glide silently across your bedroom ceiling all night long. The light, which looks like a crystal ball, runs on two AA batteries and is an officially-licensed product from Japan. [ThinkGeek]

Surveillance Lamp Brings Big Brother Style To Your Space

Sean Fallon — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:00:10 EST

Swedish designers Per Emanuelsson and Bastian Bischoff believe that their Surveillance Lamp is "Orwellian" in the sense that it is an "ambiguous reflection of their thoughts about the political future." That's deep and everything, but the bottom line is that a lamp modeled after surveillance cameras looks pretty damn cool. The only question is whether or not it is cool enough to drop over 50,00 EUR ($7,500) on—because that is where the bidding is on eBay right now with about six days left. [eBay via Surveillance Light via Dezeen]

Sony NHS-130C HD Entertainment Monolith Makes Monkeys, Whole Homes Smart

jesusdiaz — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:01:35 EST

This is the Sony NHS-130C, a monolithic black rack that offers high-end HD video and audio through an entire house, from home theaters to a master bedroom. In fact, Sony says the NHS-130C offers multi-room "control of movies, audio, lighting, temperature, security systems," and by the look of it, probably Death Star lasers too. Would you like to know the list of AV and domotics gadgets you can get for $85,000?

• HD video and 7.1-channel audio for the living room.
• HD video distribution and multi-room music for 12 additional zones.
• Sony ES receiver.
• 400-disc DVD/CD changer with management system.
• 160GB music server.
• Blu-ray Disc player.
• AM/FM/XM/SIRIUS radio tuner.
• Control4 technology for synchronized lighting, temperature control and security systems using large onscreen display (additional controls available through integrators.)
• iPod in-wall dock system, with content navigation.
• Middle Atlantic AXS shelf structure with three spaces for HD cable box, PS3 or other devices.

SONY INTRODUCES NEW RACK SYSTEM DELIVERING WHOLE HOUSE HD ENTERTAINMENT AND CONTROL
Next-Generation System Saves Time and Money for the Custom Installation Market

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 26, 2007 - Designed for faster and easier installation, Sony today announced a new high-end, fully featured NHS rack system that delivers whole house high-definition entertainment and control over movies, music, lighting, temperature and security systems.

The NHS-130C rack system provides 7.1 channel, high-definition home theater for the living room, plus HD video distribution and multi-room music in 12 additional zones. The system comes fully integrated with Control4 technology, which offers whole home automation by synchronizing lighting, temperature control and security systems through a large onscreen display. Integrators can choose to add any of Control4's vast array of keypads, wireless touch panels, and climate and lighting controls to operate the home's sub-systems.

The NHS rack also features an iPod® in-wall dock with content navigation and control, along with a Middle Atlantic AXS shelf structure for easy access to equipment and cabling.

"The NHS-130C model pairs a top of the line home theater system with whole home automation that can be fully integrated and installed in a fraction of the time normally required for custom installers to build and integrate the system themselves," said Neal Manowitz, director of marketing for Sony Electronics' consumer systems and applications division. "Because the system is already pre-racked and pre-integrated, installation becomes extremely simple, saving integrators significant time and money."

"Incorporating Control4's leading controller and operating system into Sony's pre-integrated home theater system brings practical, easy-to-use home automation solutions to any residence," said Will West, chief executive officer at Control4. "We are extremely pleased to work closely with Sony on this innovative approach to simplify installation and bring to life the digital home for a broader market of homes."

The NHS-130C system incorporates 7.1 channel surround sound using a Sony ES receiver with upscaling of video content to 1080p via HDMI. It includes a 400-disc DVD/CD changer with a management system, a 160GB music server, a Blu-ray Disc™ player, an AM/FM/XM/SIRIUS tuner, and the ability to add three auxiliary devices for connecting additional components like a high-definition cable box or a PlayStation® gaming console.

The system will be available this spring with a fully installed price that will vary based on the components added. Typical installations will range from $40,000 to $85,000. Information about the Sony NHS systems is available online at HYPERLINK "http://www.sony.com/newhome" www.sony.com/newhome. Homebuilders, dealers and installers should call 1-866-924-7669 for details.

USB Memo Lamp: Ambient Lighting For the Absent Minded

Sean Fallon — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:00:14 EST

If you are the kind of person that has Post-it notes strewn all over your desk, this USB-powered lamp may help you cut through the clutter while simultaneously providing some colorful ambient lighting. Using the included pen, users can write notes on the base and simply wipe the message off when needed. Sure, it is stupid, but it is unique—and it will only set you back around $20. Additional pic after the break.

[Funshop via TFTS]