From Apple Hot News:

Apple today introduced the world’s thinnest notebook: MacBook Air. It measures an unprecedented 0.16 inches at its thinnest point while its maximum height of 0.76 inches is less than the thinnest point on competing notebooks. In addition to a stunning 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, MacBook Air offers a full-size and backlit keyboard, a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing, and a spacious trackpad with multi-touch gesture support, letting users pinch, rotate and swipe. The new notebook is powered by a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache, and it includes as standard features 2GB of memory, an 80GB 1.8-inch hard drive, and the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi technology and Bluetooth 2.1. Starting at just $1,799, MacBook Air begins shipping in two weeks.

University of Art and Design Helsinki recently announced their new MA degree programme:

We are glad to announce the call for applications to our new MA degree programme, Sound in New Media. The 2-year programme is targeted to students who have completed their BA, BSc or similar degree (eg. in Polytechnic/ Applied Science) in sound design or music, or have gained basic sound design skills on the side of their studies through other kind of activities.

Today’s digital products and services - as well as new forms of art and culture - have created a need of new kind of education in various disciplines, also in sound design. Designing sounds and composing music for games, mobile applications, online media, interactive art and virtual environments requires expertise which can be best obtained through domain-specific and yet multi-disciplinary education.

This unique MA programme in new media sound combines art, design and media driven aspects of sound design in the digital era, covering a wide range of disciplines from concept design to live performance and from storytelling to programming. In addition to professors and teachers of the partner universities, teaching resources are extended through our wide international networks in the field.

The application instructions are online at http://mlab.taik.fi/studies/application/#new

Papermaster

Originally uploaded by Morten Iveland.

Norway Says Papermaster Magazine Holder

Magazine/Newspaper holder in birch, oak or walnut.

Design:
Torbjörn Anderssen, Norway Says

Manufacturer:
Swedese Möbler
Torbjoern Anderssen designs

Today marks the 500th cover made by the Ovi Team and there was no chance we would miss this chance to take you back through 499 individual covers to the very first one with those three wooden men used by artists trying to meet a deadline.

read more | digg story

The Dutch AutoTelegraaf auto site apparently leaked images of Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept. This Swedish 4×4 car will reportedly powered by typical Saabian 2.0-liter turbo four producing 245 horsepower, though if the engine is fueled with E85 Ethanol power increases to 300 hp and 400 Nm torque. It’ll also expected to get Saab’s latest XWD four-by setup that directs drive power to the front and rear axles and between the rear wheels via an “intelligent” rear-diff.

The 9-4X BioPower SUV looks production ready, and AutoTelegraaf claims that the Saab 9-4X BioPower will go into production this year at GM’s plant in Mexico and should go on sale in the USA not much later, Europe will follow in the following months.

(Via AutoTelegraaf.)

The Nordic Battlegroup, a 2,400 soldiers-strong rapid reaction troop, lost a legal battle over its army and was forced to castrate the overtly male heraldic lion…

read more | digg story

We wrote already about this escalator on Nydalen Metro Station in Oslo. Now readers of NDB can enjoy also the video of this cool light installation:

Thanks Andreas Lunde for this video!

miss lyn has added a photo to the pool:

12.01.08 (12/365)

have a look at my blog everydaypicture.wordpress.com/

The Local - Jumbo Jet hostel gets go-ahead: “Visitors to Stockholm could soon have a new option for cheap airport accommodation – a Boeing 747 at Arlanda airport.

Uppsala businessman Oscar Diös has been given permission by airport owner LFV and the Swedish National Roads Administration to open a youth hostel in a Jumbo Jet parked by the airport entrance.

Diös plans to rip out the plane’s 500 seats and instead install 80 beds. The cockpit will be made into a suite, and some of the equipment will be preserved.

’The challenge is that nobody has done this before, so there’s no precedent. But essentially it’s like fitting out any kind of metal barracks,’ Diös told newspaper UNT.”

(Via The Local.)

Vintage Catherineholm kettle

Originally uploaded by H is for Home.

These colourful housewares made by Norwegian company Catherineholm’s brighten up every kitchen and are permanent targets of collectors.

Lovely items with the ‘Lotus’ pattern created by Grete Prytz, a second wife of infamous Norvegian Designer Arne Korsmo. Grete Prytz Kittelsen was born 1917 in Oslo, Norway. Her designs have won many prestigious awards. She was one of most influential designers in Scandinavia in Mid-Century. In 2003, when she was already 86, Grete visited China, where she saw traditional Chinese enamel factory still in operation and which inspired her to start designing again. Chang & Biörck got exclusive rights to reproduce some of her design, among which a bowl and a plate, that she designed using similar colors as her original 1950s works. Cathrineholm of Norway started enamel production in 1907.

See more stuff like this on H is for home.

A hat tip for Adelle from H is for home for additional information and research.

Sources:
MEAM NET
Bloesem