Monday, April 18, 2011

Sphero


GoSphero.com reports: [edited]

The beauty of Sphero is that the function of Sphero isn't determined by the physical device, but by the software that is controlling it. For instance, a RC car is always a RC car, but Sphero could be a game of Sumo, a game of Office Golf, or even a wrecking ball knocking over augmented reality glass towers in your living room.

We chose Bluetooth as the wireless connection for Sphero. All you have to do is pair with the Sphero once and you're all set. The next time you want to use Sphero simply tap it twice to wake it up and it will automatically connect to your phone!

Using an RGB LED light, Sphero can glow in thousands of different colors. Choose your favorite color with the on screen color picker or choose your team color in a multiplayer game of red vs blue. You could set Sphero to glow red when a particular stock goes down and green when it goes up or maybe set it to glow blue if there is a chance of rain and a shade of red depending on the current outdoor temperature.

Induction charging has been commonly used in electric toothbrushes. We have brought the technology to Sphero. No wires are required, nothing to plug in, simply set Sphero down in its charger base and electricity will be wirelessly transmitted into Sphero to charge the batteries.

In a traditional remote controlled device, like a RC car you have two basic controls, front and back, left and right. When the RC car is driving away from you if you turn the control left, the car will turn left, turn the control right, the car will go right. When the car is driving towards you, however, the controls are reversed. If you turn the control left, the car will go right. With Sphero this isn't the case. No matter how Sphero is oriented if you push the control right, Sphero will go right, push the control down and left, Sphero will roll down and left.

Available late 2011. Price approx. $100.
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Sunday, April 17, 2011

London/Somerset/London 16/17-04-11


London to Somerset
Zombie (Dancin' With The Zombie) (cranberries remix) - A.D.A.M. feat. Amy
One More Night - Yellow Dog
Just Dance - Lady GaGa & Colby O'Donis
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter - Herman's Hermits
Gee, Officer Krupkie! - Leonard Bernstein
Price Tag (feat. B.o.B) - Jessie J
Crazy Angel - Kill Hannah
These Boots Are Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra
Cinnamon - The Long Winters
Let's Dance - Chris Rea
Ali In The Jungle - The Hours
Headbutts - John Otway
Dude looks like a lady - Aerosmith
If You Wanna - The Vaccines
Start Choppin - Dinosaur Jr.
Feels Like I'm In Love - Kelli Marie
Louder Than Ever - Cold War Kids
Material Girl - Madonna
Western Sabbath Stomp - Alex Skolnick Trio
Together In Electric Dreams (Ext) - Georgio Moroder & Phil Oakey
Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
You Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
Fun and Games - The Caesars
Dragostea din tei (Mai Ai Hii) - O-Zone
Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
You Might Think - The Cars
Hi-Speed Soul - Nada Surf
The Lone Ranger - Quantum Jump
Lucky Number - Lene Lovich
Tears Of A Clown - English Beat
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk
Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.
Torn (7" Mix) - Natalie Browne
Pearl Harbour - Team America: World Police
If I had Words (Theme from Babe) - Keali'i Reichel
I Can't Wait (extended) - Nu Shooz
Shake It - Metro Station
Everytime We Touch - Cascada
There's Nothing In the Water We Can't Fight - Cloud Control
When She Turns 18 (Radio Edit) - Christian TV
I Gave You My Heart (Didn't I) - Hot Chocolate
White Wedding - Billy Idol
Wipeout - Fat Boys
Moonlight Shadow (DDR) - Inuyasha
I wanna be sedated (Ramones cover) - The Offspring
I Want It All [2011 Remaster] - Queen
Yes Sir I Can Boogie - Baccara

Somerset to London
Dishonest John - The Jim Jones Revue
Breathe In (DJ Encore Remix) - Frou Frou (Imogen Heap vocals)
Happy Birthday - Altered Images
Jilted John [vinyl version] - Jilted John
Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros - Flight Of The Conchords [feat. Rhymenocerous and the Hiphopopotamus]
I Think I Love You - Voice of the Beehive
Burning Love - Wynonna
Blue (Da Ba Dee) - Eiffel 65
Love Shack - The B-52's
Rasputin - Boney M
Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
All The Things She Said - Tatu (t.A.T.u.)
Holing Out - Yuck
I Just Can't Wait To Be King - Jason Weaver
Squealing Pigs - Admiral Fallow
Let's All Chant - Michael Zager Band
Sweet Jane - The Velvet Underground
Where will the dimple be - Alma Cogan
Oh Lori - Alessi brothers
Japanese Boy - Aneka
Good Looking Woman - Joe Dolan
Airplanes (feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore) - B.o.B
Wedding Bell Blues (Marry Me, Bill) - Fifth Dimension
Starstrukk (feat. Katy Perry) - 3OH!3
A Boy Named Sue (Original Uncensored Version) 1 - Johnny Cash
Mirror Mirror (Mon Amour) - Dollar
Finding Out True Love Is Blind - Louis XIV
Little Yellow Spider - Devendra Banhart
Jennifer Eccles - The Hollies
I Felt Stupid - The Drums
Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan
Boom-Shak-A-Lak - Apache Indian
Brændt - Lis Sørensen
Born This Way (The Country Road Version) - Lady Gaga
Hey Mickey - Toni Basil
Doubt - Delphic
Dance Wiv Me (feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome) [Radio Version] - Dizzee Rascal
Punching In a Dream (Single Version) - The Naked & Famous
Last Night - Vitamin C
Who's In Control - British Sea Power
What's New Pussycat? - Tom Jones
The Pretender - Foo Fighters
Big Spender - Shirley Bassey
Lenny Valentino - The Auteurs
Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
I Know What I Know - Paul Simon
The Worst Truck Driver - Jack Grace Band
Some Girls - Racey
Get Away - Yuck
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Friday, April 15, 2011

