January 7, 2013

The Chef does everything but cook — that’s what wives are for!

My wife would kick my ass.

[Via Jim Coudal]

Alex McCaw takes a look at CSS transition, those little animations you see around the Web.

Former Facebook CTO Adam D’Angelo believes that the future is about creating more knowledge and adding a layer of reputation to the fast-growing internet. And that is why he started Quora, his first real attempt at being a startup CEO.

You can login with your Adobe ID and download a free copy of the apps. Not bad for those still running older computers.

Disregard this – the situation has been clarified in a separate post.

Jon Fingas for Engadget:

Its updated Mindstorms EV3 runs on new Linux firmware that’s ready for Android and iOS control out of the box, creates an overall more hackable platform and allows further programming on the core Intelligent Brick itself; accordingly, there’s an SD card slot for local storage.

Nifty! LEGO Mindstorms NXT supports Windows and Mac, but now you’ll be able to program the Mindstorms “Intelligent Brick” using iOS devices instead. Look for LEGO Mindstorms EV3 in stores later this year for $350.

Nvidia’s ‘Project Shield’ portable Android game system works with PCs too

Nvidia on Monday took off the wraps of Project Shield, a new handheld gaming console with Android compatibility and support for PCs equipped with certain GTX series-equipped graphics cards.

project shield

The device pairs a full-size dual thumbstick-equipped gamepad with a built-in five-inch clamshell display running at 720P resolution. Under the hood is Nvidia’s Tegra 4 mobile processor. It goes a step further, though, integrating with a home PC equipped with certain Nvidia graphics cards, enabling gamers to play PC games (including many of those bought using the Steam download service) by streaming them over Wi-Fi to the device instead of being stuck to their PC.

Valve, Steam’s developer, has been emphasizing more console-style capabilities in recent months with the introduction of its “Big Picture” feature, designed to enable Steam games to run more like console titles. The company is purported to be working on its own console-like device, which is expected to debut sometime this year.

Nvidia would seem to be mixing the best of two strengths with Project Shield – the already-huge and continuing to grow market for mobile games with its proven ability to appeal to hardcore PC gamers. With annual PC gaming revenue measured in tens of billions of dollars, Nvidia wants to continue to appeal to both worlds.

For now, though, Project Shield is a work in progress. No price or release date has been announced, though Nvidia told attendees of its CES event that it’ll ship in 2013.

iOS leads smartphone OS sales in the US

Apple’s iOS remains the top selling smartphone platform in the US, according to a new report released Monday by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

Looking at the 12-week period ending November 25, 2012, Kantar said Apple’s market share was at 53.3 percent. This is the first time iOS has broken the 50 percent barrier, according to the research.

In the same period, Kantar said that Android sales declined 10.9 percent, leaving it with 41.9 percent of the market.

“The iPhone 5 has been successful this period however we also see that Apple’s older models – the iPhone 4S and 4 have also contributed to the growing share of iOS,” said Kantar Worldpanel ComTech analyst Mary-Ann Parlato. “This is particularly the case for first-time smartphone iPhone buyers where we see the older models still selling well amongst this group.”

An interesting note in the research is the breakdown of iPhone purchasers in November. According to Kantar, 27% upgraded from another smartphone OS, 34% upgraded from a previous iPhone and, 40% upgraded to their first smartphone.

This is, without a doubt, the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. For an extra laugh, be sure to check out the FAQs.

She clicks the radio on. “Another Saturday Night” by Sam Cooke floats through the speakers. “Ugh,” she says. “Your father’s music.” She shifts it into drive and hits the gas.

My father listened to the “oldies” station with a smile on his face. “Someday,” he’d tell us, “I’ll take the car to the car wash, drive through the spray and the brushes and when I come out on the other side … it’ll be 1963.”

A great short piece from Dave Caolo that will ring true for anyone with kids of their own.

App Store tops 40 billion downloads

Apple on Monday said that customers have downloaded more than 40 billion apps from the App Store. The company also said that nearly 20 billion of those downloads came in 2012. It’s important to note that these are unique downloads, not re-downloads or updates.

December was a record breaking month for the App Store as the company racked up more than 2 billion downloads in the holiday season alone.

In all, there are 775,000 apps available for download for Apple’s iPod touch, iPhone and iPad product lines. The company said it has 500 million active accounts on the App Store.

“It has been an incredible year for the iOS developer community,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “Developers have made over seven billion dollars on the App Store, and we continue to invest in providing them with the best ecosystem so they can create the most innovative apps in the world.”

Apple has paid its developers over $7 billion so far, the company said.

Charlie Rose, 60 Minutes:

David Kelley is the founder of the Silicon Valley global design firm IDEO. His company has created thousands of breakthrough inventions including the first computer mouse for Apple, the stand-up toothpaste tube, and a better Pringle for Procter & Gamble. IDEO may be the most influential product design company in the world.

When many Apple fans hear about Apple’s design, they think about Jony Ive. But Ive wasn’t the first person to design a product for Apple. Steve Jobs worked with a number of influential designers over the years, and 60 Minutes has turned its gaze to one of the most important ones – David Kelley and his firm IDEO. This is a really interesting look at a man and his design philosophy.

The interview is fascinating anyway, but Apple enthusiasts may especially like his comments on working with Steve, and how Steve helped him when Kelley was diagnosed with his own cancer.

