Alles over Obamas Give Queen Elizabeth an iPod | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Slashdot | 2009-04-02 20:37:19
Ponca City, We love you writes "What did the Obamas give Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday when they arrived at Buckingham Palace? An Obama aide reported the queen was given an iPod loaded with video and photos of her 2007 trip to the United States, as well as songs and accessories. She also received a rare songbook signed by the composer Richard Rodgers. The gift issue had come up after Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the White House last month. Mr. Brown gave Mr. Obama a pen holder carved from the timber of an anti-slave ship, receiving in return a DVD box set of American movies, igniting a torrent of criticism in the British press. According to news reports, the queen gave the Obamas a silver-framed signed photograph — a gift she gives to all visiting dignitaries."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
http://rss.slashdot.org:80/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/nN3Zhfpa9Ls/article.pl
Alles over Obamas Give Queen Elizabeth an IPod | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Slashdot | 2009-04-02 14:09:01
Ponca City, We love you writes "What did the Obamas give Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday when they arrived at Buckingham Palace? An Obama aide reported the queen was given an iPod loaded with video and photos of her 2007 trip to the United States, as well as songs and accessories. She also received a rare songbook signed by the composer Richard Rodgers. The gift issue had come up after Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the White House last month. Mr. Brown gave Mr. Obama a pen holder carved from the timber of an anti-slave ship, receiving in return a DVD box set of American movies, igniting a torrent of criticism in the British press. According to news reports, the queen gave the Obamas a silver-framed signed photograph — a gift she gives to all visiting dignitaries."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/nN3Zhfpa9Ls/article.pl
Alles over Gallery: Confessions of an iPod Touch Artist | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Wired News: Top Stories | 2009-02-20 20:26:36
: Image: David LasnierMobile devices are no longer just for communication, entertainment and business: They can make art, too. Several different iTunes apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch allow users to edit photos, record music and now paint.
Last month, French artist and videographer David Lasnier began composing paintings with the Brushes app on his iPod Touch and uploading the artwork to Flickr. The paintings quickly garnered praise and links from commenters and bloggers.
"The small screen and the limited types of brushes limit the possibilities," says Lasnier, "But this generally boosts my creativity."
The Brushes app has its own Flickr group with a growing number of regular contributors, many of whom create elaborate, professional illustrations with the relatively simple program. A competing app called Colors has similar features, and the debate over which is the superior program rages on in each app's review section.
Click through the gallery to see more of Lasnier's paintings and find out why his iPod has made him pick up his acrylics for the first time in 10 years. Also be sure to submit your own iPhone art for a chance to be featured in a gallery on Wired.com.
: Image: David LasnierDavid Lasnier: I graduated from Villa Arson art school, Nice, France, in 2000. Since then, I've been working mainly as a video artist. I've always been drawing, but I normally don't draw from life. I doodle and make conceptual drawings and word games.
My favorite medium for drawing is a regular black pen. I also painted a lot when I was younger. I used acrylics, oil painting, all kinds of mixed media and found materials.
(Left) It was such fun to vertically frame this ferocious, useless tool.
: Image: David LasnierLasnier: Brushes is more like producing images with a computer — it has a great color picker, you can undo, you can keep versions in case you want to test options. It's like painting with Photoshop, but I never painted with Photoshop because it's too distracting — you can resize the workspace if the frame is not good, you can translate the layer, apply filters, etc.
Too much freedom radically hampers my creativity. If I want to produce a series, I must give myself rules, limits, even if I later try to break them. For this series on the iPod Touch with Brushes, I decided to use this very constrained medium and do my best.
(Left) A 10-minute painting of a kiwi fruit.
: Image: David LasnierWired.com: How long did it take you to make a Brushes image you were happy with?
Lasnier: Almost instantly — I doodled one or two things from imagination, but the first image I made from life was satisfying. It's an air-conditioner remote control; you can see it on Flickr. In fact I was more excited by anticipation of what I knew I would do than by that particular image.
(Left) This is the second image I made with Brushes. It's the tape ruler I use at the office.
: Image: David LasnierWired.com: On average, how long does it take you to make these images?
Lasnier: About one hour; for me, it's hard to spend more time on it. The screen size, the limited accuracy of the touchscreen quickly turn into an urge to consider the image finished. I also try not to modify the image after I stop.
Wired.com What artists have inspired you? Who or what else do you draw influence or inspiration from?
Lasnier: I did a lot of painting when I was younger, and I was greedy and very productive in many directions. So I have a very wide range of influences. I could mention a dozen of classical painter like Caravaggio, Chardin ... but I don't think that's the point of your question. I'm really into avant-garde. I think the fight against academic art is not over. I think Marcel Duchamp, Dada and Fluxus opened interesting possibilities. My videos, my drawings and projects definitely evolve inside these critical systems.
