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Amtrak iPhone App

2008-10-07T08:42:00.005-04:00

When someone says "trains," you probably think of non-modern things like the Wild West, Jesse James and drunken boxcar hobos, not the iPhone right? Well, not if Amtrak can help it.

According to an Amtrak press release, the company now has an "iPhone App." After unsuccessfully searching for the Amtrak App in the iTunes App Store, we quickly realized that the Amtrak App isn't an "App," like an iTunes App Store "App," but a "Web App" (aka an iPhone compatible web page). The Amtrak press release probably should have said they made an "iPhone optimized mobile site" and not an "App" for the iTunes App Store, but you have to at least give Amtrak credit for trying.

The Amtrak iPhone "Web App" enables mobile customers to buy, change and manage ticket reservations, check train statuses, review schedules and sign up to receive email alerts to find out when their train is delayed (which with Amtrak is quite often).

Amtrak iPhone Site: http://www.amtrak.mobi/

With the soaring price of gas and plane tickets, you might find yourself taking the rails sooner than later.

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iPhone 2.2 Firmware Beta Includes Google Street View Feature

2008-10-06T14:42:00.006-04:00

Is the Street View feature from Google Maps finally making its way over to the iPhone?

For the past few years Google has been sending out special cars mounted with 360º 11-lens cameras that take street level panorama photos for Google Maps.

The Street View feature is available online, but it hasn't made the transition over to mobile devices until just recently. Google has slowly enabled the Street View feature for a few mobile phones and Android, Google’s own mobile platform, but not for the iPhone... at least not just yet.

But according to Mac Rumors, a developer version of the upcoming iPhone 2.2 firmware update includes Google Street View. Let’s hope Google also gives the iPhone their new Compass View feature that debuted with Android. Compass View automatically senses your orientation and will rotate the Google Street View panorama to match the direction you are facing.

Here’s a video of the Compass feature being shown on stage at an Android demo:

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Apogee Duet - Review

2008-10-04T15:19:00.005-04:00

We all know one of the weak spots of Apple computers is the audio output jack. This 1/8" stereo mini-plug is where we connect our speakers and/or headphones to listen back to programs ranging from iTunes and Safari to Garageband and Logic.

While the Mac audio output jack does double as an optical output (where you would need an optical cable), the majority of users connect in a typical 'analog' fashion.

But what if you could find a relatively inexpensive interface that could easily convert that analog signal to a higher quality digital output for all your apps? Well, the sleek, portable aluminum-cased Apogee Duet may just be the answer.

Review: Apogee Duet

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Bejeweled add-on coming to World of Warcraft

2008-10-02T08:40:00.003-04:00

Michael Fromwiller, an admitted World of Warcraft (Twitter tag #WoW) addict, was bored. The San Jose State undergrad student and amateur game programmer loves the massive multipler online game World of Warcraft, but hates the downtime before and during long battles. For example, sometimes it will take other players in your team up to an hour to trade weapons and decide on a strategy before going into battle.

So in an effort to relieve his own bordom, Fromwiller created a clone of the popular puzzle game Bejeweled called Besharded that can be played within the World of Warcraft game interface. Fromwiller shared his Bejeweled clone with a few friends, then they shared it with a few friends and the next thing he knew, Besharded was the talk of the World of Warcraft community. What started as a personal pet project became a huge hit.

A screen shot of Besharded

PopCap Games, the company that publishes Bejeweled eventually found out about Besharded. But thier reaction has surprised a lot of people. Instead of acting like the RIAA and gathering hordes of lawyers to write a barrage of cease and desist letters and prepare billions of lawsuits, PopCap Games gave Fromwiller a job.

The official Bejeweled version

On Thursday, October 2nd, Bejeweled will appear as a free downloadable add-on for World of Warcraft. PopCap Games has even made a few improvements to Fromwiller's Besharded version. The World of Warcraft version of Bejeweled has a high score list and if you happen to stumble into combat while playing Bejeweled, mini game screen will disappear and let you return to the battle.

So how does Blizzard, the makers of World of Warcraft feel about this? Not much. They haven't enthusiastically endorced the Bejeweled add-on. Doing so would be an admission that World of Warcraft is boring. But they aren't trying to stop it either.

