Random Things

Organize your Life - Design an Online Workflow

2006-06-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

There are countless wonderful, free, online tools out there that help you with productivity, and give you a pretty good way to manage your projects, your small business, and more. But how do you design your workflow, such that you actually make use of the tools consistently, and to their best effect?

read more | digg story

Giant MP3 LED DIY Display

2006-06-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

You gotta see the pics! "To build your own nifty “Giant MP3 LED Display”, you’ll need lots of 128×64 two-colored LEDs, approx. 80×40cm panel, 110A/5V = 550W power input, an Ethernet interface, and a 16-MHz ATmega128 processor. Full instructions here."

read more | digg story

WIRED: A Speedboat that Really Hauls Ass... Literally!

2006-06-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

"It can be a real pain in the butt. Just ask Peter Bethune, who's powering his speedboat with biodiesel made of fat from his backside. Of course, nobody's butt is big enough to sustain a 27,600-mile journey. Bethune's contribution amounts to only a liter of fuel; the rest comes from vegetable oils and other animal fats."

read more | digg story

Xbox Live Update Brings Major Enhancements!

2006-05-26T17:38:00.000-07:00

A list of features that will be added/changed. "I just got off the phone with Microsoft. They walked me through what features the Live update will include and said it will hit next Friday. The update includes major music and DVD playback tweaks, adding the ability to conduct downloads in the background and boot to the console's dashboard."

read more | digg story

LED Touch Sensor Project

2006-05-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

"This is a collection of the work I’ve done with using the bi-directional properties of LEDs. I have also included links to information I’ve found on the subject and the project by an NYU research that inspired me"

read more | digg story

Collection of 1100+ found grocery lists

2006-05-11T17:55:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what happens to your grocery list after you're done with it? Apparently, this guys collects them and has a scanned collection of over 1000 grocery lists.

The Future Home - Part Yacht, part submarine

2006-05-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the future. Part Yacht, part submarine, the Tribolis designed by Italian architect Giancarlo Zema is a 20 mt long semisubmerged floating home which can accomodate 6 people.

See the World Through the Eyes of a Baby

2006-05-10T20:50:00.000-07:00

A group of visual researchers have come up with a method that alters pictures so that they look like what babies see. (Just ignore that terrible phrasing and take a look at the picture to understand better.)

read more

Hidden LCD Mirror

2006-04-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

I want this for my bedroom!

read more | digg story

Spectacular Mammatus Clouds

2006-04-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

An amazing gallery of irregular cloud formations. A must see!!

read more | digg story

Lego Counterstrike

2006-04-09T17:02:00.000-07:00

Lego goes counterstrike!

read more | digg story

World's Fastest Electric Car To Be Unveiled on April 14th!

2006-04-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

Lithium ion batteries and solar panels are the secret ingredients in Hybrid's LiX-75 pricey eco-sports-car which is set to be unveiled at $125,000 on April 14th. The LiX-75 is basically a modified “Mullen GT”, fitted with solar panels.

read more | digg story

Awesome PC MOD (pics)

2006-04-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

This is an awesome collection of different PC mods submitted by various users all over the place. check out the pics.

read more | digg story

Shoes made from grocery bags

2006-04-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

A pair of shoes made entireley out of grocery bags. Worth checking out the pics.

read more | digg story

Your Next Coffee Table Could Let You Browse The Web

2006-03-27T09:13:00.000-08:00

The DiamondTouch table is a multi-user, multi-input panel that is touch-and-gesture activated.The table has a multitude of uses, some of which include the ability to play video games and parlor games. Along with gaming, the table could also be used for map manipulation and business-related work.

read more | digg story

World’s Most Expensive Cars (PICS)

2006-03-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

A cool collection of the world's most expensive cars.

read more | digg story

One Step Closer to Neuromancer - Brain to Computer Interfaces

2006-03-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

Researchers in Berlin has developed what is essentially a "mental typewriter" that can identify and process commands from the brain and implement them on a computer screen.

read more | digg story

Cingular to Launch New Video Service Tomorrow!

