Friday, November 29, 2013

Rodarte on Their True California Inspirations

Sisters Laura and Kate Mulleavy, the design duo behind Rodarte, have always found unlikely inspirations for their dramatic, art-influenced and heavily referential designs. A connection to the mystical, natural side of the West Coast, mixed with the grittiness of downtown L.A., helps them reshape the definition of the California Cool Girl into an ethereal vixen equally fit for the red carpet or taking 'shrooms in the Mojave dessert. This month, in an interview with Wilder Quarterly, the two reveal how California's diverse landscapes — from stark, arid Death Valley to lush, hippie Big Sur — have inspired some of their collections. Photographer Todd Cole then shot some of the sisters' favorite and most inspiring locales. Click on to see the images and read an exclusive excerpt of the interview.

What is it about the culture of California that appeals to you?

Kate Mulleavy: People still, to this day, come out West because they want to be an actor, make it big, or realize some far-out idea. People are coming out here to become something. We worship the imaginative landscape here. This mythology does exist in other places because people go to New York to make it as well. But the difference is the social structure here is more confusing because everything is made up. L.A. is a created landscape, so there isn’t the same hierarchy.

KM:  Our spring 2010 collection is based off of Death Valley and inspired by the California condor. For our collection, we were interested in the idea of a scorched landscape where there is an incredible amount of life and biodiversity. We created our own creation myth of someone spontaneously combusting to be reborn as a phoenix. It was really based off of this notion of the California condor and survival, but also heavily inspired by a trip to Death Valley. When you’re in Death Valley you feel — it doesn’t matter what your political or religious beliefs are — you feel something deeply primitive and connective. You feel something about history in the earth and how things survive and evolve.   

KM: The beaches in Northern California are pretty much where we spent our childhood.

Laura Mulleavy: I like the culture that develops [around the beach] and I also like the naturalness of it. One of my favorite things as a kid was to look in tide pools. I loved that. The smell of the ocean mixing with eucalyptus is still something that conjures my entire childhood.

KM: When we go to Big Sur it feels like going home. Our connection to it is so strong because we grew up about an hour and a half from it. I think of the writers that lived there and the mythology of it. Even if we’re not that person, I think somehow, deep inside we all wish we could access something [like that] about ourselves. There’s something in all of us that — whether it’s a fantasy or strange desire to go out in the middle of the unknown and live and be free — to exist deep inside. It’s a place where the mythology of the place is as strong as the actual physicality of it.

LM: The Monterey Bay Aquarium has exhibits that show what grows deep inside the ocean. It’s just amazing because it is like looking at the most beautiful floating world of creatures and entities that you have ever seen — there’s a fragility to everything. And the colors are an incredible mix of subtle pastels and vibrant neons. I don’t think you’d ever make anything that beautiful. Big Sur has a fragility to it as well. You just feel like you want this to exist forever but you know that things evolve and change.

KM: The Santa Cruz Boardwalk and the beach is number one for me. It is a huge part of who we are. One of my favorite films, The Lost Boys was filmed there. It exactly captures what Santa Cruz is like growing up there. The interaction of skate, surf, poets, hardcore kids, hippies, new-agers: there isn’t another place like it. I think my true obsession with fashion comes from growing up there because I have such visceral memories of the way people dressed.


View the original article here

Sony's Crackle arrives on BlackBerry 10, reminds us to not watch Bad Boys II

Sony's Crackle arrives on BlackBerry 10, reminds us to not watch Bad Boys II data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 400};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20648442' !== '') ? 'bsd:20648442' : ''; var postID = '20648442'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"joseph-volpe", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store Hands On More Betterer HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Sony's Crackle arrives on BlackBerry 10, reminds us to not watch Bad Boys II MobileBypostedJul 3rd, 2013 at 8:08 PM 0

Sony's Crackle arrives on BlackBerry 10, reminds us to not watch Bad Boys II

Slowly, but steadily, BlackBerry's building its BB10 app catalog with some major gets. Today, that burgeoning list grows by a very important one with the addition of Sony's Crackle. The free, ad-based streaming video service, which culls together content from Sony's various TV and film studios, is available to download now from BlackBerry World. It's also compatible with the Q10's teeny, 3.1-inch screen, so if you hate your good eyesight, you can devote an hour or two to reliving the opus that is Bad Boys II. Sure, popular apps like Instagram, Hulu Plus and Netflix have yet to make their way over to BB10, but you can't fault the Waterloo-based outfit for getting users what it can. Even if that means bringing them Bad Boys II.

