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July 31, 2006

Lullabub - Cot Rocker

For all the new parents out there that aren't afraid of technology, this innovation could possibly save you some serious hours of no sleep.

Completely automatic and unassisted, this cot rocker is designed to naturally settle and soothe a baby to sleep. Through a gentle rocking motion, the Lullabub subtly mimics the motion of a car and puts your small ones to sleep without your exhaustion.

Posted by diverseawareness at 11:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | |

Revolving Fish Bowl

This wall mounted revolving fish bowl allows your dearest pet to travel the polluted ocean from the comfort of his own home. Pretty cute idea, don't you think?

designed by Shay Alkalay

Posted by diverseawareness at 11:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

The Wind Shaped Pavilion

Michael Jantzen is one crazy mofo and that's pretty evident in his latest proposal, the Wind Shaped Pavilion. The building consists of a multi-level fabric structure that would rotate around a central frame when the wind blows. At any point in the day, the building would change its silhouette and for you eco-enthusiasts, the power generated would be enough to light it.

Interesting concept. Anyone who lives there might wanna have a strong equilibrium tho.

more pictures after the jump

via Yanko Design

Posted by tranism at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

July 30, 2006

10ways

As media evolves at a breathtaking pace, imagery is more vital than ever to the way we communicate. In collaboration with Getty Images, 5 leading designers were asked to create 10 ways interactive experiences that explore what makes visual language so powerful.

Some of these concepts are a little abstract, even for me. Nonetheless, it is true; color, sound, light and darkness can all change the look and feel of an image dramatically, altering our emotional reactions to it.

Posted by tranism at 7:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

2D Animation Returns To House Mouse

It looks like the acquisition of Pixar is doing Disney good both on the financial and creative fronts. At last week's Comic-Con convention, it was revealed Disney is working on a new 2D animated full length feature entitled "The Frog Princess".

Pixar's work style seems to have re-energized the House Mouse as current employees are exuberant with the sweeping changes within the animation division. For one, Pixar believes in creative freedom. For The Frog Princess, they've brought back Little Mermaid's directors Ron Clements and John Musker to style, write, and direct as they see fit - totally free from the grips of marketing and board members. Pixar believes Disney art has always been second to none, but it's their stories that have suffered in previous years since writing moved away from creatives to marketing gurus.

I'm really happy to see the return of 2D and I can't wait for Disney to revive the classic American Fairy-Tales. Disney was once master at them. Let's hope there's still some magic left under Mickey's top hat.

Posted by tranism at 7:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

Graffiti Research Lab

What do you get when you muster a bunch of graffiti artists together whom mutually share a love for technology? You get the Graffiti Research Lab.

These artists take open source technologies and armed with their handy do-it-yourself know how, they've designed and created some really cool art. Some are interactive and some are an evolved extension of their main discipline.

Posted by tranism at 2:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | |

Humans

"To be a healthy Earth, all your elements must be in equilibrium."

So true, so true. Watch this amazing little animated short. It really is the truth.

Posted by tranism at 2:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

iPhone Wishlist

I seem to replace my mobile phone every 6 months and apart from being a tech and gadget buff, I do so because I always have had to settle for "just good enough". If this is an intentional move by phone manufacturers to get people like me to constantly buy, then they've succeeded.

I was just about ready to take the plunge and get the new Sony Ericsson K800i. It has great features, compact design, great software and an awesome interface. A couple things stopped me tho. For one, the camera lens is covered by a large sliding cover. It makes the phone bulge out from it's otherwise very slick candy bar shape. I would have rather seen an automatic lens cover flush with the design similar to their T-series Cybershot subcompact digital cameras. Second, and probably most important are its blogging features. Originally I jumped up and down with a jig of glee when I learned of this feature only later to be disappointed by it being locked in with Google's blogger service. It's another textbook case of a great idea being hobbled by software. From the looks of it, there's no way to change the phone's default setting to access other blog API's like WordPress, Movable Type, and Typepad.

So I decided to wait - wait until Apple releases its "iPhone". It's reassuring to know that even Apple's own Vice President has acknowledge they are working on it, but will only release it from the covens of 1 Infinite Loop when they feel the time is right, the technology is ready, and the mass market willing to take the plunge. If anything, knowing Apple, the phone won't have the best specs, but will instead go for synergy between software and hardware; something Apple excels at. That combined with Apple's trademark ease of use could potentially give rise to a device that can finally get the right mix together.

I am sure Apple will package their phone to work seamlessly across and with all their applications like iLife. However, I hope the meat and guts of this phone will include these technologies.

DEVICE CONVERGENCE

• The core of the unit needs to operate like a cellphone. I prefer GSM or any of its sim-card related offshoots (UTMS, 3G, EDGE, whatever you wanna call it), as opposed to CDMA. This is more widespread and would better position the phone as a global device, like the iPod. Great reception and battery life are key.
• A music and video player with access to iTunes would be awesome. No need to worry about piracy, just treat the phone as another computer authorized to play music and videos purchased from the iTunes store.
• A digital camera would be great. Apple's stance is phones will never take the place of a dedicated device and I agree with them. However, having a camera built-in means ease of instantly snapping a photo, sending them to friends, or posting to a blog. These photos are meant to stay digital, not necessarily printed, so there's no need for 7-megapixel optics. A 3-megapixel camera with a quality lens and decent LED flash is perfect for blogging and just good enough if you really wanted to print it.

MOBILE BLOGGING AND COMMUNITY SITES

So many times I've been out somewhere, saw something I really wanted to blog about but haven't got my digital camera with me. Unless I come prepared, I don't want to lug it and a laptop everywhere I go. My phone should allow me to snap a picture, resize the image, include text, and post directly to my blog or flickr.

