Japanese designer Yoshi Akai concocts electronic musical instruments from the most uncanny and unexpected objects, such as telegraph machines and stylophones. Now the Lego Step-sequencer (above) is 3 channels 8 steps sequencer that allows for creating complex musical pieces, being that the different Lego pieces each have their own unique sound. Yoshi Akai elaborates that this is more so building, than playing sound. Get a gander at the “Lego Sequencer” below…

With 69 keys, a touchpad and laser pointer, Brando notes the “Rii Mini” as portable and can be used for travel, school, or any other working environment. This bad boy will fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, and features useful LED backlit keys for dim environments, rechargeable batteries, and an ample sized touchpad. Snatch one up for $92.

[via]

BBLeaks has the exclusive on the very first images of the impending Blackberry slider, tentatively dubbed titled the Storm 3 or Bold, nobody knows for sure. And as someone whose stuck by Blackberry for 3 + years, disappointment is an understatement. This has got to be the most grotesque device RIM has ever spawned, and with Android storming the marketplace, Palm’s promising WebOS, and you can’t forget Windows Mobile 7, and Nokia’s Maemo, I fear this may be the final nail in RIM’s un-innovative coffin. If this mystery device is indeed the real deal, the accompanying OS 6.0 better be the most revolutionary, and magical software update the Canadian company has ever released…

Introducing “Skinput”, a conceptual technology that reads and responds to finger taps to that of a user’s epidermis. Currently under development from Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft, the user must wear a specialized armband with “piezoelectric cantilevers, or sensors that measure pressure, acceleration and force”. Skinput also utilizes a pico-projector to create images like menus on the user’s arm (above), or to even play Tetris which you can see in the live footage below…

Not much is known about the Neurosonics, other then they put on quite a captivating performance by utilizing holographic heads in tandem with a drumkit and turntables. Don’t miss this one after the break, and it’s safe to assume this is the future of live musical entertainment…

The practical applications are endless for a concept such as this. “Impress” is a prototype projection surface that responds to not only touch in two dimensions, but can also be impressed to respond to a third. Musical applications, periodicals, and even gaming can benefit from a platform such as this, so get a better feel for Silke Hilsing’s 3D Touchscreen “Impress” in the video below…

This attached footage is no CGI folks, it’s an actual preview of Wired’s soon to be available Adobe AIR Tablet application, and impressive is an understatement. Wired notes:

“This is new era of media, where we finally have a digital platform that allows us to retain all the rich visual features of high-gloss print, from lavish design to glorious photography, while augmenting it with video, animations, additional content and full interactivity…”

Introducing Jurgen Graef & Jonas Friedemann’s interactive music table with tangible notes, as this platform could possibly change the way musicians orchestrate pieces. With the ability to recognize and play back notes, it even rocks the ability to loop playback and replace notes for impromptu situations. Take a gander at the german engineered “Noteput Table” footage below…