Show full PR text

BlackBerry and Sony Bring Crackle App to BlackBerry 10 Smartphones

Sony Pictures Television's popular video entertainment network, Crackle, will be available for download on BlackBerry World

[Culver City, CA and Waterloo, ON] – Sony Pictures Television and BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) announced today the availability of the Crackle app for BlackBerry® 10 smartphones on the BlackBerry® World™ storefront.

Crackle is a popular, next-generation video entertainment network that offers hundreds of Hollywood movies, television series and originals for free with minimal commercial interruption. Content is uncut and unedited, and programmed from several genres, including action, comedy, crime, anime, horror, music, thriller and sci-fi. BlackBerry worked with Crackle to create the app for the new BlackBerry 10 platform, and is now available for the BlackBerry® Z10 and BlackBerry® Q10 smartphones.

Crackle is available in 22 countries, including the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, Brazil and other countries in Latin America.

"Crackle users have demanded a high-quality, cross-platform viewing experience when and where they want it," says Phil Lynch, senior vice president, Digital Networks & Games, Sony Pictures Television. "With the launch of the Crackle App on BlackBerry 10, we're excited to offer BlackBerry customers the opportunity to access Crackle's premium programming on the go."

"Mobile entertainment is a very important part of the BlackBerry 10 experience," said Martyn Mallick, vice president of Global Alliances and Business Development for BlackBerry. "The Crackle application is a great complement to the robust catalogue of television shows and movies on BlackBerry World."

when.eng("eng.pr.init")when.eng("eng.perm.init")

Navy awards weaponized railgun manufacturing contract to BAE Systems

Navy awards weaponized railgun manufacturing contract to BAE Systems data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 400};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20648877' !== '') ? 'bsd:20648877' : ''; var postID = '20648877'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"science",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"timothy-j-seppala", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store Hands On More Betterer HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Navy awards weaponized railgun manufacturing contract to BAE SystemsBypostedJul 3rd, 2013 at 10:11 PM 0

DNP Navy awards electromagnetic railgun manufacturing contract, proves we're living in the future

Just over 18 months after making its video debut, the Navy's electromagnetic railgun has a manufacturer. BAE Systems -- known for e-ink-powered tank camouflage, autonomous spiderbots and machine-gun-mounted lasers -- won the government contract and hopes to have phase-two prototypes ready "as early as next year." While the current design is capable of firing one shot, the Office of Navy Research hopes for six to ten shots per minute. If that doesn't scare you, consider this: The pulse-driven projectiles travel at Mach 6 and can hit targets over 100 nautical miles away. Don't worry, it's not too late to rethink that career of sailing the high seas as a pirate and get to work on that accounting degree instead.

when.eng("eng.perm.init")

Gaultier Couture Gowns Ideal for Snack-Stashing

If models at today's Jean Paul Gaultier show wanted to keep an extra meal on hand for convenience, then they were in luck: Most of the dresses had enormous pockets, some so large you could fit a whole picnic in there. In fact, putting stuff in there could be risky, because it might get lost in those giant quilted folds, and the next thing you know you've got a three-day-old sandwich kicking around in your skirt.

But in all seriousness, this show was fun and over-the-top in all of Gaultier's usual ways, which was nice to see as he gears up to launch a more commercial diffusion line, Gaultier2. Just because he's trying to tap into the mass consumer market doesn't mean he's abandoning his wacky couture designs. (Our only qualm: Where was Andrej Pejic?)

Other highlights: leopard-print everything, including tights and sequined jackets. The show concluded with French reality TV star Nabilla Benattia, who danced down the catwalk in a padded bustier and Cindy Lou Who hair. Tacky in the best way, as always.


View the original article here

Boston University sues Apple over chip technology patent

Boston University sues Apple over chip technology patent data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 400};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20648654' !== '') ? 'bsd:20648654' : ''; var postID = '20648654'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"jon-fingas", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store Hands On More Betterer HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Boston University sues Apple over chip technology patentBypostedJul 3rd, 2013 at 4:04 PM 0

Boston University sues Apple over chip manufacturing patent

We usually associate Boston University with brain studies and bat-chasing UAVs; we'll have to add technology patent lawsuits to the list. Following similar claims versus the likes of Amazon and Samsung, the university has sued Apple for allegedly infringing on a 1997 patent for making gallium nitride thin films used in semiconductors. The university wants both financial compensation (likely the real objective) and a ban on US sales of the purportedly offending iPad, iPhone 5 and MacBook Air. Neither side is commenting on the case, although we suspect that it will end with a whimper, not a bang. Like many big tech firms, Apple tends to fight patent lawsuits when it expects to win, and settle out of court when it doesn't. We'd add that the patent expires in 2015 -- a Boston University victory would have relatively little effect on Apple's future.

when.eng("eng.perm.init")