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IBM's THINK Exhibit invades NYC, aims to inspire (video)
Leaving the confines of a Manhattan apartment, Lincoln Center has the uncanny ability to make one feel dwarfed. Home to the performing arts and haunt to New York City's glitterati, the landmark received the IBM makeover as part of the company's THINK exhibit -- an interactive installation designed to weave the story of technology as it applies to the fabric of life, achievement and change. The first thing that catches the eye is IBM's sparkling 123-foot long, 12-foot high LCD wall lining a tunnel leading into the bowels of the NYC landmark. The "living" wall thrives off the surrounding environment, visualizing traffic patterns and analyzing corresponding air quality from nearby Broadway. It also shows the solar potential of every rooftop in the city, financial transactions and the amount of water leaking from the main aqueduct. As the event's producer Lee Green simply put it, the idea behind the set up is to "delegate understanding" to "intrigue and inspire" even the least technologically-inclined. %Gallery-135243%
Gundam robot statue returns to Japan, looking worse for wear
After a brief hiatus, that giant Gundam statue we spotted a couple years ago has once again returned home to Tokyo -- though he clearly didn't make the voyage in one piece. Rather than reconstruct the 60-foot robot in its entirety, Bandai, the company behind the Gundam franchise, has decided to scatter its limbs, weapons and machinery all over an artificial island. For about $6.50, anime fans and Derrida enthusiasts can view the deconstructed mecha in all its glory, sit in the palm of his hand, or even use a fixed bicycle to make his head glow. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Storm past the break for an extra pic of the exhibit.
MIT's Backtalk project / art exhibit traces the unseen life of discarded gadgets
Sooner or later, the device you're reading this on will either be sold, donated, recycled or otherwise disposed of; and unless you're particularly nostalgic about old gadgets like us, you likely won't ever give it much more thought. But no matter how you get rid of it, that device doesn't just vanish off the face the Earth. It's that extra life that got the folks from MIT's SENSEable City Lab thinking, and the Backtalk project is what they've come up with. Part research project and part art exhibition (now on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York), the effort involved using GPS tracking devices to trace where things like cellphones, batteries and printer cartridges end up after being discarded -- and, in the case of 40 netbook computers, some tracking software and their built-in webcams, which recorded data and images that were sent back to MIT at regular intervals (with the new owners' consent, of course). Some of the results can be seen in the video after the break and the site linked below, but you'll have to check out the exhibit first-hand to see the full scope of their findings.
T-Mobile might launch Samsung Exhibit 4G and Gravity Smart June 22nd?
Millions of schoolchildren may be getting ready for three months of lazy summer days, but T-Mob's just starting to get its hustle on. Samsung's Gingerbread-equipped Exhibit 4G and Froyo-laden Gravity Smart have been officially confirmed for sometime in the month of June, but all is quiet about the exact date. If this leaked screenshot above comes to fruition, though, it means we'll be seeing these two phones hit the shelves on June 22. The Exhibit 4G will tempt us with access to T-Mobile's 21 Mbps HSPA+ network, while the Gravity Smart looks to be a splendid entry-level QWERTY slider. The pricing for either phone is still anybody's guess, but at least the possibilities have been narrowed to $100 or less -- a good idea, since it wouldn't take any sales away from the Sensation 4G if it were any higher.
T-Mobile 2011 roadmap leaks, lists loads of specific release dates?
Samsung's Hercules was the entree, but there's always room for dessert, and if you'd like to finish off your meal with juicy cellular rumors, This is my next has you covered. The publication now claims to have T-Mobile's entire 2011 device roadmap in their possession, replete with alleged release dates for a stable of phones and hotspots -- some of which we've never heard of before -- which should make for plenty of excitement in the months to come. Find all the highlights after the break.
