September 30, 2005
My Bread Bin is Armored
I hail from the great (not so great these days) state of Texas. Armadillos are of state pride. Although I now live in California, I love almost anything armadillo ("armadilla" is how texans say it) like.
Armadillos are known for their hard armored plating. Now your bread bin can do the same by "channeling armadillo", complete with a little tail. I thought bread bins were supposed to be inviting. This says DO NOT TOUCH. I would imagine a cookie bin would serve better with armadillo design but hey, its still freakin cute and it's $110. Somebody buy for me!
Posted by tranism at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Illuminair
Get more light with . . . air.
No, it's not powered by air, but the amount of light you choose to have is controlled by how much air is err...um, passed?
Ok, lemme explain this better. Basically the current method to control how much light is emitted from a bulb is done thru circuity. Although not necessarily complex, there is a better more efficient way. Start off with a bright bulb but instead of manipulating how much current reaches the bulb, you have a secondary system that reveals the bulb. Get it? No? Okay, lemme explain some more.
The Illuminair lamp plays with a person's notions of the action required to turn on a lamp. Rather than flipping a switch, air is pumped into the lamp. As more air fills the lamp - more of the bulb is revealed. Releasing a valve allows the air to escape and lowers the bulb back into the tube. Now do you get it? Good!
Posted by tranism at 1:52 PM | Permalink
Zeno The Must Have Gadget
There are a couple items that every person should carry; wallet, purse, keys, phone and maybe some convergence device like a pda/camera/mp3 player. I know the modern man and woman already has too much to carry but this one is a MUST have. It's slim enough to slip in your pocket and sleek enough to use anywhere.
Its called the ZENO. It is an acne clearing device. It clears pimples in people with mild to moderate acne. It is a one-handed portable electronic medical device that is clinically proven to make pimples disappear within days - most within 24 hours.
It works by using heat shock technology and as alarming as that may sound, you feel nothing. The shock causes bacteria and other microorganisms to self-destruct and heat also triggers the quick healing abilities of the largest organ in our body - the skin.
All you do is apply some pressure against the skin lesion (thats what pimples are) and press a button. Do this 2-3 times a day. By morning, depending on the original size of the pimple, it'll either be gone or significantly reduced and will continue to disappear if you apply a few more treatments.
Seriously, I know I sound like an informercial but if you suffer from the occasional breakout, this is the product for you. It does what all those creams, liquids and serums do - kills the bacteria that lives inside of the clogged pore. Give it a try people. It's a little pricey at $225 and $35 for replacement tips but its still a lot cheaper than one visit and treatment at the derma.
Posted by tranism at 1:23 PM | Permalink
September 29, 2005
iPod my Baby
Yes now even your children can participate in iPod-mani. Dress your infant newborn up to look like the Apple iPod nano. Only $15 so go get them while supplies last. Baby not included.
Posted by tranism at 4:31 PM | Permalink
Robots Do DNA
these images show from left to right in each row, the sequence of self assembly by the miniature robots
One of the cornerstones of organic development is how cells are able to replicate DNA using building blocks floating randomly inside a cell's nucleus. A little bio lesson; the interior of a nucleus is filled with a gel-like liquid known as plasm. Also present are polymerases which grab nucleotides (the DNA building blocks I was speaking of) as needed when copying DNA.
Inspired by these biological systems, scientists at M.I.T have developed miniature robots that can self assemble using parts that float randomly in their environments. Basically, the bots latch on to one another in specific sequences. They come in two colors, yellow (Y) and green (G) and float around on a cushion of air like hockey pucks. Each robot is programmed to latch onto a green robot on one side and a yellow robot on the other to form 5-robot strings such as YGGYY or GYYGG. They robots can also correct any mistakes they've made by checking to make sure they are latched on to the correct colored neighbor.
More and more research like this is surfacing after years of lab time - all with some similar conclusions when attempting to artificially simulate biological processes. Nature has a way of using the simplest actions to complete the most complex tasks. Currently most technology needs to be complex in order to achieve complex actions. In order to get to where nature has perfected biological processes, we need to minimize that complexity level. Less complexity means less room for error and less energy wasted. I find this research totally fascinating.
Posted by tranism at 1:21 PM | Permalink
Reader Art part DEUX
Thanks once again to our "breeder" buddy Todders for making these vibrant electro^plankton pictures. HOLLA!
click for a larger view
Posted by tranism at 3:13 AM | Permalink
September 28, 2005
Reader Made Art
One of our "breeder" friends made us something really cool. Thanks Todd!
click on it for a larger view
Posted by tranism at 12:26 PM | Permalink
September 27, 2005
Killer Whales? No, Killer Dolphins
I am alarmed at the idea of our sea saviors being trained to kill! Don't believe me? The Guardian Unlimited reported that armed dolphins escaped from US Naval facilities during Hurricane Katrina. The article explains the dolphins have been trained to shoot toxic darts at terrorists and spies using a specially designed harness and could prove extremely dangerous to surfers and windsurfers should they be mistaken for terrorists by the dolphins. The US Navy admits it has been training dolphins for military purposes, but has refused to confirm that any are missing.
I'm sure animal rights activists are probably going to have a field day with this one.
Posted by tranism at 10:13 PM | Permalink
September 26, 2005
R.I.P iPod 4, Hello iPod color!
My 4th generation 20 gig. iPod became a vital part of my everyday life; at work, at home, at the gym, in the car - I always used my iPod. I couldn't imagine life without it. Prior to my iPod, I looked at a number of other mp3 players, but none came close to the iPod, so I purchased one. I was really happy with it for about a year until about a month and a half ago when it started acting up on. Soon after, Electro's 3rd generation iPod passed away from a hard drive failure. A month later, my iPod started to show the same signs - symptoms that it was slowly on it's way. Symptoms are freeze ups, interrupted data transfers and desktop mounting problems. It became apparent that hard drives were not meant for the tumble and turns it experiences in a portable device.
I decided to take my iPod to the Apple store. I'll refer to this particular store as "X" since I promised not to mention this to everyone. ; ) But with all do respect to Apple, I do believe what they did for me should be granted to everyone with the same hard drive issues.
I took my dying friend in to store "X" last week hopeful that I would leave happy, aware of Apple's highly regarded customer support, I had no doubts. The Mac Genius examined my iPod and determined that it was in fact hard drive failure. To my surprise, I was given a refurbished iPod as a replacement. It wasn't the fact that I didn't get the upgrade to the "color ipod" I was hoping for, but more over that I did not receive a new iPod in general. And as I fearfully predicted, this "new" iPod did not make me happy.
