"One of the more re-occurring bones of contention in the social media sphere is when Twitter will hit the mainstream. Some folks might want to get really picky as to what mainstream means and usually throw up the old grandma defense - hell I’ve even done that on occasion. In fact Jason over at webomatica recently had a well thought out post regarding how to determine if some Web 2.0 service has hit the mainstream."
[via win extra]
"If you live outside of the United States and have just received a Live Mesh invite, your excitement may have been watered by those little words telling you you cannot install the Live Mesh desktop client onto your computer because it is not using US-English. Apparently they didn’t get the message on globalization."
[via i started something]
"This month, Microsoft updated its Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), a suite of desktop management tools that are currently offered only to the company's Software Assurance (SA) customers. As with earlier versions of MDOP, this suite is a must-have collection of valuable utilities--many of which originated at startups since purchased by Microsoft--and an obvious and tangible benefit of Microsoft's subscription-based enterprise licensing program. If you're not taking advantage of MDOP, it's time to take a look."
[via windows super site]
"Did you ever want to get a help file for Gmail, Google Docs or for Google Desktop so you can print it or save it on your computer? All Google services have help centers that include information about features, tutorials, troubleshooting guides, but you need to find the information in a complicated hierarchy of topics or use the search box."
[via google system blog]
"Tech site Ars Technica runs down the basics of securing your home wireless network with the most secure and up-to-date methods. The main takeaway is that when you enable encryption on your wireless router, use WPA encryption instead of WEP, because it's better and stronger."
[via lifehacker]
" In the film, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good with the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart). The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker (Ledger), who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante."
[via superhero hype]
"Here's what some friendly person had to say about how to live life. I can't remember who said this; might have been the Dalai Lama, or Jesus Christ, or Mark Twain, or Oprah, or Allah, or Buddha, Abe Lincoln or my Grandpa, or a British World War II veteran, or somebody like that."
[via le blog exuberance]
"Nothing announces the arrival of a horrible day like a nice, sternly-worded error message on your PC. Some, as everyone reading this knows, are much, much worse than others."
[via cracked]
"Microsoft Corp.'s attempt to take over Yahoo Inc. has become so tortured it may help Internet search and advertising leader Google Inc. grow stronger, undermining Microsoft's main reason for pursing the deal in the first place."
[via abc news]
"Microsoft Corp. world’s largest software maker walked away from its Yahoo bid because both parties had disagreement on price. It will be a setback for Microsoft who were trying to get Yahoo to counter Google in online advertising. They agreed to raise Yahoo bid to $33 per share but Yahoo demanded $37."
[via intology]
"Today at Maker Faire 2008, MacGyver creator (and real life inspiration) Lee David Zlotoff announced he has a big budget MacGyver movie in the planning stages. Zlotoff mentioned he somehow ended up with the movie rights years ago (extremely uncommon), giving him full control over the film. While few specifics were mentioned, and no formal announcement has been made, its extremely promising that the man with the power to make the film is getting the ball rolling. "
[via gizmodo]
"We can't all eat, breathe, and live social media 24x7, as much as we might like to. Some of have day jobs that require a bit of our attention, too. And unlike the web-app embracing startups we read about, the policies at more traditional companies actually discourage mindless web surfing, tweeting, facebooking, and the like. However, there are still plenty of ways to fit in your social media addictions at work, without getting noticed by your nosy co-workers or getting blocked by I.T."
[via read write web]
"Linux only: Flickrfs makes uploading to, downloading from, and organizing a Flickr account just like handling files in a mounted file system. After installing and setting up the link to your account, you can see all your photos separated into tag folders, edit and back up the pics and their metadata, and crop and resize photos on the fly, all reflected in realtime in your online account. The tool works mostly through your native file browser and the command line, but the program's author has created a visual desktop Flickr organizer that links into his app."
[via lifehacker]
"You may have heard of Greasemonkey, the Firefox extension that lets you customize the way a web page displays using small bits of Javascript, but are you using it to its fullest potential? There are hundreds of scripts available for installation from userscripts.org, so it can be difficult to know which ones are must-haves."
[via read write web]
"From managing our to-do lists and writing code to jotting ideas and keeping a grocery list, nothing beats a solid plain text editor. On Tuesday we asked you to nominate your favorite text editor, and over five hundred passionate comments later, we've whittled your nominations down to the most popular. Hit the jump for a look at the editors that made the list, and then vote for your favorite to crown the ultimate text editor."
