Patrick Molnar is a designer by profession, but at heart he’s a hardcore gamer. Together with fellow German Phil Penninger, a most impressive collection of Videogame Systems and early home computers has been assembled and made available to the masses. Spanning over 35 years, you’ll find all the classics from the US & Japan, complete with photos, original packaging and a biography -all available online and as a nice soft cover coffee-table book. From a pure design perspective, it’s brilliant to see how the gaming industry has evolved over time, and impressive to see how revolutionary the early-systems really were. Sure the games nowadays are insane high-def masterpieces, but nothing will ever beat the classic stylings of the wood-paneling on the Atari VCS.

It pretty much all began with the Magnavox Odyssey, a behemoth of a machine from 1972 that opened the door to a new type of entertainment, something that combined the social aspects of board games, with the new-aged technology of the digital world. There are some great classics in this collection, and some very interesting oddities; from the multiple Pong systems (which was almost an industry in itself), to the self-contained Vectrex which came with its own monitor, to my personal all-time favorite: the Sega Master System 1, which took 8-bit graphics to whole new heights. If you’ve got a few hours, go reminisce about your wasted youth here.

The wait is finally over. The all new Apple iPad was finally revealed at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco by Steve Jobs. It’s essentially a 0.5-inch thick, 1.5 pound, 9.7-inch tablet with integrated speaker and microphone, Bluetooth, WiFi and 3G, compass and accelerometer. Coming in 16, 32 and 64 GB Flash storage options, it remains to be seen whether or not this truly revolutionizes technology like the iPhone, or if is just an example of the power-house marketing machine Apple has become. Other features include: a 10-hour battery life and a month of standby, compatible with a new keyboard dock accessory for desktop use, syncable with your existing Mac and will be iPhone App compatible.

The Apple iPad will be available for $499 for 16GB, 32GB for $599, and $699 64GB. Adding 3G costs a $130 per model. The WiFi-only model will ship in 60 days, whereas the 3G models will ship in 90 days.

If you love the look of a Leica, but can’t afford the massive pricetag that comes with it, Pentax has just released your dream camera. The compact point-and-shoot I-10 is obviously inspired by classic film SLRs of the fifties and sixties, complete with a leatherette body in either black or cream to add a classy touch to the retro body. While not a high-end camera, it boasts some great features: 12.1 MP sensor, a large 2.7-inch LCD, face-detection, 720p video-capture and Triple Shake Reduction technology that allows for crisp images in low-light situations. Coming in at only $300, it is the perfect option for the not-so-savvy photographer who’s big on style. Available here.

Teenage Engineering is a Swedish design company previously best known for their Styrofoam turntable kit and their modular Studio System work lights.  Now they’ve taken their innovative design aesthetics and thrown their hat into the musical instrument ring by creating the OP-1.  The OP-1 is a seriously stylish portable synthesizer, sequencer, and sampler, perfect for writing and creating twisted electronic ditties on the run.  Its most immediate eye-catching feature is the high-contrast, 60 frames per second Amoled display.  In terms of software, it boasts 8 different synth engines, 14 effects, multiple sequencer types, and an intuitive sampler.  One groundbreaking feature is the virtual 4-track ‘tape’ recorder, which can instantly record anything you do for up to 12 minutes at the highest quality setting.  Things get really tripped out when you start to play with the speed and pitch in real-time during playback.  The OP-1 has a USB connection, which allows it to function as a software controller and a mass storage device where you can drag and drop audio files to and from your computer.

Word is that David Möllerstedt, who previously designed much of the software for the Elektron Machinedrum, is behind the OS for the OP-1.  That is a massive point if true because the Machinedrum is widely considered to be the most intuitive electronic music instrument on the market today.  The OP-1 was just on display last weekend at NAMM, the music product industry trade show in Anaheim, California, and Teenage Engineering is hoping it will be available for sale by late 2010.

Video demos after the jump.

Even with the advent of Digital Recording technology, the portable home studio is an essential part of any aspiring musician’s arsenal. Perhaps the most influential piece of recording equipment was the Tascam Portastudio, an indispensable tool for any band in the 80s. Responsible for millions and millions of demo tapes, it was revolutionary in that artists could record multiple instruments and vocals, then mix them down and record to a built-in audio cassette. Tascam gives the Portastudio a digital facelift with the all new DP-008, an all-digital 8-Track recorder that captures CD-quality audio 2 tracks at a time through built-in internal mics, or XLR inputs. Put in some AA batteries and you’ve got a powerful tool wherever you happen to find yourself. Available here.