Scanning the masters


Wired reports: [edited]

A 16-billion-pixel image of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is now online. The digitized version, produced using special techniques designed to protect the fragile painting from damaging light exposure, gives anyone with an internet connection a chance to dig deeper into Leonardo's techniques than ever before.

For a close-up on the workings of a genius, Marani recommended viewers search the Last Supper for the church bell tower and shrubs outside the windows, the patterns and wrinkles in the tablecloth, the reflection of an orange wedge in a pewter plate in front of Matthew and the perspective lines in the upper left-hand corner that lead (imperfectly) to Jesus' eye.

To view the painting, visit Halta Definizione (free subscription required to view highest definition).
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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Hanebrink Electric All-Terrain Vehicle


Hanebrink reports: [edited]

The Hanebrink Electric All-Terrain Vehicle combinrd state-of-the art green technology with an on-demand hybrid electric system and the latest in bicycle technology. Crank the throttle and the 600 watt motor powers the HANEBRINK to speeds up to 20 mph. If you want to go faster, start pedalling.

Three design features help the HANEBRINK achieve outstanding on and off-road performance.

— The widest tyres in the industry. The 20 x 8 inch tires radically increase the surface area where rubber meets road for enhanced stability at all speeds, added traction on rough terrain, and unprecedented float on sand and snow.


— A mid-mounted, bracket supported motor optimizes the vehicle’s center of gravity beneath the rider and enables tight turns, rapid weight shifting, and provides more stability.

— 14 speed gearing tuned for a wide variety of surfaces, grades, and utility applications including a low range capable of carrying up to 300 pounds of bulky cargo up steep terrain or deep into inaccessible areas.


With a single Lithium ion battery, the Hanebrink has a one hour run time and three hour recharge. For longer excursions, the rear rack can be fitted with up to five lithium ion batteries, a run time of over 5 hours and more than 100 miles of riding. The rear rack can hold up to 100 pounds of cargo.

Price: £4,000
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Five Free Fonts


Pablo Impallari is a Php programmer who has recently turned his attention to typography and font development.

Cabin Font is a clear, readable san-serif that falls somewhere between Bliss and Trebuchet. It is available in three weights, including a full set of true italics (unlike Bliss!).

Quattrocento has a 'Roman inscription' flavour. It's no Trajan, but works fine in upper case.

Dancing Script is a pleasant lightweight erm... script.

Terminal Dosis Font is a postmodern sans that falls somewhere between Din and Isonorm... some of the kerning pairs are awful, but it is very readable at small sizes.

The Lobster Font is a bold display script with some pleasant flicks and touches.

For a sample PDF, click here.

And they're all available as webfonts.

Thanks to Conrad for the link
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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Miniot


Miniot produce a range of beautiful wooden covers for the iPhone, iPod touch and now for the iPad 2.

Thanks for Conrad for the link.
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Monday, April 11, 2011

Klhip


Klhip.com reports: [edited]

Average nail clippers just don't get the job done. They're ugly. And tear the nail instead of cutting it.

Enter the Klhip:

- A falling rate cam makes cutting thick nails easy.

- You apply pressure directly over the nail you're cutting. This creates a more comfortable grip.

- Smooth, single blade cutting: Double blades either dull each other or tear the nail. Klhip's single blade cuts so cleanly and precisely that filing isn't necessary.

- 17-4PH surgical stainless steel holds up to a lifetime of use.

Price: $70 (tin case), $95 (leather case)
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Friday, April 08, 2011

Worldometers


Worldometers reports: [edited]

Worldometers is part of the Real Time Statistics Project, which is managed by an international team of developers, researchers, and volunteers with the goal of making world statistics available in a thought-provoking and time relevant format to a wide audience around the world.

Thanks to Mel for the link
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Thursday, April 07, 2011

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc


Register Hardware has published a review of Sony's flagship Android smartphone.

Conclusion:

"Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc is a very classy phone. It looks refreshingly different from other Androids and keeps pace with HTC for usability, but beats the Koreans soundly with a quality camera and a stonkingly good screen."
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Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Free Font - Dan


Font Fabric reports: [edited]

Dan is applicable for any type of graphic design – web, print, motion graphics etc and perfect for t-shirts and other items like posters, logos.
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Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Queen Remastered


The original CD masters of Queen's work were dreadful, with a disappointingly weak and muddy audio quality.

