From Apple Insider:

Axiotron, Inc., together with distribution partner Other World Computing, is drawing huge crowds at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco this week, as attendees flock to take its new Mac OS X-based "ModBook" tablet computer for a test run. Unveiled on Tuesday, the $2,279 device is an after-market hardware modification to Apple's MacBook notebook line. The companies claim it's the "first ever Mac OS X tablet computer solution." Each ModBook starts off as a MacBook Core 2 Duo but undergoes a surgical operation where its original display and keyboard are severed, then replaced with a new 13.3-inch Wacom pen enabled widescreen display set in a chrome-plated magnesium top shell.

Posted by Megan

I get a great email newsletter called Design Arts Daily from American Illustration and American Photography. Today it featured the work of photographer Sara Pickering. Her most recent work consists of images of burning homes taken as part of her work as the artist in residence at the UK Fire Service College. The pictures are mysterious and haunting and beautiful.

Posted by Megan

My best friend just forwarded me this website, www.design-police.org, where you can download different templates that notify people of any and all design crimes they've committed, whether it's "Microsoft Word is not a design tool" or "Helvetica was an unimaginative choice" or "Turn off the CAPS LOCK." And in bright pink, how can you resist poking fun and brightening up an otherwise boring project?

Theispot.com, which links designers to stock and assignment illustration, just unveiled its new site design. It features more and better ways to search portfolios and stock, including by multiple keywords, artist’s name and most recent uploads; plus art director accounts to save searches and lightboxes, license stock illustration, track new uploads by their favorite artists and review licensing history.

Posted by Megan

We're absolutely lovin' the poster that Clifford Stoltze and his team in Boston have created for this year's HOW Conference. Keep an eye out in the March/April issue for a full-size pull out.

Designer Malena Grosz recently won a small grant from Toyota to put together a show of vector art to raise money for worldwildlife.org, conservation.org and directrelief.org. The submission deadline for the show is January 30 and details can be found at Art for the Earth.

Posted by Megan

Pantone and the color experts at X-Rite Color Services today announced the 2008 release of the company’s popular seminar “Color Control Freak”.  With a completely revised curriculum, Color Control Freak 08 offers an in-depth understanding of color, its value in the design process, and techniques for proper reproduction. The seminar travels to 24 cities from March until May including stops in Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, New York and Seattle.

Posted by Megan

With 2008 being the big Presidential election year, The Art of Politics "is a dynamic and innovative way to engage Americans this election year by fusing the political issues that people are passionate about with stylized artistic posters in a nationwide contest. The result is a visual expression of issues reflecting the diversity of our country," according to its website. They are inviting creatives from around the country to enter poster designs that reflect their political thoughts and feelings.

If you were lucky enough to get an iPhone for Christmas, Veer has a treat for you: a selection of design and type-inspired wallpapers for your shiny new gadget.

Posted by Megan

Strathmore's Quarterly Letterhead Contest is now accepting entries. The first deadline for 2008 is March 31. Each quarter, the first 25 designers who enter the letterhead contest receive a special gift.   The gift for Q1 2008 entries is an iPod nano. Three quarterly winners will recieve $150 (bronze), $300 (silver) or $500 (gold) and the four gold winners will be eligible for the $1,000 annual grand prize.

Posted by Megan