2011 was certainly not an easy year for high-tech companies in Asia. First came the earthquake/tsunami in Northern Japan which destroyed much of the public infrastructure last March. Then flood water inundated much of Thailand, a major manufacturing point in South East Asia, for over a month. While tragic, both episodes might have played a part in expediting new product launch, including the much talked about Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR. Aside from our “doctored image” of the purported camera above, the jury is still out on the camera’s exact specifications. Some media outlets have mentioned an image sensor similar to the upcoming flagship, Canon EOS-1D X, with the new DIGIC 5 image processor. Others stated the increase in AF points to around 19, though not as much as the 7D and EOS-1D X. One hotly debated feature, also the newest rumor, is the addition of eye control auto-focus, whereby the camera tracks the movement of your eye to determine its focus point. But the most talked about issue regarding the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is its release date. Instead of waiting till September 2012 for the Photokina trade show in Germany, unnamed sources have said a launch date as early as March or April of this year. A bit improbable since Canon is launching EOS-1D X around the same time. But giving the extraordinary occurrences in 2011, a simultaneous releases of flagship products is quite possible. via: Canon Rumors

Japan’s Beams Plus, the American heritage wing of the larger Beams retail empire, specializes in taking the best of Americana and forging it with the kind of quality and attention to detail that the Japanese are famous for. A good example is this Summer Mountain Parka, made from a durable cotton/polyester fabrication and featuring slanted zip pockets at the waist and chest, leather drawstring toggles and adjustable hood with built-in brim. A contrast-colored interior and mesh lining for temperature control round out the details. Available in sand or navy, the Beams Plus Summer Mountain Parka is in stock now at end clothing.

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CONVERSE presents the Black Canvas Spring 2012 premium men’s apparel line, featuring a mix 0f CONVERSE’s rock and roll sensibility with its sportswear heritage. The material story is dominated by faded cotton, coated canvas and twisted yarns, which are enhanced with details like distressed edges, vintage-inspired graphics and exposed stitching. The result is comfortable styles in updated silhouettes with character to spare. Highlights include cotton henleys, plaid wovens, French terry hoodies and slim-fit cargo pants. Look for the Spring 2012 Black Canvas collection to arrive at select retailers starting February 1st.

Adidas SLVR announces the opening of its first ever standalone store in Berlin during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Located in the trendy Mitte neighborhood, the 120 square-meter space is sleek, spare and modern — much like the store’s inventory. The store opens with SLVR’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection and features a full range of men’s and women’s apparel, footwear and accessories. The brand draws on the technical expertise of adidas’ performance line and blends contemporary tailoring to create sportswear that carves its own unique niche in the active lifestyle marketplace. via: Sneaker Freaker

adidas SLVR
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Victorinox presents the SSD pocket-knife and thumb-drive combo, the only portable drive in the world that fits into eSATAII/III and USB 2.0/3.0 with single connector. Other features include a Bi-Stable monochrome graphic display so you can label the contents of the drive, 256-bit AES hardware- and software-based encryption, and the choice of two knife bodies — one with traditional Swiss Army Knife tools like blade, scissors and nail file, the other a flight-friendly case that will get you past security with no problems. The Victorinox SSD comes in 64, 128 and 256GB varieties, as well as an impressive 1 TB version. Look for the device to land at retailers starting in April.

CONVERSE Skateboarding presents its Spring 2012 lineup, made up of the new Form + Function Collection, as well as collaborative shoes from Team CONVERSE Skate Ambassadors. Nick Trapasso’s signature shoe, the CONS Trapasso Pro, is inspired by the classic Pro Leather and features memory foam at the collar and tongue;  Anthony Pappalardo’s signature takes its cues from the One Star Academy; and Kenny Anderson’s KA-One, based on the Classic Trainer from 1976, is crafted with a flexible cupsole. Meanwhile, the Form + Function assortment comprises the ELM LS with one-piece construction, low-profile CVO LS, Sea Star LS boat shoe, and the Chuck Taylor-inspired CT LS. Check out all the looks after the click.

