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Void in life filled by Mario toys
This is quite an incredible grotto of everything Nintendo, and whoever squirreled all this away over the last few years must have some kind of small rodent gene in them. TechDigest sadly doesn't give any more details on the rather scary picture, but I thought at least some of you would enjoy the meserising geek-fest pictured nonetheless.
Update: Geekfest (linked from the site) have even more pics - turns out the picture above is only *one side* of a whole incredible roomful... This is quite an incredible grotto of everything Nintendo, and whoever squirreled all this away over the last few years must have some... more -
Roundup of New MacBook Rumours
TechDigest gives a last-minute roundup of new MacBook rumours ahead of Apples big 'notebook' event tomorrow.
It turns out that the lastest goss, apart from possibly more affordable machines to be put on the market, is that Apple could be dumping Intel's integrated graphics chipsets in favour of a NVidia chipset, which is supposed to be smaller, faster and more versatile than Intel's integrated graphics chips. There's also likely to be some more metal touches, like the current PowerBooks, as well as it becoming a slightly smaller (so probably lighter) machine.
Real, non-rumour details are expected tomorrow just after midday, after an announcement from Apple. TechDigest gives a last-minute roundup of new MacBook rumours ahead of Apples big 'notebook' event tomorrow. ... more -
Legal vs Illegal music downloads now 51% to 49%
techDigest posts some rather interesting statistics today, revealing that after 10 years of tough and painful struggle, legal music downloads have finally overtaken illegal downloads, just - and at least according to a survey.
The survey results suggest that 51% of web users now download music legally, through services such as iTunes rather than through less legit means. It is thought that this could in part be due to the heavy-handed tactics ISPs have been using - sending scary letters to users telling them to stop illegally downloading - 75% of the 1500 people surveyed said this would be enough to stop them downloading. The other 25% presumably said that they'd prefer to go down in a hail of bullets.
Apparently most of the illegal downloading now is being done by the "youth of today".
I guess it's easier to turn to illegal downloads when all those one-click options are denied to you because you don't have a credit card... techDigest posts some rather interesting statistics today, revealing that after 10 years of tough and painful struggle, legal music do... more -
Visit China's Forbidden City — as a Virtual Eunuch
Culture fans thousands of miles from Beijing can now visit its famous Forbidden City, through a three dimensional recreation of the vast palace that also allows them to dress up as an imperial eunuch and meet a courtesan.
One of the jewels in China's cultural crown, the sprawling complex in the heart of the capital already gets tens of thousands of real-life visitors each day.
But now online tourists can also watch the Qing dynasty emperor feast at dinner, train fighting crickets and feed them with blood-fattened mosquitoes, or practice archery with the help of a courtesan.
At the virtual palace, unveiled on Friday, they can also dress up as part of the huge imperial entourage.
"When you enter the Forbidden City you choose one of nine historical costumes, which is to give a sense of history but also keep a sense of decorum," said John Tolva, program manager at IBM who led the project, dubbed "Beyond Space and Time."
"You can't run and you can't fly," he added, a restriction that aims to prevent other virtual visitors, whom you can see and interact with, being distracted.
The program does not shy away from the racier sides of imperial history, shaped in part by the legions of eunuchs who controlled portions of court life and could rise to great power.
"One of the costumes you can chose is a eunuch," said IBM Vice President Paula W. Baker -- though to spare blushes that avatar is only labeled "imperial servant."
They also appear in some of the bureaucratic roles they might have filled hundreds of years ago.
"There are eunuchs, for instance in the 'approving imperial memorials' scenes," Tolva added.
Those who are interested in other intimate aspects of the emperor's life have a chance to get an up close look at the women chosen to serve him.
"There is a painting being done of the emperor and the courtesans are there, orbiting about tending to him while the painter does his job," Tolva said.
"And for all the activities where you actually do something there is an attendant who is styled as a courtesan."
The museum hopes the program (www.beyondspaceandtime.com), which is based on computer gaming software, will earn new fans for a cultural landmark which survived China's tumultuous 20th century in remarkably good form.
It has been over three years in the making and cost over $3 million, provided by IBM as part of a community program.
