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Full trailer available here. I may yet forgive Mr Cameron for Titanic.
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OCZ Neural Impulse Actuator

OCZ Technology reports: [edited]

OCZ’s Neural Impulse Actuator (nia) marks a new era in gaming. Rather than being a substitute for a mouse, the nia is a pioneering new peripheral to be used in conjunction with your mouse for a more immersive gaming experience.

The nia is compatible with any PC game using keyboard input. Predefined profiles included with the software allow the gamer to develop their own nia—memory to launch the desired behaviour of their character without lifting a finger.

The headband uses carbon nanofiber-based sensors to provide the highest possible dynamic range for the recording of bioelectrical signals that are amplified and digitized and further de-convoluted into computer commands.
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Oasis of the Seas

Southern Daily Echo reports: [edited]

It looked as if a large chunk of Hampshire, complete with trees, apartments, and a street lined with shops and bars, had broken off and floated out into the middle of the Solent.

But this was no monster piece of flotsam and jetsam but one of the biggest man-made objects to move across the face of the planet, the vast new cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas.

At 220,000 tons, and able to accommodate 6,300 passengers and 2,000 crew, Oasis of the Seas breaks all records. She is divided up into seven separate 'neighbourhoods' including one called Central Park which is open to the sky and features trees, grass lawns and flower-beds.

Other passenger attractions include an ice rink, a cocktail bar that rises up and down the decks, a water theme park, a full-size fairground carousel, and a shopping area with bars, restaurants and cafes.

Wii sales plummet

Digital Spy reports: [edited]

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has announced that sales of the Wii console have fallen significantly over the past six months.

Sales of the system suffered a 40% drop over the time period, with 5.75 million units sold worldwide in September 2009, compared to 10 million the previous year. Iwata attributed this to a lack of significant software releases.

"Wii has stalled," he told a press conference. "We were unable to continually release strong software, and [we have] let the nice mood cool. We were unable to show a new game to become 'the next thing'. In the game market, once you've lost the momentum, it takes time to recover."
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Bean

MacWorld reports: [edited]

Our quest for the ultimate writing tool continues with Bean a stripped down and superfast word processor.

It lacks a full word processor’s more advanced features, but Bean handles all the same files as TextEdit in an interface that’s easy to understand and looks great. It’ll even export PDFs.

Bean’s selection tools are a revelation, with options for choosing by font style, ruler and even colour, making it easy to handle large documents. With features such as live word count, autosave and page layout mode you won’t feel deprived.

We’ve found ourselves using Google Docs a lot lately. Bean gives you the same simplicity, power and lack of clutter at the same price: nothing.
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Motorola Droid

Wired reports: [edited]

The Droid is Motorola's second attempt at an Android phone but the first one they've actually gotten right. More importantly, it's one of the first phones that can legitimately stand head-to-head with the iPhone - and come out ahead in some significant respects.

Physically the Droid is not much to look at because of its boxy, angular frame. Its hefty 170g weight doesn't make it especially pocket-friendly either. The touchscreen display is a shade bigger than the iPhone 3GS, but it has much higher resolution, with 854 x 440 pixels compared to the iPhone's 480 x 320. The virtual keyboard is fantastically responsive with very little input error.

The slide-out physical keyboard is one of the few disappointments of the Droid. The small, flat buttons make it difficult to crank out text.

The Droid runs Android 2.0 as its OS. It feels more refined than the first version of Android on T-Mobile's G1 and it's certainly better than the muddled interface on Motorola's Cliq.

The Droid's 5-megapixel camera produces photos that aren't too noisy and it does well even in low light, thanks to the built-in LED flash.

The most exciting feature of the phone, though, is the Google maps app - with built-in turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation. With text-to-speech features, the maps are layered with traffic data and a satellite view. But here's the best part. It's free! You don't have to pay a $10 per month subscription or purchase a TomTom app

The browser is excellent and displays web pages quickly (though Flash websites are still out of bounds). You can toggle through multiple windows and scan them in an easy list view. You double-tap the screen to zoom in and out - which works, but we miss the 'pinch to zoom' gesture found on the Palm Pre and iPhone. There's no native multi-touch support in the Droid.

If it were 2 ounces lighter and had a better keyboard (or no keyboard at all), it would be hands-down the best smartphone on the market today. As it is, it's a solid contender in a market that has too long been dominated by just one top-quality handset.