CONTENT SHARING

The future of the mobile platform is riddled with the idea of networks and connectivity. Unfortunately, mobile providers see this as a bad thing because if we are able to share content, that might stop us from buying new content for ourselves. Basically, if they can't charge for it, they don't want it as an option for you. So I propose network sharing via streaming. Streaming within a local network can easily be set up using bluetooth 2.0 or any other wireless protocols that can support multiple connections. Just like iTunes, if my phone detects your phone is sharing your music and movie files, I should be able to stream them to my own handset. The files are never copied to my phone and the connection is lost once the source phone disconnects from the network. Digital content spreads best and is most successful when it works on a viral level. We've seen it with online viral campaigns where something was so funny, you had to share it with a friend. This form of peer-to-peer file sharing can easily be leveraged as an incentive for you to purchase the content for yourself.

WEB BROWSING

Browsing the web has become more than just a large library of files we view. It has become a playground for anyone to share and connect with other people. Current mobile browsers (with the exception of Opera), are limited in their abilities. Many don't support Java, Javascript, Cookies, or Flash. My phone should be an extension of my desktop and I should be able to access my bank accounts, surf the web, Mapquest directions, Google information, and view Myspace and flickr pages.

SMS & MMS UN-TETHERED

Sending text and multimedia messages are a staple even in today's entry level phones. It's the easiest and fastest way to directly connect to someone. Some mobile providers see fit to charge you for using their bandwidth but you already pay a flat fee for service. Just like voicemail, these services should be included STANDARD. I believe opening the door to new ways of transmitting this information is the next step. I might have larger files I want to send to a friend. GPRS is too slow and I don't want to pay 5¢ for every 15 kb of bandwidth. Since 3G services here in the U.S. seem like a fairy-tale, lets use our established wireless networks to transfer this information. If I have access to wifi, I should be able to send anything over it. The mobile providers have no right to tell me how my own personal files can be transmitted. Wifi is for everyone.

MEMORY EXPANSION

A person's life is an ever-growing gob of daily events and just like that person, the phone needs to be able to grow along with them. The phone should include 1 - 2 gigs of solid state memory that can be shared at the system level to help the operating system during intensive processing tasks. Memory expansion is crucial. Using formats like micro SD cards are a cheap and easy way to not only store but also back-up your files.

BLUETOOTH

Being able to transmit data to and from is important for a device designed to share and connect. Full implementation of bluetooth 2.0. allows us to exchange files within short distances. It allows us to trade information with our computers and free our phones from our ears via wireless headsets. The real improvement will be the inclusion of AD2P (allows for stereo sound to be wirelessly transmitted) and UWB (ultra-wideband radio). With these features, you can listen to your music wirelessly in full stereo and transmit large files extremely quickly - both key if we're to stream music and videos to other phones.

JAVA

Java seems to be neglected and that shows by how many people have no idea what it is. Many phones support Java and in fact many of the phone's applications run in Java. If the mobile providers want to find new ways to make money, they had this platform to work with for years but refuse to fully support it. Java can run on any phone and everything from games to business applications can be built with it. I see a future where Java is pushed to it's greatest potential - a great way to get new applications to extend your phone's functionality. Mobile providers should look into developing this and opening online stores where users can make purchases for their phones. The platform can even open up to 3rd party developers eager to jump into software development that's easy, cheap, and already has access to an extremely large user base.

COMPACT

I consider myself to be a normal mobile consumer. I'm not a business person so my phone doesn't need touchscreen or push email or open office documents. That being said, the phone needn't be massive. It should be sleek; small enough to slip in your pocket, but large enough to comfortably hold in your hand.

OLED SCREEN

I am spoiled by the AWESOME screens on Sharp mobile phones and ever since then, it's been hard to go back to something lackluster. LCD technology has advanced far enough to give mid-range users like myself a crisp, colorful screen without sucking battery life. The phone's screen should be an OLED with a QVGA resolution of 320 x 240 in 260,000 brilliant colors. That's pretty big but that's what we'll need if we're to take pictures and watch videos on it. Moving to an OLED transistor means huge battery savings compared to current TFT screens, not to mention how much sharper OLED is.

USER INTERFACE

Some companies forget, the phone is most often operated by one hand. It is not a computer so using the same desktop user-interface methodologies for handsets is retarded. I shouldn't have to drill 5 menu's deep to get to something that should live surface level. The UI should be uncluttered, customizable with wallpapers and icons, and work as a simplified extension of your desktop computer.

No too demanding right? I'm mean I'm not asking for video chatting, or terrestrial T.V. I consider myself to be a typical user who wants to talk on a quality cell phone, snap a picture and send it to my blog, share my videos and music from my computer with my phone, text my friends, and occasionally browse the web. Many phones have all of these features however, you'd be surprised how hard it is to find a phone that can blend all these features seamlessly. They either have partial implementation or have everything only to be hobbled by poor software.

The phone has evolved to be the mobile version of our lives - connections to friends and family when they aren't around, and sharing with others who have the same desire to share back with us. It has become an extension from our desktop lives - a place where we can access the same music and movies we watch on our computers. If in someway, someone from Apple sees this, I hope they take that into consideration. One of my good friends just started working at Apple. Maybe she can pass this post along to those there who will listen.

In a later post, I will address specifically the software and services I would like to see, and trust me, I SEE A LOT. Stay tuned.

Posted by tranism at 1:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | |

July 29, 2006

Back To School Bags

I've been trying to locate a cool retro "back to school" bag for a while and I figured I'd look up the first bag my mom got me when I started school in 1986.

This is the only photo I was able to find but what a perfect photo it is. This little guy looks almost identical to what I must have looked like rocking that bag back in the day.