(Left) This is an Ekeko. It's a small prosperity idol my friends Boris and Maritza brought me from Peru. In this case I had to catch as many bits as possible of the subject because nobody knows Ekekos.
: Image: David LasnierWired.com: Would you consider your Brushes images impressionistic? What period do these images belong in?
Lasnier: In a formal point of view, I don't consider my images impressionistic. Some people who use Brushes, do that wonderfully — cleverly use few strokes to catch the light. My approach is way more idiotic. It's a paint of good will. I just do my best, trying to only paint what I see. Maybe this work could be classified as naive or bad painting. I don't mind being the dum-dum boy.
(Left) This is a small inkwell I use for drawing sometimes. I like the highlights on it, and I really wanted to catch the way the little ridge on the corner distorted the reflections.
: Image: David LasnierLasnier: I think impressionists transposed today would have painted rave parties and jet planes. The idea then was to get out of the workshop, bring some colors and catch an "impression" of the world as it is. I'd like to mention François Boisrond for his series of street paintings, which I think are more impressionistic than the totality of the contemporary bucolic "impressionist" paintings.
In the old academic system, the beauty was determined by the nature of the thing you painted. A still life couldn't, in any way, surpass an historic painting. Those were different genres with intrinsic beauty that couldn't compare. Impressionists and avant-gardes destroyed that system. The beauty in the new system was relative to the image, not to the subject. I choose objects just because of how I think they will catch the light, not because of their inherent nobility or aura as an contemporary icon.
(Left) The lamp lit by itself, reflecting itself ...
: Image: David LasnierWired.com: Would you ever want to print these images out or re-create them on a canvas? Are they less meaningful because they exist digitally?
Lasnier: The idea of printed versions of these images has been an option, but it has been abandoned for technical reasons.
When I was younger I was a painter, but I did not paint for 10 years. Having fun with the iPod and Brushes made me take the acrylics out of the box. I'm working on a series of small paintings ... sometimes looking for the undo command!
I have a big problem with artworks, mainly because of the speculation around it and the very elitist potential market. I think an artistic proposition should be theoretically elitist but addressed to the wider public. The digital nature of the Brushes images makes them hard to consider as having an exchange value, and it makes them really easy to share.
(Left) OK, I'm gonna paint some paint. It's red. Then I'm gonna use ... red! This is one of the acrylics that finally reached the light after many years of sleep.
: Image: David Lasnier
Lasnier: This is a cheap set of Allen keys. Metallic parts are really cool to make. Remember those armors from Caravaggio?
: Image: David LasnierLasnier: This teapot is really nice. I knew framing it would be fun.: Image: David LasnierLasnier: This is the corner of my spiral notebook. I thought it would be funny to frame it this way. On such a small device, if you paint this entire object you end up with just a white rectangle.
http://feeds.wired.com/~r/wired/index/~3/uu-fGZCHnvE/gallery_brushes
Alles over Saitek Mice in an Easter Basket, Why Not? | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Gizmodo | 2007-03-24 04:06:38
Now that we have all recovered from St. Patty's Day, it is time to look ahead to the next holiday that can be exploited for financial gain. Easter is coming up, and what is a better way to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus than with a basket filled with Saitek mice. I probably wouldn't mind getting a solid mouse in an Easter basket. It is a hell of a lot better than Peeps and Hershey Kisses that I would end up vomiting later. By the way, the mice sell for $20 if you would like to pursue an Easter peripheral basket, like Saitek is suggesting with this cutesy promotional picture. –Travis Hudson
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/peripherals/saitek-mice-in-an-easter-basket-why-not-246742.php
Alles over New from Sony: an iPod accessory | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Neowin.net | 2007-02-05 18:58:24
It seems Sony is following in Creative's footsteps: the company is getting into the iPod accessory market with the U.S. launch of its first complete audio product exclusively for the iPod. The iPod docking station, dubbed CPF-IP001, will go on sale in the U.S. in March this year for about $250 and is already listed on the SonyStyle online shop. The device allows music from an iPod to be played via a pair of attached speakers and can be controlled by a convenient remote control. Sony decided to develop an iPod version when taking into account the needs of users, said Masayo Endo, a spokeswoman for Tokyo-based Sony. Needs of users? I would say Sony simply woke up and realized that after its 20-year lead in the portable music market, the money is nowadays where the iPod is, not where the Walkman is. News source: InfoWorld Read full story...
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/neowin-main/~3/86801295/index.php
Alles over Lumi Flasher: "I HAVE AN iPOD!" | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Gizmodo | 2006-12-23 19:22:25
Look at me! I have an iPod! Look at me! Steal my iPod! Look at me! These things hold music??
