Cables, wires, big black screens, enormous TV’s – the stuff of nightmares. Ugly technology just spoils a room: it looks horrible, takes up huge amounts of space, not to mention the miles of cables that seem to snake around the place in a menacing way. But we can’t do without it, right? Most people, in fact, want their whole living room to be designed around the placement of the TV.
The exciting news is that tech is changing and products are becoming smaller, wireless and designed with form in mind, not just function. Hurrah! Finally a tech revolution that I can get behind. At this year’s London Design Festival, Sony launched two such pieces and I’d like to tell you a bit about them as I’ve been trying out one of them at home and I saw the other in action at Design Junction last week.
I have told you before about the ongoing argument Jules and I have had since we moved in together based on the fact that he thinks it’s acceptable to have four foot high laminate wooden speakers that are basically the same size as two young children and because you have to place them in different parts of the room there are cables trailing all over the shop. Not ok, Jules, not ok. After six years I have finally won the war and the speakers have left the building and I am delighted to have replaced them with Sony’s new glass sound speaker. It is portable and wireless to connect from my smart phone very easily using Bluetooth, it is very small and sleek and made of organic glass that gives it great sound quality.
The speaker can follow us around the house as and when we need it and doesn’t look out of place whether in my living room, on the kitchen shelves or on my bedside table. It feels like I’ve been released from cables and it’s so nice to be able to listen to music with great sound quality in any room of the house, not just the living room.
The speaker has a soft glowing light that you can turn on or off.
The second product launched by Sony is their portable ultra short throw projector. I haven’t been lucky enough to try this in my own home but I did see it in full action at Design Junction and it is UH-mazing! I honestly would get rid of our big ugly TV and replace it with this projector if I had my own.
The projector is portable, wireless, teeny tiny and it can display anything you like, wherever you like. The most amazing thing about this design is it’s ultra short throw; it can be positioned right next to the surface you want to project on to so none of the faffing around with clearing a direct line of sight to the surface or mounting it from the ceiling etc. It can project a 22 to 80 inch image onto walls, tables or even a pad of paper and the image can be anything from a clock to one of your favourite views, a moving image, a TV show or a movie. The possibilities are endless. I WANT ONE!
It’s rare that technology can launch at a design show and not stick out like a sore thumb but Sony have struck the perfect balance between form and function and I hope this marks the beginning of more beautifully designed products that I won’t need to hide. Let’s hope the six year long argument with Jules about ugly tech is our last.
Katy x
*This post was written in collaboration with Sony.
Ahhhh, the projector. I’ve been playong with the idea for a while now. This one sounds almost too good to be true.
Having seen it in action, can you comment on the level of darkness needed for it to work? I find the need to darken the room has been a put off for me.
The speaker is amazing! Maybe the time has come for an expensive gift for hubby, in line with getting rid of some ugly speakers as well…
What is it about men and big speakers? 🙂 The glass one is a thing of beauty, and yes, yes, yes to the projector, looks fabulous and I want one too!
I barely noticed that speaker on your kitchen shelf (I’ve just come over from IG). So, is that one speaker enough for the whole room?? And no wires? Yes, plaese!!
It’s amazing when you think just how home technology has changed in a relatively short amount of time. I remember in the 90s I got my first bedroom stereo and it was HUGE and black and stuck out like a sore thumb. But that was just the norm! Love that brands are starting to recognise that we want both technology and style. Bravo Sony!
These look amazing! I guess I know what I’m adding to my Christmas Wishlist!
Want both, especially the projector! Just imagine not having to have a huge ugly telly dominating the living room. It would be sooo nice.
Oh my God! Can I get rid of that black huge spot in the room? Really? Will try and find out more, thanks Katy! X
ohh what I would give for that projector. We have an interiors magazine coming to shoot our home on Friday and I am literally freaking out about our monstrosity of a tv in not just the living room but all the bedrooms ! Living with four men is a real trial at times xx
The speaker is truly beautiful.
That speaker is actually quite beautiful. I’d happily give house room to it. Oh, darn it. I’ll have both. x
Not sure I usually get too excited about most technology but that projector – oh my!
Wow, interesting products. I love how things are getting ever more innovative – what will the world be like when I have grandkids?!! Xx
I need both! Especially that projector. The speaker looks great in your flat, which is looking very beautiful by the way – love all the pink and grey tones…you;ve got me thinking about re-painting! 🙂
WOW!!
So good. It’s about time these tech companies stepped up and realised that their stuff needs to look as good as our sofas etc…
Brilliant!
Wow, Wow , Wow I need both of them! Such a great idea!
Does anybody know how much the speaker is?