2006-03-06T23:45:00.000-08:00

This will give users access to the Cartoon Network, Fox News, NBC and HBO (for an extra $5 a month).

read more | digg story

Sports Hybrid, Runs on Soybeans, Zero-to-60 in 4 Seconds, Built by Kids

2006-03-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

Check out the pics!

note: linked to blog because actual website is horrible and cluttered.

read more | digg story

10GBs of High Resolution Wallpapers

2006-02-10T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well I stumbled upon this great website that has 90 pages of great quality wallpapers...

read more | digg story

Gooogle Video Hosting Superbowl XL Commercials

2006-02-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

Looks like google has decided to set a page for just the superbowl commercials...

read more | digg story

The wrong number scam!

2006-02-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

This is a good warning from a government site about a new scam.

read more | digg story

We've all paid for 45Mbps to our homes, now demand it!

2006-02-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

U.S. Telcos have ripped us off. They've promised the people of the U.S. fiber to the curb and because of that they've gotten all kinds of rate increases approved and breaks from the government. It's time we demand our broadband!

read more | digg story

Bill Gates too rich for tax computer to handle

2006-01-31T16:02:00.000-08:00

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the world's richest man, said the tax office in the US has to store his financial data on a special computer because his fortune is so vast.

read more | digg story

New music I've discovered

2006-01-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, you buy a CD that's just near absolute perfection. This is one of them. Bebel Gilberto is her name, as is the album's name. If her music doesn't remind you of a cool summer breeze, I don't know what will. If you like bosa-nova like, "loungy" music, pick this one up for those lazy days.

Tracks to try: Jabuticaba, Simplesmente.

Browse the web on almost any mobile phone: Opera Mini released worldwide!

2006-01-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

"Opera Software today announced the worldwide release of Opera Mini, the full Web browser that runs on almost every mobile phone, including low- and mid-end handsets. Today's global launch follows the trials of Opera Mini in the Nordics and in Germany during the fall of 2005, which resulted in a user base of over one million people."

read more | digg story

Awesome Historic Archive of old Technology Reviews/Shows

2006-01-23T18:32:00.000-08:00

This site is pretty cool. Do you remember DOS? Windows was still in the 3.0 version in the early 1990s and was basically a front end to this version of DOS. PC users were trying to decide whether to stick with the new version of DOS or migrate to Windows.

Other reviews: http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=subject:%22%20ibm%22

read more | digg story

What Technology Will Be Like in 2001

2006-01-21T14:44:00.000-08:00

...according to a 1989 Compute! Magazine article: scan the custom newspaper that spills from your fax; capture segments of a show you like and put them in a video report for school for $1,000; ISDN will simultaneously transmit voice, video, and computer data. You'll talk to your TV set, and it'll customize itself...

read more | digg story

Blu-Ray Output Will be Downconverted By Hollywood

2006-01-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

Hollywood wins again. Want to record 1080i HD signals? Well, screw you! Hollywood has negotiated a deal whereby hardware manufacturers are required to down-convert the analog output in next gen players. "analog signal must be “down-converted” from the full 1920x1080 lines of resolution the players are capable of outputting to 960x540 lines"

read more | digg story

Surface Photos of Venus

2006-01-19T09:45:00.000-08:00

If you have never seen the pictures that the Soviet landers took when they landed on the surface of Venus, here are some beautiful pictures for the time (1975-1976).

read more | digg story

Exquisitely Designed 1920x1200 Wallpaper, Inspirational!