With the growing popularity of yet another electronic device will come the inevitable urge to customize and accessorize. And with the hoards of new Kindle users over the Holidays (myself included), the need for higher-end accessories will continue to grow. By far the best product on the market to date comes from Austrian-based Hard Graft, a small but very interesting team of designers of felt and leather lifestyle accessories. The U kindle Case follows the look of most of Hard Graft’s products; made from 100% premium wool felt made in Germany of fine compressed fibers, providing a soft, durable, water repellent, environmentally friendly enclosure to keep your device safe. On the outside panel, a hand-selected, vegetable tanned Italian leather pocket fits your iPod/iPhone perfectly; useful, yet also adds an appreciative touch of luxury. Another brilliant small detail is the herringbone elastic band to hold a pen or headphones, while ensuring your Kindle stays safe where it belongs. Available here.

Well it’s that time of the year again. Time for Christmas…Gift Guides. Sure this is another one, but it’s from us, meaning it’s sort of the best of 2009. In some ways it’s our personal wish list, in other ways, they’re the only items that were memorable enough. In any case, it’s all in the name of love. Here’s to hoping you get yours. Enjoy.

Click READ MORE to discover our picks.

Channel your inner-Oakenfold from the comfort of your basement with the DJ Mouse. Manufactured by Hong-Kong based DJ-Tech Professional, the optical mouse is designed to interact with DJ applications on your laptop allowing you to Scratch, Beat Match, and Mix your entire MP3 collection using the mouse’s replica buttons and jog-wheel. It’s small, simple and best of all, a tad more portable than a Pioneer DJM-600 (though we’re not trying to make a comparison). Available here.

Designed exclusively for MacBook, BassJump is a one-of-a-kind, go anywhere, USB-powered subwoofer that turns your MacBook into a mini sound system.  Custom software blends the music coming out of your built-in speakers with the sound output of the BassJump for dramatically enhanced audio performance. BassJump adds to your built-in MacBook speakers and make them sound even better by adding mid- and low-frequencies through one well-designed, travel-sized subwoofer. The included software combines audio coming from your MacBook speakers with the low frequency bass coming from the BassJump subwoofer. By blending up to two audio sources, you hear a dramatically richer, fuller sound. One single USB cable delivers power and sound. Points for making it look like a Mac Mini. Available here.

Back in ‘83 Casio released the G-Shock to the world, a watch that is still relevant a quarter of a century later. Taking this technology one step further, the brand announced today the release of their first shock-resistant, waterproof, freezeproof, dustproof digital camera in the EXILIM G lineup. The EX-G1 is being dubbed as the world’s slimmest shock-resistant camera, offering an interesting combination of rugged design with sleek lines to satisfy the taste of any intermediate camera lover. Coming in at 12.1 megapixels, the camera also features some interesting features such as interval shooting and multi-image capture, a great bonus for those engaged in active sport while snapping shots. The main thing though is that this 0.78-inch low profile body withstands shock and water damage, or pretty much anything else you can throw at it. Available in Red or Black at some point in December 2009.

Making the rounds today is news of a special collaboration between Leica and Hermès; the Leica M7 Edition Hermès. Already huge fans of the classic retro design of the M series, these new limited edition 35mm cameras up the ante. Coming in silver chrome with 2 calfskin leather Hermès colorways (orange and brown), they’re delivered in a silk-lined box and are finished with an Atelier Hermès matching leather strap. Only 100 models of each colorway will be produced, and even with their hefty price-tag of $14,000US, we’re pretty sure they’ll be tough to get your hands on. More images after the jump.

Bowers & Wilkins have been in the hi-fi speaker game since the 1960’s, yet they are sharp enough to realize that the iPod and iPhone rule the day when it comes to modern music listening.  So, after the success of their Zeppelin iPod system, which we previously reviewed here, Bowers & Wilkins are set to drop the P5 hi-fi headphones – their first ever.  The P5 is specifically designed to work well with Apple’s ubiquitous portable products, and even includes an approved cable for speech and device control.  It also includes a gold-plated standard audio cable, which is interchangeable with the Apple-approved cable.  Of course, B&W’s primary concern is sound quality and the P5 provide noise isolation and a balanced sound, free of any hyped bass or treble which often make long headphone listening sessions fatiguing.  The earpads and headband made of sheep’s leather let you know you’re listening in luxury.  The P5 is set to go on sale in January.