The remastering duties were handed to the excellent Bob Ludwig, and he has extracted a surprising amount of extra detail from the original tapes, while keeping the sound pleasingly 'analogue'.

The extra tracks are demos, which are fun for the devoted fan, but not a compelling reason to purchase.

The first two of the Greatest Hits albums have also been remastered to a similarly high quality.
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Monday, April 04, 2011

iRip 2


The Little App Factory reports: [edited]

Transfer music, and everything else, from your iPod or iPhone to your Mac or PC (PC version available 'soon', Ed.). If you’ve lost the media collection on your computer, you can easily restore all the contents from your device using iRip 2 and its syncing assistant.

Transfer playlists, movies, TV shows, podcasts, photos, ringtones, audiobooks, and e-books (phew). Copy individual items or entire media libraries over, to either iTunes or your desktop for easy archiving.

iRip 2 is not just for media transfer and recovery, it also lets you browse and preview the contents of your iPod or iPhone. Play music right off your device, or view your photos and videos. iRip 2 is a desktop-sized window to your iPod or iPhone.

iRip 2 was designed with convenience in mind. Music and other media are copied directly into iTunes without the need to manually import files. iTunes-specific metadata such as play counts and purchase dates are also transferred over.

- - - - -

For a full review, click here.

You can download a free song-limited trial version, with the full version costing $19.95, or a family pack to use with up to 5 computers for $30.
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Friday, April 01, 2011

Re-Cycle Cardboard Bicycle


FireBox reports: [edited]

It has to be seen to be believed, but riding on the success of their award-winning Paper-Pulp Canoe, German engineers Zeug and Unsinn have created the Re-Cycle Cardboard Bike – set to revolutionise the way we get around city spaces forever!

Made from the equivalent of two hundred red-top tabloids, the Re-Cycle is light, easy to carry and simple to assemble. In the time it would take you to flag down a cab, just follow the step-by-step instructions to pop, fold, score and tear the pieces you need to assemble your bike in a flash. No glue, tape or staples required.

£14.99 with free delivery

Thanks to Sky for the link
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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Free Font - Code Free Font


Font Fabric reports: [edited]

Code free font is applicable for any type of graphic design – web, print, motion graphics etc. and perfect for t-shirts, posters and logos.
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

MIT Lab Creates 'Artificial Leaf'


PopSci reports: [edited]

Today at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society researchers from MIT’s Nocera Lab, led by Dr. Daniel Nocera, claimed that they’ve created an artificial leaf made from stable and inexpensive materials.

The artificial leaf looks nothing like the natural leaf that it mimics, but its inputs and outputs are the same. Made of silicon, electronics, and various catalysts that spur chemical reactions within the device, the artificial leaf uses sunlight to break water into hydrogen and oxygen which can then be used to create electricity in a separate fuel cell.

Placed in a gallon of water and left in the sun, these artificial leaves could provide a home in the developing world with basic electricity for a day, Nocera said.

Scaled and mass produced, something like the Nocera Lab’s leaf could be the key component to shifting toward a hydrogen-based economy. In the nearer term, such technology could at the very least power parts of the globe that are currently off the grid with clean, plentiful, and easy-to-come-by energy.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Media Converter for OSX


Kiwi Fruitware reports: [edited]

Convert almost every input file. Convert avi, wmv, mkv, rm, mov and more to other formats. Some files aren't supported by ffmpeg, but can be decoded with QuickTime®. Media Converter uses movtowav and movtoy4m to decode them.

Media Converter comes with presets to convert to popular video and audio formats. These presets can be fine-tuned in the Preferences. You also can create your own presets.

Media Converter is free and open source.
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Monday, March 28, 2011

Nintendo 3DS FAQ


Register Hardware have published a FAQ on Nintendo's recently released portable console.

'Points-to-note' include:

"The battery life on the 3DS is pretty shoddy, with an average span of 3-5 hours. When playing 2D DS games, that figure increases to between five and eight hours, but it's still a far cry from the DSi, which had a battery life of up to 14 hours."

"All DS games will work on a 3DS, provided they didn't use the Gameboy Advance slot."

"All 3DS consoles are region-locked for 3DS games. DSi enhanced games also remain region-locked, but Nintendo DS games are still region free."
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Friday, March 25, 2011

Panasonic DMC-GH2


Digital Photography Review has published an in-depth review of Panasonic's latest update to their flagship Micro Four Thirds camera.

Excerpt from the conclusion:

"...we're confident in saying that it is the best mirrorless system camera that we've ever tested, bar none. Although the GH2's Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller than those found in cameras like the Canon EOS 60D and Nikon D7000, it runs them both pretty close. Up to ISO 3200 in fact, we'd say that the GH2 can hold its own against any of the current crop of APS-C format cameras on the market, which is high praise indeed."

- - - - -

Brett's 2p'orth: I've been using the DMC-G1 since June 2009, and it is the best compromise between image quality and portability that I have ever owned. Anyone want to buy a G1 body?
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Thursday, March 24, 2011

QuickShot for iPhone/iPad 2/ipodTouch


guicocoa.com reports: [edited]

- Sends pictures to Dropbox as they are taken.

