Wooden Bike update: I’ve started modelling in solidworks.

Though the design itself is a simple concept, modelling it is proving more tricky as I try and figure out the physics of it and what features to use and how exactly to model it.

If you can see a glaringly obvious way to do it please feel free to share your thoughts.

NEW PHONE REVIEW!

Long story but I’ve been without a smartphone for 3 months and have just received a brand new Nokia E7 on warranty and thought I’d write an initial review on it as a designer and then another when I’ve had it a while.

First impressions:
Woo! An actual keyboard! Its heavy in a good way, feels sturdy and of good build quality with is metal case. The screen is huge, bright with a good resolution, and the touch screen is very responsive. The slide mechanism is kinda tricky at first but feels sturdy. Also, Its gotta be one of the sexiest and unusual phones and slide mechanisms on the market.

The full QWERTY keyboard works real good too, the keys are big enough without being too close together. In the box there is also a cable with a USB socket on the end for plugging in flash drives, thats right, it can read flash drives. Jesus christ!

Interface
Its quick, not sluggish at all for a single processor device. I’m not gonna lie though, its not very intuitive…at all. Though it does have a handy search feature which helped me find the Bluetooth. It also comes pre-loaded with loads of apps, which personally I hate. It shouldn’t come with any, apps are a very personal choice. Uninstal, uninstal, uninstal. I like the home screens though, which are easily customisable, and I like that the menu key does what its supposed to do.

Camera
I’ve only had a quick play but I’m impressed; 8 megapixels, thats plenty, especially on a phone, I don’t care what anyone says. Face recognition, also good, no macro setting though. 720p video too, which is perfect for streaming via the HDMI port to an HDTV.

Overall
All the other reviews are right, at first glance the symbian UI has got nothing on android or iOS interfaces, however I get the feeling that once I get used to it, I’ll struggle without it.

Although at first it takes some figuring out, the sheer amount of settings and customisation options are epic and not dummed down at all. The technogeekists will like the fact that its not idiot-proof (cough-iphone-cough).

Its gonna take some getting used to, but with the hardware spec and massive feature list (including free sat nav, HDMI out, HD video, QWERTY keyboard, USB slot) I think I’m gonna like it.

Wooden bike: work in progess

I’ve just started working on an idea I’ve been thinking about for a while. Its a bike frame and fork concept, made out of wood that would provide a cheap manufacturable and sustainable form of bicycle. I won’t go into too much right now, but constructive criticism would be appreciated. This is just something personal and not for any client.

‘Inspired by’ bespoke Furniture exhibition 2011 - Bristol

Event was organised by designer/maker Sue Darliston and the work featured was of very different styles; some were of a very sculptural style, some a very traditional style, and others were a beautiful blend of the two.

Everything was hand made and was not just wood. Willa Ashworth exhibited some beautiful ironwork including, my favourite, her fire dish. Unfortunately photos weren’t allowed and she doesn’t have a website.

Also worth a mention were Waywood (above left) with their sideboard, and also Rhys Gillard (above Right) with his very contemporary bench

First post on new blog tester