Yep, I haven’t posted in about a week and a half and I probably do not intend to till after Thanksgiving break. But there are some things in the works right now. I am looking forward to the Spring 2010 fashion, Illini Men’s Basketball, Chicago Bulls, and hopefully some music reviews (almost done listening to the massive collection I have).
Last year, November 2008, the famous Five Guys Burgers & Fries finally opened their first joint in Oak Park, IL. Five Guys Burgers & Fries first opened in Arlington, VA and then spread all over the DC area. The legend of their tasty, highly customizable burgers grew and today can be found in 30 different states. Within a year after that first Oak Park location, Five Guys Burgers & Fries can now be found all over the Chicagoland area. It’s becoming a very popular chain in a highly competitive upscale fast-food market that is synonymous with Portillo’s and a number of Chicago-style pizzerias (too many pizza joints to just pick one).
Thoughts & Pictures After the Break
Ken Segall – the Man Who Dreamed Up the Name “iMac” & Wrote the “Think Different” Campaign.
“Cult of the Mac” interviewed the author behind the famous “Think Different” Campaign. In addition to the “Think Different” campaign, Ken Segall was also the person who put the “i” in “iMac” when the product was first introduced. Interestingly, Steve Jobs did not like the “iMac” moniker when it was first purposed…but the name prevailed and the rest is history.
The interview was a very interesting read (and I highly recommend it) because it showed the kind of micro-management perfectionist-style Steve Jobs does at Apple Inc. Something as simple as a product name had to be perfect and Jobs made sure it was right. Not many would care to print a product name on prototypes “just to see what it looked like.” The article also showed the passion from which Apple products are created from. Segall, who also worked with Dell, mentioned the difference between Apple and the rest:
“Dell and Apple: It’s night and day,” Segall says. “It’s a transactional world Dell lives in. It’s all about numbers. Everything they say about Apple making products for themselves is true. Apple — it’s about changing the world. For everyone else, it’s about the money.”
Read the full interview here.
Remember RIM? Research In Motion? You know…the company that makes BlackBerry phones? Ya that smartphone company.
With all the Android-hoopla that’s been going around lately, RIM has been quietly keeping busy. Not too long ago the Storm 2 was released for Verizon, and now RIM is gearing up to launch the Bold 9700 (or Bold 2) for T-Mobile and AT&T. My friend has the first Bold and that phone was a beauty by BlackBerry standards. I loved the first Bold with its bright display and expensive feel. Plus, with everyone rocking iPhones (yes that includes me) the first Bold was in my mind the true anti-iPhone – not any Android phone, nor WinMo phone for that matter. A pretty tall order to follow the Bold.
More Thoughts and Pictures After the Break
In the late 90’s I got introduced to the intoxicating sounds and beats of The Beatnuts. One of my favorite joints from the hip-hop group was the tracked entitled “Off the Books” on the 1997 album entitled, Stone Crazy. “Off the Books” featured Cuban Link and the late Big Pun. The track consisted of fairly simple beats, samples, and scratches…where Big Pun definitely delivered the best verse over the hot track.
R.I.P. Big Pun.
Car Finder app
Picture this:
It’s Holiday Shopping Season and you are stalking shoppers for a potential parking spot nearest the mall entrance. You’ve probably gone around the mall parking hundreds of times with no luck and your patience has worn thin. So you settle for the parking spot you never knew even existed and bolt for the mall entrance in the piercing winter cold.
Several hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars gone and bags from your favorite designers shackled to your arms…you trudge back outside only to remember that you did not remember where you parked. Remind you that it is probably even colder than when you first entered the mall. Sucks, but its happened to all of us.
ENTER the “Car Finder” app from the iTunes App Store. This app from Intridea, Inc. sets the location of your car (of course you set it when you first park). Then when you need to find your car turn the app on and use the camera viewfinder see an overlay of where your car is at. The app uses Augmented Reality to find your car and it will tell you what direction your car is and how far away it is. It is only compatible for the iPhone 3GS.
Helpful for those “OH SHIT!” moments during Holiday Shopping.
Microsoft Courier
Say what you want about Microsoft, but the folks at Redmond are having quite a good 2009. First came the revamped Zune HD, then came Windows 7, and now…Microsoft Courier.
What is it you ask? Well with the craze in e-book readers lately and the advancement in “touch” technology, the Courier is a “tablet” engineered by Microsoft themselves. However, Microsoft refers to their new project as a “booklet” instead of a tablet because…well it is designed like book. The current design of the Courier has the “booklet” rocking two 7 inch screens that support multi-touch gestures and can be used with a tablet pen. The middle/spine of the “booklet” has a iPhone-esque “home” button and a “Library” button. In my opinion, the leaked pictures of the Courier show a beautifully designed product that makes you wonder “what-if” Microsoft designed their own products.
After the Break, Read More & Check the Video and Pictures!
Academy Wool Peacoat
Ralph Lauren is one of the top designers when it comes to ready-to-wear fashion. For the Fall & Winter season stay warm and stylish in Academy Wool Peacoat from the “Polo Ralph Lauren” line. It’s a “classic-fitting double-breasted peacoat” available in either RL Black, Navy, or Gibson Charcoal Heather.
More Pictures After the Break
Converse by John Varvatos Leather Sneaker
When I was on vacation in Las Vegas last September I pretty much went on a shopping spree. During that spree of mine, I nabbed these black leather Converse low-top sneakers by John Varvatos. It has a rugged, worn-down look that features dark gray laces, black full-grain Italian leather body, and a white sole. Available at Nordstrom
More Pictures and My Thoughts on the Shoe After the Break
J.Crew Cashmere zip hoodie
It’s now early November so the Fall season has been in full swing now. J.Crew has a nice Cashmere Zip Hoodie made from Italian cashmere. It’s a simple front zip-up, drawstring hoodie that is available in Grey, Espresso, Navy, & Fatigue. Check it at J.Crew.com.
