PURE* Computers and Amplifiers. High Tech With High Style from Amsterdam.

Four years ago, I wrote a post on these unusual ceramic encased computers and amplifiers from Plush Department. Since that time, they have updated the technical specs so that the computers and amplifiers have up-to-date capabilities like BluRay, VOIP and video conferencing.

Together with Dutch designer Vince Vijsma and Cor Unum Plush Department created the first PURE* ceramic computer cases. The PURE* line extends into many colors and metal coatings such as bronze, platinum and pure gold. This is actually one of the big advantages of ceramic as a base material. PURE*s are cubic in shape with friendly rounded edges that integrate perfectly into any style environment - only the port for entering a DVD or CD remains recognizable as a tech interface.

The PURE* Computers and amplifiers are available in Delft Blue, White, Black, Bronze, Gold-plated and a special edition by Graffiti artist Zender, all shown here.


PURE* Delft Blue


The Koninklijke Delftsche Aardewerkfabriek (Royal Delft Pottery) “De Porceleyne Fles Anno 1653” N.V. (Royal Delft) is the leading producer of authentic Delft Blue ornamental earthenware and modern earthenware. The Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles is the only remaining factory of 32 earthenware factories that were established in the 17th century.



Plushdepartment’s PURE is a piece of modern earthenware with a retro authentic view. Plush Department gave De Porceleyne Fles the assignment to create a motif that really fitted the shape of the PURE* and a Dutch design look. Very recognizable all over the world, but never seen on a computer, ever.

The Plush Department PURE* Delft Blue numbered, signed and certified by the Royal Porceleyne Fles and are rare collector items.

PURE* Gold
126 grams to be exact. The factory has to be emptied of all workers since gold is a heavy metal and only trained people are allowed to handle it under this conditions according to Dutch law.



In the Netherlands there is one such person. The gold layer is a 100% gold glazing, there is no dilution of any kind. It is actually one of the purest forms of the rare metal.




PURE* Bronze
Many cultures produced works of high art using bronze. In Africa the bronze heads of the Kingdom of Benin, in Europe; Grecian bronzes typically of figures from Greek mythology. In East Asia chinese bronzes of the Shang and Zhou dynasty - more often ceremonial vessels but including some figurine examples.



Bronze was significant to any culture that encountered it. It was one of the most innovative alloys of mankind.




The bronze glaze comes alive in every lighting situation, a unique quality hardly found in any other material.


PURE* White
An object of excellence combines form and function.




The big advantage of ceramic is the sheer endless possibilities one has with glazing.
Because of that it is possible to create the perfect color for each interior design.

PURE* Black



PURE* Zender


The modern artist Sander Pappot, also known as Zender, is based in Amsterdam and well known for his multilayered art that is very hip and stylish with retro influences.




Zender used to be part of the underground Amsterdam graffiti scene and known for his own unique style. Nowadays he runs his own graphic agency and has clients worldwide.




Plushdepartment asked him to go back to his roots again, and gave him a PURE computer and amplifier to handpaint in his own streetstyle.

About the computers:
The Plush Department PURE* computers are built for high definition media usage. With a PURE* you can watch BluRay disks, DVD’s, listen to CD’s and MP3's and present your photo’s and video’s. The Plush Department PURE* computers can also automatically “rip” those disks to your hard drive for easy access later on.

The PURE* computer is also perfect for each form of communication like email, chatting, voice over IP and video conferencing. Of course you can use your PURE* also for surfing the internet and all the office applications that you usually use.

Combine the PURE* computer with the PURE* amplifier and you possess also a audiophile sound environment. The combination enables you to replace all those HiFi installations, set top boxes and the half dozen remote controls one needed up to now with more possibilities and better image and audio quality.

The ceramic casings:
Cor Unum is the Dutch company that is world famous for their ceramic production for artists. Their mission is to produce the most beautiful pieces of earthenware, drawn by the national and international respected designers of today. Quality without compromise, technical expertise almost without limitation. All to provide their clients with the pleasure of enjoying ceramic art at the highest level. When Plush Department started the search for the case producer, no other company dared to touch the design, since square forms are extremely difficult to create in ceramic material. It took one year to realize the PURE* cases.

Computer Technical Specs:
Inside the Plush Department PURE* lineup you will find balanced highend components. Each selected part is chosen for it's excellence in it's field. Some parts even had to be developed like the PSU which is designed by the electrical engineer of ichbinleise.de.