The iPod did not mount to the desktop and more importantly, it wouldn't even read or write files so once again, it was back to the Apple store. On the way over I thought of different arguments in an attempt to get a new iPod as a replacement but realized it would probably be tough to get anything else but another refurbished one. It took some coaxing but I'm glad they proved me wrong.
As I told Mr. X (Genius desk employee) my story he explained my choices - I should say my only choice, because he told me that there was nothing he could do but to exchange my broken iPod replacement with another refurbished one. I decided to ask for the manager and told him that it was actually my second time here for the same problem. I also explained and petitioned my request for a new color iPod. I like Apple. I've always been a good customer. I've only received exemplary service in previous dilemmas etc. Yes, I was being a little overwhelming but I stayed to facts and I was polite. As electro will explain further down, the 3rd and 4th generation iPods work great but they cannot withstand too much "portability".
"Apple's 3rd and 4th generation iPods were marvels of engineering as Apple managed to thin them down even further. The new "skinny" came by way of thinner hard drives, compliments of Hitachi. Problem is, they were/are not as durable as the hard drives used in the 1st generation iPods. With the amount of movement we put our iPods through, it is only inevitable that they would eventually malfunction and fail. They may be the same hard drives used in larger devices like laptops but we don't jog with our laptops nor do we toss them into our bags."
The manager gave it about 10 seconds of thought before he told me " - You do seem like a good customer and we do want to keep things that way, so I'm going to go ahead and give you an upgrade to a new "color" iPod.
Ecstatic I walked out of store "X" more than satisfied, solidifying my belief Apple has some of the best customer service around. Once again I was a happy iPod owner! I will miss my previous iPod who was with me for a year and served me well but now he's reincarnated into a color version and doing just fine. Thanks Apple!
Posted by at 11:44 PM | Permalink
Kangoo Jumps
Call me a dork, I don't care because I lust after the Kangoo Jumps. They are low impact rebound sport shoes. By using body's weight, the energy is transferred to rubber coils that bounce that energy back, springing you off the ground. It's great for jogging, running and hiking. The strain normally directed to your heels and ankles are reduced since the shell surrounding the rubber coils absorb most of the shock.
I can just see myself running around the office, making trips to the corner store and these babies might JUST MIGHT get me to go hiking. Who the hell doesn't wanna bounce around like a Kangaroo??? I know I do so I implore my readers; BUY ME ONE, size 11 (I got big feet) please. Spanx much. :)
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 1:06 AM | Permalink
Aeon Flux
I have waited 5, count 'em, 5 years for this movie. I have been a fan of Peter Chung's creation since it first debuted on MTV's late night animation program called Liquid Television. The story line, music, setting and stylized drawing made Aeon Flux stand out as an animated series geared towards adults. It's themes were wrapped around poetic visuals with very little dialogue and if you paid enough attention, you would get it. For those who have never seen it, think animated version of Twin Peaks.
The basic story line is it's sometime in the near future. Most of the world has been wiped out by a plague except for one walled city called Bregna. Less than 5 million humans are left and in this clustered city, they live in a utopia that fully recycles 100% of it's energy, crime is nonexistent and poverty has been eliminated. But for this utopia, the citizens have given up freedoms as this city state is run by a council of scientists and the military. However, there are a small group of rebels called Monicans that seek to topple the government and expose it's dirty secret. Aeon Flux is one of the Monican elite agents.
At first I was disappointed to hear about Charlize Theron playing our femme fatale Aeon but the recent one sheet teaser and screen caps from the upcoming movie have changed my mind. I always imagined someone like Uma Thurman to play the role since Aeon's body is long, lanky with a face that is chiseled and strange in it's beauty - just like Uma's. Thankfully Charlize "looks" like an Aeon. Make sure you check out the website for the amazing trailer and action sequences. This looks like an awesome end of year sci-fi movie. I can't wait.
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 12:51 AM | Permalink
September 25, 2005
Buy Something Nintendo
Will you go out and buy a Nintendo Gameboy SP or Gameboy Micro now?
Posted by tranism at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
The Tree From Where Apple's Grow
Not too long ago, Apple was in it's dark age. It seemed to have lost what had once been a very clear sense of identity and purpose. Apple started trying to compete to an agenda set by an industry that had never shared it's core values. It was rotating CEO's faster than a merry-go-round and it's product line had become watered down - commodities in an increasingly hostile environment in the tech industry. The height of the dot com era was on and while small start ups were pushing millions in their portfolios, Apple was in debt, losing market share and had become technologically outdated.
When Apple's original founder Steve Jobs returned to the board room, it slowly began a shift back towards what made it famous and successful in the 80's. Apple once again pursued a direction different from any of company. Its belief that in order to be innovative, you have to not only perfect the standard but also stray away from it. With time as internal changes to Apple took shape, they eventually manifested themselves into Apple's product line and thats where Apple's leap in evolution began.
more after the jump
The man responsible for Apple's product facelift is Jonathan Ive. Born in London in 1967, Ive studied art design at Newcastle Polytechnic before co-founding Tangerine, a design consultancy where he developed everything from power tools to televisions. In 1992, one of his clients - Apple - offered him a job at it's headquarters in Cupertino, California. Working closely with Steve Jobs, I've developed the iMac. Selling more than 2 million units in it's first year, the iMac transformed product design by introducing color, light and accessibility to a drab computing world. Everything Ive touches has won international design awards, from the original iMac to the Powerbooks to the iPod. With Ive's design aesthetic for functionality and beauty, he has helped catapult Apple past a computer name into a household brand. Everybody knows what Apple is. Although when you ask people to describe Apple, they are hard pressed to come up with the right words. However put them in an electronics store and it's easy for people to point out, "oh, that looks Apple."
"In the 1970's, Apple talked about being at the intersection of technology and the arts. I think that the product qualities are really consequent to the bigger goals that were established when the company was founded. The defining qualities are about use: easy and simplicity. Caring beyond the functional imperative, we also acknowledge that products have a significant way beyond traditional views of function."
One of the things that sets Apple apart is it's fanatical care beyond the obvious stuff. The obsessive attention to details that are overlooked like cables and power adapters. The iMac was a study on how to make it less exclusive and more accessible. For example, a handle was added and although it's primary function is to allow easy movement, a compelling part of it's function is the immediate connection it makes with the user by unambiguously referencing the hand. When you add a handle to something, it says to the person, "you can touch it, move me, I'm not that precious, I'm here for you."
