Otto Chrome Espresso Maker Is So, So Shiny

John Mahoney — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:20:56 EST

I'm not yet in as bad shape as Brownlee over at BBG, drinking instant, but this beautiful chromey Otto espresso maker could convince me to spend a bit more time on my morning cup.

It even comes with a matching chrome latte mug. And a product shot gallery with more liberal usage of reflective Photoshop shinies you will never see. Woe, though, is the AU$595 price tag ($420 US) and down-under-only availability. Here, it is demonstrated by a pair of Ozzies in a cavernous soundstage, to the tune of Green Onions:

[OTTO via Appliancist via BBG]

Otto Suction Spy Speaker Lets You Hear Your Parents Argue

Jason Chen — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:50:09 EST

The Otto may look like one of those suction cup gadgets that turns any surface into a sound generating speaker, but it's actually more like a stethoscope than a speaker. If you latch it onto a window, a wall or a glass of ice water, you can hear "subtle tremors and vibrations." Because if you have to listen to your upstairs neighbors going at it every night, you might as well hear it clearly. [Duncan Wilson via Random Good Stuff]

Otto Bluetooth Ear and Speaker Kit: Dock Like Spaceships, Ugly by Design

Brian Lam — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:00:28 EDT

Otto's a company you've likely not heard of unless you're a firefighter or SWAT officer. The company's been making communication gear for pros in dangerous lines of work since 1961, and now they're making civilian gear. Most of it is uninteresting (noise canceling headphones, MP3 player built in headphones), except this Bluetooth headset and speakerphone set that I like because they dock like mothership and space shuttle, so you have two devices in one for $130. And I like the way it charges...which sounds boring, but I'm being earnest about this.

Check it out:

The kit comes with little headset, and interestingly, a speakerphone dock that connects to it by mini-USB jack (the really, really small kind). The connection automatically transfers whatever calls you're taking by headset to the speaker, and begins charging the headset from the dock's battery. Rad.

The dock and headset can be charged alone or together by mini-USB cable, and the kit comes with a cigarette adapter and wall socket that both put out 5 volts of USB-age, and the setup can be charged by PC, too. (The AC and ciggy adapter's output with a standard USB plug, so the logic seems to be that you could charge all your USB 5v gadgets with those two adapters. The ony issue? the mini USB to standard USB cable is the same you have to use at home (PC or wall) or in the car, so you're out of luck if you lose it somewhere. They should have packed another. But between the pair, you've got six hours of talk, so all but the chattiest should be fine for a day. Confused? Hit the gallery because the photos go a long way toward explaining how it all works together.

The company claims to have DSP inside of the pieces to help enhance sound. What doesn't have digital signal processing these days? The quality was actually less than great, to be honest, from the speakerphone and headset. Bassy and unclear in the middle and top ranges. The microphone, according to my caller, was better on the speakerphone, too. I'm surprised, as I'd figured that SWAT and firefighters would need even more clarity than the average Joe.

The speakerphone, when left on and paired to my phone, emitted a high pitched whine.

Their motto is strange, practically bragging about plain design: "Because you don't hear with your eyes." They could have just added rubber trim and called them headsets for men, but then again, Bluetooth headsets always make men look like weenies.

Would I recommend it? I'm on the fence about the sound quality and that whine. But I'm pretty stoked about the idea of a speakerphone/headset combo that actually dock into one.

Based on what I've said, would you guys buy this thing?– Brian Lam

Home Page [Hear Otto]

Gizmodo: otto

Otto Chrome Espresso Maker Is So, So Shiny

Otto Suction Spy Speaker Lets You Hear Your Parents Argue

Otto Bluetooth Ear and Speaker Kit: Dock Like Spaceships, Ugly by Design