bltd

You know, for when you’re lost in the desert (or camping, as the case most likely will be). Or maybe you’ll use it daily if you get enough sunshine through your window. Either way, it’s paper thin and ‘monolithically integrated’, which means less damage-prone.

Provides power to your cellphone, GPS, MPS, and other devices.

Power/Current: 5 Watts, 15.4 Volts, 0.3 Amps
11.5″ x 21″ (unrolled). 11.5″ x 4″ diameter (rolled)
Weight: 0.6 lbs.

Whoa. With increased cargo capacity, this bike has the potential to change the lives of many, many people. Originally prototyped as an extension, it’s now available for preorder as an original longtail bike. Proceeds from all purchases support bike distribution efforts in Kenya, or if you’re not in need of a bicycle, you can give a (tax-deductable) donation to help support the cause. (“A contribution of just $150 helps underwrite a cargo bike that quadruples the income of a small farmer in Africa.”)

What started as a thesis project a decade ago guides everything Worldbike does today. It’s centered on the belief that a low-cost, durable and “longtail” bicycle with integrated cargo capacity – a cargo bike – can change the life of someone living in rural poverty by connecting them to markets, schools and clinics. This bike was first conceivd on a trip to Nicaragua, where it was originally prototyped as a transport solution for local farmers. Since then, it’s taken the form of bolt-on extensions, modified mountain bikes and today, an original longtail bike frame manufactured overseas and assembled locally.

Worldbike was included in the Design for the other 90% exhibition by the Cooper-Hewitt Museum.

Inquire about preorders at preorder@worldbike.org.

Nothing fancy about this laptop cover, just a nice outside pocket (4″ x 5″) for iPhone/iPod/mobile and 2 hidden snaps to close the main pocket. Simplicity.

Designed by Katja Hettler & Jula Tullmann for Redmaloo.
Made in Germany.
Wool felt with cotton trim.
Available in orange with red details or light grey with red details.

13″ – $78.00 (15″ x 10.5″) – only available in grey
15″ – $82.00 (17″ x 12″) – only available in orange

So, if you read all the gadget blogs, you’ll have read about the Pong iPhone case. Apparently it deflects harmful radiation away from your head, which sounds really great, but there are complaints of the price and a little bit of skepticism on how well it works. I’ll not go into all the details, but if you’re interested you can read for yourself how it works (see below for the write-ups).

The first scientifically-proven radiation reduction case. Let the embedded Pong module protect your head while the form-fitting case protects your iPhone 3G and 3GS from the rigors of heavy duty use. Pong’s special silicone formula guarantees that your phone maintains full signal strength and battery life.

[via Wired and CrunchGear]

I really, really don’t like wearing watches. They all seem so “look at me”, but I wouldn’t mind wearing this one…it seems so shy and apologetic in a way; even the lens is frosted. Issey Miyake’s Twelze comes close to achieveing the same effect, but Kurokawa’s is even more humble (the clear strap almost disappears against your skin), less designer label, and a fraction of the Miyake price.

Designer: Masayuki Kurokawa
Watchface: 1.33 inches
Length: 7 to 8.5 inches (from first to last hole)
Zinc alloy, glass, and silicone

Not a whole lot to say except that this is a set of four ridiculously awesome looking muslin produce bags, handmade in Seattle.

Material: Unbleached cotton muslin with organic cotton drawstring
Dimensions: Large 10″ x 12″-Medium 6″ x 10″-Small 6″ x 5.5″-Herb 3.5″ x 5

[via Daily Candy]

The vivid colors and simple form definitely attracted me to this product initially. I have a feeling that silicone may not be an ideal material for a wallet cause of its inherit “stickyness”, and wouldn’t be suited well to be constantly taken in and out of pockets, but it should be able to handle anything else you can throw at it. I’m thinking iPod or passport case.

The Nooka Asset Organizer (AO) is a system of containers that can be adapted to their needs of the user – whether it is for cards, cash, licenses, or photos. They are made from a soft silicone rubber-like substance that is comfortable to sit on, expandable, and water resistant.

