alphabetic gadgets

The Evolution of the Geek by Flowtown

2010-10-26T20:43:00.002+01:00

I have seriously been neglecting my blog lately...I just don't have time to update it anymore! I've decided the solution is to buy a laptop and start updating it on the train as I spend nearly 4 hours a day commuting.

Anyway, here's a brilliant chart that I read about on Penn Olson's blog, which I highly recommend reading if you have the time. This infographic is by Flowtown and goes some way in addressing the many 'social substratas' (to quote Mark Corrigan, possibly a hybrid of a Book Geek and a Politics Geek) which have now evolved from the rather patronising 'geek chic' label that has been paraded around over the last few years.

Via Flowtown.

Sofa Stadium by Virgin Media

2010-09-22T11:01:00.002+01:00

If you're struggling to afford the astronomical prices charged by top football clubs to watch your team play, you should check out Sofa Stadium. It's available to anyone with an internet connection (not just Virgin customers) and lets you chat to your mates about the current game on TV. It shows live stats and analysis of the game and is an essential download for any football fanatic!

Check it out here.

The Human Pacman by Guillaume Reymond

2010-09-13T21:39:00.002+01:00

Taking just 4 hours and using 111 cinema seats, French artist has taken his human tetris one step further by replicating Pacman with people.

Via Digital Buzz Blog.

Bestimix 33 - The Nextmen!

2010-09-13T21:34:00.002+01:00

I was pretty gutted that I couldn't go to Bestival this year, despite having a good time go-karting. So I was chuffed to come across this mix by my favourite DJ duo, The Nextmen. I wanted to replicate the experience so much that I filled my bedroom with mud, pitched up a tend, didn't shower for 3 days and blasted this out of my hifi.

Bestimix 33: The Nextmen by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download it here.

Smart Finger

2010-09-13T21:23:00.003+01:00

I love this concept from Korea. Everyone has experienced being in Korea and thinking that space between the wall and your bed is about that big only to find when you get home that your bedside table is going to have to be 'adjusted' with a hacksaw. I won't bother explaining how it works (using LED) as it's a concept and so therefore is only really a thing of science fiction but I did like the accompanying diagram below, which shows different cultures interpretations of distance.

Via Yanko Design.

Speed-tie Your Shoes

2010-09-13T21:11:00.002+01:00

Here's a really impressive viral by Sprint, whose business strategy is centered around the speed of their network. The video has over 2 million views on YouTube and was featured on Lifehacker. It's part of a series of videos called SprintCuts which all offer ways of speeding up everyday tasks. Apparently, by doing said tasks you'll save 4 days of your life, which is by no means linked to their 4G network. Check it out here.

Cardboard Warfare

2010-09-13T21:06:00.001+01:00

I've been meaning to post this for a while since Mr. Fisher showed me it a few months ago. It has some pretty awesome sound engineering and special effects which are juxtapositioned by the use of cardboard guns. It reminds me of the scene in The Dark Knight, where two young boys think their imaginary guns cause the huge explosion caused by Batman.

Enjoy.

Xbox 360 Autumn 2010 update...LEAKED!

2010-09-13T21:01:00.002+01:00

Due to some sloppy security surrounding the development of Kinect, the new update to the menu system of the Xbox 360 and the first one that the new Slim model will be subjected to, has been leaked on YouTube. By the looks of things, the update means that the angular design of the Slim has been translated into the UI. I'm not sure I'm too keen, but it's not that much of a big deal to me to warrant posting the stream of absurdly strong emotions that now adorn the videos YouTube page.

The future of touchscreen

2010-09-07T20:46:00.003+01:00

The prevalence of touchscreen devices has rocketed in the last few years. With smartphones now allowing us to carry mini-computers in our pockets, whilst also touting HD cameras, GPS applications and the all important telephone function, it's sometimes difficult to picture how much further manufactures can go.

Cue Swedish design firm, The Astonishing Tribe, who have conjured up this crazy vision of the not-too-distant 2014. Innovations include a fancy version of the iPhone app 'Bump' as well as an interactive mirror. However, all this innovation seems a tad intrusive; a view shared by Charlie Brooker. As the video perhaps unintentionally illustrates, we are bombarded with information from the moment we wake up. The disgruntled young woman in the film doesn't even have time to brush her teeth without being reminded of her event invitations. I mean if you can't look into the mirror and recreate the astronaut scene from The Truman Show, how else can you have fun?

Don Draper checks his iPhone

2010-09-01T20:48:00.002+01:00

I'm sure that you're aware by now that series 4 of Mad Men will be hitting British screens on the 8th September - a full 4 months ahead of schedule. This is glorious news and once again raises the issue of delaying the release of award-winning American shows this side of the pond. Waiting to see the new series undoubtedly means one is privy to all manner of SPOILERS on the socially connected web of 2010.

One sneak peak that I wasn't aghast to see was these pictures of the cast using modern tech, captured by Rolling Stone magazine.

Via core77.

Internet Infographic

2010-08-18T14:21:00.003+01:00

Via Viral Blog.

Anatomy of Technique by Mads Petersen

2010-08-15T20:50:00.002+01:00

It's always a bit disappointing when you find out they're just made out of circuitry and solder.

Via designyoutrust.

Eyes by Suren Manvelyan

2010-08-13T17:04:00.003+01:00

I'm not sure of the technology behind these images by Suren Manvelyan, but they have produced some pretty impressive pictures. They are so detailed that they almost look like etheral landscapes from another planet! Check out more of his work here.

X-Wing Fighter Mailbox

2010-08-13T16:57:00.001+01:00

Enough said really.

Maltesers Ice Cream Thermometer

2010-08-11T11:47:00.002+01:00

As a bit of a geek, I love having stats about stuff. This is why I wear a calculator watch. I have the time, date, conversion rates, the ability to time how long things take...I can even find out the time in Mexico if I need to. However, one thing which is missing is quickly finding out what the temperature is...a vital requirement when living in the temperamental British climate!

Maltesers have tried to solve this problem by introducing a handy Facebook app, which means you can find out the temperature outside next time you're checking out your news feed. When it hits 26 degrees, it's ice cream time! The first comment on this post receives some free Maltesers goodies.

Check it out here.

