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Pictory: Get Your Photo Gems Discovered

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:34:57 -0500

When the former editor-in-chief of JPG Magazine launches a photography startup, budding photojournalists should take note. Laura Brunow Miner just launched Pictory, a site where netizens are offered a chance to contribute their best work to a weekly photo essay. The difference between being featured in Flickr’s curated galleries or filling your Tumblr blog with panoramas is that Pictory tells a larger group story. There’s only one catch - you only get one shot (literally) to make the cut.

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The company invites snap happy users to submit captioned social documentary pics for review in a weekly group photo essay. After receiving the submissions, the designer/editor plans on choosing between 20-40 entries to create the final product.

Says Brunow Miner, “Pictory will focus more on documentary and our lives and cultures, because ultimately I think that’s more interesting. On JPG I ran a theme on urban typography that was really fun for the design geek in all of us. [But] on Pictory I’d be more likely to feature a theme on urban transportation. It would still have design appeal, but would also show how different transportation across the world effects communities.”

The site’s latest project entitled “Overseas and Overwhelmed” offers a rich array of images. From a market in Marrakesh, to a youth rally in Cuba, to a spirited football match in Buenos Aires - submissions feature farflung scenes of travel and exploration. And while the pieces of the story come from a variety of voices and viewpoints, the theme of culture shock comes shining through.

When we asked the Pictory founder what she’ll retain from her days at JPG, she exclaims, “I’ve included the community aspect I’m familiar with from JPG because I really enjoy being surprised by submissions. I love people and the charming and unexpected things they do, say and think.”

To showcase your brilliance and take a crack at Pictory’s next theme, submit your shots at pictorymag.com.

Photo Credit: Youth Group - Henry Dombey, Bright Lights, Ancient City - Matt Nuzzaco

Discuss

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com When the former editor-in-chief of JPG Magazine launches a photography startup, budding photojournalists should take note. Laura Brunow Miner just launched Pictory, a site where netizens are offered a chance to contribute their best work to a weekly photo essay. The difference between being featured …

Evernote Podcast #13: Funding, Evernote 3.5, Food Month recap « Evernote Blogcast

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:31:23 -0500

Evernote Podcast #13: Funding, Evernote 3.5, Food Month recap

December 1st, 2009

Podcast MP3 | iTunes | Audio feed | Length: 31mins

Podcast #13 topics

Evernote gets more funding [related blog post]

Evernote 3.5 Beta for Windows [try it now]

Food month recap [check out the Food Month series]

Things we like: Wacom Bamboo Tablet

100 Ways to Use Evernote [check it out]

via blog.evernote.com

YEsssssss!!!!! I am mentioned in this podcast about half way through. Evernote is a life saver!!!!!

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com Evernote Podcast #13: Funding, Evernote 3.5, Food Month recap December 1st, 2009 Podcast MP3 | iTunes | Audio feed | Length: 31mins Podcast #13 topics Evernote gets more funding [related blog post] Evernote 3.5 Beta for Windows [try it now] Food month recap [check out …

What's TWiT Worth To You? - Leo LaPosterous

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:24:43 -0500

Up to now I’ve been taking my pay from TWiT’s general fund (along with all the other employees). Not any more. From now on you’ll pay me directly with your contributions. I won’t take a penny out of the operating funds.Think of your contributions as a tip jar. If you like what I’m doing with TWiT I hope you’ll contribute $2 a month (or more or less depending on what TWiT is worth to you). If you are unhappy with our direction, you can cancel your contribution completely. Believe me, I’ll notice. Your contributions will have a direct impact on how TWiT is run - because they’ll have a direct impact on my personal bottom line.

via leoville.posterous.com

Leo you are an amazing man. You have contributed so much and made so may of our lives better and more productive, I’m in!!!