- Uploads continue if app is closed.

- Uploads multiple photos from photo library.

- Retains standard camera features (except HDR, Ed.)

- Customisable upload path and photo quality.

- Photos have their metadata preserved.

Price: 59p

- - - - -

Brett's 2p'orth: Works as advertised, now my default iPhone camera App.

Addendum: Conrad has brought to my attention that QuickShot doesn't support HDR mode.
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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

'Flipback' book


guardian.co.uk reports: [edited]

It is all the rage in Holland, where it was introduced in 2009, and has since sold a million copies. A version has just been launched in Spain, France is next, and the flipback reaches UK shores in June, when Hodder & Stoughton will treat us to a selection of 12 books. They will cost £9.99, and include David Mitchell's 'Cloud Atlas' and Stephen King's 'Misery'.

I am keen to see what the hype is about so I take a pre-released copy on my travels: Chris Cleave's 'The Other Hand'. Nearly 370 pages long in its original format, the flipback version has more than 550 – but still fits easily in my pocket. It's so small that I can perch it in one fist, and keep my other hand free for shopping. How? The paper is wafer-thin.

Unlike an ordinary paperback, the book lies open without intervention on my part, due to its special spine. It's handy on a rush-hour tube, too. Page-turning with paperbacks will see you elbowing your neighbour in the pancreas in no time. But the minuteness of this little beauty, with its pages that flip rather than turn, help me keep my elbows to myself and pancreases everywhere safe.

Is it the new Kindle? Obviously not. It can't hold 1,500 books. But if you want something that doesn't need recharging, and slips into your pocket as easily as a phone, the flipback is worth a try.
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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

My Zeo


MyZeo.com reports: [edited]

Your quality of sleep is central to your quality of life. Zeo is designed to help you analyze your sleep and improve it, so you can be your best every day.

Imagine knowing both the quality of your sleep and the reasons behind it. Every morning, Zeo will tell you your ZQ — a number that summarizes your sleep’s quantity and quality — and lots of other information about your sleep. If you can measure it, you can improve it.

Your ZQ Breakdown shows how your ZQ is based on your total sleep time, your time in restorative Deep and REM sleep, and the disruptions in your sleep. A sleep graph shows how much time you spent in Deep sleep, in Light sleep, in REM sleep, and awake.

Zeo Personal Sleep Coach will help you understand and minimize the factors that negatively affect sleep, so you can take control of your nights. You can use the visual web-based tools to see trends and cause-and-effect patterns.

- - - - -

Brett's 2p'orth: Caveat Emptor!
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Monday, March 21, 2011

ResizeIt


ResizeIt is OSX donationware that allows you to change the size of multiple images simultaneously. It can also convert file formats at the same time. It supports multi-core processors.

For a review, click here.

Available from the App Store, or from the developer's website.
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Friday, March 18, 2011

A Brief History of Title Design

A Brief History of Title Design from Ian Albinson on Vimeo.


The Art of the Title Sequence reports: [edited]

Here’s a short film for the opening of the SXSW “Title Design Finalists Screening”.

via: kottke
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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Fluorescent Silk


New Scientist reports: [edited]

A special diet is all it takes to make a silkworm produce fluorescent silk of a particular hue. After feasting on a mixture of mulberries and fluorescent dye, the worm pictured above produced threads of bright pink silk.

According to researchers at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) in Singapore, the process is "simple and cheap enough to be translated to an industrial scale". Producing such "intrinsically coloured" silks would provide a more environmentally friendly approach for the silk industry, reducing its vast consumption of water and dyes.

Aside from environmental advantages, the technique could also have medical applications. The researchers suggest their work could help create functional silk with antibacterial, anticoagulant or anti-inflammatory properties for use in wound-dressings.

Image: Dr Natalia C. Tansil
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Vetted


Vetted reports: [edited]

Formed in the summer of 2010 by graphic designer Antonio Carusone, Vetted evolved from a overwhelming obsession and passion for well-designed objects.

We provide a curated collection of simple, modern, unique, and sometimes hard to find products that are hand-picked for their superb level of design, function, style, craft and content. Only the best products are sought after, ranging from local brands to companies half way around the world.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

iPad 2 - full review


Engadget have published a full review of the iPad 2.

Conclusion: [edited]

"It might frustrate the competition to hear this, but the iPad 2 isn't just the best tablet on the market, it feels like the only tablet on the market. As much as we'd like to say that something like the Xoom has threatened Apple's presence in this space, it's difficult (if not impossible) to do that."

"Is the iPad 2 a perfect product? Absolutely not. The cameras are severely lacking and its operating system still has significant annoyances, like the aggravating pop-up notifications."

"There's little to argue about in the way of price, and in terms of usability, apps like GarageBand prove that we haven't even scratched the surface of what the iPad can do."

"For owners of the previous generation, we don't think Apple's put a fire under you to upgrade. You've still got a solid piece of gear that reaps plenty of the benefits of the latest OS and apps. For those of you who haven't yet made the leap, feel free to take a deep breath and dive in - the iPad 2 is as good as it gets right now. And it's really quite good."
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Monday, March 14, 2011

Voltitude


voltitude.com reports: [edited]

The Voltitude bike takes the best from city scooters.

