News Archives

Perfect blend of technology, user interface design, imagery, culture, and journalism.

According to a study by PCWorld, the fastest Windows Vista laptop is the MacBook Pro. That’s not a misprint, but it is pretty damn funny. I may be biased since I use a MacBook Pro for all my needs, including running Windows applications via Parallels. I’m a big fan of using the right machine/technology/platform/etc. for the right job. For me, it happens to be a Mac, but if someday I find myself more productive on Windows I’ll make the switch.

Here’s what you get when you combine 8,000 people, LAN bandwidth of 40 gigabits per second, a Cisco CRS-1 router capable of handling 1 billion simultaneous gamers, and one giant arena: DreamHack 2007. Good times.

Photo from nytimes.com

Time Magazine prematurely posted a list of the 50 best websites for 2007. I say prematurely for two reasons:

1. 2007 is far from over
2. Bust Out Solutions is still developing our niche social networking website that will launch later this year

Either way, cast your vote. There are some good ones in the list for sure!

What?! You’re doing what? Yup, I’m writing about a Microsoft product. Today Microsoft unveiled Surface, a computer that uses the tabletop as its high-resolution display, recognizes objects placed on the surface and skips the traditional keyboard and mouse in favor of fingers on the screen. It offers a new way for humans to interact with a machine, bringing to life technological ideas that were once only available in movies like Minority Report. As with any computerized technology (such as websites), the way in which the user interacts with the machine is critical in determining several factors such as productivity, enjoyment, pertinence, and function.

Although the Microsoft website gives a brief history of the concept and creation of Surface, I wonder if Jeff Han of NYU’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and founder of Perceptive Pixel has anything to do with it. Han presented his touch screen innovation at TED 2006, an annual conference about technology, entertainment, and design.