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Thursday, May 31, 2007

Waterparks of My Dreams

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In the latest issue of Wired Magazine there is a short article about modern water rides. It really got me thinking about what I used to consider the most awesomer water ride around. Man, have times changed. I remember the Hydro-Chutes were in my hometown for a while but they made them really bumpy on purpose so you couldn't get any real speed going. We all drooled over the Hydro-Tubes (note the subtle difference) a few miles down the highway which were flat, fast, and practically lethal. Needless to stay they were shut down after a short while.

Do you know of anything like the rides they talk about in that article? I wonder if there are really things like this all over but we just never hear about them in my lonely neck of the woods.

If you haven't read it, Wired is a really cool mag! "WIRED delivers the intelligence readers need on the topics that matter most: Technology and innovation. Science and medicine. Business and global politics. Arts and culture. The best new products and more." Couldn't have said it any better myself!

The print version is only $10 a year, and the online version is even better - free! They also break down RSS feeds into sections so you can bypass the topics you deem as less enlightened.

So what is the greatest water ride you've ever seen or ridden on? Let us know here.















Posted by TimHen at 10:24 PM 1 comments

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

The Future is Here - Microsoft Surface

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Dubbed "The Minority Report Table" for it's "The Future is NOW!" wow-factor, Microsoft's Surface is the first mainstream step toward computing of this kind. We may find it hard to imagine Surface's true usefulness as a sole home computer at this point, but we have become so fully entrenched in the mouse/keyboard/window-style computing of Mac/PC/Linux/BSD that it's not surprising we'd question such things. The current windowing paradigm of computing was not very useful until a billion 3rd party developers hopped on the bandwagon and created software to complete the experience. I'm sure the same thing will happen in this case, although developers are much less reluctant to try to be the first or most successful these days, so we may see Surface's full integration into our lives quicker that previous new computing methods.

From the Microsoft website

Overview:
"Microsoft Surface is the first commercially available surface computing platform from Microsoft Corporation. It turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. In essence, it’s a surface that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more. Soon to be available in restaurants, hotels, retail and public entertainment venues, this experience will transform the way people shop, dine, entertain and live.

Description:
Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor that’s easy for individuals or small groups to interact with in a way that feels familiar, just like in the real world. Surface can simultaneously recognize dozens and dozens of movements such as touch, gestures and will be able to recognize actual unique objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes.

Surface will ship to partners with a portfolio of basic applications, including photos, music, virtual concierge and games, which can be customized to provide their customers with unique experiences.

Surface Computing:
Surface computing breaks down traditional barriers between people and technology, changing the way people interact with all kinds of everyday content, from photos to maps to menus. The intuitive user interface works without a traditional mouse or keyboard, allowing people to interact with content and information by using their hands and natural movements. Users are able to access information either on their own or collaboratively with their friends and families, unlike any experience available today. Surface computing features four key attributes:
Direct interaction. Users can actually “grab” digital information with their hands and interact with content through touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.

Multi-touch contact. Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger as with a typical touch screen, but up to dozens and dozens of items at once.

Multi-user experience. The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.

Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content."




See some great eye-candy over at the Surface home page here and hands-on video report by Popular Mechanics here.

So what's the most you would pay to have one of these in your home? Leave a comment here.







Posted by TimHen at 10:11 PM 3 comments

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

The Muppet Show Hecklers!


I don't even remember these guys having a name! Statler & Waldorf? All I remember is being 8 years old or so and thinking they were hilarious! Check out this awesomer YouTube clip...

So did you have a favorite Muppet, Muppet show episode, or Muppet Show scene? Share it with us here!











Posted by TimHen at 2:56 PM 0 comments

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Monday, May 28, 2007

A Father's Day Gift on the Cheap!


For all of you out there with a father (if not, how'd you get here?!!), here's an awesomer idea-thingy on the fairly cheap that holds a high probability to please. What man can say he's never secretly, or not so secretly, dreamed of flying a real helicopter? Well, I'm a dad and I know I'd dig it, and your's probably would too. So check this out. A measly $30 to fulfill a secret dream of dad's that probably no one even knows about! If you're not sure if he'd like it just think

"Let's see:
tie...? helicopter.......
tie...?? helicopter.......
tie...??? helicopter.......
tie...???? ... HELICOPTER!!!!
................................... Duh!!!!!"

Now wasn't that easy?





Tell us what you'll be getting your dad for Father's Day, or what you got him already!!!















Posted by TimHen at 10:12 PM 0 comments

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Friday, May 25, 2007

Get Perfect Sleep Every Night with Sleeptracker!