[via lifehacker]
"The electronic note system is instead based around a digital pen and special pad, which saves your notes as you jot them down on RFID-embedded Post-Its. Software on your PC then does some quick OCR and, according to the inventors, "uses its understanding of the user's intentions, content, and the context of the notes to provide the user with reminders, alerts, messages, and just-in-time information." Since the database can also store location information, sticking the note on a book or other object allows you to locate it later using the RFID tag, and you can even have notes SMS'd to their recipients."
[via engadget]
"Two decades of gaming coverage later, you can imagine my excitement when I heard that Guinness was publishing the inaugural volume of Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition. This is a substantial tome, a large-format, full-color, heavily illustrated 256-page bible of electronically powered amusement. If you care about gaming, something here is going to fascinate you."
[via popsci]
"The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory is sending a spacecraft closer to the sun than any probe has ever gone – and what it finds could revolutionize what we know about our star and the solar wind that influences everything in our solar system."
[via apl]
"Projects vary in scope and size, and the challenges they entail vary likewise. As a lone web designer, the biggest job I am responsible for is FlashDen. Along with thousands of active members all chatting, uploading and buying, the site processes large amounts of money and large amounts of traffic. Designing, redesigning, maintaining and working with developer team has given me some useful insights and tips for making life easier."
[via net tuts]
"The perfect accessory for those of you who love the sun during the day, is the sun jar. Another great idea by Tobi Wong, one of our favorite designers, this jar stores the sun light. No kidding, it really does…
Have it sit in the sun during the day and see it radiate at night. All made possible by modern technology – some LED's, a solar panel and some ingenious thinking. The kind of thinking Tobi is famous for."
[via charles and marie]
"Our gadget-obsessed brothers at Gizmodo report that many AT&T hotspots—including Starbucks and Barnes and Noble—have started offering free Wi-Fi access to iPhone users. With a little ingenuity, the same free Wi-Fi access can be granted to your laptop. Using it from your iPhone, you just connect to the hotspot and give the site your iPhone number. To get the same access on your laptop, the key is to fool the hotspot into thinking your browser is still an iPhone."
[via lifehacker]
"Posters, Magazine Advertisements, Brochures, Booklets, Publishing, Calendars, Greeting Cards, Packaging, Logotypes, Trade-Marks, Letterheads, Exhibitions, Show-windows... Graphic design, illustrations and printed artwork in general."
[via flickr]
"Leading up to Google's first-quarter earnings report on Apr. 17, investors couldn't have been more bearish. They had knocked the stock down 35% since the start of the year, concerned that a weak economy would finally hurt the search giant's advertising business. But Google (GOOG) defied skeptics—and the economic downturn—with a surprisingly strong showing that sent the stock soaring 20% the next day. More than anything, Google's continued prosperity is a testament to its ability to keep innovating, both in search and advertising operations and in new lines such as online office-productivity software."
[via business week]
"No news isn't always good news. Four days have passed since the expiration of Microsoft's deadline for Yahoo to accept its buyout offer or face a hostile takeover.Microsoft declared it would launch a proxy fight to oust Yahoo's board or walk away from the deal if the two failed to reach an agreement by April 26. So far the software giant has not indicated what it will do, although the Wall Street Journal reported that it could make its next move as early as Wednesday. A Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) spokesman said Tuesday the company has "nothing to report." A Yahoo representative also offered no news."
[via cnn money]
"Legends about vampires, so popular among gothic-style fans, have a real base. People that fear daylight, have yellow fang-like teeth, animal-looking nails and are allergic to garlic do exist, not to mention those who merely wear black, gothic jewelry, gets fang implants and bites innocent old ladies while high. By the way, the fact that old ladies are bitten isn’t a myth; in the Kaliningrad region a teenager killed 2 pensioners for a special vampire ceremony. The cruelest accident happened in Great Britain 4 years ago. Then a 17-year teenager slaughtered his female neighbor, teared out her heart and sucked out blood to gain immortality."
[via english pravda]
" For all of Microsoft's denial, the Xbox 360 Blu-ray console rumors just will not die. In fact, they are getting more and more specific. The Chinese language Economic Daily News is reporting that Pegatron, an OEM subsidiary of ASUS, has won the order from Microsoft to assemble the Xbox 360 with Blu-ray Disc ROM drive -- shipments are expected to being in Q3 of this year. Now come on Microsoft, just come clean on the matter, we won't tell anyone."
