Cool Hunting

Earthdesk by Josh Rubin

xd_naturalmap.jpg

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.

Tools
Print
Email
Save / Bookmark
fShare Share
Permanent link
Sphere It
This entry posted on 27 November 2007 at 8:06 PM
Related Entries
Advertisement
Earth Hour This Saturday
When, on this Saturday on 28 March 2009 from 8:30-9:30 pm local time, people around the world switch off the lights, they will be participating in Earth Hour. Created and organized by the World Wildlife Fund, the goal is to raise awareness about the climate crisis and how it's affecting the world we live in. For one hour, with the participation of millions, Earth...
Andreas Nicolas Fischer: Data Visualization Art
Combining science with art to talk about some of the pertinent issues of our times, Andreas Nicholas Fischer's data sculptures are beautiful executions of scientific information. The Munich-born, Berlin-based artist, like Chris Jordan, is leading the way in a certain type of art that opens the dialogue about issues we face today, from the economy to privacy violations. Proving himself as both a skilled craftsman...
Staton Uberstand Laptop Stand
Thanks in part to laptop stands like this two-tiered one by Staton, the days of lugging around crates of vinyl are slowly fading as DJs trade their decks in for laptop setups. Although we're the first to argue that nothing quite compares to a record, advancements in programs like Serato and the ease of carrying thousands of mp3 tracks have made going digital more palatable...
Backblaze Online Backup: Mac Beta Access
Perhaps the most intuitive backup solution on the market, Backblaze launched last September as an online data storage center emphasizing simplicity at a reasonable—if perpetual—price. While initially drawing ease-of-use comparisons to Apple's Time Machine, they recently released their own Mac platform, currently in Beta form. Like the PC version, Backblaze continuously monitors files for changes and uploads them to an offsite server. Though the...
Recent Cool Hunting Videosview all Cool Hunting Videos
Advertisement
Advertisement
Recent Entries

J. Howells Werthman: We Are Making Plans


PhoneSuit MiLi Pro Video Projector


iPhone HP Calculators


Society6


Bedol Eco-Friendly Water Drop Clock


Context x Kicking Mule 1980 Hand Dye Jeans


Liquid Image Camera Goggles


Interview with Erik Madigan Heck of Nomenus Quarterly


Photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten