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Visualized: Art Lebedev Studio's Optimus Popularis
We've long been fans of the creative art / technology mashup, Art Lebedev Studio. Of course we've seen the Optimus Popularis come across our feeds many times but surprisingly this is the first time we've ever caught up to it in person. The idea here is that the keyboard can be reconfigured any way you wish because every key is a small display -- not unlike the Razor Blade. We need one of these badly but the $1000-ish price tag made us realize that unless a bank heist tops up the savings account this will still in the bucket list for now. Feel free to enjoy all those beautiful little keys in the gallery below.
Art Lebedev's Optimus Mini Six enters production, Popularis unsurprisingly delayed
We were a bit skeptical when we heard that the notoriously delay-riddled Art Lebedev Studio would be releasing a follow-up to its Optimus Mini Three keyboard this year, but it looks like the Mini Six is moving ever closer to reality. Yesterday, the company unveiled new images of the USB-powered peripheral, confirming that it's in "early production" and slated for release later this year. True to its name, the latest addition to the Optimus family features six LCD shortcut keys, though pricing and precise availability remain a mystery. As for that pricey Optimus Popularis keyboard we saw exactly a year ago, its release has been delayed until 2012 -- which, in Lebedevese, means "anytime within the next decade." In the meantime, you can feast your eyes on an extra image of the Mini Six, waiting for you after the break.
Art Lebedev's Rozetkus 3D vs. Letout Outlet... Fight! (updated)
Just yesterday the internets were buzzing with the latest design from Art Lebedev: the Rozetkus 3D; a standard outlet that pops out of the wall with a simple push to support multiple connections. Lebedev, you'll recall, made quite a name for himself by taking the Optimus Maximus programmable OLED keyboard from art to part, so to speak. Since posting about the Rozetkus 3D we've been informed of another very similar design concept called the Letout Outlet. So similar, in fact, that it would appear that we've got a copycat on our hands. Unfortunately for our friends at Lebedev, designer Damjan Stankovic created his Letout Outlet concept in January of 2009 and was recognized with a prestigious reddot design award in the "domestic aid" category back in August. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and good artists copy while great artists steal, well, then congratulations to one and all. Unfortunately, only Damjan Stankovic will be on stage during the formal reddot awards ceremony on November 24th in Singapore. Update: Artemy Lebedev has responded to our inquiry calling this a "funny (and unpleasant) coincidence." Art tells us that his design shop's Rozetkus 3D was first published in Lebedev's internal idea-collecting intranet dubbed, The Brain, back in November 2006. He assures us that his art is prior, had no knowledge of Damjan's work, and that no wrongdoing should be assumed by either party. Read -- Letout Outlet Read -- reddot list of winning concepts 2009 [Warning: Excel]
Art Lebedev's Navigarius GPS concept proves it's hip to be round
Say what you will about Art Lebedev Studio's retail products -- which are very cool, even if the price tag's pretty sobering -- its concepts are most covetous, and the Navigarius GPS device is certainly no exception. Touchscreen controls, USB, microSD, cigarette lighter adapter, a thin, detachable stand -- and did we mention the display itself is round? Square screens are for squares, we always say. It's the perfect gadget for our futuristic dashboards, something to tinker with while we wait for the Luxofor traffic light to turn green. Catch another glimpse after the break.
Art Lebedev outthinks the room with square Luxofor traffic lights
We can only imagine that at least a few staffers over at Art Lebedev Studios get paid to do nothing but conjure up ideas, because this one is just marvelous. And marvelously simple, but that's beside the point. The Luxofor traffic light concept improves upon a nearly archaic design that still relies on spherical fixtures when there's really no need. Lebedev's team asserts that using square lights backed with bright laser diodes would make better use of the available space and provide a more noticeable signal to drowsy motorists. The roar of "why didn't I think of that?" being simultaneously stated is downright deafening.[Via Electronista]
Art Lebedev opening Optimus Store in New York next month
We highly doubt Art Lebedev chose the opening day of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on purpose here, but nevertheless, the design studio made famous by its Optimus Maximus keyboard will be opening up shop in the Big Apple on August 8th, 2008. At first, the store will actually be held within RCS Computer Experience at 575 Madison Ave. and E. 56th Street (on the second floor, just opposite the escalator), but if sales start pouring in, we reckon it could land its own place in due time. It is noted that this location will devote almost all of its shelf space to Optimus Maximus keyboards, but a few other electronics gizmos should be available as well. So, who's camping out for the opening?
How would you change the Optimus Maximus?