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com Up to now I’ve been taking my pay from TWiT’s general fund (along with all the other employees). Not any more. From now on you’ll pay me directly with your contributions. I won’t take a penny out of the operating funds.Think of your contributions as a tip jar. If you like what I’m doing with TWiT I …

100 days in Glacier National Park

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:50:56 -0500

100 days in Glacier National Park

rgb

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:14:42 -0500

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8 Facebook misfires that ruined lives - THE WEEK

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:13:38 -0500

The real-life 007: Sir John Sawers was due to be appointed chief of MI6, Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, when his wife posted Facebook photos in July 2009 revealing where they lived and who their friends were. The posts were “a most distressing and unfortunate security lapse,” Reuters reported.

via theweek.com

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com The real-life 007: Sir John Sawers was due to be appointed chief of MI6, Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, when his wife posted Facebook photos in July 2009 revealing where they lived and who their friends were. The posts were “a most distressing and unfortunate security lapse,” Reuters reporte …

Turning unsightly cables into design

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:25:13 -0500

Not sure what to do about those unsightly cables that are strung about your abode? Well, instead of hiding them, why not feature them prominently on the wall? That’s what Maisie Maud Broadhead decided to do with her cable drawings project. Just be sure you really want to keep your appliance in place, because nailing the cord to the wall in a hundred places is going to make it difficult to move. [via curbly]

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/12/cable_drawings.html

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com Not sure what to do about those unsightly cables that are strung about your abode? Well, instead of hiding them, why not feature them prominently on the wall? That’s what Maisie Maud Broadhead decided to do with her cable drawings project. Just be sure you really want to keep your appliance in place …

5 Big Changes to Watch in Facebook’s Upcoming Redesign [Screenshots]

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:43:49 -0500

5 Big Changes to Watch in Facebook’s Upcoming Redesign [Screenshots]

November 30th, 2009 | by Ben Parr

View comments 133 Comments and 1417 Reactions

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Just over a month ago, Facebook rolled out a new homepage redesign. Now it looks like the social network isn’t completely satisfied with the results, as it’s now testing yet another homepage redesign.

We don’t know when the new design will launch yet, but we have analyzed several screenshots of the new Facebook () that were sent to us. While most of the changes are minor, there are a few that really stand out and reveal Facebook’s strategy and future direction.

Here are our top five observations about the upcoming Facebook homepage redesign, along with screenshots:

Changes to Facebook’s Redesign

1. All of the notifications have been moved to the top left. Notifications, requests, and inbox are prominently displayed next to the Facebook logo. Chat remains on the bottom, however.

2. Search is far more important in this redesign. As my fellow usability experts can attest, placing the search box in the middle of the page instead of the right hand side increases the number of searches users make. Facebook wants to focus on its real-time search engine as it prepares to compete with Twitter.

3. Your profile picture and status appears on the homepage. If you look on the current homepage design, you’ll find the updates of all of your friends, but yours isn’t constantly there, reminding you to update your old, outdated status.

This is a problem Facebook has needed to fix for a while. Now it’s addressed with a new section at the top left of the homepage with your face and your most recent status update, along with a prompt to update your status.

4. There’s a new border around the main content. It separates your left-hand navigation and notifications from your Facebook news feed.

5. The ability to see your inbox from the homepage. We want to stress how important this change is to the new Facebook design. It gives you direct access to your most recent messages without leaving the homepage, which should increase engagement.

via mashable.com

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com 5 Big Changes to Watch in Facebook’s Upcoming Redesign [Screenshots] November 30th, 2009 | by Ben ParrView comments133 Comments and 1417 Reactions 1964Share Just over a month ago, Facebook rolled out a new homepage redesign. Now it looks like the socia …

ROTTEN TOMATOES: Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:38:58 -0500

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Stanley Kubrick’s vision of a dystopian society and the corruption of power in near-future England was banned by its own director, after copycat killings with gangs of thugs dressed up as Alexander DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) and his ‘droogs’. The “ultra violent” journey of madness (based on Anthony Burgess’ novel) involves daily, ritualistic beatings — plus there’s the rape and clubbing to death of a yuppie housewife (with a giant phallus, no less) and some equally grim brainwashing techniques. So disturbed was Kubrick by the film’s potentially catastrophic content that he never allowed the theatrical ban to be lifted in England.

