Fun with Arduino

I have recently acquired an Arduino micro controller (by purchasing it) and have been using it to make all sorts of useless but still cool things.  See video below for the aforementioned awesomeness.

Why has the internet has "latched on" to the Vuvuzela?

Today, Youtube added a  button to it's video interface (it looks like a soccer ball) that, when pressed, produces the joyous music that is the vuvuzela.  The vuvzela is a small trumpet-like instrument that is played in Africa for celebration, and to annoy those around you.  No one really took notice to this small, incredibly annoying pitiful excuse for an instrument until the World Cup in South Africa.  When the games started many South Africans played vuvuzelas, much to the dismay of the other people in the stands.  See, the vuvuzela emits an ear-shattering 120dB of sound pressure.  That is almost as much as a jet engine.

  A typical vuvuzela

But, because the internet is full of people that latch on to anything remotely annoying and obscene, the internet community has gone crazy with vuvuzelas.   As previously stated, Youtube added a vuvuzela button that adds the glorious sound to any and all videos.  Also the popular imageboard 4chan added the wonderful sound of the vuvuzela to its website, much to the dismay of its users.  Several news reports have been aired about the vuvuzela.  Their is even talk of them being banned from the World Cup.  But yet the videos about the vuvuzela and the annoying "bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!"  continues from all corners of the internet.  

An image making fun of the vuvuzela noise on 4chan

Apple's Prototype iPhone LEaked

Gizmodo has got their hands on the iPhone 4G, which was apparently lost at a bar in Redwood City.  It was camouflaged to look like an iPhone 3GS, but it is the real thing because Apple wants it back.  There is a new for factor, volume buttons, front-facing camera, and it uses micro-sim cards.

Apple Sends out Invite for iPhone OS 4.0 Reveal

Apple Has sent out this invite today.  So, in 3 days we will find out what they've been cooking up.  Could OS 4.0 have multitasking? or iBooks for iPhone? We'll find out soon.

Cool Site of the Week: Topeka

Google-erm Topeka, is a new company that is using google's domain name, google.com.  It looks like google, searches like google, even emails like google.  But wait, it's actually google's new name!  Apparently a town in this strange land called Kansas (I think its in Japan?) renamed itself from Topeka to Google in order to convince Google to give them their new fiber optic network.  So, Google in turn renamed itself Topeka. 

This new Google has some really cool and innovative features.  Topeka has an Email client similar to Gmail, and with many of its cool features.  It can, incredibly, send and receive email in minutes!  You can even send images!
It also has a remarkably extensive search feature.  You can search the ENTIRE internet for images, websites, even video.  I can now find videos of cats playing the piano in a matter of seconds.  I don't know how I could live without this!  You can also search Topeka Maps to find places and streets just by typing in the address! 

So that's this weeks innovative and brand new website Topeka.  And remember, happy  April Fools Day.

Sneak Peak at iPad Dashboard App

Yesterday I posted a video showcasing the iPad App Store.  Well new video has surfaced showing the iPad's Dashboard widget application.  Who says the iPad doesn't run widgets?

Sneak Peak at iPad App Store

If you were lucky and preordered an iPad before Apple ran out, you may be itching to see the App Store in action.  If so, maybe this will help you through the difficult wait until iPads arrive.

Cool Site of the Week: My Life is Average

I figured Friday would be a good day to post this since it will have you hooked all weekend.  This cool site of the week is long over due., it's the amazing Mylifeisaverage.com!  The whole site centers around providing short, almost tweet-like stories of average days.  Well, if coloring books and Harry Potter are average. The site has a kind of cult following of not-so-average people. Most of the stories are like they were written by children, but in a good way.

Dell "Streak" Tablet Flyer Shows a Rainbow and Amazon Partnership

Dell's tablet isn't exactly a secret.  It is most likely going to run Android, have a 5 megapixel camera and front facing camera, and a 5 inch tough screen.  But, according to these leaked internal documents show it will have a rainbow of wild colors, just like Dell's line of netbooks.  And, it will also apparently have Amazon MP3 music store, a Kindle app, and Amazon's digital movies.  It will also hopefully have the Android marketplace for a slew of apps.  Right now the Dell Streak looks a lot better then the iPad in my book, literally.
(info from Engadget)  

Weekly Time Waster: Tetraform

Tetraform is a unique game, you must crash ships together using magnetic pull to protect your planet.  The goal of the game is to have your planet survive through all the levels by crashing ships together using magnetism, but doing so before the get attracted by YOUR magnetic field.  The game is simple but gets very hectic as the levels progress.  

