Sure, you could always book yourself a ticket on a train if you feel like a little lounge time in the dinner car — but what if you don’t feel like going anywhere? In that case, try making a visit to The Passenger. This Malasaña hangout was designed by Parolio and is meant to resemble the inside of a train car — a very swanky train, mind you. A coffee shop by day and rock n’ roll bar by night, inside you’ll find plenty of dark wood, brown leather, brass finished, fantastic cocktails craft beers, and small plate foodstuffs. But the real kicker is the “windows”, which are actually three screens playing synchronized videos to make you feel as if you’re on the move — that is, of course, if the booze isn’t doing that already. Source: The Passenger

Model: VMPR family
Carpeted Cabinet speaker w/ Steel grill
Color: Black

Technical pro’s VMPR speaker series consists of different sizes and power outputs all put together in a set of the most durable and long lasting speaker design’s on the market. If you are a studio designer, setting up sound for a live stage or venue you will find what you need in this series of speakers. Depending on your venue size and needs you may go for the smaller or larger offering, each built with the same innovative technology that is expected from Technical Pro. And the signature RED frame on the woofer makes it easy to identify.

The VMPR Carpeted Cabinet Speaker w/ Steel Grill is a professional loud speaker that will fulfill your big sound needs in a mid to large sized venue. Depending on your speaker throw needs, you may opt for the VMPR8” which is the baby of this series.  This combination will give you a great overall sound for a small to mid-sized venue.  The VMPR series it will still give you that huge club sound that you are after! It is able to push out a total peak power. Connect this speaker to any standard amplifier and you’re ready to rock!

The VMPR series are constructed with Technical Pro’s innovative and long lasting technology. The sturdy design will keep your speaker components safe and sound in the most rugged environments. Moving and placing this speaker is made easy by using the two built in carrying handles. Each corner is reinforced for added protection The front panel has a full length perforated steel cage that will protect your speaker while allowing all of the proper acoustics out. This is a durable speaker meant to be used in the most professional sound environments.

Technical Pro is built for the professional sound designer, studio professional, live stage sound designer and it’s a performer’s dream! If you are serious sound professional putting together a professional speaker system, you want this! Check out the other speakers in the VMPR line for a complete sound set up…and at a cost that is almost too low to list!

The heart of the VMPR series lies in its unique combination of premium construction quality along with features and performance technology previously unheard of at this price level, offering a range of options without equal. With improved performance and great looks, they deliver punchy mids and smooth highs at any level, with a bone crushing low-end. The quality wood cabinetry construction is carpet-covered and has an extra heavy-duty metal grille for ruggedness.

Forget AirPrint — if you’re looking for a way to get your photos out of your iPhone and onto some paper, the Impossible instant Lab ($230) can get the job done. This crazy contraption uses nothing more than your phone’s screen to expose Polaroid-style instant film. A collapsable design ensures that you’ll have it with you when you need it, the built-in battery can handle 150 pics on one charge, and it’s compatible with film for Polaroid 600 and SX 70 cameras — not the most common stuff, but luckily for you Impossible bought the last Polaroid film factory, so they should have you covered. Source:Impossible Instant Lab

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BY SONIA

Great views of East Harlem, the South Bronx and Astoria

Although Governors Island tends to get all of the attention, there’s another isle off Manhattan where families can go for great views, picnicking and relaxing under the summer sun: Randall’s Island.

Located in the East River and bordered by Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx, the isle has recently undergone major renovations with more planned or underway. While it’s not as bucolic as Governors Island—the RFK Bridge cuts right through it so you never forget you’re in the city—Randall’s Island offers many kids’ attractions like mini golf, Sports fields, batting cages and a playground, so it’s a great place for families to explore.

Previously owned by the Randel family, the 480-acre isle was purchased by the City of New York in 1835 and the Parks & Recreation Department took control in 1933. Since then, Randall’s Island has hosted countless sporting events and many notable concerts, like the New York Rock Festival in the summer of 1970 (featuring Jimi Hendrix) and Lollapalooza in 1994.

