Perfect timing ~ the NEST thermostat just arrived today ~ a chilly LA day in need of heating… that i can control from my phones, laptop, etc. (aka from bed when i wake up and before i get to the shower?) It really is a beautiful object, with an incredibly easy and intuitive interface (spin and push to click!)… and it has gorgeous packaging as well… and the coolest little screwdriver you didn’t even know you needed! While you can see tons more about the ins and outs of NEST on their site ~ the unboxing and installation was too fun not to share… so many details to see! So head to the next page and see the rest…

p.s. should be no surprise that the UI is by Mike Matas (who we’ve been following since icons/delicious library/apple/etc) and ID by Bould Design (of roku and a lot of the logitech squeezebox goodness)…

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Tags: androids - gifts - home - ipad - iphone - packaging - shopping - technology - unboxing

Unexpectedly fun and addictive ~ the Fling and Fling Mini suction joysticks from Ten One Design for touch screens are great. There’s something unbelievably satsifying about the way the action of the joystick movement feels ~ also the design is ingeniously simple. “Fling is constructed from silky-smooth anodized aluminum, and an incredibly tough, perfectly clear, and unusually flexible engineering-grade resin. It’s nearly indestructible, and will give you years of precision gaming.” Take a peek at more pictures on the next page…

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Tags: accessories - ces - games - gifts - ipad - ipad2 - iphone - shopping - technology - toys

This series of Unexpected Combos posts is sponsored by P&G Downy. See the first post on Porsche Ice Cubes too!

There are so many approaches one could take to a mashup ~ for whatever reason mine tends to be start with an evil mwuahahaha kind of mad scientist kind of laugh in my head, followed by trying to figure out what fun items around me might fit together. In this case, 2 of the new Plumen bulbs arrived - “the world’s first designer light bulbs” (So gorgeous! But simply hanging them from a regular light to show off their fun shape didn’t seem like enough!) ~ and i’d been playing with lightbulb fixture connectors/splitter/plugs (and wondering how big of a tree of them i could make with lots of bulbs at the ends!) ~ and there was the Blue Lounge Mini Dock that allows your iphone/ipad/ipod to stay off the ground when charging… and when you put them all together ~ along with a simple ikea lamp base… i ended up with this fun iPhone Charging Lamp! Where the bulbs are as much a part of the lamp as the rest! Something almost antler like about the bulbs viewed this way ~ and rather mesmerizing as it lights up a room ~ perfect little stand to charge the iPhone, light the room, and control my music from it as the phone streams to speakers over airplay… so iphone charging DJ lamp? Take a peek at more of the silliness on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - gifts - home - ikea - ipad - iphone - ipod - lighting - shopping - technology

Just launched today ~ Bluelounge MiniDock! This magical little contraption means you can now charge your Apple gadgets directly from the wall socket, saving counter/floor space and cables. Perfect for hotels, sitting in airport lounges, bedside charging… you name it! As usual with Bluelounge the product feels great in your hands, the details are perfectly simple ~ as the press kit cover says “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler,” quoting Albert Einstein. Take a peek at the unboxing as well as examples of it in use (and video!) on the next page!

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Tags: apple - gifts - ipad - ipad2 - iphone - ipod - shopping - technology - travel - unboxing

This CES content is sponsored by BestBuyOn.com. Thanks, Best Buy!!!

AR.Drones have come a long way since they mesmerized us at CES with their amazing iPhone controlled flying machine last year… that was in a huge net on the show floor… well this year, they have a great space outside! And it’s definitely had me watching, mesmerized, wondering how i’ve managed not to give in to one of them yet. Or TWO… you can even played augmented reality shooter games with them now… (see the video on the next page to make sense of it)… see more pics on the next page of them in action. It’s hard not to want an iPhone/iPad controlled wifi AR qudricopter!