The brand of this particular bag is Fjallraven which was every cool and not so cool kid's bag in Sweden during the 80s. It has since long been out of production but I'm hoping they will bring it back someday.

more after the jump

Until then I might get one of these bags that were extremely popular throughout schools in Europe during the 70s. Being the first colorful satchel, it was quite a revolution at school and around the playground. The Original 1975 model has since dissappeared...except to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the scout, the German firm launched a limited and revised edition of the original model under the name scout 1975.

Above is the cube backpack, Nava 2003 crafted in Italy of durable cordura. This sleek bag will easily transport all your work and school stuff with style.

Posted by diverseawareness at 9:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

July 26, 2006

Square Eclipse - Light Display

This wall mounted display of lights will give any room a stimulating atmosphere.

The Square Eclipse uses 24 microcontrolled tri-color LEDs that are carefully positioned behind the unit to create clean geometric patterns of light and shadow.

As colored contours from one LED intersects with other LEDs, it constantly creates new animating patterns that morphs into different shapes and colors.

Check out this video to see it in action.

more photos after the jump.

Posted by diverseawareness at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | |

Car Turntable

If like me you live in Los Angeles or any other car densely populated city you are most likely aware of the often sticky tight spaces we are forced to deal with, well this innovation deals with at least one of them.

This is an example of a residential installment of the vehicle turntable. Why not turn your drive way into a less distressing experience, simply pull out from the garage and let the table spin you around on the spot. If anything the table could serve as your "thinking spot" or maybe even as a peace full place where you could take a date on a relaxing spin.

Posted by diverseawareness at 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

Reef Surf Tent

I've traveled to Costa Rica 3 times the last 4 years to surf and I know this would be perfect for my next trip. No more cockroach infested hostel's, just me and my tent right on the beach.

LifeStyleDesign has created the Reef Surf Tent. The tent takes architectural inspiration from the gaping mouth of a whale and provides the aesthetic appeal of second skin clothing. It comes in two parts: an inflatable sleep pod (no rods) and an adjustable canopy (with rods) - both of which pack snugly into what doubles as an ice chest.

another picture after the jump.

Posted by diverseawareness at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

July 23, 2006

Print Me A 3D Plane

When I was just a wee-geek-boy, I remember watching a show called Beyond 2000 and in a particular episode, they covered a new technology called 3d printing which uses lasers to carve and melt polymer together. At the time, it was just small projects - little objects that could help designers better envision and test their creations. This opened the doors to rapid prototyping.

Fast forward almost 20 years and it seems the technology has advanced far enough to print not only the object, but the mechanics inside as well.

One of the first to fruition from this technology is of course, funded by the military. It's called the Polecat UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), designed to test cheaper and faster manufacturing technologies. Since most of its parts are laser printed, there is less room for manufacturing errors as computers are far more accurate and consistent.

If the project proves successful, we could see the technology trickle down to consumer levels. 3D laser printing could be the bridge between current manufacturing methodologies and the often romanticized nano technology.

via new scientist tech

Posted by tranism at 6:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

The Abandoned City

On the outskirts of Taipei, Taiwan is an abandoned housing project. I think they were built in the early 80's as cheap housing that could expand vertically while maintaining a very small footprint. The 4 circular pods made it easy to manufacture meanwhile providing it's occupants with plenty of space. I also found some questionable info on its location. The riverbed on one side, the hills on the opposite, the materials used to build it, and the fact that they expand upwards were all intentional to satisfy traditional Chinese living methodology of the 5 elements.

I couldn't find any other information about it or even why it was abandoned. Ironically, if this existed somewhere in United States and were to be redeveloped, it would probably a cost an arm and leg to live in. I can picture the hipsters drooling now.

more pictures after the jump

Posted by tranism at 6:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (15) | |

July 22, 2006

It's SO FUGGIN' HOT!

plankton and I aren't dead, abducted, or become Amish. We're just enjoying our one week vacation before we start our new jobs. Oh, did we forget to mention we're moving from one design studio to another! You can help us celebrate by buying us something. :)

On a side note, it hit triple 1's today in Burbank. It's 8:40 PM and it's still about 90º. I stepped outside to walk my dog before heading out to dinner, only to be stopped by a wall of heat and what seemed to vaguely resemble an element I haven't felt since moving away from New York . . . HUMIDITY! I sorta chuckled to myself because L.A.'ers have no concept of what REAL humidity feels like. They must be inside their a/c'd apartments afraid to come out.

Posted by tranism at 8:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

July 18, 2006

Canada Leapfrogs The U.S. in 2030

Our great brothers to the north, sometimes referred to as America Junior, are set to show the world, especially energy starved hungry United States how it plans to become net-zero.

Net-Zero is a relatively new concept and it simply means you put back the same amount of energy you use. The New-Zero energy home coalition is currently petitioning for Canada to revise it's construction methods and switch all new home building projects to Net-Zero Energy Homes (NZEH) by 2030. All the homes are connected to a central power grid and any excess amount of energy unused and produced by the home is sent back into the grid. This combined with homes that are energy efficient, designed with climate specific zones, passive solar heating and cooling, and solar thermal and electrical lighting systems make for a very efficient system.

So far, the Canadian government is very interested in the program and there's a good chance it might go thru. If anything, this should serve as a template for other countries to follow. Coming up with alternative fuel sources is only one part of the equation. We also need to reduce and recycle our energy and that means a major overhaul in infrastructure. Hopefully the U.S. will learn.

via Treehugger

Posted by tranism at 9:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | |

SEGA Mu-Bot

Okay, I bought an iDog. It's cute, and when I'm bored, I turn him on, pump up some music and watch him dance. I passed up the iCat and weird iFish tho. They just weren't as cute. Adding a 4th member to the lineup of iPod (or any mp3 player) accessories is the Mu-Bot.