via rottentomatoes.com

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com A Clockwork Orange (1971) Stanley Kubrick’s vision of a dystopian society and the corruption of power in near-future England was banned by its own director, after copycat killings with gangs of thugs dressed up as Alexander DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) and his ‘droogs’. The “ultra violent” journey …

River Meets The Sea

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:50:34 -0500

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jugband

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:48:12 -0500

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I need a copy of this

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com via youtube.com I need a copy of this Click image to play video …

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas - Kermit Meets The Riverbottom Gang

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:43:37 -0500

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Can’t believe they edited kermit out….never gonna be the same

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com via youtube.com Can’t believe they edited kermit out….never gonna be the same Click image to play video …

"TheFineBrothers.com" Lost Parodies....really good stuff

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:11:39 -0500

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Mike Mitchell

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:14:00 -0500

Mike Mitchell

Sir Mike of Mitchell has a very very nice illustration portfolio full of awesome work.

There is really something in those illustration of his… I just love´em.

Check out more of his work at http://sirmikeofmitchell.com/

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com Mike Mitchell Sir Mike of Mitchell has a very very nice illustration portfolio full of aweso …

I Love Lunch! The Musical

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:58:51 -0500

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Twilight Cycles from Brandon Routh - Video (NsFW) but funny as hell

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:38:15 -0500

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Twilight Cycles from Brandon Routh - Video (NsFW) but funny as hell

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:33:01 -0500

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Photography by Wolfman-K - The least I can do...

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:42:51 -0500

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This guy is a great photographer and has the same love of d.o.f. as me, check him out

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com via photography.wolfman-k.com This guy is a great photographer and has the same love of d.o.f. as me, check him out …

amen!!!

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:33:17 -0500

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Top 10 Mobile Web Products of 2009

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:04:58 -0500

As part of our annual tradition, this week Read Write Web will present you with our “best of” posts for 2009, a series of articles that will examine the top web products in categories that range from consumer web apps to RSS and syndication platforms. Today, we’re kicking off the series with a look at the top mobile web products of the past year. This is a subjective list of editorially selected products, but one which includes some of the biggest names in mobile web applications for 2009.

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Facebook 3.0 (iPhone)

Although Facebook is an application available on many different mobile platforms, none can hold a candle to the iPhone version, updated this summer to version 3.0. The latest mobile version of this must-have social networking application was so good, some even proclaimed that it was more useful and more usable than the Facebook website itself.

Designed by engineer Joe Hewitt (who later controversially declared he quit developing it and all other iPhone applications), Facebook 3.0 for the iPhone didn’t just deliver a new way to socialize while on the go, but essentially became a portable “little black book” keeping you connected to your friends, events, and communication streams.

For those who don’t spend their days behind a computer screen, the new app also made Facebook a more useful service, allowing you to quickly browse and upload photos or videos (the latter if you have the iPhone 3GS). Finally, the simplified layout, which displays just 9 buttons in a grid-like pattern is a testament to good user design, boiling down the complexity of Facebook to one easy-to-use interface that even the newest of mobile users can understand.

If any application deserves an “app of the year” award, it’s Facebook 3.0 for iPhone.

Tweetie 2 (iPhone)

Another popular application for the iPhone was this year’s revision to the Tweetie application. This “update” was actually a complete reworking of the app which introduced so many new features that the developer, Loren Brichter, decided to release it as an entirely separate application which costs the same as the original. This decision, in turn, led to a vicious backlash of complaints as Tweetie users whined that they now had to “pay twice” for the application. The claims for the most part were just ridiculous - the $2.99 price point was hardly a burden and no one was “paying twice” - you were buying a brand-new application. However, the debate highlighted some of the issues Apple has with upgrade pricing - that is, “no paid updates” are permitted. That left Brichter with no other choice to recoup on his investment of time and energy that went into the building of Tweetie 2.0 but by charging again for the new version.

In the end, after the outcry died down, most everyone just forked over the piddling amount to get the new app which introduced features like video tweets, offline mode, geolocation, and more. And nearly all are happier for doing so, too.

