This stunning Spotify Box concept is irresistibly cool

I am in love with Spotify as it really is the dream online music streaming service and I really didn’t think I would ever see anything that could make it any better than it already was. Until today.

This is a design concept that I came across on this blog and I think it’s one of the coolest concept designs I have ever seen in terms of what it does and the sheer elegance of it. It’s essentially an old school radio in a box that links up with Spotify and can play music based on physical actions. It’s a great blend of the technology and the real world and it uses RFID tags to change the songs. This is clearly only a concept that was created by a student and is not officially sanctioned by Spotify but if they don’t snap this designer up he is going to end up at somewhere like Apple because this is something that I would go out and buy today. With gadgets and technology moving forward at breakneck speeds it’s great to see something going the other way and still being irresistibly cool.

Spotify box from Jordi Parra on Vimeo .

Samsung Drops First Image Showing New Galaxy Tab

Earlier in March, electronics giant Samsung took to its Facebook page to start teasing what reports suggest will be its new 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab. Today, the company has dropped a new image, giving us a first glimpse at what we can expect the device to look like.

The reverse of the Galaxy Tab is shown in the image, showing a slightly raised top which hides a 3.5mm headphone jack. Other than that, Samsung remains quiet on what we can expect, simply advertising a launch date, coinciding with its “Unpacked” event at the CTIA event, held in Florida.

The unveiling of an 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab would compliment Samsung’s 7-inch and 10.1-inch tablet devices, demonstrating the company’s attempts to take the fight to Apple.

Packing List for a Gadget Junkie

It started with CTIA Wireless in Orlando Florida. It will continue for the next 45 days through Techstars in Boulder, Colorado. What is it? 4 trips and 3 countries in 60 days, all for the love of what we do here at The Next Web .

While some people count out precisely how many pairs of socks and underwear to take with them on a trip, I’ve never found that to be a challenge. For me, the moment of panic sets in when I realize that I’ve left a charging cable or a memory card at home. I am a gadget junkie.

Getting ready for a trip requires me to spend about 5 minutes throwing clothing into a bag. Then I will meticulously prepare all of the rest of the things that I’ll need. So what does my “go bag” consist of? Here’s my current list, and a few notes about what I wish I could do to make it better:

You can read a blog post about a subject time and time again and still not get the immersive feeling that a video can bring. I’ve tried a few different solutions over the years and, while I’d love to shoot my videos on a Canon 5D, both its price and its size have prevented me from making that jump.

I’ve tried a few different cameras over the past year and the Playtouch has stood out as my favorite. Though I still highly recommend Kodak’s older Zi8 model, the Playtouch is what you’ll now find in stores. It shoots up to 1080p video, saves to a standard SD card and is the only model on the market with an external microphone input. In noisy situations (like a convention floor) this is absolutely imperative.

It might be more convenient for me to purchase a dedicated voice recorder, but my iPod Touch also keeps me from being bored to death on long flights. The addition of the Mikey 2G allows me to do audio interviews, but also lets me easily record TNW’s Daily Dose while I’m on the road. For the price, it’s probably the best option on the market.

Blue hasn’t yet been able to make a 3rd-generation Mikey that would work with the iPhone 4 or 4th-generation iPod Touch, but I’m told that it will be coming soon.

Here’s the part of the list where I have to mention the things I’d rather have. While my Pro is probably overpowered for what I do while on the road, it’s also the only computer that I’d take with me right now. We’ve have a handful of netbooks and even a Cr-48 sitting around , but they don’t fit the bill when I need a mobile office. The closest that I’ve found was Dell’s Vostro v13 , but even it has seen its better days.

What would I rather have? A MacBook Air , of course. While my Pro is great, it’s also terribly heavy after a few hours of being slung over my shoulder in a laptop bag. Add a few ounces to the bag for the cameras, microphones and the rest and I start looking like The Hunchback of Notre Dame by the end of the day.

While the Air is notably the lighter choice, it’s also the more convenient one. TSA lines at the airport are a pain enough without having to take out my computer. The Air has been given the pass to stay in your bag (as long as it’s the 11-inch version)

It’s worth noting that my Pro is a 15-inch model, and I could step down in the size of the bag that I carry. However, about 4 years ago I purchased this Targus messenger bag and I have had a really hard time finding anything that compares to it.

Not only is it heavily padded and protective, it also has a boat load of extra space where the things that I carry seem to fit perfectly. Cables, batteries, memory cards and the devices themselves all have what seem to be custom-made pockets that keep everything handy and well-protected. I’ve beaten the life out of this bag, then turned around and used it for a pillow. It’s going to be hard to replace.

Crazy, I know. For someone who claims to be an audio geek, I should be ashamed (and I am) to use these things. They’re positively the weakest audio piece that Apple has ever sold. The problems is that I have about 4 pairs of them laying around the house, and I don’t care if anything happens to them. For the ear buds that I want, I’d care if I lost them, if they got crushed or some other horror befell them.

I used to pack my TMA-1’s with me when I traveled, but they’re far from bag-friendly. They just sound so good that it’s hard to give them up. Screaming baby? No problem! 60-year-old fighting couple? I’m sorry, I can’t hear you… And yet, for the past 3 trips, I’ve packed the Apple ear buds.

What do I want? A decent sounding pair of in-ear monitors that doesn’t break the bank. Give me something that sounds good for under $40 and I’ll buy them. If you include some sort of storage case for them, I’ll be even more happy. For now, I’ve not found a set that is worth the $40, unless they actually cost $80.

Every time I travel, I end up spending time looking around at things that I’d love to have. Whether it is something on the show floor, or in the possession of another traveler, I have a constantly-updating list in my head of the stuff I want or will soon have.

While I’m still lusting for my single-device solution , it’s not out there just yet. What I do want is thinner, lighter and easier, and we’re getting close. I’d absolutely love a point-and-shoot camera that was thin and could do great 720p video. I’d love to have a single device instead of switching back and forth between my Playtouch and my old, trusty Canon A560. So far, I’ve not found one that does video that’s even close to comparing.

I’m also in the market for a better bag. I don’t check bagage, ever. That means that my “suitcase” is actually a rolling backpack made by Eastpak. I might have found a better solution, in something called the JetCart Ultralight from Walkin’ Bag. But I’ve not yet done a trip with it, so the jury is still out.

I want inductive charging, that doesn’t require a heavy accessory in order to work. PowerMat has come close to what I’m looking for, but it’s still not quite right. Give me a mat and a single power adapter that I can stick in my bag, and let me forget all of my cables, please. I don’t want that moment of panic, ever again.

I’ll let you know as my search continues. I am, after all, a gadget junkie. I’m pretty sure that even if I had a 1-inch thick 5D and a MacBook Air, I’d still be looking for other options…