Thoughts on whatever is interesting now
mighty wallets
Mar 3rd
These are some really cool wallets (totes, tags and other stuff too) that are stylish but out of the ordinary as well. They’re crafted from Tyvek (express mail envelopes for instance) making them tear-resistant, water-resistant, expendable and recyclable (according to their site!). But really, these wallets seem really legit. I picked one up the other day and was surprised by how lightweight it felt but how durable it seemed to be as well. Check them out here. I really decided to write about this because I wanted to remember them. Wait, that’s what I do like every time I write something.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Have a New Guitarist?
Feb 1st
The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed a cover of Neil Young’s “A Maid Needs a Man” at the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year event in LA on January 29. While this is interesting and fun and all, the real news is that this performance revealed a new addition to the RHCP lineup, and perhaps, more importantly in the eyes of the fans, a glaring piece missing from the band.
This piece was long time lead guitarist John Frusciante. It is speculated that Josh Klinghoffer has replaced Frusciante as a full time member of the band, although no official announcement has yet been made. As you may recall, Fruscianted did leave the band officially in December, but this is the first time that the Chili Peppers have made a public appearance since that time. See a video of the performance below.
Cheers.
Update on the Apple iPad
Jan 31st
I have had a couple days to evaluate the iPad, and I have a few more thoughts on the subject. First, it is a big iPod Touch for all intensive purposes. I praised the device for its design and still think that it is very elegant. However, there are some flaws, perhaps planned that I want to address. Apple is making this device highly proprietary to its own software and hardware.
There are no USB ports on the device. Therefore, hooking up your own USB keyboard will not be happening. There is not an HDMI port for playing HD video on a TV. While this device is supposed to combine the best features of a netbook and e-reader, it seems to lack in both areas.
As an e-reader, it is pricey, very pricey if you get anything other than the most basic version that does not come equipped with 3G. Add this to the fact that 3G internet access will cost you $30/month from ATT. As a netbook, the lack of a physical keyboard and the ability to run multiple applications simultaneously is a major drawback.
This device is pretty, but at the same time it is lacking some major features that would really make it worth the high price tag. Apple is touting this as an inexpensive device, but when you look at the features and what this device is capable of versus other devices, the inadequacies seem to become apparent. For 829USD, the price of the top of the line iPad, you could feasibly purchase an e-reader, an iPod and a netbook. Almost at least…You may say that that defeats the purpose of an all-in-one device, but personally I do not think that this iteration or generation of the iPad reaches that goal.
Cheers.
Apple Announces iPad
Jan 27th
Today Apple made its much anticipated announcement of its tablet device which we now know to be called the iPad. From what there is to see, it looks like this device will take the best features of e-readers, netbooks and even the iPhone and combine them into a single 9.7 inch full touchscreen multimedia device with a native resolution of 1024×768.
The SDK for this device has already been released, so you can start developing apps for it now if you are so inclined. It will also run most iPhone apps as well. How nice. The device comes packed with other features including 802.11n wifi and optional 3G. Now the big question mark for this video playing, internet surfing, music storing, go everywhere device…what kind of crappy battery life can I expect? Well, this is probably what sold me on the device. Apple is claiming that it will get up to 10 hours of battery life while surfing the web on wi-fi, watching video or listening to music. If so, that is impressive, my friends.
How much? I am glad you asked. The device starts at 499USD for a 16gb SSD model without 3G and tops out at 829USD for the top-of-the-line 64GB SSD 3G model. Check out the product page for all of the details. This looks good, and that is not a statement coming from an Apple fan boy.
Cheers.
Cliq and Droid to Get Android 2.1!
Jan 25th
Great, wonderful news for Cliq and Droid owners. Android 2.1 is coming! Motorola tweeted the news, and what news this is. As of today, The Google Nexus One is the only phone running Android 2.1. The Motorola Droid is the only phone in the US to run Android 2.0, and the Cliq is still using Android 1.5! This will be a welcome change for Cliq users in particular who are now several releases behind the 2.1 release.
The Cliq has been received with widespread fanfare up to this point, and this should only increase the positive perception people have of the device. Motorla is also working on Flash 10.1 for the Droid which is indeed another welcome bit of news. No official date has been set for the release of these updates, but now owners of these phones have something on the horizon!
Cheers.
Wii Balance Board = Medical Instrument?
Jan 20th
In preliminary tests, doctors at the University of Melbourne have found that the Wii Balance Board had such a high sensitivity that it could possibly replace traditional “force platforms” that doctors currently use to test patients’ balance.
