Stunning gadgets

Tech that is beautiful AND useful!

Harley Davidson Livewire (2020)

Given it is a brand built on fumes and grunt, Harley Davidson’s shift into the electric motorcycle market does go against type somewhat. The ride of the Livewire, apparently Harley’s most powerful bike to date and the first to come from a major existing bike manufacturer, is similarly opposite what you’d expect; while it does carry more weight and heft than many competitors – Harley has a number of strippeddown lightweight bikes on the docket for this year and next – it’s far more nimble than its petrol-guzzling ancestors, absolutely sailing around corners and pulling off a smooth and quiet mechanical ride. It’s an accomplished transition from one generation to another, one that’s full of fun, and one which takes off like a rocket, pulling 0-100kph in three seconds.

In terms of design, the manufacturer has played all the right Harley Davidson notes – the paint-finished fuel tank, the outsized abdomen – while fully acknowledging just how rideable the Livewire is, offering a deep seating position with pegs beneath the seat and a low, wide handlebar, a world away from the lean-back-and-relax of a typical Harley cruiser. If this is the zippy future of the motorbike, things don’t look bad at all. harley-davidson.com

B&O Beosound Balance

Speakers can disappear into the background, they can stand out, or they can stimulate guests’ curiosity. The Balance falls into the latter category, with a distinctive design combining graceful cylindrical minimalism with improbable, almost floaty shaping that befits its name. Thought has not only gone into the Beosound Balance’s selection of premium finishes, which tie together aluminium, acoustically transparent cloth, and heavyweight wood – there’s a mathematical and natural twist to the Fibonacci spiral used to perforate its lower speaker grille, too.

Though it’s an absolute eye- and earcatcher, with booming presence and a highly tactile nature thanks to its touch-sensitive shine-through aluminium control panel, you’re not supposed to place this on a central pedestal. The Balance is designed to sit close to a wall, actively compensating itself to the acoustics of your room and using that wall to reflect complementary frequencies. The fact that you’ll eventually get your choice of smart assistant (it does Google now, with Alexa functionality due down the line) all but doubles its value. bang-olufsen.com

Garmin Fenix 6x Pro Solar

Others in the game might have heavier marketing steamrollers, but Garmin’s technology nous puts it firmly on top when it comes to smartwatches that excel where it counts. The Fenix is a weapon, far more fire than ash, and while it may outwardly be a little chunky and overtly rugged-looking – nice torx screws, chaps – inside it is a beast of a watch. It’s fully equipped for everything from serious training to general fitness, with a revised and refined interface that puts essential data first. There are reams of connectivity options, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth backed up by a no-compromises GPS/ GLONASS navigation system.

And then there’s the battery, which is astonishing. In smartwatch mode you’ll get a solid 21 days; drop down to battery saver mode, and the Fenix 6x Pro Solar could manage closer to three months on a charge. The not-so-secret weapon here is the solar array hidden in Garmin’s power glass crystal, which can trickle extra charge into the watch as you stride through the sunlight. garmin.com

Transparent Speaker

However much the Transparent Speaker might look gimmicky (and we’re not about to say it doesn’t) we’d say it is equal parts cool. The unique execution of its design makes it an instant focal point in the room, and it commands distinctive audio ability which immediately dispels any notions of its form overcoming its function. Its unique 10.2 litre cabinet, made of tempered glass bound on the edges by aluminium, is sealed to offer solid acoustics with a flat frequency response; it’s pairable, wall mountable, and a built-in DSP ensures that your inputs are matched by a quality output.

But outward design and sound quality aren’t the reasons the Transparent Speaker has landed in this company. It’s the philosophy. This is sustainable hardware that’s built to be rebuilt, its modular construction right there on full display. Bust a cone, fancy an upgrade, and you can swap out its speakers for new ones. If you want to add to its functionality, there’s space in the rear of its drive unit to fit, say, Bluetooth or voice control. That’s refreshing given our sea of e-waste: this might be the last speaker you ever buy. transpa.rent

Samsung The Serif

In The Serif, Samsung and noted French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec decided instead to embrace and even celebrate the bezel, giving this TV – the clear highlight of Samsung’s boundary-breaking Lifestyle TV range – an absolutely unique aesthetic. Side-on it resembles (appropriately) a letter I in a handsome serif font; from the front, the curved framing turns your TV into a literal art piece, offering its impressively rich QLED panel more than adequate reverence. If ever there were a showcase for Samsung’s Ambient Mode screensaver this is it, and the company will even sell you wall paint that complements its look.