- Low gravity centre makes it easy to ride
- Wide wheels adapted to urban hazards
- Powerful hydraulic disc brakes
- Rear-wheel drive
- Integrated anti-theft lock
- Built-in front and rear lighting

The Voltitude bike takes the best from e-bikes.

- Electric pedal assistance
- Zero emission drive
- No license, no registration, optional bicycle helmet
- Free to use all bike lanes

Even though its size and wheelbase is comparable to a normal bicycle, the Voltitude bike can be folded into a very small space such as a locker, cupboard or car boot. Two Voltitude bikes can be stored in a space similar to a European washing machine.
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Friday, March 11, 2011

Weekend Reading, 11-03-11


Stuff that I have found enjoyable/challenging/thought-provoking:

Esquire on a man who spent nearly 30 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Moving, troubling and inspiring.

Wired on how new surgical methods make professional fighters less prone to skin damage.

John Gruber on the iPad 2.
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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Free Font - Rock Salt


Rock Salt has a flowing, rough-edged, hand-drawn feel and, unlike many free fonts, most of the extra characters you need when using it for body text.

Available to download from Font Squirrel
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Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Epitonic


Epitonic reports: [edited]

First launched on March 8, 1999, the site was one of the first ever music discovery and editorial sites. Epitonic posted free and legal MP3s available for streaming and download, working directly with thousands of artists and labels. All of the music was selected, written about, and posted by a staff of young DJs, touring artists, record collectors, and music lovers based in San Francisco and Chicago.

Due to financial difficulties the site went dormant in 2004. A couple of companies tried to revive it but it remained inactive until one of the original founders Justin Sinkovich reacquired rights to the site in 2010. Epitonic then brought together dozens to help revive the site including many of the original staff and dozens of new contributors.

After almost a year of planning and building, Epitonic is officially back, once again helping fans to discover the best in cutting edge music.
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Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Motorola Xoom


ArsTechnica have published an extensive review of Motorola's new tablet.

Excerpts follow:

"Motorola's Xoom tablet is the first device to ship with Android 3.0, codenamed Honeycomb, a highly anticipated new version of Google's mobile operating system. Honeycomb introduces a sophisticated new user interface that was designed for the tablet form factor — a major step forward for Android. Motorola has matched Google's software with a compelling piece of hardware that delivers great performance and reasonable battery life."

"Although the Xoom has a lot to offer, the product feels very incomplete. A surprising number of promised hardware and software features are not functional at launch and will have to be enabled in future updates. The Xoom's quality is also diminished by some of the early technical issues and limitations that we encountered in Honeycomb. Google's nascent tablet software has a ton of potential, but it also has some feature gaps and rough edges that reflect its lack of maturity."

"The Xoom's 10.1-inch capacitive multitouch display has a 16:10 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. The device has 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage capacity."

"The Xoom has a pair of cameras: a 2MP front-facing camera for video chat and a rear-facing 5MP camera with an LED flash. The Xoom's battery is rated for 9 hours of Web browsing and approximately 14 days of standby time. During our tests, we got roughly 7 and a half hours during of battery life during mixed intensive use. The Xoom is launching on Verizon's network and comes with an EVDO-enabled CDMA radio. The device has also has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity."

"If you are looking for the best tablet available today, then look no further than the iPad 2. If you are an Android enthusiast and you want a good tablet that runs the same software as your phone, you should wait a few months for everything to solidify before you decide which Android tablet you want. Don't jump for the Xoom just because it's the first — they rushed it out prematurely hoping to capitalize on exactly that."

via Daring Fireball
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Monday, March 07, 2011

Wingsuits

Exploring the Sky - Wingsuit Flying 2011 from Richard Schneider on Vimeo.


Wired reports: [edited]

The evolution of wingsuit flying, beginning with the extended free fall of a parachutist, has now reached the point where glide ratios of 2.5:1 (which means that it can glide 2.5 feet forward for every foot it descends) are possible. This doesn’t allow wingsuit fliers to travel very far or stay aloft more than a handful of minutes, but they are starting to achieve better control and are beginning to stretch their flights out farther and farther.

For anybody who has had dreams of flying through the clouds, this video gives us an actual glimpse of what it is like. Filmed in California, Florida, Nevada and Puerto Rico, the six-minute clip gives a look at some wingsuit formation flying and the simple joy of human flight.

Video: Richard Schneider

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Friday, March 04, 2011

Paypal Fee Calculator


Ryan Olbe reports: [edited]

Here's my newly redesigned PayPal Fee Calculator, a free web-based tool that allows people to calculate what their PayPal fees would be to receive a certain amount or to reverse calculate their fees to determine what amount a person would have to send them for them to receive a certain amount after fees.
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Thursday, March 03, 2011

iPad 2


- 33% thinner
- 15% lighter
- 2x faster 'a5' processor
- 9x faster graphics
- 2 cameras
- 1080p video-mirroring
- 10-hour battery life
- and a cover that is so clever it made me smile out loud

For more details, click here.

