ZEN Mp3 Players

ZEN Grasp
“A natural form derives from pressing your thumb on a soft material within your grasp.”

We are so fixated with the “i” prefix that we rarely see anything beyond the Apple realm. Its designers like Li Qing who dares us to think beyond the “i” and open up our minds to the Zunes and Zens of the world. Featured here is not one but TWO ZEN MP3 player concepts: Grasp & Water.

Sony Eclipse

Eclipse is a media player that uses the photovoltaic cells on its backside to draw in solar power and sticks onto the window via a suction cup. As expected of any “good media player”, this one too features Bluetooth connectivity to steam in music from your MP3 player or catch weather updates, podcasts & radio.

Walnut Player for Music

You learn something new every single day. Today I learned a term for an action for which, before today, I did not know the name of. It’s “walnut rolling” and it applies to the spinning of two spherical objects in your hand. You’ve done it before, I’m sure. Designer YuKwang Kang took this action and turned it into an MP3 player. It’s the aptly named “Walnut Player” to the rescue! Spin me some music!

FlOw-Shake Up Some Music

Relax, work, party or play; whatever your mood for music, imagine controlling the flow with a gesture alone. No shuffle or playlists required, just a good old SHAKE! I’m talking about the flOw, an interactive set of soft silicone speakers that respond to your vigor by choosing the tracks on your iPod and playing them. So if a bunch of friends are around and you shake the speakers hard and fast, expect some Rocking Music!

The Sonic Emotional Pulse Of Music

What do we have for our audiophiles today? A glorious, sleek and majestic player called the Sonic Emotional Pulse Of Music designers by Chen Guoheng.

Touchtable: Creative Music Interaction

Touchtable is a PMP that is interactive and intuitive. It features a large controller wheel that surrounds the screen and performs just like a turntable. It’s even sensitive to touch and pressure and when you use it in combo with the surrounding function buttons, it facilitates absolute user control over a track, through precise position, timing and pitch manipulation.

Features:

* One function button controls the simultaneous switching to a secondary track, allowing the user to mix records on the fly, or to scratch samples over a track.
* Through the cue output, each track is directed to either the left or right headphone, the beat and pitch can then be matched, a cue point created, and the combined tracks mixed out the main phono output.
* Two devices can also be combined wirelessly at the click of a button, to act similarly to the traditional DJ set up, just at around 1:8 the scale.
* This function also allows for multiple users to mix and scratch tracks together, combining their own Touchtable devices through one output.
* The device not only adds interaction to the personal listening experience, but can be used for performance.
* The Touchtable can be plugged into a computer, where it acts as a midi device, working with built in software, allowing complete creativity and control over customization and music creation.
* Touchtable allows for complex interactions, comparable to a complete DJ set up, however the device itself is very simplistic: designed for ease of assembly/disassembly, interchangeability and miniaturization through technology. It is not only ultra portable, but cost effective, easy and enjoyable to use.

Designer: Thomas Mascall

Sony / Flexible OELD Display

Watch The Video

At CEATEC JAPAN 2009, Sony presented “flexible organic EL displays driven by organic TFTs,” along with various product concepts, including a Walkman with a flexible organic EL display. “Flexible organic EL displays driven by organic TFTs” were achieved using technology that integrates organic thin-film transistors and organic EL elements on a plastic film. These displays are thin and light, and they can bend.

The display exhibited at CEATEC was a 2.5 inch model with 160 x 120 pixels, giving a resolution of 80 ppi, yet with a thickness of only 0.2mm. This product, which at first glance looks like a wristwatch, is a Walkman concept, suggested by Sony as a way of using flexible organic EL displays. The thin, light, soft display creates a totally new shape for the Walkman. The soft body is made of plastic derived from inedible vegetable matter. The seamless display, which fits the wrist perfectly, is used to show graphics. In addition, as other concepts using flexible organic EL displays, Sony presented innovative designs for its VAIO notebook PC and Reader e-book device.

Link: www.sony.net

MP3 player,Phone,Camera + Entertainment

Maybe it’s the Pagan Symbols that have inspired it or the fact that Yin and Yang need to co-exist in every design form, but the truth is Love Connection Mobile Phone Concept doesn’t remind me of the relationship between male and female; neither the dent, nor the projectile! It however is a sweet attempt at being something different as an MP3 player + Phone + Camera + Entertainment System.