While this is very interesting on its own, it is even more intriguing when you consider the fact that a Wii Balance Board retails for $99, while a “force platform” costs approximately $17,855. Yes, you read that correctly. The doctors were highly impressed with the build quality and instruments used in the Wii Balance Board. Well done Nintendo. Well done.
Cheers.
Gorillaz Gorillaz Gorillllaaazzzz
Jan 20th
I bet you can’t guess what this post is about. Gorillaz are coming out with a new album. Great! Yay! Excitement! You can hear a new song below. It is entitled “Stylo.” O wow! Even better! And (drum roll commences now) Gorillaz are playing live. What?! You heard me. Gorillaz have a live show scheduled. That, my friends, is news. Ok you skeptics, look below. Now listen to the song here, and check out the tracklist and some other goodies below.
Plastic Beach:
01 Orchestral Intro (ft. Sinfonia ViVA)
02 Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach (ft. Snoop Dogg and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
03 White Flag (ft. Kano, Bashy, and the National Orchestra for Arabic Music)
04 Rhinestone Eyes
05 Stylo (ft. Bobby Womack and Mos Def)
06 Superfast Jellyfish (ft. Gruff Rhys and De La Soul)
07 Empire Ants (ft. Little Dragon)
08 Glitter Freeze (ft. Mark E Smith)
09 Some Kind Of Nature (ft. Lou Reed)
10 On Melancholy Hill
11 Broken
12 Sweepstakes (ft. Mos Def and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
13 Plastic Beach (ft. Mick Jones and Paul Simonon)
14 To Binge (ft. Little Dragon)
15 Cloud of Unknowing (ft. Bobby Womack and Sinfonia ViVA)
16 Pirate Jet
Blur Live DVD and Documentary set for release
Jan 15th
If you missed the brief Blur reunion, which most everyone in the US likely did seeing as the band skipped the continent on their tour (no I’m not bitter), you will get a chance to see it all first hand when No Distance Left to Run is release February 15 via Parlophone. The two disc set features the documentary which includes footage from the shows, backstage footage, interviews, home videos and other band DVD goodies. Disc two is a concert disc that was taped at Blur’s final show at Hyde Park. I suppose that for now that is the closest most of us will get to seeing the band perform live. See below for the Hype Park Tracklist, and a snazzy trailer for the DVD (watch it in HD)
01 She’s So High
02 Girls & Boys
03 Tracy Jacks
04 There’s No Other Way
05 Jubilee
06 Bad Head
07 Beetlebum
08 Out of Time
09 Trimm Trab
10 Coffee and TV
11 Tender
12 Country House
13 Oily Water
14 Chemical World
15 Sunday Sunday
16 Parklife
17 End of the Century
18 To the End
19 This Is a Low
20 Pop Scene
21 Advert
22 Song 2
23 Death of a Party
24 For Tomorrow
25 The Universal
Cheers.
Jay Reatard – Dead at 29
Jan 13th
It has been confirmed by Jay Reatard’s record label that the staple of the garage music scene is dead at age 29. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Cheers.
Netflix Streaming Coming to the Wii
Jan 13th
Well, the Wii is now getting in on the Netflix game that the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 have been playing for some time now. However, there is a slight difference for Wii owners who would like to enjoy streaming their Netflix movies to their Wii. Wii owners will have to insert a game disc of sorts each time that they desire to stream Netflix movies. This, of course, is not that large of an issue, but it may be a slight annoyance to some. When can you enjoy this new Wii glory? Well Netflix and Nintendo are slating Spring as the go-live time frame for the new service. Until then, you can either plop down at the computer to stream your Netflix movies or just sit there and be jealous of the owners of those other consoles.
Cheers.
Vizio Touts New 72-inch 3D TV at CES
Jan 12th
3D has been the wave-maker at CES this year. On its back rides the hopes of television as we know it. Whether or not this is a good thing is up to you. I will post an editorial piece about that topic soon. However, this is about Vizio and their monster 72-inch (yes, that is six feet) 480hz (you thought that 240hz was tops for LED/LCD too?), 3D television. Vizio has jumped out there in this new market and is carrying what seems to be the weight of an industry on its shoulders. Sounds dramatic, but really it’s not that far of a stretch. Other companies have made 3D capable TVs and other will, but Vizio has made the first big, and it is huge, step in 3D TV. This thing even sports built-in 802.11n wireless and wireless 1080P as well as 480 zones of smart dimming LEDs.
