---

Travel

Knapsack Personal Travel Organizer

Hoping to make your travel experiences better, Knapsack is a personal travel organizer for planning and reliving your travels. This Mac OSX application includes an itinerary planner with drag-and-drop reordering, printed itineraries, trip checklists, location postcards, a world map to mark locations visited (with links to the Google map of each place), notes and ratings, smart groups, and full iCal synchronization. Knapsack requires Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.

If you require recommendations, a web interface, and a community of fellow travellers you might try the alternatives below:

Alternatives:
Yahoo Trip Planner (activity recommendations but too confusing)
Driftr
TripAdvisor

Link: Knapsack by TinyPlanet Software

---

HTC Touch Diamond Demo

It's certainly no 'iPhone killer' nor nary a competitor but worth a look if you can digest using windows mobile. The email app. view looks horrendous.

Continue reading »

---

Is fashion a stronger motivator than functionality?

It may be limited to the high-end of the mobile market, but Vertu is a great example of two very important techniques which are applicable at all levels: total experience planning and customer involvement. The Vertu experience extends across the hardware, software, services and retail environment. At the same time, it involves its customers directly in the product development process, producing customised handsets and allowing customers to actually see how their device is built.

These principles may manifest themselves in different ways at different levels of the pricing scale, but the fundamentals remain the same. A successful manufacturer must be able to see its products in the wider context of a user’s lifestyle and must structure its development process to respond quickly to the needs of individual customers.

Perhaps this is indicative of manufacturers following ‘fashion’ or becoming ’style-orientated’, or perhaps it is just good user experience practice?

Link. Via Small Surfaces.

---

Back-Up Your Mac, Time Capsule Review

Imagine a Wi-Fi base station, of the sort that turns your home into a wireless hot spot, with a huge hard drive inside (and, mercifully, no power brick--just a slender power cable). The Time Machine automatic backup feature of the latest Mac OS X version backs up your Macs onto the Time Capsule, automatically, constantly, completely and wirelessly. And in my book, automatic, constant, complete backups are the only kind that really count.

Link.

---

---

Bags » Backpacks

Built Laptop Backpack

I somehow missed these interesting looking bags from Built when linking to their new sleeves. These laptop backpacks look like they could be at home on the set of Star Trek or if reversed they might make a convincing flak jacket. It would be interesting to try how they feel in use but the fact that they mold themselves to your back would be their downfall in this climate. You need space betweenn your back and your back for the air to circulate or you will arrive at your meeting with an uncomfortably wet back.

Made from lightweight neoprene and breathable air mesh, the main compartment of this BUILT laptop backpack accommodates 12″–17″ laptops with room to spare for books, folders or other essentials. Two additional smaller compartments provide storage options for your other necessities; one conveniently located directly on the shoulder strap for easy access.

BUILT : Laptop Backpacks

---

Bags » Cases

Naked Case for iPhone and iPod Touch

Not everyone wants to cover the beautiful form of their iPhone and iPod touch with a bulky case. Protection is still important, especially seeing how easily they slip from your fingers, and case mate's almost invisible Naked Case might just save your iphone or ipod touch the next time it lands on pavement. The key feature of the naked case is it's ability to both protect your screen while allowing complete access to the touch UI - allowing you to full control as normal. It's $34.99.

---

Notes & Links » Tools

Times Feed Reader

Times is an interesting feed reader for the Mac which introduces a novel interface fashioned after a newspaper. At least an online newspaper. Most feedreaders, like my current favourite Netnewswire, take their inspiration from email. NetNewswire is great for research but not so pleasant for reading throroughly a predetermined set of sources. This may be Times strength, as it's perhaps best suited for those who actually read each headline versus those who skim and scan.

I came across this program at an interesting time as I just started to develop a very Web 1.0 news site for my own use. I'm tired of the constraints news sites place themselves under and prefer to read my news in a single legible column. Something which is surprisingly absent from almost all news sites I frequent. I like reading sites in a web browser and despite a laundry list of bugs, Times is good enough to give me pause. I'm going to give it some time in my daily schedule and see if it works well enough.

Some further write-ups on this app.:

A short review of Times for Mac
'Attractive, inventive new $30 news reader for the Mac. I don’t think it’s for me, but it’s interesting'. DF
Introducing Times

Times

---

Nomads at last

I'm not convinced that it's yet financially prudent to be have 'permanent connectivity' but then that depends on where and what you are using the internet for.

