Cool Hunting
| 27 November 2007view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Earthdesk
by Josh Rubin
Whether the standard wallpaper options (picture of your pet, swirly thing) bore you or you just like having a global perspective, Earthdesk takes your desktop to the next level by making it into a constantly updated view of the earth. The app uses geographical and time zone stats to create a customizable, info-rich image.
The most striking part, of course, is that Earthdesk provides a visual of time passing, with accurate shading delineating night, twilight and daytime. It also (seemingly almost magically) shows real clouds, light emitted by cities and moonlight (which can be adjusted to show more or less city light). Other customization options include political and natural views, as well as the ability to lock the map to a city, the sun or the moon to get a different perspective. We don't say it a lot around CH, but this one is truly awe-inspiring.
Novax 8-String Guitar
by Tim Yu
Not since the '40s has the basic design of the guitar undergone such a major change as it has with the Novax. The brainchild of master luthier Richard Novak, he designed his trademarked fanned-fret system for six, seven and eight string guitars, allowing bass strings and regular guitar strings to combine in one instrument. Classicists may think the Novax 8-string is an an oddity, but the versatility such an innovation lends to the standard axe is undeniable.
The fanned-fret neck creates balanced tone and perfect intonation for both bass and standard strings in one guitar design. Where usually frets on a bass guitar are spread farther apart than on a standard guitar to accommodate the lower frequency of vibration, the Novax' angled fret design compensates for this difference. Two outputs—one for the bass strings and one for the regular guitar strings—prevent distortion or weak sound. With enough skill, a musician can play pitch-perfect bass and treble notes at the same time. Of course, having the talent on top of that to play the bass and rhythm line simultaneously is another story. To see the 8-string in action (and at its best) go see jazz musician Charlie Hunter, who worked with Novax to develop these amped-up instruments.
Novax stocks a few of their guitars, but most need to be special ordered so they can be made to your exact specifications. Visit Novax for more info including pricing.
Silkmag Project #1
by Phuong-Cac Nguyen
The talented employees at Brazilian animation studio Lobo—whose work for clients like Diesel, Hershey, Cartoon Network and more jumps continents—made some extra time recently to put together their first edition of Silkmag, a collection of silkscreened works showcasing the personal work of its 12 animators and designers "free of clients or briefings." Fresh air, then.
Each of the 100 copies created were meticulously made by hand and printed on craft paper, apt for framing. There's no info on the site on how to buy a copy (if there are any left) but there's a PDF available for download, so you can pretend you are among the lucky few to get what will surely be a sought-after collectible.
Also on Cool Hunting: Lobo, 6 Questions
Dog Food Scoop 'n Lid
by Ami Kealoha
by Passa Chattra
Bamboo pet company developed the dog food "Scoop 'n Lid" with its all-in-one design that both seals cans of food and helps serve the food. This handy device keeps open cans of dog food sealed in the refrigerator, along with a built in spatula to scoop wet food out of the can. Not having to use household spoons in the dog food prevents cross contamination between people and pets. There are also no utensils to clean up if the can's not finished. The "Scoop n Lid" makes dinner time for your pet easier and safer. Available for $5 at Retailpets.com.
Olivo Barbieri: The Waterfall Project
by Jonah Samson
Hovering in a helicopter some 300 to 500 feet above ground, Italian photographer Olivo Barbieri makes cities and landscapes look like children's toys or highly-detailed miniature models. Having shot cities like Rome and Las Vegas from above in the past, his current series aptly called "The Waterfall Project" looks at four of the largest waterfalls in the world.
Using a large-format camera that allows him to play with the layers of focus in a picture, Barbieri turns real scenes into spaces that seem impossible. But despite their unreal feel, all of his images have been created by carefully controlling the optical techniques of his camera and haven't been digitally altered or distorted after shooting.
The Waterfall Project
1 November-22 December 2007
Yancey Richardson Gallery
535 West 22nd Street, 3rd floor
New York, NY 10011
map
tel. +1 646 230 9610