If you would like to get your hands on one of these bad boys, you can expect to pay in the 3500USD price at release. The remote for this series of TVs uses bluetooth connectivity and has a slide out QWERTY keyboard. Fancy pants, but this is the direction things should be heading anyway. And if you are interested in something a bit more manageable, these 3D ready TVs also come in 55-inch and 47-inch varieties with price points of 2,500USD and 2,000USD respectively. Expect them to hit stores in August. O, and also be on the lookout for ESPN 3D, which is set to broadcast World Cup matches in 3D! Get ready. 3D television is knocking on the door.
Cheers.
Ticketmaster Owns TicketWeb?
Jan 12th
This may not be news to everyone, but I just found this out. I would not say that it totally tarnishes the image of TicketWeb, but it does cast a bit of a shadow on them, knowing that I am not quite sticking it to the man like I thought I was when I purchase from them in lieu of the monopoly of Ticketmaster. Well, now you know. Still, TicketWeb is far superior to its parent company in many ways and here’s to hoping that it stays that way. TicketWeb is a self-service company that allows promoter, venues and the like to control the ticketing of their events. This allows fewer of us to get ripped off in theory. Long live independent…er…better ticketing services!
Cheers.
The Return of Spoon
Jan 12th
Spoon just announced a series of live dates in support of their forthcoming new album, Transference which drops into stores next week (January 19 to be exact). If you have not had the opportunity to catch a Spoon show or have previously blown the opportunity to, I would not pass this up. Don’t go in expecting pyrotechnics and flashy get-ups. Spoon puts on a live show that is just like their music which is what makes it such an enjoyable experience. Its simple, but as slick and tight as anything around. They will bring the energy and the chops to keep you on your feet for the entire evening.
The tour starts in Scotland on February 14, the perfect Valentine’s date for all of you Scots. The North American leg then kicks off with a home-town Austin show at Stubb’s as a part of SXSW and runs through April 13 concluding in Oakland, CA. Deerhunter will open for the majority of the dates on the tour which is just the icing on this tasty cake.
Cheers.
My Very Own Cell Phone Tower!
Jan 8th
Femtocell services are making their way to US shores soon. I doubt that is meaningful to most people, so allow me to delve in a bit more. Femtocell devices are basically designed to act as miniature cell phone towers when they are connected to a user’s home broadband network. What good is that? Well,. increased cell reception is never a bad thing, and it would be mighty nice if every building that one walked into retained cell service rather than dropping it like a hot potato like happens sometimes. When a person enters their femto-enabled home, calls will be seamlessly transferred from femto-supporting carrier networks to your own personal mini cell tower. It is also stated that…the quality of outdoor cellular calls should improve, too, since femtocells will “offload some of the burden” from mobile carriers’ networks, according to Dr. Andy Tiller, VP of marketing at IP Access.
This technology is also seen as something that will experience large price drops in the near future as its adoption is in only the very early stages…think home routers. Pricing for the product is TBD, but the way that Vodafone chooses to price currently is to allow customers to pay £160 to own their own cell tower or get one for “free” along with a “free” femto-enabled phone by signing up for an 18-month contract. We will see what Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile do when femto hits the US. Seems interesting. That is a Nokia femto device below.
Cheers.
O Netflix, what are we going to do with you?
Jan 7th
If you have Netflix, or have had Netflix, don’t you just love when new DVDs come out and you snatch it up to watch it with your friends? Of course you do! Well, some bad news. Netflix has gone into agreement with Warner Brothers to not rent new release DVDs and Blu-ray discs for 28 days after they go on sale. 28 days?! That’s right. There is some good news to go along with this. Netflix will be streaming more Warner Brothers Content now. How do you feel about all of this? Let us know in the comments! Here is the entire press release.
Cheers.
The next generation of notebooks…wait netbooks…tablets…e-readers??
Jan 7th
Well, if you were confused about netbooks, notebooks, tablets and all the other computers that are now popping up on the scene, prepare to be a little bit more bewildered. Lenovo and MSi are doing their level best to make sure that you will be in the dark for a long, long time-which may not be an entirely bad thing. You see, these two companies are preparing to launch a series of hybrid machines that bring together some of the best qualities of the useful devices listed above. Take for example the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid Notebook – sounds fancy, and it is. The computer has a dual processor, dual OS design that allows the user (that would be you or me) to actually remove the screen and use it as a tablet computer. Say what? You heard me. Now the notebook side of things runs Windows 7, but when you remove the screen to use the tablet, you will be using Skylight, Lenovo’s own operating system and you will be running on a separate ARM processor. How much will this cost you may ask. When can I be the first kid on my block to have one! Well let me answer those two burning questions for you. You can get your very own on June 1, 2010 for a cool 999USD. Well that does not seem too terrible if you are an early adopter or in the market for a notebook. Here is a picture for you too. I knew you wanted one.