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Wal-Mart Music Store Kills DRM

2008-09-30T09:09:00.006-04:00

Did you purchase any music online from Wal-Mart?

Following in the footsteps of Yahoo a few months ago, and in the spirit of Steve Jobs' "open letter" last February, Wal-Mart announced that on October 9, 2008 it will stop supporting tracks sold with DRM (Digital Rights Management). After that, users will be unable to transfer or listen to digital Wal-Mart music on a new computer.

The good news is that Wal-Mart's new DRM free mp3 music downloads will be iPod and iPhone compatible.

The record companies had originally forced DRM onto all online music retailers in an effort to curb piracy via file sharing services like Hotline, BitTorrent and LimeWire. But with the speed and frequency that consumers purchase new computers and mp3 players like the iPod, DRM restrictions by online music retailers like Yahoo, iTunes and Wal-Mart gave users even more of a reason to seek DRM free pirated music. In the long run, DRM helped promote digital music piracy and not prevent it.

Wal-Mart didn't have very many online music customers (especially compared to iTunes), but if this affects you, hurry up and burn the tracks to a CD then rip them back to non-DRM MP3 tracks. October 9th is only a couple weeks away and you don't want to lose that John Tesh box set you secretly bought online from Wal-Mart... or maybe you should?

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Tina Fey reprises her Sarah Palin role for #SNL Katie Couric Skit [video]

2008-09-28T11:53:00.011-04:00

Saturday night, Tina Fey returned to the American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live to reprise her widely hailed impersonation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Fey, a former cast member and head writer of SNL, has been pulling double duty with these regular #SNL (Twitter search link) impersonations as Sarah Palin. She already has a full-time gig and stars in NBC's award winning series 30 Rock.

Saturday night's opening skit of SNL mocks Palin's recent interview with CBS News' Katie Couric (played by Amy Poehler). When Couric (Poehler) pushes Palin (Fey) to specifically discuss how she would help facilitate democracy abroad, Fey gives in and says, "Katie, I'd like to use one of my lifelines. ... I want to phone a friend."

After unsuccessfully attempting to use a lifeline, Fey caves in and responds with an actual quote Sarah Palin said during the Couric interview, "Well, in that case, I'm just gonna have to get back to ya." Not exactly a statement of confidence you'd want to hear from someone who is a heartbeat away from being President of the United States. Here's a video clip of the SNL sketch.

If you haven't seen it yet, Katie Couric's interview with Governor Palin had viewers cringing as Palin stumbled through several key questions. In the embedded clip below, Couric presses Palin to explain why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience.

Palin doesn't seem to have improved her answer since she was first asked the same question by Charlie Gibson a few weeks ago. Hopefully the McCain campaign will help her prepare better for next time.

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Twitter and #Current Team Up for Hack the Debate

2008-09-24T09:15:00.007-04:00

Current.com and Twitter are teaming up for a U.S. Presidential Debate mash-up called "Hack The Debate."

Current is streaming Friday night's debate online and will display Twitter messages (aka "tweets") over the live broadcast of the debate between John McCain and Barack Obama in real-time. This will allow viewers to comment live on what's being said during the debate and even fact check questionable statements made by the candidates.

How exactly will "Hack the Debate" work? Twitter users who add the #current hash tag to their tweets will see their comments displayed as a "lower 3rd" graphic on the bottom on the screen. For example:

"This discussion about universal healthcare makes me want to pop some pills! #current"

Current says it will only edit out comments that fail to meet standards and practices thresholds. (ie: no 4 letter words.)

This is an excellent idea. People love seeing their Twitter tweets on-air (CNN's Rick Sanchez proved that during the hurricanes).

Barack Obama is currently the #1 person on Twitter with over 80,000 followers, so expect a heavy turnout of his Twitter supporters. John McCain's Twitter account has a little over 2k.

If you don't understand what all this Twitter and "tweet" stuff is all about, check out this tutorial: How to Explain Twitter to Your Grandma.

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Line Rider for iPhone

2008-09-24T08:18:00.001-04:00

Line Rider, the popular drawing game, is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch for $2.99 in the iTunes App Store.

