Glass: How Google pushes the envelope

Hi, readers!

Photo courtesy of Google.

Google recently debuted a beautifully polished version of their Glass project. For those of you unfamiliar with Glass, it’s basically a HUD (heads up display) for your everyday life. The device, which is mounted on a glasses frame, is capable of taking pictures, recording video, navigation, search, and more. It’s hard to imagine something so futuristic and groundbreaking being integrated into our daily lives, but I want to take a look at some of the possibilities.

Photo courtesy of Google.

Glass basically puts a digital interface in your view at all times. It sits at the upper right corner of your vision, and comes into focus when you want to use it. Google explained that this product was designed to lessen the amount of time that people spend hunched over their phones by putting that interface in front of them at all times. They hope to increase face-to-face social interaction by using technology (which sounds paradoxical, but hey).

Photo courtesy of Google.

The device leaves your vision unobstructed; it’s not a visor. The frame runs over your brow line and fits like a pair of glasses. When you need it, you simply adjust your focus to the ‘screen’ at the upper right hand corner of your vision. The goal is to have it there when you need it but invisible when you don’t. You can navigate the options with voice control or with the touch sensitive panel on the device, which sits by your right temple. “Ok, Glass. Take a picture.” This will take a picture of whatever you’re looking at.

Ok... hopefully you have a slightly better idea of what we’re dealing with here.  

Photo courtesy of Google.

I want to commend Google on their design for this thing. It’s sleek, futuristic, and as minimalistic as it can be.  Google generally doesn’t make any hardware, so I think this design is inspired. You can attach sunglass lenses to the frame, making them look more ‘normal’ looking. Offering different colors was also a good choice. Hopefully, we’ll see some partnerships with producers of fashionable glasses/sunglasses. More options are likely to make the product appear to wider audiences.

Photo courtesy of  TheVerge.com

So let’s examine the features/possibilities with this thing:

1.       Photos/Video: This is probably the largest draw for most people. The camera faces outward, so whatever you’re looking at is what will get recorded. The camera obviously doesn’t face inward, so a Skype or Facetime style communication is impossible right now. It also has a microphone so it will catch audio as well as video. (Feature)

2.       Search- A better Siri: Being able to search for anything without whipping out your phone and holding a button is something I’m looking forward to. “Ok, Glass. Search a list of Quentin Tarantino’s movies” and it’s there. The hands free aspect is something that was only present in science fiction movies 50 years ago. We are living in the future. (Feature)

3.       Navigation: GPS companies have done their best to make customer usage as simple as possible, but nothing can beat an arrow right in front of your face telling you to turn right. Having that kind of immersion is not only awesome, but can dramatically lessen the chances of getting lost. (Features)

4.       Staying connected: While Glass doesn’t have calling capabilities, it can connect via Bluetooth to your phone (which allows it search). That’s not all. Using this connectivity, we can send pictures messages and video messages to our contacts. (Feature)

5.       About those phone calls: I see this being option in a future iteration of the device. Adding calling capabilities seems like the next logical step in the evolution of Glass. Just make it a headset. (Possibility)

6.       Apps: I predict that application support will determine whether Glass succeeds or fails. Imagine banking, making dinner reservations, scrolling through your news feed, or using Google Goggles to identify anything in front of you. Ideas like these separate a failed concept from the past to a usable 21^st century reality. (Possibility)

7.       “You are there”: This feature allows other people to see what you’re seeing in real time. Skydiving out of a plane and want your family to watch? That’s possible. At the Grand Canyon and want your friends to see? Done. This is taking social to a whole new level. Interactivity is what the future is about. (Feature!)

If any of these features seem cool to you and you have $1500 dollars lying around, you can be a part of the beta. Google is asking you (and me… and everyone) to sign up and test this thing out. Learn more here.

Also, read this awesome hands-on to learn about what the device feels like and a more in-depth look into the technology behind it.

With Glass, we don’t know if Google has a winner yet, but the possibilities are remarkable. Google has clearly put in a considerable amount of time into this innovation. Here’s to hoping it delivers.

Let me know what you guys think of this amazing piece of technology. 

A must eat: Waffles & Dinges

Hi, world!

Something really wonderful about NYC is the abundance of food trucks. They offer quick, delicious meals at an affordable price. Best of all, they prepare the food right in front of you. The appeal of food trucks has made them attractive for young, talented cooks who are looking for a more flexible, affordable method of delivering food.

The truck on stops at 46th on Thursdays.

You can find a truck for any type of cuisine. My absolute favorite if Waffles & Dinges, a waffle and toppings truck. The concept is simple, but the truck delivers one of the most delicious waffles I've ever eaten.  The truck offers two basic types of waffles; the Brussels and the softer Liege. There's  also a mini-waffle, but who wants less when you can have more?