For a hands-on, click here.

For more stuff on Apps and OS updates click here.
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Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Beautiful Chalk Lettering


danatanamachi.com reports: [edited]

Dana Tanamachi is a graphic designer and custom chalk letterer living in Brooklyn, New York.
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Tuesday, March 01, 2011

SXSW 2011 Music


The unoffical SXSW 2011 music bittorrent, comprising 792 files is now available.

For iTunes cover artwork click here.

If you fancy listening to the tracks via the web, visit shoutcast.com.

For more information on the SXSW 2011 events, click here.
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Monday, February 28, 2011

Coal Scavengers


Denver Post has published a photo-journalistic article that is as informative as it is heart-breaking.
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Sunday, February 27, 2011

London/Somerset/London - 26/27-02-11


Georgia - Yuck
Holing Out - Yuck
2 Months Off - Underworld
Our Lips are Sealed - Go Gos
Could Be A Lot Worse - Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes Of Love)
Lately I've Let Things Slide - Nick Lowe
The Real Thing (Wendy And Lisa Slow Jammix) - Gwen Stefani
Mouldy Old Dough - Lieutenant Pigeon
(Shine Your) Light Love Hope - Bob Mould
Tomorrow's News - Malcolm And Alwyn
Happiness - Lisa Germano
Like A River - Kasey Chambers
Summertime - Will Smith
From Hank To Hendrix - Neil Young
The Land Beyond - British Sea Power
Burden Of Shame - UB40
Ugly Love - Eels
Here, There And Everywhere (Beatles cover) - Emmylou Harris
Sunday Papers - Joe Jackson
More Like The Movies - Dr Hook
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Divine Comedy
Time - Sandi Thom
Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
Temple Of Everlasting Light - Kula Shaker
Oxygene 2 - Jean Michel Jarre
Manchild - Eels
My Friends Have - Mary Margaret O'Hara
A Riverboat's Gone/Bumblebee - April Verch Band
Everything Counts - Depeche Mode
A Certain Romance - Arctic Monkeys
The One U Wanna C - Prince
I Want To Be Like Jesus - Chris Falson
This Is Hip - John Lee Hooker
Each Time I Bring It Up It Seems To Bring You Down - Lambchop
Just Remember I Love You - England Dan & John Ford Coley
Island In The Sun - Weezer
Dance With The Devil - Cozy Powell
Ain't Got No - I Got Life (live) - Nina Simone
The Lone Ranger - Quantum Jump
Good Thing - Fine Young Cannibals
Walk Like A Panther - All Seeing Eye Featuring Tony Christie
The Ballad Of Robert Moore And Betty Coltrane - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Dear Sophie - Horse
Your Love Now - th' Losin Streaks
It's Up to You - Various Artists
Blue Jean - David Bowie
Don't Give Up The Fight - The Magic Numbers
Falling Through Your Clothes - The New Pornographers
Ban The Tube Top - Reel Big Fish
Middle School Frown - Josh Rouse
Float - Erin McKeown
Where Is That Girl? - Detroit Spinners
What Can A Man Do? - The Showstoppers
Hangers On - Dan Sartain
Like the Power of a Jet - After The Fire
Sunrise - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Cake
Something - The Blues Busters
Senses Working Overtime - Spacehog
Me and Joe Went Out to California... - Drag The River
You Had It Comin' - The Spades
Fish On The Sand - George Harrison
Blame It On The Rain - Milli Vanilli
I Will Never Be Normal (After This) - Bill Mallonee
Born on a Train - The Magnetic Fields
Flesh For Bones - Terra Naomi
Where No One Stands Alone - Elvis Presley
Kiwi And The Apricot - Keller Williams
If Everybody Looked The Same - Groove Armada
The Battle Is The Lord's - Yolanda Adams
Boot-Leg - Booker T & The MGs
Never gonna love again - The New Faces
Neon Lights - Luna
Rondo Acapricio - Tosca
It's Not The Liquor I Miss - Luke Doucet
The False Husband - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
The Obvious Child - Paul Simon
As Ugly As I Seem - The White Stripes
Straight Tequila Night - Clay Walker
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Friday, February 25, 2011

Apple updates MacBook Pro range


Faster processors (CPU and graphics), a new 'universal' I/O technology (Thunderbolt) that is (potentially) 20 times faster than USB 2.0 and (yawn...) HD FaceTime.

For more information, click here.
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Thursday, February 24, 2011

BT Home Hub 3 ADSL Wi-Fi router


Register Hardware reports: [edited]

When you set up any router it automatically picks the clearest frequency. Trouble is, it’s stuck with it. So if something else pops up that isn’t Wi-Fi friendly, it can cause problems. BT’s latest router has Smart Wireless which aims to take the stuttering and guesswork away. Smart Wireless means the Home Hub 3 can dynamically change what frequency it’s on if it spots trouble. Other routers don’t do this automatically.