After hacking away on Art Lebedev's utterly gorgeous Optimus Maximus for a few days, we came away both awed and disappointed. For as beautiful and functional as this beast is, we still felt that actually typing on it -- you know, its primary purpose -- left a lot to be desired. Still, it's hard to deny the ingenuity in the OLED-stuffed 'board, but with such a lofty price tag and even loftier expectations, we can't imagine all of the lucky early adopters being a hundred percent satisfied. For those that laid out for this exquisite piece of kit, how on Earth could revision two be better? Want a few more keys to play around with? Could it stand to lose some of that clicky tactility? Or will it really only be worth the coin once it bags your lunch, irons your shirt and chauffeurs you to work? Do tell.
Art Lebedev taking wares to brick and mortar
Be still, our hearts! Judging by a post (penned in Russian) over at the studio's Livejournal, we could be seeing a number of Art Lebedev retail outlets popping up over the next year and change. From what we can glean, (more) B&M locations could surface in a plethora of Russian cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, etc.) along with one in New York (!). Granted, we get the impression that the "stores" may resemble holes-in-the-wall within other establishments (rather than dedicated structures), but we 'spose only time will tell. Camp out for the next edition of the Optimus Maximus right here in the Big Apple? Why, of course.[Thanks, Dmitriy]
Art Lebedev's Finger Folder flash drive
We know, either you're waiting impatiently for December to roll around or figuring out odd jobs to raise upwards of $1,500, but here's a gem from Art that'll take your mind off (momentarily, at least) that other creation. The Finger Folder flash drive describes itself fairly well without any help from us, as the brilliantly simplistic USB drive resides in a manila folder that you're free to label at will. Sure, you could get all fancy and buy a drive with a programmable BCD, but there's just something magical about doing things the old way.[Thanks, Mike I.]
First Optimus Maximus prototype key revealed
There it is, the first prototype key for Lebedev's Optimus Maximus keyboard. Unlike a typical dome-switch style keyboard -- the mushy but quiet type which collapses a rubber dome to close the circuit -- a key press on Lebedev's $10 key moves a transparent cap around the OLED display to throw a mechanical cherry-switch. This has the benefit of protecting those tiny OLED displays while potentially kicking back a healthy dose of tactile feedback. Reports are that "key-press is nice" although the first prototypes have yet to arrive in Moscow. Certainly, haptic considerations are incredibly important. But we're wondering about the level of optical distortion caused by the gap between the cap and OLED. After all, these keys will be used as informational widgets so they need to be visible from a variety of angles. When you're paying $1,490 for an OLED keyboard, the "look" is just as important as the "feel."
Optimus Maximus official press shots
For $1,490, we should -- at the very least -- expect some free press shots of the Optimus Maximus this morning, right? Good, 'cause that's all we're going to get from the design cats at Art. Lebedev Studio. No prototype, no working OLED keys, just press shots. Still, kinda dreamy eh? Cue the Chinese knockoffs... now.%Gallery-2115%
Enterprising hacker gets video playing on Optimus Mini Three
Scott Hanselman might not be the camera man of the century, but he does apparently have the coding chops to get some choppy video playback going on those teensy Optimus Mini Three screens. He set his Mini to watch his baby son's webcam (which he inexplicably swapped for a plane landing vid for demonstration purposes), and conjectures you could use all three buttons for watching live video if you so choose. After that he gets a tad bit nerdy on us all, but managed to get in the words "I think I'll do a Vista SideShow driver at some point" before we passed out from all the coder jargon. Please do, Scott! Peep the video of his video-enabled Optimus after the break, or check out the read link to see how it's done.
Art Lebedev Studios' unveils artsy Sonicum 2.1 speaker set
While Ben Heckendorn and Soner Ozenc have definitely mastered their own forms of art, Art Lebedev provides soothing, aesthetic, and eye-tingling creations second to none. While his Optimus keyboard (and mini three as well) were flattering enough, the Mus2 pointer-shaped mouse was pure genius. Design freaks take heart, as Art Lebedev Studios' has an uber-sleek Sonicum speaker system up for pre-order, and besides eliciting all sorts of geekish lust, the 2.1 computer-minded setup boasts dual 5-watt NXT speakers, a 15-watt subwoofer, and a few design cues that set it apart from the rest. The satellites bear a striking resemblance to a speaker cone silhouette, the subwoofer's bass knob is cleverly marked with a textual smiley, and each simplistic piece is branded with Art's own barcode logo. For just €106.17 ($126.60), you can claim your Sonicum rig now, but unfortunately you'll be waiting until next April to hear (and see) Lebedev's latest masterpiece in person.