January 6, 2013

building-ces The Verge:

For those who’ve never helped run a booth at a trade show, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the temporary city — an endless sea of lights, sounds, and humans pressing past one another in search of the next great gadget — takes weeks to assemble before the first attendee even hits the floor.

The Verge has an all too brief picture story about the set up and construction of CES at the Las Vegas Hilton. It’s an amazing logistical effort to put on the largest consumer electronics show in the world.

These are just incredible.

Associated Press, via Washington Post:

Hockey is back, and it took nearly four months and one long night to get the game back on the ice.

With the season on the line, the NHL and the players’ association agreed on a tentative pact to end a 113-day lockout and save what was left of a fractured schedule.

On one hand, I’m really happy to see hockey coming back on TV, especially with the football season about to end. Basketball bores me. On the other hand, I think the labor dispute has been enormously disrespectful to the NHL audience, and without us, there is no professional hockey.

So what’s a hockey fan to do? Watching the games rewards the industry for its shitty behavior, not watching it means I’ll actually have to do something productive with my time. Neither option seems very appealing.

January 5, 2013

This moron bragged on Facebook about drunk driving and hitting a couple of cars.

[Via Shawn King]

MG Siegler:

We all know the “four horsemen” of tech: Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. These are the companies that pretty much everyone agrees will shape the foreseeable future of the tech sector. In some circles, that list makes waves for who is not included: Microsoft. But any rational thinker (meaning those outside of Redmond or anyone who hasn’t made a career as a .Net developer) knows that Microsoft simply no longer belongs on that list.

But that doesn’t mean the list is perfect. In fact, I do think there’s an omission that’s becoming a glaring one: Samsung.

MG makes some interesting arguments about why Samsung should be the fifth horseman. There is no doubt the company is huge and has a lot of resources, but for me the question is can Samsung predict what consumers will want before they know they want it.

That’s one of Apple’s greatest strengths. They’re working on products we don’t even know we’ll want yet, but when they’re released, we have to have them.

This is pretty much how all Canadians do it.

It was a musician’s worst nightmare.

At least that’s how Dave Schneider, guitarist and singer for Hanukkah-themed rock band The LeeVees, described it when his guitar—a 1965 Gibson ES-335—got jammed in an elevator by baggage handlers at a Detroit airport.

Such a sad story.

coin With all the silly talk in the US of a “Trillion Dollar Coin”, you might not know that the Canadian Mint actually produced the world’s first million dollar coin in 2007.

It is 99.999% pure gold bullion, weighs 220lbs and, even though the face value is one million dollars, it’s actually worth over $5.3 million dollars now.

The coin have been certified by the Guinness World Records to be “the world’s largest gold coin” and the Canadian Mint has sold five of them. Aside from this gigantic coin, other notables like the Rare 50p coins UK hold a magnetic allure for coin collectors, captivating them with their unique designs, limited mintage, and historical significance. Each rare 50p coin tells a story, whether it commemorates a notable event, celebrates a beloved character, or honors a cultural icon. The scarcity of these coins adds to their appeal, as collectors eagerly hunt for elusive pieces to complete their collections. The thrill of the chase is palpable, driving enthusiasts to scour through pocket change, visit coin fairs, and engage in online forums to uncover hidden treasures. Furthermore, the fluctuating values of rare 50p coins add an element of excitement, as collectors monitor market trends and anticipate potential investment opportunities. Beyond their monetary worth, these coins serve as tangible artifacts of British history and culture, offering a glimpse into the nation’s heritage with each intricate design and finely crafted detail. For coin collectors, rare 50p coins represent not just a hobby, but a passion fueled by curiosity, nostalgia, and the pursuit of rare and valuable artifacts. If you want to own one yourself, you can Buy rare coins Garden City NY here.

Nimitz-class Gizmodo:

Here’s a rare sight: four out of the ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers—the largest warships ever built—plus an Enterprise-class carrier docked together. They are resting at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, which coincidentally is the largest naval base in the world. Look at all that engineering and firepower. And it’s only half of the Nimitz fleet!

Wow…if you’ve never seen one of these carriers up close, this picture might not mean much but trust me – this is truly an awesome display of military might!

One important thing that I’ve noticed is this – I wasted a ridiculous amount of time on a site that I couldn’t wait to leave. Since I’ve stopped visiting, I’ve actually noted that I have more time in my day.

I still contend that Facebook is a great network for personal relationships — keeping up with old friends and the lives of people we care about. It’s not something pros really get much out of though.

The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody

Animal is funny as hell.

A person’s cultural fit is becoming more important all the time.

There is no way you can read this and not laugh. NO WAY!

Thanks to EZPR for sponsoring this week’s RSS feed on The Loop.

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Compressorhead robot band performs Motorhead’s Ace of Spades

January 4, 2013

Windows 8 review: The thing blows

It’s a long video, but very well done.

Wired:

With all the technology hailed from the show floor at CES, it is inevitable that some of it will never materialize. CES always generates some vaporware, and 2012 was an especially good year. Here, then, is a look at the stuff we were promised at CES 2012 and continue waiting for.

Keep this in mind as Wired, CNET, The Verge, et al announce their “Best of CES Awards” next week – the majority will be for products that will likely never see the light of day.

“Paris, City of Light” time lapse

I am a complete sucker for these time lapse videos and this one is incredibly well done. It helps the subject matter is one of the world’s great cities – Paris.

That’s a shit load of taxes.