The game allows you to draw a landscape with a simple pencil tool, creating ramps, hills and jumps. Then you test out your landscape by sending a boy on a sled down the hill, until he wipes out.

The web version of Line Rider has attracted million of players and created a cult following since its debut in September 2006.

According to game developer inXile, the iPhone/iPod Touch version of Line Rider also includes a "movie" mode for players to record tracks, and an upload feature so you can share tracks online.

"In just the first day Line Rider is in the top 10 of paid applications on iTunes," said Brian Fargo, chief executive officer of inXile. "Our strong and vocal audience has been asking for an iPhone/iPod Touch version of Line Rider ever since the touch interface was introduced... Line Rider is a natural fit for the iPhone as mobile users will be able to share their tracks and ride the lines almost anywhere now."

iTunes App Store: Line Rider ($2.99)

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How to fix iTunes 8 BSOD error on Microsoft Vista

2008-09-23T07:53:00.006-04:00

Many Microsoft Vista users were paid an unfortunate visit by the dreaded "blue screen of death" when attempting to sync an iPod or iPhone using Apple's new iTunes 8.0.

Apple assures Microsoft Vista users that they have fixed the problem with a subsequent release. Vista users who downloaded the initial version of iTunes 8, need to uninstall iTunes, then re-download the updated iTunes installer and reinstall iTunes 8. Got it? Don't worry, step-by-step instructions are below.

It's up to you on who should get the blame on this one. Did Apple write sloppy code for iTunes 8.0 and not properly test it? Or is Windows Vista just a lemon with a Microsoft logo on it? Regardless on who you choose to blame, you will still need to fix the bad version of iTunes 8.0 for Microsoft Vista. Here's how...

How to Uninstall and Reinstall iTunes 8 (Vista)

Disconnect your iPhone or iPod from Windows Vista. Pull the plug damn it!
Uninstall iTunes and Apple Mobile Device Support
- For Classic View
  1. Choose Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features.
  2. First select Apple Mobile Device Support, click Uninstall.
  3. Select iTunes, click Uninstall.
- For Control Panel Home View
  1. Choose Start > Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program.
  2. First select Apple Mobile Device Support, click Uninstall.
  3. Select iTunes and click Uninstall.
Restart the computer.
Re-download and install the updated iTunes 8 installer from apple.com/itunes/download.

And for the love of God... Do NOT use the iTunes8Setup or iTunes864Setup file you previously downloaded. If you do, go back to step #1 and repeatably bash your brain deeper into your skull using the nearest iPod/iPhone.

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iPhone 3G Power Adapter Recall

2008-09-22T08:43:00.004-04:00

Did you recently buy an iPhone 3G? Do you have an ultracompact Apple USB power adapter like the one pictured on the right? If so, stop using it immediately.

According to an Apple press release issued last Friday, there's a design flaw with the metal prongs that can cause them to break off and get stuck in the electrical outlet. Users may receive a shock when trying to remove the metal pieces, but so far no injuries have been reported.

It's estimated that Apple sold more than 4 million 3G iPhones since it was introduced in July. The defective power supplies were supplied to the following regions: United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Latin America.

If you do own an ultracompact Apple USB power, there are 2 ways you can exchange it for a new, redesigned adapter.

Order a replacement adapter via Apple's website. These replacement adapters will ship within 3 weeks, starting on Friday, October 10.
Exchange your adapter at an Apple Retail Store starting on October 10.

Product recalls are not unusual in the computer industry, but Apple usually manages to avoid them. The last Apple recall was in August 2006, when Apple had to recall 1.8 million Sony laptop batteries because they had a tendency to overheat and catch on fire.

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Ahoy there matey. It's Talk Like a Pirate Day

2008-09-19T08:32:00.006-04:00

Agrr. Do you know what today is? You might have noticed that several major websites have added pirate flags to their logos. Last year even Flickr.com got in on the pirate fun.

That's right, today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. The parody holiday was invented in 1995 by John Baur ("Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers ("Cap'n Slappy"), of the United States, who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate.

For example, an observer of this holiday would greet friends not with "Hello," but with "Ahoy, me hearty!" The date was selected because it was the birthday of Summers' ex-wife and consequently would be easy for him to remember.

Here are a few Pirate Pickup Lines if you decide to hit the bars after work and want to go home with a mate:

10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?

9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?

8. Come on up and see me urchins.

7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.

6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon.

5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?

4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?

3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free.

2. Well blow me down?

1. Prepare to be boarded.

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Sara Palin's Yahoo Email Account Gets Hacked

2008-09-18T09:51:00.004-04:00

Allegations that American VP hopeful, Sara Palin, uses her Yahoo! email account (gov.palin@yahoo.com) to conduct Alaska state business was just too tempting for hackers.

A team of hackers dubbed "Anonymous" breached Gov. Palin's Yahoo e-mail account, and posted a number of announcements and screenshots to several sites on the Internet including Wikileaks.org and Gawker.com. The hackers were able to mask their tracks by using a CTunnel.com proxy server, but the released screenshots include some partial IP data which authorities might be able to use to catch them.

Palin's personal email account(s) isn't just coming under fire from hackers, but also government watchdogs. It's believed that Governor Palin was using this Yahoo email account to avoid government transparency mechanisms. Also, after recovering the password from Yahoo, Palin's people deleted the Yahoo email account. Isn't that a destruction of evidence?

A satirical poster naming the Palin email incident "Emailgate."

The John McCain campaign released this statement about the Yahoo the incident:

"This is a shocking invasion of the governor's privacy and a violation of law. The matter has been turned over to the appropriate authorities and we hope that anyone in possession of these e-mails will destroy them."

John McCain has nothing to worry about. McCain doesn't even know how to use a email (we're not joking).

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Wireless Households on the Rise

2008-09-18T09:10:00.002-04:00

According to a recent Nielson study, 1 in 5 U.S. phone households will rely on solely on their mobile phones for telecommunications by the end of 2008. Cord Cutting or getting rid of a hard wired phone line is just one way consumers are cutting back to make ends meet in this troubled economy.

Who are most likely to be "cord cutters?" The study says that the average U.S. cord cutter tends to have a lower income, live in apartment or condo (1 or 2 residents) and tends to make the transition to living without a landline after a move or a job change.

Do you still have a landline?

iPhone 2.1 Update

2008-09-17T09:09:00.002-04:00

If you own an iPhone, don't forget to update your software to 2.1. To update, just sync your iPhone with iTunes. You will also need an Internet connection (duh).

The new 2.1 software will decrease dropped calls and call errors, reduce iTunes backup time and increase battery life.

To begin, just plug your iPhone into your computer and click on this link to launch iTunes.

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Sen Dog Interview

2008-09-16T15:57:00.004-04:00

As one of the frontmen of Cypress Hill, Senen Reyes (aka Sen Dog) has definitely placed his mark on music history. While most hip-hop artists spend more time in high school than making records, in the past 20+ years, Cypress Hill has sold over 17 million albums and released several ten top 10 hits including "How Could I Just Kill a Man," "Insane In The Brain" and "Rock Superstar." Cypress Hill was also the first Latino group to have both platinum and multi-platinum albums.

It's a wonder why it took Sen Dog two decades to release his first solo album titled Diary of a Mad Dog. It's an album Sen Dog promises Cypress Hill fans will enjoy.

It was our pleasure to chat with Sen Dog about the future of Cypress Hill, his first solo album and the unfortunate heart attack he suffered while working on it.

Interview: Sen Dog from Cypress Hill

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How to Explain Twitter to Your Grandma

2008-09-15T04:35:00.002-04:00

As Twitter continues to gain in popularity and users, those of us already on Twitter might find ourselves in a position where we have to explain Twitter to a non-techie type person like Grandma (or John McCain).

So what do you say when someone asks you something silly like "What is the Twitter?" or "Are you taking the Twitter?"

Here's a "how to" article full of images and videos that help explain some of the functionally and uses of Twitter.

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Large Hadron Collider Didn't End The World - Yet

2008-09-11T07:21:00.008-04:00

Whew! If you are reading this, then the world didn't end... yet.

Yesterday the Europeans fired up the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and started shooting protons down a 17 mile-long tunnel at the speed of light in a massive underground laboratory near Geneva, Switzerland.

Many people were outraged and understandably worried about the LHC tests. Any miscalculations or mistakes by the LHC scientists could hypothetically result in a doomsday scenario. What happens if the LHC rearranges the atomic nuclei of all matter on Earth? And a side-effect of the LHC is micro-sized black holes. What would happen if these tiny black holes slowly sucked away all matter on Earth over the next few hundred years? What happens if they make a big black hole? Opening up a black hole in the middle of the Earth would end life as we know it.

There are plenty of doomsday scenarios connected to the LHC and a lot of people are questioning if anyone has the right to conduct these potentially catastrophic tests. Former nuclear safety officer Walter Wagner has taken his concerns to U.S. court and is asking the U.S. Department of Energy, CERN, Fermilab, and the National Science Foundation "to ease up on their LHC preparations for several months while the collider's safety was reassessed."

There are a lot of unknowns and risks connected to the LHC. So why exactly are these scientists playing with proton beams? What does humanity stand to gain by their risks? The experiments taking place at the Large Hadron Collider hope to answer some of the biggest questions of modern science:

Is the foundation of modern physics right or wrong?
Are there extra dimensions of space out there that we haven't yet detected?
What existed during the very first moment of the universe's existence?
Why do some particles have mass while others don't?
What is the nature of dark matter?

But is knowing the answers to these questions, worth the risks?

Just turning on the LHC yesterday didn't end the world, but don't rest easy just yet. The big Large Hadron Collider experiment takes place October 21st when scientists will aim 2 proton beams at each other and "see what happens" when they collide.

There are a couple live webcams at the LHC if you also want "to see what happens." Seriously, watch them for at least 30 seconds. These aren't your everyday webcams. ;)

These #LHC pricks better not destroy the planet. Switzerland, fine. Earth, no way. Can't the Euros travel to an abandoned galaxy before they start hosing each other down with doomsday proton guns?

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Apple Unveils iPod and iTunes Upgrades

2008-09-10T08:46:00.003-04:00

Apple CEO, Steve Jobs was thin, but the new iPods were thinner at Apple's "Let's Rock" press conference yesterday. In addition to new versions of the iPod Nano and iPod Touch, Jobs also announced iTunes 8.0 and a "Genius" feature.

Apple is revamping its iPod line up. The thicker iPod classic is history. It will be replaced with a slimmer 120 GB model for $249. The new iPod Nano promises to be the thinnest iPod yet and ships with the "Genius" ability to create intuitive playlists without having to connect to iTunes. A new version of the iPod Touch, which will be out in time for the holidays, is also thinner and comes with integrated speakers for listening to music and online radio on the go. Both new models will also ship with new headphones that include a remote control and a microphone.

iTunes 8.0 gets a new "Genius" feature that automatically generating playlists of songs that "go great together." The Genius Sidebar can be set to upload your library contents to the iTunes Store so that it's better equipped to recommend songs you might like. If you've ever used the streaming music service Pandora, then you probably have a good idea of what the Genius Sidebar is capible of.

It looks like Kevin Rose's blog post that predicted Apple would release new iPods and an iTunes update this month was correct. The raw image mockup was even right.

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Star Wars LEGO Millennium Falcon

2008-09-06T09:51:00.002-04:00

Got a lot of free time on your hands? Are you a huge Star Wars fan? Yes? Then biggest LEGO set ever made, the Ultimate Collectors Millennium Falcon, is for you!

This LEGO version of the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo's famous smuggling starship, was designed to scale based on the size of LEGO people. The end result is almost three feet long. After assembly, the model measures (in inches): 33.1 (L) x 22.2 ( W) x 8.3 (H). This 5,195 piece LEGO set weighs 24.2 pounds, costs $499 and is far the largest set ever sold by the company.

The Millennium Falcon also features rotating laser turrets, radar dish, retractable boarding ramp and can instantly scare away any dates you bring home with you.

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CNN's Rick Sanchez uses Twitter to Spread Gustav Conversations

2008-09-02T12:30:00.009-04:00

This past weekend, as Hurricane Gustav was threatening New Orleans, CNN reporter Rick Sanchez was using social media while broadcasting via traditional media.

Rick setup his own Twitter page @ricksanchezcnn (here's a 101 tutorial on Twitter if you are unfamiliar with the service) and was on the air reporting on Gustav and answering "tweets" from viewers in the hurricane zone during the weekend primetime edition of CNN Newsroom.

Rick's efforts have been so successful, CNN decided to give him his own Twitter focused show called Rick Sanchez Direct. According to one of Rick's recent tweets, the show will "play off" what he's been doing online with social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Snachez used Twitter on both the Saturday and Sunday episodes of CNN Newsroom last weekend. Here are the ratings:

The Saturday CNN Newsroom episode where Snachez first used Twitter on the air was the most watched and highest rated of all newscasts on all networks during that time period.
CNN Newsroom (Saturday) was also the most-watched CNN program of the day for the P25-54 segment with 602,000 average viewers.
CNN Newsroom (Sunday, 11pm) was the #1 cable program in its time period.

The first episode of Rick Sanchez Direct airs Sept 8th at 3pm on CNN.

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WIRED NextFest 2008

2008-09-02T03:39:00.004-04:00

Every year, the evil geniuses at WIRED Magazine put together a high-tech expo that showcases the global innovations that are transforming our world. They call it NextFest.

Now in its 5th year, this modern day World's Fair includes unique and bold exhibits, interactive art, games, robotics, and more. If you are into gadgets and geekery, then the 30-40 exhibits WIRED has planned will knock your Underoos off.

2008 is the 5th year of WIRED NextFest and the the city of Chicago is hosting again.

Over the past 5 five years, WIRED NextFest has drawn over 150,000 visitors combined in San Francisco (2004), Chicago (2005), New York (2006), and Los Angeles (2007).

Here are a few of the most anticipated WIRED NextFest 2008 exhibits that everyone is talking about:

Hoverit Lounger
Don't just sit - Hoverit. That's the slogan of this 2-person British design-oriented furniture startup. In what they promise is the first in a series of magnetic hover furniture, the experience is (according to the company) more like floating than sitting. The lounger's etheral appearance is accentuated by the designers choice of material, a clear acrylic plastic.

The acrylic is not a cushion, but the give of the magnetic forces acting beneath a persons body weight, is probably makes the experience quite different from a normal, earth-bound, rigid plastic chair.

HumanCar
The HumanCar just might be an eco-loving carpooler's dream come true. Four seats provide and a roof provide a measure of comfort, and four rowing handles (for human-powered battery charging) provide the power. HumanCar's first commercial vehicle, the Imagine, features an exoskeletal safety cage chassis with advanced steering built in, dual electric motors, and variable human power input. HumanCars will be manufactured in central Oregon.

Interactive Kiosk Prototype - EA Sports
Camera-based interaction with near photo-realistic animation of Dwayne Wade, NBA basketball star. The concept of interactive installations and kiosks based on this prototype is work for an upcoming Gillette corporate promotion that will include Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Derek Jeter, and Thierry Henry, and offer a platform for playing 1-on-1 interactive mini-games with sports stars. Overall, the platform uses a display, interactive camera, and digital animation hardware and software that are state of the art.

NextFest is free and open to the public. It's like a annual high-tech museum trade show exhibit.

WIRED NextFest: CHICAGO * Sept. 27 - Oct. 12, 2008 * MILLENNIUM PARK

To learn more about WIRED NextFest, summon the Internets to bring forth WiredNextFest.com.

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Batman Breaks $500 Million at US Box Office

2008-09-01T23:19:00.006-04:00

The price is right for The Dark Knight. Over America's Labor Day weekend holiday, the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight became the 2nd movie in Hollywood history to pass the $500 million dollar mark. According to Warner Bros. studios, The Dark Knight has made over $502.4 million from domestic American ticket sales.

The Dark Knight is a huge hit in America, but not everyone loves Bruce Wayne's alter ego. The Japanese obviously don't like Batman at all. The Dark Knight bombed in Japan and made only a little over $8 million.

So what's the other movie to break the $500 million mark in American ticket sales? James Cameron's 1997 film Titanic, which made $600.8 million and still remains at #1.

In related news, sales of The Dark Knight comic book by Frank Miller (Sin City, 300) have also skyrocketed. The Dark Knight is currently ranked #63 out of all book sales on Amazon.com.

