Wow! If this is how the near future would become, I am excited. Hope that this kind of technology would really be accessible to a lot of us and not only to the privileged few who actually has thousands of dollars to spare.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
11 Amazing Timelapse Videos
Time-lapse photography is a cinematography technique whereby each film frame is captured at a rate much slower than it will be played back. When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing. Time-lapse photography can be considered to be the opposite of high speed photography.
Processes that would normally appear subtle to the human eye, such as the motion of the sun and stars in the sky, become very pronounced. Time-lapse is the extreme version of the cinematography technique of undercranking, and can be confused with stop motion animation. Via Wikipedia
Time Lapse: Times Square from raibenvip on Vimeo.
the timelapses alone from felixfotografia on Vimeo.
HDR TIME-LAPSE TEST #1 from ravi steve on Vimeo.
Centrum Vitamin Disolved from theopenlife on Vimeo.
Time-Lapse in the Round from danLinfield on Vimeo.
Timelapse from TEMPONAUT time-lapse on Vimeo.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The death of IE6 and the promise of Windows 7
Windows 7's new interface
From the ashes of Internet Explorer 6 and hopefully, Vista, Microsoft is beginning to rise again.
This past couple of months have been a great time for Microsoft. First, there is the soon to be released Windows 7 which is generating very positive reviews not only with MS users but even with the ever so discriminating Mac users (like myself). Yes, there are still apprehensions - eternal issues that MS copied from Apple - a bloated architecture - the dreadful BSOD - numerous versions which makes sense only to MS.
BUT regardless of all these, nobody can deny that for the first time in a long time, Microsoft is likely doing something right. The company which we seemingly love to watch failing and disappointing us, is finally straightening out its glitches, at least with their soon to be flagship operating system.
Windows 7, even in beta, is reportedly very stable and fast (though i still need to do an actual test run on my Macbook via Bootcamp, it's now nearing RC status, allegedly). Unlike the much maligned Vista which was, in consensus, made haphazardly, Windows 7 is robust and easier to use. Apparently, Microsoft has been listening and rightly so. They ought to have learned a lot from Vista albeit learning it the hard way.
Windows 7 definitely takes it cue from Vista - harnessing Vista's strength and eliminating its weaknesses while pimping its interface further which I might add is rather conspicuously beautiful. The result is an operating system that is currently being touted as innovative and could probably be one of Microsoft's best OS offering.
Quoting from Preston Gralla of ComputerWorld: Overall, Windows 7 is a more functional, more efficiently designed operating system than Windows Vista, with far more attention paid to the user experience. From revamped a User Account Control (UAC) feature to better home networking, improved search and nice interface tweaks, the entire operating system has gotten an overall polishing.
Internet Explorer 8 Interface
Then just last Friday, MS announced that finally, after years of brouhaha, Internet Explorer 6 will soon finally come to an end. By May, the new and more efficient Internet Explorer 8 will be distributed to users either via Windows Automatic Update or by simply downloading from the MS website.
Starting on or about the third week of April, users still running IE6 or IE7 on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2008 will get will get a notification through Automatic Update about IE8. This rollout will start with a narrow audience and expand over time to the entire user base. On Windows XP and Server 2003, the update will be High-Priority. On Windows Vista and Server 2008 it will be Important.
This news has been long-time coming especially to the web designers/developers who were constantly hampered by IE6's poor HTML and CSS rendering capabilities. I have tested the early betas of the new Internet Explorer 8 over at my PC and i must say that it is easier to use and responsive though not as fast as my favorite Google Chrome (whose Mac version I am eagerly awaiting, but that's another story).
With these updates and most likely achievements, I am positive that Microsoft is finally pulling and pushing through. Is this the sign of Microsoft's second coming?
For a run-down of what's new in Windows 7, please visit Gizmondo. For those delicious screenshots which we can't seem to get enough of, visit Paul Thurott's review. Internet Explorer 8 screenshots are at ZDNet.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The future of restaurants?
I and my friends used to joke about dining in a fancy and technologically advanced restaurant where the menu is digitally projected on top of the table (a bit closer to the MS Surface concept probably) and you just have to click on the food of your choice and then after a few minutes it'll be served not thru a waiter but will sort of ascend from within the center of the table .
While it is within the above context, this technology advanced restaurant (below) seems to be closer to what we have in mind.
The restaurant is called Inamo in London UK with interactive projections on the tables. It is designed by interior architecture and design office Blacksheep.
Video Demo
Chico Garcia: The photographer
I have always regarded Chico Garcia as creative, fun and quick-witted. I have regularly listened to the daily morning show which he brilliantly host alongside long-time radio partner, Delamar, during the five years that i have spent in college. As commonplace as it may be, like the many young, romantic and sometimes cynical dreamers, I am proud to admit that this daily morning ritual has made my sometimes tumultuous college life bearable. During these time as well that they have become tremendously popular, generating the kind of following tantamount to a popstar.
Now, the creativity of Chico Garcia has gone beyond words - beyond the smart friendly banters of the Morning Rush - beyond the pop star image derived from an almost cult-ish following of his fan base.
His creativity has translated into the the visible and tangible imagery of photography. Beautiful photography.
Chico Garcia: The Photographer
The photography of Chico Garcia is a magnificent and magical antithesis of the candor of Chico Garcia, the DJ.
A different side of Chico is reflected in his photographs; the part of him which may be left only to his trusted confidants and friends. His romantic spirit and zealous love for life are the only trace of the DJ personality that is reflected in his photographs. And there is nothing wrong with that at all. Because the result are photographs that are quiet, subdued, unflinching and affecting. I am totally aware and fully understand the need for every artist to sometimes step outside of his daily zone to capture and create beautiful art.
The landscapes and scenes captured by his lenses are grand and yet it is the fine details that he chooses to include that give the images their characters. While looking, you do not get lost in the grandness of the view but are drawn in the contrast of the little things; and then the landscape becomes a beautiful aggregate of these details. It is in these landscape and nature photographs that Chico visually and artistically communicates ever so effectively.
He captures people in their true light. They are not portraits but dynamic imagery of the moment and its emotions; his camera does not dictate but rather allows the ebb and flow of his subject's characters to be preserved through his lenses. Thus creating people photographs that are real and even introspective.
Through his photography, Chico Garcia allows us to take a peek at how he views the world. His beautiful and distinct photography is proof that indeed, creativity knows no bound.
Below are some of the photographs by Chico Garcia. View more in his Flicker account or visit his blog, Strange Fruit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
