From Our Archives
Mobile broadband gets a logo
by Michael Baumert on September 30, 2008 11:40 AM
From Pocket-lint: Sixteen companies have teamed-up for a GSM Association-led initiative to make mobile broadband a recognisable standard, complete with its own logo.
With the aim to create a new category of "always-connected mobile broadband devices delivering a compelling alternative to Wi-Fi" the first phase will see pre-installed mobile broadband on laptops in 91 countries.
Not sure what to make of this thing.. it sort of looks like a couple of birds (or maybe bats).. though we're pretty sure the intention is to make it a cloud. Very MobileMe.
New iPhone + Touch Facebook 2.0 is Live
by Michael Baumert on September 30, 2008 9:35 AM
The new Facebook Application for the iPhone/Touch is here and in addition to the typical stream of bug fixes, you'll find better photo support, better wall interaction and support and a new user interface.
Of particular interest is the new invention of the sliding sub-tab.. the user can slide the horizontially-oriented sub tab items left or right making for an interesting new interface convention.
We'll see if this catches on.
Re-Design Watch: TUAW Gets Sleek
by Michael Baumert on September 29, 2008 6:39 PM
One of our favorite news sources - the AOL-owned The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) got a fresh coat of pixels today and is looking a lot more sleek.
A few points of interest include the top story representation at the top, better videos and a more up-to-date look and feel. They put up a brief post about the re-design, and we've got a shot of the last old look and feel posted after the break if you feel like being nostalgic.
Continue reading Re-Design Watch: TUAW Gets Sleek.
mmm... that's good Kroll..
by Michael Baumert on September 29, 2008 6:23 PM
Toucharcade has got a peak at a new iPhone/Touch game which raises the bar yet again in the iPhone-as-a-legitimate-gaming-device arms race. Not only do the 3D graphics look amazing in this hack n' slash errr.. platformer(?), the framerate and controls look to be buttoned down as well.
It's 7.99 at the Appstore right now, game one.
F The Rain With This Umbrella
by Michael Baumert on September 29, 2008 3:25 PM
From Art. Lebedev comes this new concept in telling mother nature to go F herself. clever. As Gizmodo points out, it's going to be interesting to see how many of these get picked up by google earth.
New TiVo UI Looks Gorgeous, Feature PIP and Apple TV-Style Highlighting
by Michael Baumert on September 28, 2008 8:16 PM
A Blogger over at Infinite Abyss managed to get a sneak peak at the new user interface for TiVo. Looks a lot better than the current UI and we can't wait to see how it gets rolled out.
Pics are embedded after the jump.
Continue reading New TiVo UI Looks Gorgeous, Feature PIP and Apple TV-Style Highlighting.
Little Big Planet Mocks The Xbox360's RROD
by Michael Baumert on September 28, 2008 12:25 PM
Much like EA's Spore, Sony's Little Big Planet is going to be an interesting playground for creating a bunch of ridiculous objects and scenarios. Here's an example of them pwning the Xbox360.
We love the physics simulation in this thing.. It looks like a ton of fun.
Webmonkey Maps iPhone Developer Frustration via Dipity
by Michael Baumert on September 28, 2008 8:59 AM
Some say that the iPhone application development process has been a bit.. well.. unwieldy. Fortunately Wired's Webmonkey was able to articulate it through the majesty of Dipity. The timeline tracks Developer frustration from start (June 9, 2008) to present.
neat.
via Webmonkey (Wired)
DIY: 0-60 In 4.5 Seconds And 35+ MPG Car..
by Michael Baumert on September 27, 2008 10:11 PM
Gearheads are most likely already familiar with the amazing Ariel Atom (video from Top Gear), but if you're not.. it's essentially a metal exoskeleton strapped around a 4-cylinder Honda motor which gives the sub-$100,000 racer stratospheric performance numbers. But if the $60,000+ price tag is still a bit out of range, why not build your own like this guy did..