Not bad for a comic book mini series that was released in 1986.

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Solar Powered Bonsai Tree Can Charge Your iPod and Mobile Phone

2008-08-29T04:24:00.005-04:00

Recharge your cellphone, iPod, iPhone and camera with this USB solar powered bonsai tree by French designer Vivien Muller.

Thanks to 54 tiny photovoltaic panels, the iBonsai (we just made that name up) will store energy in a hidden battery during the day, allowing you to recharge your gadgets even at night.

Hate wire clutter? Who doesn't. The bonsai charging tree cleverly hides all wires and plugs under the tray.

Need to slim down the tree's girth so you can fit it on your desk? No problem. You can rotate each part individually and produce an endless number of different shapes. It's like metal adult LEGOS.

The iBonsai Tree is decorative, good for the environment and sexy. It's also just still a concept, so sorry. You can't buy this yet. Hopefully Vivien will sell his concept and get the tree mass produced soon.

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Start a Fire with the TORCH Flashlight from Wicked Lasers

2008-08-28T05:44:00.002-04:00

What happens when a company that usually makes powerful lasers for the Chinese military decides to make a flashlight? They make a flashlight with a beam so strong that it can start a fire.

Wicked Lasers is known for making high-end lasers that can burn, cut, and project a laser beam hundreds of miles away. So when we found out that they were making a "flashlight," we were understandably both confused and curious.

Wicked Lasers named their new flashlight the TORCH... and for good reason. The "TORCH" is technically a flashlight. It looks like a flashlight. Operates like a flashlight. But this is no ordinary flashlight. The TORCH is so bright that its beam can ignite flammable objects as fast as an open flame.

Here's a video clip of the TORCH lighting some matches. As you will hear in the video, my assistants Libby and Lauren start laughing and blow snot all over the place. Honestly, who can blame them. This "flashlight" is ridiculous.

When you're done watching the video below, read the full review here:

Review: TORCH Flashlight

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The Big Tent Makes a Big Splash at the DNC

2008-08-26T13:59:00.010-04:00

For the past few months, bloggers have been buzzing about the "Big Tent" at the #DNC08. Well, now that America's Democratic National Convention is underway, we finally got to see the Big Tent in action. The Big Tent is a facility for the alternative media hosted by DailyKos, the Sustainability Alliance and ProgressNow, with Digg, YouTube, and Google as corporate sponsors.

The two-story tent was made available for alternative and indy journalists and bloggers who didn't have a home base to report from for the political conventions. Everyone from small town soccer moms to Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, is blogging from the Big Tent in Denver.

The Big Tent is very luxurious compared to dirty cramp press rooms frequented by traditional press. Journalists and bloggers who signed up for a slot in the 8,000 square-foot facility get unlimited access to WiFi, phone/iPod/laptop charging stations, yoga classes, 10 minute massages, smoothies, comfy couches, a baby changing area and live entertainment. Oh yeah, food and drinks are included as well and the free beer starts at 1pm. The Big Tent is even handicapped accessible. I wouldn't be surprised if some traditional journalists decided to work "off site" in the Big Tent and avoid the skanky press rooms all together.

Flickr photos by socalmom and Steve Rhodes

At only $100 a pop, the Big Tent won't make back their total investment, let alone profit off of the 500 bloggers who booked time in the facility. So what do sponsors like Google gain by providing Big Tent services to bloggers? First of all, Google is getting a lot of exposure and press (this article included). Google also gets to promote their software and services, like Google Docs, Picasa and Blogger, to influential journalists and bloggers. Google has even included a kiosk in the public area of the tent where anyone can post videos on YouTube. Google will also have a major presence at next week's #RNC08 and demo some real time video search tools.

Flickr photo by socalmom

This year, the Democratic National Convention has credentialed more than 120 blogs but that's not nearly enough. People aren't content being spectators anymore, they want to participate using Internet tools like Twitter, blogs and YouTube. The privately funded Big Tent is meant to handle the overflow but it's already overflowing.

With MSNBC's facility down the street from the Big Tent, it will be interesting to compare mainstream versus alternative journalism's location facilities.

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