Exacting curators feel the result offers a good introduction to the palace, but worry there has been a certain sacrifice of historical accuracy for the convenience of a modern visitor.
"You wouldn't have been able to just wander around like this," said Hu Chui, director of the Information Department, gesturing at a soldier avatar striding toward a central hall.
"You would have been kowtowing and anyway, he is on the imperial pathway. You would get arrested for that." Culture fans thousands of miles from Beijing can now visit its famous Forbidden City, through a three dimensional recreation of the va... more -
The Gr8 Text Debate
Are the trends in text speak damaging the language?
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Soyuz with Tourist Launches for Space Station [pics]
Photographs from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on Sunday, October 12, 2008.
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Blue Angels Practice (photos)
Photographs of the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels practicing their maneuvers over San Francisco, CA on Friday, October 10, 2008.
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Magic Sink with a Mysterious Drain
For those seeking absolute minimalist style, this sink with patented ‘Horizontal Integrated Siphon’ technology from Axolute will revolutionise your bathroom design. The stunning polished stainless sink features the HIS system, which replaces the traditional drain pipe usually visible underneath basins. For those seeking absolute minimalist style, this sink with patented ‘Horizontal Integrated Siphon’ technology from Axolute will revol... more
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Full Disclosure Toilets
When nature calls, sometimes it demands attention
Few people around the world choose to make a difference by adding fashion elements to their toilets. Those who manage to make a name for themselves, deserve our respect. Because it involves a moment of peak personal humility, we took time out of our busy routines to find toilets caught our attention. When nature calls, sometimes it demands attention ... more -
Pacman Helmets Hit The Runway
ometimes, it seems like high fashion is all about putting something silly on your head - take designer Giles Deacon’s Spring/Summer 2009 collection, for instance. He’s got his models wearing Pacman-inspired headgear. There’s the iconic yellow Mr. Pacman helmet, Blinky the ghost, and chrome versions of both, as well as a Pacman dress. Ms. Pacman, oddly enough, was not in attendance. ometimes, it seems like high fashion is all about putting something silly on your head - take designer Giles Deacon’s Spring/Summer 20... more
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Giant Guitar is a Motorboat
Either Aussie singer/guitarist Josh Pyke shrunk to a tenth his size, or somebody built a scaled-up replica of his Maton acoustic guitar. Indie rocker Pyke takes a ride on the seaworthy mega-guitar in an upcoming music video of his song “Make You Happy,” released last Friday. By the way, the guy is a really good guitarist/singer/songwriter. Either Aussie singer/guitarist Josh Pyke shrunk to a tenth his size, or somebody built a scaled-up replica of his Maton acoustic guita... more
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Private Cloud Bed. Is It Functional?
If I don’t like a design, I usually don’t write about it. But in the case of the Private Cloud bed, I think there are some functional elements that may have been overlooked. The Private Cloud, or something like it, could be improved to be really ergonomic and help you sleep too.
The Private Cloud, designed by Manuel Kloker, is a patented rocking frame for a bed that moves back and forth like a rocking chair. It sells for an average of about $6,800 depending on the size ordered, without the mattress.
Assuming there is a mattress on the frame, the Private Cloud rocks best when one is dangling his legs over the bed or when someone is pushing the bed like a swing, from the back. Neither of these positions are sleep-conducive, are they? And, if they were, would the forward-back motion of the boat, I mean bed, lead to a restful sleep or seasickness? If I don’t like a design, I usually don’t write about it. But in the case of the Private Cloud bed, I think there are some functional ... more -
Bullet Proof Polo Shirt
Tantalizingly made for security-seeking wealthy folks, this anti-ballistic polo shirt takes safety to an altogether new level! With many wealthy people normally on the hit-lists of gruesome militias, this polo shirt from Caballero is something which just ups the security factor.