Microsoft's Bill Buxton exhibits gadget collection 35 years in the making
You don't get to be Microsoft's Principal Researcher without a strong sense of technology and design history, and Bill Buxton certainly has plenty of evidence to show he's well qualified in that respect. That swath of devices pictured above is just a sample of the impressive gadget collection Buxton has amassed over the past 35 years, which he is now exhibiting in public for the first time at a conference in Vancouver, British Columbia this week. Not able to check it out in person? Then you can thankfully settle for the next best thing, as Microsoft Research has also put the entire collection online, complete with Buxton's own notes for each of the items (which range from Etch-a-Sketches to watches to a range of different input devices). Hit up the source link below to start browsing.
Samsung Exhibit 4G for T-Mobile caught on camera, passes through FCC
Someone left a little gift for the folks at TmoNews -- spy shots featuring the Gingerbread-toting Samsung Exhibit 4G, which also just passed through the FCC as the SGH-T759. We can tell from the photos and fillings that the T759 packs both front- and rear-facing cameras (the latter with an LED flash), a microSD card slot, Android 2.3.3 with a TouchWiz veneer, and an HSPA+ radio. It's been suggested that the Exhibit could possibly have specs that line up with the rumored Galaxy S II Mini, including a 3.7-inch Super AMOLED screen and a 1.4GHz processor -- according to TmoNews, that CPU might be the older ARM11 variety, which could help explain the underwhelming Quadrant score in the images. Price and availability are up in the air, but we'd err on the side of cheap and soon. Check out the source for a few more pics.
Smithsonian announces titles for Art of Video Games exhibit, snubs Mario Paint
GoldenEye 007 is certainly a fun way to waste your childhood...but is it art? According to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, yes. The game was one of 80 selected for an upcoming exhibit, The Art of Video Games, and the venerable museum drew on fan expertise, using online voting to winnow the field of 240 nominees. The selections span the last four decades (!) of gaming, from the days of the Atari VCS and ColecoVision all the way to today's modern time-sinks like Portal and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The exhibit won't open until next spring, but in the meantime check out the source link to argue about who got left out.
Smithsonian extends voting on Art of Video Games exhibit through April 17
We know -- you were going to vote for the Smithsonian's Art of Video Games exhibit, but then your cat got lost, you had extra homework to do and your collection of various Mario figurines needed organizing. But just in case you hadn't made plans to get your vote in by Thursday, you're in luck: the voting deadline has been extended to April 17, through the third Sunday of this month. The vote is trying to narrow down the list to just 80 games set to be featured in an exhibition at the famed museum right around this time next year, so you'll be helping to make history with your choices. Joining in to vote also sets you up to get advance notification about the winning games, as well as behind-the-scenes information about the exhibit as it's shown off at the Smithsonian and then toured around the country. So go, vote now -- Chrono Trigger isn't going to pick itself!
Smithsonian Museum will have a video game gallery next year, wants you to vote on what's in it
Nobody tell Roger Ebert, but the Smithsonian Museum has announced plans for a new exhibition, called The Art of Video Games, which will run between March and September next year. Charting the 40-year (now there's a number that will make you feel old in a hurry) evolution of gaming from paddle-based pixel exchanges to sophisticated online multiplayer extravaganzas, this collection of memoirs will focus on the most visually striking and technologically innovative titles. Perhaps knowing how heated debates about video games can get, the Museum has sagely decided to co-opt its audience into the curatorial process -- the second source link below will take you to a voting page where you can select your top 80 games from a shortlist of 240... and of course express your rage at the omission of some obscure title you totally loved late one night in 1995.
