Car Accident + Paint = Instant Art Car

Just found a great way to make an art car on the way to your next event. Get yourself a few five gallon buckets of paint and take the lids off. Get in your car and then find a way to get in car wreck and PRESTO!!!! the entire inside of the car will be covered in paint in no time. Not very efficient and cost effective in the long run but it does get the job done:)These pictures were taken by Allan

Giant Shoe Art Car Kicks Butt

Kang Shoe, a shoe manufacturer in China went all out and created a massive electric powered leather shoe art car that kicks some serious butt. It can carry two people up to 250 miles at speeds of up to 20mph on a single charge of the battery underneath the driver's seat. The body is made of real leather and cost about $6,500.Once they they made it they took it out for a demo outside its

Mangled Madness Rally Car - The Duck By Jaryn part 2

In the last installment of a StreetSafari ArtCar we showed you the Citroen 1CV. We even left a cliff hanger! How's that for blogging?The long and short of it is that Mr Ducks, owner of the Duck, knows these cars like the back of his hand. Which he should since he hand builds these things from scratch.So whenever he goes missing on an event we don't unduly worry. He's probably in some town

Patricia Van Lubeck Dazzling Array of Art Cars

Citroen Visa Art Car By Patricia Van LubeckI found this really amazing looking Citroen Visa Art Car all the way from New Zealand by artist Patricia Van Lubeck . This Painted Citroen art car is based on the use of opposite colors that make it really hard to focus and in that note she succeed in giving me headache:) About PatriciaIn such a short time, Patricia Van Lubeck has quickly become a

Call for developers

I watched an interesting video recently on TED. It’s a talk by Salman Khan of Khan Academy “Let’s use video to reinvent education”. The talk was very impressive. It reminded me off some of the work I have done on the related space. Back in my college days, me and couple of other friends along with a research scholar “Yaser Nouh” worked on an “Intelligent Tutoring System” (based on Bayesian model). Bayesian Cognitive model was proposed and we implemented a working prototype of it. But, we never implemented it as a product. “Something can be called me as an initiative only if its completed”. Hence, calling for interested developers to take this forward. If anyone is interested in implementing the paper and productize it, do pass a comment in this post. I will be happy to help. Some of our work can be found here and here.

-- Varun

Access SkyDrive’s cloud storage from Android

Windows Live SkyDrive, one of the best services from Microsoft, offers 25GB of *free* cloud storage. You can use SkyDrive storage to back up your files online for free, or to share large files with others. Now you can view, download, and send your files to SkyDrive from your Android phone with Sorami.

Sorami Android app

• Install the app from the market. The app is available for free. It is still in beta and is tested only on few devices.
• The size of the app is just 254K and it can be installed on SD card as well. It is compatible with all devices running Android 1.6+.
• After installing the app, sign-in with your Windows Live ID. Note from the developer: “If authorization failed, create new Windows Live Account.”
• Sorami shows the files in each directory, and provides the options to view, upload, download, and share individual items or the entire folders.
• The app is very simple and it does not provide options to sync (a folder) periodically. Hopefully, the future versions of Sorami will have this implemented.

-- Varun

Crazy Chopped Czech Citroen Rally Car - The Duck By Jaryn

One of StreetSafari's events is called CzechWrecks. We take our colorful cars to France, rag them down to Switzerland and over the Swiss Alps, into Austria, and then up into Prague in the Czech Republic. (Not Czechoslovakia, as after they got independence the Czechs and Slovaks decided that they really didn't like each other, and went their separate ways, hence Czech Republic and Slovakia today.)

Happiest Bottle Cap Covered Van on Earth - Ever!!!!

Bottle Cap Van front Photo by DamgaardOn a driery rainy day and the end of long and painful week for those affected by the tsunami in japan this van covered in colorful plastic bottle caps is a welcome relief. This art van has got to be one the happiest looking van I have seen in a very long time. May the emense joy that this art van gives out, come back to the owner 1000 times over:):):) Totally

Tank Goes Balloonistic at Kids Party

This balloon tank was created by German artist Idee Inges who takes symbols of childhood parties and transforms them into a war tank: The quintessential weapon of destruction. Celebration and destruction? Or perhaps the celebration of destruction? I don't know what that means really I just found this on The Dirt Floor and it seemed just right to add it to my ever expanding collection of art

Google Instant Previews for mobile - Its Cute!

