Website of the Week: M.I.C. Gadget

Sure here in the U.S., we'll occasionally see a story about an iPhone knockoff, or a fake Vaio computer surfacing. If you want to be where the real (well, fake) action is, you have to be in China. Unfortunately, our tdl expense cards don't allow for such extravagant travel.

We're in luck though, thanks to M.I.C. Gadget, the made in China website that keeps tabs on all the tech goings ons in the country. They had a great album of photos for Apple's Shanghai store opening, and they always seem to find the most ridiculous fake versions of products. They don't just find them though, they review them as well.

Website of the Week: 8-Bit City

Brett Camper, 8BitCity.comEver since google maps (well, we'll give Microsoft some credit for Terraserver back in the day) we've been able to get incredibly detailed satellite imagery of just about everywhere. However, more data doesn't always translate into easier to follow navigation. 

Taking that concept and a bit of whimsy, Brett Camper has created 8bitcity.com. Essentially, in this first of several maps planned, Camper applied some whiz-bang effects and off-the-shelf mapping data to create a map more similar to Zelda than Mapquest. There's something about the simplified and engaging map that makes it easier to visualize the relative locations of New York City's major neighborhoods. You won't be using it for turn-by-turn directions anytime soon, but if you're looking for a more humanized look (ironic given that it's actually more pixels than pictures) at how and where different parts of the city fit, then check out 8bitcity.com

Website of the Week: Art Wolfe

This week, we bring you another great site for photography fans, specifically nature photo aficionados. First, if you're not familiar with Art Wolfe, he hosts Travels to the Edge, a public television show that takes the travel diary format, and adds the aspect of highlighting Wolfe's photos from the adventure you're watching unfold. The show is great for both the armchair traveler, and photographer's wishing they too could take these trips of a lifetime.

Additionally on Wolfe's website, you can view his portfolio, purchase stunning stock photography, or find out where you can catch a lecture from Mr. Wolfe himself. It's all at artwolfe.com

Website of the Week: Hoppy The Deer

This week's website is cuddly wuddly. Last month, a short YouTube video started circulating, showing a fawn inside a house licking/cleaning a kitten. Yes, it was just about the cutest thing you ever saw. It was also part of a more bittersweet documentary, looking at the lives of a young Canadian couple, and how everything changed, once they welcomed the deer into their home. It's fascinating, tug-at-your-heartstrings story, and you can learn more about it, watch the trailer, and buy the movie at HoppyTheDeer.com

Website of the Week: iSteam Phone

I can't say it better than Kevin Tong does on his site, iSteamPhone.com: "Artist Kevin Tong captures the invention of daVinci, the imagination of H.G. Wells, and the brilliance of Jonathan Ive in this Exploded Phone drawing."

The artwork is available both as a t-shirt, and as a poster. Tong is also responsible for iSteammac.com: the same concept applied to an original Macintosh.