Toy Soldier

THE BEAT OF NEW YORK
German filmmakers Tim Hahne an Thomas Noesner, who were in New York City shooting a commercial, created a great short video “The Beat of New York”, that was cut to a soundtrack from a drummer they recorded in a subway station.

On September 4th, 2010, Sacred Gallery NYC is proud to present “Protest vs. Propaganda” This exhibit will feature work from Shepard Fairey/OBEY Giant, Aidan Hughes (aka Brute!), Adam Hays, Max Grundy, Nik Moore, and Wendy Cross.

BERLIN–In 2011, Sony plans to join the small set of companies that offers laptops that can display 3D video and games at 1080p resolution.

The company showed off prototypes of a forthcoming Vaio laptop at the IFA electronics show here Wednesday, models that come with a “3D” button and active-shutter glasses to separate what the right and left eyes see.

“3D Vaios will debut next spring,” Howard Stringer, Sony’s chief executive, said in a press conference touting 3D technology and Sony’s commitment to it. Sony also touted other 3D products and content at the show.

The protoypes shown at IFA use “frame-sequential” technology that rapidly cycles the full screen between left-eye and right-eye views, with blank screens in between each to reduce the “crosstalk” that can reduce 3D image quality.

That means the laptop must be able to display video at 240 frames per second to keep up with a 3D rate of 60 frames per second. Sony wouldn’t reveal whose graphics chip is used in the system. Sony’s also cautioned that the ultimate products may be different from the prototypes it showed.

IFA, like electronics shows before it, has become a showcase for 3D technology. Many people are indifferent or even hostile about the technology so far, or at least unwilling to pay the necessary premium, but it’s also making steady inroads across the electronics and computing industry.

Sony also announced at IFA that some existing Blu-ray players and PlayStation 3 will be retrofitted with new firmware making them 3D-capable. Among 3D game titles Stringer showed were Tumble, the Sly Trilogy, Mortal Kombat, Virtual Tennis 4, Killzone 3, Super Stardust HD, The Fight, Motor Storm Apocalypse, and MLB baseball.

For those who want a really big screen experience, Sony announced a 3D video projector, the WV-90. It will use the same active-shutter system as Sony’s Bravia TVs, meaning that the required glasses will work across the line.

The entire press conference was displayed live on a large screen above the stage. Sony opted to use Real D’s 3D technology, which today is found in many movie cinemas. Panasonic, which also tooted its 3D horn at IFA, opted instead to use an array of 54 of its own plasma TV screens. Sony, it should be noted, also sells digital cinema projectors and high-end 3D cameras, including some used to shoot the movie Avatar.

Sony, unlike some of its competitors, is a content company. Here, the company plans to tackle 3D aggressively, too.

Sony also plans to launch its own 3D TV channel, Stringer said, with content to include natural history, children’s programming, science, and motion pictures, Stringer said. And Sony Pictures plans several 3D movies soon: “Resident Evil Afterlife,” “The Green Hornet,” another “Spider-Man” sequel, and another “Men in Black” sequel.

“Being shot in 3D doesn’t automatically guarantee success,” Stringer said. “What counts is how well you tell a story. A hit is a still a hit is still a hit–except in 3D it’s a bigger hit.”

And then there are the staples. Sony plans to release by the end of 2010 a Blu-ray disk of highlights of the World Cup soccer tournament, Stringer said.

Fes Taylor is a young veteran in the Hip-Hop game, having been part of the Shaolin Soliders way back in the day with King Just up to now, when he is still a very current, relevant Rap artist as well as a blog favorite. Last year his debut album was released on Chambermusik Records, as presented by Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck. “I am Not a Rapper” is his street album and according to Fes, his most personal statement ever, wherein he presents his new crew the Staten All-Stars. Producers include Chad Beats, Shawneci, Blastah Beatz among others.