Google announced its Instant Previews couple of months ago. Though Google claims that this feature will assist the users in finding better search results, it received a mixed reaction from the user group. And, I belong to the category of people who hates Instant Previews. In fact, I have written a GreaseMonkey script to turn off Instant Previews permanently. However, I doubt I will write one for the mobile version of Instant Previews which was announced couple of days ago. The mobile version of Instant Previews looks cute and its very convenient to use.

Highlights

• Less Accidental clicks. A small magnifying glass icon appears next to the search results. The preview icon does not interfere with the results and it is less likely that you will click on it accidentally.
• Visual Search result page. Clicking on the preview icon will open up a preview page where in you can swipe through the search results visually. This makes it different from the web version where in an annoying pop-up shows up on clicking the preview icon.

Low Lights

• Unlike its web version, the mobile version of Instant Previews does not highlight the section of the page which contains the search result.

Google Instant Previews is available on mobile for Android (2.2+) and iOS (4.0+) devices across 38 languages.Technical details about this feature is not yet available. Shall make an update on that once I play around with it.  Source: Google Mobile Blog

-- Varun

Diesel Rod - Monster Rat Rod with Diesel Engine Burns Serious Rubber - By Welderup

Diesel Rod Photo via WelderupThis incredible diesel rod is a 1928 Dodge 4door sedan that was chopped 4 inches and channeled 3 inches. It was created by Steve Darnell, a welder by trade, via a site called Welderup. The power comes from a Cummins diesel motor out of a 1998 Dodge pick-up. The motor sports a twin turbo set-up and Fass Fuel System. The engine produces 1200 lb/ft torque and runs the

Arizona Cadillac Art Car Up for Adoption - Iron Tarpon

Are you living in Arizona, have no money and want to adopt and art car? Joe O'Connel from creative machines is looking for a loving home for Iron Tarpon, a Cadillac art car covered in aluminum fish scales:We (the car and I) are in Tucson, AZ. The car is drivable of course.I am offering the "Iron Tarpon," a 1974 Cadillac covered with aluminum fish scales if it can be used in a permanent public

Mini Carmonica or Harmonicar Covered in 330 Harmonicas

Just got this in today, a Mini Carmonica or Harmonicar covered in 330 Harmonicas Ah I dunno, but it literally screams around town and quickly goes from 0 to G-Sharp in roughly 5.8 seconds. The harmonicas were all the key of G, but apparently the ones with insects stuck inside were G-Sharp. The harmonicas were affixed with double-sided adhesive, which believe it or not can withstand a 300-degree

Operate While Racing - Operation BMW Art Car at 24 Lemons

Team operation created this fully functional Operation BMW Art Car for their race at 24 Lemons.All the parts are located inside the hood of this 1991 318i and held in place with heavy duty Velcro. All this to prevent bottles and other objects from flying through the air at 90 mph, but does make the removal of parts more challenging, though by no means impossible.Via MurileeMartin

Ancient Art Car Tax from London by Roy Anderson

Roy Alderson Old London Taxi Art Car - Photo by Getty ImagesHere is an oldy for you, a vintage taxi from London painted in 15th September 1953 by Artist Roy Alderson. I bet this vintage art car turned heads back in the day.

Mutant Vacuum Dust Bunny Patrol

Burning Man dust bunnies are pretty big, so it only makes sense to send out the big giant Mutant Vacuum. Photo Via

BMW Art Car Legacy Dies with Jeff Koons

BMW Koons Art Car Candle Vigil Photoshop by Art Car Central I have resisted the temptation to post the Jeff Koons BWM art car for a very long enough, but today I brake my silence. This BMW art car is everywhere, with gushy articles galore about how "great this" how "great that", yada yada yada. On and on it goes with article after article singing the praises of Jeff Koons. Dude!!!! BMW has

Thunderbird 2 Rally Art Car Takes to the Streets For Kids with Cancer Fund

Today's StreetSafari special is team Lucky Day and their venerable Thunderbird 2 theme.We always liked this theme because of its simplicity, simple designs are often the best.To make your own Thunderbird 2, simply buy a car with the vague shape of Thunderbird 2, or a Mercedes if you can't think of anything. Slam three bits of wood together to make a great big tail wing (remember, this will

