New Skin for Android Phones

Sony Ericsson Vivaz - Sony Ericsson’s new Android-based phone interface, like those from other cellphone manufacturers, integrates Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and other social networking services into one unified portal on your portable. The difference is that Sony Ericsson’s interface — UXP, formerly known as Rachael — actually looks useful.

Harga Sony Ericsson Vivaz - The company plans to launch a slew of new Android-based phones this year. Top of the list is the Xperia X10 — which confusingly carries the same codename that UXP used to have: Rachael. It’s a device with a 4-inch touchscreen, a 1-GHz Snapdragon processor and 8.1 megapixel camera that will be available this quarter. The company will also introduce the Mini, a compact phone with a 2.6-inch display that will be available in a touchscreen-only version as well as one with a slide-out keyboard.

But it’s UXP that forms the heart of these phones’ experience. Sony Ericsson has been working on the UXP interface for more than two years, the company says.

“We have done extensive skinning of the Android platform. because we really wanted to make it a bespoke experience,” says George Arriola, head of user experience for Sony Ericcson.

Sony’s UXP interface attempts to do the same thing as rivals like Motorola’s MotoBLUR: namely, aggregate social networking feeds such as Facebook and Twitter into one stream, integrate that data with your phone address book and contacts, and personalize the multimedia experience.

“We took a very sophisticated PlayStation middleware and shrunk it to fit the Android OS,” says Arriola.

Palm was the first of the smartphone makers to kick off the trend of integrating social media updates and contacts with the launch of the Palm Pre, though the Pre was based on Palm’s own operating system webOS, not Android. But the Android phones launched since then have tried to follow the path blazed by Palm.

Motorola has the MotoBlur interface that’s now a part of most of its phones, including the Cliq, Backflip and Devour. HTC has introduced Sense, its custom UI that’s available on phones such as the HTC Hero and upcoming phones including Legend and Desire.

But Sony’s UXP interface is the most visually attractive implementation that I have seen so far.

At the heart of Sony’s experience is a widget called Timescape. Timescape collects social networking feeds and presents them in a card-like view. A bar at the bottom of the screen has little icons that lets users filter the information stream by network such as Facebook, Twitter or Flickr.

The phone also updates the address book with a contact’s latest social networking update. That means if you click on a name in your address book, you can see their last social-feed post and use it as a reference point while making the call.

What makes this experience slick is the way the cards rain down on the screen, offering an almost 3-D–like effect as they scroll past. Clicking on one of the cards pulls up the contact and their status update.

Rather than contribute to info clutter, Sony’s attempt to jazz it up by using better visual effects actually does make it easier to handle the information stream.

The UXP interface also introduces a concept called “infinite pivot” — an infinity-shaped icon that helps you drill deeper and pull up related views.

Sony is also trying to offer a better experience for music, video and photos. The widget that controls this is called Mediascape. Click on the Mediscape icon and you get three options: My Music, My Videos and My Photos.

Music and videos are divided into recently played, recently added and favorites. There’s also access to PlayNow, Sony Ericsson’s music-downloads service.

A recommendation engine can suggest other artists or songs based on the music preferences of a user. Clicking on the infinite-pivot icon next to an artist’s name in music and videos offers suggestions and even searches the web.

And in a bid to keep the custom look throughout the phone, Sony redesigned the interface to services such as the phone dialer, calendar and alarm, says Arriola.

Overall, Sony Ericsson’s UXP skin for Android is not as confusing as the MotoBlur interface and more polished than the HTC Sense UI. Instead, UXP is a snappy, sophisticated treat. It works, though, only if you buy into the premise that instead of checking your Facebook and Twitter when you want to (as in the iPhone), you would like these services streamed and updated constantly to your phone.

Now if only they could get U.S. wireless carriers to offer Sony Ericsson phones on contract — and at prices slim enough to match the hardware.