The little faceless guy is more than meets the eye. Developed in cooperation of Avex Entertainment, his arms are actually earbuds. He's light enough to dangle around your neck and when you're done, just give his head a twist and the earbuds wind back up into his body. GENUIS!

I can't vouch for the sound quality but at least the actual shape of the earbuds matches the stock buds that come with the iPod. At only $21, I might have to get one. It reaches U.S. shores just in time for the holidays, in various colors too.

another picture after the jump

Posted by tranism at 9:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

Liquid Firefly

Another one of those, "damn why didn't I think of that!" inventions, the Firefly is a water bottle that doubles as a lantern. The lid is uniquely designed to house a very small LED light. When you turn it on, the light refracts in the water casting a bright glow. You can even adjust how much light you need; soft for a night light or bright to help you navigate your way thru dark areas.

For all you outdoorsy people out there, it's only $21.95

Posted by tranism at 6:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

Bjork Surrounded

Anyone who knows me KNOWS my love for a woman name Björk. She is grace, force, power, and spirit in everything she makes.

Her latest release is called Surrounded and is the greatest collection she's ever released (until the Blu-Ray version comes out in 8 years). Every album, every video, all remastered in pristine Surround Sound 5.1 and DTS, beautifully packaged in a box made to be displayed.

I spend so much of my money on clothes and gadgets so I often have to skip music but I just can't let this one slip by. I've found it on Overstock for $25 cheaper than retail stores coming in at a cool $106. With tax and Overstock's $1 shipping, it brings the total right under $110. I REALLLLLLLLY WANT IT so if you love me (my birthday was July 5th), be nice and buy it for me. :)

Posted by tranism at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

EcoSmart Fire

Fireplaces once had a place in our homes, serving as a source of heat. But those days have passed and today's fireplaces have become accessories. Unfortunately many are gas burning or even worse, some homes have wood burning ones. I can't even begin to tell you how much pollution you dump into the air when you have one going for even just 5 minutes.

So a modern age demand modernization in our old vices. A company called EcoSmart manufactures fireplaces that burns ethanol, a clean burning fuel. They have a range of models to fit all budgets and the great thing is they're completely self-contained. The model above is my favorite. Have it up against the wall one day and move it to the center of the room when entertaining.

more pics after the jump

Posted by tranism at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

Star Wars Invades Paris

Shot by amazing photographer Cedric Delsaux, it's what Paris would look like if the Empire invaded. Everything from Storm Troopers, Bounty Hunters to R2-D2 all set in the modern and serene Parisian cityscape. What's even more amazing is that all the figures are actually toys. Leave it to a very talented photographer and some amazing compositing skills.

see more at Yanko Design

Posted by tranism at 5:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

A Bird-like Plane

Scientists have gone back to the drawing board to solve how we can replicate nature's mechanism of flight. We understand the dynamics but haven't been able to build the actual wings. Our standard box of materials - gears, shafts, and flaps end up becoming too complex and heavy, not to mention energy hungry to operate.

If we observe everything that flies, they share one characteristic; they flap their wings. So part of designing a new methodology of flight is rethinking the materials which in turn leads you down a new path of flight mechanisms and construction.

The fruition of this research revolves around a new material called ionic polymeric metal composite or IPMC. The synthetic material is capable of deforming in an electric field and returning to its original shape when the field is removed. The material is lightweight, flexible, and far less complex than current wing designs. Since the kinetic motion comes from a magnetic field as opposed to a combustion engine, far less energy is required to flap the wings. All you would have to do is sustain a small magnetic field and rapidly turn it off to generate a propulsive force from the flapping wings. Dynamically alternating the field between the wings, and you can have a plane that turns on a dime. HOW COOL!

Posted by tranism at 5:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

July 16, 2006

Electro Bumps These for '06

click on the thumbnails to launch iTunes and previews

(from left to right)
The Fray - How to Save a Life
Scale - Herbert
Madita - Madita
Karsh Kale - Broken English
Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra of Bubbles
Venus Hum - The Colors in The Wheel
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Outputmessage - Nebulae
Röyksopp - Night Out (live EP)
Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental
Ferry Coresten - L.E.F.

Posted by tranism at 1:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | |

July 14, 2006

Origami-ish Table

No, it doesn't fold up, but the surface appears to have been folded/unfolded like origami. The texture is enough for you to notice without causing things to slide off should you opt. to use it for what it was designed for - a coffee table.

Buy it at Unica Home and buy me one too. I'll be moving soon and def. need a new coffee table.

Posted by tranism at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

Cupid's Umbrella

This is really dorky, but I want one. It's just two umbrellas merged into one, but I see some crossing branding and licensing opportunities here already. For example, the umbrella already sorta looks like Pikachu's head. Those two nubs at the top just need to be extended. Paint the whole thing yellow and VIOLA!

Buy it here

Posted by tranism at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

A Great Time to Be(come) a Gay Man

So mad female pro-Oprah scientists in the U.K. have figured out a way to fertilize an egg without the need for men. They simply take the stem cells from a woman and turn them into sperm. So far, they've only tested on mice (thank GOD), but the female antagonists scientists hope that one day, this research will lead to medical benefits and a deeper understanding of stem cell research. YEAH RIOOOGHTTTTT!

Okay, this is an AWESOME time to be a GAY man or for you straight men out there, try GAY. Let's examine why.

