This Star Tours playset is so cool. It’s a limited edition release for this year’s D23 Disney fan event. I’m impressed how accurately it reproduces the ride vehicle. It actually has all the rows of seats inside with seatbelts, opening doors, a detailed cockpit area with Rex the pilot, and the screen plays actual video clips from the ride. It has lights on the outside and retractable landing gear. The $300 set is limited to 3000.
The Linamp is a real, physical Winamp music player, based on the classic Winamp MP3 player from the ’90s. It’s actually a Raspberry Pi connected to a full-width screen which uses Winamp as the touch interface, along with a 3D printed frame that matches the Winamp bezel.
I loved the simplicity and purity of Winamp. It plays mp3s – that’s all, no music store, no videos, no podcasts. I spent a lot of time looking for cool skins but I usually ended up back at the default skin cause it was more usable.
You can now pre-order Lego sets from the BrickLink Designer Program series 2. This series includes a European train station, an ocean house, and a logging train on a trestle. I love the amount of detail in these sets, especially the pirate hideout with its interconnected islands.
I went back to the Marin County Civic Center a few weeks ago for an impromptu architectural photography trip. Located in San Rafael, California and designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the civic center opened in 1962. The building was Wright’s largest public project and last commission; groundbreaking took place in 1960, a year after Wright’s death. Comprised of 2 main buildings, the Hall of Justice and the Administration Building, each one features a massive central atrium enclosed by skylights. The atria grow wider as they rise higher, creating an effect like Wright’s Guggenheim in New York.
Apple TV’s Neuromancer series has its Case – Callum Turner from Masters of the Air (also on Apple TV), who played Major “Bucky” Egan. I’ve only seen him in Masters of the Air and I thought he did a fine job. Case is a totally different character than a WW2 pilot so we’ll see. The real challenge will be casting Molly. Dina Meyer played a version of Molly in 1995’s Johnny Mnemonic (the character was renamed as Jane), and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity from The Matrix was obviously inspired by Molly. Anyway, someone actually being cast in a role means the series is solidifying and becoming more real. Neuromancer has been in development limbo for so long that I take any news with a grain of salt.
Great interview with the production designer and costume designer on Fallout. I’m taking my time and savoring the show rather than binge-watching it, so I’m only up to episode 2. So far I love it, the production design is so detailed and highly faithful to the games. I put hundreds of hours into Fallout 3, New Vegas, and Fallout 4 so it’s awesome when I immediately recognize a prop or a little design detail.