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Note that this is not a Teenage Engineering product. This is a product sold by Rabbit - and they hired TE to help as a design agency.

by thih9 3y ago

whywhywhywhy 3y ago
Think it's a mistake having the main product design team as an external resource not a core part of the company. Wont be a coherent vision.
- swalsh 3y ago
  I don't think the hardware is the main product. I think the AI is, but they didn't want to be "just an app" they want to be the first OS for the new way of computing. So they designed a new device. I wouldn't be surprised if they open up to OEM's to start making all kinds of devices.
- F7F7F7 3y ago
  I’m extremely bearish on this app. But Pininfarina basically saved Ferrari, revived Ferrari’s little brother Maserati and gave life back to Volvo. If done right (clearly defined roles, collaboration, design maturity etc) it works well.
- wkat4242 3y ago
  I think the hardware is just a gimmick. It gives the proposition more 'body' and is great for marketing. But really, this is screaming to be an app. There is literally nothing this thing can do that the phone in all of our pockets can't. Especially integrated with our smartwatches for ease of use. So why have a separate device for it? It makes no sense. I think the hardware is just there to make it not 'just another app' in the press, really. And that the app version will come soon after the physical product releases and will take over 99% of the installed base. And of course if this takes off they'll be quickly acquired by Apple, Microsoft, Google or Samsung. I bet that's what they're aiming for.
  - mclightning 3y ago
    This comment hit the nail in the head. Content marketing at its best.
  - piuantiderp 3y ago
    Their LAM is actually a bit scary, why even develop mobile apps when they are just a human interface translation to a machine interface. The LAM will do it for you
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
snickmy 3y ago
btw, teenage engineering are also behind all the Nothing products, but they are not behind CMF (the second, cheaper brand, launched by Nothing).
caseyohara 3y ago
Thank you, this is an important detail. Teenage Engineering isn't mentioned anywhere on the linked page, so I was confused about the HN title. I figured Rabbit was a new venture by TE.
- taylorbuley 3y ago
  Interestingly, the founder shows a TE board seat on his Linkedin profile.
- stavros 3y ago
  He mentions in the keynote that it's designed by TE.
starkparker 3y ago
Yeah, if it was a Teenage Engineering product it'd cost $799.
- hbn 3y ago
  It seems like TE is playing roughly the same role as they did with the Playdate? Which is pretty beautiful hardware and only $199
- lsaferite 3y ago
  I'd say that if it was sold by TE it would cost 2x-3x that at least. They make great stuff, but they are super expensive.
  - gravitronic 3y ago
    I like some TE gear. But it would be an omission if we didn't also include the fact that TE hardware often has weird flaws like OPz cases never fit together properly even years after release and the more recent problems with shipping the ko2 sampler and broken faders.
  - numpad0 3y ago
    From a maker perspective, TE products(they have quite a bit more than I remembered!) still are frontal sketch in not quite Sony style with added depth, leaving something to be desired in manufacturability, durability, and usability. e.g. in this very device, the thin stem of this scroll wheel implies it's actually shaped like LEGO minifig heads, like 中, which doesn't inspire confidence wrt lateral plays. It could easily be made 土 or 王 or even 凸 shaped internally with only the middle part exposed, which not just eliminates play, prevents debris ingress, but also makes areas around wheel edges hidden so quality control around those areas are less of an issue. Or, the shell seen here is shaped like a bathtub with a lid closed at the backside, which means the cross section of the tub has to be ever so slightly tapered towards the front, which affects grip when picking up. And, the backside has no bumps nor there are creases in the side, which further compromises pickup. Or eg the painted wheel. It's going to be PITA to paint. Granted I'm biased feeling always defeated by superb aesthetics of their products - but their design always seems, how do I say, not as deeply connected to engineering ideals just as it is with aesthetics as seen in Sony or Apple products.
ClassyJacket 3y ago
That's why it looks like a PlayDate
zoklet-enjoyer 3y ago
Interesting. Reminds me of the Playdate