• You will become obsolete. Women only want you for your bully stick and dingle-berries to procreate.
• You will go extinct if Oprah spreads the word on T.V. Women from all over the world will find it much easier to get pregs with ummmm, themselves, and raise those babies in a communal paradise. Problem is, without our precious chromosome, all those new babies will be female.
• If women don't need ya for procreation, you can forget about sex. Get used to your right hand - you're left hand too if you need variety.
• If you turn GAY, you can f*ck all you want. Men are sluts.
• If you turn GAY, maybe the women will get jealous and stop with all that female nonsense?
• If you turn GAY, in 2 months time, you will have better skin, nails, and hair than any of your ex-girlfriends.
• If you are already GAY, who the f*ck cars right? I mean I gets mine and I bet you gets yours too.
• If you are already GAY, think of how many FAG-HAGS you'll have once all those babies grow up.
• If you are already GAY, now's a good time to move-in on that one str8 friend of yours. Yeah, you know - the one you've always fantasized about? BREAK HIM DOWN! He'll have to give in sooner or later once he realizes the women in the world no longer need him.

via Irish Health

Posted by tranism at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

Illuminated Couch

If you don't know where you or your partner are drifting apart, this couch might be the answer.

The couch is embedded with patterned lights distributed through-out the cushions. The lights react to weight and proximity, in other words, you on one end, your significant other on the opposite side, and the results are cold blue patterns in between. As you move towards each other, the patterns change into a pink color to represent your closeness.

What's really cool is you're not limited to pre-set patterns. They are randomly generated around your body as you move across the couch.

another picture after the jump

Posted by tranism at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | |

July 10, 2006

Civic Natural Gas Vehicle

The Honda Civic NGV has always flirted with my eco-sensibilities. Back in 2004, when I was shopping for a new car, my only choices were between the new Toyota Prius and Honda Civic NGV. I ended up choosing the Prius for its ample room, tech goodies, and more importantly it used readily available petrol instead of natural gas.

Fast forward to 2006 and the new Civic NGV gets better mileage (32 mpg), more power, and has all the amenities of its awarding winning Civic cousins. Honda also makes it easier to refuel by including PHIL, it's home refueling station that uses your home's current gas line. The system itself is self contained and safe. Just plug in your Civic overnight and come morning, you're good to go 200 miles before needing to refuel.

The advantages of natural gas are its clean emissions (next to zero), home convenience, and its cost compared to petrol. It's the perfect car for someone like me who just needs to get to and from. Anything I can do to try and reduce my tailpipe emissions in L.A. is reason enough to jump on the NGV bandwagon.

Unfortunately natural gas is a depletable energy resource. There's only about 100 years left of it at the current rate of consumption so vehicles like this one will stay in its niche market. Just look at the bigger picture though. You're doing your small part in reducing the world's green house gases while encouraging auto companies to continue R&D in clean energy alternatives. We need it for our future's sake so invest in technologies like this now so we can have a better cleaner tomorrow.

Posted by tranism at 1:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | |

July 8, 2006

Braille Mobile Phone

A long time ago, a visually impaired reader sent me an email asking me if it were possible to change my website to be more compatible with screen readers. He loved reading my old blog but at the time my design focused more on aesthetics than usability, therefor if you didn't have the latest browser and flash plug-in, you were pretty much screwed.

When I restarted this blog, I made sure it conformed with screen reader specs, allowing the CSS to scale the layout when necessary. I hope he's still reading because this new little invention by Samsung may just be a revolution waiting to happen for all visually impaired people and I thought of him when I first read the article.

It's called the Touch Messenger and it recently won the Gold Award at IDEA (Industrial Design Excellence Awards), an extremely competitive competition by the world's top designers and firms.

The Touch Messenger enables visually impaired users to send and receive braille text messages. The phone has two keypads. The upper keypad is where you input your messages. The lower keypad displays incoming messages by raising bumps to form braille lettering. The phone operates on standard GSM networks making it compatible with services like Cingular and T-Mobile.

Although the phone is only a concept, there is a possibility of Samsung commercializing the product. When that happens, it could boost the quality of life for over 180 million people worldwide.

Samsung, BRING IT!

Posted by tranism at 7:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

Cartoon Skeletons

I agree with NOTCOT. I had no idea cartoon characters could have skeletons. I mean they are seemingly indestructible. Their bodies defy almost all laws of physics so it's nice to be reminded, they are just like you and I.

All the sketches were done by a brilliant artist name Michael Paulus. He started the project to explore how real science would apply to his favorite cartoon characters if they were dissected.

more pictures after the jump

Posted by tranism at 7:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | |

Aarikka

Ah, the sweet country of Finland, with its huge pine forests, reindeers, ice slopes, pixies, fairies, and tiny dragons. Okay so I've never been to Finland, but when I think of it, I imagine an almost mythical land blended with Arctic animals and Nokias. plankton say's although they are Scandi, their language is far more complicated to write and speak than Swedish or Norwegian. That only adds to their mystique.

So up until now, I had very little to go on in regards to, "what is Finnish". I think I now have a slightly better idea from a family owned company called Aarikka. They sell all kinds of goodies for the home, based on Finnish iconography, design, and lore. I almost went on a mad shopping spree on their site since I am a deadly IKEA knickknack shopper and Finnish design bares a slight resemblance to Swedish design; minimal, natural, and clean. Just check out some of the cool stuff!

1. Bath towel clip
2. Bottle opener
3. Napkin rings
4. Home decor
5. Office decor
6. Dining table setting

via NOTCOT

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July 6, 2006

Tar Teddy Bear

There should be an accompanying statement to this, but there isn't. I just like it.

Posted by diverseawareness at 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

Hernan Cattaneo - Sequential

If you're starved for some house that’s deep, rich and progressive check out this new release from Hernan Cattaneo on Renaissance. A 2-disc compilation packed with a faithful delivery of exciting house in its most modern and dynamic fashion.

Disc one starts out very upbeat with smooth house and solid bass lines and traces of trance. Overall a really well mixed and produced disc that stays fresh and progressive throughout.