Super Mario goes urban

2010-08-08T21:39:00.002+01:00

Super Mario Bros. from Andreas Heikaus on Vimeo.

A very talented German designer has come up with an urban take on one of the greatest video games of all time; Super Mario. By using tracking software and CG (I don't know how on earth he did it to be honest), Andreas Heikaus was able to map the game onto a concrete wall. He sure knows his shortcuts - he makes the game seem so small!

PS. When watching this video, I was impressed that Vimeo automatically pauses what you're watching when you switch tabs (in Safari anway).

A Jedi's Best Friend

2010-08-08T21:28:00.002+01:00

AT-AT day afternoon from Patrick Boivin on Vimeo.

There's some pretty amazing animation techniques in this video by Patrick Boivin. He states his motivations behind making the film as an unfilled desire as a kid to own a dog and an AT-AT walker! Head here to see how he made the film.

The USB Extension Lead

2010-08-05T21:57:00.002+01:00

I like to have all sorts of peripherals connected to my computer at any one time...but not necessarily at the same time. I don't know about you, but I HATE that pause that happens when Windows/OSX figures out what you're plugging in. Cue the USB Extension Lead.

11 Things you didn't know about...Volcanoes!

2010-08-05T21:34:00.001+01:00

Via: Homeowners Insurance

Don't Go Zombie: First game to use Google Street View by Virgin Trains

2010-08-05T10:39:00.004+01:00

Virgin Trains have launched the first ever game to be based on Google Street View. Found at www.dontgozombie.com, it's the first game which lets you shoot zombies outside your own home without looking like a fruit loop. If you fail to defend yourself from the relentless attacks from the undead, your Facebook picture will be zombiefied and posted to your profile! You friends can then save you by playing the game themselves...

Check it out here.

Inspiration Pad by Marc Thomasset

2010-08-01T12:34:00.004+01:00

You buy one here.

Via TMsprl.com

Vinyl Clocks by Pavel Sidorenko

2010-08-01T11:49:00.002+01:00

Turning old vinyl records into clocks isn't anything new, but using a laser to cut the vinyl into these crazy shapes certainly is! These clocks are made by Estonian artist Pavel Sidorenko and they only cost €30! Head here to buy one and see the other designs.

Who's in the Blogosphere?

2010-08-01T10:54:00.002+01:00

Via flowtown.com.

Karriem Riggins

2010-07-31T10:38:00.001+01:00

I heard this tune on the Stones Throw podcast this week (subscribe if you haven't already) and decided to look into Karriem Riggins as I loved the beat. Turns out he is a jazz drummer/hip-hop producer who I have been listening to a long time; he has collaborated with Slum Village, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Common and Madlib. He was also responsible for post-humously finishing The Shining, by J Dilla. Head here to see his impressive discography in full.

Check out his myspace here.

Tab Candy by Mozilla Firefox

2010-07-25T14:29:00.004+01:00

An Introduction to Firefox's Tab Candy from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.

It was with intrepidation that I updated the software on my phone this week with iOS4. The problems surrounding (no pun intended) the new iPhone and it's faulty antennae design have led to a frantic search on Apple's part for new engineers, due to the fact that they had somehow forgotten that a large portion of the general public use their phone to make telephone calls. The uproar has resulted in a $175 million bill for Mr. Jobs and co, who are now supplying their first official case for the iPhone for free to every owner. Despite this techno-scandal, I figured I'd give my 3GS a new lease of life with the software upgrade.

In all honesty, I've not found a huge amount of difference since installing it. Although 100 touted features are no doubt lurking beneath the screen, waiting to pounce on my when I'm next writing a text message, I've only really noticed a few. I like the geo-tagging on my photos; I can now view them by where I was when taking my pictures. I also really like grouping my app icons together into clusters; News, Games, Social, etc. However, the ability to change the background to your own image as opposed to default black actually irritated me. I hate the agony of choice that surrounds me everyday - I don't know what to choose! 1984 didn't sound to bad to me and I wish Henry Ford hadn't bothered offering his Model T in any other colours.

I'm also not fussed with the multi-tasking, which has been a long-standing complaint amongst iPhone users. It's not a computer, it's a phone. There cannot be THAT many things which you need to be doing simultaneously. OK, it's good that I can leave Skype on whilst doing something else. But what bothers me is that once you've opened an app, it doesn't close when you hit the home button. This means that you can inadvertently have a whole host of apps running at any one time, draining the already fickle battery life. To make sure they're really closed, you need to open what is effectively a 'toolbar' (ironically a key feature of any Windows OS) and close them down by holding them. FAFF.

This irritation would be eradicated if Apple pinched a few of the developers at Mozilla; shouldn't be hard, they work for free. This Tab Candy feature is a really intuitive way to organise your tabs into specific tasks when you're working. Saying that, the iPhone is a phone. Which should really be best at making calls.

Try the alpha version here.

3D: What's the big deal?

2010-07-25T14:06:00.003+01:00

I was informed today by both of my brothers that they were off to see Toy Story 3. An excellent film, which I watched last week and thoroughly enjoyed. However, sibling protests arose due to the fact that I had forgone the option to watch it in '3D'. I instead chose to save 20% off the ticket price and avoid having to wear some silly glasses for 2 hours. As you may have guessed, I'm not a fan of 3D.

My first experience with the 3D, along with millions of others, was watching James Camerons titanic film, Avatar. I thought the film itself was OK, a pretty average script and a tad too long, but amazing visuals. However, the aesthetics were hampered somewhat due to the effort to present them in 3D. As far as I can tell, a large part of producing a 3D film is making the '3D' object bright and clear, whilst putting the background image out of focus. This meant that if you were to casually look at something else in the shot, apart from the babbling blue lizard-smurf who was trying to 'save the trees', you would be greeted with a grainy, wobbly mess. After spending years trying to perfect as clear an image as possible, it seems to me somewhat perverse to allow this image degradation to happen in the name of making a good film look like a cheap party trick.

