GeekSugar

Pottery Barn's All-in-One Is a Hole in One!

GeekSugar — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:00:33 PDT

Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit, because it's my personal belief that I have found one of the most perfect home tech organizers ever. Yes, ever. I flipped for Griffin's Powerdock the other day for its integration of my gadgets, but Pottery Barn has one-upped everyone with their Smart All-in-One.

Not only does it combine a charging station with iPod speakers (and it includes the six-socket power strip inside), it's a compact, beautiful design that'll synergize with a fabulous interior.

The one drawback is that it's $169, but if I know Pottery Barn, I know this baby'll be on sale before I forget about it and move on to my next favorite home tech accessory. I happen to adore the mod lacquered pea green, but if that's not your thing, the All-in-One is also available in ivory, black, and red.

Basic Black Rockin' Speaker Shelf System

GeekSugar — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:11:50 PDT

Just because most of you were in love with Pottery Barn's smart tech speaker shelf, I thought I'd show you something similar with a bit more edge - the Rockin' Speaker Shelf. Forget the fact that it's in the "teen" section of Pottery Barn's website, this speaker shelf could easily be above a couch in a living room decked out with candles, some artwork and picture frames. Not only does it provide lots of shelf space and built-in speakers, but it also comes with a dock so you can charge your iPhone or iPod as well. Units are available in black or white for $200.

Pottery Barn's Smart Tech Goes on Sale

GeekSugar — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:04:29 PDT

I've had my eyes on Pottery Barn's Smart Tech line since it launched last year so I was thrilled to learn some of the collection's most practical pieces are finally on sale. The line includes gadget-friendly shelves, desks, chairs and even beds that incorporate easy plugs so your high-tech accessories can power up discreetly. Most of the furnishings have special MP3 player plugins with a recessed area for the device and play music with a pair of built-in speakers. The collection seems most appropriate for teen geeks, but the desk units and shelves are all adult approved. It might be time to redecorate my home office.

For a run down of more Smart Tech furniture,

Bento Box Charging Station: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:00:08 PDT

Two things I don't like about Pottery Barn's Smart Tech Line: the traditional looks and the prices. With the addition of the Bento Smart Storage charging station, though, they've solved one problem! The modern, clean lines and simple colors (cobalt and white) would fit so seamlessly on my dresser and blend in with my jewelry boxes that it would solve that pesky "where do I put it?" dilemma I brought up yesterday. But for $100, it's also inspiring me to get out a little handsaw and a jewelry box and get DIYin'. How do you like it?

Skateboard Speaker Shelf: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:56:42 PDT

Pottery Barn has added some youthful and colorful flair to their Smart Tech furniture line, resulting in a skateboard shelf that plays your totally tubular tunes. It comes with two built-in speakers, easy-mount French cleats, and a dock that’s compatible with most iPods. The models definitely rids the Smart Tech line of its "understated and hidden" reputation, but I imagine they'd be pretty cute in a child's room.

Cushy Speaker Console: Geeky or Geek Chic?

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:00:38 PDT

I've been keeping my eye on Pottery Barn's Smart Technology line and whether the company's customers will take the built-in speaker and charger bait so I wasn't surprised when I noticed the company has rolled out Smart Tech items for their Pottery Barn Teen line. The Cushy Speaker Console, $399, is less expensive than the adult Smart Tech furniture and aimed directly at the iPod generation. The console features a cushy couch with speaker consoles, which are outfitted with stereo-quality speakers and subwoofers on each side. Each console has audio controls and an iPod-friendly jack beneath a sliding panel.

Speaker Shelf: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:00:09 PDT

With 84% of you saying that you love the idea of smart tech furniture, I was wondering how excited you would be about a speaker/shelf combination? The ultimate display speaker shelf can play your iPod through speakers that come with a volume dial and one input jack. Available in navy and white although I wish there were other colors like black and red. Currently on sale for $80. What do you think of it?

Would You Buy 'Smart Tech' Furniture?

GeekSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:00:42 PDT

A couple months ago I pointed out the fact that Pottery Barn is pushing "Smart Tech" to the masses with a line of furniture and desk accessories that integrate chargers and better hide cords. Turns out, the company is really serious about the line, even going so far as to put one of the designs on the front cover of their September catalog along side a pretty iPhone, iPod, shuffle and Canon camera.

For the most part the pieces look like regular Pottery Barn ballyhoo, but connect your high-tech accessories to power while keeping their cords discreet. The line isn't so "smart" that it can serve you up a cold one or park your car, or even wirelessly charge your gadgets, but the integration of cords and speakers does make your living space cleaner. Would you buy it?

Pottery Barn Pushes Smart Tech To The Masses

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:00:10 PDT

Thank goodness for Jean Aw from Notcot, without whom I might never have noticed Pottery Barn's new Smart Tech line. While the pieces may look like regular Pottery Barn ballyhoo, the line is actually made up of gadget-friendly shelfs, desks and my personal favorite, this Bedford Smart Linen Pinboard. The board is a staggering $259, but connects your high-tech accessories to power while keeping their cords discreet. You can plug in your MP3 player and store it in the recessed area, play music with a pair of built-in speakers, and display important notes and reminders. Sure, the line isn't so "smart" that it can serve you up a cold one or park your car, but the integration of cords and speakers makes for a cleaner living space.

The pieces in the collection, such as the Bedford Smart Recharge Station and Hutch, Leah Desk and Samantha Smart Cabinet, range in price from $79 to $499.

To check out additional images of the line,

View 6 Photos ›

Source

18 Spring Activities to Get Your Geek on

Laura Marie Given — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:42:00 PDT

Whether you prefer to be in the kitchen or on the road, we've come up with several creative ideas to keep you busy this Spring. Looking for some new pastimes? From DIYs to nerdy day trips, we've got 18 fun, geeky ideas to get you through the season.

Have a documentary marathon: Not sure where to start? Check out Frozen Planet, a seven-part series from the team behind Planet Earth, to learn more about climate changes (and adorable animals!) in the Poles.
Become an amateur astronomer: Pick an especially clear night and look at the stars with the 5 Stars Astronomy Guide App. It's simple: hold your phone to the sky and you'll learn all about the constellation in front of you.
Host a Comic-Con party: Get your pals to dress up as their favorite comic book characters and go for bold, bright decorations. Keep your favorite comic-inspired flicks playing in the background and serve drinks in these Vintage DC Comic Tumblers ($125 for 6).
Try a coding class: Do a bit of research to find local coding classes at a community college. Sign up solo or invite your Internet-obsessed pals to join so that you can help each other learn the HTML ropes.

Keep reading for more geeky things to do.