For some, those white earbuds just don't scream for enough attention. The Lumi Flasher by Tinity Corp uses 5 LEDs (4 red, 1 white) to show muggers from up to 500m away that, yes, you have an iPod. As they knock you over and begin kicking your ribs, you'll consider the nominal $23 pricetag, happy to have spent the money that would have otherwise been stolen from your wallet.– Mark Wilson
Order Page [via newlaunches]
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/lumi-flasher-i-have-an-ipod-224007.php
Alles over MojoPac: PC on a stick (or an iPod) | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Gizmodo | 2006-09-23 03:00:17
Many have attempted to create a virtual mobile PC, but this is the first time I've seen one that works. MojoPac lets you install PC apps onto damn near any mobile drive, plug it into a host machine running Windows XP and run your desktop as an overlay. I saw it working from an iPod and several kinds of external HDs, but the client footprint is small enough that you could even put it on a cellphone. Along with running the basic Office suite, you can install games and even Skype, all of it using the connectivity of the underlying PC. A menu bar across the top of the screen lets you switch between desktops with a click.
MojoPac was supposed to be under wraps until DEMO next week. But one of the 2,000 beta testers bragged about it, and then an investor blabbed about it, and that's why we're able to give you the exclusive lowdown on pricing: $29.99 for the next 30 days and $49.99 after that. It's still in private beta until Monday. More screenshots and details coming soon. – Noah Robischon
MojoPac [Product Page]
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/software/mojopac-pc-on-a-stick-or-an-ipod-202724.php
Alles over The next big thing: an iPod with Wi-Fi and phone? | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Neowin.net | 2006-07-22 01:01:52
COMPUTER industry insiders believe that Apple is preparing for a Christmas sales battle with the ultimate handheld device: an iPod that lets you download on the move and doubles as a phone. The next upgrade of the iPod, of which 50 million have been sold, is expected to be capable of transfering audio and video MP3 files to the music player without wires. The use of wi-fi chips in the players would bypass the need for a computer, allowing users to download music directly from their wireless internet connection. There are thousands of wireless "hotspots" across Britain which could be used to transfer files. Some analysts are also predicting that the Californian computer company is preparing a "wireless" iPod that could also incorporate a phone, the ultimate converged device. Speculation about the product comes as rumours intensify that Microsoft will be unveiling its own device with a wi-fi chip, dubbed the "iPod killer". View: The full story News source: The Times Read full story... http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=34218
Alles over The next big thing: an iPod with Wi-Fi and phone? | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Neowin.net | 2006-07-21 15:26:18
COMPUTER industry insiders believe that Apple is preparing for a Christmas sales battle with the ultimate handheld device: an iPod that lets you download on the move and doubles as a phone. The next upgrade of the iPod, of which 50 million have been sold, is expected to be capable of transfering audio and video MP3 files to the music player without wires. The use of wi-fi chips in the players would bypass the need for a computer, allowing users to download music directly from their wireless internet connection. There are thousands of wireless "hotspots" across Britain which could be used to transfer files. Some analysts are also predicting that the Californian computer company is preparing a "wireless" iPod that could also incorporate a phone, the ultimate converged device. Speculation about the product comes as rumours intensify that Microsoft will be unveiling its own device with a wi-fi chip, dubbed the "iPod killer". View: The full story News source: The Times Read full story...
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/neowin-main/~3/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.neowin.net%2Findex.php%3Fact%3Dview%26id%3D34218
Alles over Seattle Columnist Sez Microsoft Portable Player, Argo, Will Be More Than an iPod Rival | rss feed | toevoegen | e-mail nieuwsalarm | Gizmodo | 2006-07-10 23:16:40
Last week we got some juicy initial information regarding the portable media player that Microsoft has in the works. Today a juicy little column appeared in the Seattle Times that has a boatload of information about this device, unfortunately, it is a column therefore none of the facts are backed up. The columnist said his information came from a source close to the project. So this could be a bunch of mumbo-jumbo or it could be dead on accurate, but check out what the columnist, Brier Dudley, had to say.
The project is currently codenamed Argo, and is being developed as a "complete line of Xbox-branded digital-media products." This includes a media player and online services. It is being developed under the Xbox group being led by J Allard, Xbox co-founder. The team includes people who worked on MSN Music (ugh). The project will also likely showcase Allard's XNA game developing toolkit.
Dudley points out the fact that Microsoft's annual meeting is July 27, so that could be a perfect time for an official announcement that will make all of us pee a little bit. We'll keep you posted as more information surfaces. – Travis Hudson
Argo aims guna at more than iPod [Seattle Times Via Kotaku]
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets//seattle-columnist-sez-microsoft-portable-player-argo-will-be-more-than-an-ipod-rival-186218.php