while the es01 from punkt may be one of the most aesthetically pleasing extension cords i have seen, the prop power rugged extension cord from quirky might be one of the most useful (in a workshop at least). in a small space trying to run an extension cord that you won’t trip over but is where you need it can be quite a challenge. the flexible neck allows you to wrap it securely around things above floor level, closer to power tools on a tabletop or up a step ladder. with two outlets you can also use a couple of things without plugging and unplugging.

via core77

‘the vamp’ is a new product designed by paul cocksedge to transform old speakers into bluetooth enabled ones. watch the video (above) to see how it works. it has already reached it’s target on kickstarter, but you can still pledge until the end of the month.

the switch is a wireless speaker designed by native union. similar to the jambox and the nixon tps, the bluetooth controlled device is very minimal with only one button to turn it on and off. a unique feature compared to it’s rivals is the 14 hour battery that also acts as a ‘power bank’, allowing you to charge your other usb devices while travelling. the switch is available in black, white, red, grey and blue, for £119.99.

via huh

muji have released a wall mounted speaker based on the popular wall-mounted cd player designed by naoto fukasawa in 2000. powered by two 2w speakers, the system features an am/fm radio as well as bluetooth 3.0 for wireless streaming from a smartphone. the speaker is the same rounded square shape as the cd player and features the same pull switch to turn it off and on. no sign of them in shops outside of japan yet, but hopefully they will be soon!

the od-11 is a speaker based on a 1974 design by stig carlsson. this updated version, by stockholm based teenage engineering, features fully integrated cloud connectivity. this means any music you own or have access to over the cloud can be played through it. the system is controlled through the ‘ortho volume remote’ (below) which works via bluetooth. the interior of the unit can be seen in the bottom image. it’s a very minimal thing, i’d love to hear how it sounds.

via designboom

i like these speakers, designed by my old tutor hector serrano for lexon. designed to look like a computer sound icon, it is switched off simply by turning it face down. it connects with a 3.5mm stereo jack and is available in grey or white. like many of the speakers i’ve reviewed recently they will not rival your hifi system, but for a desktop speaker to attach your mp3 player or phone to they look great!

via dezeen

earlier in the year i was able to get a hands-on look at the ‘live’ speaker from libratone. after a bit of setting up i found it to be quite simple to use, and it sounded great. at the time there were two speakers available, the ‘lounge’ for home use, and the ‘live’ for more portable sound, however the ‘live’ was still quite a hefty thing.

their latest offering, the ‘zipp’, aims to solve the setting up and portability issues in one go. it has a leather handle for carrying it around, and weighs in at 1.8kg (about a quarter of the weight of the ‘live’ speaker). it also features playdirect, a feature which creates a direct wi-fi connection between your speaker and any compatible device, making it possible to stream your audio without the need for an in-home wi-fi connection. wireless straight out of the box, a feature i hope they add to the other two speakers designs.

featuring the same patented fullroom sound and coming in a selection of changeable italian wool covers, it looks like a nice addition to the range.

via designboom