Could it be true? Is is possible to actually get the optimal amount of sleep for your unique needs night after night? The Sleeptracker watch thinks it is, and it offers us a solution at a price that's really a steal. That is if it can make good on it's promise to change a miserable sleeping pattern into a good one. The Sleeptracker watch is getting so much attention that those claims have had a chance to be tested out by over 20,000 individuals, as well as Time Magazine (who listed it as among the Most Amazing Inventions of 2005), the Dr. Phil Show, Good Morning America, among many others.

Waking up fully rested and ready to go is something that is hard to slap a price tag on, especially since some of us have a harder time than others in getting the satisfaction of waking wide-eyed and bushy tailed. Still, $149 sounds pretty reasonable considering the price of other alternatives to achieving that "It's gonna be a great day!" feeling.

The Sleeptracker watch includes a 30-day money back guarantee and a 1-year warranty.

Do you have a hard time falling asleep or waking up? How much would an easy solution to this problem be worth to you, if there were such thing? Click here to let us know.


via Gearlive










Posted by TimHen at 9:58 PM 0 comments

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Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Jet Audio Player and some Awesomer Skins!


When it comes to playing back tunes on your computer, it seems like everyone has an opinion of what they believe is the awesomest media player-thingy out there. The ones that always seem to pop up are the big three: Winamp, Windows Media Player, and iTunes. Foobar seems to be really popular as well. But I wonder how many casual users are aware that there are so many other alternatives to what they are using?

One that sticks out from the pack to me is the jetAudio player. jetAudio may not be what everyone on the planet is looking for, but I think it's worth checking out. There are a lot of things that it is really awesomer at doing. The first reason that I like to use it is for it's available eye candy. Now I'm admittedly an old-school guy who likes the look of component systems, so the skin you see here may not be your cup of tea (read = Foobar fans), but there are small and sleek skins to choose from as well. And awesomer DJ skins ta boot!

Incidentally, jetAudio does a fine job at playing back video as well, despite it's one-dimensional sounding name. You even get a useful video format converter built right in. That way you can quickly convert the video you're watching to be able to play on your iPod or any other system or device without opening up another swiss army knife video utility program. Simple is good. And most or all of the other stuff you're used to using in the other popular players will be found here as well. To see jetAudio's complete feature list, just click here and scroll down to "features".

To download the free version, click here. To order the paid version for $29 and to see an explanation of the added benefits, click here.

Please tell us all what media player(s) you use and what you like about them!!!














Posted by TimHen at 11:29 AM 0 comments

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Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Need a Quick Laugh?


To enjoy this site as intended simply press F11. Pressing F11 again will return to normal.


CATEGORY: JUST FOR FUN!

What is it about this awesomer clip that had me laughing for longer than I care to admit? I thought I was immune to locker room humor for reasons of over-exposure or (hopefully) only naturally responding to more "refined" or "witty" humorous expressions. But THIS, THIS awesome thingy had me laughing and I couldn't stop it. Any 10-year old could have created the scene, but it still somehow connects deep down, where the all the other thingys we'd rather not be all hang out together. I guess I have a 10-year old living deep inside after all.

Long live Pull My Finger tricks and Fart Jokes!


Your voice:
What's one of the best videos you've seen on the web? Respond by clicking "comments" below.











Posted by TimHen at 10:10 AM 1 comments

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Monday, May 21, 2007

Keybreeze - An Awesomer Launching Utility!

To enjoy this site as intended simply press F11. Pressing F11 again will return to normal.






CATEGORY: SOFTWARE

Keybreeze, an awesomer app-thingy for launching programs on your computer, is a direct competitor to the popular, powerful, and free Launchy. With Launchy not only able to launch programs, but to also search the web, open nearly any common file, check the weather, and perform advanced mathematical calculations, what could Keybreeze possibly offer to top that? Well, let's see. First off, there is a non-install USB stick version available. Next, it can do pretty much all that Launchy is capable of, plus recording macros to automate common tasks, check diagnostic readings on your computer (CPU & ram usage for example), change the appearance and settings of windows, have multiple text items on a clipboard "ready to go" when you need them, and create multi-colored sticky notes with reminder functions built-in! And all with extremely low CPU usage. And for free. And that is awesome. Awesomer than Launchy? I wouldn't dare say that, but I would dare say that it is truly ONE AWESOME THINGY! (Jeez, ya'd think I own the company or something...)




If you're the kind of person who understands things better by doing them, you may just want to get Keybreeze and see for yourself how powerful it is and how much time and effort it could save you. Get Keybreeze here (and Launchy here if you're curious.) You may also find useful:



Your voice:
Do you use any app launchers? Let us know what and why by clicking "comments" below.




CATEGORY: JUST FOR FUN!

Posted by TimHen at 11:14 PM 0 comments

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