Prettocraig

Aero Shake is a lesser-known, but interesting Windows feature that lets you "shake" a window back and forth to minimize all other windows. If you find you invoke this accidentally more often than not, you can turn it off with a registry tweak.

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The August Smart Lock is a new lock and access system, designed by Yves Behar’s fuseproject in partnership with Jason Johnson, that will change the way you, your house guests, and visitors enter your house. Gone are the annoying house keys that you have to fumble for when your hands are full or the key you have to give to your house cleaners – they’re replaced with a virtual key that you can send to people you want to give access to, all via your phone.

See the lock in action:

August Smart Lock works with your existing deadbolts and the brilliant thing about it is that your virtual key can never be copied. You can grant certain people access for specific periods of time and then disable it when you want to. Being the homeowner, the device recognizes you when you get to the door and automatically unlocks it for you without you even having to pull your phone out of your pocket.

Using a Bluetooth LE connection with your smartphone to lock and unlock the door, August is installed right over the deadbolt. It works even if the power is off or your WiFi is down.

It's easy to think that we're all so busy these days because of technology and the internet. As it turns out, people had too much to do before the internet sucked all their productivity away.

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Last week, Ceyda Sungur was an academic in Istanbul. On May 28th, she became the "Lady in Red" — an unwitting symbol of Turkey’s anti-government protests, and the disproportionate force used to quell them.

Sungur, a research assistant at Istanbul Technical University’s school of urban planning, was among the hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Istanbul’s Gezi Park last week, where environmentalists and others had been staging a peaceful protest against government plans to convert the area into a shopping center.

By the time Sungur arrived at the park last Tuesday, the scene had devolved into violence, with police attempting to disperse protesters with tear gas, pepper spray, and water cannons. The clashes at Gezi Park have...

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© 2004-2013 Rebecca Bollwitt - Miss604.

After hints of summer-like temperatures tease us in late May, the beginning of June is usually rather gloomy in Vancouver. The long weekend doesn’t come until the end of the month, the kids are still in school, and rain showers often put a damper barbecue and camping plans.

However, there’s always a lot happening around the city, from farmers markets to Father’s Day festivities, and everyone is in good spirits awaiting the glorious sun-soaked days that are ahead. I browsed the Vancouver Public Library and City of Vancouver archives today to see what was happening in Vancouver during the month of June over the years, here’s what I found:

1938

In mid-June, nine of the road-bed sections are in position between the towers of the new Lions Gate Bridge:

1886

After the Great Fire on June 13th:

1909

June 4th, Australian & New Zealand Delegates Imperial Press Conference members in front of hollow tree in Stanley Park:

1926

Vancouver pioneers celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Great Fire in Stanley Park:

1938

June 19th came to be known as Bloody Sunday in Vancouver. “Vancouver police evicted unemployed men from the Post Office (now Sinclair Centre). The building had been occupied for six weeks by 700 unemployed workers, led by Steve Brodie, demanding federal relief. Rioting by more than 5,000 demonstrators caused considerable damage. Eventually, the invaders were ousted by police with clubs and tear gas; 39 people were injured and 22 arrested. Protesting B.C.’s decision to stop relief payments, groups of unemployed men also occupied the Art Gallery and Hotel Georgia.”:

1946

Men (including Ken Taylor and Ted Taylor) paying their respects at the funeral of L.D. Taylor, Vancouver’s most-elected mayor:

1947

Vancouver Airport on a sunny June day. Note the rocket, it was the inspiration for the Centennial Rocket which is at the south end of the Cambie Bridge today:

© 2004-2012 Rebecca Bollwitt - Miss604.com. If you are not reading this via official Miss604 channels, this content is being reproduced without permission.

The post Archive Photos of the Day: June in Vancouver appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

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Summer is practically here and you know what that means – lots of time spent in the water. Not all of us have the means or space to install a typical pool so Ludovica+Roberto Palomba designed the Minipool for Kos to solve that.

The new free-standing, overflowing rim miniature pool can be installed indoors or outdoors and functions as a spa with massage and underwater LED lights or a relaxing soaking pool. The exterior comes in a slate gray finish that almost looks like polished concrete and the circular, smooth shape gives it a minimalist sculptural aesthetic.

The pool is fitted with a circular bench that sits up to five people. The sound system is controlled via bluetooth so you can hook up your devices for your own backyard soundtrack.

So this sign showed up on the side of the building that’s on the Southeast corner of Main and 11th Avenue today. We have no idea who what it means or who put it up, and the owners of the restaurant that it’s on the side of offered no insight when asked. Seems to be a random act of awesomeness!

I’m honestly just speechless right now. I really thought I had given up on Will Smith. He was dead to me. Ever since he decided to make his 17th film in which he and Jaden were the last two people left on Earth – same fucking plot over and over again. And then he goes [...]

A number of design firms have drawn up plans for new a Penn Station and Madison Square Garden as part of campaign to rebuild the complex. Renowned studios SHoP Architects, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and others were all asked to re-imagine the New York landmarks by the Municipal Art Society (MAS), a non-profit that campaigns for, among other things, intelligent urban design and planning.