I consider Jonathan Ive to be one of the most important industrial and product designers in the last decade. From his push to merge aesthetics with function, we've seen a new class of electronics that have spawned from the same design cores that he helped established at Apple. The best products not only serve us functionally but also elicit a visceral reaction. That's the kind of stuff that marks memories when we look back. Even if Apple is destined to go somewhere else, there's no doubt that Jonathan Ive was one of the men responsible for the phoenix rising in Cupertino, California.
Posted by tranism at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
September 23, 2005
Pop My Bubbles PS2
The giant electronic beast known as Sony is sometimes viewed as a lumbering giant - a sleeping dragon desperate to recapture it's glory days. As with most large corporations, as you grow, you become more fragmented and no matter how large you are, eventually all those micro cracks will get to you.
However, there is still one bright spot in Sony; it's advertising, especially for it's Playstation division. Exhibit A, the bus stop terminal. It looks normal enough. A giant blue awning with the Sony and PS2 brand names emblazoned each corner. So what makes this special? Check this shit out.
The whole wall is covered in bubble wrap. A large wallpaper of the 4 geometric shapes found on Sony controllers. I think it's brilliant. Who can RESIST popping bubble wrap? There's something relaxing and addicting about the activity. I wouldn't be surprised if a few people missed their ride while preoccupied with popping each and every bubble. It's maddening I tell ya, impossible to resist! MUST POP THE BUBBLES!
Posted by tranism at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Cutting Guard
Just some little trinket I thought was way cool; the cutting guard from William Sonoma. When cutting ingredients with a knife, slip the stainless steel guard low on your middle finger and slice without fear of accidental encounters with a sharp blade. The edge of the curved shield holds food in place leaving your fingers free and clean. The ring is adjustable and fits all hands.
I know I know, real chefs don't need a cutting guard but I probably cook only once a week. There is no shame in my game. I'm proud to use the cutting guard.
Posted by tranism at 9:56 PM | Permalink
September 20, 2005
Harry Potter and The Recessive Gene
Most people are familiar with J.K. Rowling's stories about the young wizard Harry Potter and the latest book "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" only serves to further prove itself as a cultural phenomenon. In fact, I've just finished reading it and even thru 6 book iterations and 3 movies, I still want more. Anything Harry Potter and I will be happy. Somehow the stars all lined up and the bright full moon this past weekend smiled bright on my wishes and an article surfaced across my computer screen. Scientists (real legit ones) have written theories about how wizarding ability may be genetic. They believe using the Harry Potter franchise would be a great way to get children interested in genetic concepts by using analogies to a story so endearing and close to their hearts.
Wizards or witches can be of any race, and may be the offspring of a wizard and a witch - the offspring of two muggles (muggle-born), or of mixed ancestry (half-blood).
This suggest that wizarding ability is inherited in a mendelian fashion, with the wizard allele (W) being recessive to the muggle allele (M). According to this hypothesis, all wizards and witches therefore have two copies of the wizard allele (WW). Harry's friend's Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom and his arch-enemy Draco Malfoy are pure-blood wizards: WW with WW ancestors for generations back. Harry's friend Hermione is a powerful muggle-born with (WW with WM parents). Their classmate Seamus is a half-blood wizard, the son of a witch and a muggle (WW with one WW and one WM parent). Harry (WW with WW parents) is not considered a pure-blood, as his mother was muggle-born.
Just like in real genetics, there are even scientists who dispute this theory and offer their own. They hope with the use of these examples, the concepts of mendelian genetics can be introduced to children as young as five, and then built on by gradually introducing specific terms such as "gene" and "allele", and relating these to chromosomes and DNA. At every stage, children's familiarity with the Harry Potter characters can be used as a hook to engage them in discussing concepts of heredity and genetics.
Damn, I only wish science would have taken a similar approach to teaching me the foundations of genetics back when I was schooling. It would have been so much more fun that staring at half-assed drawings of DNA chains and mitochondria in textbooks.
Posted by tranism at 11:27 PM | Permalink
Giant Pink Bunny
An enormous pink bunny has been erected on an italian moutainside where it will stay for the next 20 years. The 200 foot long rabbit lies on the side of the 5,000 foot high Colletto Fava mountain in northern Italy's Piedmont region. Viennese art group Gelatin designed the giant soft toy and say it was "knitted by dozens of grannies out of pink wool".
Group member Wolfgang Gantner said: "It's supposed to make you feel small, like Gulliver. You walk around it and you can't help but smile." And Gelatin members say the bunny is not just for walking around - they are expecting hikers to climb it's 20 foot sides and relax on it's belly, provided it doesn't get absolutely filthy as the weather beats on it. It's staying there until 2025 so get there while the get'n is good!
via ananova
Posted by tranism at 9:10 PM | Permalink
September 15, 2005
This is the Revolution, Nintendo Style
So there it is, Nintendo finally revealed it's enigmatic controller for it's next generation video game console. As the news is a buzz with the imminent release of the Microsoft Xbox360, Nintendo managed to steal some of it's thunder during the Tokyo Game Show - the largest game conference in Asia.
After months of speculation, fan made concept drawings, dissing and hissing - Nintendo reveals just why it has named it's next console "Revolution", because it truly is one.
more after the jump
At first glance, you'd be hard pressed to believe that there is anything revolutionary here. The controller looks like a typical t.v. remote, but look closer and you'll see the revolutionary aspect comes from how you play; in fact, this could change the way we play video games forever.
Before I go into the controller, let me re-cap what I know about the console. First off, ITS TINY. While the Playstion 3 and Xbox360 are beasts in size and power, Nintendo has opted for a smaller compact form factor. The trade off is it might not be as powerful, but Nintendo is compensating by focusing more on innovative and unique gameplay as opposed to raw horsepower and graphics. The Revolution will also have free wireless access allowing you to play nearly 20 years of Nintendo games. You heard right, if ever you wanted to be a little nostalgic and play the original Donkey Kong or Super Mario Bros., the Revolution is for you.
Now on to the controller; it's essentially a wireless, square remote that works like a computer mouse would in three dimensional space. Imagine sticking your hand into a virtual box and having your TV understand how it's moving in there.
Main Controller Features
- 3D Pointing - Sensors understand up, down, left, right, forward and backward.
- Tilt Sensitive - Controller can be rotated or rolled from side to side using internal gyroscopes.
- Buttons - Has a trigger on it's backside, face buttons, and a D-Pad.
- Multifunctional - Has an expansion port which can be used with different types of controller peripherals. For example, an analog stick with two trigger buttons.
- Wireless - Totally wireless.
- Rumble built in - provide vibration and tactile feedback to enhance gaming sensation.