Gadgets Today

Nexian - Sometimes, the things and gadgets that you think are the least useful will prove you wrong in the end. And in a potentially dangerous sport like hunting, having all the right hunting gadgets that technology brings you can be a matter of life and death. Let’s take a solar powered torchlight as an example. Don’t think it’d be of any use to you? Well, imagine the kind of convenience and security measure it would provide you if you had it and you run out of battery supplies. Furthermore, the solar powered torchlight doesn’t need batteries and they can operate for over long periods at night even when there’s no sunlight because they have the capability of storing energy in their internal batteries.

Nexian She NX-G788 - And yes, of course, hunting is a skill-game. The only way to get really good at hunting is not by way of having as many hunting gadgets in your backpack as possible. The only way to get good at hunting is by practicing, practicing and practicing. You can have a 500-yard hunting rifle, laser rangefinders and whatever-else-you-can-find-on-and-off-the-internet and yet, without the right skills, you will do not much better than without the hunting gadgets.

But imagine, if you’re OK in the hunting game and you have some cool and funky hunting gadgets with you, it WILL make a difference. With some skill, hunting gadgets like the precision hunting rifle and motion detectors will come in really handy!

One of the most amazing hunting gadgets to have handy is the Rangefinders (I personally love the Simmons Rangefinder) which gives you the confidence of shooting with unparalleled accuracy. Because with each shot, the Rangefinder will recalibrate, you get more and more accurate with each shot. Therefore, even an amateur hunting enthusiast can be quite successful during the hunting trips. The right Rangefinder should be resistant to weather elements like rain and extreme heat. And the Rangefinder’s performance should not be affected AT ALL with rain and close-by objects like leaves, branches and leaves. The best Rangefinders in the market should be as silent as your footsteps whenever you’re hunting. Other factors you should check out before you buy a new Rangefinder is the weight of the hunting gadget, the complexity of setup, ease of use, size of the hunting gadget and how fast does the battery run out. If the Rangefinder has a speed gun function…all the better but an expert in hunting can probably live without it. The hunting gadget should be accurate to within a foot off the target. Anything less than that, forget it.

Opick Gelar Film Perdana 'Di Bawah Langit'

Film Indonesia Terbaru - Penyanyi religi Opick akan menggelar premier film perdana karyanya berjudul Dibawah Langit di Djakarta Teater, malam ini. Pria kelahiran 1974 ini mengaku kalau film perdananya tersebut merupakan impiannya terbesar sejak dulu sebelum dirinya terkenal sebagai penyanyi religi.

Film Terbaru “Ini luar biasa, mimpi saya dalam membuat film berawal dari sebuah album kemudian berkembang menjadi cerita, lalu berkembang lagi menjadi sebuah novel dan kemudian menjadi sebuah film. Tanpa pertolongan dari Allah, saya enggak akan membuat sebuah film,” ujar Opick saat ditemui di Plaza Semanggi, belum lama ini.

Baginya, film perdananya ini dibuat dengan biaya sendiri sehingga memakan waktu yang lama sekitar 6 bulan.

“Film ini merupakan kebahagiaan saya, meskipun uang yang digunakan untuk membuat sebuah film harus keluar dari tabungan saya serta menggunakan apa yang saya punya,” katanya.

Pemilik nama lengkap Ainur Rofiq Lil Firdaus ini mengungkapkan kalau dirinya dalam membuat sebuah film tidak pernah mengemban ilmu di perfilman, semuanya dilakukan dengan otodidak.

“Bagi saya film ini unik, saya tidak pernah sekolah film, tetapi saya bisa buat film dan bagi saya ini rezeki. Jadi saya tidak takut untuk membuat film meskipun di tren film zaman sekarang sedang banyaknya film setan-setanan dan cinta-cintaan,” tukasnya.

A Guide to This Year’s Hottest Prom Gowns

Nancy Benoit - The 2009 prom season is just a few short months away. Across the country, girls are hunting out the latest prom trends and fashions. With so many dress options to choose from it can be difficult to figure out what dresses are in style and what dresses are last year’s news. As a rule of thumb, if you like the dress and it fits your body well, you should wear it and enjoy it! Here is a guide to some of the hottest prom gown styles this year:

Bold, Colorful Prints

Nancy Benoit Hustler Pics - Prom dresses do not have to be a single color with beading or bows like they often were years ago. Prints are extremely popular this year, especially charmeuse prints that are colorful and bold. You can find tons of styles in stunning fabrics combining lines, floral designs, or even animal prints. Do not be afraid of the audacious prom dress choices now available. If prints are not your forte, try first considering vivacious, exciting colors. Instead of a pale green, bland dress, opt for choosing a grassy color. Instead of that powder blue gown, try on choices that are brilliant sapphire and sky blues. This is not the year to be subtle with color.

