FullFatGear » martin

Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos 566

martin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:10:02 +0000

I like almost everything Australian Marc Newson designs, and when he focuses on haute horlogerie the outcome is usually fabulous – like the highly covetable Ikepod range. So when he collaborated with Jaeger-LeCoultre on a reinterpretation of their classic Atmos range of clocks the outcome was always going to be special.

Reinterpreted in a clean, minimalist design, the Baccarat crystal case houses a new movement – the 566 Calibre, which tells time but also displays the month, date, astrological sign, the cardinal points and to top it all off – a view of the night sky as seen in the northern hemisphere.

But the truly special thing about this clock is the core of the Atmos movement – it is a nearly perpetual machine, relying on temperature changes to wind its main spring and power the movement (as little as 1 degree change every day and it will run nigh on forever). 60 million Atmos clocks combined consume less power than one 15 watt lightbulb…

This is another case of “if you have to ask how much, you can’t afford it” – two limited editions will be made, 48 in clear crystal and just 28 in resplendent blue crystal.

Skiff Reader

martin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:11:27 +0000

The e-reader market is hotting up, with Amazon’s trail-blazing Kindle being challenged by e-reader after e-reader. CES this year was awash with e-readers, but only one truly stood out – the Skiff Reader. It sports the highest resolution on an e-reader yet, at a stunning 1200×1600 on a large 11.5″ screen with full touch control. As if that wasn’t enough it is based on LG’s revolutionary metal foil e-paper technology, meaning its not just less delicate than its glass screened competitors, but actually bendable.

Priced at an expected $400, supported by the Sprint network in the US and supporting both 3G and WiFi this is one e-reader I want right now. Only question is – will they be bring it to Europe anytime soon?

BMW Concept 6

martin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:49:59 +0000

BMW is revered for its inline 6 engines that feature throughout their cars and have won a multitude of awards and plaudits. They’re extending the inline 6 engines to their motorcycle range next year and have built the Concept 6 to show off the new engine.

With a redline over 9,000 RPM, 96 lb.ft. of torque available from a low 2,000 RPM and over 150hp this engine is going to be pretty rapid – and for the concept they’ve clothed it in a frame to match. Looking like a cafe racer from the future the rakish lines and chopped side exhausts give this bike real presence.

While the production six will most likely feature in a refresh of BMW’s excellent touring bikes, it would be great if they built this cafe racer variant too… Here’s hoping…

Bowers&Wilkins MM-1

martin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:52:08 +0000

There is a real dearth of quality audiophile hi-fi products in the desktop/multimedia/computer speaker market. I desperately cling on to my old pair of Klipsch for that very reason. One of the premier speaker companies in the world, famous for their Nautilus speakers and Zeppelin iPod docks, Bowers&Wilkins obvously agrees – they just launched their new MM-1 speakers, which must be the perfect accompaniment to today’s high end PCs.

The MM-1s are near-field monitors to ensure the listening sweet spot is where you are – sat right in front of the computer, and offer dual full range drivers featuring B&W’s lauded Nautilus tube loaded tweeter. The real killer feature is that the speakers include their own sound processing and DAC, meaning you plug them in via USB and don’t have to worry about the variable quality of computer sound output.

They also include a separate line in for other sources, a high quality headphone port using the built in DAC to isolate your headphones from the noisy sound card in your computer, and a small remote to control volume and inputs.

CR&S Duu

martin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:32:17 +0000

If you ever wondered what would happen if you crossed a Harley with a Ducati Monster, CR&S have built the bike for you. The CR&S Duu takes a thumping American 117cu.in. (1.9 litre) v-twin and wraps a hand made custom Italian streetfighter frame around it. Add in a lashing of futuristic detailing and you get one sexy bike.

Ford SVT Raptor

martin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:33 +0000

Ford’s special vehicle team are known for some mad conversions, and the old F-150 Lightning with its bonkers supercharged V8 and street aspirations is a case in point. But now they have realised that trucks are meant to stay off road and married that bonkers engine mentality with some really off-road kit to make the Ford SVT Raptor. Recently released with an even bigger engine, this beast sports a 6.2l V8 putting out 414hp. While this doesn’t make performance comparable to on-road speed demons, 0-62 in 7 seconds and as much torque as a 911 turbo makes it one of the fastest things you can take through a desert without bothering too much about being broken by the scenery.