The same line of thought was shared by Christopher Nolan, who chose not to film his new picture Inception in 3D. He claims that 3D is a real step backward in terms of image quality, saying that "...I find the dimness of the image extremely alienating." According to The Wrap, image dimness could be a major factor behind the declining revenues generated by 3D blockbusters, as shown in the graph above. 3D films are at least 50% dimmer than their 2D counterparts. As Ebert argues in Newsweek, 3D technology is clearly a desperate attempt by the movie industry to resurrect flailing ticket sales as piracy is rife, an attempt which I would usually have no qualms with. Piracy is a real problem and the industry needs to add value to the cinema experience. As Ebert points out, the introduction of technology to resurrect the movie industry is by no means a new phenomena; take stereo, widescreen, colour, etc. However, the difference between these technologies and 3D is that they have dramatically improved image quality, as opposed to offering a cheap, marketable gimmick.

So go and see Toy Story 3, if only to see this short clip below. But make sure it's in 2D.

Summertime: The Mixtape

2010-07-25T14:01:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Jimbo for pointing me in the direction of this funky fresh summer mixtape. It's banging. Download it here.

Via UNDRCRWN.com

Radio Daze - The Roots (ft. Blu)

2010-07-11T12:42:00.003+01:00

This is probably my favourite song on the new Roots album, How I Got Over. It features up and coming rapper Blu, who's definitely worth checking out if you haven't already. Since the release of The Tipping Point, I've found the hip-hop jammers albums to be a bit iffy, but How I Got Over sees a real return to form. After the darker beats that accompanied the political rants in Rising Down, it's good to hear a return to their funkier origins.

Bang Bang Bang by Mark Ronson

2010-07-11T12:38:00.003+01:00

Loving this tune by Mark Ronson, kick start the Summer!

Humorous Egg Art

2010-07-11T12:12:00.003+01:00

After returning from my "Around the World" trip, it was with joy that I tucked into some decent scrambled eggs on toast.

Via The Wondrous.

Fix Pix by eBoy

2010-06-03T08:46:00.001+01:00

eBoy FixPix [iPhone] - CreativeApplications.Net from CreativeApplications.Net on Vimeo.

This iPhone app is currently taking the geek world by storm and I'm particularly interested as it is by eBoy who designed one of my favourite posters!

Via engadget.

Hello World - Lego Printer

2010-06-03T08:43:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Emma for showing me this AMAZING lego printer. Sorry for my lack of posts...I'm currently in Australia!

Ephemicropolis by Peter Root

2010-05-01T00:57:00.002+01:00

These pictures are the work of artist Peter Root. Using stacked staples, he has created a mini metropolis. Check the video below to see how it was made.

The making of Ephemicropolis from Peter Root on Vimeo.

Via Make.

Lego Infographic by Robin Richards

2010-04-30T17:28:00.005+01:00

This infographic is taken from Meet The Boss, an intriguing website that I stumbled upon today which endeavours to interview business leaders who have turned companies around. This particular picture comes from an interview with Jørgen Vig Knudstorp (check it out below). For more interviews, visit Meet The Boss.

I would also recommend visiting Robin Richards blog (he created the image). His designs are both aesthetically pleasing and informative - he's worked for Dreamworks, BMW and FedEx. Head here to see more.

Domestic Transformer

2010-04-30T14:52:00.005+01:00

An ingenious architect called Gary Chang has created this amazing apartment which allows 24 different room configurations in just 330 sq. ft of space! Every inch of his apartment is utilised in the most efficient way possible...his bookcase/cd shelf conceals a linen cupboard. However, all this space-saving doesn't mean Mr. Chang need skimp on luxuries; when the bath is not in use it doubles as a spare bed! Check out the video for 4 minutes of astonishment.

Via treehugger.

Meditation Mix by The Nextmen

2010-04-30T14:41:00.002+01:00

This mix come out a few months ago, but it's much more suited to the upcoming Summer than the cold winter months! I love the previous Nextmen mixes (they're much better than the albums they've done), so I was chuffed to stumble across this mix.

Kicking off with feel-good hip-hop and some funky mashups, this mix also features an amazing ODB reggae mix (oh baby I like it raaaaaw!) as well as a Jamaican version of Tainted Love. Other hip-hoppers to make an appearance include Method Man, Foreign Beggars and Redman before some minimal disco, dub-step and house get mixed in.

It really is the perfect mix for your first Summer bbq...check it out now.

The Nextmen - Meditation MixbyThe Nextmen

Microsoft puts an end to the Courier...

2010-04-30T14:18:00.003+01:00

After being impressed with Windows 7 for sometime now, I for one am sad at the news today that the Microsoft Courier will not be manufactured. The MS tablet, which was to feature two 7-inch screens, making it more of an e-book than an iPad ever will be, is now nothing more than a unicorn. The revolutionary tablet had an awesome OS which was showcased by Gizmodo sometime ago...check out the video below to see what we've missed.

What's the point of Twitter?

2010-04-25T21:07:00.002+01:00

I read an interesting article on Crave today about the huge variety of ways people use Twitter. Many people who are sceptic of the one of the biggest social media phenomena are probably not approaching it with an open mind. I initially saw it as pointless ramblings; a vent for self-obsessed people who love the 'sound' of their own voice. It seemed to be a stripped-down version of Facebook, as all you could do with your profile was post 140 characters.

After a few months, I thought it'd give it another go. I was told by a friend that I should 'follow' interesting people and I quickly began to build my own collection...Jason Manford, Marcus Brigstock, Charlie Brooker, David Mitchell...even Darth Vader. As well as comedians, I added websites and newspapers I found interesting; Wired, Gizmodo, Radio 4, Engadget etc. It is surprising how many of your regularly visited news sources are tweeting away. I began to use Twitter as my own RSS-feeder, albeit with the added advantage of being seasoned with funny quotes from my favourite comedians and giving me the ability to 'micro-blog'. The 're-tweet' or RT, means that you can re-post something you find interesting/funny/exciting at the touch of a button.

I think an essential ingredient in ensuring you enjoy using Twitter is using it on a mobile platform. I can't be bothered to head to the Twitter website when I'm at my desk; I might as well go to the actual news source or I'll be busy doing something else. However, using Twitterfic on your iPhone when you've nothing else to do gives you a quick burst of opinions about the day's events and allows you to re-tweet what you find interesting yourself. I've also embedded my Twitter updates on my blog, as you can see on the right-hand side.

If you haven't embraced Twitter yet, read the article below and see if you should give it another go.

