The Google Home Hub ($149) which is powered by Google Assistant with its smallish countertop appliance has a 7-inch display with a speaker as its base. Its speaker sound is to be on par with the Google Home. It performs the usual tasks, like setting timers and answering general questions, can stream media from YouTube, Spotify, and Pandora, amongst others, and is a perfect digital frame for Google Photos with its new ambient light technology. It also gives you an overview of any compatible smart devices you have in your home. Perhaps most impressive? It lacks a camera, so there's no worry of it spying on you, and a Mute button in the back completely shuts off the mics, further ensuring your privacy. If you buy a Google Home Hub you also get 6 months free of Youtube Premium and Youtube Music.

It's been nearly 25 years since Sony introduced the original PlayStation. The PlayStation Classic($100), like Nintendo's NES and SNES Classics, lets you replay select retro titles on a nostalgia-creating box. Its case is modeled closely to the original disc-based console, yet it's roughly 45% smaller and connects to your TV via HDMI. Two controllers are included, as are 20 pre-loaded titles, including Tekken 3, Ridge Racer Type 4, and Final Fantasy VII. In stores December 3, the 24th anniversary of the console's launch in Japan.







Source: PlayStation Blog

These stunning looking Koto Cabins bring a piece of Scandinavia to your neck of the woods. Named after the Finnish word for "cozy at home," the sleek, sculpted dwellings range in different sizes from 161 to 430-square-feet making them ideal for backyard studios or rural retreats. I know that I want one. Each one is clad in Siberian larch that can be charred upon request. Interiors follow the Nordic aesthetic with pale wood floors and white walls washed in natural light. Concealed storage and furniture help create a minimalist atmosphere. Underfloor heating, double glazed windows, and covered terraces come standard while customizations like wood stoves, saunas, and bespoke furniture are optional add-ons. They come in different sizes from large all the way down to kids size. Check out more on Koto's website.






Photos: Joe Laverty / Koto

Phones now a days can capture amazing videos but it seems that the sounds is a little lacking. The Sennheiser Memory Mic ($200) is out to make sure the audio is equally as good. Designed to clip onto any thing even your clothing, it connects via Bluetooth but continues to record even if it's out of range. It can record up to four hours of audio at a time, recharges via USB, and has a companion app that automatically synchronizes the audio and video and also allows you to mix audio from the mic with ambient noise from your phone's built-in mics. Is this something that can up your video recording game with your phone.

The world of camera's is changing and no longer are the days of the smaller sensors in smaller bodies.  Nikon's new Z7 and Z6 cameras ($1,995+) mark the start of a completely new system. The company's first full-frame mirrorless models, they use the new Z mount that's wider than before, letting more light in and packing other tricks like a ring on the lens that can be used to control everything from focus to exposure compensation. They're powered by the Expeed 6 image processor, have fast hybrid AF systems, and offer five-axis in-camera stabilization. The Z7 is more for pure shooters, with a 45.7-megapixel sensor, while the Z6 is more versatile, with a 24.5-megapixel sensor, higher maximum ISO, faster burst, and higher-quality video capture. Both are arriving later this year.

Summon nature inside, transform your space with Morvah Wall Hanging Planters ($350) by Tim Raffield. A steam bent piece of solid oak loops around and embraces a hand-glazed earthenware planter bowl creating a unique, wall hanging feature.

Inspired by nature, shaped by steam, curated by you. Check out more product design by Tim Raffield on his website.



Key Information:

• Dimensions: L 295mm x W 410mm x H 800mm
• Weight: 2.1 kg (unboxed)
• Main materials: Sustainably sourced oak
• Finish: Eco-friendly natural oil blend, matt finish

It looks as though Samsung is joining the likes of the Alexa and Google Home. Now Samsung's Bixby assistant has the Galaxy Home ($TBA) if you're a fan of Bixby. Aimed at the higher end of the market, the unit hides six speakers and a subwoofer inside its tulip-shaped body and sits atop three metal legs. Eight far-field mics listen for your "Hi, Bixby" commands, which encompass music playback, SmartThings controls, and many of the same tasks Bixby handles on Samsung's Galaxy phones. Would you get one?

Malboro & Kane have launched the CLAW ($29), which is the worlds smallest multi-tool bottle opener. The CLAW hits a sweet spot by going above and beyond what is usually expected of small bottle  openers. The ingenious design allows for an almost unlimited set of uses with its tiny form. It doesn't skimp on the quality either with it's stainless steel design that comes in two colors silver and gold.



The  CLAW comes with a perfectly spherical holding hole – to allow it to be attached to all manner  of fixtures and fittings. Lanyards, wrist bands, carabiners and key rings it fits seamlessly onto them all. Check out the site for more information at Malboro & Kane.

Check out these realistic computer 3D renderings of wooden animals constructed out of low resolution polygon mesh.

PolyWood – series of digital wooden animal toys designed by Mat Szuli.

The Kozmophone Holographic Turntable ($249)  was inspired by the original phonograph. The Kozmophone brings back the old horn-style speaker design along with some modern upgrades. The turntable features an integrated design for easy setup and allows you to either connect existing speakers or to use it as a standalone Hi-Fi setup. The horn-style speaker rotates 360 degrees to provide consistent sound coverage wherever it's placed and is also detachable and portable and can connect to any device via Bluetooth.  It is also available in six different color options, the main cylinder can also be used as a smartphone charger but also features a hologram animation inside the housing that can be swapped with multiple options using the Kozmo app.  Check out more information on there Kickstarter page.

First, before I start telling you the reason for the new design let me welcome you to TCL's New Design and layout!! So now onward,  let's get into a little bit of the design and the reason for the change.

So here we are 4 years later since the last update in 2014  and I felt that it was time for a makeover. The Collective Loop is a place where art, design, music, technology and more collectively loop, but that doesn't mean the design can't.  After contemplating, I decided that I wanted to change the layout to look more professional, interactive and all around still have a minimal feel. I also wanted a site where it would look amazing on portable devices and be more responsive.  I was able to find all this with the new design.

Here are some of the new changes:

• Responsive Layout for all devices 
• Clean Minimalist Design
• Font Awesome – Retina ready icons
• Responsive Sidebar
• Social Share

So tell me what you think of the new design? Look around and see all the new changes.

New TCL Design






TCL Old Design

This beautiful house is located in Porto Feliz municipality of Sao Paulo state in Brazil, which features a green roof covered with real grass. That's got to be interesting when you need to mow the lawn. This is what you would call the “Planar House” designed by Studio MK27, which perfectly blends into the surrounding nature.

The grass roof with solar panels and skylights mimics the surrounding lawn. Not to mention that the inside has a open style floor plan that let's you gaze into the surrounding area.  Get more information on the house at Studio MK27.

Welcome to the new Playlists on The Collective Loop. The Collective Series 003!  In this installment we got some tracks to get you moving.  So get on your Summer spirit and press play and get lost on the beach, work or pool.  New music by Ark Patrol, Shallou, Wingtip and more.

If you want to check out any of the other older Playlists then click on TCL Playlists in the menu.


Cover art by: Damion S. 

Tracklist

TCL Collective Series 003 from The Collective Loop on 8tracks Radio.

Powerful enough to create a 100" screen yet small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the Pocket Pico Projector from Kodak $300 is a portable powerhouse. Thanks to a built-in wireless connection, you can stream media directly from your iOS or Android device, as well as load videos onto an SD card or connect via HDMI. Built-in speakers provide adequate sound, and the rechargeable battery lasts for up to two hours.