Weapon of Mass Instruction - The Argentinian Book Art Tank Strikes Again

The Argentinian Book Art Tank - ViaToday I found a posting about an Argentinian artist who has created a Book Tank called 'Weapon of Mass Instruction" or “Arma de Instruccion Masiva”.  Raul Lemesoff converted a 1979 green Ford Falcon into a moving library cruising down the busy streets of Buenos Aires giving out books. The Ford falcon he drives around once belonged to the Argentinean armed

What’s new in Google maps 5.2 for Android

Google has released a new version of maps for Android. This is a major release after 5.1 (in which Google check-in was introduced). Interestingly, lots of new features have been added in this new version . Some of the notable features are: You can share your Google Places / Hotpot ratings with your twitter friends, You can ping your friends on Google Latitude to check-in at a particular location, Foursquare-like badges for Google Latitude. What are you waiting for? Update your Google maps and enjoy the new features.

Post your reviews on Twitter

Open Google places from your Android device and search for the place which you want to rate. Add your reviews and ratings for the selected place. A new option has been added to the Google places to post your reviews and ratings on Twitter. Google will use this data to provide recommendations for places on Google Hotpot.

Google Latitude: Ping your friends and search for places to check-in

When your friends on Google Latitude are nearby on the map, you can ping them to check-in at a particular location (instead of texting or calling them). This will send a notification to your friend asking them to check-in at the location you have mentioned. Also, in the previous version of Google maps, you can only check-in at the places which Google Latitude shows you. Now, you can search for more places and check-in at the right place. This is a very much needed feature and I was not checking-in with Google Latitude only because this feature was not there. Google Latitude also gets a Foursquare-like badges. Whenever you check-in at a particular place for the first time, you will get the status as ‘Visitor’. You can get other statuses as you visit the place again and again.

-- Varun

One year with Nexus One!

Yay, it’s the first birthday of my Nexus One – my first smart phone. Thanks to Google. If not for a Google phone, I would have never purchased an Android phone. I totally love my Nexus One. It opened up the Android space on this blog and some of my posts became popular on the web. It gave a new identity for myself on the web. Android is so open that you can tweak almost anything and everything on your phone. Moreover, you can learn a lot by doing so.

Popular Android Posts

• [How to] Install Android market on Emulator. Link.
• [How to] Change the DNS server on Android. Link. Link.
• [Review] IP Webcam – Turn your phone into a network camera. Link.
• [How to] Change fonts on Nexus One. Link.

Some of the aforementioned articles are quoted on famous Android community sites like AndroidPolice, AndroidCommunity, etc. Check out all my posts on Android here. If you are interested only in Android related posts, subscribe this feed.

Android development. After getting the phone, the very first thing I did was to download the Android SDK. Though I have gotten my hands dirty on Android development, I have not developed anything big enough to make to the market. But, stay tuned, there is an interesting app coming soon. Also, I have written many small scripts to automate some of my daily tasks like archiving old SMSes, etc.

Any Regrets? Though Nexus One is one of the best smart phones of its generation, it has its own set of problems when compared to other phones. The first item on the list is its Touch sensitivity – on continuous usage the screen becomes sticky and less responsive when compared to Apple devices. The device gets heated up while charging. Apart from these two issues, I don’t have any major complaints with my Nexus One. The device has no front camera and is definitely a drawback. My complete review on Nexus One.

-- Varun

17 CuRayZzeee Unicorn Art Car Creations

Unicorn Art Van - ViaHere is proof that Unicorns do exist, painted on vans, cars buses bikes and in the mind. For me the search begun with a couple of old school vans covered in unicorns from the 80's almost as weird as the free candy van. On the other hand it just reinforces the idea some still believe in magic. Here is a good explanation for Unicorns on Wiki.Marianna Mayer has observed (The

Ben Hur's "I Am Spartacus" Motorized Chariot Art Car

I happen to see Spartacus last night and then went online and Googled the best line in the movie, "I Am Spartacus". What I found was this motorized chariot which was NOT in the movie Spartacus, but did in fact play a major role in the movie Ben Hur with Charlton Heston ("from my cold dead hands" guy). I would definitely stay away from the deadly hubcaps-o-death.