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The Apple Store Challenge
It seems that you are able to do almost anything at the Apple Store these days, just take a quick search on YouTube and you will find all sorts of curious things going on. So that definitely sounds like a challenge doesn’t it?
Step in comedian and all time bad shopper, Mark Malkoff, he certainly knows to make the staff in the Apple Store lives a right misery and yet in some strange way it is so funny, especially as hardly anyone takes any notice at all.
Source [Geeks Are Sexy]
Stormtrooper designer beats Lucas
The classic Stormtrooper costume in the original Star Wars films is iconic and were designed by the 62 year old, UK designer Andrew Ainsworth. However, years after film were made; these suits are still being made using the same moulds as the originals, because Ainsworth has a side line in replica Stormtrooper suits, which sell for around £1,500 each!
Anyway, as most people are aware anything to do with Star Wars is strongly defended by George Lucas and in actual fact, the producer actually successfully sued Ainsworth for $20 million in 2004, when the replicas were first sold. However, this ruling was overthrown by several courts and now in the most recent court case it has been thrown out for good.
Leading intellectual property lawyer Simon Bennett of Fox Williams LLP said;
“The judges concluded that the helmet could not be regarded as an artistic work because it was a mass produced item – remember how many storm troopers there were? – and has an utilitarian role,”
This is massive save for the designer, who naturally keep on producing and selling the outfits, in the UK anyway!
According to the Twickenham based designer, Andrew Ainsworth;
“This is a massive victory, a total victory; we’ve already got the champagne out, I am proud to report that in the English legal system David can prevail against Goliath if his cause is right. If there is a force, then it has been with me these past five years.”
Source [Guardian]
Just what is Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a new virtual currency, that is fast becoming an interesting part of deals and transfers between all sorts of folk but mainly it is the Libertarians, hackers, and computer scientists who are praising this net cash!
Basically, what we are talking about here is a non centralized currency, it is based on a system developed by programmers back in 2009, it is valued against the US Dollar and transactions take place on a secure network with no third party involvement, you simply pay and collect direct.
There are of course with any system such as this, concerns over security and just who is using this system to transfer and receive money.
According to Jeff Garzik, who is a member of Bitcoin’s core software development team, he said in an email;
“Bitcoins are not ‘tax free’ in any way. For US citizens, Bitcoins are at a minimum subject to capital gains tax. IRS barter income regulations and other tax codes may also apply. U.S. and state money transmitter regulations may also apply, among others.”
Source [PC Mag]
Google still deleting accounts
The idea of having your profile on any network being deleted is shocking to say the least, but on Google it is so much more than just that, because your Gmail and other accounts are linked, this means no access these and that is just wrong. What makes it even worse for the user are hoops that you have to jump through in order to get your own account back. There are accounts of people having to show their photo ID, it seems that Google are risking alienating a lot of people, who quite simply do not want to show their ID in order to use a social networking and email site.
According to the Google+ terms and conditions, it seems that the search giant has a point;
“You can be certain you’re connecting with the right person. Google Profiles requires you to use the name that you commonly go by in daily life.”
You can sort of see where Google are coming from, but at the same perhaps they should lighten up a bit or get some humans into the mix who understand the difference between a real profile and a fake profile.
Source [Huffington Post]
The Mp3 Experiment
This is a cross between a flash mob and rave, it is crazy and fantastic all in one go, I wish I was there to join in at the Nelson Rockefeller Park. It all started by three and half thousand people downloading an Mp3 file and all pressing play at the same time, after that it was just a matter of following the instructions.
These are the details of what is happening at the Mp3 Experiment from the organisers and creators Charlie Todd & Tyler Walker;
For our latest mission, over 3,500 people downloaded an MP3 file and pressed play simultaneously. The event began at sunset in two starting points by the Hudson River. The masses converged on Nelson Rockefeller Park as twilight ended and participated in a series of synchronized activities involving flashlights, camera flashes, glow sticks, and masks.
Source [Improve Everywhere]
City Content solar lighting
These may appear to be just a modern design for streetlights, well it is just that, but they are much more than that just that, for this is a design that is powered by solar panels and offers the public a waste system that has been securely built into the base of the lamp pole.
Street waste bins are few and far between these days and yet dropping rubbish is a very bad thing to do and can lead to the culprit being fined; this design solves this issue in a sensible way. The bins are also locked in. so they cannot be removed without the right key.
The City Context is one of the winners at the 2011 IDEA Awards! This is great news for the Designers: Li-Te Lo, Song-Jung Chen, Tai-Yen Lee, Chun-Wei Hsu and Cheng-Yu Tsai, it is a pity that this is still a concept design, rather than it going into production.
Source [Gajitz]
The Assassins Creed Embers Movie
The games developer Ubisoft have been very busy recently, but that busy as to not have enough time to produce a short movie to be released alongside the third part of the game in the Assassins Creed series, which is of course, Assassins Creed Revelations, it should be coming out during November hopefully!