Fitted with Fox racing shocks all round with 11 inch travel in front and 14 inches out back, electronically switchable four wheel drive, 35″ all terrain tyres, and that engine this is a truck you can enter almost unmodified in any desert race. And that gives it the cool the Lightning lacked and a firm place in my dream garage.

Olympus E-P2

martin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:31:15 +0000

Digital SLRs have been steadily improving over the last few years, but they still cling on to the form factor and designs of the 35mm camera era. Don’t get me wrong – I love the aesthetic – but if the sensor isn’t 35mm anymore, why is the body around it scaled to that dimension? The 4/3rds designs have moved this on but not felt like proper photographic tools – until Olympus released their E-P1, or E-PEN in homage to its illustrious forebear first introduced in 1959. Now Olympus have already brought out a new model in the E-Pen range – the E-P2.

The E-P2 takes the concept to a new level, with a serious sleek black look and even more pro pretensions. It continues the E-P1 successes with built-in image stabiliser, high ISO capabilities, 12 megapixel sensor, and a form factor that makes it both pocketable and useable. Add in HD movie recording, still AF tracking, and an accessory port that allows the attachment of an old school swivelling electronic viewfinder.

I rarely take my big DLSR out with me these days – and am therefore seriously tempted by a photographic tool this capable and this compact.

Dell Adamo XPS

martin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:41:54 +0000

For those who actually use their laptops on the go Dell has brought out the Adamo XPS, the world’s thinnest laptop at a papercut worthy 9.9mm thin. Yes, that’s less than a centimetre thick… The great design doesn’t just stop there – the Adamo XPS has loads of innovative design features, from the keyboard opening up at an angle – both improving cooling and putting the keyboard at a comfortable angle – to the metal keyboard and the latch mechanism which opens at the swipe of a finger.

With diminutive dimensions of just 340mm x 274mm and a lightweight 1.44kg, it’s impressive that Dell have crammed in a 1.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB memory and an SSD harddrive the specs are great too, and built in WiFi, HD display, and proper display and USB ports make this a great portable workhorse. Availability in Europe will be announced soon.

Oakley Elite Assault Boot

martin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:27:08 +0000

Not content to produce elite sunglasses and watches, Oakley have turned their eye to their boots too. Oakley’s history with the armed forces goes back 20 years, and the latest product of that partnership is the Elite Assault Boot. Combining athletically inspired design features like a moisture wicking, low-friction lining, and a shock absorbent sole with unusual features like flame-resistant carbon, slash-resistant carbon CX and puncture-resistant Lenzing sole this is one hell of a boot – even if your hike is more rambling than duck and cover.

BMW M3 GTS

martin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:29:01 +0000

Ever since the current BMW M3 came out in 2007 the fans of Bavaria’s finest have been waiting with baited breath for a CSL version to surpass that of the previous generation. Well that wait may well be over, as BMW today announced the BMW M3 GTS – a production version of the FIA spec GT race car unveiled earlier this year.

The eye-searing orange paintjob is a throwback to BMW’s racing history, but once you get past the colour (and the white one in the gallery caught testing at the Nürburgring looks much more palatable) you realise there are a myriad of changes to the car. There are new carbon fibre splitters front and rear, an all new titanium exhaust system, a giant adjustable wing at the rear, massive 6 pot brakes up front and 4 pot brakes out back – in itself a massive departure for the M team – and an interior stripped of almost every luxury and fitted with a roll cage and racing seats. The weight loss program brings results – even with all the racing trimmings the GTS weighs in at over 200kgs less than the standard car.

Performance hasn’t been released yet but it seems fair to surmise that the already excellent V8 will be enlarged to 4.4 litres and massaged to produce around 450hp, delivered through the 7-speed dual clutch box.

This car should take any pre conceived notion of what a M3 is and toss them out the window – any slurs about softening over the years will be lost on the razor sharp purpose of this car. I will make it my mission to one day try one on the Nordschleife.