It has a neat detail when it comes to passwords. The Home Hub 3 has a plastic fob with the password on that slides out under your thumb easily and is so curiously shaped that you’ll remember it must pop back into the machine when you’ve reacquainted yourself with the code.

Price: £92, £46 for BT customers, free with BT Infinity or broadband contract.
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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Robot Hummingbird


boing boing reports: [edited]

Drone manufacturer AeroVironment has demonstrated their "Nano-Hummingbird" tiny spy plane. The prototype is approximately the size of a real hummingbird, weighs the same as an AA battery, and is outfitted with a video camera. AeroVironment is working on the device for the Department of Defense, 'natch. From PhysOrg:

Manager of the project, Matt Keennon, said it had been a challenge to design and build the spybot because it “pushes the limitations of aerodynamics.” The specifications given to the firm by the Pentagon included being able to hover in an 8 km/h wind gust and being able to fly in and out of buildings via a normal door.

The spybot was developed for the US military's research arm, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The hummingbird appearance is intended to disguise the bot, although it would look decidedly out of place and would attract attention in most places in the world since hummingbirds are not found outside of the Americas.

(The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's) head of the Nano Air Vehicles (NAV) program, Dr Todd Hylton, said the successful flight tests pave the way for new vehicles that resemble small birds and match their agility. The new drone is a departure from existing NAVs, which in the past have always resembled helicopters or planes.
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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

iPhone 8x Telephoto Lens kit


Photojojo reports: [edited]

Each lens comes with a sleek, matte black iPhone case that you twist the lens onto. To compose your shot just twist the grip on the lens' manual focus ring to make it sharp. Then snap!

When you aren't using the lens you can just leave your nifty new case on and slip the lens in your pocket. It's a lens and case in one, always at the ready.

If you're looking for a more composed shot, you can use the collapsible table tripod (included) to steady and focus your photos. It'll come super handy when you're shooting in low-light.

Available for iPhone 3 & 4. Ships 9 March. Price: $35
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Monday, February 21, 2011

Mio Navman V575 TV satnav and Freeview tuner


Register Hardware reports: [edited]

Given that a terrifyingly large number of drivers seem incapable of concentrating sufficiently on the road ahead with nothing more to distract them than a radio or mobile phone. Welcome to the brave new world heralded by Mio's V575 TV, a PND with built-in Freeview receiver.

Mio's pitch clearly is not that you should watch TV while driving, rather the idea is that the kids or the missus can use it when not required for navigation or the driver can watch it when not actually driving. Despite having a Freeview tuner stuffed inside it, the V575 still manages to be reasonably small and light. In fact, the only tell-tale that it works as a telly is the socket for a removable antenna on the right hand side.

The 4.7in 480 x 272 screen is reasonably crisp and colourful and gives little away in terms of acreage to the 5in screens of PNDs like the TomTom 1005 and Navigon 70. If screen size is an issue Mio also offers a 7in version with a resolution of 480 x 800 but at £220 it is significantly more expensive than the V575 on review that goes for £150.
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Friday, February 18, 2011

Weekend Reading, 18-02-11


Stuff that I have found enjoyable/challenging/thought-provoking:

Is Mobile Affecting When We Read?

Based on 100 million articles saved by Read It Later users across all major web and mobile platforms.

- - - - -

UK Debt Bombshell

Depressing but informative

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Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology

Long but interesting article about the film director and screenwriter's decision to leave Hollywood's favourite religion.

- - - - -

If MSG is so bad for you, why doesn't everyone in Asia have a headache?

A great piece exposing the myths and explaining its history.
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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Lendle


Lendle reports: [edited]

The easiest, fastest, fairest and best way to lend and borrow Kindle books.

- Once you sign up for Lendle, you’ll be asked to tell us what Kindle books you own.

- Now you’re ready to borrow books. You may search for the book you’re looking for, or use our Available Now and Recommendations pages to find great books. When you find a book you’re interested in, click the “Borrow” button to request it.

- If a fellow Lendler requests a book you own, you’ll get a notification asking if you want to lend it. When you lend a book, the borrower will have it for 14 days, and then it will be automatically returned to your Kindle.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

emPower Spectacles


The New York Times reports: [edited]

Traditionally, people who hit their 40s often need extra optical help as farsightedness sets in. They may buy bifocals or no-line progressive lenses. But such glasses have a drawback: the lenses that magnify fine print also blur objects more than an arm’s length away when a wearer looks down, distorting the view when on a staircase, for example, or when swinging at a golf ball.

The new electronic spectacles, called emPower, are intended to handle that problem with an unusual insert in the bottom part of the lenses: liquid crystals, cousins to the familiar ones in television displays. The crystals change how the lenses refract or bend light, just as varying levels of thickness do in traditional glasses.

To call up reading power in the new glasses, users touch the side of the frame. Batteries in the frame send a current that changes the orientation of molecules in the crystals. Touch the side of the frame again, and the reading power disappears. Turn it off to hit a golf ball; turn it on to read the scorecard.

The glasses, made by PixelOptics in Roanoke, Va., will be on the market this spring — first in Virginia and North Carolina, and later in the year nationally, said Dr. Ronald Blum, an optometrist and the company’s president. The estimated price, $1,000 to $1,200, will include frames, lenses, coatings and charger.