The toppings, or dinges (pronounced ding-uhs), range from fruit (strawberry, banana), to dulce de leche and real maple syrup. You can also order spreadable toppings like butter, nutella, and spekuloos. I had never heard of this before W&D, but it's just as life changing as nutella was ten years ago. It's essentially a spreadable form of those yummy danish cookies. Your waffle includes one topping, but you have the option to pay for more toppings.

The nice travel box that is supplied for to-go orders.

Today, I ordered the Brussels waffle with strawberries and spekuloos. Powdered sugar was also sprinkled on at no additional charge. The waffles have a great crispy edge and soft inside. They're served warm and freshly prepared right in the truck. All of the fruit is extremely fresh as well. Each bite I took had great texture. It was crispy, creamy, and soft. I've had different toppings like chocolate fudge and bananas. I don't think there's a bad combination of toppings that you could order here; the items are picked to be mixed and matched in any way.

The gentlemen who worked the truck were extremely kind. Every time I visit, whoever is working has an awesome attitude and friendly sense of humor. It really makes a difference, especially in NYC where friendliness is lacking.

A cute addition to the box. According to this, I should
'think twice before sharing!' Haha.

You can also order a savory waffle at the truck. The menu lists pulled pork, bacon with syrup, and chili. I know I'll be back soon to try one of these. Definitely check these guys out if you're in the city. Visit their website here and visit their Twitter here to follow the truck as it stops at different locations around the city. They also have a smaller cart that I've seen stationed at 59th and 5th as well as booths set up at the Christmas market at Union Square.

A definite recommend.

The High Line: New York's best park

Hi, all.

Featuring a park on my blog was something I was initially hesitant to do, but the High Line is no ordinary park. Floating above the streets of New York City on a re-purposed railroad track sits the most charming park I've been to.

The park is a mile long and is beautifully renovated with a boardwalk style path and seating area. There's ton of greenery and flora which contrasts nicely with the buildings around you. It's a surprisingly calm environment within the bustle of the city.

Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the park is the alternate perspective of the city. The path puts you above the city, running alongside 10th Avenue from Gansevoort (by 14th Street) to 30th Street. I didn't get to walk the entire mile, but I experienced a good chunk of it.

Along the path, you can get views of the Statue of Liberty in the distance. The park actually goes through a building. In this small portion are food and dessert stands. Here you can sit and rest while you eat and escape from the sun. Another interesting attraction is the urban theater. Here, an inclined seating area is situated right above the street looking uptown. You can sit and enjoy the movement of the city as cars pass below you. Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture.

So if you're in the city anytime soon (especially when the weather gets really nice), please be sure to stop by the park. There's nothing like it in NYC. It's great for a quiet walk on a date or just to get a different view of the city streets.

Are there any attractions like this one where you live? Let me know.

5 apps you should have on your smartphone.

Hi, everyone.

As smartphones become more popular, developers come up with increasingly creative and entertaining ways of distracting us. Yes, phones still make calls and text, but with the explosion of apps, there isn't really a limit of what you can do. Here are some of my favorite apps that you should have on your phone:

1. Your banks app. Yes, it may seem unsafe, but it's not at all. I have the Capital One app for my credit card and the TD Bank app for my accounts and they're so convenient. Instead of opening the browser and typing in the website, I just open the app (which is on my homepage). Getting in requires my username and password because I opted not to have them saved. The purpose of an application is convenience and these are definitely handy if you need to check your balances in a flash.  - FREE

2. Evernote. This is probably the best productivity app in any marketplace. I initially used it to quickly type out a note if I need to remember something quickly, but I've grown to use more of its features. With it, you can take a picture note, voice recording, or make a list. You can also share the notes in a variety of ways; email, text, Facebook, and more. Best of all, the notes are saved in the cloud automatically, so if you get a new phone, simply download the app and login. Your notes will be waiting for you. - FREE
   Evernote for Android
   Evernote for iPhones

3. Scramble with Friends- Scramble is essentially a digital version of Boggle. Like Words with Friends or Draw Something, you can connect to challenge strangers or friends via Facebook. This game is not only addicting, but rushing to find/create words is mentally stimulating. It's also convenient that you can play in two minute spurts and don't have to spend too much time coming up with a scrabble word or staring at a drawing that you can't figure out. - FREE
   Scramble for Android
   Scramble for iPhones

4. Instagram- What makes Instagram great is that it encourages creativeness. What started out as an artistic outlet for hipsters is now a grand social canvas. You know what you're getting when you sign up; pictures. No pointless tweets or complaining status updates. I also enjoy that you don't have to follow someone who follows you, like on Facebook where you become 'friends.' Obviously you can deny a follower, but it's much more conducive to spreading your material. - FREE
   Instagram for Android
   Instagram for iPhones

5. Kindle- There is literally no excuse as to why you're not reading more. You don't need a Kindle. You don't have to carry a heavy book. Depending on the book, you don't even have to pay. The Kindle app is incredible because it turns any smartphone into an ereader. Any books you have in your Amazon account will show up on your phone. It's light, bright, and easy to use. Get to reading. - FREE
   Kindle for Android
   Kindle for iPhones

My homepage with Google Search,
Evernote, and Spotify widgets.

