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.

Tech | Sony Smart Lense

The future moves fast. Just last year people were in an uproar about Google Glass not being wearable enough (and invasive), and now in 2016 Sony, Google and Samsung all have individual patents for smart contact lenses, surpassing the smart glasses all together. 

The new patent describes digitally connected lenses that can take a picture with a blink of an eye, and then send that image to your smart phone or device of choice. The patent also notes that the lenses have the ability to zoom, focus and change the aperture, so the pictures could actually be pretty decent. The contacts are described as having a display, allowing you to view captured images. Having displays on contact lenses is something scientists have supposedly been working on for quite some time. Even if the patents are early and the technology isn't readily available for the next few years, it certainly is interesting to get a glimpse into the future.

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$

Style | Walli

Walli is an intelligent wallet that digitally links your wallet and cell phone. Lose your wallet: your phone notifies you. Lose your cell phone? double tap Walli to make it ring (in conjunction with iPhones new find your phone features this should really cover phone losses). For more info check out the Walli website here. 

Apps | Architecture of Radio

Dutch data scientist Richard Vijgen has created the first iPad application (scheduled to launch in December) that helps us visualize and understand the complexity of internet signals otherwise known as the 'infosphere'. For more info check out his website here. 

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. 

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 | Aerospace Windowless Aircraft

a British technology research company is currently developing an aircraft that replaces the windows with OLED touch-screens that display the view from outside through cameras mounted on the plane’s exterior. According to The Center for Process Innovation, windows are one of the greatest sources of unnecessary weight in passenger planes. Another upside is that solid walls are stronger and allow the walls to be built thinner. Maybe sometime in the next 10 years windowless aircrafts will become a reality. 

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. 

Technology | Vantablack is the New Black

Vantablack (short for 'Vertically Arrayed Nanotube Arrays') is a new material that absorbs up to 99.965% of color making it the darkest color on earth. First adapters will be in the aerospace and defense industries, but being that it so closely represents the absence of light, one can only imagine the future possibilities.

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 | Breather

Breather is a new app that allows you to book a private space by the hour. When a hotel lobby or coffee shop is too loud or stressful for your current needs, breather is your affordable solution to the problem. Whether its to meet a client in private, use some wifi, or just relax on a couch and make some phone calls, breather helps you find the right fit. Now available for usage in NYC, check out more at breather.com

Apps | Peek Calendar

Peek Calendar is the best iphone calendar app in the market. The design aesthetic is really sleek, the usability is intuitive. It's no wonder its the most downloaded non-free app in the US in the productivity category. Once given permission Peek can scrape your schedule from other sources and updates automatically so you don't have to migrate your schedule yourself. For more info check out PeekCalendar.com

Tech | Blackphone

Blackphone is the first phone to hit the market with a sole focus on privacy. In today's day and age of internet spying, smartphones are extremely vulnerable to hackers. If your line of work requires managing extremely private information or just really appreciate your privacy this is the phone for you. read more about it here. 

Tech | A 3D printed house in NYC

One of the my favorite properties in the west village is a combination of 2 unique things: An amazing building on a street with little foot traffic. Minetta lane is more like a quiet alleyway in between Macdougal St. and a bustling intersection on 6th avenue. Minetta lane has no businesses, and not many homes making it somewhat of a relaxing oasis that often goes unnoticed. Recently architect Adam Kushner purchased 16 Minetta Lane and 10 months later Kushner has decided his new home / passion project will be the first 3D printed home in NYC.

An undetermined amount of years ago a brook supposedly ran thru this property, which has given Kushner the inspiration to incorporate a waterfall and climbing wall into his new design. Although the facade of the building might remain classic in structure, I'm sure anyone who's lucky enough to get a peek inside will be surely impressed.

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.