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.

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.

Google Unveals Chrome OS

Google has finally gone and done it. After years of rumors, it is finally releasing its own operating system. It will be, in typical Google fashion, Open-Source. Not much is known yet, since Chrome OS is set to release in 2010.

Chrome OS will be "fast, lightweight...start up and get you on the web". This will be a welcome change since other OS's (*cough* Windows) take forever to load because of personal settings, tons of programs, and other crap. Oh, and Chrome will be based on Linux so it will be familiar to other Linux users and will have many of its great applications (OpenOffice, Firefox, etc.).

Chrome OS will most likely largely be based on web apps, using Google's applications (Docs, Wave, Gmail). Hopefully, since it is running with Linux as a base, it will have a large amount of applications it can run offline. With lightweight netbooks in mind, it will most likely use little CPU and hard drive space.

Google already has some sponsors lined up to run this OS, mainly netbook manufacturers. There may never be a Google supported downloaded, a "simple" Os may not be able to handle all the variations in computers. This begs to question whether this Os will ever take off (like Linux). You can read the official post on it on the Google Blog.

Linux turns 15 today

The good ol' geeky OS Linux turns 15 today. Since its first line of code it was made to be great (and under appreciated). Here are some of the things that happened in its life: (from Gizmodo)

"

• 1987: MINIX, the more dangerous and hardcore older brother you've always idolized, was born.

• 1991: Linus Torvalds is pissed he can't access his university's UNIX servers to his liking, so he wrote the code that would become your DNA. Which I guess is better than your parents just getting blind drunk and conceiving you in their Vegas drive-through honeymoon suite.

• March 13 1994: Judging by this pretty hardcore looking log file, your version 1.0 was release on this day 15 years ago.

• 1996: You're two years old, and you already have a logo. Tux the penguin is created.

• 1998: Richard Stallman, kind of like your step dad, shaves his beard. It grows back to the same fullness the next day.

• November 2000: The first Linux-powered cellphone is announced, the IMT-2000 in Korea. It was developed by SK Telecom, Seoul National University and "PalmPalm Technology."

• 2003: IBM releases those creepy ads comparing Linux to a sponge-like kid soaking up all the world's knowledge.

• 2004: Ubuntu's first release. You're going mainstream kind of!

"

Cool Software 2/21/09: OpenOffice Suite

If you have switched from Windows to Mac, you know how frustrating it can be to go without the Microsoft Office Suite. Or, you don't feel like paying to upgrade your old software (especially in this economy). But, there is a free alternative to Microsoft Office, and, in many ways it is better. OpenOffice is an open-source (meaning anyone can get the code for the software) suite of applications. It's made by Sun Microsystems (the same company that makes the widely used Java platform) and is completely free. It has Writer, a text editor similar to Microsoft Word. Calc, a spreadsheet management tool (similar to Microsoft Excel). Impress, a presentation making software (similar to Microsoft Powerpoint). Draw, a drawing application (similar to MS Paint). Lastly, there is Base, a database managment tool (similar to Microsoft Access). Base, though, can use SGL databases, because it is made by Sun Microsystems, that also makes MySQL, the premier SQL database tool, it is far superior to Microsoft Access. Draw is also better in many ways. It can manipulate images, like Photoshop of the Gimp can. Calc, also has a special Scenario MAnager, somethin Microsoft Excel does not. Overall, if you want a new, easy to use, and powerful office suite, or don't like Microsoft, this software is for you. 10/10

You can learn more and download it here.