Found over at Make, more pics after the jump
Continue reading DIY: 0-60 In 4.5 Seconds And 35+ MPG Car...
iPhone OS 2.2 Features New Safari UI
by Michael Baumert on September 27, 2008 9:49 PM
The iPhone's new 2.2 software update will be arriving shortly and at the top of the list of changes you'll find a new take on the Safari interface. The Google search bar placed below the address field will be gone, replaced by a 'closer-to-the-desktop' look and feel. There's a screen grab of the new UI after the break. Enjoy.
Continue reading iPhone OS 2.2 Features New Safari UI.
LiftAgency + PhlooQ: Getting our bearings
by Michael Baumert on September 27, 2008 7:23 PM
After about an hour's worth of discovery time, mostly spent hammering David with questions, we've sketched out how PhlooQ is going to function (and how we're going to communicate how it works visually). This is an important first step and one that often times is overlooked in the haste to bring a seemingly endless stream of web 2.0 products to market.
PhlooQ is deceptively simple.
Upon first glance PhlooQ may appear to be a bit uhhh.. complex. It features a mobile phone activation system, Facebook integration, phone call initiation as well as messaging directly from the widget screen and there is proposed future functionality that will extend even farther. Here's the thing though: at the end of the day PhlooQ actually simplifies event participation, network collaboration and communication through its unique approach. Interaction with the PhlooQ widget is seamless and requires little special instruction and that's why we think we're on to something here. It's simple and powerful and has the potential to make a real impact.
We're going to work on a sketch of the PhlooQ service offering and post it here soon, so stay tuned and tell us what you think.
Cool Visualization: Worldwide Air Traffic
by Michael Baumert on September 27, 2008 7:13 PM
Ever wonder what air traffic patterns look like on a macro scale? Neither did we until we saw this awesome view of air traffic patterns simulated over the course of a 24-hour period.
via darkroastedblend
NFB Wants To Make iTunes Fully Accessible
by Michael Baumert on September 27, 2008 4:55 PM
The Nation Federation of the Blind (NFB) is entering into a cooperative agreement with Apple to make iTunes, the iTunes Store, and iTunes U more accessible to the blind. Over the next three years the NFB will collaborate with Apple to ensure that the platforms on both OS X and Windows 'remain accessible to the blind and that accessibility issues are resolved.'
Speaking of accessibility (readability?) issues, how about the NFB add a little leading to the type face on their site?
Alternative OSes that may provide next year's innovations
by Michael Baumert on September 27, 2008 10:06 AM
Crunchgear has a look at some alternative OSes that probably won't find their way onto your desktop anytime soon, but may just provide a bit of innovation for upcoming versions of whatever it is you're using now..
The Menuet OS (pictured above) is actually small enough in file size to fit on a floppy disk.. or to put it another way it's a fraction of the size of a high quality MP3 audio file - and it's an entire Operating System. neat.
Android: The Inside Story of the Android Font
by Michael Baumert on September 26, 2008 10:51 AM
Gizmodo has the skinny on the story behind the unifying design theme in the Android OS - the sans font. :)
Throughout the design process, it swung from bubbly, candy-coated Google cuteness to a harsher, blocky techno style before something more neutral and approachable was settled on--Droid. It's the only font on the phone--apps will use it too, since it's in the SDK--with three variants: serif, sans serif and monospace. So it's a good thing they took their time.
Porsche Design Kitchen Appears To Be More 924 Than GT3
by Michael Baumert on September 26, 2008 8:39 AM
Set your euro-trash sensors to 'maximum' as you look through this kitchen concept from Porsche Design. Somehow this concept manages to strip the warmth and feeling out of a kitchen and replaces it with too many sharp angles and boxes to feel comfortable. Maybe displaying it with a window might help?
Porsche Design
Porsche Design
FutureWatch: The Automated Eatery
by Michael Baumert on September 26, 2008 7:57 AM
From Techeblog: for those who want a bit of forward-thinking engineering with their Schpaetzle, comes this german concept for the fully-automatic diner. Delicious.
LiftAgency + PhlooQ: ...And We're Off!
by Michael Baumert on September 25, 2008 6:20 PM
As David mentioned in his post yesterday, our design firm liftagency llc will be working with PhlooQ to do a new user interface and appearance, and we're taking the extra step of sharing the process with anyone who cares to participate.