Vote on games for Smithsonian's 'The Art of Video Games' exhibit
The debate over whether games are art will no doubt still be unsettled when the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. puts them on exhibit -- as art! -- on March 16, 2012. The choice of which games will be on display is being left up to the public to decide, with voting open at artofvideogames.org through April 7, 2010. The exhibit will feature 80 games and 20 platforms, "from the Atari VCS to the PlayStation 3," spanning five eras: "Start," "8-bit," "Bit Wars," "Transition" and "Next Generation." It's slated to run through September 20, 2012. 240 games are on the ballot, which was vetted by a panel of industry vets. The exhibit's site also features forums where the especially passionate gamers among us can "campaign for particular games and voice their opinions about the selections." Now, if you'll excuse us, we have some campaigning to do for BotS. [Image credit: Bobak Ha'Eri]
More photography with the iPhone
The above video shows a fashion photo shoot taken completely with an iPhone, and it isn't even the iPhone 4! The photographer uses only an iPhone 3GS. I think there might be a little cheating involved; the lighting is overdone and the photos were sent off to a retoucher, so it's not that surprising that they look as good as they do. Then again, considering that all fashion shoots probably have that kind of lighting and retouching applied to them, the fact that the iPhone can even compete is pretty impressive. If you like iPhone photography, you might want to check out the eyephoneography blog; it's a site that features some great photographs that are taken strictly with mobile phones (including the iPhone). They just announced an exhibit that will take place next September in Madrid, Spain, and they're also working with another blog called iPhoneography to spotlight and show off some of the best iPhone 4-based photography on the Web. It's pretty cool stuff. The iPhone's mobility and interface have always made it a pretty good camera, but with the arrival of HD on the iPhone 4, it's turned into an even better tool for photographers.
Philips' OLED Lumiblade showcased in variety of shapes, sizes, and colors this month in Milan
If you're planning to be in Milan later this month, and we know a good lot of you are, we suggest stopping by Superstudio Piú in Zona Tortona between April 22 and 27 to check out Philips' OLED Lumiblade exhibit. The company's promising lighting with dozens of different shapes, sizes and colors will be on display. Can't say we'd necessarily call OLED a "magic material," as the press release does multiple times, but with illuminated designs like this, they're putting up a good argument. Now how about bringing some of these fancy designs to the mass market?[Via OLED-Display]
i am 8-bit show highlights
Though states or even oceans might separate you from walking through the fourth annual i am 8-bit exhibit in Hollywood, California, Wii Fanboy sister-site Joystiq has put up an image collection of its own with enough photographs from the video game gallery to make you feel like you're actually at the art house!We've picked out a number of notable pieces that we liked, such as the double framed Link and Zelda sketches above, but make sure to also check out Joystiq's gallery and impressions from the show's opening. It's enough to make you want to go out and buy some art supplies to create your own video game art!
Orlando museum attracts record numbers with gaming convention
Going to the science museum? Boring. Going to the science museum to play video games? Excellent! At least that's what we took away from an Orlando Sentinel article on The Orlando Science Center's third annual Otronicon gaming event.The conference, which just closed to the public, brought in a record 3,000 game players on Saturday as part of an expected 18,000 attendees total. The throng did more than just play over 100 displayed games, though -- they attended exhibits focused on the therapeutic benefits of gaming, workshops on game development and even performances by the Orlando Magic dancers (the last of which we can only assume was somehow game-related).Though the event is now closed to the public, some lucky youngsters will get to attend school field trips to the event over the next few days, which makes us extremely jealous. The best field trip we took in grade school was to the box factory. Or was that The Simpsons? We can't remember, honestly.