Open Backs

If you want to be daring with your prom dress, consider a style with an open back. You can find designer looks with a swooping back or straps that cris cross across your back. Before you buy a dress, make sure that it follows all of your school’s prom dress rules as well as approval from your parents. Many schools have dress codes during outside events such as prom.

Trains

Bridal gowns are not the only dress that can have an elegant train. Dresses with trains are all the rage for proms this year. Do not worry; most dress that have trains are detachable so you do not have to worry about your date stepping on it as you happily dance the night away. You can also find trains that bustle up and attach in the back so that you do not have to worry about the train tearing or dragging on the ground all night.

Short- Length Dresses

Over the last few years, short dresses have grown in popularity, and that is no exception for prom season 2009. Instead of a long gown, consider a tea-length ensemble that shows off your fabulous shoes without being an inappropriate length. Classic short silhouettes are extremely fashionable and look great on just about any body type.

Beading

While in 2007 and 2008 prom dresses with sequins were extremely popular, this year beading is all the rage. Beading on dresses can add a little sparkle and even create prints using contrasting colors. If money is tight, look for dresses that have just a few beads sprinkled around the top of the dress. They are typically less expensive than dresses with all-over beading.

White and Black Options

Even though bold, bright colors are popular this year, an all black or all white dress is always a classic style to wear. Look for a dress that evokes feelings of Hollywood glamour like Jackie O or Marilyn Monroe. When wearing an all black or white dress, you can accessorize with jewelry in any bright colors such as sunset orange and neon green. You can also find black or white dresses with rhinestones and beading that sparkle for an added hint of style. Try looking for classic shapes that flatter your body type. A white or black dress is all about the silhouette you create.

Tulle and Feather Skirts

Along with the in-style shorter length dresses for prom, a short, belled-out skirt made of tulle or feathers can be fashionable as well. Choose a skirt that creates a shape flattering to your body. When you go for a tulle or feather skirt, keep the accessories light. Your dress material is already an embellishment, so too much jewelry can often be overwhelming.

Gold and Pink

While bright colors are in style this year, gold seems to be the metallic jewelry of the season. If you choose to wear a gold dress, non-gold simple earrings and a few chunky bracelets can easily complete your Hollywood look. If you are going for another colored dress stick to gold-toned jewelry instead of choosing silver this year. Gold looks great with just about any color. If you are not the gold jewelry type, pink is another popular accessory color for the season. All bright hues are popular as the summer months approach, but pink jewelry is especially fashionable in 2009. All shades of pink, including pastel pink and hot pink are favored by style magazines and retailers. No matter what your skin type or body type may be, you can find a shade of pink that works well for you.

One-Shoulder Gowns

Prom dresses this year are taking cues from the Hollywood’s runway and the red carpet. Celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Kate Winslet, and a number of other celebrities have been wearing one-shoulder gowns to show off just the right amount of skin for any occasion. A one-shoulder dress looks great on just about any body type.

Bond Fans Not Happy With Craig

My Name is Khan - A statement on the site said that “EON Productions angered fans around the world when they fired Pierce Brosnan at the height of his popularity as Bond. To add insult to injury, EON cast a short, blond, odd-looking Daniel Craig in the role of Bond.”

Film My Name is Khan - The site goes on to ask, “How can a short, blond actor with the rough face of a professional boxer and a penchant for playing killers, cranks, cads, and gigolos pull off the role of a tall, dark, handsome and suave secret agent?”

The angry group of Bond fans have threatened to boycott “Casino Royale” and any other Bond films that Craig will star in.

Though Craig may have a wounded pride from all of these happenings, he does have a big supporter in his predecessor, Pierce Brosnan.