Demo #1: Point and Shoot
Like a laser pointer, the main controller was used to move a simple cursor on the TV screen and shoot square blocks for points. It was simple, merely colored lines in 2D, but effective. It was easy to get a feel for just how sensitive the device is -- it responded to all the movements quickly and smoothly. We did feel the need to use two hands, however, to steady it and improve accuracy, but that only lends to the idea of just how sensitive it is.
Demo #2: Fishing
Much more advanced than just a simple cursor, this revealed how the controller can navigate a 3D space, moving an object on the TV screen not only left, right, up, and down, but also forward and backwards with depth. Users simply use the hand cursor on the screen to pick up a fishing pole and dip its line into a pond full of fish. Like nearly all of the demos, this was very crude, so don't go imaging even fishing on the Ocarina of Time level -- this was like a coloring book with flat fish in the water. The visual medium wasn't the point, though. It was pretty intuitive to just reach forward with our virtual hand, pick up the rod, and then dip the hook into the pond and dangle it there. When a fish finally bit, the remote rumbled, which was the cue to tug back on the controller to catch it. As it was only a prototype controller, it was wired because rumble was not in the wireless versions yet.
Demo #3: Shock Stick
Like the first, this was to show how you can point and move something. It was a bit like the board game Operation, only instead of navigating tweezers you navigated a rotating stick through a two-dimensional cave. The skill was to keep a steady hand, collect coins, and don't hit the walls. Small springboards on the side would change the direction of the spin of the stick, which aided in creating a strategy for navigating around things.
Demo #4: Air Hockey
This blended basic pointing with something new: twisting. As you might imagine, players hit a puck back and forth by maneuvering their "hockey sticks" with the controller. The catch was that by twisting your wrist, left or right, you could angle the stick to send the puck in another direction. Twisting, in addition to hitting was actually pretty difficult in this demo. It worked to a point, but it also lacked the intuitiveness that a real table would have. It seemed mainly aimed at familiarizing us with the notion of twisting the remote to turn things.
Demo #5: Basketball
Again, this focused on laser pointer style controls. The game was to simply move a basketball around on the court, not by bouncing it, but instead dragging it by pressing the B-trigger in back of the remote to create an indent. The ball rolled into the crevice, and you could drag it towards the hoops. Then, with the A-button, you could reverse the indent, creating a hill and pop the ball upwards toward the hoop. It was a simple two-player game, but worked to show off the sensitivity of the cursor and how it was interacting with another player in the same space. Surprisingly, it was easy to keep track of where you were on the court, allowing for blocks and steals.
Demo #6: Toy Plane
Set in the watery hub of Mario Sunshine, this demonstrated that not all controls are created equal. The remote could be held like a toy airplane, fingertips support its base, which allowed the player to tilt it forwards to dip down, back to gain elevation, and twisted left or right turn. The objective was just to steer the plane through rings in the sky. Of course the first thing that came to mind was Pilotwings, so it's easy to see how these simple applications of the controller could be grown into something more complex. It was pretty intuitive to pull off dips and quick turns. Miyamoto joked that you could have a controller peripheral shaped like a toy plane to really make it interesting.
Demo #7: Where's Pikachu?
One of the crudest demos, the screen displayed a flat map with many Pokemon characters crowded together on it. It was a spoof on Where's Waldo, the famous find-the-needle-in-the-haystack illustrated book. The controller lent the ability to look left and right by just pointing the cursor across the map, but also zooming in by moving towards the screen (or zooming back out by moving away). One can imagine how a sniper rifle in a first-person shooter might take advantage of those kinds of controls.
Demo 8: First Person Shooting
For the final demo, the one that most represented how a game might feel with the Revolution controller, Nintendo displayed what was apparently a test by the team at Retro Studios for what they could do with Metroid Prime 3. They stressed it was just a test, quickly thrown together in just a few weeks. For this, the analog control stick peripheral was used. We held it in our left hand to control the forwards, backwards, and side-strafing motions, as well as having access to triggers in back for scanning; meanwhile, the right hand used the main Revolution remote control to behave just like a mouse on a personal computer. It was a very natural application and felt pretty smooth, but since it wasn't a polished game it did feel a bit awkward at times, making us wonder what kind of things a developer could do to calibrate these kinds of controls for users. Nonetheless, the potential is huge for the FPS genre.
It's easy to imagine why Nintendo is so heavily invested in the idea. There is such great potential to do so many unique things. Playing a real-time strategy game like Starcraft would be extremely fluid and intuitive. Mario Party, we're sure you can guess, will finally be a completely new experience. What of Zelda or Mario? No word yet, but imagine swinging your sword in Zelda instead of pressing buttons. Or, in Mario, imagine having to grab blocks and build platforms. Also, since the controller flips on its side to work very much like a NES pad, it would be interesting to mix up gameplay and throw in an old-school challenge. From what I've seen, the Nintendo Revolution could quite possible tap into new markets and expand the current one even further by making games that are controlled intuitively - games anyone can play.
From a market standpoint, Nintendo is in a good place. Most households have more that one console. While Sony and Microsoft battle out who is king in the living room, Nintendo would fare well as the "second" console with games the other two systems can never have. It is true, it's not about raw power, uber-realistic graphics, or media centric machines. It's about making an affordable machine, with graphics that are on-par, innovative interfaces for unique and one of a kind gaming. I suspect, Nintendo is on the right track after being lost for so many years. The Nintendo Revolution isn't expected until early next year. I can't wait!.
credit to IGN
Posted by tranism at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
September 14, 2005
Mobilize for a New Way Around
Our streets, avenues and boulevards are clogged; our freeways, highways and byways are jammed. For those that live in one of the major urban American sprawls, you can probably identify. Congestion is and has been out of control for years and despite many promises from city governments, there are yet to be any massive improvements. Not every metropolitan area is capable of supporting a mass transportation network like NYC, DC and Chicago. Some cities like Los Angeles are so spread out, separated by mountain passes and built in a large networked nodal pattern - that it makes it unfeasible to invest in a mass transit system. So on that note I will speak to the congestion problems in Los Angeles and cities like it.
I think we need to go back to the drawing board. Los Angeles is a city with an established driving culture. It's all about cruising down massive stretches of road and wide freeways, absorbing the sun, sights and sounds. To force L.A. into an underground subway would never work which is why the Los Angeles Metro Subway is almost always empty.
Ants live in large communities and yet they have somehow mastered transit in a way no other organism has. It would seem the key is the ability to break from the massive chains, reminiscent of a subway moving lots of people, to individuals that can circumnavigate obstacles before rejoining that group again.
