Tech | Hyperloop

Hyperloop One has successfully completed its first test run yesterday in the Nevada Desert. If dont successfully we are looking at the future of long distance transportation in record time. A project headed up by none other than Elon Musk, ex-SpaceX engineer Brogan BamBrogan (yes that's his real name) and backed by Uber Investor Shervin Pishevar. The concept was announced in 2012 by Musk, envisioning a 5th mode of transportation (after cars, planes, boats and trains) based on a "low pressure tube with capsules that are transported at both low and high speeds throughout the length of the tube [and which are] supported on a cushion of air, featuring pressurized air and aerodynamic lift."

The concept aims to be able to transport cargo (or people) at speeds of 750 Mph, cutting a commute from LA to SF down from 6 hours to 30 minutes. While we won't be able to try one of these ourselves for a while, it could become a reality for us all as early as 2021. For those that are curious, check out this distance calculator to figure out how many miles it is between you and your favorite cities, hopefully in the near future you'll be going there just for lunch.

Art | Infinity Room

Refik Anadol's Infinity room uses 3-dimensional projection mapping to form a continually transitioning virtual landscape. Currently on display at the Zorlu Performing Art Center in Istanbul. 

Tech | TarDisk

Interested in doubling the storage on your MacBook? It seems lugging around an external hard drive has become all too normal nowadays, especially for anyone who deals with large file sizes. TarDisk Features 256G of flash storage in a simple chip, solving all your storage problems. You can purchase a TarDisk chip here for 399$

Tech | Light Phone

The Light Phone is a credit card-sized cell phone designed to be used as little as possible. It works with your existing phone allowing you to comfortably disconnect without completely losing touch. It is your phone away from phone. The light phone has recently surpassed its Kickstarter goal by almost 200%, I'd like to say congrats to all involved for bringing this great concept into fruition. for more info check out their page here. 

Apps | Duet Display

Duet Display is an app that helps you  sync your devices to enable dual screens. For professionals using software this is a huge advantage to leave your tool palettes on one screen while editing your content on the other. Duet Display is available in the iTunes store here for $15.99, it is the #1 paid for app in both the US and 11 other countries. 

Apps | Speaky

We are all guilty of bookmarking things to read later and never getting back to it. It happens to the best of us. Speaky is the app that reads articles back to you. While I enjoy reading very much, sometimes audio is just better (like while doing cardio, or on a shaky train ride). You can purchase it for 3.99 in the iTunes store here. 

Tech | Sunn Light

Sunn is a company that makes smart LED lighting that mimics the behaviors of the sun, helping your body stay in tune with rhythms found in nature. Current models come in both 19" and 24" diameters which can be programmed to your liking. you can get one here for $289. 

Apps | Disconnect

Disconnect is an app that shows you which apps and websites are tracking you, as well as which insecure connections to avoid. The free version provides you with this information in visual data, while the premium version (which is only 50$ a year) supplies you access to an OpenVPN based virtual private network connection for internet traffic. At least this way you'll know who's making the most of violating your privacy while you make the most of your smartphone usage. 

Available in the iTunes store here. 

Tech | Estimote

Estimote is a new form of technology called 'nearables'. They are context aware stickers that you can place on your most used possessions and give you data about them such as 'if they have moved' and send you messages to notify you that 'you just left your bag at a coffee shop'. Estimote technology also contains broader technology such as temperature sensors, and also seems to have focused on helping retail environments better understand whats happening in their stores. you can pick up a starter kit for $99 on Estimote.com 

Tech | Navdy GPS

Navdy GPS is a not so far fetched concept that pilots use to project data on their windshields so they don't have to look away, makes sense right? Aside from helping you navigate, Navdy also pairs with your iphone. So it takes your phone calls, reads and allows you to send text messages, access other apps, etc. You can pre-order one right now on Navdy.com for $299.

Apps | Square Cash

 you haven't tried it by now: Square Cash is the easiest money transferring app on the market. I'd go as far as to say 1: that they are going to give paypal trouble, 2: that banks are going to be forced to streamline their mobile experience, and 3: even if they did, I would probably still use Square Cash. The app is as easy to use as it is nicely designed, give it a try.

Check it out here or download it in the itunes store.

Tech | Levitating Bluetooth speaker

Introducing a sleek 3.6" diameter bluetooth speaker that actually levitates. According to Design Milk audio professionals have been debating whether quality is amplified or wasted by the 'coupling' of speakers to frames. Is quality lost by physical transference from speaker to stand to table? or is it improved? Huge kudos to the guys at OM audio for taking a crack at solving this problem and introducing an amazingly designed product into the market. Welcome to the future. 

Tech | Lytro Illum Camera

The future of digital photography is here. The new Lytro Illum camera takes a completely different approach to photography while also streamlining the photo editing process. When using the Lytro camera, one no longer needs to pick where your focal point is as it treats all information within the frame equally. With an incredible amount of resolution, the Lytro allows you to pick your focus afterwards whether it's an object in the extreme foreground or background, controlling the amount of focus with an easy touch screen feature that's as instinctive as many of the iphone features we have all grown so accustom to.

You can purchase the Lytro Illum Camera for around $1,500 here. 

Apps | Asana

As an active member of a tech startup, I am constantly under the pressure of juggling so many moving parts. Life is a constant blur of emails, meetings, work in progress files, collecting data and so forth. Asana is a program that allows you to manage tasks, alongside notes with your team. I haven't gotten the chance to try it yet but really look forward to it, and would like to thank Asana for offering a program to make my life easier.

Tech | IBM Watson Launch

IBM has announced an enormous power move this spring by rounding up 200 of the brightest and most forward thinking professionals to launch the Watson group. Ultimately Watson technology will harness an artificial intelligence technology that will cross reference algorithms while scraping data from the internet and optimizing results for you. Watson is focused on bringing healthcare into the future, as well as finance, business and research.

Located at their new headquarters at 51 Astor place, Watson and IBM are official residents of what's now known as "Silicon Alley", the newest phrase for the increased technology company presence in NYC.

So if I we're searching for a person named "tom smith" that i grew up with, Watson would know which answers to eliminate while google wouldn't? Sounds exciting. Welcome to the future.