EDDIEWONG

An article on Jonathan Ive, Vice-President of Industrial Design at Apple Computers, by BusinessWeek Online.

This is probably one of the better articles I have read on Jonathan Ive because it kinda sheds just-that-tad-bit-more light on Apple’s design team than any other article I have came across before, namely, how many people are in the so-called “small team” (I actually thought his team only consisted of about 5-6 people), who some of them are (isn’t this supposed to be a closely kept secret?), where they are from, etc., etc. The article is definitely worth your time to read even if you are not an Ive or Apple fan…

“The team, made up of thirty- and fortysomethings, has a definite international flair. Members include not only the British Ive but also New Zealander Danny Coster, Italian Daniele De Iuliis, and German Rico Zörkendörfer. “Its good old-fashioned camaraderie — everyone with the same aim, no egos involved,” says British fashion designer Paul Smith.

Most of Ive’s team live in San Francisco, and rumor has it that the starting salary for the group is around $200,000, some 50% above the industry average.

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After my disappointment with last month’s all-U-can-eat yakiniku, I’ve been dying to eat yakiniku again so I decided to go yesterday.

I headed off to a yakiniku restaurant in Takadanobaba which opens until 5am daily. The restaurant isn’t exactly expensive but the taste was sooooooo much better! Best of all, I had lots of vouchers which entitles me to 50% off most of the dishes. But the silly thing is (I didn’t know), you can only use 2 vouchers per visit! In short, I got discount for only 2 types of meat… doh!

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Well, I guess all gamers are now well aware that the Nintendo Wii will debut in US on November 19th for US$250, followed by Japan on December 2nd for JY¥25,000, then Europe on December 8th for E249 (GBP£179). And how’s that for pricing? You could pick up 2 Wiis with a few games for the price of a Sony PlayStation 3!

I really do think Nintendo is heading the right way by focusing on the fun factor as opposed to building some mega-high definition, super-realistic graphics, center of your home digital-hub, and what-have-you kinda machine. I mean, we have the Microsoft Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for that (let them battle it out amongst themselves as to which is the ultimate super-machine). Besides, I personally think that the graphics are pretty good as is with the Nintendo Gamecube and the original Microsoft Xbox. I believe, video-games graphics should look like video-games graphics rather than super-realistic. I dunno, maybe its just me but I like authentic looks/feel. Example, I like the flat 2D graphics of Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Megadrive more than the most recent 3D Sonic game for say, the Nintendo Gamecube or Sony PlayStation 2. You get what I mean? It just feels so authentic! Anyway, I understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder therefore I won’t bother going on about how good graphics look in 2D.

Back to Wii, click here to see pics of the Japanese Wii Preview event, here to see Wii demo booths and booth babes (nudge, nudge, wink, wink), here to see screenshots of games, and here for a video trailer of the games. Enjoy!

Check-it-out!

Yes, that means: new iPod, new iPod nano and new iPod shuffle. The star is of course the new iPod nano: new aluminum body, comes in either green, silver, black, blue or pink, 24 hour batter life, and… get this: it is thinner than the current nano! Man, now that’s one mean feat of engineering. Actually, that worries me - will it snap?

The new iPod shuffle is rather cute being much smaller. But it now requires the USB cable if you wish to connect it to the computer (as opposed to the built-in USB connector on the old models). The new iPod shuffle is also clad in aluminum like the new iPod nanos. I wonder when the big iPods will also get this aluminum treatment. I mean, with the current iPod material, the front coating scratches easily and so does the shiny chrome back. It would definitely benefit from aluminum and it would also make the whole iPod line consistent. No?

Well, besides iPods, the much rumoured iTunes video store was also announced but only Disney are onboard right now. Best of all, it’s only available in the US right now. Pffffffffff… that means, it’ll be summer 2008 for Japan (if the Japanese iTunes music store is any indication). Oh well… checkout all the announced and mentioned about stuff at the Apple website.

… whatever the message may be. Great stuff!

Finally made it to Ikea in Minami-Funabashi yesterday after wanting to go for months. You’re probably wondering why I wanted to go since I am from England and that we have our fair share of Ikea stores there. Well, it’s just one of those things: something new opens, everyone is talking about it, everyone is going, everyone is queuing for ages to get in, etc. Yep, that’s all - sad, I know…

Well, what can I say? It’s Ikea as I know it: it’s a huge warehouse, the exact same floor plan that’s more than a decade old, has a cafeteria, etc. But most surprisingly, a lot of the stuff is dirt cheap just like back home! I was expecting the prices of things to at least double the price of what it would cost back in Europe (anything in Tokyo that is imported from the west tends to get a hefty price tag. Except for my income, that is). Actually, some things here seem cheaper…

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世界の巨大恐竜博2006 / The Gigantic Dinosaur Expo 2006
Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex
July 15th - September 10th 2006, 9am - 5pm
Admission: ¥2,500/¥1,500/¥1,000 (adults/high school/infants)

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For those in Tokyo who share a tiny apartment, or for those who live in a tiny apartment and on some occassions want a friend to stay for the night but have no room to layout a second futon, bonbon has just the thing for you.

Doc, a sofa with removable covers and integrated/patented mechanism which transforms the sofa into a bunk bed. Doc XL furnishes the day area and with a simple movement transforms into a practical ready made bunk bed with integrated supporting ladder and protection guard.

How’s that for a good design?! A great looking sofa with great practicality! The downside: you’re gonna be shipping this from England = expensive!