Dapper Scout – A lifestyle web magazine for men

There’s something about the glossy, monolith-like aesthetic of the Parrot Zikmu Wireless Speakers by Philippe Starck (available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $1,600) that brings to mind Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Granted, the resemblance to the 2001 monolith only extends about halfway down the speakers before they fluidly extend into a striking base that appears to float above ground.  Like all of Philippe Starck’s innovative endeavors, the Parrot Zikmu Wireless Speakers are incredibly executed and defy the typical convention of speaker design in both form and function.  Using NXT technology to deliver 360° room-filling sound, the Parrot Zikmu is able to adapt to the individual acoustics of any room, regardless of size, as it delivers stunningly clear sound.  While you can use the iPod/iPhone dock directly, the Parrot Zikmu’s wireless capabilities also let you stream music from your PC using Wi-Fi technology or from your Mac using Bluetooth technology.  Whichever means you choose, when it comes to seamlessly and consummately experiencing your music from any point in your room, the Parrot Zikmu is the evocative choice for design fanatics and audiophiles alike.

Electronics, Gear, iPhone Accessories, iPod Accessories, Music System

Whether its signature form reminds you of the famed airship it’s named after or the head of a certain baby on a Fox animated series, there’s no question that the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin iPod Speaker (available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $600) is nonpareil in its design.  Using the same technology standards as the audio equipment found in premier recording studios, the Zeppelin exhibits uncompromised form and function in one  iPod speaker whose performance is just as stunning as its appearance.  Every aspect of the Zeppelin reflects a dedication to design with purpose, from the spring-loaded docking port that allows the user to grasp the iPod in hand, to the placement of the tweeters on the narrow ends of the speaker to maximize the dispersion of the tiny high-frequency waves.  And with three high-quality amplifiers and an internal subwoofer driver, the Zeppelin iPod Speaker generates an acoustic performance that not only surpasses what most iPod docks are capable of, but also rivals what you’d hear from high-end component systems with an experience you can see, hear and feel.

Electronics, Gear, iPod Accessories, Music System

For those iPod owners who spontaneously and unabashedly break into song without regard for their immediate surroundings, the Griffin iKaraoke (available at fredflare.com for $60) is the ultimate iPod accessory.  Simply plug and play (no are batteries required as it’s powered by your iPod) and the iKaraoke isolates the lead vocal in your music and fades it out, allowing your own voice to be the center of attention.  The microphone also lets you control tracks and adjust the volume, and if the background vocal support from your iPod just isn’t enough, you can even connect the iKaraoke to your music system, ensuring that wherever you go, the karaoke party goes with you.

Electronics, Gear, iPod Accessories, Music System

As much as we love our gadgets, sometimes things can get a little cluttered as various remote controls proliferate with almost every new purchase of a home entertainment product.  And though we generally like to be in control (of everything at all times), this is a scenario in which less is unquestionably more.  The Logitech Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote (available at Amazon.com for $305) gives you the ability to consolidate up to 15 remotes in one intuitively designed universal remote control.  With a 3.5 inch, full-color touch screen (that’s backlit for visibility in the dark), the Logitech Harmony makes things easy for you with one-touch, activity-based controls and customizable commands and icons.  You determine which commands you want on screen and with just one simple touch, the action is completed (e.g. press “Watch a DVD” and your TV, DVD player, and stereo are all turned on, with your inputs set, and your movie even started).  And with ongoing support of over 5,000 brands and 225,000+ devices, the Harmony has you covered not only for today’s home entertainment purchases, but also for tomorrow’s potential ones as well.

Electronics, Entertainment System, Gear, Home Audio, Loft

Although much of the eBook reader market has been driven by sales of the Amazon.com Kindle, a serious competitor has entered the fray with the introduction of the Barnes & Noble nook (available at Barnes & Noble for $259).  With approximately the same dimensions and weight of a paperback book, nook comes well equipped with a range of features including an electronic paper display that reads like a printed book page (with no glare or backlight, but with adjustable text sizing), a 3.5 inch color touchscreen LCD, 2GB of storage (i.e. up to 1,500 books, newspapers, and magazines), a wireless download time of just a few seconds per book using AT&T’s 3G network, and up to 10 days of battery life on a single charge.  And with additional capabilities such as bookmarking, highlighting, and even mid-sentence word searches using a built-in dictionary, nook provides you with the flexibility to read books in a way you’ve never experienced or even quite seen before, making this attractively sleek and compactly designed eBook reader a true contender.

