Transparent Mobile Phone with Second Life

We often forget about the battery life of our mobile phones, hence run out of juice, just at the wrong time. The Second Life Mobile Phone Concept by Korean designers Cho Sinhyung and Jeon Jungjae works on the premise that no such worst thing will happen. As a remedy (rather power-saver-option) the phone incorporates a double display. When in active use the AMOLED screen powers up in all glory and in standby mode the E-ink display gets active. This essentially means that the E-ink uses very little energy and the degree of transparency of the display shows how much battery is remaining. The more transparent the display, the less battery remaining. So besides ultra-low power consumption, the transparent screen offers an intuitive expression: “You’re low on juice so better recharge the phone soon!” Apparently the E-ink uses power to change the degree of transparency and doesn’t add to the battery load. [via]

Futuristic Wall Clock with Universal Language

Nooka is a New York design company founded by artist/designer Matthew Waldman. The spirit of Nooka is universal language, which guides the creation of products with enhanced functionality and a futuristic philosophy. Most prominently known for its line of timepieces, Nooka has expanded their range, creating a Mindstyle™ brand with the addition of innovative accessories and a fragrance.

Ever since the release of our first Nooka watch designs, people have been asking for a wall clock version. Developing the molds and components for a large piece in limited quantities is an economic barrier you can help us overcome. The Nooka wall clocks will retail at around $600 with a ZenV display and $650 with a Zirc display. [via]

Compact Cleaning System for Digital Medias

There are many different surfaces to clean. There are 3000 microbes per inch on a keyboard compared to 49 on a toilet. A holistic cleaning solution is needed. Meanwhile, USB hubs are complicated and bulky. Docks become obsolete with new device. That's way Andrew Seunghyun Kim designs Warp.

Warp is a the cleaning system for various digital media that cleans any complex surfaces. Warp manipulates microfiber to clean every surface. Warp also features a detailing pen with various rubber polishing tips. The tips can reach any hidden place. Moreover, Warp's 1-step degrease cleaner is made from natural ingredients, that is oranges and coconuts. [via]

bik.e: Folding Electric Bike from Volkswagen (VW)

Volkswagen -a major car brand that has not been tied to electric bikes before- unveiled a new electric bike called the bik.e at the Auto China 2010 show. The bike is designed to fold up and fit into the spare tire area of a car. Bik.e is a very cool looking piece of mobility art that looks a little like a small bicycle without the pedals. The battery-powered device has definitely been designed with both form and function in mind: the whole thing folds quickly down into a flat disc that fits quite nicely into the spare tire compartment found in the bottom of most trunks.

While auto shows are known for their concepts that never see the light of day, we are told there are plans to actually commercialize this machine, though it probably won't come as an option with your next VW. With a range of 20 kilometers (12.5 miles), it's not meant for long distance treks but rather as a supplement to your car. Its official top speed is 20 km/h (12.5 miles per hour) to allow Germans to ride it helmetless, though word on the street says the version at the show could go much faster. No mention was made about how long it takes to charge, but apparently the bik.e's batteries can be replenished by a car's DC current as well as a typical AC plug.

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Citrange Hand Juicer by Quentin de Coster

Imagine a citrus press that can be placed directly on the glass? Well, that's the Citrange! Citrange is a double sided hand juicer which can be placed straight onto your glass. With this innovative double ended design it is now possible to squeeze various sizes of citrus, from small limes through to large grapefruits with oranges and lemons in between! The built in central funnel not only guides the juice into the glass, it also filters out the seeds. The funnel then directs the flow of juice neatly into the glass without spillage whilst also sifting out any seeds. A strainer is built-in and the overall procedure cuts back one whole step in juice-squeezing. Material: Polypropylene. Designer: Quentin de Coster.

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