The most radical proposals came from Diller Sofidio + Renfro and SOM, who both submitted wildly complex designs. Diller Scofido + Renfro's "Penn Station 3.0" aims to serve "commuters, office workers, fabricators, shoppers, foodies, culture seekers, and urban explorers," with a multi-level complex that's topped by a...

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As global warming thaws the ground in Russia, researchers have been making some amazing finds. Now, Russian researchers claim to have made what could be the most incredible discovery of all: the preserved blood and meat of a woolly mammoth. "When we broke the ice beneath [the mammoth's] stomach, the blood flowed out from there," expedition head Semyon Grigoriev told the AFP. As unlikely as the discovery sounds, the researchers intend to have specialists from several other countries, including the United States, take a look at the remains for confirmation and study sometime soon.

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Bike Brake is a simple way to showcase and share some of Vancouver’s beautiful bikes. We are a cycling city and riding a bike in Vancouver is just fun. I love taking pictures and admiring other peoples bikes so every week I will be sharing a new photo of a bike**********   Nishiki Single Speed Conversion

Sogum Huchuhuchu is a minimalist design created by Korean-based designer Jaemin Jaeminlee. The aesthetic of Sogum Huchuhuchu is supposed to imitate the shape of a spoon. The function of the design is to allow users to deposit small amounts of salt or pepper into the recessed area of the spoon. Not only does this allow the user to have more control over how much salt or pepper needs to be dispensed, but also gives him/her a visual cue of the amount of salt or pepper being used for future reference.

The design is useful because it prevents waste by allowing one to return the leftover salt or pepper back into the shaker. If you poured too much salt into the spoon, all you need to do is tilt the shaker back into the grip to get rid of the excess salt. The storage portion of the shaker also conveniently serves as a handle for the user.

There have been numerous times in which I would over-season my food due to a lack of control from the traditional salt and pepper shakers. There is also a prevalent problem with traditional salt shakers in which the humidity from a recently-cooked meal will eventually build up and clog the openings at the top of the shaker. This design would seem to circumnavigate that issue entirely. With that said, I love that its multi-functionality does not encumber its minimalist design.

Comments in Excel come in handy for documenting your spreadsheet so you can remember what all the formulas are for or to provide instructions for other spreadsheet users. The How-To Geek points out a special function you can use to add a comment directly in the formula cell.

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Google has expanded its mapping platform to launch a new project called Timelapse, taking you back through time to see how our planet has changed over the last 25 years. To create its new interactive HTML5 animations, Google teamed up with the US Geological Survey (USGS), NASA, and TIME to combine over 2 million images taken by Landsat satellites — which are part of the longest-running Earth-observing satellite program ever.

Google says it trawled through 909 terrabytes of data to find the clearest images of Earth taken every year between 1984 and 2012. Compiling the shots into 1.78 terapixel images — one for each year — it worked with the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University to make them into easily viewable HTML5 animations....

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Verizon Wireless will release Samsung's Galaxy S4 one week earlier than originally planned, with the Android flagship now set to arrive at stores and the carrier's web store on May 23rd. Late last month, Verizon said customers would need to wait until May 30th to get their hands on the new handset — already available from all three other major US carriers. The expedited date means Verizon will still be last out of the gate in delivering the S4 to retail, but the wait just got a bit shorter for those awaiting Samsung's latest and greatest. Price-wise, we're talking the same $199.99, but if you've already placed a pre-order, there's a good chance you'll have the device in hand before the end of next week.

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During video game conglomerate EA’s most recent earnings call, the company’s CFO confirmed that it has laid off the roughly 900 workers whose jobs were rumored to be on the chopping block last month. “Our cost reduction plans will reduce our overall headcount by approximately 10 percent,” said Blake Jorgensen, who also serves as vice president, before explaining that the restructuring plan and resignation of CEO John Riccitello cost the company an extra $15 million more than what it estimated in its most recent guidance.

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Crushed it. The most confusing part about this video is how the kid to his left does not even flinch. Not even one little glance. Just going all hardo on us like “Nothing can distract me, I’m in the fucking zone.” No you’re not. There’s no such thing as a zone when you have a [...]

Last year at Google's I/O developer conference in San Francisco, founder Sergey Brin gave what's been called the "mother of all demos," a keynote speech that involved a team of skydivers wearing Google Glass landing on the roof of the conference center as he spoke. For this year's I/O taking place next week, Google wants to one-up that by putting I/O attendees in virtual parachutes and letting them skydive anywhere on Earth.

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The Batmobile is street legal. Or at least, a recreated version of the Tumbler from Christopher Nolan's series is. A group of racers known as Team Galag have been working on a to-scale remake of the superhero's vehicle, aiming to have it ready to race in this year's Gumball 3000 when it begins on May 18th. Though the team wants the full unveiling to come when the race begins, they've been teasing photos — and finally one brief video — of the machine's construction.