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Tags: CES - gifts - ipad - iphone - ipod - kids - shopping - technology - toys

Hard Graft’s Phone Fold Wallet in Grey is so lustworthy… for those moments when you can’t grab a full purse/wallet, and only need to run out the door with your phone, cash, and a few cards (key’s will have to be figured out separately!) ~ how cute is this nice grey version of the Hard Graft fold wallet (originally in brown). So tempting. I love the attention to detail: Metal snap keeps wallet closed (snap is not exposed to phone) and the headphone jack even has access! And it can fit your iPhone 4 with bumpers, albeit a bit more snugly… perfect to grab and toss into a clutch for a night out… see more pics on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - felt - gifts - iphone - leather - phone - shopping - technology

On products that got me all excited at CES back in January that i couldn’t write about until now… the Belkin Conserve Valet!!! A “Smart USB Charging Station ~ Save Energy, Reduce Clutter”… as you know, chargers left plugged in can still be power vampires, but it’s not always easy when you’re in a rush to remember to unplug them all! I’m guilty of “docking” (aka plugging my phones/laptop/etc in) right next to my bed when i crash, then grabbing them and heading out in the mornings… leaving the chargers hanging… with the Belkin Conserve Valet, i can do that, and not waste energy! Since it will auto shut off and draws ZERO power when its not in use! It’s also nice that its so pretty and simple ~ with a nice matte black grippy surface, cord management, and more… perfect for cell phones, bluetooth headsets, ps3 controllers and more! (Perhaps it needs an add on stand to dock my iPad too?) The nice Belkin-ers sent me some early samples to poke at, so you can see an unboxing and some close up pics on the next page!

p.s. Not available till Mid July ~ but available for pre-order on Amazon.

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Tags: belkin - energy - gifts - green - iphone - phone - power - shopping - technology

Unpacking suitcases just rediscovered this sticker in a pile of business cards! And it reminded me i was meaning to post this awesome project i ran into at ICFF from Parson’s New Schooler, Ingrid Zweifel of The Way We See The World. I have an ex who was never without his phone, and constantly looking things up ~ sure it’s useful like a real life wikipedia midconversation during dinner sometimes… but sometimes it’s just annoying! And likewise, i’m sure i’m guilty of peeking at my phone if it feel it buzz in my purse beside me too… it’s hard! So as a social intervention ~ perhaps we all need some of the tools from her My Phone Is Off For You project - “We may be sitting at the same table, but we are not together: a common condition of our over-wired world. It is time to question what truly nurtures the human spirit. MY PHONE IS OFF FOR YOU is a revolution; a series of tools designed to help engage in the present moment and spread this idea!” The tools? Awesome cell phone signal blocking handkerchief… sticker! rubber stamp! and i suppose the website is a tool too… to get you to take action! See shots from ICFF as well as closeups of the project on the next page!

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Tags: art - icff - iphone - phone - technology

My iPhone has been clothed in the new Incase Perforated Snap Case the last few days, and i’m loving how incredibly light it is, yet nice matte black feel… and the perforations actually give it a little bit more grippiness! Well, for this feature and giveaway they’ve given us a little more insight into their inspiration as well as how much goes into the tools and manufacturing of these super thin simple solutions to iPhone cases!

Oh, and you get a chance to win the whole trio of Incase Perforated Snap Cases too! There is gloss white, matte black, and matte pink… details and feature all on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - gifts - giveaway - incase - iphone - shopping - technology

Joby Gorilla Mobile for iPhone 3G/S ~ perfect for those who want the versatility of both a simple black matte/rubbery case and the ability to mount their phone just about anywhere for any reason... whether that is on the steering wheel of your car (look! handsfree!), the handlebars of your bike, wrapped around a pole, or perched on the table as a tripod... or in my case, i wrapped it around the nearby bottle of scotch as a tripod. As you can see on the next page, the packaging for this one got far more apple styled with the matte white box ~ and i do love that the signature ball jointed gorillapod legs are ALL black this time! Take a peek at all the details on the next page...