Facebook dabbles in Webmail with Project Titan

Let's face it, Facebook messaging, well, stinks.  There have been small upgrades here and there but it is still not useful.  But, according to Tech Crunch, Facebook is retooling the code to make it like a Webmail client.  Could this be a Gmail killer?

iPad Pictures and Pricing

Apple has released the official photos of the iPad and has put up a page for it on the Apple website.  The iPad will cost $499 for a 16 GB version with WiFi only, $599 for the 32GB WiFi-only version, and $699 for 64 GB WiFi-only version.  3G and WiFi versions will cost an extra $130, so the 16GB Wifi+3G version will $629 for example.  The WiFi only units will start shipping in March and the 3G and WiFi versions will start shipping in April.  This will also feature the iBooks store, which is Apple's eBook store, and it means Apple is going toe-to-toe with Amazon.

The iPad is Real: Oh yes it is!

It turns out Apple showed us the iPad.  It looks like a big iPhone with acustom interface.  It canruniPhone apps, but in a little window.  But, I now know what I want for Christmas in July gift. Specs after the jump.

Could this be the leaked iPad Ad?

A video appeared on Youtube a little while ago that appears to be an ad for the iPad, the supposed name for the Apple Tablet.  It is certainly in Apple style, but the tablet looks a little to bulky to be made by Apple.  Video after the jump.

Apple Announces January 27th Event

Apple has officially announced its January 27th, invitation-only, event.  The event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Fransisco.  The invitation sent to journalists (me not one of them...) reads "Come see our latest Creation."  Could this be the Apple Tablet announcement? Or, will that be a "one more thing" at another date.

Nexus One Released on T-Mo, Verizon in Spring

It's here, finally, here.  The worst kept tech secret this year, the Nexus One, is here.  You can get it at google.com/phone, that's right, Google is selling this online-only for once.  Right now you can only get the device with T-Mobile for $170.00 or without a contract for a whopping $529.00.

It's really what we've come to expect from an Android device specs-wise, a 1 gHz processor, 5 megapixel camera, 3.7 inch capacative LCD screen.  But, one interesting thing, is unlike the iPhone it doesn't have a multitouch screen.  It does have a lot the iPhone 3GS doesn't though; LED flash, up to 4GB MicroSD card slot, and it can run on any network that uses a SIM Card.  So, I guess the 'Droid does...sort of...

What makes this phone unique, is the Android 2.1 software it runs, the "true" Android I wrote about earlier.
This is not much different then the 2.0 firmware the Droid uses, except it integrates Google Voice a lot more and is sleeker and prettier.

The Nexus One also has a 3D aspect to it, able to browse menus in 3D, hopefully developers will have access to this.  The Nexus One also has a Voice-To-Speech feature for every text field.  But, from what people are saying, its doesn't work as well as it should.

Ultimately, I don't think the Nexus One is the iPhone-Killer it was made out to be, but it is the best Android phone on the block right now and leads it one step closer to the iPhone's heels.  The Nexus One will land on Verizon this Spring.

January 26th Apple Event Confirmed

According to Fox News, a big event that will "focus on mobility space".  Hopefully this will be the fabled Apple Tablet.  Apple has apparently taken out a domain called islate.com.  So, hopefully, we'll see the "iSlate" on January 26th.

New Flight Rules Restrict Electronics: Oh boy...

After the failed terrorist attack on a US-bound plane from Amsterdam, the TSA has tightened restrictions, yet again.  The new rules are, reportedly, no electronics on a case-by-case basis, cavity searches if deemed necessary, and no getting up the last hour of the flight.  Keep in mind this only applies to international US-bound flights but it's still absurd.  This person didn't even use any technology he tried to light his groin on fire!

RUMOR:Google Phone May be on the Horizon

No, I'm not talking about Google's Android OS. I'm talking about a full-fledged, Google made device. Sources from Gizmodo say that a Google-made Android based device is "a certainty". The sources also say that it is running a new version of Android "that has never been seen before".

Google Chrome OS First Look: Google has officially taken over computers

Google's long-fabled operating system has come to fruition, well, at least is in a working state.  Today, Google released its first glimpse at Google Chrome OS, and so far, I like it.