lamp

Don't just daydream--enter the vortex

Acknowledging our generational biases, we've noted our partiality to the lava lamp in its original form, or at least as close as possible. Although we've tried to keep an open mind about more contemporary equivalents, few can even approach the volcanic icon of our wasted youth (so to speak).

But Discovery has managed to come close with a USB swirling vortex that looks good enough to keep us mesmerized even without artificial enhancements. This LED-illuminated item has a practical use beyond its entertainment value as well, housing four USB ports in a 180-degree revolving hub. With any luck, … Read more

Lava lamp is our kind of phone charm

We've never quite understood the appeal of mobile phone straps and charms, but maybe that's just another sign of our advanced age. But now we've finally come across a trinket that we can relate to: a mini-lava lamp.

And this isn't just any lava-lamp charm, according to Popgadget, but one that lights up when you get a call. The "Astro Light" from British designer Mathmos is also available as a bulb, but it's the lava lamp that holds a special place in our heart. The only other icon that would be more appropriate … Read more

Lamps look like speakers but stay quiet

Well here's twist we didn't see coming. Just the other day we were talking about the curious trend toward combination speaker lamps as companies build MP3 players into lighting appliances. What we didn't realize, however, is that the trend goes both ways.

Lyx, a home furnishings company based in Sweden, is listing a "Lightspeaker Lamp" that's designed specifically to look like an acoustic device but doesn't actually function as one. Much attention has been paid to detail, as Technabob notes, including a "volume" knob that's really a dimmer. Why? Because, … Read more

Sony tries to light up new market

Sony is apparently ready to join the booming trend of lamp speakers. And why not? The combo light-music movement continues to expand, even leaving the confines of the house and into the garden.

Its prototype, dubbed the "Hana"--which means "flower" in Japanese--has taken an appropriately Ikebana form that kind of looks like a silver-plated calla lily illuminated by an LED. Whatever it resembles, the lamp functions as an MP3 player with "full-length" speakers, according to Plastic Bamboo, though we can't quite tell what that means from this photo alone. Speaking of which, … Read more

Puddle Pendant Lamp

It's a foggy grey not quite drizzly day here today, and i just came across this Puddle Pendant Lamp at Crate and Barrel's younger store CB2. And at a low $40 price tag, they aren't kidding when they say its "priced to hang in multiples". Size? 13.25"dia.x9"H ~ and you can see an image of it in context below. They describe it as a "sleek fluid teardrop of handmade iron glossed brite white." Gorgeous isn't it?

… Read more

Groovy, baby: Lava lamp cell phone charm alerts you to calls

I am not one for cell phone charms, but I also realize it's a way to personalize your handset and make a statement about yourself--whether you're a straight-up baller, fashionista, or boozer. However, a U.K. company called Mathmos has come up with a way for a cell phone dangle to be, err, somewhat cute and useful. The charm--available in lava lamp (blue or red) or light bulb (blue or white) models--detects the radio frequency emissions that come from your phone when you receive a call and will alert you to the incoming call by lighting up. Gimmicky? … Read more

Light-up planet balloons for your over-the-top home planetarium

What is it with these astronomy gadgets that aim to recreate the cosmos inside your living room? I totally dig some of them, like the laser star projector, but some others just go way too far. These are the Furawito floating lamps made by the Japanese company TakaraTomy, and they're a little bit excessive, to say the least. They are, essentially, helium balloons that happen to be shaped like the earth and moon, with LEDs to make them glow. Yeah, totally unnecessary. They cost about $27 apiece--waste of cash.

Plus, you'll need to replenish the helium. That sounds … Read more

Start-up aims to reinvent the kerosene lamp

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--When starting a business, it's important to create a product that solves a problem. A small start-up is tackling a big dilemma: 2 billion people in the world don't have access to electricity.

Here at Launch: Silicon Valley at the Microsoft campus, 30 start-ups are pitching social-media products or software as a service. D.light Design is thinking a bit more globally.

D.light Design was born out of a Stanford University class project, and it currently has five employees. Chief Executive Sam Goldman spent four years in the Peace Corps in West Africa, where … Read more

Alien abduction lamp, for those who want to believe

Admit it--you know you loved the conspiracy-theory kitsch of Men In Black. (Can you believe it's been 10 years since that movie came out?) And you know you love this Abduction Lamp, too. Designed by Lasse Klein and licensed under the Creative Commons standard, this is probably one of the most clever light fixtures we've ever written up on Crave; and for the record, we see a lot of them.

Here's how it works. There's a light bulb inside the supremely awesome metal UFO on top, which illuminates the windows and the mysterious aliens inside. Because … Read more