Processor: Intel Dual Core 2,93GHz with Hyperthreading this CPU is very powerful yet very energy efficient.
Motherboard: Intel P57 chipset hightech board of superb quality.
Graficcard: High Definition 1080P with DVI HDMI connection
Harddisk operating system: INTEL SSD 80GB X25-M G2 Postville 240MB/s very fast SATA II interface.
Harddisk datastorage: 2TB (2000GB) with fast SATA II interface.
Memory: 4GB (2x2048MB) highend Dual Channel RAM.
Sound: 8 channels with HD audio and Digital SPDIF
Network: 10/100/1000 Gigabit LAN connection including a fast wifi N solution.
Connections: 8xUSB 2.0, LAN, eSATA and WiFi.
Optical: Bluray player CD DVD writer
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

All this makes the PURE*computers very powerful and reliable and enables you to work fast, enjoy emerging graphics, store thousands of files, MP3's, data, photos or movies. You can easily connect to other computers in your network.You can play at home or online.

PURE* computers contain the same technology that you find in the ikbenstil.nl computers. Ikbenstil uses the best available cooling technology to create extremely silent highend computers. At the same time those computers are very stable, energy efficient and fast.

Because of this technology it is possible to use Plush Department computers in every living or working space.

Amplifier Specs:
What do you look for in a power amplifier? Bet it's the sound. The amplifier modules used in the PHONO are designed from the ground up for true fidelity by Hypex Electronics.

Features
Flat, fully load-independent frequency response
Low output impedance
Very low, frequency-independent THD
Very low noise
Consistent top performer in listening trials including class A and SET amplifiers
Runs on unregulated +/- rails
Pop-free start and stop control
Differential audio input
Overcurrent and overvoltage
LM4562 National buffer op amp
Audiophile capacitors

Technology:
The amplifier modules circuit is based on phase-shift controlled self-oscillation, with only a single voltage feedback control loop taking off at the loudspeaker terminals. The control function is constructed fully out of passive components, with only the comparator standing in for gain.

Item Symbol Spec Notes
Output Power PR 180W 4Ω, THD=1%
Distortion THD <0.1% typ Po< PR/2 <0.008% typ Po=1W Noise Un 30uV typ Frequency Response <10Hz-50kHz +0,-3dB Output Impedance Zo <20mΩ f=1kHz <150mΩ f=20kHz Efficiency η >92%
Supply Ripple Rejection PSRR 65dB Both rails



Plushdepartment

Visit them at:
The Plushdepartment Store
Dukdalfweg 30
1041BE Amsterdam
The Netherlands

E-mail: info@plushdepartment.com
Telephone +31-20-3301345

Glowing Snowboarder Lights Up The Alps.

A Night-time Snowboarding Short Lights Up the Last of the Winter Snow

Fashion photographer and filmmaker Jacob Sutton swaps the studio for the slopes of Tignes in the Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France, with a luminous after hours short starring Artec pro snowboarder William Hughes.



The electrifying film sees Hughes light up the snow-covered French hills in a bespoke L.E.D.-enveloped suit courtesy of designer and electronics whizz John Spatcher. "I was really drawn to the idea of a lone character made of light surfing through darkness," says Sutton of his costume choice. "I've always been excited by unusual ways of lighting things, so it seemed like an exciting idea to make the subject of the film the only light source."

Sutton, who has created work for the likes of Hermès, Burberry and The New York Times, spent three nights on a skidoo with his trusty Red Epic camera at temperatures of -25C to snap Hughes carving effortlessly through the deep snow, even enlisting his own father to help maintain the temperamental suit throughout the demanding shoot. "Filming in the suit was the most surreal thing I've done in 20 years of snowboarding," says Hughes of the charged salopettes. "Luckily there was plenty of vin rouge to keep me warm, and Jacob's enthusiasm kept everyone going through the cold nights."

Jacob Sutton

JBL OnBeat Xtreme. One Wild Looking Docking Station & Loudspeaker with a $500 Price Tag.

The JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ is among the most versatile, capable and powerful loudspeaker docks JBL engineering has ever produced. It’s a complete high performance audio system that docks with most Apple iOS devices – including iPad tablets – and pairs with virtually any Bluetooth®-enabled computer or smartphone for high-quality wireless playback of your music library, Internet radio streaming or speakerphone functionality.




An ingenious rotating connector firmly docks your iPad, iPod or iPhone device, and lets you position iPad, iPod and iPhone screens in portrait or landscape orientation for the best video display.




The JBL OnBeat Xtreme features JBL Ridge tweeters and JBL Atlas™ woofers with computer-optimized DSP equalization, which create a dynamic, lifelike 360-degree soundstage. An RF remote puts you in full control of system functions and music navigation from anywhere in even large rooms, and an AC power supply keeps your iOS devices charged when docked. With an optional composite cable, the JBL OnBeat Xtreme can even send video content on to your TV for the whole crowd to enjoy together. The JBL OnBeat Xtreme does it all, and does it with the industry-leading performance you expect of JBL products.





The JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ docking station frees you from wires – and its RF remote puts you in full control from anywhere nearby. The JBL OnBeat Xtreme dock is compatible with your computer and iPad, iPod and iPhone devices, guaranteeing spectacular wireless playback of your music library. And with an optional composite cable, it can send video to your TV for all your friends to enjoy.






Features
Docks with iPod, iPhone and iPad devices (Compatible iPhone/iPod models iPad Wi-Fi®+3G, iPad 2, iPad Wi-Fi, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS,iPhone 3G, iPhone, iPod touch 2G, iPod touch, iPod 5G,iPod nano 5G, iPod nano 4G, iPod nano 3G, iPod nano 2G, iPod nano, iPod classic)

The JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ high-performance docking station was designed to accommodate an iPod, iPhone or iPad. All three devices can wirelessly play back your music library with professional sound no matter which device you own.

High-quality Bluetooth® wireless music streaming

With the JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ loudspeaker dock, you can stream wirelessly through your Bluetooth® device, allowing your audio sources to deliver high-performance studio sound.

Dock your iPod, iPhone or iPad device in portrait or landscape orientation.



You use the iPod, iPhone and iPad landscape mode for the highest-quality video display. The high-performance JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ loudspeaker dock has an ingenious rotating connector that lets you position the screen in landscape orientation.

JBL® Ridge tweeters and Atlas™ woofers offer computer-optimized DSP equalization

JBL® Ridge tweeters and Atlas™ woofers with computer-optimized DSP equalization deliver impressive frequency response (47Hz to 22kHz) and minimal distortion, even at high output levels. You’ll hear your favorite music with an accuracy and detail you wouldn’t have thought possible from a system this small.

High power output

The JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ loudspeaker dock delivers 30 watts of amplification to each of its four transducers for crystal-clear high-output sound.

Hands-free calling with Bluetooth® phones

The JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ loudspeaker dock has a built-in microphone so you can make or receive calls on any Bluetooth® phone. Your music will pause for the call and resume when you hang up.

Composite output to display video content on TV (cable not included)

With an optional composite cable, the JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ loudspeaker dock can send video to your TV for all your friends to enjoy.

RF remote control navigates from up to 30 feet (9 meters) in any direction

Using the included JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ RF remote control, you can navigate your iPad, iPod and iPhone menus, iTunes songs, playlists, photos and videos. You can easily change tracks, system settings and more, from up to 30 feet (9 meters) in any direction.

AC power supply charges iOS devices when they’re docked

When plugged into AC power, the JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ loudspeaker dock will charge your iOS devices without a computer connection, even when the system itself is off.

Lightweight and compact enough to fit virtually anywhere

The JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ loudspeaker dock is compact enough to fit just about anywhere you and your friends get together. If music matters to you, you need to hear it the way it was meant to be heard, whenever and wherever you listen. The JBL OnBeat Xtreme dock will make it happen.

Dynamic JBL® Weave design

With its exclusive JBL® Weave design, the JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ loudspeaker dock looks as good as it sounds. The dynamic, one-of-a-kind design makes the JBL OnBeat Xtreme dock a stylish addition to your listening space.

What's in the box:

• (1) JBL OnBeat Xtreme speaker dock
• (1) AC power cord
• (1) remote control
• (1) iPod/iPhone adapter clip
• (1) iPad adapter clip
• (1) Owner's Manual

$499.95
buy it here

Sound You Can See. Transparent Speakers From People People of Stockholm.