Today, Randall’s Island boasts more than 60 sports fields, which account for over half of all fields in Manhattan. You’ll find fields for baseball and softball, lacrosse, soccer, rugby and football (although many require a permit for use), plus Sportime, a state-of-the-art tennis complex and Randall’s Island Golf & Sports Center, which offers mini golf and batting cages. There’s also the 5,000-seat Icahn Stadium, which hosts local, national and international track and field events, even Olympic training and trials.

If you’re just looking for a place to relax for an afternoon, you can picnic on the open grassy lawns or lounge by the water and enjoy views of East Harlem, Astoria or the South Bronx, depending on where you’re sitting. There are lovelylandscaped areas and themed gardens to explore and designated barbeque areas. It’s best to bring your own lunch as food trucks are rare and the sole restaurant is the Courtside Cafe in the Sportime tennis center.

For cyclists, waterfront bicycle and pedestrian paths already circle most of the island. Just this April, the Hell Gate Pathway was completed.

There is one modest playground on the island and bathrooms are located at both information centers. Public restrooms are also available in the tennis complex.

Randall’s Island also hosts frequent events like outdoor concerts, art exhibitions and sporting events, some free, like FLOW.12, an environmental art exhibition on the shoreline, others requiring admission. In the past, Cirque du Soleil has pitched its tent here and Check its calendar for a complete schedule.

If you’re driving, Randall’s Island is easily accessible from Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx via the RFK Bridge. The M35 bus on 125th Street also goes to the isle. You can also walk or bike to the isle via the recently reopened 103rd Street Footbridge. Another pedestrian bridge connecting the island to the South Bronx is slated to open in 2013. Check the website for complete directions.
Find more seasonal activities in our Summer Fun Guide.

[LINK]

BY LORY GIL

PictoPlay (Free) by IRL, INC is a social networking game that is all about photographs. Just like the popular iOS game draw Something, this app lets you play against friends in a word-to-image game, only with PictoPlay, you get to take photos instead of draw pictures.

 

You can take a picture from within the app, or select an image from your camera roll. For one of my turns, I found an image from the Internet that I had taken a screen shot of. Your options are unlimited. However, if you enjoy taking photos, I don’t suggest simply using preexisting images from the Internet. It defeats the purpose of the game, which is to take cool pictures.

Once you’ve added your picture, you can add a comment. If you take a photo that needs explanation, this is a good way to provide your friend with a bit of background information on why you took the picture, or what they are seeing. Players can also comment on pictures from their opponent.

With every turn, players earn credits that can be used to customize their experience. For example, you can pay two credits to get a new set of words to choose from, or pay four credits to enter your own custom word.

Players can also send images to Instagram and Facebook. You don’t have to stick to your own images, either. You can add your opponents’ photo with just a tap of a button.

I was only able to play this game for about a day with a friend, but it seems to be a pretty fun way to share photos with others. The game lacks variety for how to connect with friends. The only way you can play with people is if they are your Facebook friend. I know a couple of people that don’t use Facebook, but would probably love to play this game. I’d like to see the ability to connect with friends through Game Center.

 

Even though the friend discovery feature is somewhat lacking, this is a great game. It may not gain the overwhelming popularity that Draw Something did, but I’d be surprised if it didn’t gain some notoriety over the next few weeks. download it, get your friends to download it, and start taking pictures of everything around you. This is a fun way to stay connected with others throughout the day in a more visual way.

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Ten common mistakes made by photographers using WordPress

Goodbye, massive document scanners.

(Credit: Limemouse)Scanbox, created by Australian design company Limemouse, works as a miniature studio in a box perfect for scanning documents (up to A4 size), receipts, 3D objects, or even a page from a book.