So instead of having just two opposing lanes of traffic, why not add a third that can shift the number of lanes in the direction that has the most traffic? I photoshopped how that set-up might look on a busy street.
In this photo you have your standard opposing sides of traffic but you also have a center lane(s). Small single occupancy vehicles ride in the center median lanes and change directions to follow and alleviate the flow of heavy traffic. I've also moved the bike lane to this center median to protect both bicyclers and drivers.
Heavy traffic seems to occur when their are too many people on the road going to and from work. The congestion builds because most people ride by themselves. Reduce the size of the vehicle to accommodate one person and have it ride on an electric platform. FREE charging stations set up along this center median providing quick 15 minute rapid charges allowing the drivers to stay focused on getting to their destination. The added benefit is the reduction of gasoline use and the reduction of vehicle emissions.
So what does a small single occupancy vehicle look like?
One vehicle that might fit well into this scenario is Toyota's i-unit; an all electric single passenger vehicle that can change forms to assist the driver in and out of the vehicle, and ride comfortably depending on speed. The i-unit sits upright at slow speeds, leaned back at average speeds and fully reclined at fast speeds. Control systems can also assist the driver by detecting other i-units and communicating with them to foresee any obstacles that are not within the driver's view. This vehicle is fast enough to ride both in the center median lanes and opposing lanes of traffic.
Another vehicle would be one for short trips, strictly for the median lanes, leaving the main opposing lanes unclogged. This is the Segway Centaur concept provides the driver with a fast and exhilarating way to get from point A to B. The Segway Centaur is a four wheeled all electric mini ATV that can easily traverse curves and obstacles. Equipped with the same communication systems as the i-unit, the Segway Centaur can provide drivers with advance notice of traffic and provide detours to other median lanes to circumnavigate those obstacles. With all the Centaurs and i-units communicating together, they can calculate and spread the flow of traffic so that center median lanes never get congested.
Since both vehicles run on all electric platforms, they should make environmentalist happy and drivers more aware of how much gas they no longer use. Parking is a snap since the i-unit's space saving upright position means it takes the same amount of space as a motorcycle. It's perfect for work and errand trips. The Segway is so compact that once the driver reaches their destination, it can fold up and be brought into the home for storage.
Although I am no authority on urban transport and city planning, it is apparent to me that carpool lanes, mass transit and ride sharing programs are not the answers to solve Los Angeles' traffic problems. We need more innovative creative solutions. We need to think smaller, more adaptive and maneuverable. Those alternate modes of transportation need to detract from the over use of fuel and I believe center median lanes with small single occupancy vehicles may be a viable solution. What do you think?
Posted by tranism at 12:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
September 13, 2005
This should be heard if you're serious about music
I've gone many ways thru the jungle of commercial and underground music, but for whatever reasons I've now taken a long pit stop with progressive electronic music. There is something special about sitting down and listening to a whole hour and a half long non-stop mixed set and have it grow on me as I follow along the journey. Thats how I look at it, a nicely done mix will suck me in and I have to follow to the end to see how far the journey goes. I can't throw in one of my Rock'n Roll records and have the same affect. A rock record wont keep me interested for an hour. I might like tracks 1 and 6, but hate tracks 3 and 4 so I wont waist time letting the record play all the way through. In fact, downtime on a good set of house music is what ties it all together, transporting you from one segment to another.
Hernan Cattaneo, is what makes the most turns in my player right now. Cattaneo is progressive house all the way, with hues of organic sounds, such as vocals and played instruments. His mixes are always perfected with technical proficiency and it doesn't matter whether it's a live set or a recorded mix, it always flows smooth and the intensity is there thru out the whole mix.
If you're not familiar at all with his music I would suggest you try his latest mix first; "The master Series Vol 2". It's a phenomenal mix, worth every penny you can spend on commercial house. It includes several genres of house, break-beat and progressive/trance/tribal in a masterful compilation. Also, "Vol. 1" and "South America" are totally worth checking out.
Also, try "Deep funky n'tribal", a heavy tribal mix that will have you nodding your head on your way to work.
Now Playing: Hernan Cattaneo - electrofly mix from proton radio
Posted by at 10:11 PM | Permalink
September 12, 2005
Supersize My Polo
No no, I haven't suddenly become obese nor am I going for the baggy look. I'm just excited because an iconic fashion symbol in men's casual dress is revamping itself and I must say, it's a good move.
I'm talking about Polos, not the word used in it's generic form but the actual shirt from the actual company. Starting this spring, Ralph Lauren will offer he's classic Polo's with an enlarged logo. The cut is closer to the body and the collar is shorter. It's amazing how modern the classic polo can become just by changing a few things. The supersized horsey with the enlarge polo player is so fucking hot. Somebody buy us two, size large please. :)
Posted by tranism at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
September 11, 2005
Magnetize That Bar Soap
Such a simple idea, an invention that solves a problem for EVERYONE. What am I talking about? Haven't you ever had a brand new bar soap, displayed on your sink. Sure it looks great for the first couple of days. However, slowly but surely, it starts to look like an ill-fated attempted at pottery; morphed and deformed.
Why not just stick a metal piece into the center of the soap and suspend it from a magnetized arm? That's exactly what Noveletti sells. Beautiful magnetized holders add elegance to your bathroom while providing a much needed function. No more nasty deformed bar soaps and mushy soap scrapings half melted all over the rim of your sink. Somebody buy me one. I want the model pictured above. It's called the "humm". :)
More pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 6:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Top 10 and Tagged
Brenner over at Not Only But Also recently tagged my ass to list my top 10 songs. So here I am on a Sunday evening going thru my iTunes library. What started with short list of music, with me unable to decide what 10 songs are my fav - eventually grew to a list of over 100 songs. Now I'm finding it even more difficult to narrow it down. Thanks Brenner, I knew I couldn't refuse because you know what happens to the person that breaks the "chain letter".
So here's my top 10
That I Would be Good - Alanis Morrissette
Human Behaviour - Bjork
Querer - Cirque du Soleil
The Scientist - Coldplay
Face to Face - Daft Punk
Escapade - Janet Jackson
Steppin' Out - Kaskade
Love at First Sight - Kylie Minogue
1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
Hit - The Sugarcubes
To my blog buddy Diverseawareness and my Queer buddy Queerclick, you guys are it!
Posted by tranism at 6:27 PM | Permalink
Disappointed With Motorola ROKR
Apple industrial design has dominated much of the pc landscape for over 10 years. Each time Steve Jobs announces a new product, the whole industry turns into Siskel and Ebert, tearing about every nook and cranny, defining what works and what doesn't. If other PC manufacturers were forced to subscribe to the same level of scrutiny, they would have their asses chewed out. No other PC manufacturer with the exception of Sony, comes anywhere close to the might of Apple industrial design. This is where the brand spanking new Motorola ROKR confuses me.
Why oh why, with all of Apple's know how in easy of use, simplicity in design, grade of materials, quality of build and branding - allow the ROKR to be the first iTunes branded phone? With the simultaneous announcement of the iPod nano, it's clear that Apple still knows how to design drool worthy products. In fact, Apple is about the ONLY home grown consumer electronics company that can make the Japanese and Koreans envious. This only adds to my confusion as to why Apple would let Motorola design (re-brand an existing phone) the ROKR themselves. Wasn't it clear to both Motorola and Apple execs that an Apple designed phone would have sent shockwaves thru the cellular industry? Wasn't it clear to them that an Apple designed phone would have sent the mobile carriers into a frenzy trying to carry the phone exclusively?
After some thought, I can think of one reason why; money. I suspect Apple won't be making much money off of the phone. Almost all profits will probably be going to Motorola and Cingular. Motorola because they designed the phone; Cingular because they are the exclusive carrier. How does Apple fit in? Simply integrating their iTunes client into a phone isn't going to make them money. I suspect they are charging a small licensing fee but without a cellular version of the iTunes store, I don't see how else they could be turning a profit. So it must be a stepping stone for Apple. They are testing the waters in a new market without heavily investing themselves. They are taking the safer route. Go with an established handset maker and the largest cellular provider. If those two ingredients aren't enough to sky rocket Apple to success in the mobile market, then they can easily exit with a minimum of loss. What's the flip side to this scenario? Well, lets say the Motorola ROKR becomes a raging success. Where other companies like Samsung and Sony Ericsson fail to successfully integrate music into their phones, Apple and Motorola have somehow forced the industry to it's kneews and expanded the digital music market. Apple now has experience and they go back to the drawing board to truly design an Apple iPhone. How will this affect their relationship with Motorola? Not by much at all. Despite Apple's expertise, they still don't manufacturer any of the internal components to their hardware. This will also ring true for an Apple designed iPhone. It's internal components will come from Motorola, but it's outer shell, interface and UI will be all Apple. It's seamless syncing ability and customization to both Macs and PC's will teach other companies how to do it right. It would be a high end phone, powerful enough for professionals, easy enough for your mom and dad. It's the kind of device that will do what the iPod did for the music industry. it will become and iconic figure and go down in history as a true evolution in the doggy dog world of cell phones.
Posted by tranism at 2:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
September 8, 2005
Plankton is onboard
All,
I know that we all know by now the different ways that we can help people in need, but anyways, we tend to stick to helping out people we associate ourselves with so here is a chance to help our fellow designers. Check out "The displaced Designer" link and see they ways you can help DD help other creatives. The site has contact information to individuals in most states already making it simple for you to get in contact with who ever might need your old desk or computer. Hey, it's all about karma man, who knows who needs help next.
Posted by at 12:00 AM | Permalink
September 6, 2005
Subaru R1e Maybe Soon
At the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show, Subaru unveiled the R1e which is an all electric version of the R1 sold only in Japan. So what's so hot about an electric vehicle? We used to have one here in the states called the EV1 made by GM only to be completely axed and GM admitting it was a failure. The R1e addresses all the issues the EV1 faced; size, economy, cost, reliability, recycle-ability and efficiency.
So lets talk stats. The R1e is a 2+2 vehicle powered by a next generation battery codeveloped by NEC technologies. The batteries are super light, much more energy dense, made from manganese lithium-ion and can be charged in about 15 minutes from a single standard outlet. One full charge allows the R1e to travel 125 miles. That would be perfect for trips to and from work, school and errands, but the reality is, that range is too short for the wide open expanses of American freeways. So how will this vehicle and vehicles like it impact the future of automotive travel?
Economically, the R1e makes sense because its a "transitional vehicle", meaning it's not to replace current petrol based autos. Its purpose is to force people to re-evaluate their transportation needs, getting the public used to technology they didn't grow up with, and eventually penetrating the mass market. Once those three conditions are met, only then will the mass public be able to transition into alternative energy based technologies such as fuel cells. Current methods of trying to get alternatively powered vehicles into market will never "sale" past early adopters and tree huggers because it causes a disruption in current energy, power and fuel infrastructures. We can not expect large oil and car companies to move first. They watch where the demand is so it is up to the public to move first and thats where vehicles like the R1e step in.
The size of the R1e is perfect for many reasons. Going smaller allows you to pull from old design manuals that say if you want a super strong object, with the maximum amount of volume, using the least amount of materials . . . you go for a spherical shape. The bubble shaped R1e fulfills all these requirements. It's nut-shell like frame makes it incredibly strong and it's aerodynamic shape lends to its smooth ride and long range for an all electric vehicle.
Reliability was a major issue for GM's EV1. Many owners complained of battery failure and exceedingly long charging hours for very little mileage. Cost wise the EV1 was a nightmare as GM tried to market it for the everyday commuter but the vehicle cost nearly 2x as much as a better equipped gas car. Subaru did right by making the R1e's list of standard features comparable to current offerings. Unlike the EV1, you get air conditioning, cd player, cruise control, safety, car like ride and easy maintainence.
The technology inside the EV1 was still in it's infancy and the market wasn't ready. However with the success of hybrids, now is the time for a vehicle like the R1e to really step forward and claim it's market. Hybrids are wonderful (I own a Prius) but as environmentally friendly as they are, there are still emissions exiting it's tail pipe and they still need a commodity that is growing shorter and more expensive every day; gas.
This is where the R1e exceeds previous electric vehicle iterations and surpasses current hybrid offerings. No emissions and a battery system that is 100% recyclable. Subaru and NEC spent a considerable amount of money figuring out a way out to re-use battery components and to completely recycle them into new vehicles. This drives down costs and makes the most expensive component of the vehicle much more manageable to produce, thus passing those savings on down to the consumers.
Which leads to the final element for the R1e's possible success here in America. As a transitional, alternative, and even 2nd vehicle . . . it needs to be affordable. Because it lacks the range gas vehicles enjoy, it needs to undercut current offerings by making it even more affordable. A sub $9,000 car would send legions of college students, first time buyers, and commuters to Subaru show rooms. It's mass adoption will force the big companies to finally open and distribute an alternative energy infrastructure and from that success; will allow Subaru and other car manufactures to seriously spend more money not just on concept research but actually bringing these vehicles into production. The goal one day is to finally allow technology to step forward to solve our oil, gas and pollution problems. The current model of our capitalist based society often hinders advancements for monetary reasons. We need to force a revolution there but to get to that point, we need consumers to buy, adopt, and mass-accept.