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Universally respected businessman and thoughtful political figure Donald Trump has found a surefire way to give back to the community: backing a near-copy of Indiegogo or Kickstarter designed for the "masses." Trump has announced his support for FundAnything, a recently launched crowdfunding startup helmed by self-described "serial entrepreneur" Bill Zanker. Unlike Kickstarter but like Indiegogo, FundAnything lets users ask for help funding almost anything, from artistic projects to help with health care, taking either 5 or 9 percent of funds raised depending on whether the goal is met. The site currently hosts somewhere under 200 projects.

Zanker and Trump previously worked together on a book called Think Big and Kick Ass in Business...

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Test your games brain and general knowledge at the May Develop Quiz - Book now to avoid disappointment

Magnificent list thrown together by Buzzfeed. Just fully encompasses the spirit, pride, grit, and determination that is NHL Playoff Hockey. Arguably the toughest, most die hard athleticism you will ever see in a one month span. And these beards epitomize the grit of NHL players. Not gonna lie, it immediately took me from six to midnight when they [...]

As if alcohol weren't enough of a social lubricant already, Budweiser has figured out a way to help it add to your Facebook friends list. The Buddy Cup, unveiled by the company's Brazilian arm, contains "high-tech chip technology integrated with Facebook" that makes two people friends on Facebook when they clink their glasses together in a toast. The cup is paired with a Facebook account by using a QR code printed on the bottom, and a red LED serves as confirmation that you have a new friend.

According to The Drum, the cups will be used at sponsored Budweiser events such as festivals, and are designed to "enhance brand activation and increase the interaction between Budweiser consumers." Hopefully those consumers are comfortable...

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Not to wish time by, but summer’s looking pretty good about now. Especially if you’re lucky enough to be lounging poolside by these modern marvels.

Above: CyD House by V.Oid Architecture in Lima, Peru features a pool with side walls built up of concrete and mosaic blue tiles inside.

Bates Masi Architects did a full reno and addition on this Hamptons house for an interior designer and DJ couple from Manhattan. The zen-like pool, complete with Buddha, has a beautiful, simple geometry set simply in the lush grass.

This home in Itu, Brazil, about an hour from São Paulo, was designed by Studio Arthur Casas for a young family. Irregularly-shaped pieces of stone form an almost natural-looking water’s edge.

This private gallery and house by Steven Holl Architects, which is in Seoul, Korea, was inspired by a 1967 sketch for a music score. There are three pavilions: one is the entry, one is the residence, and one is an event space. The entry pavilion brings the visitor at elbow height with the water. Wow.

Sharp geometry is the standout principle of this contemporary oceanfront home and pool by architectural firm ANDO Corporation.

The rectilinear pool at DB House by Avignon Clouet Architectes is the heart of the building’s square plan. At night, the pool forms a ‘water lantern’ illuminating the dwelling with shimmering beams of artificial light, turning a minimalist form into a romantic spectacle.

The Deck House by Santiao, Chile-based architects Assadi + Pulido is aptly named, as a wood slat deck runs around the whole structure. The incline is perfect for lounging, and the deck’s aesthetic is reminiscent of New England beach locales.

Fran Silvestre Arquitectos, based in Valencia, Spain, designed this simple yet absolutely exotic slice swimming and sunning of heaven, called House on the Cliff.

4D Arquitectura built this slick and boxy wooden residence in Brazil, called Haack House. The varying green shades of the mosaic tile that lines the pool’s interior is incredibly inviting.

Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects, also known as SAOTA, designed this six-bedroom beach house home in South Africa. The pool is long and linear, running closely alongside the terraced house, with an ocean view.

Spa House by Metropolis Design in Cape Town, South Africa has a deck that’s designed to look like a raft. And, there is actually a spa located below the water level of the pool, with a direct view into it through large glass windows.

Studio William Hefner designed this pool house and home in Brentwood. The smooth pavers surrounding the simple pool let’s the horizontal wood slats on the structure and fence be the stars.

I do not know who took the time to create Gizoogle but I think I want to make sex with them. Can literally kill all 24 hours of your day if you want it to – and it won’t get old. And at first I thought it was just the items on the search list that [...]

While the other major carriers in the US have all revealed their plans to release the Samsung Galaxy S4, Verizon Wireless has been a bit more secretive. The carrier now says that it will begin pre-orders for the S4 tomorrow, but it is still leaving us in the dark as to when it will ship the phone and how much it will cost. The news comes as other carriers have delayed their launch plans: T-Mobile expects to sell the phone online starting on April 29th, while Sprint will have the phone available online on the 27th. Both were forced to push back retail availability due to inventory problems. AT&T, meanwhile, still plans to have the Galaxy S4 in stock online and in stores on the 27th.

Update: Verizon tells us that the on-contract Galaxy S4...

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Crowdfunding has become an increasingly popular tool to finance games made by smaller developers, from the surreal Kentucky Route Zero to the politically-charged Riot. But the process does come with tradeoffs. "I see crowdfunding as a double-edged sword," explains Simeon Saëns, from developer Two Lives Left. "Once your project is successfully backed, you are locked-in to working on that project from start to finish. People can get impatient if deadlines slip and you don't have the option of dropping a project if you feel it isn't working." So when the studio released its iPad game Crabitron, it decided to do something a bit different, and launch a "reverse Kickstarter" campaign so that players can support it the old-fashioned way — by...

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