Iconic in design, cubic in shape

The Iona ‘Cube’ is a fun new concept in low-cost, Wi-Fi enabled internet radio.  In a radical departure from the traditional ‘push-button’ user-interface, Cambridge Consultants’ intuitive new design allows the listener to personalise the Cube to play just their favourite radio stations or podcasts.  The Cube concept greatly simplifies the way people currently select which internet radio stations they listen to, whilst significantly reducing the cost of the radio at the same time.

According to research, the average person listens to between three to four radio stations regularly.  The Cube has been designed with this in mind.  By simply turning the Cube onto one of its four available sides, it will change to the desired radio station.  A fifth side is dedicated to the speaker and the final remaining side is dedicated to switching the radio to the ‘off’ position.  The Cube can be quickly and easily customised to play a listener’s top four stations. 

The designers involved in this new concept wanted to keep simplicity to the maximum.  Accordingly, even the volume button has been removed.  Instead, the listener just twists the Cube to the right to increase the volume and twists to the left to decrease it. 

Based on the Iona platform technology shown at CES 2007, the Cube uses a Wi-Fi connection to provide a choice of up to 10,000 stations from which listeners can customise the four sides of the radio concept, satisfying both mainstream and exotic tastes.  Customisation of the Cube can be achieved via a number of ways, including using a simple web interface.

Duncan Smith, head of consumer products at Cambridge Consultants, says, “Well designed products are such a joy to use that they turn every consumer into an evangelist. The Cube concept is so easy and fun to use that it is infectious. Consumers won’t have to scroll through endless lists of stations to find their favourites, they will just have to flip the radio.  It epitomises convenience and is so simple and intuitive that everyone will be able to use it.”

At CES 2008, Cambridge Consultants will be presenting a variety of technologies and revolutionary innovations, including the Iona Cube Radio. 

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About Cambridge Consultants

Cambridge Consultants develops breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual property, and provides business consultancy in technology critical issues for clients worldwide. For nearly 50 years, the company has enabled its clients to turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies. With a team of over 250 engineers, designers, scientists and consultants, in offices in Cambridge (UK) and Boston (USA), Cambridge Consultants offers solutions across a diverse range of industries including medical technology, industrial and consumer products, automotive, transport, energy and wireless communications. For more information visit: www.CambridgeConsultants.com.

Cambridge Consultants is part of the Altran group of companies. Altran Technologie, which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (FR:003463), employs more than 17,000 consultants in 20 countries around the world. In 2006 the group generated a turnover of €1,495.6 million. For more information visit: www.altran.com.