It may look like a vase, but it's a USB/FireWire hub - with a bonus fan and light.
Okay, so the LaCie USB FireWire Hub ($59) may not qualify as a world-changing technological development, but its mere existence is yet another proof that Macs equal design, and that design appreciators are Mac lifers.
This stylish li'l device was designed by designed by Ora-Ïto, the same designer that created LaCie's Brick stackable hard drives. It provides four USB (2.0, of course) and two FireWire 400 connections; plug into any of them and a different color LED lights up around the base. In addition to the six ports, the Hub also provides a light and a fan. According to LaCie spokesperson Melissa Logan, it was "designed to look like a flower pot." We're thinking sea creature, but, hey, all art is open to interpretation, right?
Also being showcased by LaCie - in addition to their normal raft of storage devices - are the LaCie FireWire Speakers ($79), designed by Neil Poulton, the same I.D. whiz who whipped up LaCie's durable d2 case design years back. These speakers are connected to your Mac over FireWire - you don't connect them using your Mac's audio line-out port. The advantage here is that FireWire ports provide plenty of power (far more than that of USB), so you don't need a separate power brick. The FireWire Speakers sound remarkably good considering that the set doesn't include a subwoofer.
Oh, and if you were at that previous Expo when these speakers were originally "announced," and are wondering what took LaCie so long, Logan told me that "We didn't really announce them, they just accidentally got into the catalog," and that " We actually had to start over ... we had to go from one manufacturer to another." After listening to these speakers, the wait seems to have been worth it - though I look forward to hearing them in an environment devoid of the din that is Expo.
Cynthia
January 13, 2007 at 9:27am
Since my nephew works for the only store in the area that sells the iMainGo, I mentioned to him that I wanted one and guess what he got me for Christmas? I LOVE it. It sounds great and its basic black color goes with my black iPod. I we had it on most of the day on Christmas to provide seasonal background music. I showed it to my Mom and she said, "What is it, a transistor radio?" and I had to admit that it did resemble one that I had in my youth, when small transistor radios were cool.
Joanne B
January 12, 2007 at 4:49pm
Nobody said you had to have Photoshop CS2 in order to see CS3 for more than 2 days. I currently have Photoshop CS and was disappointed not be able to use CS3 for more than 2 days. What kind of learning is that?
bSimms
January 11, 2007 at 11:27pm
Excellent write-up Rik. With a release as big as the iPhone, many Mac news websites and Mac fans themselves have simply lost site of the rest of the expo.