At first glance, the $15 Scanbox may appear like some sort of strange geometric shape, but the peculiar design optimizes lighting conditions for the perfect shot. It only takes a few moments to set up the device, as the user simply aligns a few high-strength magnets built into the box.

A stencil of a smartphone with a square hole sits on top so that the user knows exactly where to place the camera lens every time. When the photo shoot ends, the Scanbox folds back up into a flat shape for easy transportation.

If you seek to shed a little more light on the situation, the $25 Scanbox Plus includes a set of LED lights built into the box to ensure perfect lighting, regardless of the situation.

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[LINK]

the Galileo is a revolutionary, iOS-controlled robotic iPhone platform with infinite spherical rotation capability. Just swipe your finger on the screen of your iPad or other iOS device and Galileo reacts, orienting your iPhone or iPod Touch accordingly.  With applications in areas of photography, cinematography, social networking, and video conferencing, Galileo gives iOS devices endless possibilities of remote-controlled motion. Capable of infinite 360° pan-and-tilt at speeds up to 200° per second in any orientation, Galileo is an invaluable tool to everyone from an amateur photographer to the professional cinematographer, and vastly improves the experience of video chat for anyone needing to stay connected.

How Will You Use Galileo?

To bring distant experiences closer than ever before?  To capture an exquisite sunset panorama?  To film silky smooth gimbal shots with unparalleled power and ease?  Galileo gives you the ability to do things you never thought possible.

• Video calls and conferencing – stay connected as you follow the action
• Baby monitoring – see what you want to see, not just what the babysitter shows you
• Remote learning – follow professors around the classroom; see who is asking questions
• time-lapse photography – create dynamic time-lapse videos that encompass movement along with passage of time
• Cinematography – Shoot interesting transition shots, panning down, panning across and up, etc.  Mount the Galileo on rails and create a mini-rig for your iPhone camera!
• Real estate photography – build 360° spherical virtual home tours with ease

Below is a short time-lapse demo video to give you a sense of what’s possible with Galileo. The clips within this video were shot on a prototype Galileo with an iPhone4.

Galileo Features

• Infinite 360° panning and tilting rotation. 200° per second pan-and-tilt speeds.
• Remotely controlled from your iPad, iPhone, or web browser. Swipe your finger across the screen or move your mouse to control the movement of the Galileo and your device.
• SDK (software developers kit) for app development. Freedom to integrate Galileo functionality into existing apps or to create entirely new apps built around the movement capabilities of Galileo.  Or build software to integrate the Galileo with other hardware (e.g. camera rails).
• Outfitted with a standard tripod screw, the Galileo can be mounted on any tripod.
• Fabulous charging station for your iPhone or iPod. Charges your device while plugged in (USB cable included).
• Rechargeable Lithium polymer battery lets you use your Galileo anywhere.

The Galileo charges your device while plugged in

Specifications

• Works with: iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPod Touch 4th Generation
• Controlled by: iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPod Touch 4th Generation, and web browser
• Colors: black, white, limited edition Kickstarter Green
• Weight: 7oz
• Size: 2 x 3.25” closed, 3.5 x 4.3” open
• Tripod Mount: Universal 1/4” thread; compatible with all standard tripods

Available in black, white, and limited edition Kickstarter Green

Join the Galileo Community!

What excites us the most about Galileo are the uses that we haven’t thought of yet. With our Galileo SDK, app developers have the freedom to integrate Galileo functionality into their existing apps as well as create entirely new apps around the unbounded movement of Galileo, expanding the possibilities for automated tracking and photographic and cinematographic applications.

So what will you do with Galileo?

Freedom to develop apps or integrate into other hardware with our SDK

As much fun as Instagram can be, it’s still missing something: actual prints. Instaprint ($400) aims to fix this problem by hooking up to your Wi-Fi network and printing out any image it comes across containing a specific location or hashtag. This means your friends can get in on the action as well, turning the Instaprint into a focal point of your next party, gathering, or beer bash. [via] Source: Instaprint