A well established definition of sustainability is to satisfy the needs of people, planet and profit. This speaker design by Stockholm design group People People tries to accomplish exactly that.



The transparent design lets the speaker blend in to any living room out there. The size can be big enough to offer a good sound quality, yet the speaker takes little visible space. The box is transparent, but the sound creating components are clearly emphasized.




The speakers come with a small rechargeable WiFi antenna that plugs into any headphone socket. It can plug in to any computer, music player or smart phone out there. It will also work for old stereos or vinyl equipment. The aim is to set the music free regardless where it’s stored.



The speaker is then assembled at home, IKEA style. This also means that the components that breaks first (the rubber ring and the speaker cone) can be easily replaced, keeping the product away from any landfill.



Being big is good for sound quality, but not so good for shipping. Any other speaker will ship a lot of air around the globe before ending up in your living room. This speaker ships in a small, flat package that goes in through your mailbox. The glass sheets making up the box is being ordered through the glass repair shop closest to every single customer. In that way the speaker reduces shipping with up to 90%, and supports local handicraft in one go. A very economical and ecological solution.


all information and images courtesy of people people

The speaker is still under development, and not available for purchase yet. If you are interested you can drop a mail to speaker@peoplepeople.se and we will keep you posted on the progress.

People People

The Nest. A New Smart, Savvy, Sensing, Stylish Thermostat For The Home.

This modern looking, smart thermostat, the Nest, has been getting a lot of coverage on design blogs and in the news recently - and with good reason. In addition to being great looking, the technologically advanced thermostat saves energy, learns from your behavoir and is wi-fi connected so you can even program it from a downloadable mobile app when away from home.



NEST PROGRAMS ITSELF AND SAVES ENERGY
Nest is the first thermostat that learns from you. Stay comfortable when you’re home, save energy when you’re away.


Builds a schedule: Nest programs itself in about a week. It creates a personalized schedule based on the temperature changes you’ve made. This flexible schedule adapts to your changing life.


The Leaf: The Nest Leaf appears when you set a temperature that saves you energy–and money. The Leaf guides you in the right direction and helps you be energy-efficient.


Auto-Away: About two hours after you’ve left the house, Nest will sense you’ve gone and adjust the temperature to avoid heating or cooling an empty home.


Energy History: Nest shows you how much energy you’ve used and if your temperature adjustments, Auto-Away or the weather affected your energy use most.

NEST SENSES AND LEARNS FROM YOU
Nest SenseTM is a combination of sensors and algorithms that help Nest understand what’s happening around it. It’s all built in.



Activity sensors: Nest's activity sensors have a 150° wide-angle view so Nest knows when to set itself to Auto-Away.


Temperature sensors: Three temperature sensors track your home's heating and cooling. A one-degree difference can reduce energy use up to 5%, so precision is important.

Weather aware: Nest uses its Wi-Fi connection to keep an eye on current weather conditions and forecasts so it can understand how the outside temperature affects your energy use.

Senses your approach: Walk up to Nest and it'll light up, but not too brightly. Light sensors automatically set Nest's brightness so it won't blind you at night.

NEST KEEPS YOU CONNECTED


Real-time control: Control your home’s temperature from your laptop, smartphone or tablet. Make adjustments in real-time, miles from home.

Your Nest Account: Log in online or download the Nest Mobile app to your smartphone. You'll be able to see and adjust your schedule, change the temperature and check weather.

Automatic updates: Software updates will load automatically as long as Nest is connected to your Wi-Fi.

Secure, private & reliable: Nest is completely secure and uses public key cryptography. Its security features include HTTPS, SSL and 128-bit encryption.

NEST IS SIMPLE TO USE
Since Nest programs itself, your job is easy.



Just turn the ring: Turn the ring to your preferred temperature. Nest will learn what you like and build a personalized schedule.

Save energy all year: Teach Nest good habits in the first week and it'll keep them up all year long. Just turn Nest down at night or when you leave the house and don't turn the temperature up too high or down too low. After a week, Nest will remember you.

Basic Specs:
• The brushed stainless steel ring around the exterior reflects any surface so the Nest blends in with any wall style or color.

• A bright LCD screen has a 320 dpi display in a 1.75" diameter

• Built-in rechargeable Lithium ion battery

• The Nest measures 1.44" deep and 3.20" in diameter




Learn more here