Who Wore It Best?

It is with a tremendous sense of loss but also a tremendous feeling of admiration that we mourn the passing of Steve Jobs….

With 3 million sold in just 80 days, the iPad is a runaway success. Since the device’s release on April 3rd, developers have…

British artist David Hockney, known for his contributions to the Pop Art movement of the 1960’s has found a new medium for creating as well as displaying his creations: the Apple iPad. Hockney, aged 73, began making doodles on his iPhone in 2008 using the application Brushes http://www.brushesapp.com/ and began emailing them to a small group of friends. By the end of 2009 he had created around 1000 images, including a series of paintings of the rising sun that he made without leaving his bed. Hockney praised the convenience of using a mobile device to create art:

“It’s always there in my pocket, there’s no thrashing about, scrambling for the right color. One can set to work immediately, there’s this wonderful impromptu quality, this freshness, to the activity; and when it’s over, best of all, there’s no mess, no clean-up. You just turn off the machine. Or, even better, you hit Send, and your little cohort of friends around the world gets to experience a similar immediacy. There’s something, finally, very intimate about the whole process.”

With the release of the iPad this year the artist was provided with a larger canvas to work on, which he says “takes it to a new level.” The iPad’s 9.7 inch screen allowed Hockney to create even more intricate paintings. The culmination of his experiments in this new medium is his current exhibition in Paris called Fleurs Fraiches (Fresh Flowers). http://www.fondation-pb-ysl.net/fr/Accueil-Fondation-Pierre-Berge-Yves-Saint-Laurent-471.html Perhaps the most interesting thing about this show is that the images were not only created on the iPhone and iPad, but they are being displayed on them as well. This allows the viewers to see the images as the artist intended, rather than rendering them onto paper or using a television or projector. Hockney also uses the iPad to periodically change the images displayed, allowing him to refresh the flowers.

Another element of this story that I love is how Hockney carries his iPad around. His coats already had large pockets on the inside that he formerly used to carry drawing pads around. These have been repurposed to carry around his new favorite drawing tool: the Apple iPad.

Come into one of our retail locations http://www.smalldog.com/retail and give the iPad a test run. Maybe you can be the next Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, or David Hockney!

As the poet said: “There’s an app for that!” Sure there are LOTS of apps out there but which one should you choose? Since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend is a big weekend for getting out on the slopes, I’ve decided to focus on some of the most popular ski and snow apps out there. I can’t take all the credit as we have quite a few outdoor pups here at Small Dog headquarters. Keep an eye out if you’re at Sugarbush this weekend as that is where we like to go play. If you’re planning on staying right here in Vermont Ski Vermont has highlighted some fun events as well as deals in their latest blog post here and I thought it was worth sharing.

Find My Friends

No matter how hard groups try to stay together on the mountain, inevitably, at some point during the day, somebody’s going to get lost. After all, it can be hard to keep up with quick friends who fancy themselves racers (I’m looking at you, Will), foggy conditions make it hard to see, and sometimes, people just want to ski different trails or get inside for a quick beer break. This app uses GPS tracking so you can locate friends and family on a user-friendly map.

Instagram

Although this app doesn’t necessarily offer ski-specific features, it sure is a great way to daydream about the slopes and keep your followers updated about all the great tracks you’re making. Explore hashtages like #skiing, #powder, or even find pictures of your favorite mountain. It’s a fun way to see awesome pictures of the slopes, document your own travels, and even meet other skiers and riders. Be sure to follow us @hellosmalldog!

VSCO

VSCO Cam has quickly emerged as the premier mobile photography app for iPhone photography, and hasn’t dropped out of the top 15 in the App Store’s Photography and Video category since it launched. If you are looking for a way to make your photos come to life before posting on other social media sites this is the app for you. VSCO Cam is the best way to shoot, edit, and share your photographs. As one app reviews states: “it provides a more thorough photo editing and filter options than photo sharing apps.”

SkiTracks

Using your phone’s map and GPS tracking abilities, this 99-cent app shows you exactly where you’ve skied on a satellite map, while also tracking distance, speed, altitude, duration, and more. Plus, its uses a minimal amount of battery life, so you can keep it running and still attend to your texts and calls, without worrying about running out of juice.

Resort Specific Apps

Many larger ski resorts have developed their own free apps. These usually offer a lot of the same tracking and snow report features as the general apps. However an app such as the Sugarbush app can help you navigate your way around the slopes, lodges, activities, weather reports, live camera feeds, and much more.
Example: I always check the Sugarbush VT app before heading to the mountain so I can see which trails have been groomed, lift statuses, the lines, as well as weather and most importantly the wind chill so I can layer accordingly.

Maprika

Maprika lets you see where you are on real maps, like the ones that say “you are here” at the top of the lift. Easily locate your friends and family, and stay informed about the places you’re going. The coolest part about this app is that Maprika maps are saved to the phone’s memory, allowing for use in out-of-service areas. This app also allows you to find nearby businesses. As Dean says “it’s kind of like Yelp! for ski resorts, great when you are trying to get to know a new resort’s trail map.”

Liftopia

Purchase your lift tickets and or rentals in advance and save. Select from more than 150 resorts. This free app, “Liftopia Ski Reports, Snow Conditions and Ultimate Lift Ticket Deal Engine for iPhone and iPod touch,” though hard to remember provides an easy tool for showing a receipt at the ticket window, rather than having to deal with printing out a paper voucher (welcome to the 21st century!). Be sure you read the fine print for blackout dates before you show up at the mountain to redeem your deal. With deals like these, why not try a new mountain out!

Spotify

If you are one of those people that like to listen to tunes in the background while safely carving some edges I guarantee Spotify has a playlist for you! You can browse playlists for every mood and genre. The discover page will constantly suggest new music for you based on what you’re listening to and it’s all free! With playlists like “Ski” with over 500 songs, how could you go wrong?

Editors note : Your iPhone is just like you, it really hates the bitter cold. When the temperature drops below freezing, iPhones can start malfunctioning: Your smartphone might not sense your touch, the battery dies faster and, if it’s cold enough, it will simply shut off. On its website, Apple suggests that you only use your (4th generation or later) iPhone in environments between 32º and 95º F, since “low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to alter its behavior to regulate its temperature.”

Looking up a restaurant location when your friend is on the line? Do they need directions really quickly and don’t want to hang…