I've always been a fan of Hernan's mixing and his sounds, but his earlier releases had segments where it sometimes got stale and boring. The beats were always good but sometimes they got too stretched out and the mixes felt flat.

This time around it’s different, and a definite uplift from earlier releases is maintained by tracks like nr. 9 "1983" from Chris Llopis and nr. 11"With my friends" from Way Out West. Those are both thrown into the middle of the disc and are really putting a spin on things. Hernan is with this release also dipping into the electronic genre, but still staying away from making it to minimalistic and dominating as many other house dj's have done lately.

Disc 2 is deep melodic tech house with influences from all over. In my opinion the best progressive house release so far for 2006.

Trust me, it’s worth every penny from your piggy bank.

Posted by diverseawareness at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

Portishead's New Album

The highly anticipated new album by Portishead is finally due to be released. The exact date will be announced on their myspace page shortly.

Portishead's album Dummy is a timeless record that reserved a spot for Portishead in my heart forever. In 1997 they followed up with their next release called Portishead and a special live album came after that, but they've been quiet ever since.

Despite not having released anything as a band for about 9 years now, forefront singer Beth Gibbon's claims they've never been split up or killed the band. Guitarist, Barrow says that the members have just had their heads down for a while but still been writing songs together.

Interestingly enough, I'm eager to hear what 9 years of sorrow will sound like from a band that even in their somewhat cheerful moments can shatter me into a complete state of melancholy.

Posted by diverseawareness at 9:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | |

A Man's Face

What's your skin care regime? As this summer burns, more and more men need to be asking themselves this question. Statistically, the majority of men that read this blog are between the ages of 24-37. Those are some of the most IMPORTANT years in a man's life when it comes to his skin because that's when the DOWNHILL effect begins to take hold. So prepare yourself for this entry, open your mind a little bit and realize there's tons of stuff out there for you guys and I want to help move men into the next century. It should no longer be shameful or embarrassing to want to take care of your skin.

I believe the basics in men's skin care products are NO FRUITY SMELLS! I can't stand that! The only thing that can be scented is your pre/after-shave. And as always, only use non-comedomgenic products, nothing with oils, stay away from lanolin, and alcohol is really bad for the skin.

The basics that should be in every man's skin care regime are;

• WASH
• SHAVE
• TONE
• MOISTURIZE & PROTECT

Above are my 7 favorite products designed specifically for men. Nothin' bitchy or girlie about these things here. If you wanna be a real man, lets start with one that's clean, groomed, and protected. Oh and I keeps it real because everything here is an affordable $25 or below.

the specifics after the jump

WASH
MENSCIENCE daily face wash
This is HANDS DOWN the BEST face wash for men. STOP using bar soap. Bar soap was designed to strip away at the skin, hence why it was created to clean your body, not your face. This face wash is soap free, fragrance free and cleans so deep down without leaving you dry. Your skin will have a nice tight feeling after rinsing and thats a good thing. Only $22.

SHAVE
ACCA KAPPA cedar shave foam
I was blessed (or cursed) with that specific Asian gene that inhibits any facial hair growth. Because of that, I never bothered looking for a good shave creme, until I started sniffing my "significant other". MAN this thing SMELLS sooooooo GOOD. It has a very mild cedar fragrance that's totally natural. Your blade slides across so smooth and with each swipe, it leaves your skin extremely soft since this thing is infused with aloe extracts. More over, all the ingredients are natural and it's a foam which in my opinion is better than creme (no clogging residues). Only $13.

TONE
MENAJI skin toner
Almost all men wash and shave, but there's at least two more important steps after that most men neglect. One of them is toning. You see, when you wash, you strip the skin. When you shave, you strip the skin again. What's left behind feels great because its raw but going out into the polluted air with raw skin is a NO-NO. If you really wanna get scientific, your skin's PH levels are fupped up. A good toner like this one restores your PH levels meanwhile absorbing into your pores, keeping them bacteria free. Over time, you'll notice less bumps, less breakouts and more even skin tone. It also has glycolic acid in it which sounds dangerous, but it's not. It's just a chemical that encourages new skin growth. I love this product because it doesn't have any smell whats-so-ever. Most toners have that stingy alcohol smell and that's bad. Only $22.

SCRUB
H2O renewing microexfoliant
Okay, this is totally optional but if you do invest in a good scrub, you'll only need to do it about once a week, right before you go to bed. It's also great after a long hot sweaty day. A good scrub consists of micro sized ROUND beads that sluffs away old skin leaving it super smooth. I like this product because it's derived from the sea and infused with tons of vitamin E. That combo will give you a noticeable difference within a few weeks time and this product lasts a long long time too. Only $24.

MOISTURIZE & PROTECT
JACK BLACK double duty face moisturizer
This is the last step in a man's daily skin regime, and it's probably the most important. Even if you have super oily skin, you need to moisturize after you wash and shave. WHY? Because your body's natural reaction to being stripped squeaky clean is to pump out even MORE oil, thus you get caught in this never ending cycle of walking around with an oil slick on your face. The other problem is that most face moisturizers are so bad, they compound the problem and many cause breakouts. I like this product because it's incredibly light, no fragrance, infused with vitamins, and is water based instead of lanolin or oil. This all means it absorbs into your skin immediately. There's no filmy residue and you won't have a shiny forehead come noon. I also love this because it has an SPF protectant. Why use two separate products when one can do both. This SPF protectant is particularly good because it blocks BOTH UVA and UVB. In an age where UV rays are amplified because we fupped up our skies, means we have to protect ourselves, not only from pre-mature aging, but also skin cancer, which is on the rise in men. Only $25