"If you use Twitter, you'll almost certainly have had to deal with this question, maybe down the pub, maybe at work, maybe from your parents: "What's the bloody point?" At this point your interrogator may well mention what you had for breakfast, and txt spk, and Stephen Fry. So we asked our users what they used Twitter for, and the answers were so varied and interesting that we just had to share.

We asked 540 self-selecting CNET UK readers whether they used Twitter and what they thought of it. 59 per cent used it, 31 per cent didn't and 11 per cent have used it in the past but don't any more.

Our readers had a wide range of reasons for using Twitter. By far the most popular was entering competitions -- retweeting is a common way of doing so. Keeping in touch with friends and famous people was common, specifically favourite bands or sportspeople. Some people used the trends feature to keep up to date with current affairs, such as Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time.

Some use it for chat -- direct messages and @replies make it a "massive chat room", according to one reader. This informal communication incorporates open invites -- "going to the pub in an hour, anyone interested?" one reader generously invited us -- or posting jokes or overheard comments. One reader said it was "almost a replacement for SMS".

Others used it in place of other online services. "I use it to follow news from various companies and organisations. It has become my RSS reader," said one respondent. Another said, "I use it for posting links to my blog that don't merit the effort of opening Live Writer or Word Press Dashboard."

We asked those who don't use Twitter why not. One made a very interesting point about its reliability as a news source. During the Iran election, the reader said, "...everyone on there is screeching how people are being axed to death in the street, people are being crushed, and there's this real sense that this is immediate and important, but then you go over to a reputable news source and they're unanimously reporting quiet non-violent demonstrations at the exact same places the twittersphere says are ablaze.

"It made the whole forum look hysterical," the reader continued. "As with all of Web 2.0, the failing is that it relies upon a human capacity to converse rationally that humans are seldom capable of without the enforced accountability of talking face-to-face."

Others put their objections more bluntly. "Who wants to talk to a load of strangers about what boring things you have been doing and get their banal and boring day in return?" asked one in reply. "What's the bloody point?" was a real response, and neatly summed up the general feeling among non-users.

Twitter certainly has limitations as a form of communication, but at least we've answered that last question."

PS. My twitter name is @joebycro.

Via Crave.

Lady Brown by Nujabes (ft. Cise Starr)

2010-04-25T20:41:00.003+01:00

I've been listening to a lot of Nujabes recently, particularly since I heard the sad news of his death. With Guru also popping his clogs last week, it's been a sad year for music so far. This particular track has a great hook. If you like the sample, the original is The Shade of the Mango Tree by Luiz Bonfa. I've since gone on to buy his album...one of the reasons why I love hip-hop!

Steve Alvarez

2010-04-25T20:36:00.002+01:00

This illustration by Steve Alvarez was nominated the winner of a recent competition by Gizmodo. To see the other entries, which include some pretty funny takes on the infamous technological fruit, head here.

Via Gizmodo.

The future of journalism...?

2010-04-25T20:31:00.001+01:00

Via Brent Couchman.

Mirror Man

2010-04-25T20:20:00.002+01:00

This street performer was spotted in LA sporting a costume made entirely of mirrors. Amazing.

Via kuriositas.

The Physical Value of Sound by Yuri Suzuki

2010-04-20T22:15:00.002+01:00

Musicians were outraged last week when it was revealed that Spotify paid Lady Gaga just $167 for streaming her single 'Poker Face' over 1 million times. Personally, I think Lady Gaga would have to pay me ten times that to play her single once. Anyway, I liked this project by Yuri Suzuki, which attempts to convey the intrinsic value of sound. The artist from Tokyo took apart vinyl records in order to make various nostalgic items such as a Scaletrix track. Check it out.

Via nylvi.

Nike Music Shoe

2010-04-20T21:58:00.002+01:00

This amazing Nike ad involves installing accelerometers into Nike trainers, along with a pinch of circuitry, in order to make it possible to make music by bending shoes! Check out the video if that description doesn't make sense.

Via Asylum Sneaker.

Winscape

2010-04-19T20:35:00.000+01:00

I initially thought that two 46" plasmas hung side by side to look like windows would be pointless. But then I watched the video...

MadsHobbitHole by Maddie Chambers

2010-04-19T19:47:00.003+01:00

A Lord of the Rings nut from ~~Derby~~shire has spent a year (impressive) creating this amazingly intricate recreation of Bags End, home of the hobbits. The amount of detail has somehow been squeezed into an area of 3 square feet. For more pictures, visit her blog here.

iPhone 4...leaked!

2010-04-19T19:34:00.002+01:00

Gizmodo landed the biggest gadget scoop ever today, when they suspiciously got hold of an Apple product not due to be launched for months. The phone, said to be 'found in a bar' was disguised in a case which made it look like a 3GS. Gizmodo have torn the new device apart in order to confirm with a heavy dose of certainty that this looks like a genuine Cupertino product.

The new iPhone, rumoured to be released this Summer shortly after the 4.0 OS, packs a host of new features to bring it up to speed with the competition. Most notable is the inclusion of a flash for the camera, as well as front facing camera. Given Apple's history, this is likely to mean that iChat is set to take off in a big way in the mobile world.

The new phone is slightly heavier than the 3GS, largely due to the fact that there is a 16% bigger battery in the housing...which hopefully means better battery life! The unit is pretty similar looking to the old one, bar the fact that the back is now flat, rather than curved. There also appears to be additional mics on the phone, presumable for noise cancellation; the audio quality on the iPhone is an issue which has required addressing for some time.

Whether or not this is a genuine mistaken leak, or a PR stunt by Apple to divert attention from the plethora of quality Android handsets hitting the market is a mystery.

Head to Gizmodo for the full story...

Yeasayer by Leo Stamps

2010-04-11T22:29:00.000+01:00

Music for One Apartment and Six Drummers by Ola Simonsson

2010-04-11T22:12:00.001+01:00

This is an old YouTube video which I haven't been able to find for ages. It features six drummers entering an apartment and making the most of what's on offer to create some crazy rhythms. Definitely worth watching.

Horizont by Stas Chepurnov

2010-04-11T22:03:00.001+01:00

Horizont from Stas Chepurnov on Vimeo.

I love this.

