The Japanese concept design community known as Cuusoo has produced a concept device so practical and tantalizingly well designed that it's a wonder it doesn't already exist. Created by the Japan-based designer known as Marimo-san, the concept illustrates a cell phone that would allow the user to detach the screen portion of the phone thus allowing one to engage in video phone calls on the go. Marimo-san offers several versions of what the various attachments would look like, from widescreen PC-style to dual screen video viewer. Such a cell phone innovation would go a long way towards speeding up the convergence of the PC and the cell phone so it's likely that this is in fact a design we'll see released into the marketplace sooner rather than later.
Via Cuusoo
Cuusoo concept device imagines detachable screen cellphone
Egg-shaped phone: a design that really cooks
Though it's called the Egg phone, this design concept better resembles the fried variety than a shell-covered ovoid. Designer Roman Tubl set out to conceive a cellphone that's easy to use and a pleasure to hold. Throw in a strip around the side that glows read, a slick touchscreen and a cool logo, and you've got some serious pocket bling as well.
Of course, that and $399 will get you an iPhone. Check out more shots of the imaginary-but-hot device in the gallery below.
Sun loving Eclipse Intuit cell phone takes a bite from the Apple
Few things are as frustrating as having to ration out your cell phone use once that annoying battery alarm starts to beep. Sure, there are various devices that can give your phone a welcome boost when it's running on fumes, but simply making the phone's case into a solar panel seems like a no-brainer.
The Eclipse Intuit from designer Eddie Goh looks like a pretty slick smart phone, with a slide out keyboard, 5MP camera, and a nice big touchscreen in addition to the solar charging panels. Of course you won't get a charge if the Intuit is deep in your pocket or purse, but I guess you could always use a geeky belt clip.
Quite what Apple's recent patent on solar device charging will mean for the future of the Intuit isn't clear, although for now it remains a concept.
Yanko Design, via Trendhunter
Samsung Omnia phone looks hot, is no iPhone
In a peculiar move, Samsung today announced its Omnia phone, a sleek little number that follows the touchscreen trend that we've been seeing a lot lately. In fact, it really got jumpstarted by some phone that came out about a year ago… what was the name of it again?
Not sure what Samsung's thinking, but I suppose it's only good manners to let them have the floor until 1 p.m., when Steve Jobs is due to announce the new iPhone. After that, it'll be pretty hard to get excited about a Windows Mobile 6.1 phone with a 3.2-inch display, GPS, and a 5-megapixel camera with face detection, smile detection and geotagging. The quad-band phone will come to Asia and Europe this summer; no word on a U.S. release.
Via Reuters and Gizmodo
Make Sens Phone has curves even a blind person would love
What kind of phone would a blind person use? I'll give you a hint: It's not an iPhone 3G. No, such a phone would have to eschew any fancy touchscreen for something more tactile, certainly — something like the Make Sens phone, a concept gadget designed by Takumi Yoshida. Eschewing Braille bumps for a surface with distinct contouring, the Make Sens is actually a clever design that everyone might find useful, as anyone who's tried to switch tracks on a cellphone in a pocket can attest.
On top of its touchable curves, the Make Sens displays alert messages through large accent lights on the sides, making them more noticeable for people with poor vision. Makes sense on paper, though watch the complaints roll in the first time someone leaves the phone in the pocket of his white slacks while the red "message waiting" light is blinking.
Replace your iPhone screen, if you dare
The iPhone is awesome, and it's awesome mainly due to one thing: that screen. The big, beautiful touchscreen makes it stand out from the cellphone crowd and makes it an absolute pleasure to use. But since the entire front is essentially a big screen, if you drop if you have a pretty good chance of putting a big old crack across it. And that would be horrible.
If you're out of warranty and don't want to drop the coin on a whole new phone, the bold amongst you might want to try fixing it yourself. To do that, you'll need a replacement screen, and finally one is available. Brando has just announced a replacement screen that you can install yourself, although to open up the iPhone you'll need Brando's iPhone toolkit. It doesn't look to be that difficult of a process, so if you're in need of a new screen go ahead and drop $85 on the new screen and $11 on the toolkit and you'll be back in action in no time.
Brando, via RegHardware