My most used applications.

My Facebook and Twitter widgets.

Let me know what you guys think of posts like these. There are definitely many more great apps, but these are ones that I love. More to come soon.

And make sure to find me on Facebook (here) so that you can find me everywhere else (Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Foursquare). Thanks!

10 movies to see before you die!

Hi, all.

I’ve always wanted to do a ’50 movies to watch before you die’ list. 50 is a rather large number so I decided to limit it to 10. It was super hard because I love so many movies, but here we go (in no particular order):

Spirited Away- Everything Studio Ghibli puts out is phenomenal, but this is by far my favorite of the bunch. This Japanese animated film follows a girl who gets lost and finds herself in a bathhouse for spirits. Yes, it sounds creepy, but it’s so charming and beautifully animated. There’s a [small] chance you may not enjoy it, but at least you can say that you’ve seen an authentic anime.

Kill Bill- Quentin Tarantino is my favorite director but I limited myself to one of his movies because if I didn’t, half of this list would be his movies. Kill Bill is definitely my favorite, though. It’s about a woman (unnamed in Vol. 1) who sets out to exact revenge on her former boss and colleagues who murder everyone at her wedding rehearsal, including her fiancé. Action, gore, and awesome directing make this a classic.

The Matrix- The film responsible for bullet time is also one of the most original, complex, and innovative films of the last twenty years. Years after humans have lost a battle against intelligent machines, a group of humans attempt to free others from the captivity of the robots, which use them as batteries and have them plugged into a digital reality known as the Matrix. While it may be difficult to understand, it’s impossible to hate.

A Clockwork Orange- Based on the novel of the same name, it follows delinquent Alex DeLarge as the government puts him through an experimental procedure to cure him of badness. Stanley Kubrick has so many great movies (and it was hard to choose this over 2001: A Space Odyssey), but this one always makes me feel so uncomfortable. Kubrick further explores the power of sound in film, and it totally pays off here.

Star Wars: A New Hope- I don’t think there’s a person alive who doesn’t know about Star Wars. A New Hope takes it back to the franchise’s origins and reminds us that science fiction movies can have characters that we care about. This movie broke so many barriers and has a legacy that I can’t imagine ever being matched.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring- The plot is literally too intense to summarize, but it’s a must watch for anyone who has ever liked adventure. The adventure is on an epic scale; seriously, the only thing I can compare it to is an epic like The Odyssey. Everything is wonderful about this one, guys; the scenery, plot, score, characters, and script. It’s. Just. AWESOME.

Black Swan- Darren Aronofsky once again explores psychological illness in a drama/thriller. Nina becomes obsessed with landing the role of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake. Her paranoia of losing the role to another ballerina haunts her incessantly. It’s beautiful, twisted, and uncomfortable to watch.

Doubt- This movie has the best ensemble acting that I know. It’s about a nun (Meryl Streep) who attempts to expose her priest of child molestation. Drama ensues and the ending keeps the audience guessing. It’s so well acted that it earned four acting nominations at the Academy Awards.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind- A tragic love story of a couple who gets a procedure to erase each other from their minds. The movie follows their fading memories as the procedure is completed. It was refreshing to see such an original idea on screen.  The screenplay is especially great.

The Wizard of Oz- A classic about a girl whose house crash lands in the wonderful world of Oz. She makes friends as she treks to Oz in hopes of finding a wizard who will help her return home. It’s iconic, it’s fun and scary, and Judy Garland sings one of the most recognizable songs of all time. And there are munchkins.

Chances are you've seen most of these, but definitely try to find any ones you haven’t seen. Let me know what you think of my list what's in your '10 movies to see before you die.' Thanks for reading.

9/11 Memorial NYC

Hi, all.

If you're in the city soon, make sure to take some time to see the 9/11 memorial at the World Trade Center. Not only is the memorial beautiful, it's one of the most powerful things I've ever experienced.

The fountains are huge; they're the size of the footprint of the two towers. Around the perimeter of each fountain are the names of all 2,983 people who died on September 11th 2001 (at the WTC, the plane crash in Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon) as well as those who died in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The names are beautifully inscribed on a nice polished metal surface.


