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Shopping

Gorgeous City Maps Made Entirely From Type

Check out these beautiful city maps, created using nothing but type.
Axis Maps Typographic City Maps

Check out these beautiful city maps, created using nothing but type. These gorgeous prints definitely satisfy my inner font geek, and they aren't bad to look at, either. The collection of three Typographic Maps features Boston, San Francisco, and Chicago with Manhattan and Washington DC on the way.

During the printing process, each letter was manually placed, a process that took "hundreds of hours to complete for each map." The result: intricate and beautiful depictions of each featured city. Poster-size prints of each map are available for $30.

Like what you see? Click through the slideshow for more detailed images of these beautiful maps.

Office Space

Inspired: A Dark and Worldly Office

I'm absolutely drooling over this handsome World Map ($60) designed by These Are Things.

I'm absolutely drooling over this handsome World Map ($60) designed by These Are Things. It's minimal, modern, and unfussy, and showcases a selection of world cities. Its pinstripe is quite dapper, and I love how the red compass rose juxtaposes with the masculinity of the other elements. It seems destined for a dark and worldly home office, so I decided to design a room inspired by it! Take a look at my picks below and tell me what you think. My favorite item is the red glass chandelier which pops against pewter and pinstripe furnishings.

Geek Tip

Geek Tip: Use GasBuddy on Google Maps to Find Cheap Gas

If you were one of the millions who hit the road this long weekend, you know that rising gas prices can do a number on your wallet, leaving you with less cash to throw down for an icy, cold beer.

If you were one of the millions who hit the road this long weekend, you know that rising gas prices can do a number on your wallet, leaving you with less cash to throw down for an icy, cold beer.

So instead of just forking over your last twenty at the first gas station you see, plot out your fuel-ups for next time with Gasbuddy on Google Maps. The GasBuddy add-on will help you find the nearest and cheapest gas to your location, helping you save a few pennies in the process.

Just add-on the GasBuddy extension to your Google Map and enter your zip code. It's all downhill from there.


Internet

The 'Internets' From a Global Perspective

Thanks to Chris Harrison, we can now get a visual of Internet connectivity around the globe.

Thanks to Chris Harrison, we can now get a visual of Internet connectivity around the globe. Chris used data from The Dimes Project which revealed 89,344 connections to create his world map masterpiece. As you can see, North America and Europe have way more connections than Africa or South America. Chris says:

"It is important to note that this only reflects density of connections, and not usage. Hundreds of people may utilize a single connection in an internet cafe, often the only form of connectivity people have access to in developing nations."

I wonder if there's a way to access Internet usage data from around the globe as Internet connectivity is most likely driven by commerce, economics and the need for technological integration. Therefore, it would be interesting to see how many developing countries have Internet access, even if it is limited. via Neatorama

Humor

Baby Got Map Skillz

Girlfriend can barely stand up without tumbling over, but she can locate Brazil, Portugal, Norway, Indonesia, and numerous other countries on a ginormous world map.

Girlfriend can barely stand up without tumbling over, but she can locate Brazil, Portugal, Norway, Indonesia, and numerous other countries on a ginormous world map. And yes, Miss Teen South Carolina, Lily even knows where South Africa and "the Asian countries" are situated. Genius, much? All this cutie demands is a little applause and parental encouragement along the way. (For a more comprehensive version of her map skillz at work, click here.)

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map

Get in Gear: Garmin GPS for Your Bike

Do you typically stick to the well-known and heavily populated bike path when you go for a ride?

Do you typically stick to the well-known and heavily populated bike path when you go for a ride? Well, now you don't have to. Check out these new bike GPS units made by Garmin.

They're called the Edge 605 and Edge 705. They snap into a mount that you attach to your handlebars and they include basic maps so you don't get lost. If you want more specific maps, or a whole array from different areas, you can purchase separate cards. Just plug in the detailed MapSource® City Navigator® street maps on a preloaded data card, and get turn-by-turn directions on a sunlight-readable, color display as you pedal. If you prefer off-roading, you can also get topographical maps. So cool!

The Edge 605 can track your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude. The Edge 705 can do all that plus it can track your heart rate, cadence (the number of rotations of your crank - the part of the bike that is connected to the pedals), climb and decent. These GPS units are definitely for the infatuated dedicated bicyclists, who want to track their ride with the utmost detail, and ride wherever their little feet want to pedal.

How much do these Garmin GPS gems cost? To find out read more

Garmin

Get in Gear: Garmin Outdoor GPS

The next time you venture outside, either in hiking boots, on a bike, in a car, or in sneakers, your chances of getting lost will be slim to none with the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx.

The next time you venture outside, either in hiking boots, on a bike, in a car, or in sneakers, your chances of getting lost will be slim to none with the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx.

GPS stands for Global Position System, and this amazing device uses satellite reception to figure out where you are and how to get where you're going. When you purchase this hand-held GPS, you choose from 3 different areas: Americas, Atlantic or Pacific. It comes with built in basic maps of those areas including major cities, some smaller cities and towns, oceans, rivers, and lakes, major interstates and highways, state and international borders, and major airports.

It comes with a blank 64 MB card so you can store extra maps from the optional MapSource® mapping software. Just connect to your computer with the USB cable, and you can load map data or transfer routes and waypoints (these are points on a map that you follow to help you get to your destination). You can even purchase microSD cards that are preloaded with MapSource maps, which means you don't have to connect to your computer. The microSD card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment, so you never have to worry about water getting inside.

Want to hear more and see how much one of these babies costs? Then read more

Mashup

Signal Map Compares Cell Providers In Your Area

If "can you hear me now?"

If "can you hear me now?" is part of your everyday vocab, you might want to check out Signal Map, a user-generated cell phone signal map that notes the strength of major service providers on a map. You can use the free service to find a cell signal in your area, or add your signal to help others. As you can see from the image below, my search for AT&T service in the 90210 zip code showed there is a three to five-bar signal in Beverly Hills, while there's limited coverage in the West Hollywood area. So, if Brandon Walsh had an iPhone, he'd be all set...

internet subway

A Tube Map of the World Wide Web

Our Dear Mr. Internet letters have finally been answered!

Our Dear Mr. Internet letters have finally been answered! Thanks to the creative peeps over at Information Architects, there is now a web trend map that offers a visual of the ginormous world that is the internet (or internets as I like to call it). The masterpiece uses a subway map template to pinpoint the 200 most successful websites on the web, ordered by category, proximity, success, popularity and perspective... spot geeksugar anywhere? Download it as your screensaver, use as your wallpaper or purchase the poster for $25.

To see the complete version, visit Information Architects.