Tanzania pictures

It’s taken me 4 years, but I finally got around to posting the pictures from my trip to Tanzania. I’ve included a little preview below, but I encourage you to check out the full collection.

And finally, make sure you see this one in full size:

Seedmagazine.com | Saved by Science

Great set of pictures from inside the Natural History Museum [via Noah Brier].

Personalized IKEA catalogs

Creative promotion from IKEA. [via Amit]

The future of music is now

Image by ipresents via Flickr

The future of music is now:

• Google Reader points me to a  video with a great soundtrack.
• I use Shazam on my iPhone to find out the name of the song.
• I buy it and instantly download it from the iTunes store.
• I use iTunes Remote to stream it from my laptop to my stereo via my Airport Express (Look Ma, no wires!).
• Tomorrow, I will legally listen to it at work on lala.com.

None of this would have been possible a few years ago. At least sometimes, technology does make our lives easier and more magical.

What will the next iPhone look like?

Every year or so, Apple comes out with a new version of the iPhone. Last time, they added the much requested 3G and GPS. At this point, most people I know who own an iPhone (i.e. half the people I know) are pretty happy with it. So, apart from better battery-life and more storage space, what are some thing we can expect to see in the next iPhone?

• Video.
  This is probably the most obvious improvement. Record video, post video to YouTube, and perhaps video conference via a front-side camera (already rumored for the 3G).
• A real camera.
  The iPhone has already taken one gadget out of my bag (my iPod); now it’s time to replace my point & shoot camera. Cameras in phones have usually performed poorly because the chips and lenses are so tiny that they don’t capture light very well. It’s not clear that Apple has the in-house expertise to do something better, but then again, no one knew they could build a phone either :)
• A better display.
  The current display is wonderfully bright and crisp. However, a screen with twice the resolution would reach 320dpi, better than print. Such displays are probably still prohibitively expensive, but Apple’s volumes could drive those costs down. Another possibility is using an OLED display, which wouldn’t require a backlight (drastically improving battery life).
• A better keyboard.
  The Blackberry Storm innovated with a single button keyboard. I’m sure Apple engineers are working hard to discover a technology that simulates the tactile feel of keys in a satisfying way.
• Everything wireless.
  Wireless audio via bluetooth. Wireless sync to your computer via wifi or bluetooth. Wireless music streaming from the iPhone to your Airport Express. Wireless streaming to the iPhone from your home computer. Maybe even wireless charging via a mat replacing the dock.
• On-the-go.
  An iPhone connected to a friend’s laptop could let you log into your own account. On a Mac, you could run Safari with your bookmarks, Apple Mail with your mail, iTunes with your Music, iPhoto with your pictures, and so forth. On a PC, it could run a scaled-up version of the iPhone OS X, giving access to the same apps. And AT&T willing, the computer could even use the phone’s 3G connection.
• Coffee-maker.
  I don’t expect them to fit a full coffee cup, but an espresso should be possible, no?

We may not see all of these ideas in the next iPhone, but I would be suprised if most of them weren’t there a few years from now. If you have other suggestions, post your  idea in the comments!

Well-Designed American Cars

Since everyone is down on the big three automakers these days, I want to highlight what I think are some well-designed American cars.

All of these cars are currently sold under a big-three American brand (that means no Volt, and no Saabs) Also, by design, I refer only to exterior aesthetics – I haven’t had a chance to drive any of these, so I can’t vouch for interior styling, practicality, engineering quality, etc.

Without further ado…

Chrysler 300

With its huge grill and armored-car looks, the Chrysler 300 looks truly menacing. If I was a drug dealer, I’d definitely want one of these.

Ford Mustang

Just like the New Beetle captured the essence of the original bug, the Ford Mustang embodies the classic American Muscle Car (yup, I just compared the Mustang to the New Beetle…).

Cadillac XLR

My personal favorite, I think of the angular Cadillac XLR as the “cubist SL500″.

While most US cars are bland and shapeless, I think these cars all achieve a coherent, thoughtful aesthetic designed to appeal to a particular audience. I’m not about to go out and buy one, but it’s great to see some good-looking vehicles coming from Detroit.

How about you – what cars from the big-three automakers do you admire?

Treasure Island Photo Safari

This weekend I attended Photojojo’s photo safari on Treasure Island. Here are the results:

Turns out there’s a lot of good material out there, so I’ll probably head back and shoot some more!

Nudibranchs

OK, it’s time to start posting again. To get back into the habit, I’ll be posting some older links, so bear with me if you’ve already seen them.

To begin, an amazing gallery from National Geographic:

Many mobile nudibranchs—vulnerable as they move in daylight between feeding spots—announce their weapons with garish color designs, a palette millions of years in the making.

The gallery, and the article.