The fountains were designed so the sound of the water falling into the pools and down into the chasms drowns out the sound of the bustling city. It really creates an intense atmosphere. My mind went back that day and I couldn't help from getting emotional.

Around the fountains are hundreds of beautiful trees. I went when they were much smaller, but I assume that they'll grow to create a peaceful and relaxing area by blocking out the surrounding skyscrapers. Standing out is the Survivor Tree, which was found in the rubble and replanted in the Bronx in November of 2001. Miraculously, it started to grow again despite being badly burned. It is now protected in the memorial by a railing. Looking at it, you can see burnt bark from the bottom to about 7 or 8 feet up. Above that, where new branches have grown, the bark is healthy and beautiful. It truly is inspiring to see the tree thriving with its scars.

There's also an unfinished museum in the memorial that's still under construction. Inside will be artifacts collected from the rubble. I can only imagine how emotional going through that will be.

If you go to New York soon, please visit this site. It's such a worthy honor to the victims memory. It's free and won't take too much time. You have to make reservations (here) to get in, though. Reserve at least a day before to get in. Also, be prepared to go through three levels of security. It's annoying but definitely worth it.

How The Walking Dead 'fixed' zombies

Hi, guys!

Me with my Michonne shirt!

Zombies have been a topic of obsession for fans of the horror genre for decades. So how does a concept so terrifying work its way into the mainstream? What caused us to become so desensitized to the thought of the walking dead?

Zombies from 1968's
Night of the Living Dead.

Over the years, film and television have delivered all sorts of zombies; fast, slow, ancient or freshly dead, human or dog zombies. Sean of the Dead and Zombieland created post-infection worlds that substituted the horror for comedy. We got scary additions in 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead, and Resident Evil (although the story gets super convoluted and science fiction-y). Some films took the concept of a zombie and mixed it up. What we ended up with are movies like I Am Legend and REC* where the monsters are flesh eating, but don't look like traditional zombies.

So we had a steady stream of zombie movies that appealed to wide audiences, but the genre always lacked something that other horror franchises have utilized; a tangible world and lore. There wasn't a definitive current representation. Zombies fall in line with other staple horror icons like Dracula and the werewolf, but lack a connection with the audience. Fans wanted a tangible tale because that's what makes a zombie outbreak so damn scary; the possibility that it could happen in your town.

Enter The Walking Dead. The popular graphic novel provided a post-apocalyptic world with recurring characters and finally gave audiences something to relate to. Riding on the popularity of the graphic novel, AMC experimented with a six episode mini-series based on a group of survivors in Georgia. The mini-series performed so well that the show was quickly picked up for a second full season. As the word spread about the show, it's popularity grew, culminating in the highest rated cable drama performance of all time with the season 2 finale. The show was a smash hit. Now in it's third season, the show is growing rapidly where so many shows start to decline. 

The show follows Rick Grimes and his group of survivors as they make their way through rural Georgia in attempts to find some form of societal structure. What they encounter instead are hordes of zombie. The show takes the zombie representation to its roots. The zombies are slow and numerous. They stop at nothing to satiate their hunger. The sense of isolation is stressed by eliminating any form of communication with the outside world. The world as we know it is gone.

I highly recommend this show, even if you have just the slightest interest in zombies or post-apocalyptic lore. It's entertaining, action packed, and most importantly, character driven. It's not gore for the sake of gore. It gives us substance and tangibility. It's one of the most consistently good shows on television. Although it strays from details in the graphic novel, it still keeps it similar enough to satisfy readers. The creators aren't afraid of experimenting with character types and survival techniques. They're also not afraid of killing off characters that you have just grown to care about. It keeps the show real.

This is what we wanted. We wanted to feel like this could happen. This doesn't mean we want this to happen or believe it will happen in the near future (although many people want it to happen and believe it will happen soon). There is something terrifying in imagining a world where everything we know and love is gone, replaced by swarms of slow-moving corpses that just want to eat our flesh.

PS: I've also read the two Walking Dead novels. While written poorly, the action is entertaining and the first one has a great twist at the end that may shock readers and watchers alike. Also keep an eye out for World War Z later this year. It's [very] loosely based off of Max Brooks' novel of the same name. I read this as well and the book is magnificent. The film seems to stray too much to keep me excited, but you can bet I'm going to see it.

A zombie horde from the upcoming World War Z.

Let me know what you guys think of zombies. If you watch the show or read the graphic novels, who is your favorite character? Mine are Michonne and Daryl!

Recommended books:

The Walking Dead: Compendium 1

The Walking Dead: Compendium 2

World War Z- Max Brooks

And catch The Walking Dead on AMC!

* I highly recommend REC, which is a Spanish film about an isolated outbreak in an apartment building. If you can't find it, watch the American remake, Quarantine.