Charged: Shindo Laboratory

Ken Shindo's sculpture-like amps and pre-amps turn the experience of listening to music into an emotion-packed one

The 2011 documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” at first appears to be a film about an 85-year-old sushi chef and his world-famous dishes, though it’s really about a man’s lifelong quest to continually make better sushi—to continually strive to master his craft. In the world of hi-fi audio equipment, Jiro’s counterpart, if there ever was one, would be fellow countryman Ken Shindo, whose hand-made tube …

Charged: Solaire Generation

The New York firm transforms parking structures into solar power plants

Depending on where you live, parking lots can either feel like a terrific waste of space or woefully inadequate for city needs. Still, they are everywhere, not to mention a critical component of urban planning. Since 2008, Solaire Generation has been busy reimagining parking structures in an innovative, powerful way. The firm, founded by architect Laurence Mackler, has developed a series of renewable energy products …

Apple CarPlay

The groundbreaking portable in-car OS features seamless smartphone integration, intuitive user interface and regular software updates

Automakers have always pushed to keep in step with advancements in consumer technology, from the first car radios to the integration of touchscreen navigation and infotainment systems. At the same time, in-car technology is notorious for not being upgradable—as the devices we use change and evolve, our in-car systems remain the same as the day we drove off the lot. Now, with the launch of …