Gadgets: Into the white

Friday 17th July 2009

There is something about pristine, white gadgets that combine exemplary design with extreme levels of quality which can bring the grasping materialist out in all of us. Here are some of the best

Microsoft Zune
For the music fan who doesn’t want to follow the crowd, and is looking for something a little different from the ubiquitous iPod, the Microsoft Zune represents a sound choice. Its intuitive, easy-to-use interface and Zune Marketplace software rival the best aspects of the iPod, but where it really comes into its own is on sound quality. It puts the iPod’s sometimes tinny and shallow acoustics to shame, and its screen is perfect for watching films and TV. With the top-level model’s 120GB capacity, it is capable of storing an impressive number of tracks, and genuinely deserves to be judged on its own terms – as a great piece of engineering and design – rather than as just being seen as a poor relation to the iPod.

hublot watch

Hublot Big Bang
Swiss firm Hublot has been making watches for the last 30 years, and its most successful model, the Big Bang, has received international recognition and accolades since its release in 2005, including the ‘2005 Design Prize’, the ‘Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix’ and the award for ‘Watch of the Year’. This new white ceramic model features Hublot’s signature natural rubber strap (which took three years to develop), and its automatic movement features a tungsten carbide oscillating weight, ensuring the kind of accuracy that can only be achieved through cutting-edge engineering and an unwavering attention to detail.

Neils Diffrient World Chair
Neils Diffrient is the godfather of ergonomic furniture design, and this new Diffrient chair, manufactured by Humanscale, is perhaps his finest creation to date. It combines form and function in a perfectly balanced design which adjusts to a user’s body shape and weight without any mechanism. The free-recline action means that the chair ‘moulds’ itself around the human body, automatically finding the most comfortable position and offering unparalleled lumbar support. It is constructed from just eight parts, weighs in at just 25 pounds, and makes for the ideal addition to any style – and health-conscious office

leica

Leica M Series White Edition
Style and quality have always been an integral part of the Leica brand, and the new Leica M8 ‘White Edition’ is perhaps the most exclusive camera this highly respected manufacturer has produced to date. Limited to just 275 units, the White Edition is finished in chrome and white leather, as well as a special white paint finish which is highly resistant to dirt and scratches. The technical specifications are the same as those of the ‘standard’ M8 (although using a word like ‘standard’ when it comes to Leica seems a bit unfair), and its lightweight, compact form make it as close to perfection as any camera is ever likely to be

Fender Jaguar Classic
Whilst perhaps not as easily recognisable as the iconic Stratocaster and Telecaster, the Fender Jaguar has a very special place in the hearts of musicians – and fans – the world over. Its classic design, more-or-less unchanged since 1962, has been associated with surf, jazz and alternative rock over the years, and its quirky image and unusual, full-bodied tone have appealed to players as diverse as David Byrne, Kurt Cobain and Elvis Presley. This stunning white version features two Humbucker pickups and a distinctive Adjusto-matic bridge, with an alder body, maple neck and brown shell pickguard.

bianchi caal

Bianchi Caal 8200 Bike
It would be a shame to leave a Bianchi bicycle out of any review of white gadgets, as Bianchi translates into ‘white’ in Italian. It would also be a shame to leave it out simply because Bianchi have been making some of the best bikes in the world for almost 125 years (it is the oldest bicycle manufacturer still in existence). Whilst most models are painted the distinctive ‘Bianchi Green’ (or turquoise), this Caal 8200 comes in white and offers some of the highest specifications in cycling. The company’s reputation for quality and technological innovation are almost legendary, and for the casual cyclist and professional alike, the Caal 8200 certainly lives up to its distinguished pedigree.

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