And now on to the next hybrid. Let me first state that this next computer does not have a physical keyboard. Don’t stop reading! O come on, is it that terrible. Touch Technology has come a long way. Okay, you’ll stay? Good. Let’s continue. Now this little guy runs Windows 7 also, on the Atom Z-series of processors from Intel. The dual displays work just like extended displays in a two-monitor setup. You can quickly pull up the on-screen keyboard for typing. Well, why don’t you just look for yourself at the photos: there are a bunch over here.
Let us know what you think of these two hybrid devices.
Cheers.
Google Nexus One a Reality – Check the Specs
Jan 7th
Google now is throwing its own phone into the cool waters that are the Android pool. The newly announced Nexus One, built by none other than a company that has shot up as quickly as Android, HTC, the phone sports drool-worthy hardware and software specs. 3.7 inch OLED display, a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor, 5 megapixel camera (with flash!) and the Android 2.1 OS. That’s right 2.1. The phone also packs 512MB of flash memory and RAM and comes packed with a 4GB microSD card. It also sports a solid battery life, but let’s hear more about that once some users have this phone out in the wild. Did I mention that this thing is pretty too? O, and yes it does have a 3.5mm headphone jack. I knew you were going to ask. Look out below for a couple of photos. And would you look at that Google-y logo they worked up for this. Go here for more information.
Cheers.
Some Rather Amazing Artwork
Jul 29th
Here is a little something that I found to be pretty fascinating. Juan Francisco Casas, whose work can be seen below, has some impressive photo quality artwork for you to view. You may look at them and think ‘yes, those are some…interesting…photos’ and if they were photos I would be the first to agree. However, these are drawn using ballpoint pens! This I find to be exponentially more interesting than the photos that they pose to be. They are no small feats either, as is evidenced by the photo with the artist himself in it. Some of the drawings measure up to ten feet in height. Some quotes from Casas give a glimpse of the inspiration behind the pieces:
Casas said: “I guess it started off as a joke, to try and make something so realistic that people would think is a photo.
“I also wanted to create it with something that everyone has – a Biro. I don’t think it has ever been done before.
“For me it’s not that different from painting. I was trying to show that it doesn’t matter what material you use, it’s what you do with it.”
And that about sums it up. How much are you willing to pay for one of these beauties? Well, the market currently demands between 1000 and 5000 Euros or 1400 and 7,100 USD. These are the prices that sixty pieces of his work went for at a recent sale. Have a look at some of the work below!
Cheers.
New Modern Warefare Video Game Retails for $150
Jul 24th
The new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 video game will come in a new Prestige Edition (ooohhh ahhhhh) that will feature something that I have never seen bundled with a video game before. Can you guess what that might be? If you said a functioning pair of night vision goggles then you would be correct! The Prestige Edition of the game will set you back $150, not bad if you were already in the market for a pair of night vision goggles. From what I have read, this will come in as the most expensive video game bundle in history. Fortunately for those of us who only want the game, there are also a couple of other options for purchase. These are the Hardened Edition and the, well, I guess we can say standard edition. You would think that with names like Prestige and Hardened they could at least come up with a fancy name for the regular game!
Cheers.
Modern Warfare Night Vision Goggles
Like Pandora Radio? Get out the checkbook.
Jul 15th
Many of you have probably read something about the royalties woes that Pandora has been facing for some time now. Well, all that seems to be behind them and they have garnered a significant investment (read millions of dollars) from Greylock Partners that should give the internet radio company a good boon to their business. With these developments come a few structuring changes over at Pandora. The change seems to affect their most loyal users, specifically those who utilize the service by listening to music for more than forty hours per month. These individuals will now be charged to use the service. How much? Well, once you reach the forty hour mark, you will be required to pay….99 cents to keep the service streaming for the rest of the month. This stinks, but it seems reasonable to help the company cover its royalties costs and all that good stuff. Just don’t stop in for that quarter pounder with cheese and you will cover your listening pleasure for an entire month. In that sense, it will be good for you and for Pandora. But in reality, the change seems fine when the alternative might have been the company closing its doors. Weigh in with your thoughts below.
Cheers.