Size Open: 199mm x 66mm
Closed: 96mm x 66mm

There’s a lot to like about this compass. It’s made with sustainable wood and fair trade labor, beautiful, and quite inexpensive. We’ve previously written about his incredible Wooden Radio before, which uses similar materials and socially responsible labor.

Hand-crafted in an Indonesian farming village, the Singgih Kartono compass follows the best sustainable practices in terms of materials and production. Kartono’s use of T-shape joints insures strength and adds a beautiful design detail.

Designer: Singgih Kartono
Materials: Naturally harvested mahogany and sonokeling wood
Dimensions: 1” W x 2” H x 2IA” D

KimKim’s leather ‘paper’ bag joins the club of look-a-likes (see MyPaperBag) as well as offering a few smaller sized options.

By staying close to the original designs, inspiration, and basic construction methods, we pay homage to the honesty in ordinary products. At first glance, the identical proportions and symmetry more than elude to everyday products. The result is not homespun or designer kitsch, but a discerning elegance that is modest, yet exceptional. Our products are not used for praise or display, but adheres to a certain virtuosity which contemporary fashion lacks. Accordingly, our products transcend the elements of fashion by outclassing the test of facetious trends.

(thanks john for the email)

Warning for fans of Issey Miyake: this latest addition to the Bilbao series might make your heart all aflutter.

The latest addition to the Bilbao series, this bag has a triangular pattern printed in high-density ink on a cotton canvas base, creating a casual, durable, and versatile bag. One interior pocket. Made of cotton and nylon. Hand-wash only.

Size: 14.25″sq; Strap: 16.5l x 1.25″w

Hmm. Sometimes I wish my phone would take better pictures, but as to whether I would go to the trouble to carry this around and put it on when I want to take (better) pictures, I just don’t know. I’m curious as to how well it would work.

“Simply and easily top the camera on your cell phone, iPhone or any other smart phone with this external lens, sure to upgrade your phone’s camera to create high-quality photos. Coated optical lens for magnifying objects up to 8 times; clear focus; adjustable clamp for fitting most phones.”

Adjusts from approx 1.5″w to 2.75″w.

[via Incredible Things]

Brothers Chris and Kirk Bray create handmade leathergoods under the name Billykirk, a company they started ten years ago by making watchbands. They have since flourished into other offerings that consists of bags, belts, shoes, wallets, hats and other accessories. There’s a whole lot to like out of their collection but I’ve got to pick out the Card Case and Passport Wallet as my two favorites.

Card Case: 3×4 inches.� $85.00
Passport Case: 4 x 5.75 inches. $120.00

Bonus! Check out this great video for a more in-depth look at Billykirk.

I love this little camera. It’s specs are perfectly competitive: 12 Megapixels, HD video recording and it’s designed to be compatible with the Eye-fi wireless memory cards which mean you can connect to your computer and upload your pictures without a cable. The best thing about it though are the colours and the styling. It’s very minimal with a distinctly Japanese look and the colours are very refreshing. Orange if you’re bold or clean black and white if you’re more conservative.

Available from February 2010 for $179.95

Is it overkill to post this? Maybe, considering everyone’s abuzz about it. It does look enticing… I’ll reserve judgement until reviews are out. Visit Apple site for technical specs.

16GB: $499.00
32GB: $599.00
64GB: $699.00

Wi-Fi models shipping in late March.
3G models shipping in April.

Fix it! Hack it!

Sugru is a new silicone material that lets consumers “hack” products themselves to make them more comfortable and useful for a longer time. It can be moulded by hand or with simple tools. It sticks to things and cures at room temperature to a tough and durable yet soft-touch silicone. Available in a wide range of colours, Sugru is waterproof, flexible and dishwasher-safe once it’s cured; it’s also temperature resistant between -60 and 180 degrees C.

I’m a firm believer in open-source, so products that are open ended and empower consumers like this really quite inspire me. I just hope this stuff works as good as it sounds.

[via Springwise]