- - - - -

For a more extensive review, and lots of images, visit Engadget
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London-Lincoln-London 01-11-09

London to Lincoln
Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk
Gonna Make You A Star - David Essex
Little Arithmetics - Deus
I Turn My Camera On - Spoon
The most beautiful girl in the world - Charlie Rich
Brother Louie - Hot Chocolate
Bum Bum - Mabel
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams
Wild Wild Life - Talking Heads
Hush - Kula Shaker
Chasm - Demetri Martin
Cars (remix) - Gary Numan
A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
If You Belonged To Me - Traveling Wilburys
California Love - 2Pac (feat. Dr. Dre)
Somebody's watching me - Rockwell
Musical/Burlap Sack - Demetri Martin
Wannabe - Spice Girls
Thank You Cards - Demetri Martin
I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
Keep on Jumpin' (feat. Martha Wash & Jocelyn Brown) - Todd Terry
Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five
Spin the Black Circle - Pearl Jam
My White Bicycle - Nazareth
Cotton Balls/Cinammon Buns - Demetri Martin
Let's Dance To Joy Division - The Wombats
Beach, Message in a Bottle - Demetri Martin
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love - The Blues Brothers
Love's A Game - The Magic Numbers
Twenty Four Hour Garage People - Half Man Half Biscuit
Open Your Heart - Human League
Bingo Bango - Basement Jaxx
Nag Nag Nag - Art Brut
Superstar - Jamelia
Touchy! - a-ha
Something Better Change - Stranglers
Where's the Pleasure? (Radio Edit) - Protocol
Run With the Wolves - The Prodigy
Love Like Semtex - Infadels
Two Left Feet - Richard Thompson
Pressure Us - Sunscreem
I Want That Man - Deborah Harry
Dreaming - Blondie
Sk8r Boy - Avril Lavigne
My Sharona - Polysics
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms

Lincoln to London
It Ain't Easy - David Bowie
Ay Que Rico - Eddie Palmieri
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) - The Byrds
State Trooper - Steve Wynn
Heartbreaker (Live) - Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow, Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris etc.
Strange Love - Darlene Love
If You Go Away - Dusty Springfield
Six White Horses - The Greencards
What Was It You Wanted - Bob Dylan
Messages From The Stars - Rah Band
Daylight Robbery - Morcheeba
Disappear - Madness
Sometimes - Abigail Washburn
Genius - Kings Of Leon
One Small Day - Ultravox
Surprise, Surprise - The Everyothers
The Electric Version - The New Pornographers
Forever For Her (Is Over For Me) - The White Stripes
Timeless Melody - The La's
Bass Culture - Linton Kwesi Johnson
The Way It Really Is - Lisa Loeb
Light & Magic (Live) - Ladytron
God's Got A Crown - Arizona Dranes
Wonderful Life - Black
Call My Name - Allison Moorer
For Your Babies - Simply Red
Ride - Nick Drake
Rilleh! - Marvin Gaye & Oma Page
Sophie - Jake Thackray
Lavina - Josh Rouse
Teardrops - Shakin' Stevens
True Confessions - Tonio K
Zuton Fever - The Zutons
David's Last Summer - Pulp
There Goes The Neighborhood - Sheryl Crow
Perfect Day (BBC version) - Lou Reed + nearly everyone else
Look at You Girl - Chris LeDoux
No One Else - Weezer
Paths Of Victory - Cat Power
A Small Victory - Faith No More
One - Simple Plan
Nerve - lamont humphrey
Walking On Sunshine - Ghoti Hook
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London-Lincoln-London 31-10-09