Via todayandtomorrow.net

Reflectius by Art Lebedev

2010-04-11T21:53:00.002+01:00

This is the clockface for the ingenious concept that is the Reflectius by the design studio that brought us the Optimus keyboard. Using 60 mirrors, the time is shown by a single red laser. And check out how cool it looks from the back...!

Xperia X10 by Sony Ericsson

2010-04-11T18:20:00.002+01:00

This week, Sony Ericsson waded into the increasingly competitive smartphone market with their first Android device. This is the 3rd OS that Sony Ericsson is supporting and recent comments from the CEO suggest that a 4th one (probably Windows Phone Series 7) is likely. The 4 inch capactive touch screen is clearly aimed at stealing market share from the iPhone and may well do so as the 854x480 VGA display and glossy black finish makes the familiar looking iPhone appear clunky. In addition, the decision to avoid using an OLED screen such as that found in the Nexus One means that using this phone in bright sunlight won't present any problems.

Due to the customisable nature of Android, Sony Ericsson has been able to approach the problem of 'information overload' in an intuitive fashion through the use of Timescape. By pressing the 'infinity' button, you can view all information associated with any given contact; Facebook updates, Twitter updates, text messages, e-mail...all aggregated in one place and viewed in 'splines'. It's best explained by viewing the video below. The same sort of treatment is used in Mediascape.

In addition to bringing the usually abysmal Android media player up to speed, Sony Ericsson brings it's usual market-leading mobile cameras to the device. The X10 boasts an 8.1 MP camera as well as face recognition technology that 'remembers' who was in your previous photo and tags them in your next photos accordingly.

As far as Android phones go, the Sony Ericsson emerges as the current market leader with the X10. Bringing their experience in the mobile world to an open source OS such as Android has really paid off and coupled with the immensely powerful 1Ghz Snapdragon processor, the X10 will be giving the iPhone a run for it's money.

Why you should NEVER buy expensive HDMI cables

2010-03-31T22:14:00.002+01:00

Via Lifehacker.

A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue

2010-03-30T23:04:00.001+01:00

Kind of Blue is up there in my Top 10 Albums of All Time (along with everyone else I guess), so I was blown away by this reggae version.

Thanks to Mr. Conroy.

Paper Game by Zim and Zou

2010-03-30T22:45:00.003+01:00

You can't fail to be impressed by the meticulous detail shown in this paper version of the iconic Nintendo Gameboy. I was never allowed to have a Gameboy as a child, which makes me want one of these even MORE.

Via Behance Network.

NHS anti-smoking viral by Rankin

2010-03-30T22:28:00.002+01:00

This hard-hitting anti-smoking ad is really well shot...thanks to Stampino for the tip off.

Via The Guardian.

The Magnifying Glass Clock by Rafael Morgan

2010-03-22T22:31:00.003Z

This clock should be bundled with one of my favourite board games...Cluedo. Sadly, it is only a concept for now, but the designer is 'on the hunt' for someone to start producing it...

Via Gizmodo.

Han Solo Pop by David Schwen

2010-03-22T22:22:00.004Z

I was more than impressed to see this Star Wars design on teefury.com today. If you haven't heard of teefury before (I hadn't either), it's a website which is based on the motto Tee today, gone tomorrow. It's limited edition designs are released for one day only, so when they're gone, they're gone. The artists who comes up with the design on the shirts is profiled on the site and receives 11% of the revenues from their shirts sales. Nice.

Via teefury.com

Topsy...a search engine powered by Tweets

2010-03-22T21:47:00.006Z

Topsy appears to be one of the first real advantages to come out of the plethora of people who are now tweeting ad nausem. I'm no expert on search optimization, so here is a simple explanation of how Topsy works...

"Topsy is a new kind of search engine, with a new way of looking at the Internet. Topsy doesn’t think the Internet is a collection of documents. Or even a web of documents. Topsy sees the Internet as a stream of conversations. Topsy treats people differently from the webpages they create and the things they say. And Topsy sees that people in every community are connected in a web of relationships, where each person influences other people to read, talk and think about things.

When you search for something on Topsy, such as "free music", it finds snippets of conversations that match what you’re looking for. Topsy results are the things people link to, when they’re talking about your search terms. Topsy ranks results based on how well they match your search terms, and the influence of the people talking about them.

Because of how Topsy works, Topsy can do things other search engines don’t usually do. Topsy results are fresh, because they’re based on what you’re talking about right now. Or this week. Or the past month. Topsy has "trackback" pages for everything in its index, showing what everyone is saying about that thing. Conversations are about people, and Topsy has pages for every person it listens to – listing the things you’ve been talking about."

Give it a go yourself...head to topsy.com.

The Playstation Move

2010-03-22T18:49:00.001Z

What you can see here, is Sony's attempt to copy Nintendos success with the Wii. Dubbed the Playstation 'Move', it seems that Sony has decided that pitching it's struggling PS3 device as the essential premimum media hub for everyones living room is a strategy that requires some tinkering. The Move device will be bundled with a game, likely to be an itineration of SOCOM or a sport-related (*cough* Wii Sports *cough*) game for all the family. The bundles will cost less than $100 but will not come with a 'sub-controller' (*cough* Wii Nunchuck *cough*).

Aside from the rather obvious similarities with the Wii, Sony thought it might be fun to add an oversized, candy-coloured ping pong ball to each controller. The reason? The colour adapts to the environment in which it finds itself (probably a living room?!), in order to blend in. How about just not putting one there at all!? I've yet to play with the Move myself, but reviews appear to be mixed.

I think the announcement of the Move smacks of desperation on Sony's part. Support for Blu-ray has been lack lustre, with severe price cuts needed ahead of schedule in order for the market to gain traction. This is in part due to the recession but also due to the fact that people are moving away from optical media as a channel for consuming their films, music etc. The research and money poured into the Blu-ray/HD-DVD war by Sony was ludicrous and has resulted in little reward. Secondly, despite a claimed product life of 10 years for the PS3, Sony has had to release their 'Slim' itineration just 30 months after the delayed release of the original console, which itself went through numerous confusing spec-changes. This is a stark contrast to the immensely successful PS2, whose own 'Slim' version was released 4 years after the original; a much more convincing time scale for a product with a 10 year lifecycle.