I for one love the R1e. It's design appeals to me much more than the SMART cars do. It's all electric platform makes my bank account happy as my dependency on gas will be alleviated. 125 miles per charge is plenty to get me to and from work and run errands. With it's success I can see charging stations opening up all over the country. With 15 minute charge times, that'll give me just enough time to get out, stretch my legs and grab a snack. Subaru has already confirmed the R1e will come to Japan with the possibility of an introduction to America. I say, bring it on Subaru, bring it on. It's a small step, but a right one.
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 12:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
September 5, 2005
Thats a Tire?
Why yes it is. Can you believe that? Man, kids today have got it made. It's one thing when they have all the electronic entertainment in the world but when people go back to the drawing board to reinvent those old school toys . . . toys older than both electro (me) and plankton (Daniel); thats when you know kids have really got it made.
Take these for example. Yes they are cute - neat looking, but come to find out, they're made from old discarded tires. My neighbor down the street still has a dirty old tire suspended from his tree for the kids to play in. How we would LOVE to get us one of these and show those kids who has the better "swing".
The material is reshaped, cleaned so you don't get black scuffs, all seams are folded in, buttons covered so everything is completely smooth. They support up to a maximum weight of 200 lbs. (assuming whatever you suspend it from can also support that much).
Somebody buy us one. We wanna suspend it in the living room as a nice conversational piece. What ya think?
Posted by tranism at 2:17 PM | Permalink
September 4, 2005
Labor Day Started At The Beach
Electro (Long) and Plankton (Daniel) started our Labor Day weekend by having a BBQ at a friend's / co-worker's house. The weather was perfect, the beach was clean and deserted. The food was yum-yum and a-plenty. When the sky is blue and the food is great, all seems to be perfect. We can honestly say we love our co-workers and it's so nice to be able to hang with them on / off hours.
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 10:49 PM | Permalink
Threadless t'shirts
Threadless makes some pretty awesome tee's and at $15 a pop, thats a lot of tee for such a reasonable price. I can attest to the quality of the screen print and the cotton. This will last you awhile. Somebody buy 2 for us. Size large please. :)
some other tee's after the jump
Posted by tranism at 5:21 PM | Permalink
RECYCL'art
One person's junk really is another person's treasure . . . or in this case art. Over at the RECYCL'art Gallery, they've posted some pretty cool images of people taking tossed out goods - remaking them into "art" worthy pieces. Here are my favorites from the gallery. Be sure to check out this link to see more.
Posted by tranism at 5:05 PM | Permalink
processing BIT SHIFTER
Bit Shifter is a digital musician that makes music using Gameboys as synthesizers. Processing is an open source java based programming language that many artists (like flight404) and scientists are using to create some pretty amazing visuals and interactivity. The two came together several months ago when Bit Shifter asked flight404 to use his processing programming prowess to create visuals for an exhibit.
What resulted was an interface controlling the processing software using 4 Griffin Powermate knobs set in a plexiglass base to evenly diffuse the blue glow emanating from each knob. By adjusting the knobs, custom visuals can be created for each Bit Shifter song.
I love Bit Shifter and I love flight404. Both are progressive artists in the digital arena and its great when people from different sub disciplines come together to make art. Please be sure to check out more photos and videos from the exhibit.
flight404 website
bitshifter website
Posted by tranism at 4:55 PM | Permalink
Mr. Octopi is More Than Meets The Eye
Scientists may now have to re-evaluate the predator - prey relationship of the deep ocean and it all started at a Seattle aquarium. Marine Scientists at the aquarium had to move a Giant Pacific Red Octopus into a larger tank containing sharks and other large fish while the Octo's tank was worked on. They figure an Octo's introverted personality and color changing ability would keep it safe, but which animal was really in danger here? Every week, they would find shark carcasses all over the tank. They decided to keep a camera running all night and what did they find?
My Octopi was caught red (pun intended) handed; snatching sharks, twisting their bodies, smashing their heads against the rocks and holding them still since sharks literally drown if not constantly moving. They posted the video and I have to say, that is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. The final scene shows Mr. Octopi bringing in the shark's head into it's beak delivering the final "crunch" putting the shark out of it's misery.
That shark got his ass OWNED! Some marine biologists are now re-evaluating whether or not sharks are natural predators (which was assumed) or actual prey. Was this all just some freak coincidence or are sharks gettin owned all up and down the Pacific? A mere invertebrate and yet they will probably rise up one day to OWN us. I for one would like to publicly say, I welcome our new masters and bow to their ultimateness and offer many years of servitude.
make sure you check out the video here
via collision detection
Posted by tranism at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Homeless But Chic
The Urban Nomad Shelter is both a humanitarian act and a social provocation. It is a cushion from the ground that also serves as a census taker for an itinerant population that is hard to count and even harder to countenance.
It uses a self-conscious design aesthetic (think Ikea or Target) to re-brand the homeless and re-map urban real estate. The neon-colored cocoons work like soft pushpins on a city plan, making it impossible not to notice the homeless and not to see them as human.
The larva-like shelter subtly makes the point that this is transitional housing - so transitional that it doesn't allow for any kind of personalization. These walls would collapse if you tried to pin anything on them.
The homeless have obviously been forgotten as most of us are content with pushing them aside, ignoring their existence. We often fight with ourselves not to read their cardboard signs as we sit at the stoplight in our cars. We avoid eye contact and we perceive them as failures of society. We totally remove their civil and human right and thus they become nonexistent and invisible. I've seen these cocoons spread out for a photo shoot in downtown Los Angeles by the gorgeous Disney Concert Hall and I must say, perhaps the idea of vividly displaying the homeless will jolt us into seeing just how many homeless there are. The juxtaposition of homeless scattered alongside an area known for culture and class is surreal. After all, how many bright colored cocoons would show up in your city if every homeless person had one? Would it make an epidemic problem more visible, and perhaps inspire people to take a stand and finally do something?
Posted by tranism at 1:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
September 3, 2005
The Real Mighty Mouse
The miracle mouse (mice) is/are creating a stir in the scientific community. Apparently it all started with one mouse that somehow regenerated it's amputated limbs - a feat normal for amphibians, fish and insects but extremely rare for mammals. What is even more startling is the scientists were able to extract the regenerative cells and inject them into normal mice. Those mice also began to heal and regenerate lost tails, toes and ears.
