Mac is one of those fellows who, for two main reasons (amongst quite a few others,) continues to hit hard on the online publishing circuit with his amazing designs. ONE: because his designs are so innovative, they’re on the verge of “you are a crazy person.” TWO: because not only does Mac do nice design, he does a LOT of it. This guy is a workaholic.

What have we got from Mac today? A phone and a desktop computer.

First, the computer. You’ll notice the clarity instantly, I’m sure. This computer is called “Zafiro” – it’s made of glass and has a round rim. It’s made to work as a home version of the giant Precrime computer seen in the film “Minority Report.” You’ll remember the glass I.D. cards slipped in the side of the monitor. In addition, the keys on the keyboard are made of “deformable metal” which flattens out when not in use.

And the phone. Look at that thing! It’s called the “Cobalto” and it’s also made with deformable metal. It has the option of forming keys or working flat like modern “smartphone” screens already do. This phone has the same ability to project 3D holograms from a 2D surface that at least one Mac design has had in the past.

NOTE: Cool beans! The phone, Mac informs us, is going to be on a Russian TV show that happened upon his designs through his website. I hope we can feature that feature right freaking here soon!

Designer: Mac Funamizu

Future Mobile Phone Concept from mac_fun on Vimeo.

Some features:

• A browser window can be resized by actually “pinching” and dragging the tab at bottom right.
• It would be fun if a document could be made as if you were using a typewriter. The curled paper hologram comes out of the keyboard.
• Touching the 3D objects will be possible by dragging, throwing, resizing, etc.
• By pressing the mouse body downwards, the cursor sinks (goes deeper) on screen. When you release it, it goes back to the default position (front).

Designer: Mac Funamizu

10) MacBook Touch by Tommaso Gecchelin

Highlights: flexibility in form-factor via iSpine technology, flexible OLED screen, and Magic Dock that externalize ports to keep the appearance clean.

9) HP LiM (Less is More) Concept by Jeffrey S. Engelhardt

Highlights: use of Bamboo fabric across the aluminum frame of the PC, 19″ transparent touch OLED screen along with a wireless keyboard, virtual trackpad.

8 ) Evolve Modular CPU by Vas Obeyesekere of Point Innovation

Highlights: transforms between mobile and home computing configurations and can expand or contract its module based components to meet any user’s needs.

7) Mac Folder by Tryi Yeh

Highlights: a re-worked User Interface that resembles the iPod Touch or iPhones’, super-slim multi-touch screen.

6) Dual Screen Computer by Yong-Seong Kim

Highlights: a large slot behind the LCD display that can accommodate the notebook thus allowing you to use it as a desktop, notebook’s screen transforms into a second display in portrait mode.

5) Canvas by Kyle Cherry

Highlights: designed for those in the creative arts fields, offers a wide are for workspace.

4) The Napkin PC by Avery Holleman

Highlights: Uses e-ink and RF technology, designed for group collaborations, has pens like modules that transmit info to the base station PC, processed info is displayed on the napkin which is actually e-ink paper.

3) Book Laptop by Kyle Bean

Highlights: it showcases the trend that we have become so dependent on technology and the virtual world, that we have forgotten about the REAL one that we live in.

2) B-membrane by Won-Seok Lee

Highlights: built-in projector that removes the need for a separate monitor, a membrane keyboard that appears when needed, integrated optical drive, projector can beam ambient lights.

1) Sony Vaio Zoom Notebook Concept by Eno Setiawan

Highlights: thin glass form factor, touchscreen holographic technology, screen is completely transparent and the keyboard goes opaque when switched off.

The meat and potatoes of the Touchsmart PC is the Touchsmart UI which overlays Windows Vista. Apps are neatly arranged in two rows; the often used ones are larger tiles on top with secondary apps below. You can rearrange them however you like. Most of the apps are right at home with your finger. Photos, videos, and music are all intuitively controlled by taps, swipes and flicks. It’s apps that require keyboard input that visibly break the whole Minority Report-esque experience. Some apps take you out of the Touchsmart UI into Windows but intelligently return when you close out of them. Good thing otherwise that quirk would be a totally annoyance.

Speaking of the Windows desktop, the touch interface works there too. Tho not as intuitive, you can open/close and move windows around. The touchscreen isn’t a capacitive touchscreen. Instead it uses camera technology to accurately pinpoint the position of your finger(s). Be it design or cost – the decision is a mistake. Sometimes it doesn’t register my finger and other times it’s hypersensitive. The key to successfully using it is to go slow and pace yourself. This isn’t the iPhone where you can wildly flick your fingers. This takes precise taps and swipes to control and manipulate.

Once you get past the whole “touch” gloss. You realize it’s a decently powered multimedia computer. You’re not going to be playing Quake or Spore on maximum settings but surfing the internet and watching HD videos are a breeze. There’s even a built-in QAM tuner for those with compatible cable. We couldn’t test this feature since we have digital optical cable but if you’re familiar with Windows Media Center, then you don’t need us to cover it here.

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to speak with HP’s head honcho of design, Randall Martin. The 2nd gen Touchsmart PCs are a huge improvement. They’re sleeker, sexier and they even look thinner. Careful attention was paid to the footprint. Minimalism was key. The face is devoid of any buttons. The keyboard and mouse are wireless without the barrage of multimedia buttons found on PC counterparts. There’s a single cable in the rear and that’s it. You turn the computer on by touching a “home” button near the bottom right of the frame. Greeted by a satisfying humm, it’s almost as if I was in some parallel universe where Mac’s were black.