Japanese label Beams Plus is no stranger to the reliable and quality outdoor gear produced each year at Kelty and their collaborations over the years have produced a series of amazing limited edition packs that reach back into Kelty’s storied archive. Now the duo is back at it again with the Cinch Pack, which is constructed of Japan’s finest ultra-resistant Cordura nylon with dark leather accents and the woven Kelty logo patch stitched on the front. The Cinch Pack is a blend of new and old with internal mesh media and document pockets and key loops as its modern additions alongside original Kelty padded shoulder straps that feature the aluminium harness adjust bar system. Pick up this limited edition pack in tan, blue or orange exclusively at end clothing.

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Forever? Forever ever? Forever ever? It’s hard to stay contemporary in the fast evolving world of running sneakers, but to be fair Nike’s technologies have a tendency of sticking around (see: Nike Air, Nike Free). Whether or not the beloved Lunar line of shoes does indeed prove indefinite though, the Nike Lunar Forever is a good addition regardless. Coming with the namesake Lunarlon outsole and a gridded mesh upper, this latest colorway goes for a light look overall. The lime bottoms slide in fainter than you’d expect, pairing nicely with the cool grey tones up top. Follow us after the jump for a full look and expect this colorway to show up at your local Nike Sportswear account for 2012. via Sneaker Freaker

Irish label William Fox & Sons has been in the men’s tailoring and sporting goods business since 1913 and their dedication to solid design and construction over the generations remains paramount in every product they produce. Now William Fox & Sons are proud to present to you their Spring 2012 Bag Collection, which includes the Trail Pack, the Tear Drop Pack, the Large Waist Pack, and the Back Country Pack, each with clean design and color upgrades to their classic shapes. Each pack is made in the United States using nylon and feature leather zipper pulls and accents. Check out more looks at the full range of packs after the jump or over at end clothing in person or online.

It’s not too often that Jordan Brand teams up with an outside entity for a release, generally opting to preserve autonomy in the Michael Jordan legacy. Dave White recently got his hands on the Air Jordan 1 and there are the annual Doernbecher models that arguably constitute collabos as well, but those can be seen as isolated incidents in the grand scheme of things. The collaborative effort this time around comes not via sneakers but via some Jumpman adorned headwear, produced in conjunction with New Era. The four colorways from the collection strangely steer clear of any distinct tie-ins from favorite Jordan releases, save for the all-black cap that incidentally has a ‘black cat’ look. Follow us after the jump to get a look at the Jordan Brand x New Era Jumbo Jumpman snapbacks which just popped up at Amazing Store.

The Converse team up with John Varvatos is set to carry on into 2012, as the man continues to breathe new life into classic All-Star silhouettes with his vintage touch. The weathered treatment has been increasingly popular in the sneaker world as of late, with Converse parent company Nike bringing it again and again in their running releases. Varvatos manages the look with a more grungy twist, injecting a sense of all-American grit into long standing staples like the Chuck Taylor All Star and the Converse Star Player. Key in the JV interpretation of these models is the premium materials, manifested by the beautifully textured upper of the Converse Pro Leather and the slick zippered construction on the pair of Chucks. Stick with us after the jump to get a look at the full range, which will be hitting at Converse first-string retailers and other premium accounts for Spring 2012.

Looks like you can finally bomb on the subways without the MTA getting all up in your business. Better yet, no toxic fumes or paint speckles dripping off your clothes. KRINK has introduced an app for the Apple iPhone and Apple iPad that seeks to emulate the effects of their famous ink, allowing you to scribble all over your favorite photos with a fat marker feel. The app even produces the trademark drippy effect, letting you tilt your device to get the runny look. Hit the jump for some photos of the app in action and cop it now at the Apple App Store if you’ve got plans of becoming the Cap1 of the Instagram world.