Posted by development shop on September 26, 2012
For reasons I’ve never been able to discern, some people really seem to get a kick out of sharing every bit of banal minutia that peppers their daily lives.
Should you happen to fall into that category (and if so,why?), you may be glad to know that the folks atLooxcie have just announced the Looxcie HD, a new addition to its long-running series of super-portable wearable video cameras.
The basics remain the same as just about every other Looxcie model before it — the HD can connect to iOS and Android smartphones (running the companion app, naturally) via Bluetooth, and can transfer recorded video snippets to them for easier distribution. As the name suggests, the biggest new addition for the dedicated lifecasters among you is the ability to record video in full 1080p, a far cry from the 480p video that its predecessors were capable of capturing. Also new to the package is the inclusion of a Wi-Fi radio, as well as improved low-light performance for when those late night raves just beg to be captured on video.
A recent update to the service saw the addition of live broadcasting to Facebook and other Looxcie users, but the video quality for live streaming takes a hit — resolution still tops out at 480p for that, but that’s arguably a small price to pay when you get to live-stream your daring trip through the mall food court. C’est la vie, I suppose.
What really leaps out at me is just how big the Looxcie HD is compared to its forebears. While previousiterations of the Looxcie hardware were small enough to fit only somewhat cumbersomely on a person’s ear, the new HD model is (sadly) just big enough to make that unfeasible. Still, there are some upsides to be found: the newly-designed enclosure is weather-resistant, and it houses a larger battery (1200mAh, to be precise) than the model that came before it. The HD is actually more reminiscent of devices like the GoPro series these days, but that’s hardly a bad thing unless you were really keen on strapping one of these to your head.
If the concept of sticking a camera on your baseball cap and taking on the world has piqued your interest, the Looxcie HD is now up for preorder — prices start at $279, and jumps pretty quickly depending on the mount package that catches your eye.
Posted by development shop on September 26, 2012
Hasselblad announced today that it will be introducing a new mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) called the Lunar early in 2013, something which you can be pretty sure will appeal to a very limited pool of potential buyers. Hasselblad is basically saying as much, calling the Italian-designed camera the “ultimate luxury” in MILC systems, and describing a device made of top-end materials including carbon fiber, titanium, wood, leather and even gold. The final price will be somewhere around €5,000 (US$6,530), so start saving those pennies.
The Lunar will be looking to strike a balance between professional features common to advanced DSLRs, including full manual controls, as well as ease of use for less experienced photographers. The camera is designed to work with both E-mount and A-mount lenses from Sony, and also employs a 24-megapixel full-frame APS-C. It also has an electronic viewfinder with 100 percent coverage, 1080p HD video recording, and an ISO range of 100 to 16,000, with a battery life of up to 430 minutes and Memory Stick or SDXC for storage.
The Lunar is actually the first result of a partnership between Hasselblad and Sony also announced today, that should see the release of several more products, including additional MILC bodies and new products for both the DSLR and compact camera markets. The Swedish company is clearly looking to get in to more of the consumer end of the photography market, after having operated as a highly specialized manufacturer of most medium-format film and digital cameras aimed at professionals.
As for the Lunar, it’s a lot pricier than most other MILCs, but it’s also pretty gorgeous judging by the renders Hasselblad sent over, something consumers in its target bracket should appreciate. Check out its good looks in the gallery below.
Posted by development shop on September 26, 2012
The 1st of January each year encompasses a kind of energy that inspires us to try new things, revive our schedules, and think BIG. But a similar energy comes from reading a good book, don’t you think? You turn to the last page, sigh, release, and think a little bit differently about the world than when you started. In that spirit, we’ve gathered a list of good reads from across the TOMS family to awaken your inner bookworm and fill that energy year round.
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” -Dr. Seuss
Suggestions from Chief Shoe Giver, Blake:
- The Tipping Point, by Malcom Gladwell
- Let My People Go Surfing, by Yvon Chouinard
- Sam Walton: Made in America
- Start Something that Matters, by yours truly :)
Suggestions from the TOMS family:
- History of the World in 6 Glasses, by Tom Standage
Discusses human history through the prism of 6 beverages. Starts with beer as humans left hunter gatherer societies and starting farming wheat and ends with Coca Cola and society’s path to globalization. Fun read and full of interesting facts about the every day beverages we love.
- Maphead, by Ken Jennings (yes, the guy who won a ton of $ on Jeopardy!)
Nerdy, funny, and enlightening look at how we visualize the world around us, and how maps have shaped history.
- Beneath the Lion’s Gaze, by Maaza Mengiste
Beautiful and devastating work of historical fiction set during the terrifying Derg regime in Ethiopia. A must-read for anyone who loves Ethiopia.
- Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese
Another great Ethiopia novel, this one more about medicine and family.
- Chronicles of Narnia Series, by C.S. Lewis
I read this every winter and have for many many years now. Full of adventure, valor, heart and the awesomeness that is Narnia. It’s my favorite series of books ever written. True Story.
- Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand
True Story about WWII survivor. Truly one of the most inspiring and incredible stories I’ve ever read about anyone.
- Making Ideas Happen, by Scott Belsky
This book changed my year – it’s all about the transferring IDEAS into ACTION through organizational tactics and by establishing a process of categorizing information and eliminating information clutter. LOVED this book and the companion resources (digital and analog).