Gallery exhibit looks to teach parents about video games
Brenda Brathwaite is a vocal advocate within the industry known for frank discussions on sex, censorship and ESRB issues. Recently she was awarded the 2007 Presidential Fellowship at the SavannahCollege of Art and Design to create a lecture and gallery exhibit titled, "What You Don't Know About Video Games..." The installation is aimed at parents and others unfamiliar with video games and the industry. The lecture is designed to cover all kinds of topics like ratings, game content, career options and the good video games are doing in all kinds of fields.The portion that Brathwaite is most excited about is the exhibit. It'll be in an actual gallery space and will give parents a hands-on guided tour of video games at every rating level from E to AO. The latter, of course, will not be readily viewable, and not at all viewable by those under 18. Brathwaite says, "For me, the motivation comes from both being a parent, a game designer and an acquaintance of many parents who know little about our industry, or believe that video games 'are just for kids,' or some great violence-filled, blood-soaked evil ... Hopefully, they'll come away more knowledgeable about our industry, excited about the games we make and better able to make informed choices at retail."For those who have seen Brathwaite speak, she knows how to keep an audience's attention. She explains large concepts in a clear and entertaining manner. If there is anyone we think can explain the industry to parents evenly by showing the good and the bad -- it's Brathwaite. We'll learn more about exhibit details and look forward to some preview photos as the opening draws near. What we're really hoping for is a good internet video of the lecture and exhibit for those who can't get to Savannah but want to see it -- or show it to someone who should.
I am information about I am 8-bit 2.007 [update 1]
Game Informer has posted a nice preview of the 2007 I am 8-bit art show, along with some of the art that will be featured. I am 8-bit is an annual art exhibition that celebrates classic videogame culture and iconography, with an emphasis on Nintendo and their NES-era third parties. It's also the source of some amazing game-related art, like the Donkey Kong-inspired painting shown above, "Mario's Lament" by Reuben Rude. We'd be proud to display any of these paintings, sculptures, or crafts in our own Fancaves.Just like every year, we'll be gazing wistfully at these previews and cursing our luck for not being Californian or California-adjacent. If you happen to be in the LA area between April 17 and May 12, we urge you to go to Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight and support the very best kind of fanboyism: the kind that manifests in honest creative expression (fanfic excluded).[Update 1: changed the preview picture to something friendlier.][Via 4cr]
Rogue Amoeba begins "Should I Exhibit At Macworld?" blogging series
Paul Kafasis of Rogue Amoeba has kicked off a new series at their company blog titled Should I Exhibit At Macworld?, breaking down the finer yet lesser-known details of how much it really costs software developers to exhibit at Macworld. This first post examines the various significant and hidden costs of appearing at the Apple event to end all Apple events, including: travel, cab fair, internet access, pressing trial CDs and, of course, the big whopper: the actual booth or kiosk itself. Some of these costs might sound like pocket change to some, but Paul tallies everything up and - considering what the Moscone Center charges for some of these things ($1095 for 4 days of internet access on the floor makes even the $12/day I paid in the hotel look appetizing) - offers a good checklist that can act as a guiding light to some, or a ton-o'-bricks reality check for others. Stay tuned for the other three parts of this series, as Paul foreshadows where he'll take it with this first post.
DS doubles as tour guide
NeoGAF forum member Reno has recorded the latest instance of Nintendo's DS used to guide patrons through an art exhibit. In this case, an M.C. Escher show at Shibuya's Bunkamura entertainment complex featured customized DS Lites, complete with floor maps and guided audio tours. Many of the works were reproduced on the touch screen, and the stylus could be used to enlarge certain areas of the image, allowing users to examine the Escher pieces in greater detail.[Via Go Nintendo]See also: Nintendo's buttonless DS, a poetry project
Nintendo World tour stocked with 88 titles
Nintendo World 2006 kicks off to tomorrow in Nagoya, Japan; making stops in Osaka and Tokyo later this month. The exhibition brings with it 88 titles, split evenly between Wii and DS.Visitors can expect the usual unusual assortment of "games" from Nintendo's vault, including an encyclopedia and healthy eats recipe collection. The rest of the lineup is mostly familiar, but there will be some significant debuts; the first level of (and possibly a new character from) Super Smash Bros Brawl among them. There are also plans to show off the Mii channel.Some new DS oddities have been unearthed as well, notably Picross DS ("paint by numbers"), 100 Poems by 100 Poets: DS Shigureden (presumably based on the art exhibit in Kyoto), DS Bimoji Training (Japanese calligraphy), and Namco Bandai's Mojipittan DS, a version of the popular fast-paced word puzzler.