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Tags: accessories - camera - gifts - iphone - shopping - technology

Freshly launched today ~ Incase's latest incarnation of their classic iPhone Slider cases ~ Monochrome Slider Cases ~ this time with glossy tops and soft touch bottoms... while at first i wasn't sure if the color palette was for me (the colors do have fun names like celery green)... when they sent samples over, the PACKAGING just blew my mind. again. as usual. I don't know, those Incase guys are pretty much my favorite packaging folks out there these days. This time it is a clear/black matte plastic sleeve with a molded black cardboard tray that slips into it, but due to the molding won't slip all the way though... And the way the contours of the white plastic liner really highlight the case so nicely! Also, the super simple subtle little S stand is awesome ~ holding up your iphone for perfect desk viewing both horizontally and vertically. Anyhow, enough with the text ~ just go see the pics on the next page already!

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Tags: accessories - gifts - iphone - packaging - reviews - shopping - technology - unboxing

TO WIN: Leave a comment ~ Tell us about your favorite shiny object! ENTER BY 12/7. WINNER: Peter in Salisbury, NC!

Yay! We're up to NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway #18 already, and i've been going nuts sitting on this one, dying to post it... so here it is! Incase sent over a special VIP Boxed set of Metallic iPhone 3G Slider Cases!!! (Actually they sent over 2, one for reviewing, and one for the winner, so don't fret, that winner's is still perfectly untouched!)

The packaging, is, as always, AMAZING. So fun to unbox, and the cases are just gorgeous. I've been drawn in further and further by the whole metallics trend the last few seasons, and it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. I'm sure you've seen them on their site, but in person, the colors are better than i expected. Metallic finishes can be tough to photograph, so many times you end up finding them so different in person, but there are that perfect slightly matte just metallic enough without causing car accidents with the reflection, and easy to grip... and they look GORGEOUS on the iPhone ~ i stole dan's iPhone and kept switching cases and comparing them with nail polishes and outfits... Hardest part is really picking between the colors... so luckily Incase has made up a boxed set of four for one lucky winner: Silver, Gun Metal, Gold, and Copper. I tried to pick a favorite, but i just can't. So, to the winner, if you feel generous you can share with your friends, but i wouldn't blame you if you hoard them all for yourself and switch them with each mood/outfit/nail polish color... I even compared them to the Chanel Gold Fiction and Kaleidescope colors... see a full unboxing on the next page!

To win? Leave a comment about your favorite shiny object... (and no, if you don't leave a relevant comment, you're not in the running!)

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - giveaway - iphone - shopping

News of this magical new battery doubling sleek iPhone case has been circulating, but only tonight (or i guess now its 4am... so morning?) did i really sit down and go through the press release and high res images ~ Not surprising, it's Incase, so it's gorgeous... and it's available in 2 days! (Nov 28!) Actually what brought the Power Slider up was talking to dan about his super early flight to Pennsylvania this morning, and how there is the possibility there will be no internet (*gasp*) and hopefully some cell reception where he's going... and how badly he wished he has the Incase Power Slider to magically double the battery life on the go!

So upon further inspection, the Power Slider deserved a full post ~ have you looked closely at it? like REALLY closely? To notice the mac inspired details like "A five-light LED battery status indicator gauges battery life and also denotes sync mode and charging." Or the subtle single leaf logo on the front bottom left? How about the deepness of the camera hole on the back? And it has my favorite matte black soft-touch coating! Also love that its converted the charging to a more standard mini-USB, much more friendly when roaming in random non-iPhone friend cars without your own charger! I am curious how the 0.86" thickness feels in my hand relative to a normal iphone... So anyhow, check out the super closeups on the next page, i think this is definitely making the list of good gifting options for the holidays...

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Tags: accessories - gifts - iphone - phone - shopping - technology

DEAL for NOTCOTers - 20% off all Hulger Products until Sept 14th! (just click through, they'll take care of you.)