Rather than develop a completely innovative technology such as Project Natal, Sony simply appears to be clutching at straws by attempting to imitate Nintendo's success. I hope they Move is implemented correctly, as a 3D Ico would be awesome, but I fear it will instead be an overpriced mess.

My Way by Chris Niemann

2010-03-16T19:15:00.003Z

I love these illustrations by Chris Niemann. If only life was this simple!

Via NYTimes.

Past...Present...Future...Watch?

2010-03-16T19:09:00.004Z

I really like this watch from Yanko Design. I'm not so keen on the price tag...$100. It comes in black leather or a rather tacky 'chain mail' band.

It's funny because it's true...

2010-03-16T19:06:00.001Z

This picture made me laugh.

Ironically...Via ffffound!

SFgirlbybay

2010-03-16T19:04:00.001Z

Via sfgirlbybay.

Killer combo

2010-03-16T18:58:00.002Z

Via ffffound!

Not sure this is orange juice...

2010-03-14T19:16:00.004Z

But I'd definitely drink it!

Amnesia by Blu

2010-03-09T22:33:00.002Z

Thanks to Jimbo for telling me about Blu. His chilled out flow goes down a treat with this laid back '50s video, which I am particularly partial to having just finished the first two seasons of Mad Men. Head over to Jimbo's new blog, Asylum Sneaker , for more gems like this...

PS. You've got to love the Radiohead mix at the end too...it's You and Whose Army? if you're pulling your hair out trying to work out which song it is!

Grindin' by Nobody Beats The Drum

2010-03-09T22:19:00.001Z

In a world where 'computer graphics' dominate music videos, and everything else we see on TV come to think of it, it's nice to see Grindin'. The video could easily have been made quite simply and quickly using computers but has instead been produced the 'analogue' way. This stop-motion short took 4085 photographs to make. If you want to see how it was made, head here.

Via todayandtomorrow.

Pivot by Microsoft

2010-03-09T21:51:00.001Z

This application initially seems pretty boring, but the organised, OCD geek in me thinks it's AMAZING. Using a meta-data and a display technology called Seadragon, Microsoft have managed to make the world-wide-web just that; a web. In the presentation, Gary Flake shows how the way we view the internet and the mass of information which it produces (The Data Deluge, according to The Economist) is actually wrong. Applications such as Pivot show that approaching the internet with traditional data management methods is completely the wrong way to handle a phenomenon which is really organic in nature. When Microsoft combine this with their touchscreen technology, Minority Report will go mainstream. If you have a PC, download and try it now!

Via Gizmodo.

The Mobile Market

2010-03-09T20:06:00.003Z

This diagram from iStrategy is really quite telling. It puts into perspective how powerful and, in some ways untapped the mobile market it is. For example, China only has 16.09 mobile phones per 100 people, despite most of them being made there. The chart showing that 46% of people access the internet using both their mobile and a computer is also much higher than I would have thought. However, the most telling statistic is that 48.7% of content being accessed by mobiles is news. Coupled with the fact that the 4 billion mobile phones worldwide dwarf the amount of newspapers in circulation, the journalism industry really needs to figure out how to profitably distribute its obviously popular content...FAST.

This Too Shall Pass by OK Go

2010-03-02T20:57:00.002Z

You've got to hand it to OK Go for knowing a how to make a funky fresh music video. After their immensely successful 'treadmill-based' Here It Goes Again, it's taken them several months working in conjunction with Synn Labs to make this astonishing machine.

Via The Daily What.

I'm Here by Spike Jonze

2010-03-02T20:29:00.003Z

Spike Jonze has joined with Absolut Vodka to make this short film entitled I'm Here. The film is about a lonely librarian robot who falls in love with female robot played by Sienna Guilloroy. Not sure how she'll be playing a robot...I'd like to think that the CGI will consist of the cast simply placing empty shoe boxes/beer crates onto their heads and cutting out holes for eyes...although probably not in that order.

ROA

2010-03-02T20:08:00.005Z

This Belgian graffiti artist certainly gives Banksy a run for his money. He tends to paint pigs vultures and dead bulls, so look out for his work! This enormous rabbit is painted on a garage in East London and changes depending on your perspective.

Via Shortlist.

Gramophonedzie - Why Don't You

2010-02-25T23:12:00.002Z

Can't stop listening to this song at the moment after first hearing it out in Budapest. It's being released in the UK on the 28th February 2010.

The sample is by Peggy Lee. CRANK UP THE BASS!

Persistent Pyramids by Anatoly Zenkov

2010-02-24T18:41:00.009Z

These photos prove that 3 really is the magic number.

Via BOOOOOOOM!

Siri on the iPhone

2010-02-24T16:57:00.004Z

Here's an app which really takes smartphones to the next level. Siri, which has taken a year to develop and required $24 million of investment through venture capital, offers the services of a personal assistant whilst on the move. I've yet to try it in the UK, but the demonstration video below certainly looks impressive - if you ignore the audible mouse clicks which seem to be navigating. I like how it draws upon a whole realm of internet information sites, such as OpenTable and RottenTomatoes, in order to improve user experience.

Neurosonics meets Beardyman

2010-02-24T16:42:00.003Z

Neurosonics Live from Chris Cairns on Vimeo.

Director Chris Cairns has utilised the technology from boffins at Neurosonics to make this awesome video. Collaborating with beat-boxer 'BeardyMan' (who was excellent at Glastonbury this year), he has made this awesome short showing that 3D technology needs to be holographic to be truly gobsmacking.

Via Creative Review.

Crayola Rockets

2010-02-24T16:26:00.004Z

I'm not sure whether or not this is a viral campaign by Crayola (it seems unlikely as children and fireworks never go down well), but you have to admire the effort that Mr. John Coker has put in since 1994 to replicate the tools behind his favourite childhood past time. The colourful rockets were fired in the Nevada desert to create this stunning image.

Via Waylou.

Windows Phone 7 series

2010-02-21T16:41:00.004Z

Oh Microsoft. Despite creating a stunning new mobile interface which prompted Gizmodo to tweet "Microsoft have just out-Appled Apple", you had to go and spoil it all by calling it...Windows Phone 7 Series. The Windows Phone would have been fine. Or the 7 phone. Or maybe the Phone...that might finally put an end to every new gadget being prefixed by an 'i'.