Urban nomads have started appearing only in the past few years. Like their antecedents in the desert, they are defined not by what they carry but by what they leave behind, knowing that the environment will provide it.

'Permanent connectivity, not motion, is the critical thing.'

The most wonderful thing about mobile technology today is that consumers can increasingly forget about how it works and simply take advantage of it.

Link.

---

Gear » Gadgets

PIP*PHONE & Base with Bluetooth

This PIP Phone allows wire-free calling with MAC, PC and mobile phones. The design is sleek, full of personality, with a simple form and feel. It's size makes it a good choice when traveling with your laptop. $185.00US

---

Art & Design

JiPegs

Very clever. I like it. Check out J-Pegs on the Behance Network

---

Bags » Duffle Bags

Paul Smith Canvas Holdall

A handsome bag designed by Mr. Stripes for short stays or for enjoying a relaxing weekend at the Raffles. Made from cotton canvas flags (in China btw) with soft leather handles and accents. More here.

---

Bags » Sleeve

Built Cargo Laptop Sleeve

The Built Cargo Laptop Sleeve has three exterior pockets for those of us who carry their laptop around the office sans bag. This eliminates the annoyance of having to carry a slippery mouse and power supply in your hand. The sleeve comes in three sizes to accommodate 13, 15, and 17" laptops but being made with neoprene it should offer sufficient stretch to fit sizes slightly off of their published dimensions. The zigzag stitched seams improve water resistance and durability. I'm a fan of the brown and mint green color combination. Available at Amazon. Via Uncrate.

---

Backpacks making a comeback

I had no idea they went out of style but then I'm not a fashionista.

We'll be the first to admit that the prospect of backpacks making a comeback is kind of surprising. If you're like us, you dropped yours off at Housing Works shortly before (or after) the Clinton administration and you never looked back. Well, it seems looking back is where it's at, at least when it comes to our latest accessory obsession.

Link.

---

Mitigate the Attention Crash

From Micro Persuasion:

The Attention Crash is a crisis in global business that is getting worse every day. By 2009, the Radicati Group predicts that we’ll spend 41% of our time managing email. Now add to that the IMs, documents, Facebook pokes, RSS feeds, Twitter tweets and text messages coming at us and we’re officially way oversubscribed.

Unfortunately, the problem will not abate. Human attention is finite. It doesn’t scale. Worse, the pace of change today is so rapid there’s a huge need to stay digitally savvy.

The key is in wrangling your information flow. Here are three of my best tips.

Great advice but I find that these crises are primarily self-inflicted. Just unsubscribe and pick and use the tools most relevant to your tasks at hand.

Link.

---

Student Rescued After Tweet in Egypt

James Buck, an American student studying the new leftists and the blogosphere in Egypt for his Master thesis was arrested when watching riots in Mahalla, Egypt on April 10th. Just after his arrest, he managed to tweet “Arrested” which alerted his friends and followers of the situation.

Link

---

Bags » Tote Bag

Rubber Tote Bag

Sounds great but at a whopping $75 it is to be appreciated more than used.

Americans alone toss out about 300 million tires every year. The big thinkers of the world are working on creative ways to reuse this vast quantity of rubber – ideas include mixing ground-up tires with urethane to create sidewalks or burning them like coal to produce energy. Meanwhile, some designers are thinking a little smaller. With the large Rubber Tote, discarded tires are hand-cut and hand-sewn into a vessel that can be used indoors or out as planter for a small tree, carrying container, space for gardening supplies or anything else that can benefit from solidly constructed storage. Modeled on ancient leather-crafting techniques, these durable containers are each unique and offer a functional alternative to the landfill. Not guaranteed to be watertight. Made in Egypt.

Link. Via Swissmiss.

---

---

75 tutorials to transform your iPod

If you’re thinking that all your iPod can do is play music, think again. With a little ingenuity and guidance, you can turn your iPod into just about anything, whether it’s a remote control or a notepad. Read on to find more than 75 tutorials that will walk you through projects that will transform your iPod.

Link.

---

Brain exercise can boost IQ

A new study has found that it may be possible to train people to be more intelligent, increasing the brainpower they had at birth. New Scientist link. Somewhat related: Braingle.