LIPS
BRAVE SOLDIER lip defender
Another optional item but very important. One of the BEST lip balms for men. The formula is light, not oily and a little goes a long way. It absorbs straight into the lips causing them to unwrinkle and smooth out. It's also SUPER STRONG. Sunburn, chaffed, and cracked lips can all be healed since it contains some very powerful ingredients normally reserved for prescriptions only. On top of all that, it has an SPF rating of 15, blocking both UVA and UVB rays. And the fact that it's a skin care line for men called "Brave Soldier" is just genius. Only $8

TAN
SHISEIDO MEN self-tanner
This one's a bonus. A few of my guy friends have asked me what's the best self-tanner. A lot of men still feel weird going to tanning salons which have improved significantly by the way. No more orange tans. And ALL MY FRIENDS know how much I loathe the sun when it comes to tanning. TANNING VIA SUN IS BAD!!! Stop it! Be happy with your natural skin color but if you really want a natural looking tan, then use this product. I've used this product a few times and it's amazing. First off, it has NO SMELL. Second, it doesn't dry your skin at all and it absorbs straight in. You don't feel like you're wearing a coating. Thirdly, it's correctly formulated so it creates a natural looking tan for your skin by reacting with your own melanin. Most importantly, when it wears off (in a week or more), it comes off evenly, not all blotchy. You just gradually lighten up. Only $25

Posted by tranism at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | |

July 3, 2006

Heat Knocked Me Out

My bear says it all. It's so f*ckin' hot outside (triple digits!) I can barely move without feeling the urge to collapse. Yes I know the heat wave is all over the country and I really want to send my condolences to those of you in humid climates. My heart goes out to you.

Still, despite the heat, I'm scheduled to make an appearance at 3 BBQ's tomorrow (I just made myself sound so important). I don't know how many I'll get to but if today was a sign of things to come, I will def. keel over with"x's" over my eyes by 1PM. So here's my early apology to anyone's BBQ I enthusiastically promised to attend but didn't make it to.

Posted by tranism at 1:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | |

July 2, 2006

Milan '07 S/S - Etro

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this collection. Okay, before you go and call me dirty names, just look at the pieces separately. I'm not saying you should run out and dress up like a gay pirate, unless you really want to.

Etro went off the deep end with this one but it's a fantasy more men need to embrace. I especially love the hibiscus and paisley printed pants. HELLO, PAISLEY PRINTED PANTS! It's so oddball now-a-days to see paisley anything but to attach that print to a masculine cut pant - that's pretty damn hot. I also love how the pants aren't exactly tapered in at the bottom. It's innovative construction on how the cuff can be worn. I could easily imagine myself pairing all the pants with some flip-flops trekking about Los Angeles.

Etro, if you love me, send me some PLEASE.

Posted by tranism at 7:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

Milan '07 S/S - Bottega Veneta

Ah the house of Bottega Veneta. I've pretty much been in love with everything coming out from them this season and last. There's minimalism but the execution is different. You see, experimentation doesn't have to mean wild and crazy. Men's clothing shifts slowly, so if you wanna change something or try something new in menswear, you've got to do it subtly.

Veneta shows us how. For Spring, its all about whites and washed out colors. Textures are crinkly and it's really hard to make tailored linen look good, but it works here. Part of the reason why are the slight changes in shape to silhouettes otherwise considered mild and standard mill. Zippers are flipped, pockets are shifted, and cuts to change the way button enclosures look. All very subtle but just enough to make it look unique. I like it.

Posted by tranism at 6:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

Milan '07 S/S - Alexander McQueen

McQueen is an interesting fellow when it comes to his menswear line. As always his tailoring precision is never more apparent. But for this season, he's taken a more minimal approach. I would even say, almost Japanese.

The full trousers with full pleats, the experimentation with textures, are reinforced with tiny elements that seem so delicate - more like womenswear. This is McQueen's version of "understated" and I like it.

Posted by tranism at 6:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | |

Milan '07 S/S - Alessandro Dell'acqua

I've been quiet this past week because I've been busy catching up with the World Cup Spring 2007 menswear lines in Milan. So I start my review with one of my favorite collections of Spring 2007, Alessandro Dell'acqua.

When I look at Dell'acqua's collection, I form a story in my head. I'm not sure if it's the same story he had in mind but no matter how the clothes developed, they are very handsome.

I see a rebellious punk kid forced to enter military service. He's sent off to Africa where he sees things that eventually influence the man he's to become. When he finally returns home, he's grown up. Still a little rebellious at heart but this time with military refinement and worldly experiences. It's a good look on him. Fitted shirts in desert and grove colors, wild prints, all coupled with slim line pants rolled at the cuff to show off some awesome camouflage-metallic shoes.

Posted by tranism at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

A Hi-tech Fetish

I've been asked to describe myself in one simple phrase before and put on the spot I just say "clever and intelligent". PUKE, how boring is that?

I came across this site which at first caught my eye more than it did my mind until I realized there was fun word-play in the site's URL. It's called Hitech-Fetish. DING DING DING! I wish I would have thought of that. I'm so obsessed with gadgets, I might as well attach a perverse connotation to it. Hi-tech things are def. my fetish.

The site goes so far as to illustrate that play on words by offering up monthly images combing sex and gadgetry in a very S&M way. The fact that the site is German only adds more to its allure. We all know how Germans can get kinda bossy, rough, and demanding and believe me when I say that's a sexy thing. It sorta reminds me of what my buddy over at magmozine suggested I do last year; instead of my usual tech reviews, couple it with a photo of some really hot guy holding the gadget in question. It never panned out so this site def. gave me a few chuckles. My favorite image is the one above. Just stare at it. I know I did.

more images after the jump
thanks to my buddy gunmetalblue for the linkie

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Javascript Based Mario 3 Desktop

An indie programmer that goes by the name "shadow" releases his interactive desktop based on the first level of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the SNES. The rendition is pretty faithful and although you can't actually control Mario, you can click on him, the goombas, turtles, and coin blocks - everything is fully animated and doesn't hog CPU resources.