[via engadget]
"This is NOVA, a 3D LED display, developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich to celebrate their 150th anniversary. Here are some numbers: it is build with 25000 lightballs, each containing 12 LED’s. It can display 16 million colors and 25 images per second. It measures 5 by 5 by 1 meter and it is 3.3 tons heavy. Impressive! So if you happen to go to Zurich, make sure you go and check it out in the train stations main hall, it will be there till September 2009."
[via today and tomorrow]
"Lex Luthor has left the building. And while it might not be a surprise really (Michael Rosenbaum himself told us a year ago this season would be his last) it is still 100 percent sucktacular to the fans who've loved him so dearly. This statement was just issued by Smallville's Powers That Be (producers, CW and Warner Brothers): "It has been an honor and pleasure to work with Michael for the past six seasons. He is one of the best actors on television and has never failed to bring a new layer to the character of Lex Luthor in every episode. While Michael won't be a series regular and we won't have the pleasure of working with him on a weekly basis this fall, we like to think that we haven't seen the last of Lex Luthor. Stay tuned."
[via e online]
"XSketch is a new Ajax/javascript game that lets up to seven users play pictionary with each other. One person gets a word and starts drawing, the other users guess. If someone gets it right, both the drawer and the guesser get points. This is the third game created by Ryan Dewsbury on the Google Web Toolkit (he also wrote a book on the subject). His first effort was a Texas Holdem poker game called gpokr. He then created kdice, a Risk-like online game which was nominated for a Crunchies award last January."
[via tech crunch]
"Time magazine's fifth annual list of the world's most influential people: leaders, thinkers, heroes, artists, scientists and more. What is interesting: The descriptions of each person on the list was written by other famous people and not just the writers at Time."
[via time magazine]
"Soon drivers manuals made out of paper will be a thing of the past. At least that's what DreamCatcher Games and JoWooD Productions are hoping with the upcoming Nintendo DS title Drivers Ed Portable. DS owners who purchase the title will get a complete training system for the written portion of their state's driving exam, along with three smaller gaming elements that have been designed to put those skills to use in a safe, virtual environment. The game isn't limited to the U.S. either--there are also training modes for Canada and most of Europe with localized rules that are then reflected in the mini-games."
[via crave]
"On May 1st, 1964, in the early morning, the world’s first BASIC compiler began to run. The “Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code” was designed to sit on the opposite end of the programming spectrum from the more complex, scientifically based languages of the time, such as Fortran. It really was the first effective programming language designed to be simple to use and understand."
[via geeks are sexy]
"It's here. It's not here. We don't know where it is. Microsoft is having some trouble getting the third service pack release of XP out the door. Despite announcing its availability earlier this week, the company quickly pulled the update due to a last-minute glitch in Microsoft's Dynamic Retail Management System application (RMS)."
[via wired]
"The big news would have to be the voice support and SMS messaging. The video below shows the cool visualizations that users see when they are engaged in a voice conversation, and it’s pretty slick if I may say so myself. The SMS messaging is something that I really like. When you send a message to one of your friends using SMS it will automatically direct the replies back to the messenger, which eliminates the need to grab your cellphone."
[via cyber net news]
"Google is planning to map not only the sky and land masses (Google Mars, Moon, Earth, Google Maps and so on), but – according to a report by News.com – also aims to map the oceans: The company has assembled an advisory group of oceanography experts, and in December invited researchers from institutions around the world to the Mountain View, Calif., Googleplex. There, they discussed plans for creating a 3D oceanographic map, according to sources familiar with the matter."
[via web pro news]
"Freeware application AutoGK rips DVDs to hard drive-friendly DivX and Xvid formats for quick, easy, and high-quality backups. It does so by acting as an automating front-end to several other free ripping and encoding tools, which it automatically installs on your system. We've never featured AutoGK, but a lot of readers swear by it. If you happen to be one of them, let's hear more about your experience with AutoGK in the comments. If you're looking for more DVD-ripping tools, like the previously mentioned HandBrake, check out the five best DVD-ripping tools. AutoGK is freeware, Windows only."
[via lifehacker]
" Okay, so we've been playing with the Psystar Open Computer for a few hours now, and we've formed some early impressions and put together a short video of it in action. We haven't really tried to stress the system yet, but based on our other experiences with OSx86 machines, we're expecting things to generally go smoothly. That said, there are some definite rough patches and issues, all mostly having to do with the fact that OS X isn't really built for this hardware."
[via engadget]
"Orcs, elves and 10 million paying subscribers: World of Warcraft is a PC gaming phenomenon. Three years since its release and the online game is still riding high, but could 2008 finally see it face some competition? Blizzard, the creators of WoW, and their cleverly designed virtual world have blown the Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) genre wide open. Previously a niche gaming offshoot, it is now worth more than $1bn in the west alone.World of Warcraft is primarily responsible for this growth, adding polish and accessibility to the rough template originally developed by pioneers like Everquest."
