360 DEGREES Weblog

Today we can preview an interesting new model to come from Swiss watch maker Hublot in 2012 – the King Power Unico GMT Watch. Featuring a new in-house developed movement, the watch showcases in a new innovative way 24 timezones on the dial.

“The four GMT discs move with the main time. Using the little red lines and city names around the bezel and inside of the dial you can tell the time in each of the 24 hour time zones. Neat right? I like the novel approach that combines a little Hublot, a time honored complication, and what feels like some Urwerk inspiration given a dial that looks like the satellite time display on the UR-103 series.

The King Power Unico GMT watch will come in a 48mm wide King Power case in either 18k king gold or in black ceramic. Both versions have ceramic bezels. Inside the watch is the Hublot caliber HUB 1220 automatic GMT movement with 72 hours of power reserve. Notice the placement of the main time adjustment pusher placed at about 2 o’clock on the case.”

Putting delicate wine glasses in the washing machine can be a risky proposition. Secure them with these cheap and elegant flexible plastic tethers that tie to the stem on the one end and attach to the washing machine on the other.

They’re $15 for a pack of 4

We’ve been keeping an eye on efforts to make the dreaded dentist’s drill a thing of the past for some time, and now there’s more good news on the horizon for the cavity-prone (and pain-phobic). Engineers at the University of Missouri (MU) in conjunction with Nanova, Inc. have successfully lab-tested a plasma “brush” that can painlessly clean and prep cavities so well, there’s no need for mechanical abrasion prior to filling. The really good news is that human clinical trials begin soon and, if all goes well, the device could hit dentist’s offices as soon as late 2013.

Just because you play guitar doesn’t mean your den, office, or man cave needs to look like a stage. The new line of Yamaha THR Amps ($TBA) offers fantastic tone and versatility in small, decor-friendly packages. Powered by Yamaha’s VCM technology, each THR offers multiple amp styles — including clean, crunch, and modern — in a single package, as well as USB connectivity, included Cubase AI software, and the ability to run off AC or battery power. Arriving this January.

For those who are planning for their cruises at sea next year, and looking at retro styles of vessels, the new Mahogany Strand Craft 39’ coupe tender yacht by Bo Zolland may be the toy you are looking for. Using aerodynamic designing and high-end fabric such as mahogany wood, the Swedish boat maker has managed to bring in every bit the retro essence to the vessel, where as taking care of the discerning speed boat fans. Using a new concept called ‘tumble home’, the boat features a modern style driver’s cabin on the aft deck, which has been given a retractable glass roof. Keeping in mind the tapering smoothness of the hull, and aerodynamic designing, the cabin blends in perfectly with the rest of the design. The mahogany top of the aft deck then comes as a contrasting appeal by bringing in an aura of classical high-end make to otherwise modern styling of the body. The lower end of the boat then shows some sharpness with the lower contrast skirting and some wooden edges located towards the end of the boat. Like the general theme with the rest, this lends another aesthetic dimension of retro designing. To ensure that perfection is achieved the artist Zolland himself ensures that the construction is done mostly by him, so that the demanding customer won’t have much to complain about.
About the technical standpoint of the boat, the Volvo Penta IPS inboard system is the new element in this boat. The exact functional advantages are known to the expert engineers of the company mainly, it it is certainly known to be a state of the art mechanism used in the yachting industry. Helps in better control and management of the boat is what we know. In terms of customizations, the customers can always ask for various colors and abstract shades, apart from fabrics such as carbon fiber to be used on the exteriors. There has already been an instance when a customer has asked his tender yacht to be made with it. However, for the interior there are the upholstery design which can be worked upon, and any other fancy amenities one can think of. Also, if you have a greater need for space, the tender yacht can also be availed in the 45’ model.

Audi fans hold your breath. A1 Quattro, a limited-edition version of Audi’s subcompact hatch outdoes it predecessor. The high-performance A1 is equipped with the all-wheel-drive system, with power provided by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder used in theS3. Which for you works out to a 252 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm – that is more than 70 hp and 74 lb-ft over the standard 1.4-liter A1. And please just trying to control your drool from not forming a puddle on the keyboard.

That is what we love so much about Vans – when they do the least, keep it really simple, the results are the best. From their Spring 2012 Cans Classics Collection we present the Canvas & Leather Pack. Consisting of the Era and the Zapato del Barco, both sneakers come in each three colorways, featuring a combination of canvas and leather accents on the upper. We like the contrasting styles, grey/brown and navy/brown, the best.

This time lapse video cleverly puts LA inside a snow globe to create a wintery feel. I love it. The video was created by Colin Mika using 4000 pictures taken with a Canon 5D Mark II, tilt-shift lens, light bulb filled with water and paper cut outs. Happy holidays.

We’re big fans of Charles and Ray Eames, the dynamic husband-and-wife team responsible for some of last century’s most iconic designs. Eames: The Architect and the Painter ($24) goes beyond their designs to investigate their personal life and influence on American life, with interesting but nonetheless hit-or-miss results — but still, what else are you going to watch once football season is over?

Taking the iPad-as-TV-replacement concept to its literal conclusion, the V-Luxe iPad Stand ($TBA) turns your iPad into a ’50s style TV set. Available in three finishes — walnut, cherry, or African mahogany — it offers cable access for audio and power, a hidden speaker cabinet that can accomodate low-profile systems, swivel and tilt adjustments, and access to the device’s screen and Home button. A great way to repurpose an aging first-gen unit, or a soon-to-be-replaced iPad 2.