"We have experimented with amputating or damaging several different organs, such as the heart, toes, tail and ears, and just watched them re-grow. It is quite remarkable. The only organ that did not grow back was the brain."
The scientists have identified 12 genes that attribute to the regeneration and it is theoretically possible for those genes to be compatible in humans. If further study is approved, this could open up a whole new era in medical science. The regenerative abilities kicked in regardless of when a limb was lost, whether it was yesterday or 12 months ago. Lab mice typically have a life span of only 2 years so its hard to conduct any long term studies without using an animal that can live longer.
The powers of regeneration usually stays with lower animals. Mammals have regeneration abilities when they are still young, but as they grow, the body's cells become more specialized losing their ability to become other cells. This allows mammals to become much more complex organisms but in lower life forms like a newt for example; when it loses it's leg, the cells around the damaged tissue revert back to stem cells, dividing and multiplying rapidly. Because they are stem cells, they can become any cell thats needed to regenerate the missing limb.
If anything, this is all the more confirmation that world governments need to open up the barriers currently blocking stem cell research. Religion and conservative beliefs need to step aside, for the growth, betterment, and advancement of humankind.
Posted by tranism at 11:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Photonic My Fabric
Mad scientists over at Philips Research always come up with cool experiments that you'd love to see in your home, but find it hard to find any practicality in them. Their latest effort brings an interconnecting flexible substrate with red, green an blue LEDs. They call it photonic textiles.
When the substrate is applied underneath a soft fabric, the light diffuses resulting in a more continuous light source emitting a soft glow. My question is, where does the the heat from the LEDs go and how is it dissipated?
One possible application is light therapy. We've all heard about the thousands of depressed people in the far north. Not enough sun and the mind begins to wander. (Sorry plankton, I know you're Swedish but you know it's TRUE!). Light therapy fools the mind into resetting it's internal clock and is traditionally administered in a controlled environment. Maybe now people can take soft comfy pillows home that can help their mind and bodies while they sleep at night. If this ain't a valid use of the technology, then there's only one other option . . .
Ikea. I see truck loads of pillows, blankets, curtains etc . . . made from photonic textiles. In fact, I predict it to be a huge hit with college students and Korean girls as they'll be able to get lighting and curtains all in one product. Saves money, saves time. Ikea, if you buy into this technology, I expect you to give electroplankton a reasonable share of the profits. That's all we ask.
Posted by tranism at 11:08 PM | Permalink
Hand Screened Hoodies & Tee's
Little By Jenny makes some amazingly beautiful hand screened tee's and hoodies for men and women. The fabric material is the highest quality cotton available by American Apparel - thick, soft and long lasting. American Apparel products usually hold their color for a long time so rest assured so will their shirts and hoodies.
I for one love how she uses nature as a point of inspiration. The colors are vibrant and some of the designs on the darker contrasting hoodies scream to be bought, and at $50 a pop, thats a bargain. We'll be ordering a pair for ourselves unless one of you readers would like to contribute to electroplankton's hunger for fashion. Size large please, spanx. FEED US!
Posted by tranism at 10:42 PM | Permalink
Panasonic Panorama Fo Shizzel
A friend of mine told me to review this camera for him because he didn't have time. Didn't have time? Ummm, I would die (figure of speech people) for a chance to review gadgets for a living. Nonetheless, I hopped at the opportunity. A few hours later, he arrived at my door with a nice black box. Barely saying a "hello" to him, I rushed to the kitchen to splice open the package. 1 minute and several cardboard pieces later, I reached my prize; the Panasonic Lumix LX1.
I spent a whole weekend with this camera and here are some first impressions. It feels incredibly solid and surprisingly not heavy considering how much metal makes up the shell. The camera is about the size of my Sony Cybershot T1 (formally the world champion as the thinnest 5 megapixel camera) except it's slightly thicker. I can live with the extra thickness because the Lumix has and does things my beloved T1 can't even touch.
The major difference is it's ability to go widescreen. Thats right; it can take photos at a 16:9 aspect ratio. In fact after some researching, it turns out to be a first in the digital camera world. Thats pretty big. But why would anyone want to take widescreen photos? Well for starters, widescreen lets you pack in more detail and information than your traditional 4:3 aspect ratio. It's wide photo framing ability makes taking those large group pictures a hell of a lot easier. Eventually, all consumer photography will move to the 16:9 format because that's where all electronics are going. Already we see the adoption of widescreen televisions and computer equipment. Future media players and even our cell phones are next in line for this transition. For those not yet willing to make that transition, don't fear because the Lumix can take photos at the current 4:3 aspect ratio and even the smaller but cute 3:2 aspect ratio. You see, it's all "versatility".
The second thing the Lumix has that trumps my trust Sony T1 is megapixel count. My T1 pushes 5 megapixels but this Panasonic beauty pushes 8.4 megapixels. You'd think that is overkill for a consumer digital camera but if you're going to be taking wide photos, the extra megapixels come in handy for crisp and clear images.
Other features include Panasonic's image stabilization technology called MEGA O.I.S. From my experience, it works and is totally invisible to the end user just like the image stabilization tech in most Sony Cybershots. This camera takes it a step further by adding real manual controls for those people who like to manipulate their focus, aperture and shuttle speeds; a first for a consumer digital camera. And for those like me that just wanna point and click, this camera has an amazing auto-focus feature that works instantaneously. No waiting 1 or 2 seconds while you watch your camera adjust itself on screen. The Lumix also boasts 14 preset scene modes to make it even easier to shoot under varying conditions. My favorite is the Starry Night mode, which makes taking photos out at night perfect. My Sony T1 has problems taking photos at night, usually giving me semi clear photos with lots of background noise and grain. The Lumix didn't have this problem at all making me further fall in love with it.
The last and final thing this camera has is it's giant 2.5" LCD screen. Previewing your photos is a joy because the screen is so crystal clear - it's almost liquid if that makes any sense. The screen is bright and super sharp, easily overtaking what I consider to be the sharpest 2.5" screen available now - the Casio Exilim.
You would think all this widescreen and bright LCD screen goodiness would suck the battery dry but the lithium battery gave me a full 2 hours of power. That's taking a photo and previewing it on screen. I took a total of 51 shots before I filled up my memory card and the camera still had some juice left to go.
In my opinion, the Lumix merges the best features of professional photography with a consumer camera all into one sleek package. I'm getting ready to trade in my Sony T1 for this beauty. It retails for $500.00 so start saving your pennies now. This camera will not disappoint.
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)