Today's hot concept design comes from Andrew Kim, in the monolithic shape of the HTC1. The phone is so simple in its shape that it even makes the iPhone look fussy. Despite its sleek shell, though, Kim's design manages to pack in a lot of very smart extras.
We'll forget about the software, the internal workings and even the choice of material (brass? really?) as these slide down into the usual concept fantasies. Instead we'll look at that slab-like casing: Essentially top and bottom metal sections sandwiching a glass block, the gorgeous whole has almost no external details to spoil the lines. The majority of the controls would be multi-touch, with a single button below the screen and a forward-facing camera up top.
Then things get interesting. One speaker sits in the base (like the iPad) but another is hidden up top and throws out its sound through a recessed slot above the screen, allowing for movies and music in stereo. Next up is the bottom metal block which swings around to form a kickstand. It's pretty ingenious.
Then we dive into the pool of outlandish imagination. A UV lamp inside the phone beams through the screen as you charge it. What does this do, apart from keep you awake at night? It kills germs that have accumulated from your filthy hands.
Curiously, there is another Apple-like design touch here. Kim's phone features a metal back that doubles as an antenna. Just make sure you hold it the right way.
HTC1 [Design Fabulous via Yanko]
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