A Bit About liftagency
We like to consider ourselves a different type of design firm and one that has firmly embraced the web 2.0 communication methodology of rapid access to information - even if it's not 100% perfect. We've worked on a number of interface projects and been involved with re-designs of all sizes and scales and we are excited to be working with PhlooQ. Onward and upward.
Read on to get a peek into our process for PhlooQ
Continue reading LiftAgency + PhlooQ: ...And We're Off!.
iPod Software + UI Get Rocked
by Michael Baumert on September 25, 2008 3:39 PM
If you're itching for new jukebox software for you Samsung, iRiver, Archos or iPod, this new open source RockBox 3.0 software ought to do the trick. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the look of it.. just from the shot above it appears to be more difficult to see the information on the screen, but the ultimate test will be when it reaches consumers.
OpenFrame IP Phone Assaults Your Counter With Too Many Glassy Buttons
by Michael Baumert on September 25, 2008 1:15 PM
One look at this iPhone-inspired interface and you'll either be overwhelmed by it's ease of use or will feel an unnatural urge to play Bejeweled. The IP Phone by OpenPeak
Continue reading OpenFrame IP Phone Assaults Your Counter With Too Many Glassy Buttons.
The Smirking Car: A Terrifying Look Into Automotive Usability
by Michael Baumert on September 25, 2008 10:36 AM
From dvice
Continue reading The Smirking Car: A Terrifying Look Into Automotive Usability.
Samsumg Brings the Gray and Orange With the Innov8
by Michael Baumert on September 24, 2008 2:22 PM
Samsung's new Innov8 Symbian OS phone appears to be a pretty decent-looking expression of the latest Symbian OS but certainly comes shy of the iPhone's silky-smooth UI. Note that the accelerometer screen orientation shifting which features a unique pull-back and push-forward approach to the orientation shift. neat.
Rubiks 2.0.. When the cube isn't enough
by Michael Baumert on September 24, 2008 12:20 PM
For those long airport delays where the standard Rubik's cube is just a bit to simple, we're happy to bring you this new variant on the old stand-by. It features blocks of varying sizes and will either melt your brain or qualify you to run the free world.
Video after the break
Continue reading Rubiks 2.0.. When the cube isn't enough.
Lift + PhlooQ: It's a Go!
by Michael Baumert on September 24, 2008 8:05 AM
Liftagency was selected to re-design the user interface and overall look and feel of PhlooQ, a revolutionary location-aware social networking project. In the coming weeks we'll be sharing our progress with the PhlooQ team and documenting the entire process from soup-to-nuts.
Stay tuned.
Metamorphosis: Computer Created Art
by Michael Baumert on September 23, 2008 2:55 PM
Here's a gorgeous-looking little piece of computer-created artwork done entirely programatically. It's nice to know that when the machines do become self-aware, they'll be into artistic expression, not just the annihilation of the human race.
From Vimeo
Android-Powered T-Mobile G1
by Michael Baumert on September 23, 2008 9:36 AM
T-mobile's been showing off the first real expression of the Google Android platform in the form of the G1. The interface is decent but certainly not revolutionary given the iPhone world in which we live. Google's Android platform is open, though, so future iterations of the platform may include a more interesting approach.
Continue reading Android-Powered T-Mobile G1.
New Sony PS3 Ad is Open to Interpretation, Skinny Females
by Michael Baumert on September 22, 2008 6:00 PM
..So inside every plus size male is a skinny young woman waiting to play video games? We'll never know..
enjoy Sony's Matrjoska doll advert over at adsoftheworld
Drinking + Gaming Come Together.. Again.
by Michael Baumert on September 22, 2008 3:48 PM
This new take on the basement entertainment man cave blends the simple pleasure of aged Irish Whiskey with retro gaming.. The cleverly concealed joystick panel folds out for a unique four player Street Fighter fest.
We're guessing it's a MAME cabinet in there.. Game On!