Twidroid (Android)

It’s hard to not favor the iPhone in this list given the 100,000 apps now available for the platform, but Android apps deserve a mention too. Among the apps installed first by new owners of Android smartphones is Twidroid, the popular Android Twitter client. This mobile application has improved over time and now offers a clean and easy-to-use interface where the most frequently used features (@Mentions, Direct Messages, etc.) are accessible via buttons available at the bottom of the app, no matter which screen you’re viewing.

An updated version just launched today, now takes this application to a whole new level with its brand-new plugin architecture. Thanks to this feature, third-party developers can now extend Twidroid with their own services. This changes the application from being just another Twitter client representing one company’s point of view as to what features it should offer to being an app that’s completely customizable and tailored precisely to an end user’s needs. In fact, it was this last minute year-end update forced us to add Twidroid to the list - apps that support plugins may very well be the next big thing for mobile.

Foursquare (Cross-platform)

Last year, we thought the mobile social network to beat was Brightkite. While we still like that service, there’s no doubt that Foursquare is this year’s location-based breakout hit. At the beginning of 2009, the service was limited to only a handful of cities, but lately, that list has been expanding quickly to include a number of new cities worldwide.

Essentially, this geolocation-based service turns mobile social networking into a game. You “check in” as you arrive at new places in return for points, prizes, badges, and the honor of becoming the “mayor” of a place if you’re the one with the most check-ins there. Additionally, Foursquare users can leave tips for others arriving to that locale so when they check in, they can see recommendations - like the best entree at the restaurant or where the nearest Starbucks is to that hotel, for example.

Some may claim that Foursquare’s influence is still limited to the early adopter tech set for now and hasn’t really become a mainstream hit just yet. Maybe that’s true to a point, but considering the service just got a shout-out on The Simpsons not too long ago, we think Foursquare’s days of being an “undiscovered gem” are limited.

Google Voice (Blackberry, Android)

Perhaps most notable for prompting an FCC investigation into Apple’s secretive app approval process, Google Voice is one of the year’s best mobile applications even if it’s not available on the iPhone. According to Google, Apple rejected the app from the iTunes Store because it duplicated the iPhone’s core functionality. Meanwhile, Apple claimed they were “still reviewing” the application because it alters the iPhone’s functionality and user interface. The general consensus is that Apple isn’t exactly being forthcoming here. A slew of other applications already available in the App Store “duplicate” the iPhone’s functionality in some way, making Apple’s rejection more suspicious.

As of now, Google Voice is still not available in the App Store. However, Blackberry and Android users are able to take advantage of this innovative mobile app which lets you set where your phone numbers should ring to while also aggregating your voicemail from all your different lines. Those messages are then transcribed and emailed and/or SMS’d to you. Via the mobile application, your outgoing calls appear to be coming from your Google Voice number and not the number assigned to your handheld. This mobile app is so popular that it alone has caused some high-profile users to make the switch from the iPhone to Android.

Spotify (Cross-Platform)

Sadly not available in the U.S. as of yet, Spotify deserves a mention for its notable achievements overseas. A complement to the desktop-based music streaming service, Spotify’s mobile application lets users access their accounts, make playlists, and listen to music when offline.

Given how heavily this service competes with iTunes, many feared that Apple would reject Spotify as they did with Google Voice (see above). However, the FCC investigation must have made Apple nervous because Spotify for iPhone was readily approved for inclusion in the App Store.

Expected to launch stateside sometime in 2010, Spotify represents the next revolution in mobile music. Instead of purchasing and owning individual tracks, this subscription-based service lets you stream music to your mobile device. And unlike similar mobile music apps, Spotify lets you pick exact songs from a catalog of millions which instantly sync to your mobile device. It even works without an internet connection. Spotify goes where iTunes has not and makes music more of a web-based experience than something requiring disk space on physical hard drives. In other words, Spotify represents the future of mobile music and a threat which Apple will soon need to address.

Google Maps Navigation (Android)

Can we say GPS killer? That was the feeling when Google announced their new product, Google Maps Navigation which mimics the functionality of GPS devices like those from Garmin and TomTom. On launch day, stocks at those companies tumbled to unprecedented lows despite the fact that the mobile application was only available for Android 2.0 devices at that tim. It just goes to show that when Google enters a particular market, companies take notice.