Note that this is not a Teenage Engineering product. This is a product sold by Rabbit - and they hired TE to help as a design agency.

by thih9 3y ago

Note that this is not a Teenage Engineering product. This is a product sold by Rabbit - and they hired TE to help as a design agency.

whywhywhywhy 3y ago

Think it's a mistake having the main product design team as an external resource not a core part of the company. Wont be a coherent vision.

swalsh 3y ago
I don't think the hardware is the main product. I think the AI is, but they didn't want to be "just an app" they want to be the first OS for the new way of computing. So they designed a new device. I wouldn't be surprised if they open up to OEM's to start making all kinds of devices.
F7F7F7 3y ago
I’m extremely bearish on this app. But Pininfarina basically saved Ferrari, revived Ferrari’s little brother Maserati and gave life back to Volvo. If done right (clearly defined roles, collaboration, design maturity etc) it works well.
wkat4242 3y ago
I think the hardware is just a gimmick. It gives the proposition more 'body' and is great for marketing. But really, this is screaming to be an app. There is literally nothing this thing can do that the phone in all of our pockets can't. Especially integrated with our smartwatches for ease of use. So why have a separate device for it? It makes no sense. I think the hardware is just there to make it not 'just another app' in the press, really. And that the app version will come soon after the physical product releases and will take over 99% of the installed base. And of course if this takes off they'll be quickly acquired by Apple, Microsoft, Google or Samsung. I bet that's what they're aiming for.
- mclightning 3y ago
  This comment hit the nail in the head. Content marketing at its best.
- piuantiderp 3y ago
  Their LAM is actually a bit scary, why even develop mobile apps when they are just a human interface translation to a machine interface. The LAM will do it for you

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

snickmy 3y ago

btw, teenage engineering are also behind all the Nothing products, but they are not behind CMF (the second, cheaper brand, launched by Nothing).

caseyohara 3y ago

Thank you, this is an important detail. Teenage Engineering isn't mentioned anywhere on the linked page, so I was confused about the HN title. I figured Rabbit was a new venture by TE.

taylorbuley 3y ago
Interestingly, the founder shows a TE board seat on his Linkedin profile.
stavros 3y ago
He mentions in the keynote that it's designed by TE.

starkparker 3y ago

Yeah, if it was a Teenage Engineering product it'd cost $799.

hbn 3y ago
It seems like TE is playing roughly the same role as they did with the Playdate? Which is pretty beautiful hardware and only $199
lsaferite 3y ago
I'd say that if it was sold by TE it would cost 2x-3x that at least. They make great stuff, but they are super expensive.
- gravitronic 3y ago
  I like some TE gear. But it would be an omission if we didn't also include the fact that TE hardware often has weird flaws like OPz cases never fit together properly even years after release and the more recent problems with shipping the ko2 sampler and broken faders.
- numpad0 3y ago
  From a maker perspective, TE products(they have quite a bit more than I remembered!) still are frontal sketch in not quite Sony style with added depth, leaving something to be desired in manufacturability, durability, and usability. e.g. in this very device, the thin stem of this scroll wheel implies it's actually shaped like LEGO minifig heads, like 中, which doesn't inspire confidence wrt lateral plays. It could easily be made 土 or 王 or even 凸 shaped internally with only the middle part exposed, which not just eliminates play, prevents debris ingress, but also makes areas around wheel edges hidden so quality control around those areas are less of an issue. Or, the shell seen here is shaped like a bathtub with a lid closed at the backside, which means the cross section of the tub has to be ever so slightly tapered towards the front, which affects grip when picking up. And, the backside has no bumps nor there are creases in the side, which further compromises pickup. Or eg the painted wheel. It's going to be PITA to paint. Granted I'm biased feeling always defeated by superb aesthetics of their products - but their design always seems, how do I say, not as deeply connected to engineering ideals just as it is with aesthetics as seen in Sony or Apple products.

ClassyJacket 3y ago

That's why it looks like a PlayDate

zoklet-enjoyer 3y ago

Interesting. Reminds me of the Playdate