Books, Electronics, Gear

Jedi or Sith.  Light or dark.  Regardless of which side of the Force speaks to you, the MIMOBOT Star Wars USB Flash Drive (available at Mimoco starting from $25) is the perfect data storage device for the most ardent of Star Wars fans.  With a memory capacity ranging from 1GB to 8GBs, the MIMOBOT Star Wars Flash Drive is both PC/Mac compatible and for the true fanboys, it also comes preloaded with software that plays samples of the characters’ movie sayings whenever inserting or removing the USB drive.

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Computer Accessories, Electronics, Gear, Office

Last time we checked, the calendar said the year was 2009, but inexplicably, some of us still tolerate webcam performance where picture and audio quality suggests we’re in a different millennium altogether.  The Blue Microphones Eyeball (available at Blue Microphones for $100) is an innovative and incomparably designed webcam with Super HD-quality video and audio capabilities that combine cutting-edge proprietary audio technology with a design aesthetic in a class by itself (the condenser capsule is a throwback design element we simply love).  The Eyeball is compatible with both PC and Mac and doesn’t require any drivers to install.  Instead, just connect it to your computer’s USB port and either use the integrated stand for flat surfaces or the custom-designed monitor adapter for placement on top of any desktop or laptop monitor.  There’s a retractable camera lens in the event you require more privacy and the Eyeball will even turn itself off when not in use.

Computer Accessories, Electronics, Gear, Office

What separates the Sigma DP2 (available at Adorama for $649) from other compact digital cameras is what its deceptively compact body hides within itself.  The Sigma DP2 was engineered to provide DSLR power and performance, but focused into a pocket-sized body—a uniquely compelling example of bigger is better, but understood within the framework of less is more.  The DP2’s image quality and colors are hauntingly vivid and full of depth due to the SLR-sized 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct image sensor (20.7 x 13.8mm).  The DP2 also comes equipped with a 24.2mm F2.8 large aperture lens which is also known as a “standard lens,” providing a viewpoint similar to what the human eye sees.  Without zoom functionality, this single-focal length lens also reconnects the photographer to the experience of consciously photographing subjects by reengaging the imagination and vision in considering the distance, light, shadow, color and angle of every shot.  While the Sigma DP2 may not be the camera for everybody, for those with whom it resonates, they will be rewarded with an experience and imagery rich with emotion and vibrancy rarely seen in such a small yet powerful camera.

Cameras, Electronics, Gear

The Cerevellum Cycle-Computer (available Spring 2010 at Cerevellum for $379) is the world’s first cyclometer with digital rear-view mirror.  The three inch LCD display mounts to the top of your bicycle’s handlebar and projects your rear view from a micro-camera lens mounted to your seat post.  The Cerevellum is also built with ANT+ wireless compatibility with Powertap and SRM power systems to provide GPS functionality and measure data such as heart rate, power meters, and a host of existing and upcoming technologies.  And with up to nine hours of continuous use on a single charge of a Li-ion battery, you’ll always be able to see who or what may be coming up from behind you—just remember to also keep your eyes focused on what’s in front of you.

Cycling, Electronics, Gear, Outdoors

Being the world’s smallest 12.3 megapixel interchangeable lens system camera, the Olympus EP-1 (available at Adorama for $800) gives you the flexibility to take exceptional still photos, shoot video, as well as record audio all in one retro-styled compact camera weighing just 11.8 ounces.  Once the shutter button is pressed half way down, images to be shot are displayed in total focus on the high-definition 3” LCD using the Live View Autofocus system.  The EP-1 has a slew of additional features including fully automatic and manual controls, lightweight and highly precise Olympus M. ZUIKO lenses, and a dust reduction system that uses a patented Supersonic Wave Filter that silently vibrates each time you turn on the camera to fling dust off the EP-1 itself.  And with a myriad of other image stabilizing and enhancing features, the Olympus EP-1 ultimately combines all the best attributes of a DSLR, high-definition camcorder and full service image studio into one amazing little camera.

Cameras, Electronics, Gear