Jokes aside, I did not see this one coming. Microsoft really have created a BANGING phone OS which almost makes the iPhone look dated. Having a plethora of apps now seems messy; Microsoft have instead organised everything into 'hubs'. Head to 'People' and you have your contact book, social networking, etc. 'Office' has all work related applications in one place. It's all very well integrated and has obviously required a degree of lateral thinking.

Another welcome addition is the integration of Xbox Live. Despite only entering the ominously named 'console wars' less than a decade ago, Microsoft has really pulled out all the stops, with a huge legion of subscription paying gamers who are fiercely loyal to the 360 brand. It makes sense to utilise this huge market to its full potential by making the Xbox Live Marketplace mobile instead of developing a stand-alone app store to take on the behemoth that is iTunes.

Whether manufactures will produce hardware that is quick enough to handle this new OS is debatable. It will be a disaster for Microsoft if their 'Windows Phone' software is bundled on lacklustre handsets which do irreparable damage to their image by not being able to render the 'hubs' properly. I must say, I'm considering ditching the 'iLife' and going back to Windows...

Wired on an iPad

2010-02-21T16:15:00.006Z

Wired have recently released footage of the first glimpse of what might be possible on the next generation of e-readers (not necessarily the iPad). Using a program called AIR made by Adobe and to be included with CS5, this video shows how breathtaking journalism may become if e-readers become the norm. I was particularly impressed with the format of the adverts in the 'e-zine'. Instead of being small snippets of video, which is the norm one sees whilst currently surfing the web, Wired have highlighted how the unique interactivity of touch screen interfaces allow for a distinct form of advertisement. Rather than looking brash, the interactivity is understated; at a glance the ad could easily be in a print magazine. The car ad, for example, is nothing ground breaking in terms of presentation, meaning the ability to spin the car around with your finger looks incredibly intuitive.

Despite having a bit of an iRant last week, I do think e-readers offer a beacon of hope to the dying journalism industry. Waking up, switching on your piece of e-paper and having all your favourite magazines/newspapers at your disposal would be awesome. Especially if it were as well executed as this.

N.B. Scott really needs a LARGE dose of enthusiasm. I've never heard such a depressing mono-tone voice.

Google before you tweet....

2010-02-07T16:03:00.002Z

Rethink Scholarship

2010-02-07T15:58:00.004Z

Thanks to Katie for showing me this snazzy video!

Four Tet - Love Cry (Joy Orbison remix)

2010-02-04T23:51:00.003Z

I thoroughly recommend purchasing the new alum to hear the original of this song, as well as a collection of other SLAMMING tracks. Mr. Hebden is playing around the UK over the next few months. Check here for dates. I'm off to see him in Bristol!

The Rise of the Prosumer

2010-02-04T23:48:00.002Z

The word 'prosumer' is a hybrid of the words produced and consumer which perfectly describes the role of the Web 2.0/3.0 citizen in the modern technological era.

iSlate the iPad

2010-02-04T22:27:00.004Z

You would have to have been living under a rock (if Steve has his way, an iRock) for the past month to have escaped the media circus that has been following the faintest scrap of news regarding Apples new gadget. Although it was announced over a week ago, I have purposefully delayed writing about it on my blog. As a self-confessed Apple fan, I have been hoping that I would eventually be swayed by what is essentially an expensive paperweight.

Firstly, I am disappointed by the screen. Despite countless reviews claiming it to be 'stunning', it is essentially pretty standard. A 1024x768 display is nothing new. I was at least expecting it to be OLED or use electronic ink. There's no way that people are going to choose staring at a small, expensive, brightly lit screen over buying an inexpensive paperback. The publishing industry need a truly innovative display technology in order to convince people that the reading material that has been used since the EGYPTIANS should be surpassed. This. Is. Not. It.

I'm also disappointed at the funcitonality. Not being able to multi-task is a real flaw. OK, so maybe with a software update you'll be able to at a later date; that would explain the OTT processor. But even then, I really can't see why anyone would have any use for it. You can't really take it out and about because the curved back makes typing impossible, it only connects to wifi, a huge chunk of the web will be inaccessible because of their disagreements with Adobe and WHERE WOULD YOU PUT IT?! Aside from the fact that you could use your cheaper, 3G compatible iPhone instead, which handily also allows you to make telephone calls.

So maybe Apple want you to use it at home. But surely if you have enough cash floating around to buy an iPad (the name meant that within an hour of it's announcement, iTampon was trending on Twitter), you'd have a pretty banging computer. So I've concluded that the only place you'd end up using your iPad would be in the toilet. Where it belongs.

Alas, despite consistently looking for a reason to love the latest iGadget, I can find none. Instead, I become incensed by the audacity and arrogance of Apple to release an ultimately useless gadget which they believe will be bought in its millions because of the Apple brand...which is undoubtedly what will happen.

NB. If he used all these adjectives so many times, they can't be true.

Sharky Tea

2010-01-21T20:32:00.004Z

I thought this snazzy tea infuser did a good job of bucking the trend! Whatever happened to drinking tea without the obligatory bag? I remember watching Beatrice Potter and being transfixed by her little tea sieve. Maybe I'll invest in one of these.

Via Toxel.

Naughty Telephone Masts

2010-01-21T20:15:00.004Z

These images are a collection by photographer Robert Volt, which show the lengths that network providers go to in order to disguise the usually unsightly telephone masts which necessitate our mobile culture. Obviously their efforts aren't enough for some groups of society, with the Daily Mail (read Daily Doom & Gloom), describing them as 'eyesores', or to be more extreme 'masts of death'. I personally think they are a novel way of disguising what is ultimately necessary. If they weren't in place, the next Mail story would read SHOCKING LACK OF SIGNAL LEADS TO END OF THE WORLD.

Via The Guardian.

Lego Router

2010-01-17T12:58:00.003Z

Although I am definitely impressed by someone who has gone to the trouble of taking apart their router in order to fit it in a custom made lego casing, you have to ask "Why on Earth pick black?!" Of all the lovely lego colours to choose from, he's managed to actually make the router more dull looking than it was before. I would much rather have seen an ADSL Elmer. Maybe I should stop complaining and make one myself!

Via Make.