“I think Daniel is a very fine actor. These are rocky waters, and they’re going to get him one way or another, but I think he will have the last laugh at the end of it,” Brosnan said.

Craig has had roles in “Munich” and “The Jacket.” He accepted the role of Bond last October, and filming for the movie began last month in Prague. Last week the producers of the film cast French actress Eva Green as Bond girl Vesper Lynd and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen as the villain le Chiffre.

DVD Review

In 1983, Stratocaster slinger Stevie Ray Vaughan and his posse, bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris "Whipper" Layton, rode into the El Mocambo Tavern in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and flooded the Great White North audience with a sonic wave of boogie and blues born deep in the heart of the Texas.

"Testify" and "So Excited" start off the proceedings with a shot of high energy instrumental brilliance, followed by "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)," Vaughan's tribute to his mentor, Jimi Hendrix. Stevie sings "I got my voodoo right in my hands," before tearing into a solo that proves him to be a worthy successor to Jimi's throne.

Next up is "Pride and Joy," the song that put Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble on the map. Combining a walking bass line on the lower strings and chords on the higher strings, Vaughan creates the effect of two guitarists playing at once, as Layton lays down the shuffle beat and Shannon's Fender bass adds precision counterpoint.

With readings of Howlin' Wolf's "Tell Me" and Buddy Guy's "Mary Had a Little Lamb," Vaughan recites the lessons of the masters while lending his own phrases to the blues lexicon.

The centerpiece of the set is "Texas Flood," a slow twelve-bar blues reminiscent of Albert King's "Blues Power." Playing the Strat behind his back, Stevie Ray unleashes an unrelenting torrent of guitar fury that strikes the audience like a Lone Star State lightning storm.

The band shifts into high gear with "Love Struck Baby," an original Chuck Berry style rocker, and "Hug You Squeeze You," a John Lee Hooker boogie blues classic.

Another Jimi Hendrix tune, "Third Stone From the Sun," serves as a vehicle for Vaughan's dramatic stage theatrics. Shannon's driving bass groove and Layton's rolling drumbeat provide a launching pad as Stevie Ray spins the guitar around the stage, manically manipulating the whammy bar, volume, and tone controls to navigate a feedback fueled orbit through the solar system.

The frenetic pace cools down with "Lenny," a ballad named after Stevie Ray's wife, in which he deftly employs the Strat's five position pickup selector to maneuver through a myriad of jazzy, textured tones.

Closing the show with Lonnie Mack's "Wham!," Vaughan sends one last blast from his Stratocaster through the appreciative Canadian crowd. After the smoke cleared, Stevie Ray Vaughan packed up his six string and rode off into the sunset.

Using GPS Tracking to Protect Your Vehicles

It is no secret that police cars are equipped with GPS tracking theft recovery devices. These items are meant to allow a stolen police car to be found rather easily by simply using GPS tracking technology to locate the car. Then further police are dispatched to the location to apprehend the criminal and recover the car. The good news is that it is possible to use the same technology to protect your car.

GPS tracking is not a very new technology. It has been around since the 1980s, when it first began being developed for the military. It was originally meant to help keep track of troops and movements, as well as create a sophisticated mapping system to help commanders find their way over rough and unknown terrain. Today that same technology is so advanced that it is possible to track in real time and create histories of where the device has been. And GPS technology is available to anyone, and at a fairly reasonable price.

When you use GPS tracking in your car, you receive more than just driving directions in an unfamiliar city. You can also know where your car is. While it is nice to have this information to keep tabs on partying teenagers, it can also help you in the event that your car is stolen. When you have a tracking system, and your car is stolen, you are more likely to get it back relatively unharmed. This is because you can find it immediately, rather than having it discovered in pieces weeks later as part of an illegal car parts ring.

Your GPS tracking system can help you get your car back and have the satisfaction of knowing that the person who stole it is off the streets and headed to jail. You can let the police see where your car is (and where it is headed) and this is an immense help to them. One of the best ways to protect your property is to know where it is. And you can always know where your car is when you have it equipped with GPS tracking.