TOP GEAR pretty boy
Designed by Phillipe Starck, the Parrot Zikmu speaker system uses NXT flat- panel technology to create a 360-degree sound effect from what looks like a piece of sculpture in your living room. One of the pair sports a dock for releasing the tunes from your iThing, plus you can stream your music to the speakers from any Bluetooth device or use WiFi to beam it in from a computer. Add style to your sound for $1699. www.parrot.com/au
loud and clear
Luxury phone maker Mobiado has teamed up with Aston Martin to produce the CPT002, a totally transparent smartphone made from solid sapphire crystal and enclosed by a platinum frame which houses the battery, SIM and electronics. In standby, the design affords a straight-through view from the front of the handset to the back, with the only impediment to a completely clear view being the logos of the two luxury marques. A concept only, this is not a phone you will ever own, but it does provide a taste of where design may be headed. www.mobiado.com
new KID on the dock
The 'KID', or Krell Interface Dock, is a high-performance iPod dock with gorgeous industrial design and a beautiful brushed silver aluminium chassis. It comes without amplifiers, though, so you'll need Krell's Papa Dock to unleash all the stereo joy from your playlist, plus a pair of quality speakers. It costs $2999. www.audiomarketing.com.au
more than meets the eye
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer is a 10-inch Android tablet with a difference – it features a detachable keyboard that frees you from the awkwardness of a virtual keypad and allows the unit to double as a touchscreen netbook. What's more, the keyboard has an extra battery built in, extending the power capacity of the tablet to 16 hours when attached. It costs $799. www.asus.com.au
106 www.travelandliving.com.au