2006-01-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

Exquisitely designed Wallpaper, with sizes varying from 800x600 to 1920x1200. Really stylish illustrator and photoshop designs.

read more | digg story

Build your own TiVo box

2006-01-16T11:22:00.000-08:00

Ever had the urge to build your own TiVo box? Here is how to do it. Instructions on how to build a better DVR out of an old PC.

read more | digg story

Theaters boycott experimental 4 day DVD release window

2006-01-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

This is upcoming soon, but theaters are already having a fit and boycotting the movie in their theaters. Figures... Just for the sake of promoting this new release schedule, i'm going to get this over on-demand the night it releases.

read more | digg story

A Photoshopped Magazine Cover

2005-12-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

"This demo goes through all the steps and shows you before and after changes of a girl on the front of a magazine. It's amazing what you can do with photoshop. By the way this is not just the usual before and after pictures it shows you how things changed, how they did it, and what it naturally should look like..."

read more | digg story

Best Buy's response to Xbox 360 bundling complaints

2005-12-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

A lot of gamers at best buy got screwed due to scams by the managers to exploit buyers who were eager to get thier hands on a 360. Looks like best buy is comming clean...

read more | digg story

Coolest USB Peripheral Ever... USB Air Darts

2005-12-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

Coolest usb toy ever!

read more | digg story

Abusive New York Camera Store Threatens Blogger

2005-11-30T10:58:00.000-08:00

"I will make sure you will never be able to place an order on the internet again." "I'm an attorney, I will sue you." "I'm going to call your local police and have two officers come over and arrest you." Just a few of the fun things I got to hear today from someone who said his name was Steve Phillips over at PriceRitePhoto.

read more | digg story

Xbox 360 Console Camping

2005-11-21T17:08:00.000-08:00

This guy, just like many others, didn't pre-order the new XBOX and will be camping out at night to be the first ones to get his hands on the XBOX360 this evening. His plan of attack? "(1) Midnight launch at a rural Tennessee Walmart, (2) 7am voucher handout at Circuit City, and (3) 9am last ditch attempt at Best Buy." Check out his blog as he posts live.

Xbox 360 Console Camping

What am I listening to this week?

2005-11-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

I heard Madeleine Peyroux on the radio the other day and discovered her music. I think she's awesome! If you like Ella Fitzgerald, you'll love her. One of the best tracks is "Dance me to the end of love." Check out her CD on amazon (or where ever you buy music).

Kotaku has an XBOX360

2005-11-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

They've just received a xbox360 and are posting reviews of it as they put it through its paces. Check it.

read more | digg story

Music Selling Delimma: iTunes

2005-11-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

While I'm not vouching for this particular artist, I'm all for supporting small, talented, independent artists who are all just trying to make it in a very competitive industry. Here's story of a small-time musician who's getting seriously exploited. See the link for complete story:

This is real: I produced my CD back in 1999 and signed-up to sell my product online at CDNOW.com. Amazon bought CDNOW and life went on. I now see that my CD is listed at iTunes. And we won't get one red cent!?

read more | digg story

"Project Offset" is a game like no other first person shooter to date!

2005-11-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

This is the coolest game I've ever seen based entirely on a new next gen engine. Check out their high resolution trailers on the downloads page. This will surely be the next killer game!

read more | digg story

Amazing FREE streaming music service reads your mind!

2005-11-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

Enter your favorite artist and Pandora creates a playlist of music that is eerily and accurately similar. Sound quality is great and it runs inside your browser...what more can you ask for? Been dug before, but it used to cost $$$. Now it's free!

BusinessWeek: How digg Uncovers the News

2005-11-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite website and chances are that nowadays if I'm on the internet, I'm on the digg.com website. Very cool stuff.

Founders Kevin Rose & Jay Adelson were recently interviewed by BusinessWeek about the growth and history of digg. A must read!

read more | digg story

Sony sued by State of California over DRM Root Kit

2005-11-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

Well, Sony is on the hot plate now, sued by the state of California for having the DRM Root Kit. It seems that it violates several California laws. If this goes through, they may not be able to sell these CD's in California at all.

read more | digg story

Are games finally going to have true deformable terrain?

2005-11-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

Are games finally going to have true deformable terrain?: "Very cool stuff for gamers! An interview with Ageia, a company that is releasing a Physics Processing Unit (PPU) add in card to offload physics work from the CPU. In the article they talk about 100x-1000x the current ability for physics controlled models in games."

