Author: Joe Wilcox

Web by Joe WilcoxDec 9, 20159:55 am

Indochine My Morning

I can’t speak, nor do I comprehend, more than ten words of French. But I love this band’s music, nevertheless. At 10:45 PST this morning, Indochine streams live from Paris, and I am so down for it. Maybe I’ll Chromecast to the tellie from one device, while working on another (got lots of writing to do).

The live stream is one of the many benefits subscribing to Tidal, which now sells lossless albums, too. Oh la la. The $19.99 monthly service gets better and better. I hear the difference listening to tracks encoded with the 1411kbps Free Lossless Audio Codec versus AAC or MP3.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 9, 20157:34 am

Flickr a Day 343: ‘I Bet You Haven’t Heard We’re Winning’

I heard we are losing—every day on news broadcasts. That’s my reaction to the dramatically composed self-titled “I Bet You Haven’t Heard We’re Winning”, which Brandon Doran captured on Jan. 20, 2012, using Nikon D90 […]

Gear by Joe WilcoxDec 8, 20153:16 pm

Pixel C ships in time for Christmas

The rumor is fact. Today, Google started selling its first homegrown tablet, Pixel C. You can buy one directly from the company—until they sell out! Google typically struggles stocking new devices, like Nexus smartphones and the Chromebook Pixel. On November 30th, I asked: “Where is Pixel C?“, which was promised to arrive before the holidays. Now we know.

I hope to have the 10.2-inch tablet in possession within a few days and will subsequently post first-impression and full reviews. If you can’t wait for that, and shouldn’t, larger tech news sites already have their takes online. Search for the name, and you will find them. Don’t wait on me, if you’re thinking about one for Christmas!

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 8, 20157:20 am

Flickr a Day 342: ‘Imagining’

On this day in 1980, former Beatles singer John Lennon was shot dead in New York. I lived in the city, coincidentally; I shared my remembrance on Dec. 8, 2005. (Man, I’ve been blogging for far too long.) The senseless murder created community mourning, which wave washed over me, despite not being a fervent Lennon fan. The Beatles appealed more. Uh-oh. My, daughter is the same age now as I was the day Lennon died. She appreciates the Fab Four more. Hehe, for Christmas 2014, i bought her a turntable and some Beatles vinyl.

Well, the context for today’s winner should be obvious now. I picked through hundreds of pics, including some taken during an all-day NYC Lennon songfest on this day two years ago, before deciding on self-titled “Imagining”, which is the ninth selfie in the series (see Days 15, 142, 160, 201, 261, 275, 310, 316).

Gear by Joe WilcoxDec 7, 20152:30 pm

HTC One A9 Review

So you bought iPhone 6. You love the understated styling of the aluminum enclosure and how the device feels in your hands. But iOS is a dog brain. It’s loyal and friendly, but you want more than a tail-wagger that needs to be let out to pee. HTC has your back, with the shockingly similar-looking One A9. The imitator gives you close-enough design benefits with the extra bang of the freshest Android (Marshmallow).

Over the Black-Friday-to-Cyber-Monday weekend, one in ten A9 buyers moved up from iPhone 6 or 6s series devices, according to HTC. The manufacturer has a holiday special ending Jan. 7, 2016 that allures some switchers. Trade-in one of the Apples for full discount off the A9’s purchase price (HTC mails a $499.99 check after receiving the old device). Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge traders get $200 and LG3 and LG4 owners $100.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 7, 20151:59 pm

Flickr a Day 341: ‘Lost in Thought, Lost in Prayers’

Our selection comes at a time of great turmoil for Muslims and other peoples who interact with them because of terrorist attacks against Western nations and conflict with the Islamic State in Syria. The Day […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 6, 20152:49 pm

Flickr a Day 340: ‘Romantic Krakow’

Vivid is how I describe the street photography of Matthias Ripp. His art exudes a rich, contrasty quality that is natural; what the eye sees. Today’s selection, as do many others, feels like film. The Regensburg, […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 6, 201511:04 am

U.S. Capitol as I Remember It

I lived in the Washington, D.C. area for more than two decades before moving to San Diego eight years ago. Particularly as the presidential election approaches, my pining for the city increases. Crazy is the […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 5, 20157:10 am

Flickr a Day 339: ‘Faith’

In cinema, they talk of the “jump cut”, when scenes switch abruptly without segue between them. The photographic style of Jenny Downing cuts away elements that other shooters might include. What’s missing defines what is, […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 4, 20152:18 pm

Flickr a Day 338: ‘Jade, Asheville, 2015’

More than 11 months into this series, and no nude has been featured—until today. The category offends some people, despite the beauty of the human form being subject of so much photographic art. Feliz Paloma Gonzalez almost exclusively shoots scantily clothed women, if they wear anything at all. His work is more tasteful than erotic; sensual but respectful. I picked today’s pic largely because of the eyes—and the expression the swabs of sunlight reveal behind them and in her facial expression.

“Feliz Paloma Gonzalez is a pseudonym I use, because not everyone has an open mind”, he says. “I have had to accept that and make compromises accordingly. Feliz Paloma is the name I would have been given had I been female, so the story goes”.

Gear by Joe WilcoxDec 4, 20152:17 pm

Am I Colorblind, or is This Tablet White?

I snagged a Nexus 9 over the Black Friday weekend for my wife in white to complement my sand model (so we can tell them apart). Look at the photo; if that’s white, there is […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 3, 20157:22 am

Flickr a Day 337: ‘Halsey”

The portrait of singer Halsey isn’t the first musical selection of the series, but it is likely last. See Days 8, 16, 85, 100, 167, 178, 235, 276, 298, 315. DeShaun Craddock captured the moment on Sept. 6, 2015, using Nikon D750 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. […]