The firm have released a little video trailer for us to see a little bit of the action, the video is produced by the video production unit, UbiWorkshop. This short movie will be available as a digital download through the PSN or Xbox Live networks, or alternatively it will be in with the Assassin’s Creed Revelations Animus Edition!
What do you think about this addition of this mini movie? Is it a good idea or just a waste of your time, let us know either way!
Source [Geeky Gadgets]
These are Data Sandals
With summer in full swing, it is only natural that a girl would be interested in getting their hands on some designer shoes, well in this case they are sandals and yes, they certainly are designer shoes. However, maybe not quite, what a lady would be wearing to the Summer Ball, or maybe they would, I don’t know because I do not wear shoes this, well not all of the time! These interesting shoes are the creation of a New Jersey based design firm called PCB Creations, they have used mother boards and other pieces of circuitry to come up with something complete different, even though they may be slightly uncomfortable.
These are details for the very special Data Sandals by PCB Creations;
Its summer and time to show off a unique pair of Data Sandals, these were fashioned from PC mother boards, ribbon wire and a host of other electronic components all put together to make these highly detailed and one of a kind Sandals. You’re going to enjoy just staring at these for hours.
Priced at $350 in the US and £220 in the UK
Source [Incredible Things]
Boost your paper airplane
This is something that I wished I had when I was a boy, we made paper planes and mine was the one that only went a few feet before plummeting to the ground. It was a around this time that I realised my piloting ambitions would not ever come true! However, things have changed, because here is a cool looking kit that takes average paper plane and turns it into a super paper plane, now we are talking! It has a propeller that is powered by a rechargeable battery, it takes twenty seconds to charge up and provides ninety seconds of power, which is good don’t you think!
These are the features and specs for the Electric Paper Airplane Conversion Kit;
Add a rechargeable, motor-driven propeller to your paper airplane.
Carbon fibre body – super durable and light weight.
Charge Time: 20 seconds.
Flight Time: approx. 90 seconds per charge.
Batteries: Three AA (not included).
Dimensions: approx. 7.25″ long.
Priced at $19.99
Source [Oh Gizmo]
The Wrongulator is never right
Let’s face it folks, no one loves those guys in accounts they spend all hunched over our expenses only to tell us that we are slightly out, it’s not the end of the world and yet they seem to make appear as if it is. Anyway, it is time to get your own back, with the Wrongulator, this appears to be standard calculator but it will always provide the wrong answer and therefore it is guaranteed to drive them nuts! I know what I buying at Christmas!
These are the features and details for the calculator that is always wrong;
The Wrongulator is no ordinary calculator; it is actually the world’s worst calculator, as it never gives the right answer, ever! If your calculator has been exchanged for this one then every single calculation you have entered in it has been wrong. It is perhaps the cruellest practical joke you could inflict on your office colleague and the chances are, without being told, they will probably never guess….well not before it is too late anyway! Mwhahahaha!
Priced at £5 in the UK and around $8 in the US
Source [Technabob]
Where is all the data stored
It is amazing really that a lot of people who use the internet do not actually know where all of the data comes from or to be more precise where all this data is stored. Well worry no more because here is a smart graphic by Mozy, which shows exactly what is going on behind the monitors and into the world of the internet, where there is an advert on every corner!
An interesting point made from this graphic is the top ten data centres of which eight are based in the US. Although in time, you have to believe that the next generation of data centre is going to be located in the Middle East of the Far East, rather than mainland Europe and the USA.
Source [Orange Inks]
Hotel offers anti snoring features
It seems that according to recent research around half of UK couples complain that their partners snoring ruins their holidays, and in response to this Crowne Plaza Hotels have created an anti snoring room or to put it technically, a snore absorption room. There is one in the London hotel and in nine other hotels around Europe and the Middle East; however this problem does not seem to affect Americans, as the firm have no plans to introduce these rooms in the states.
These are the features and details that according to Crowne Plaza Hotels will help couples get a good night’s sleep;
Soundproofing on walls to absorb loud frequencies and reduce noise reverberating in the room.
A sound-absorbing headboard to help muffle the snoring echo within the room.
An anti-snoring bed wedge that encourages snorers to sleep on their sides or upright instead of flat on their backs, which worsens snoring.
An anti-snoring pillow, which uses magnets to create a magnetic field, that is supposed to open the airways and stiffen the upper palate, so it won’t vibrate and encourage snoring.
A white noise machine to help drown out the snorer.
Of course, I usually find a pillow and ear plugs usually work quite well!
Source [PSFK]
Your Guide To SEO
Here is a smart info graphic that will show just how search works and how a website owner can take advantage of tactics and strategies to make sure that their site is up there with the top websites in their market! If only it was that easy, we would all be doing it; in the mean time, we will be seeing you around page ten on Google, if we are lucky!
Source [State of Search]
How tech firms are connected
This is an amazing graphic, it shows just how interconnected the top tech firms on the internet and beyond are, with many of the same names appearing time after time! You expect experienced employees to be able to move from one firm to another but in this case, it seems that the big firms are more connected through deals and ex-employees. It is just amazing and very interesting too!
Source [Mashable]