Three million Xbox 360s in three months

2005-11-08T16:08:00.000-08:00

Three million Xbox 360s in three months: "Straight from Micro$oft. Sounds a bit contradictory to the stories of XBOX 360 shortages, but it seems promising for XBOX 360 fans who thought they might be left hanging without a new console in the short term..."

Check Airfares in Google!

2005-11-04T11:36:00.000-08:00

Google School: Check Airfares:

When you google for the names of two major cities, Google automatically offers to search for flights. For example, you might google Denver Fort Lauderdale. In the form labeled 'Flights from Denver, CO to Fort Lauderdale, FL', enter a departure and return date and choose whether to search using Expedia, Hotwire or Orbitz. Do not use quotation marks in your initial search. Denver 'Fort Lauderdale' will not bring up the flight search form.

Play del.icio.us music on the page

2005-11-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Play del.icio.us music on the page: " Social bookmarking site del.icio.us has added play-on-the fly link next to bookmarked music files so you can listen to the tracks without the trouble of downloading each and opening your music player. The Flash-based audio player appears as a little triangular 'Play' button next to each audio file. Check out del.icio.us' most popular bookmarked audio files, choose a link (the Baby Got Back cover is highly recommended) and press play. Voila! You're listening to a new tune, no muss, no fuss. Use del.icio.us tags to check out different genres or artists, like rock or eminem. we rock! [del.icio.us blog] "

Super Clean Vector Desktop Wallpapers

2005-11-04T10:10:00.000-08:00

Super Clean Vector Desktop Wallpapers: "Art work by David Lanham. His illustrations are pretty unique and off-the-wall. All Wallpapers are High Quality and available in Wide-screen and Full screen. Awesome!

Free Netflix membership upgrade

2005-11-03T23:07:00.000-08:00

Free Netflix membership upgrade:

CNET reports that Netflix members are eligible for a one month free upgrade to their subscription service due to a proposed class action settlement:

Current Netflix subscribers who joined prior to Jan. 15, 2005, are entitled to a free, one-month upgrade in their service plans. For instance, subscribers with plans that allow for three DVDs at a time would be able to get four. Subscribers who joined prior to Jan. 15 and canceled before Oct. 19 are eligible for a free, one-month membership.

BUT, upgraders beware, here's the gotcha:

After a month of free benefits, the company will begin charging subscribers regular rates for the upgraded or renewed services, unless they proactively cancel or modify their plans.

So, Netflix members, get your upgrade, but be sure to downgrade at the end of the month.

Update: Yeah, the terms of this settlement are really quite crappy. Find out more and how to opt out at The Netflix Settlement Sucks.

Jack the Ripper to be ID'd soon

2005-11-03T22:56:00.000-08:00

Jack the Ripper to be ID'd soon: "With the wonder of modern science we may soon know who Jack the Ripper really was!"

Teens get busted attempting to ransom stolen iPod

2005-11-03T22:35:00.000-08:00

Teens get busted attempting to ransom stolen iPod: "

We can partly forgive these thieves’ stupidity due to their youth, but how dumb do you have to be to steal someone’s iPod and then try to extort a ransom for its return? Well that’s exactly how two 16-year-old braniacs from West Philly got busted yesterday, after they arranged a meeting with the woman whose apartment they had just robbed. Cops sent an undercover officer posing as the victim to meet with the young crooks, and were easily able to apprehend them even after these masterminds twice changed the rendezvous point by several blocks. No word on what kind of ‘Pod was kidnapped here (since the ransom was $100, it would top it all off if it ended up being a Shuffle), but it was returned to its owner unharmed, and the robbers are being charged with theft, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property. Also, we have to wipe the egg off our face here, as this unfortunate situation could have been avoided altogether had the victim employed the for-home-as-well-as-on-the-go PodLocker from Think Products, which we may have prematurely harshed on the other day.

[Via iLounge]

Welcome

2005-09-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

If you vote for me, your wildest dreams will come true.

Stay tuned.