Next up ~ on the next page i have a full reverse unboxing of the Hulger Penelope*Phone and USB Base in Black and classic P*Phone & USB Base in Red... While the Penelope is sexy and classy and oh so modern designy retro... i couldn't resist the red P*Phone... ok this is going to sound pretty silly, but i was wondering whether having an "official work phone" on my desk would somehow make me more professional on the phone... something about wandering around the house on the cell phone, i just have a tendency to get far too casual + friendly... It's like the new NOTCOT Hotline! Less in that Moscow-Washington Cold War sort of way, and more in the playful Powerpuff Girls from the Mayor's office to Pokey Oaks Kindergarten sort of way. I guess for NOTCOT, its more like ad folks to me hotline... So have been messing with the vinyl cutter and at the moment i have it filled with a black notcot logo texture inside and a little notcot on the front, have considered covering it with random textures or some fun pirate dinos...

Oh, and for those curious why i went corded over bluetooth ~ i'm terrible with charging, and the Hulgers are already far too large to get away with for the driving/talking handsfree laws, so this makes for a really fun desk phone, whether plugged into my monitors via USB, or into my curve. Anyhow, see a full unboxing of how awesome the packaging is on the next page! (And some old 80's red phone ads as well...)

p.s.
yes, i do seem to feel more serious when on an old school phone, especially a red one, how silly is that?

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Tags: bluetooth - gifts - iphone - packaging - phone - reviews - shopping - technology - unboxing - usb

Ok packaging lovers... you will definitely want some AIAIAI headphones, iphone/curve headsets (headphones + mic/button), and the new laptop sleeves (but more to come on that in a future post!)... These danish designers don't mess around, their gorgeous headphones (you have to feel these cables to realize how nice the quality is) come in these incredible thick plastic tubes (think perfect for pens/pencils/paint brushes) where the ends aren't just plugs but little containers with their own caps (they are like little pill boxes) with alternative ear pieces! As you can see, they have great attention to detail ~ and the Y-com model is named so for its signature Y shaped center piece where the L and R are labeled... some even have a playful behind the ear coil...

As for how they work ~ well i tried them hooked up to my blackberry curve for the 5.5 hour drives up and down to/from SF/LA this weekend, and it was great (driving with only one side in of course, since both sides in the sound is so good you can't hear the world around you). Also, see the fun flashy page flipping AIAIAI Catalog here! See pics on the next page to get the full experience!

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Tags: gifts - iphone - music - packaging - phone - reviews - shopping - technology

Our favorite felt/leather technology carriers, Working Class Heroes, has evolved and is now known as Hard Graft. And honestly, nothing has changed, other than their moniker, and the quality and designs are, if anything, better than ever! So i've got an exclusive sneak peak for you of the latest line (and quite possibly my favorite yet)... here's
The Dapper Collection!

I've always loved their leather pockets on felt, which my original laptop sleeve from them had, and now they've brought the motif back as the signature feature in
The Dapper Collection. Also, they've mastered the Kindle case (see pics of a prototype i've been playing with on the next page), and it has a pocket which perfectly fits the iPhone. Honestly, its the perfect little bundle to grab when you're off to read in the park or at the beach. They've also got an adorable iPhone case, which has a pocket for some cash/cards... and a revival of the laptop wallet with top buttons and a new larger pocket also perfect for iPhones! So check out more pics on the next page, and see the full collection for purchase at Hard Graft!

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Tags: accessories - felt - gifts - iphone - kindle - laptop - leather - shopping

When at the Wall-E midnight showing on Thurs ~ walking out at nearly 3am, i felt like we were nearly venturing into the world of Wall-E as we lined up to feed the ticket in the machine to validate, then lined up in our cars again, sitting, idling, waiting to get out... and the other thing that stuck in my mind was ~ enough cross over Apple placement, Pixar? From the sound every time Wall-E had to reboot, to the ipod he played his movies on... and why was i SO drawn to Eve? And then i was reminded... Eve is a product of Jonathan Ives... Apple helped design the robots of the future... and remember the Automator icon? How cute is he? He looks like he might be Eve's grandpa, they certainly have quite a few things in common ~ that glossy white skin, and that face looks like she could definitely have evolved from him! See many more images of them all on the next page ~ as well as some Eve icons for Adium.

