Sirin Labs – The 14000 $ Smartphone Called Solarin

Side-Fire-Black-Carbon-DLC-930x615 SOLARIN-Flat-Front-with-UI-and-Notification.0Privacy on your phone is pivotal for many. Siri Labs has just launched a smartphone for the bargain price of 14000 $.

Sirin Labs was founded in 2013 by Kazakh entrepreneur Kenges Rakishev, Israeli venture capitalist Moshe Hogeg (the same guy behind Yo and Mobli), and former McKinsey consultant Tal Cohen. The mission? To create the Rolls-Royce of smartphones — an advanced device that combined “the highest privacy settings, operated faster than any other phone, [and was] built with the best materials from around the world.” The company had raised a $25 million “seed” round a couple of years back, followed by a chunky $72 million round just last month.

Solarin promises “the most advanced privacy technology, currently unavailable outside the agency world,” and has partnered with KoolSpan to integrate chip-to-chip 256-bit AES encryption, similar to what the military uses to protect communications. It’s activated via a physical security switch on the back of the phone.

Solarin also sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, comes with support for 24 bands of LTE, and promises “far superior” Wi-Fi connectivity than standard mobile phones. It also has a 23.8-megapixel rear camera and a 5.5” IPS LED 2K resolution screen.

TrendEngel thinks that this is one step too far and unless your name is Trump or Obama this is just money down the drain.

Wiener Dog – Todd Solondz Is Back Stronger Than Ever

Wiener-Dog_film_poster

Todd Solondz is a film-maker who’s built his entire career on a divine ability to severely divide audiences – and really anger his dissenters. Happiness, his most memorably divisive film, was a dark comedy that mined uncomfortable laughs from a storyline largely centred on the activities of a paedophile. It was so controversial in fact, that the Sundance film festival, known for screening edgy fare, flat out refused to show it in 1998 due to its illicit content.

No child molesters creep into Solondz’s eighth feature, Wiener-Dog, but his latest proves the film-maker, at 56 years old, has lost none of his bite. However, the plot description would lead you to believe otherwise.

wiener-dog-greta-gerwig-bannerSundance’s official summary of the film reads: “Wiener-Dog tells several stories featuring people who find their life inspired or changed by one particular dachshund, who seems to be spreading a certain kind of comfort and joy.” Indeed, that “one particular dachshund” features prominently in each of the four mostly unrelated vignettes that make up the film, although Solondz leaves it unclear how the canine lands with each of its strange owners. But Wiener-Dog doesn’t find Solondz going light to deliver an inspirational medley. Instead, he’s created arguably his most caustic film since Happiness. The cast including Trendengel favorites Greta Gerwig, Zosia Mamet, Danny De Vito and Julie Delpy do the rest.

Blaenavon – As Good (or Bad) as Oasis

2015Blaenavon_Press_160915.heroOne of the highlights of this years great escape in Brighton was the show of Blaenavon. Premiering tracks from an incoming debut album, Blaenavon prove there’s far more to them than tender ages and fresh-out-the-printer A-Level certificates. ‘Hell Is My Head’ from last year’s ‘Miss World’ EP was the first hint at their gothier side, and ‘Orthodox Man’ from that aforementioned full length proves they’ve done well to succumb to the smoke. “

There’s evidence in every step tonight that Blaenavon are ready to graduate into the big leagues, though. Their fanbase is undeniable – ‘Into The Night’ dedicated to “all the absolute legends in the front that I see about fifty times a year”. The songs are well crafted and hooky without being cheap. Yes, Oasis comes to mind like so often when you listen to British bands with an attitude. Make up yurt own mind…oh yes and wait a minute. I almost don’t dare to mention ist as this might raise some eyebrows. Singer Frank Wright is the new young face of Burberry:

Your iPhone Can Be A Real Camera – Moment Makes It Possible

moment_2-1200x0Seattle startup Moment is about to take its high-end smartphone photography lenses to the next level. Not only has the three-year-old company raised $3 million in its latest round of funding, it’s also announced a brand new partnership with Apple to sell its premium $180 Mobile Photography Kit at 50 Apple stores across the United States.
Founded by Marc Barros and brought to life on Kickstarter, Moment is continuing to carve its name as one of the few manufacturers of premium after-market lenses and photography accessories for smartphones.
Moment-Lenses-for-Smartphones-alternate-imageRight now, the company offers three individual lenses – Wide, Tele, and Macro – each of which attach to a “DSLR-like” case that turns your iPhone into a far more versatile camera setup.