Caballero has people as high-profile as Hugo Chavez on the client list just to elaborate on the fact that this offering is a top-notch product. The polo shirt is good enough to protect you from a 9mm pistol, and if fiber is what you are worried about, there is hardly a cloth that betters linen. For the people who hope to get lucky someday, this should go right atop the apparently fancied list of things they wish to possess. You can just look cool and causal in this polo shirt with no fear of a bullet jamming your breath forever, a little bit of the Superman feel, yes! Spending $12,000 for this shirt is definitely a lavishly wise choice. Tantalizingly made for security-seeking wealthy folks, this anti-ballistic polo shirt takes safety to an altogether new level! With ma... more -
Last Minute Halloween Costumes Made From Junk
In celebration of Halloween I have found some innovative last minute fashionable Halloween costumes for those of you still in need of a costume. The best part about it is that you can make these yourself with regular household items In celebration of Halloween I have found some innovative last minute fashionable Halloween costumes for those of you still in need of ... more
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New Sweater Tells You The Temperature
This might look like a regular old fleece sweater, but it’s got a bit more technology on board than your average warmth-providing garment. It actually has two LED screens, one on each sleeve, and built in thermometers to tell the temperature. One sleeve gives the temperature in Fahrenheit, the other in Celsius. This might look like a regular old fleece sweater, but it’s got a bit more technology on board than your average warmth-providing garm... more
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The Aquaduct Bicycle
This unique bicycle won the 2008 Innovate Or Die contest and was created by five IDEO engineers and designers. The Aquaduct allows a person to carry a large amount of water while filtering it into clean drinking water
at the same time.
http://www.impactlab.com/2008/10/12/the-aquaduct-bicycl... This unique bicycle won the 2008 Innovate Or Die contest and was created by five IDEO engineers and designers. The Aquaduct allows a p... more -
DC drops Microsoft for Google
" 38,000 employees to get Google-ified...
Instead of Word, Excel and Outlook, employees in the district will now be using Google Docs, Google Mail, Calendar, Google Video for business and Google sites for intranets and so on.
Its an impressive uptake, the deal is estimated to be worth around $500,000 (£292,000) according to Bloomberg, and consolidates an impressive uptake for Google Applications.
Google claims around 500,000 organisations currently use app products in one form or another, with 3,000 new members being added daily... " " 38,000 employees to get Google-ified... ... more -
Vocal Joystick Allows Disabled To Use Computers
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed the ‘Vocal Joystick’ software, which allows disabled people to use computers in a better way. The software allows the computer to be driven by sound, in pace of the conventional functioning mouse. The difference between the Vocal Joystick and other technologies is that it does not use standard voice recognition technology and instead detects basic sounds at about 100 times a second and generates a fluid and adaptive cursor movement. It is said that the system allows users to exploit large sets of sounds for continuous and discrete movement. The Vocal Joystick does the job with the help of a microphone, computer with a standard sound card and a user who can vocalize. Researchers at the University of Washington have developed the ‘Vocal Joystick’ software, which allows disabled people to use computer... more
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Gamers, prepare to join the 'Secret Service'
It's been interesting to hear Sarah Palin, the Republican VP nominee, accusing Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists"--a huge distraction, in my opinion, from the economic crisis and other pressing issues. If that's not the kind of distraction you enjoy, I have another that might prove more fun.
Activision announced Friday that its new first-person shooter Secret Service will be released later this year for three platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and the PC. The title will let players assume the role of an elite agent tasked with protecting America's top leadership under high pressure.
The story takes place on Inauguration Day in Washington D.C. An extremist assault has been launched against the capitol and it's unclear who's friend or foe. There's no time for negotiation as players get thrust into the line of fire to protect the nation's leaders. The action takes place among famous landmarks and everywhere in between, including both Marine One and Air Force One.
Secret Service will cost $39.99 for the Xbox 360, $29.99 for PlayStation 2, and $19.99 for PC. Now with all the confusion and distraction going in the political arena, I think it's necessary to say that this game is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the real U.S. Secret Service. It's been interesting to hear Sarah Palin, the Republican VP nominee, accusing Barack Obama of "palling around with terroris... more -
Tapping Twitter to monitor broadband outages
A number of Telstra's major broadband rivals have said they have no immediate plans to follow the telecommunications company's lead and use the Twitter microblogging service to monitor service outages and contact customers about support plans, though a closer look shows Optus to be one of the only large carriers not using the tool. A number of Telstra's major broadband rivals have said they have no immediate plans to follow the telecommunications company'... more
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