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Tags: animation - apple - iphone - ipod - movie - pixar - robot

On collabs i didn't see coming... Courvoisier is going all out on their new Exclusif Cognac! Including a multi-city tour (LA, SF, Houston, Miami, NY) this spring to show off an exclusive line designed by urban/skate brand LRG, inspired by Courvoisier... including a Napoleon Rubberband Jacket.

Ok, but seriously, we both know that's not why i'm posting this. What grabbed me is that they even customized some limited edition gadgetry - iPhones, Blackberries, and iPods to be specific, and i'm surprised, but i'm kind of loving the the napoleonic/spy logo thing thats going on, and while orange isn't usually my color, this shade is kind of interesting on electronics... check out more sneak peeks after the jump!

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Tags: blackberry - drinks - iphone - ipod - technology

Over at Engadget Mobile, they've gotten their hands on one of the future Blackberries... the elusive 9000! Which looks like a blackberry that got with an iphone and a PSP... this chimera has the body of the iPhone, the glossy ui of the PSP, and the brain of a Blackberry... with a very impressive result that makes me slightly sad when i look at my new curve now.

Basically the exterior design seems very iphone like with its sleek black face and chromed out edge... and the simple white on black icons (down to the style) and the way they glow is much like those sexy infographics seen on the PSP and PS3... does that wavy wallpaper seem very sony/apple as well? See some of the images of the slick UI after the jump, as well as a video... i can't wait. i'm drooling already.

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Tags: blackberry - iphone - phone - ps3 - psp - technology

iHole... yes, someone has gone and done it - made use of that gorgeous iPhone box and turned it into a camera! Scot Hampton announced "the world’s first iHole™; the revolutionary analog photographic device constructed from the recycled packaging of digital technology." (i wonder if he really trademarked that?) on his blog Feb 13th... see more of the fun pics after the jump. He suddenly has me overflowing with silly homemade cameras from recycled packaging ideas... like a collection of portraits of products as taken by their packaging?

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Tags: camera - iphone - packaging - phone - photography - technology

Incase: A better experience through good design. The UPS and FedEx guys always seem to make my day. Today it was the delivery of the Incase press kit that has my love of packaging design gushing. With a tagline like "a better experience through good design", you would think it would be hard to live up to... but apparently not, from the time i sliced the tape open on the box they continued to surprise me with impressively high quality new products for 2008, incredible attention to detail in the catalog/boxes/design, extremely efficient use of space, and ultimately the whole press kit experience was like a designer's babuska doll of surprises. So come unbox it with me in the photos after the jump! And more to come on the incredible macbook pro hardshell case soon...

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Tags: incase - iphone - ipod - laptop - mac - packaging

There's a little something special for anyone who adds the NOTCOT sites to their iPhones! So when you save a Web Clip of NOTCOT.com, NOTCOT.org, TasteSpotting, or NotCouture ~ we've designed custom Web Clip icons for each of them! And for those of you who haven't checked out org, tastespotting, and notcouture on an iPhone yet, it looks pretty sweet! Also, i made a quick walkthrough of how to put a Web Clip on your Home Screen after the jump... much shorter than the long update video.

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Tags: iphone - phone - technology

Ooooh a sneak peek at potentially a new reason for me to be amused by the iPhone (currently iPhysics is still my main source of iphone amusement)... but imagine if this sneak peek of a Vans Finger Fracture Skateboarding game for iPhone is real? Spotted over at the trendwatch - you can rate and view the project at NewCreatives, art direction by David Aronson & Juri Zaech for agency: Miami Ad Shool Europe... more presentation snippets after the jump, click to view larger!

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Tags: games - iphone - skate - software - technology