Although Shadow wrote it for the PC, it's in javascript so I don't see why it wouldn't work on a Mac. He even includes a brief how-to on modifying the code. But if you just want something cool for your desktop, download it, set it as your wallpaper and the thing should automatically scale to fit your screen's resolution. ENJOY!

thanks to my buddy gunmetalblue for the linkie

Posted by tranism at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

The General Knows His Motors

GM has sorta become the laughing stock of the automotive world. No matter how the General's PR soldiers spin it, there's no denying the once mighty empire is and has been in decline against the onslaught of old foreign rivals, not to mention new ones emerging from China. Although the company has taken painstaking strives is restoring itself to profitability, it's going to take time for such a large company. So many ask, does GM have an ace up its sleeves?

I answer yes - yes the General does. He's no fool and although his troops and resources are fragmented, there's a group within GM's ranks that quite possibly could be GM's future.

This group is responsible for GM's fuel cell research and development. It's no biggie to hear about fuel cell development. It is in fact touted as the future fuel source for all things mechanical. One could even say GM's old rivals like Honda area already way ahead of the curve with fleet testing of its small FX car and the announcement of a full size fuel cell sedan and a home refill station. What's the General doing different?

The General has to think different from Honda. He has many divisions, all with different needs and that means continuing what many call GM's reason for downfall - universal platform sharing. The current problems are too many autos across GM's brand list sharing the same platforms without enough differentiation in design and function. The future solution could be what GM's fuel cell group has developed; a fuel cell based drive system compact enough to sit flat like a skateboard below the shell of the vehicle, meanwhile producing enough electricity to power up a neighborhood street.

Back in 2002, GM showed off the fruit of its labor, dubbed the Hy-Wire. It's touted as the first drivable fuel cell concept with by-wire technology. No moving parts, no mechanical linkages. The shell of the body is bolted onto the skateboard-like platform containing all the energy and drive components. The only thing required to connect the two is a single cable, transferring control inputs to the car's drive system. The Hy-wire is quiet to drive, powerful because of its torquey electric motors, and theoretically cheaper to mass produce since all you have to do is replace the shell to go from sedan to suv to truck. They all ride on the same platform, but unlike GM's current platform sharing issues, by-wire technology allows designers to really create different vehicles since its independent of the drive system. To add to the benefits, since the cabin has no mechanical linkages to the drive system, the interior can be completely customizable to many configurations. For instance, the steering column is on the right when you're in England but take a ferry to France and the entire steering column can shift over to the left with just a push of a button.

So there's GM's ace for ya. If the General can leverage its research and turn them into real world products for tomorrow's drive needs then its def. back on the map. The Hy-Wire is the first glimpse of what that future might look like. Revolutionary in its build, and so scalable in its configurations, I've yet to see or hear anything out of other leading fuel cell developers that could compete. Daimler, Honda and Toyota are all taking the same approach - a fuel cell future but built on the current production ideology. GM is looking to shift that paradigm.

In the meantime, to compete with the Japanese Hybrids, I recommend the General really transform it's Saab division into the eco-performance company it so wants to be. Bio-fuel with plug-in recharge vehicles coupled with the brand's luxury marque could put Saab back on the map. Proven successful in one of GM's divisions means it will eventually spread to the others. Strap your boots up General, ya needs to get crackin' on this.

check out video of the Hy-Wire in action.

Posted by tranism at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | |

An I.V. For My Plant STAT!

How many of us have indoor plants on the verge of comatose? I know I have several. Even that hardiest of plants don't have a great chance of survival in my house because I'm not really a plant person. They are easily forgettable and I don't really find beauty in them sitting isolated in a pot in my living room.

Nonetheless, I am not heartless and whenever I do notice a dying plant, I rush to give it medical attention - that means water.

And since I have this weird "plant dies, I play doctor, plant lives" relationship, why not a unique design solution to remind neglectful plant owners like myself to keep the juice flowing? I'm talking about a potted plant with a medical drip feed. The liquid can include nourishing food and releases just enough to keep the plant quenched. Now instead of guesswork, just refill the bag when its bone dry.

And this isn't just a concept, you can actually pre-order one now for 149.50 GBP.

Posted by tranism at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |

Big Earth, Bigger Universe

As a kid, I remember looking up at the sky and thinking if I reached far enough, I could touch it. Thus began my fascination with our world and beyond. In the 2nd grade I learned about the other planets in our solar system and soon after, my first visit to the planetarium. During that presentation, I was in awe how tiny Earth was compared to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Sure, I always knew they were bigger but my young mind could not visually comprehend what hundreds of thousands of square miles looked like. The planetarium put that into perspective.

I'm all grown up now and every now and then, some news of space comes my way that perks my interest but never have I really relived those moments from when I was a kid.

I came across this page that has scale models of our space neighborhood. Yes, Earth is really blue and its quite large compared to Mars. No shocker there. Yes Jupiter and Saturn are huge but again, no shocker there. Then I see the planets scaled to size against our sun. Not really a shocker, but def. an eye opener. At this scale, Earth is very tiny. Even Jupiter is dramatically dwarfed. Move beyond our solar system and we find stars and planets that make even our sun look miniscule. In fact, so tiny, that the sun is only 1 pixel big compared to some of the stars out there.

The universe is so vast. My mind boggles at the seemingly limitless space. I can imagine even larger stars, so large, they even eclipse our entire solar system in size. THAT'S HUGE!

I love the universe and I'm glad to say, I think I'm having that moment of "first discovery" again, and it really feels good.

Posted by tranism at 2:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | |