Ecospace

We’re entering the realm of ‘affordability’ in 2010 with this green studio composed of roughly 120 sq feet of room. I dig the large windows and such features as a green roof, heated water-resistant rubber flooring, sustainable red cedar insulated walls, and the small footprint offered by Ecospace. A standard model costs about $37K. Check out there website as well its very well designed and gives great information on there product.

The Mini-Jot

Although if your looking for another cheaper alternative to align with your budget then how about the Mini-Jot. At roughly $100 per square foot, this 120sq ft. studio can fit perfectly as a home office, guest house, etc. The structure is designed with passive solar in mind to reduce heating and cooling costs; as well as insulated lightweight structural panels, super-efficient windows, and optional concrete flooring to act as a heat sink. With the money you save on building costs, you could also add on solar, a wood stove, or other cool green features.

I was looking for some inspiration for some poster designs and I came across Mihail Mihaylov. He is a graphic designer and illustrator from Sofia, Bulgaria. Mihail designs are influenced by the aesthetics of modernism. He says that he loves doing minimalistic graphic design and playing with type, colors and shapes. Which you can tell he does by his work.

If you haven't heard Andy James then you should. Andy is an up and coming Techno DJ/Producer. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where he was inspired by earlier electronic groups like Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Orbital etc. He started spinning back in 1998 and hasn't looked back.

Now in 2010, Andy has risen to become one of the Midwest's hardest working techno DJ/Producers. Some of the DJs/Producers he has played alongside are Richie Hawtin, Barem, Dan Bell, John Tejada, Stacey Pullen and more. He is a very talented DJ/Producer who I know personally so I can say that this guy has skills. If you don't believe me then listen to his new January 2010 mix. This mix is full of some hard hitting bass that will fill any techno head with enjoyment. This mix will definitely have you bouncing the whole time. Take a listen below with the stream version or click the link to download. You can also check out some of his tracks he produced as well on soundcloud.



January 2010 Mix by AndyJames

Tracklist

1. Intro
2. Greg Kobe - Good Deal (Mikael Jonasson Remix) - Definitive Recordings
3. Alessio Mereu - S' Accabadora - CMYK
4. Monokao - En Casa de Paola - inoQouo
5. Davide Guigliano - Banging Shit (David Padilla, Juan Kue, Juano Velino Remix) - Dropkick Records
6. DJ Mickey Da Funk & Costantino Nappi - Feeling Your Soul (Andrea Di Rocco & Ivan Di Blasio Remix) - Italo Business
7. Speedy J - Minimal (John Acquaviva & Oliver Giacomotto Remix) - Plus 8
8. Sascha Krohn - A Tree Is A Tree (Tim Xavier & Camea Remix) - Dreielf
9. Dandi & Ugo - Deep Putka (Alex D'Elia & Nihil Young Remix) - Kol Mojito Records
10. Andy James - Uno - Unreleased
11. Deepbass & Roman Toletski - Oddity (Mark Broom Remix) - Dark Beat
12. Andy James - Profundo - Unreleased
13. Kevin Gorman - Shakey Stripped - Mikrowave
14. Alan Fitzpatrick - Bumblebee - Drumcode
15. Pfirter & Monoloc - Trucker 2 (Ascion Remix) - Synewave
16. Martin Mazzola - Hoppa - Machine Jockey
17. Alex D'Elia & Nihil Young - Surrogates - 1605
18. Wehbba - The One With The Disco Stab - 82 Recordings
19. Kevin Gorman - Shakey Metallic Beats - Mikrowave
20. Mi'ka & Kala - Mochi - SubSensory Recordings
21. Hollen - Annoying People - N.O.I.A. Records
22. Mickael Davis - Karnage (Orakls Remix) - Impulsif Records

Graphic and image editors can help you create beautiful graphics and give your digital images amazing effects, but they can be expensive. So I can understand that some people just don't want to buy an expensive program just to make a couple of alterations. So I have decided to provide you with some Free Graphic and Image Editors that can fit your needs. These programs can be used by graphic designers, photographers, animators, and artists. Some have basic functionality, for the amateur or learner, others are very powerful and professional, suitable for the professional.

Project Dogwaffle

Project Dogwaffle offers both freeware and commercial versions, the freeware version is fully functional, lacking only the advanced layer and scripting tools of the full version. Project Dogwaffle (current version 1.2) is based on its commercial big brother, Project Dogwaffle 2.0. It’s a lighter, yet powerful tool for graphic designers and animators. Its features include realistic paint effects, a frame-based animation tool, the standard paint tools common to most modern bitmap paint programs, an alpha channel for transparency effects and support for plugins.

Pixen H3

Pixen is an innovative graphics editor for the Mac. It’s designed from top to bottom for pixel artists—people who make low-resolution raster art like the sprites you see in old video games. But it’s great for artists of all arenas: Pixen is like a very powerful MSPaint or a simpler, more agile Photoshop. And best of all, it’s Free!

Inkscape

Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor just as powerful (perhaps better?) to Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw. What sets Inkscape apart is its use of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), an open XML-based W3C standard, as the native format.
Inkscape does not have all the features of the leading vector editors, the latest versions provide for a large portion of basic vector graphics editing capabilities. It is not unknown for Inkscape to be used on different projects, it can be successfully used to create web graphics, technical diagrams, icons, creative art, logos and maps. It can also be used on Windows and Mac OS.

PhotoFiltre

PhotoFiltre is a great freeware bitmap graphics editor program. I have been using this one personally for my photography and giving it that vintage look. This program has a lot of different features. One that I like the most is the quick contrast/hue and saturation buttons because you can check out the effects and immediately and easily correct the image if you’re not satisfied with its quality.

Paint.net

Paint.NET is a free image and photo editor, it features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. An active and growing online community provides friendly help, tutorials, and plugins.
It was originally intended as a free replacement for Microsoft Paint, it has grown into a powerful yet simple image and photo editor tool, not quite as powerful as Photoshop or Gimp, but a damn good replacement. It is trying to be simple for beginners and powerful for professionals.

Pixia

Pixia is a freeware bitmap graphics editor program originally developed for the Japanese Manga but has become very popular with all graphic designers.
This Japanese application, is also available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Polish, Korean and German. The program supports multiple layers, transparency effects, standard file formats and a number of RGB file formats including .PSD. The main file extension used by this program is .PXA.

While being stuck in a traffic jam the other day I was thinking about the designs of the cars on the road. I was thinking about the futuristic type designs and practicality of the automobile. Then it popped into my mind what about the bicycle. What kind of designs have come out that are futuristic looking but yet still have some practicality?

Creative design can be pure art or it can add usefulness to its product. When an item combines beauty and practicality, then it becomes an excellent product. So check out some of these beautiful designs.

Oryx

Designer Harald Cramer decided to integrate handle bars, stem and fork in the same piece. The crank is designed like a ring and mounted in the inside of the frame by two ball bearings.

Grasshopper

Designer David Goncalvez decided that its folding composition be partial, so that it can be carried as a trolley and fastly charged without unfolding it. I think this one is pretty sweet for anyone who lives in a high populated sector.

Unknown Name

This prototype has a built-in locking system that can only be activated and opened by the owner’s fingerprint. The computer-equipped machine can also monitor the amount of calories burned, and its battery will assist you when going up a steep hill. The tires are puncture-proof and self-inflating.

The blob VB3 took 18 months to build and it's here. This mobile living space was built by architectural firm dmvA for the office of xfactoragencies. The blob vb3 is mainly made by polyester, and holds all necessary items one could possibly need as bathroom, kitchen, lighting, sleeping space and several niches for storage. Moreover, the nose can be opened automatically and functions as a porch. While being closed, it blends into a complete smooth blob.

Now who wouldn't want one of these if they were looking for a way to travel and still be in style or been seen as a weirdo with a strange contraption. It could be used as a studio, or an office, a garden-house or whatever we want. The most exciting thing is that it can be moved to any place.

2010 will be the year for new and upcoming tablet alternatives in smaller formats. Dell just introduced there Mini 5 this year at the CES conference.

Dell's 5-inch Internet tablet is to be called the Dell Mini 5 according to the company, suggesting that it will fit in its portable products range as the second handset to follow the Dell Mini 3 and slot in under the "Mini" range of Netbooks. The Dell Mini 5 ($TBA) looks to be a solid option amongst the sea of upcoming slates.

The Dell Mini 5 will come with a 5 inch multitouch screen and a five-megapixel rear and webcam-quality front facing cameras, a built-in SIM card option, Wi-Fi, an included headset, and Android OS, it will be blurring the lines between phone and computer later this year. The device will be available in several colors including Red, Black, and Pink.

Imogen Heap such a talented and creative musician has just release a new CD called "Ellipse". It is nothing but magical and soothing to the ears of those who listen to this masterpiece of music.

Imogen Heap is known for her work as part of Frou Frou and for her solo record Speak for Yourself in which she wrote, produced and mixed. In 2006, she was nominated for two Grammy Awards and since her new CD Ellipse has been rising in the charts. She has earned two more Grammy nominations so congrats on that Imogen Heap.

The new CD Ellipse has the sounds and feel that you would expect from Imogen Heap with her use of electronic sounds and her use of vocal manipulation. She also mixes sounds of ambient tones which takes into account the airy sounds and various soothing background sounds. She is one to craft and shape her sounds when it comes to producing and you can hear that by the hinted sounds in the backgrounds of her tracks. So check out her new CD and have a listen for yourselves.

In June of last year, I wrote a blog about "Useful Tools for Choosing Your Color Palette". One of the sites I wrote about was ColoRotate. Well I received an email from Michael Douma of ColoRotate who wanted me to know that they are now out of the beta testing phase and now have a working Photoshop CS4 Plugin.

Michael stated, my colleagues and I developed ColoRotate because, while color is inherently three-dimensional, all color pickers were flat. From the feedback we received during beta testing, it seems that those who engage in computer color selection and design also felt that vacuum. They found some features of ColoRotate especially appealing, such as gaining more control over foreground and background colors through fine-tuning with sliders, and easily creating meaningful palettes.

The plugin is available at http://plugin.colorotate.org/ for ($39) -- Plugin users can also subscribe to the ColoRotate Cloud for ($49/Year), which enables users to sync palettes between multiple computers and share palettes with colleagues, collaborators, and clients.

Touch screens have made the world of technology faster and smoother with its ease of use when it comes to accessing our information on our devices. Then we have had projectors since I don't know how long. So why has no one come up with a device that integrates both? Well I'm glad you asked. Light Touch ($TBA) is only a reference product for now, but it features up-and-coming tech like holographic laser projection technology that allows it to create a bright, high-quality, always in focus WVGA resolution image — up to 10 inches — on nearly any surface, and pairs it with an infra-red touch sensing system to turn the projected image into a touch screen. By using red, blue and green lasers to project large triangles onto a 10-inch area, Light Blue Optics has created Light Touch, resulting in a fascinating laser touch screen that's surprisingly interactive.

Watch the company's video simulating a few of the astonishing possibilities manufacturers have suggested for Light Touch. (in a few minutes, you can see our hands-on video). Light Blue Optics plans to license the tech to a variety of hardware and software creators such as Samsung, Microsoft, Adobe, Toshiba, and many more.



Reference:DVice

Walltat are the newest alternative for wall and surface finishing. It provides the freedom to enhance accent areas with style and DIY ease. Walltat offers self-adhesive wall decals or "tats" as they like to call them. They have a varitey of sizes for you to choose from and have over 40 color options in hundreds of Walltat designs. Walltat also gives you have an endless options of where they can be placed.

Walltat is a company that is on the right track. Consumers are always looking for a way to stand out.I have said this many times but its true. This is a great idea for anyone who wants something different or unique to show your design style. It also helps if your not wanting to paint or stencil a design on your wall. The artists at Walltat have created exclusive designs that are sure to fit any theme or design genre. With a quick peel and stick application, you're on your way to transforming those areas with potential into visual delights!

How many of you out there are looking for a way to share and distribute your music to others? Have all of you thought I can't send it through email it's too big. I don't have a website so how do I send or let others download my music. Well look no further than SoundCloud. SoundCloud lets you move music fast & easy. The platform takes the daily hassle out of receiving, sending & distributing music for artists, record labels & other music professionals. The best thing about SoundCloud to me is that there is no limit on the file size or format. There are many other great features that can be used in SoundCloud. I would love to explain them all but the video below does a better job. Check it out and see if SoundCloud would be good for you and your needs.

Typography on the web can be limiting. So I thought I would give you some good typography poster to view for some good inspiration.

The first poster I did this morning with the help of this tutorial. Create a Trendy Typographic Poster Design. The other posters listed on here were done by different artist.

Welcome to the year 2010 where new possibilities can become reality. Where new sounds and music can fill your ears with new tracks to go with new memories. In this endless array of music possibilities let me introduce to you the new TCL Playlist-08 compiled by Damion.



Cover Art by: Damion Schweizer

Tracklist

1. Animals by KiT
2. Jogger by Gorilla Meat
3. Haikuesque(The Gentleman Losers' Whispers In The Rain) by Bibio
4. In Steps by Letting Up Despite Great Faults
5. Love's Not Worth It by Lee & Wilbee
6. New Wife New Life by Truman Peyote
7. No Surprise (Earth Version) by James Yuill
8. Big Black Car by Gregory Alan Isakov
9. Picture Frames by Georgia Fair
10. Poison In Our Pocket by Whitley
11. Sleepyhead (Streetlab Mix) by Passion Pit
12. Skeleton Keys by Omni Trio
13. Slick by Chew Lips
14. Together in Electric Dreams by Lali Puna

Belkin is back with their new Bluetooth Music Receiver which enables one to enjoy wireless music straight off your devices . Stream your iPhone and iPod touch jams to your home stereo, but in realty, this thing will work with any BT 2.0-enabled music streaming device. Phones, PMPs, genetically modified children you name it. Connect the receiver to your home stereo system with the included cables, and then easily pair your device to the Receiver wirelessly to listen to, share, and control your music from up to 33 feet away. The Bluetooth Music Receiver uses Bluetooth v2.0 to give you reliable, high-quality sound. The cost of one of these bad boys is ($49.99)