Entelligence by Michael Gartenberg

2010-01-17T12:34:00.006Z

I recently came across this new column on one of my favourite tech sites, Engadget. I thought I'd post this recent article about Google and their 'Don't Be Evil' philosophy. I think such a simplistic mantra is now looking tired. The Google philosophy that 'freeware is best' is only really sustainable if everyone uses Google products and advertises through their mediums. I think this article makes a valid point; that Google seems to be ignoring the business partnerships which got it where it is today.

After a weeks of speculation, leaks, confirmation and a sneak peek from my colleagues here at Engadget, Google finally told the story of the Nexus One. The Nexus One is the latest and greatest Android device, with a bit of a twist. The Nexus One is available without contract and unlocked directly from Google for $530, as well as subsidized from T-Mobile on a two-year contract for $179. Even with T-Mobile service, the device is only available from Google. Interesting, but hardly the groundbreaking business model that was expected as soon as the words "Google phone" began to make the rounds.

As nice as the Nexus One is -- and in my opinion it's the nicest Android device on the market -- it makes me wonder what Google's up to with Android and why it's even in the mobile OS business, let alone selling phones directly to consumers. I'd ask the same about Chrome and Chrome OS as well. Android is particularly puzzling, however: Google licenses it for free and it's turned up on some rather interesting devices, but none of those devices have helped build out an ecosystem. Many of them are proprietary and Android is rapidly becoming fragmented -- the Archos5 Internet Tablet, for example, can't make official use of the Android marketplace. But nothing is as strange as Google getting into the hardware business directly and selling devices, albeit unlocked and unsubsidized ones, directly to consumers.

Certainly that idea can't be going over too well with partners and licensees. Just imagine being Motorola and having the best Android device on the market for just a few months until the Droid was upstaged by the Nexus One. What about LG and Samsung, who were barely acknowledged at the Nexus One event?

In fact, why does Google need to be in the mobile OS space at all? Google products have been key standards for almost all mobile platforms as a defacto choice. Apple currently has Google as the default for search and location- based services in the iPhone, and there's built-in support for Gmail. Is getting into the OS business really a better move than partnering?

Chrome, the browser and the OS, beg the same question. Google search is the default choice for Firefox, and the Mozilla / Google relationship made a lot of sense -- and a lot of money. Chrome OS muddies the waters and will likely create confusion among vendors as they try to decide between Chrome and Android. What's more, the planned Google Chrome OS hardware will likely make more than one OEM re-think what platforms it will support.

For more than a decade, we've heard the Google mantra, "don't be evil." I'm not suggesting that Google's done anything wrong, but the company's actions of late just don't seem like the best way to make friends and influence others. Lately, when the topic of Google comes up, one word keeps getting repeated over and over. Hubris. It's time for Google to think less about "don't be evil" and time to think about how to be a good partner and friend -- just because it can enter a business doesn't mean it's good idea for Google or Google's partners. We need look no further than ancient Greek mythology to know where hubris leads.

Vintage Ad Browser

2010-01-16T17:57:00.003Z

Check out Vintage Ad Browser next time you're stuck in on a rainy day. There's a vast collection of old-school adverts, which are a refreshing alternative to the rather generic campaigns you see nowadays. Sometimes I wish I could jump into a time machine and wake-up in the 50s.

www.vintageadbrowser.com

Hanger Teabags

2010-01-16T17:50:00.004Z

These tea bags aim to make you smile whilst also solving that irritating problem of hunting for a clean spoon when making yourself a brew!

Via yankodesign.

Computer Hardware Chart

2010-01-12T22:31:00.005Z

Thanks to Sophia for showing me this. I need to have it printed and framed and above my bed. I LOVE IT. Click to see the full article in all it's glory.

Via Geekologie.

Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong (Apple Juice Kid Remix)

2010-01-11T22:31:00.001Z

Thanks to Jimbo for showing me this.

A Paper Bee

2010-01-11T22:08:00.003Z

I am afraid I have no information about this image, but I'm sure you'll share my admiration for it's creation!

The Nexus One by Google

2010-01-11T21:17:00.006Z

I know that I should have covered the unveiling of Google's answer to the iPhone a couple of weeks ago, but heyho. The Nexus One, built by HTC, is a real treat. Although not quite achieving the simplistic beauty of the iPhone, the Nexus One (I also think the name could have been snappier) boasts a 5MP camera, a faster processor than most and an impressive 512RAM. Nothing exciting to report there. It's REAL USP is it's screen. It has a touch-sensitive AMOLED, which pumps out a 800x480 resolution. Although I haven't experienced it myself, critics are drooling, claiming it makes Sony's old Bravia adverts look like a scene from The Road. Yes, people will moan that they've left it too late to tackle the behemoth that is Apple's app store...but wouldn't you rather have a handful of perfectly crafted free apps from Google, than a sea of dross?

The Nexus One can be bought directly from Google, but will be available on Vodafone imminently.

Spinning Battery Concept

2010-01-11T21:11:00.002Z

Cunning designers Song Teaho & Hyejin Lee have come up with this nifty solution to what now seems to be an age-old problem; running out of chatter juice whilst on the go. This small mobile phone battery has a generator built in which is powered up when you pretend your hand is a small helicopter. Why no one has thought of this before is beyond me.

Via design(dot)fr.

Sculptural Photography

2010-01-01T20:17:00.003Z

These stunning pictures were produced by two Polish photographers for a fashion line.

Via todayandtomorrow.

Listening Devices

2010-01-01T20:13:00.002Z

Check out these pictures of acoustic listening devices which were developed for the Dutch army between WW1 and WW2.

HAPPY TWENTYTEN

2010-01-01T20:03:00.001Z

This picture shows sunrise from the International Space Station.

Eigenharp Alpha

2009-12-12T15:14:00.002Z

Thanks to Mr. Nelson for pointing me in the direction of this wonderous piece of kit. From the manufacturer...

A professional level instrument which allows the musician to play and improvise using a limitless range of sounds with virtuoso skill. The unique design of the keys makes this the most expressive electronic musical instrument ever made. The Alpha can play and record loops, change scale and key, transpose, alter tempo, program beats, create arrangements, switch and layer multiple sounds, all while the musician is performing live on stage.

Check out the video below to see it in action...