Ford's OpenXC Project and the Future of Infotainment in Cars

The connected car has made an appearance at the tech conference at SXSW, something that has massive, massive implications for the future of traditional AM/FM radio.  ReadWriteWeb has this:

OpenXC combines open source hardware and software to enable custom applications and pluggable modules for cars - as well as services based on delivering real-time car data to developers and car owners themselves. OpenXC works on its own projects, in part to spur additional developer interest. As the group states:

What if the user-facing hardware and software was independent from any one vehicle, and could be purchased and installed by consumers as an aftermarket add-on? What if the infotainment hardware was more modular and user-upgradable, and perhaps most importantly, transferable from one vehicle to another? Consumers have already taken this approach to some degree by using their smartphones as the primary navigation, media and communications hub. However, the known dangers of using a handheld device while driving necessitate better vehicle integration to provide safer, more context aware interfaces.

Continue reading.

Attention Fans of Graphic Design: A Deconstruction of the Packaging for Bowie's The Next Day

Many have been wondering about the artwork of David Bowie's new album, The Next Day. Why just riff on the "Heroes..." album from 1977?  The Barnbrook blog elaborates.  

The packaging is an extension of that idea. The back features the back of “Heroes” with as simple undesigned track listing. The inside is even more minimal. The idea was to create difference by the absence of graphics and text. Why? In a world were we are assaulted by signs and messages urgently competing for our attention, the only way to look different is to take all that away and have a minimal calm space. In 2013, this is not easy, record companies want logos, shops want product identifiers, publishers want copyright info, but we did it (almost) – no typography except for one black on black copyright notice. The white square repeats obscuring David Bowie’s face, which is balanced by a black on black square opposite. The portrait of Bowie is finally revealed underneath when you get to the CD.

Continue reading and looking here.

Bowie is Back to Being Bowie, Thank God

With David Bowie's new album, The Next Day, already out in some parts of the world and due for release in the UK tomorrow and North American on Tuesday, Bowie is showing flashes of his once legendary ability of manipulate the media--except in a very 21st century way.

First, he officially announced the album on his newly-redesigned website.  

Second, The Next Day was the number one-selling album in 21 countries.

Third, lyrics to the album began appearing on his website and his official Facebook page.

And fourth, there was a full-page ad in The Times:  four columns of tiny text with no line breaks containing the lyrics of all 17 songs on the album.  (The Daily Mail comments here.)

A similar ad will appear in The Observer today.

This is a very good record, by the way.  Bowie is definitely, definitely back.

The Worst #1 Songs on the Top 40 Charts of All Time

A stomach-churning list from Buzzfeed.  What's wrong with people?

Picks from the SXSW Film Festival

Along with the music festval and the gathering of tech geeks, South by Southwest includes a film festival with feature-length movies and documentaris as well as shorts.  The Hollywood Reporter picked Downloaded, the doc on Napster as one one of their must-see films.

I'm also interested in seeing I Am Divine, the story of the John Waters' favourite drag queen.  Anyone else remember the alt-dance hit "Native Love?"