Thanks to Keith for the link.
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Monday, February 14, 2011

Nissan ESFLOW


Mashable reports: [edited]

Propelled by a separate electric motor on each of its rear wheels, the Nissan ESFLOW is a two-seater that can zip from 0 to 60 MPH in less than 5 seconds. It debuts next month at the International Motorshow in Geneva.

It will use key components from the Nissan Leaf, such as its lithium-ion battery packs. This sportier Nissan will have a lighter and more expensive body made of aluminum and composite materials.

There’s more exotica, including brake and gas pedals that adjust electronically to fit each driver, fly-by-wire steering and video cameras and screens instead of rear-view mirrors.
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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Sunday Soundtrack, 13-02-11


Sycamore - Bill Callahan
Changingman - Paul Weller
Heretics - Midlake
Trampoline - The Grates
The Only Love - The Silos
The Trouble With Poets - Peter Mulvey
You Were Always The One - the Cribs
Ain't No Pleasing You - Chas 'N' Dave
Billion Dollar Baby - Alice Cooper
Furnace Room Lullaby - Neko Case And Her Boyfriends
Alright - Baboon
Gone Daddy Gone - Violent Femmes
Sun Arise - Rolf Harris
In The City - The Jam
One of Us (single) - Joan Osborne
Flash - Queen
Sistersong - Rachael Sage
Mink Coats - Patty Larkin
Cold Missouri Waters - Cry Cry Cry (Dar Williams, Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell
Blackbird - Rosalyn Sweat & The Paragons
Deep (Breathe Mix) - East 17
House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals
When We Was Fab - George Harrison
Herculean - The Good The Bad And The Queen
I Hate Everything - George Strait
Words With The Shaman Pt. 3 Awakening (Songs from the Tree Tops) - David Sylvian
Harrowdown Hill - Thom Yorke
Isis (live) - Bob Dylan
Cornflake Girl (live) - Tori Amos
Never For Nothing - Margaret Becker
When - Kathryn Williams
Snowden - Doves
I Can't Get Over You - Julie Roberts
Hard to Know - Mindy Smith
Let's Go Away For Awhile - The Beach Boys
Twin Cinemas - The New Pornographers
Purple House - Prince
Sympathy For The Devil (Neptune remix) - The Rolling Stones
Run Runaway - Slade
Duke Of Earl - Platters
Old Shep - Johnny Cash
If you think you know how to Love me - Smokie
Sister Madly - Crowded House
Lady Madonna (Love version) - The Beatles
All's Quiet On The Inner City Front - Bruce Cockburn
Distant Sun - Crowded House
Hold On - Good Charlotte
Ma Baker - Boney M
Science Of Silence - Richard Ashcroft
Why Do Lovers Break Each Others Hearts - Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans
Start Again - Catie Curtis
Sky Is Falling - Beth Hart
Lookin' Up - Shelby Lynne
I'd Rather Jack - The Reynolds Girls
I Gotta Get Drunk - The Little Willies
I Keep Forgettin' - Michael McDonald
Love And A Molotov Cocktail - The Flys
Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis
Basket Case - The Moog Cookbook
New York - Stephen Fretwell
Oh By The Way - Minnie Riperton
I Lost You (But I Found Country Music) - Laura Cantrell & Gordon McIntire (Ballboy)
The One I'm Waiting For - Relient K
Song To Woody - Bob Dylan
Silver Platter Club - John Grant
Breakdown - Relient K
Sylvie - Sweet Honey In The Rock
Please Break My Heart - Caitlin Cary
I'm Gonna Dress In Black - Version 1 - Them
Tonite It Shows - Mercury Rev
River Knows Your Name - John Hiatt
Until The End Of The World - U2
I Just Drove By - Willie Nelson
I Walk Away - Crowded House
Kick The Stones - Chris Whitley
Sell Your Hair - Pernice Brothers
How High - Madonna
Dreaming Of Me - Depeche Mode
The Panic Is On - Roy Hamilton
How Many Worlds - Brian Eno
Cowboy Song - Live - Thin Lizzy
So Here We Are - Bloc Party

based on my iTunes *music* smart playlist

(click on image to see full-size version)


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Friday, February 11, 2011

Universal Flu Vaccine Draws Closer


guardian.co.uk reports: [edited]

Scientists at Oxford University have successfully tested a universal flu vaccine that could work against all known strains of the illness, taking a significant step in the fight against a disease that affects billions of people each year.

The treatment – using a new technique and tested for the first time on humans infected with flu – targets a different part of the flu virus to traditional vaccines, meaning it does not need expensive reformulation every year to match the most prevalent virus that is circulating the world.

Developed by a team led by Dr Sarah Gilbert at Oxford's Jenner Institute, the vaccine targets proteins inside the flu virus that are common across all strains, instead of those that sit on the virus's external coat, which are liable to mutate.

If used widely a universal flu vaccine could prevent pandemics, such as the swine flu outbreaks of recent years, and end the need for a seasonal flu jab.
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