Continue reading Drinking + Gaming Come Together.. Again..
New iPhone + Touch 'Zen Bound' Application
by Michael Baumert on September 22, 2008 10:41 AM
From TouchArcade comes a really interesting new video from developer Secret Exit of a gorgeous-looking new app: Zen Bound, scheduled to arrive in the appstore shortly (Fall 2008).
AT&T Invites Users to 'Snack' on the Internet...
by Michael Baumert on September 22, 2008 10:11 AM
AT&T's new HomeManager offers a single device to gain access to all your other single devices.. It features contact synchronization with your Wireless phone (we're assuming that this does not mean mobileme integration) visual voicemail and access to yellowpages, weather and news.
Continue reading AT&T Invites Users to 'Snack' on the Internet....
Glass Skeleton Artwork Looks Amazing, Fragile.
by Michael Baumert on September 21, 2008 10:54 PM
Environmental Designer Melli Ink and Philippe Cramer, taken by the sweeping shapes of bones have crafted a art installation with life-size glass skeletons displayed over a base light.
From designboom:
melli ink is a zurich based artist who explores nature in her work by transforming bone into glass. her artwork consists of life size skeletons and bones recreated in glass. ink began her career as a set-designer and also worked as a performance and video artist. the show will be held at cramer + cramer, who's founder philippe cramer studied with melli ink at parsons school of design over 15 years ago. the two are currently collaborating on a project that merges their disciplines together. the special edition should be ready by early 2009.
New Xbox 360 Interface Trades Blades for Rare-Engineered Avatars
by Michael Baumert on September 20, 2008 8:23 PM
Microsoft's creepy new approach to the Xbox 360's interface is nearly upon us and as you may already know they've sent the lads over at Rare on a quest to make avatars which look just different enough from Nintendo's Miis to not arouse suspicion. The resulting monstrosities are the perfect blend of 'not-as-cute-as-mii' and 'just-disproportionate-enough-to-look-awkward'.
There's a video of the avatar creation after the break.
Continue reading New Xbox 360 Interface Trades Blades for Rare-Engineered Avatars.
XPlane for iPhone + iPod Touch and Thoughts on the AppStore
by Michael Baumert on September 20, 2008 1:26 PM
it looks like the premier (only?) realistic flight simulator for the iPhone/Touch is getting a bit of an update soon in the form of XPlane 9.01. Toucharcade has the full story.
We're excited, from a usability standpoint, to see how the finger swiping will work for control of the throttle and flaps.. a similar control scheme was put in place for the tempest clone Vector Blaster and appears to work nicely, though it does require you to keep a dust cloth handy.
Continue reading XPlane for iPhone + iPod Touch and Thoughts on the AppStore.
Beta: XBMC For Mac, Windows and Linux
by Michael Baumert on September 19, 2008 9:06 PM
So even though they can't use the name 'XBOX' (it's XBMC, thank you), the team at XBMC has released a beta of their media center application for the three major OS platforms yesterday.
The UI looks to be the province of traditional pseudo 3D shapes and lit buttons.. and the shark picture combined with the deep steel gray looks (gasp) extremely masculine -- for an Xbox hack project?! who'd have thought?!
lift + PhlooQ: Out To Bid.
by Michael Baumert on September 19, 2008 7:05 PM
LiftAgency has bid on a new piece of business for the new PhlooQ social networking application. We'll keep you posted as we know more.
Nissan's New Nav Setup
by Michael Baumert on September 19, 2008 6:34 PM
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced it will start providing its popular CARWINGS system to aftermarket car navigation devices in Japan. This is the first time a company's proprietary information service - previously available only with a car purchase - has been made available in off-the-shelf navigation devices. SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. will include the CARWINGS system in their latest portable navigation device beginning next month.
Continue reading Nissan's New Nav Setup.
YouTube: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Comes To iPhone
by Michael Baumert on September 15, 2008 10:08 PM
From the good folks over at TouchArcade comes some video and a great review of LucasArts new Star Wars game. certainly worth a look for everyone who's into Star Wars enough to go beyond Phone Saber.