Not only does this mobile app deliver all the best features of Google Maps including satellite and street views, it also includes mobile-appropriate features like traffic views, voice search, and turn-by-turn navigation, the latter recently launching on Android 1.6 devices (and up), too.

BNO (iPhone)

Who says you have to abandon the real-time web just because you’re going mobile? BNO, short for “breaking news online” is an iPhone application that complements the 24/7 news service available via Twitter, iPhone, email, and as a news wire.

With BNO News (iTunes link) for the iPhone, the app taps into the iPhone’s push notification functionality to deliver real-time news alerts that pop up on your device without using up your text messages. This app may be for serious news junkies only, but these days, isn’t that everyone?

BNO also uses a unique pricing structure which we’re surprised we don’t see more of: in addition to the purchase price of $1.99, the app also requires a monthly subscription fee of $0.99.

Layar (iPhone, Android)

Mobile application Layar may have gotten more media exposure than its functionality deserves, but this app represents the next big step for mobile: augmented reality. By displaying data layers on top of your phone’s camera viewer, Layar literally “augments” reality with additional information about what you’re viewing. Information like restaurant reviews or real estate listings, for example.

Earlier this year, we called Layar the most exciting of the AR apps because of its nature as a platform. That means third-party developers can build their own “layers” for the app using the company’s provided API.

While the application doesn’t always deliver the experiences it promises, that hasn’t stopped co-founder Maarten Lens-Fitzgerald from proclaiming that AR apps will be second only to voice on mobile phones in the coming years. He may be right…eventually, but that time hasn’t come just yet. For now, Layar just gives us a glimpse of what’s possible and for that, we’re grateful, excited, and highly anticipating what AR may bring in 2010.

Your Favorite Mobile Game (Cross-Platform)

Although not an app itself, we have to add “mobile games” as a general category to this “best of” list. To not do so would be to ignore one of the biggest mobile trends of the past year: mobile devices becoming “real” gaming platforms. While most mobile gaming development advances have taken place on the iPhone, these days more people than ever are using their mobile phones for games instead of portable gaming handhelds like the PSP. These games include everything from quick time-wasters to internet-connected multi-player challenges to in-depth “story” games that previously only existed on PCs and game consoles.

While your favorite mobile game will no doubt differ from your friend’s, there’s no doubt that practically every single mobile device owner has at least one game installed if not more.

What About Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, etc.?

You’ll notice this list is a bit biased towards certain mobile platforms over others. That’s not because there aren’t other worthwhile apps out there, but when you’re comparing apples to apples (for example, Facebook for Blackberry vs. Facebook for iPhone), there’s a clear winner in terms of user interface, design, and feature set. In fact, two Blackberry users here at RWW noted this same problem when we rounded up our personal favorite apps last week. Jolie exclaimed Blackberry users have “few options and fewer favorites,” while Alex wrote “the experience is just awful.”

That being said, we can at least rejoice in the fact that today, every mobile platform at least has an App Store filled with apps to choose from - even if they’re not all that great.

Your Favorite Apps

As mentioned above, this list is subjective and editorially selected to highlight the most notable applications of the year. However, we recently collated your responses to our question about favorite mobile apps, too. If your favorite didn’t make the list above, it may have made the one below. According to your comments, the top 20 favorite apps of RWW readers are as follows:

Facebook
Tweetie
Google Maps
Foursquare
Evernote
Shazam
Google Mobile
Echofon
Gmail Mobile
Pandora
TweetDeck
Twitterrific
Dropbox
Kindle
Spotify
Yelp
Beejive IM
Flickr
Opera Mini
Qik

Do you agree or disagree with our list? Let us know why or why not in the comments.

Discuss

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http://oyunfound.posterous.com As part of our annual tradition, this week Read Write Web will present you with our “best of” posts for 2009, a series of articles that will examine the top web products in categories that range from consumer web apps to RSS and syndication platforms. Today, we’re kicking off the series with a look …