The most surprisingly thing Randall told me was the loose inspiration – the idea of a messenger bag. The ubiquitous icon of storage and utilitarian function; a fitting metaphor for the computer. After all a computer is a place where one stores all their data. A place that holds the key to communicating externally with others. It’s valued and cared for. To translate those esoteric ideas. the Touchsmart sorta looks like a messenger bag. The rounded frame is bisected at the bottom right above the speaker grill – like the flap of a messenger bag. A light illuminates underneath functionally shedding light on the all black keyboard and yet the aesthetic remains clean and unobtrusive.

Perhaps the most reassuring thing was Randall’s commitment to evolving the Touchsmart line. He wants to see it thinner, cleaner, even more minimal. He wants to see more focus on the touch interface and the software behind the UI. As with any good product – if the designer can see room for improvement, then we’re all in for a treat. The HP Touchsmart PC is a good computer, don’t get me wrong. Priced around $1,500, it gives you a lot of bang for your buck but the interface is laggy. It’s not quite ready for prime time but so close. Thankfully the bells and whistles aren’t there to hide a crappy computer. Either way – be it for novel use or real computing, I think you’d be happy to come home to a piano black computer ready for your every touch and whim.

Specs:

• 22 inch LCD display with touchscreen (1680 x 1050)
• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16 GHz processor
• 4 GB RAM
• 500 GB SATA hard drive
• SuperMulti 8x Slimslot DVD Drive
• Wireless USB module with 802/11 b/g/n PCI Wireless Mini Card
• GeForce 9300M GS 256 MB DDR2 memory
• PCI Express x1 mini-card TV tuner card
• Integrated High Definition audio
• Integrated LAN
• Memory card reader
• Wireless keyboard and mouse
• Remote Control
• Web cam
• Windows Vista Home Premium

Company: HP Designer: Randall Martin [ Buy It Here ]

HP Touchsmart PC from Long Tran on Vimeo.

Each part is wirelessly connected through various technologies, giving them greater flexibility whether carried in the pocket or arranged on the Charging Base - much more beautiful to look at than even the most beautiful products Cupertino can pump out.

It can seem like a complex system so lets break down what each one does:

• The Experience modules contain a solid state drive to store all your files and programs, as well as a logic board which handles all the wireless connections to other modules. Each “river stone” represents either Media (music, movies, tv etc.), Memories (personal photos, videos etc.), Connections (VOIP, internet browser, social networking etc.), Documents, Creations (Photoshop, 3D etc) or Games.
• The Core module is the primary processing unit, capable of performing all tasks to some extent, but mainly designed for basic on-the-go tasks that a smartphone would do.
• The Component modules enhance the processing power of the system – by adding extra RAM, processing and/or graphics power
• The Portable Display is self explanatory. It uses a new UI called Locus (location based interface) which basically means the display knows where you are, what you’re doing and how you’re using it so the UI adapts to better suit it. However the system can connect to any size screen and the interface will dynamically scale to the correct size.
• The Charging Cradle wirelessly keeps the 4.3 Portable Display module(s) juiced.
• The Charging Base which is designed to sit in a central location and gives everything juice via wireless charging – a technology pioneered by Powercast. It also backs up all your data and allows for in-air interaction with the interface through, say, a tv.

Lets make up a scenario to better illustrate the idea. Say I go to the store to purchase Stream but I am only looking for basic email, web, game, and mobile phone capabilities. I pick up the required pieces which are the the Connections module which features email, internet and VOIP services as well as the Core Component. I may also purchase the Charging Base to keep everything charged and organized, as well as a compatible display. I take it all home and artfully arrange everything so it looks good on a desk I no doubt purchased to accent my new rock garden. I later decide I want to do some gaming. I will need a more powerful computer and the software for gameplay so it’s back to the store, only this time I don’t have to chuck the whole thing – all I need to do is purchase the Games module and some extra RAM and CPUs (Component Modules). I grab my Core Component, Connections rock and my Media rock (for music on the road trip) and my display to interact with everything – perhaps the GPS system to find the fastest route back to the store. The story can go on and on but I’m sure you get the gist.

There’s a slight disconnect though because in time your desk could be overflowing with rocks. However it’s the idea of purely envisioning our future computerlative systems as extensions of our homes, personalities, and needs. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a river rock metaphor. This analogy could exist in almost any form – legos, cubes, stuffed animals and that excites me. Cloud computing be dammed!

Designer: Barton Smith

Proposed to be sold as a stand-alone unit the HP LiM (Less is More) concept is set to feature a 19″ transparent touch OLED screen along with a wireless keyboard. The touch screen slides down to create a more ergonomic touch experience and easy navigation. It also features a virtual trackpad thus cutting down on mouse costs.

Designer: Jeffrey S. Engelhardt

I don’t mean to be overly harsh on Mac, but the nature of design is deriving realistic solutions from the hard fast constraints that exist.  Without heeding the problems of design, it ceases to be relevant.

UPDATE:  I suppose I should have expected reactions like this and I’m glad such a discourse has a place here at YD. I do want to clarify my position slightly as I do not want to seem dismissive of the great work that is featured here on a daily basis.  Concepts are a great part of the design process as they allow you to selectively hurdle one or two constraints for the purpose of creative exploration (lord knows all I have ever done have been concepts). So I hope the dreamers out there will continue to dream and give us your beautiful, fantastic, incredible inventions.

Designer: Mac Funamizu

Designer: Allen C. Liu

The Perch Keys use induction technology to store information and programs. Place a key on the allotted slot to initiate the process. Data can be uploaded onto the Keys by simply dragging and dropping. Certainly you won’t need to be a rocket-scientist to use this comp!

Designer: Sylvia Spencer

Designer: Antrepo Design Industry