The two pieces come together to be used as a video display or the touchscreen interface of a phone. Split them up and one platform can be used as a MP3 player and the other as a phone. The cord between the two interfaces is retractable and the gadget can be hooked to earphones as well (in case you don’t want to use the built-in speakers).

A different kinda Yin and Yang!

Designer: Joongho Choi

Tick Tack Music Watch

We’ve evolved from Walkman to iPod (plus whatever else there is, let’s be honest) and from wrist watch to cellphone-held-clock. Now. What would have happened if instead of the clock merging with the cellphone, the clock merged with the music device? We’ve got wrist tunes, contact!

Let’s have a short (or long!) discussion here about the combination of things. As things stand, the most common place I find people hold their time is in their cellphone. On their portable phone! Imagine that. I couldn’t have say, 15 year ago. I wouldn’t have believed you. What if things had gone differently than they have - what if instead, time stayed on your wrist, and music went there too?

This concept is called “Tick Tack Music Watch,” and I’ve got to say it’s pretty cute. Like a bunny rabbit cute. Designer A.Tnokovski plans on marketing it to “teens” and I think he’d be right.

I’m thinking as soon as phone service becomes as “free” as internet service, we go ahead and build that in to Tick Tack 2, and we’ll be in business.

Designer: Apostol Tnokovski

"ORIO" MP3 Player Karaoke Style

Watch The Video

Queue up a line because if the ORIO were real, I can see loads of blokes and blokettes wanting it. The seemingly benign MP3 player doubles as a karaoke recorder. Squint your eyes real hard and think; how often do you sing along when listening to music? Why not record that and put it all over the interweb for people to see! The ORIO even draws from a database to show you realtime lyrics and you “green” enthusiasts will be happy to know, ORIO is completely made of biodegradable plastic.

Designers: Jinsun Park & Seonkeun Park

Revolving Part II (MP3 Player concept)

Before you guys go ballistic that you’ve seen this concept before, let me point of the differences…the previous one MAGI, was a light concept where as this one is an MP3 Player concept. In the lights one, the on/off switch rotated to increase the intensity of the light and here in the MP3, it rotates to reveal the controls of the player. Too much “inspiration” going on here…so I leave it to you guys to sort this one. Cool earbuds tho.

Designer: Rho Jung Chan

"Chukka" Kinetic-powered, tactile music player

Inspired by the Greek komboloi and begleri (worry beads), The Chukka is a kinetic-powered, tactile music player. Better that twiddling your thumbs aimlessly, you can keep shifting the beads and in turn charge up the player. Sourcing energy thru electromagnetic induction, the device uses easy-to-recycle Thermoplastic polyurethane for its outer casing and stainless steel for the innards. A highly flexible data cable links the two sections together, making it easy to dismantle for repairs.

"Watch The Video"

Designer: Thomas Mascall

VitameatavegiMIX

Are you tired, rundown, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unPOPular? The answer to all your problems is this little digital audio player from iXing. Dubbed the “Vitamin”, this tiny tune toter supports both MP3 and WMA files, features a seven preset equalizer and has USB 2.0 connect-ability. Controlling your tunes is almost as easy as popping a pill. Need to skip a tune? Just twist. Want to back it up..? Twist again. With support for a 30 channel FM tuner and recording, this iPill is pure prozac and set for production at the end of this year. Oh, and it’s tasty too!

Product size : 25.2(W)X69(H)mm
Plan for the mass production for 2009.6 months
? Appended file sends in two types

Designer: Sangnam Park

Not So Red But Sassy

Bono…oh Bono! I would do anything for you. I will even humor this cool looking Zik MP3 player that endorses Product Red along with Sony. Funnily, Sony is not even a part of the project, but that doesn’t stop designer Harold Terosier a bit. Bluetooth, recycled plastic, docking station, USB, the usual gamut packed into a 3-centimeter pendant player.
Product Red is a good cause, so I am willing to let go this faux pas by the designer, hopefully you guys will do the same. BTW Bono would I look sassy in RED?

Designer: Harold Terosier

Get Korean Chic With The Mashimaro mp3 Player

As a sort of dirty mouthed, toilet humor version of Hello Kitty, Mashimaro takes a spot as one of the iconic cartoon figures in Korea. Enter the ultimate Mashimaro mp3 player, its nine hours of audio-only playback allows formats like MP3, WMA, OGG, ASF, WAV and APE. Not exactly groundbreaking in design and functionality, but you can’t deny the allure of obscure Korean cultural references and the jealousy it will inspire in all your other white friends. Also note the appropriately placed Aux input after the jump.

Designer: Soricom