A la carte, Moment’s lenses sell for $100 a piece, while the three case options range between $50–$70.

 

SILO 39 – Possibly The Most Ethical Restaurant In The World – And One Of The Best

Silo-Restaurant-Brighton-Interior-Photography-Devlin-Photos silo_3-large_trans++eo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumASince its opening a year ago, SILO has operated a strict zero-waste model – including a package free supply chain, up-cycled furniture, locally sourced/foraged ingredients and a ‘nose to tail’ policy on meat. Modelled on pre-industrial food systems, the restaurant was founded on principles of a ‘respectful’ food culture – respecting the environment through a wholesome approach to food production as well as nutrition. SILO maintains total commitment to whole foods; milling ancient varieties of wheat for its in-house bakery, churning its own butter, and brewing its own botanical wine.

images SILO-BrightonAnd no – the restaurant isn’t in London, New York or Pars but in the beautiful seaside town of Brighton. As 4-course meal won’t set you back much more than 30£ and is worth every cent. They have one of the most thoughtful vegetarian menus on the planet and if it comes to meat they are pretty damn good too. Why not combine a trip to Silo with a visit to the Fringe Festival, the Brighton Festival or The Great Escape? Just as thought…

Lady Dynamite – A Comedy Like No Other – Maria Bamford

90The divine and unusual comedian Maria Bamford has a brilliant new series, “Lady Dynamite,” premiering Friday on Netflix; as is often the case with comedians who front sitcoms, it has something to do with her actual life. But that is the only case here that is often the case.

Created by Mitchell Hurwitz and Pam Brady, it is cheerful, dark, surreal, profane, aspirational, meta-fictional and packed with people playing versions of themselves or other people entirely (or playing versions of themselves playing other people entirely); it plays with visual and verbal puns, with moods and acting styles and moves around in time and dimension. And while these are elements of many modern comedies – it owes something to “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “30 Rock,” “The Sarah Silverman Program,” Hurwitz’s “Arrested Development” and the cracked spirit of Adult Swim – I have never seen them assembled in quite this way, or with quite so much gusto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gSxKR0Cirs

Rice Up! – A Food Concept That Could Go Global

Riceup_Innenansicht_Nico_SchaererFood concepts made in Switzerland with an international appeal are rare. But when TrendEngel discovered Rice Up! in the train station of Bern of all places it was obvious that they are on to something. The line was long and the people couldn’t wait to mix and match their rice bowl wit curry sauce, vegetables and all kind of tasty ingredients.

unsere-rice-bowls It takes 30 seconds to mix your favorite dish and the prices are exceptionally low (for Swiss standards). Created by Zurich gastro moguls Two Spice this concept could go global. oh- and yes guys: We know you copied the concept shamelessly from  Shophousekitchen courtesy of Chipotle that was brought to you by TrendEngel a few years back – but no worries, we love you all the same.

All Songs Considered – Possibly the Best Podcast Ever

PrintThey began at a time when podcasts barely existed and they invented this podcast and themselves. It’s evolved over time (15+ years!) as the hosts themselves also have evolved. Bob Boilen started as the person who chose the music that played between the stories for All Things Considered, the NPR show. He is kind, introspective, fair and certainly knows an awful lot about music. He, Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson and all the others are like old friends to me now and I imagine that many people feel this way. This is by no means a trend – but We wanted to let you know that All Songs Considered might be the best podcast ever. The balance between relevant and cool is unrivaled and listening ist just a joy.

12 in 12 – Wo sich wie lebt