[via guardian]
"The Open Computer has landed at CNET Networks. My colleagues over at CNET Reviews in New York have managed to get their hands on a review unit of Psystar's Open Computer, and they've got all sorts of pictures to share. For those of you who just woke up, Psystar is selling computers with Mac OS X Leopard as a preinstallation option, which is not part of an official program run by Apple and involves the use of some trickeration in order to get things up and running."
[via cnet news]
"You can't have great science fiction writing without great books about science. Ever since the nineteenth century, when Charles Darwin's classics On the Origin of Species and The Descent of Man took the reading public by storm, popular science writing has been inspiring fictional thought experiments, as well as possibly less-inspiring political debates. What are the science books you should be reading now if you want your brain turned inside-out by weird new ideas that might just change the world for real? We've got 20 brilliant, and brilliantly-written, science books that have already influenced science fiction — or are about to."
[via io9]
"Brain researchers for the first time claim to have found a method for improving the general problem-solving ability scientists call fluid intelligence, otherwise known as "smarts." Fluid intelligence was previously thought to be genetically hard-wired, but the finding suggests that with about 25 minutes of rigorous mental training a day, healthy adults could improve their mental capacities."
[via wired]
"You already know that Firefox is a superior web browser, but you still have to use Internet Explorer on a daily basis. Whether a stubborn IE-only web site or full-on IT lockdown keeps you from using Firefox, things aren't as bleak as they seem: You can cram many of Firefox's best features into the proprietary beast that is Internet Explorer. After the jump, find out how to add bookmark syncing, integrated spell-checking, session management, keyword bookmarks, ad blocking, inline search, undo-closed-tab functionality, and oh-so-much more to IE."
[via lifehacker]
"We took a good look at a variety of OSs, from the Mac to Linux to PC-BSD and beyond, and we rounded up a list of our favorite features--few of which come standard in any version of Windows. We even considered some operating systems of yore, and recalled a couple of cool features that Microsoft still hasn't caught on to. Some of these features simply aren't available for Windows at all, owing to the way the OS is designed. But you can add most of them to XP or Vista with the help of third-party applications, and we'll show you how to get them."
[via pcworld]
"Artificial intelligence (AI) being used at the European Space Operations Centre is giving a powerful boost to ESA's Mars Express as it searches for signs of past or present life on the Red Planet. Since January 2005, Mars Express has been using its sophisticated instruments to study the atmosphere, surface and subsurface of Mars, confirming the presence of water and looking for other signatures of life on and below the Red Planet's rocky terrain."
[via esa]
"One technology, though, resurfaces every few years and makes it to market, only to disappear into the morass of nostalgia soon after. These are 3-D displays, attempts to turn boring old flat telly into a depth-charged experience. Some products failed because they were junk, others just fade from view and resurface years later. This is a list of the most notable flops."
[via wired]
"Yahoo wants to turn itself into one big social network-driven site, and simultaneously open many of its core services to get users and developers thinking of Yahoo as their Internet hub. They’ve been talking about parts of this since last November. First were details about how webmail will serve as the social networking hub, followed by more tidbits in January. In March they joined the Google-led Open Social initiative. And they’ve made a series of announcements around Search Monkey which will allow third parties to enhance Yahoo search with structured data."
[via tech crunch]
"In this tutorial I will show you how to create a crazy explosion, like a mix of Magneto's ability with Peter Petrelli's power. We will use images and filters to produce this wave explosion effect. Even though it may look like a difficult tutorial, it's really not that hard."
[via psdtuts]
"Every web designer has a need to create invoices and track payments that have been received or have not yet been paid. Fortunately, there are a number of tools that can streamline this process, and we’ll look at 20 options here. There is a good deal of variety in terms of features and pricing. Some are better suited for organizations that have several employees, while others may be a good fit for a freelancer. Some of these tools will simply help you to create attractive invoices and other will extend further into the area of accounting software."
[via six revisions]
"If you’re looking to improve a website by using Photoshop to enhance a photo to make it clearer, more interesting, or more exciting, here are 45 of the best tutorials to show you some of the possibilities."
[via vandelay design]
"Lego is a world mania for sure. From kids to adults, it is the toy of choice to thousands, probably millions of people world wide. And when it comes to cool creations, we find awesome stuff really easy."
[via abduzeedo]