---

Culture

Building relationships with people outside the office and IM

When I left my day job 2 years ago one of the biggest shocks for me was realizing just how much I relied upon my co-workers for social interaction, inspiration, and motivation. It's one of the drawbacks of working from home - lack of contact with people outside of social networking sites, IM, email, and mobile phone. Interacting in this fashion isn't really interacting at all. It's very impersonal.

While many people face this challenge, my circumstances are fairly unique. I am an expat. living in Asia in a house far from any city center. The area in which I live has little in the way of professional interaction and in general outside of a few pubs there is little opportunity social interaction. There are few professional associations here, at least in the industry I am in. There are meet-ups organized for groups of people loosely related (various expat. get-togethers) but they tend to be hours away and require not just a significant investment of my time but time away from my family.

I don't have the answers and it's something that I am working on but luckily there are many people with great advice. Here’s what a few sources have to say on how to develop and find 'real' relationships outside your home office.

Go to where the people are! Volunteer for a big event, attend a conference or join a club. While it’s possible to meet people hanging around the local coffee shop, it can be harder — your prospective contact may not be interested in interacting with anyone except the barista. However, at events and club activities, people show up ready to talk. Lifehack.

Make your solitary activity social. If you have an interest that you normally partake in on your own, you may be able to introduce a social element into it. For example, if you like running, then put out a call for a running buddy. If you normally mountain bike by yourself then you could find a group that rides together on the weekends. If you like reading you could start a book club. If you like playing an instrument then start a band or join one. If you're a writer you could organize a group where people meet to share what they've been working on and help each other improve. If you're into comics or card games maybe you can hang around the store with the other hobbyists instead of staying at home.

Go to church or other spiritual event. This may seem too self-serving but I have found that people are far more outgoing and willing to accept a stranger when the context is a church activity. Perhaps you are interested in exploring another belief system or your own with more depth. Where I live it's one of the few places you can make friends without the influence of alcohol.

Use a web-based service to find people to do things with. Use online services like Upcoming.org, Meetup, Socializer, or a local discussion forum. Forumosa, a Taiwan online community, hosts regular happy hours for it's members. If you like photography look for Flickr group meets.

Maintain current relationships. Re-contact people periodically. Let people know what you’re up to, and show a genuine interest in what they’re up to. Don’t drop a connection because they don’t show any immediate need for whatever you do — you never know when they will, and you never know who they know who will. More importantly, these personal connections add more value than just a file full of prospective clients, customers, or voters. Lifehack.

Further reading:
Building Healthy Relationships
How to Make Friends And Get a Social Life
Places And Ways To Meet New People

Photo by cypherone @ Taiwan.

---

Echo your status and location with PresenceRouter

PresenceRouter lets you route your location and status information from Plazes.com to a variety of other web services (Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Jaiku, etc.).

The application works by obtaining current status information from Plazes using the nascent Plazes API, and then using the APIs of the various webservices to update them with a message like watching the hockey game at Steve's House in Montreal, Canada.

PresenceRouter: Download

---

Bags » Sleeve

Case-Mate Signature Sleeve for MacBook

A sleeve to help protect your 13" Macbook. The color works for me!

Rich, Italian Pebblestone leather surrounds a form-fit, impact resistant molded shell. The Sleeve protects your notebook from dirt, dust and abrasive surfaces while in transit. The flawless form-fit design was created exclusively for Apple notebooks.

Case-Mate 13" Signature Sleeve

---

100 User-Centered Blogs

Great list from an odd source. Link

---

Metropolitan Bangkok Packages

Though certainly not for the budget traveller, the 9 leisure packages being offered at Metropolitan Bangkok certainly look like fun. For those of us with more limited budgets and without corporate accounts the Bally's Studio Suites might be a worthy option (and there are many options in Bangkok so shop around). Via Let's Visit Asia.

---

Workspace

Icon Clock

Great minimalist design of the clock icon of old. A really relevant clock would be one paying homage top the Mac's spinning beach ball, an icon I experience far too regularly.

Link

---

Workspace

Puffla

A great way to fill a large space with something very comfortable. I could use one for my after lunch nap.

Puffla - The Soft World. Via Design Milk.

Continue reading »

---