While you can place The Serif flat on a surface – Samsung rather hopefully pictures it angled on a dining table, which may not be its usual use – the easel-like legs are, we feel, a vital part of its artistic appeal. This doesn’t need a bulky TV stand; it doesn’t ask to be screwed to a wall. It’s a feature in and of itself, one which you can position to precisely match your room. Samsung’s nigh-invisible OneConnect cable routes its inputs to where they, too, are most pleasing to the eye. samsung.com

Microsoft Xbox Series S

Releasing a new console is a rough road to travel, and the number of eyes trained on Microsoft’s designs drew the company prelaunch criticism – but just as the Series X, in person, is nothing like the mini-fridge it appears in pictures, so too the Series S is no Bluetooth speaker. With no optical drive on board by which to judge its scale this is a deceptive thing; in reality, it’s 60% reduced in volume from its larger cousin, and compact enough to suit any nook.

It may not be a speaker, but there’s a chromosome or two of audio DNA in there. Microsoft could have aped the Series X design but it instead offered the Series S its own evolutionary look, tied closely to the Xbox One S before it. It almost gives this sharp-edged box the air of the Braun T4, Dieter Rams’ iconic 1959 transistor radio, the same device which inspired the original iPod. Microsoft’s philosophy was to cut a slice from the Series X; a slice of its size, yes, but also a generous slice of its power, with every next-gen essential packed into a digitalonly console priced to undercut the competition. xbox.com

Koble Ralph

Few thought we’d ever cycle back to the days of appliances disguising themselves as furniture, but the undeniable appeal of Koble’s Ralph has helped catapult the company to success. In part this big win is owed to the Ralph’s attractive retro-modern design, the slight ’60s flair of its vaguely angular front face, the turned, tapered wooden legs as if straight from a milking stool, the choice of oak, walnut or white finishes. Its generous drawer is as deep as it is wide.

Practicality in form is one thing, but this makes a very convincing argument that it should be by everyone’s bedside. It cuts clutter, sporting a 5W Qi charger built right into the top surface and a pair of 1A USB charging outlets, adequate enough power to cover just about anything that needs an overnight top-up. What might otherwise have been a top drawer is instead a bassy cloth-covered Bluetooth audio device, complete with a pair of speakers, auxiliary input, and embroidered controls. This is a striking side table, designed calmly enough to slot into any room – and it’s probably time that we all embraced the genius of furniture that matches the way we live today. kobledesigns.com

Dyson Lightcycle Morph

Dyson does not invent as much as it reinvents; it takes the accepted, and makes us question exactly why we should accept it as it is. Sure, the Lightcycle Morph enters itself firmly in the premium category with its price – it’s certainly not for those who just want to illuminate a corner, and probably not one you’ll buy multiples of – but it reimagines what a lamp can do.

It’s a lamp that bucks the trend of disposable electronics, as it’s designed to stay with you for literally your whole life. Indeed, its LEDs adjust not just to match the daylight and regulate blue light exposure in the evening, but match the changing needs of your eyesight over 60 years. Apropos of its name, the Morph can twist, turn and tweak its output to function equally well as a work light, a wall illuminator, a reading lamp, or it can emit an ambient glow. That’s high end industrial design, a light which moves with you and grows with you; not something we’d expect of any old standard lamp, but precisely what we’d expect from Dyson. dyson.com.au

iPhone 12 Pro

Apple took a step back with the iPhone 12’s design, and ended up propelling itself forward instead. The dismissal of the iPhone 11’s curve in favour of sharp-lined metal edges elegantly resurrects the once-controversial frame of the iPhone 4, only this time without the possibility of the signal dropping out if you deign to hold it wrong. It’s a confident look, and though the aluminium edging of the smaller members of the iPhone 12 family is beautiful, the stainless steel frame of the iPhone 12 Pro absolutely complements its price with a premium, weighty feel.

Hidden beneath the rear panel lurk clever magnets, both to properly align Apple’s new MagSafe wireless charger and click on cases and accessories. And let us not forget that Apple’s design nous extends well beyond mere outward appearance. The company’s phone UI is second to none, the Pro’s camera array is astonishingly strong, and the processing power inside is mind blowing. apple.com/au

Sigma fp

The Sigma fp is an unassuming metallic cuboid. Just you and your 370g mirrorless sensor-in-a-box, ready to capture whatever the world throws at you. But then it transforms. Once you’ve added your choice of the vast array of optional components – like a full-sized cinematographer’s viewfinder, any of the 40 or so L-mount lenses currently on the market, or whatever else you need – the fp becomes the sliver of meat in a decadent sandwich of technology. Its gentle poise belies its incredible power: while it might be missing one or two of the nice-to-haves of the pro camera market, there’s nothing quite like it at this size.

It’s built to be used, either for still photography or more commonly as a super-compact video device. There are multiple mounting points, and it’s clearly expandable – you can even wire it straight into your computer as a very competent and lensable webcam, a feature the fp has had since its inception and something other manufacturers have had to scramble to catch up with. sigma-global.com