London to Lincoln
Band Of Gold - Freda Payne
Don't Be Sad - Whiskeytown
Private Eyes - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Miss World - Hole
Dime - Cake
Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) - Garbage
My Favourite Girl - King Creosote
Wonderful Land - The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain
California Girls - David Lee Roth
I'm Drinking Again - Ry Cooder
135 - Two Cow Garage
M!ssundaztood - P!nk (Pink)
One Hundred Punks - Generation X
Prettiest Train - Fred Neil
Swansea - Joanna Newsom
What Goes On - The Beatles
For So Long - Cast
Go On Then - Gunilla Thorn
Payback - Lisa Loeb
The Things That I Used To Do - G. Love & Special Sauce
Wedding Song No. 3 - Papa M
Romulus - Sufjan Stevens
She's Not There - The Zombies
Honest Mans Blues - The Broken Family Band
Sea And The Rhythm - Iron & Wine
Futurama Theme (techno mix) - Danny Elfman
Asleep In The Back - Brent Palmer
Nashville Cats - Lovin' Spoonful
Twenty Four Hour Garage People - Half Man Half Biscuit
Smoke In Her Eyes - Ty England
If Not For You - George Harrison
Dancing In The Rain - The Rubettes
Rest Awhile - They Might Be Giants (TMBG)
Northbound 35 - Jeffrey Foucault
Stupid Girl - Garrison Starr
Life In A Day - I Am Kloot
Pacific Street - Hem
Two Left Feet - Richard Thompson
Happy Hippy - Ian Dury & The Blockheads
Failures - Joy Division
Richard Cory - version 1 - Them
It'll Be Easier In The Morning - Hothouse Flowers
Grass - XTC
Your Southern Can Is Mine - The White Stripes
It's Looking Good - The Rutles
Alternative To Love - Brendan Benson
Serenade - Emiliana Torrini

Lincoln to London
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
Earrings/Sneezes - Demetri Martin
I Cut Like A Buffalo - The Dead Weather
Squirrel/Can - Demetri Martin
Checkers - Demetri Martin
Automatic Lover - Jay-Jay Johanson
It's Hard To Be Humble - Mac Davis
Batteries - Demetri Martin
Dictionary - Demetri Martin
Mary's Place - Bruce Springsteen
Pirates - Demetri Martin
Sharks - Demetri Martin
Wild Young Hearts (Edit) - Noisettes
Laydeez - Demetri Martin
Ex-girlfriend/Movie - Demetri Martin
Watch for Children - Demetri Martin
Oranges and Carrots - Demetri Martin
The Sweetest Thing - Camera Obscura
Mowgli's Road - Marina And The Diamonds
Naming the Animals - Demetri Martin
Blood Sugar - Pendulum
Tell That Girl To Shut Up - Transvision Vamp
Futon World - Demetri Martin
Peeing In/Into the Pool - Demetri Martin
Readers & Writers - Idlewild
Some More Jokes - Demetri Martin
Gigolo - The Crash
Cactus/Chair - Demetri Martin
Raindrops - Basement Jaxx
Digital Cameras - Demetri Martin
Higher Than the Stars - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Song Away - Hockey
Sports Trophies - Demetri Martin
Lisztomania (Radio Edit) - Phoenix
Sort Of - Demetri Martin
Girls Aint Nothing But Trouble - Fresh Prince (Will Smith)
Can You Give It - The Maccabees
Islands - The XX
The Captain - Biffy Clyro
Drunk Back-seat Drivers - Demitri Martin
Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
Other Jokes - Demetri Martin
Ponchos - Demetri Martin
Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins
Finger Puppets - Demetri Martin
Apologise/Sorry - Demetri Martin
Thanks/Thanks A Million - Demetri Martin
Video Games Hospital - Demetri Martin
Fire at a Trick Birthday Candle Factory - Demetri Martin
Adultery - Little Comets
Let's Go Surfing - The Drums
Cereal - Demetri Martin
You and Me Song - Wannadies
Pinata - Demitri Martin
Bathroom Graffiti - Demetri Martin
Untouched - The Veronicas
I Love Kids - Demetri Martin
Fortnight - Demetri Martin
Cowboy - Kid Rock
Clothing Store - Demetri Martin
Heart Attack - Demetri Martin
Beach, Metal Detectors - Demetri Martin
Benny Hill [TV Theme] - Benny Hill
Crafts/Glitter - Demetri Martin
Street Performer in a Cul-de-Sac - Demetri Martin
Wheels - Foo Fighters
Statues - Demetri Martin
Wrong Number - Demetri Martin
That Golden Rule - Biffy Clyro
Nostalgia - Demetri Martin
Think I Need It Too - Echo & The Bunnymen
Ransom Note Paper Clip - Demetri Martin
Dance Wiv Me (feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome) - Dizzee Rascal
Washing Machine - Demetri Martin
Cheese Emporium - Monty Python
Swimming - Demetri Martin
Bears and Worms - Demetri Martin
Graffiti - Demetri Martin
Are You Ticklish - Demetri Martin
I Want You To - Weezer
Waking Up - Demetri Martin
Vests - Demetri Martin
cash-point - Rhod Gilbert, Edinburgh Fringe 2006
Underdog - Kasabian
My Turn - Basement Jaxx (feat Lightspeed Champion)
To Kingdom Come - Passion Pit
December 1963 (Oh What A Night) - Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons
Spare Change - Demetri Martin
You Can Be Wrong About Boys - Mally Page
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The Drums: Let's Go Surfing

rcrdlbl.com are offering The Drums' catchy, '50s-flavoured synthpop 'Let's Go Surfing' (along with a batch of remixes) for free download.
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China celebrates 60 years of communist rule

The Big Picture reports: [edited]

China formally kicked off its mass celebrations of 60 years of communist rule with a 60-gun salute that rang out across Beijing's historic Tiananmen Square.

Hundreds of thousands of participants marched past Tiananmen Square in costume or uniform, with floats and dancers mingling with soldiers and military hardware. Collected here are photographs of the once-in-a-decade National Day parade in Beijing, and of others commemorating the anniversary elsewhere. (39 photos total)
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Terminator moves one step closer

Wired reports: [edited]

Boston Dynamics is building the “Petman” prototype for the U.S. Army, to test out protective clothing.

“Petman will balance itself and move freely; walking, crawling and doing a variety of suit-stressing calisthenics during exposure to chemical warfare agents,” the company promises. “Petman will also simulate human physiology within the protective suit by controlling temperature, humidity and sweating when necessary, all to provide realistic test conditions.”

Like Boston Dynamics’ BigDog robo-mule, Petman stays upright, even when it’s shoved. And the thing walks heel-to-toe at 3.2 miles per hour, just like a flesh-and-blood person.
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Freerange Stock Images

Freerange Stock...

"was formed with the goal to provide quality stock photos for commercial and non-commercial use. For free. We feel that free stock photos can be good photos."

"Freerange is an advertising revenue supported photographic community - photographers get paid when users click on the ads that appear next to their submissions."
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LIFE archived and online

LIFE Magazine began in 1936, chronicling history using the medium of photography.

Google Books has now made every copy from its first issue to 1972 available online in browseable & searchable format. And the images are free to share, print and post for personal use.

Warning: browsing this stuff can absorb HOURS of your time!

via resourceshelf.com
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Archos 9 Netbook PC Tablet

Register Hardware reports: [edited]

First seen late last month, the Windows 7-based device is available to buy now in the UK for £450. The PC tablet can be bought from PC resellers and direct from Archos, although the manufacturer hasn’t yet updated its website to include the model.

The Archos 9 has an 8.9in, 1024 x 600 touchscreen and is powered by Intel’s 1.2GHz Atom Z515 processor. It has 1GB of DDR 2 memory, a 60GB HDD and access to 25GB of online storage.

The Archos 9 supports 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connections – but not 3G – and data can be transferred over Bluetooth 2.1 or USB 2.0.
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Dam Busters

First shown in 1955, Dam Busters is the story of Barnes Wallis' 'bouncing bomb', its development, the politics surrounding it and the Lancaster crews whose job it was to drop it onto the German hydro-electric dams.

It must be over 30 years since I last saw this film, and I was struck by just how fresh it has remained. Yes, the special effects are laughable. Yes, they picked an unfortunate name for the black labrador. And yes, there is little attention given to the German casualties that resulted from the breaching of the dams.

But for all this, it manages to portray a very human side to the war, the frustrations suffered by Wallis as he struggles to make his invention work, and get funding approved by the authorities. The ingenuity and bravery of the air crews. And the efforts of the hard-working 'ordinary people' who fed and watered them.

I rented it in Blu-ray format, but the (monochrome) image-quality is average, and the picture sits in the middle of a large black surrounding border. Despite this, it is a very watchable film, the music is as stirring as I remembered, and some of the scenes had me doing the 'I've got something in my eye' routine.
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New Macintosh gear

Apple have announced a bucketload of new stuff, including:

- Faster iMacs, including a monster 27" version

- Redesigned faster MacBook

- Faster Mac mini

- New 'no-moving-parts', multi-touch Magic Mouse

for more information, visit Apple.com
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Sand painting awesomeness

Kseniya Simonova won 'Ukraine's Got Talent 2009'. Using a light box, music and sand painting, she movingly interprets Germany's World War II invasion and occupation of the Ukraine.

via Kottke
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